Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Keane: Town Won't Look to Sell Wickham
Keane: Town Won't Look to Sell Wickham
Saturday, 30th Oct 2010 11:46

Town boss Roy Keane says the Blues won’t be looking to sell star youngster Connor Wickham to raise funds when the transfer window opens in January. Wickham, who is available for today’s home game against Millwall after recovering from his ankle injury, continues to be watched on a regular basis by the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

despite this, Keane says there is no intention to cash in on the 17-year-old: “We’ve not thought about that. We don’t want to be selling any of our players.

“We didn’t sell Connor in the summer and we want to hang on to our best players. We don’t need to because I think we can add to the squad over the next few weeks if the right striker is available.

“I would expect the finance to be there anyway. With the players we’re interested in we’re not talking about silly loan fees or silly wages. We find that out before we make the initial enquiry.”

The Blues boss reiterated that he feels his squad lacks the strength in depth of the best sides in the division: “We’ve just got to be careful that after Jason and Tamás our next strikers would be Connor and Ronan.

“The injury to Connor brought it home to us that we are short if we got another injury to one of our strikers, particularly if we were going with two up front.

“Compare us to the clubs at the top at the moment. Last Friday, QPR were a goal down with 10 minutes to go, they brought on Rob Hulse, Patrick Agyemang and Tommy Smith and they got a draw.

“Cardiff on Monday night — Bothroyd, Chopra, Burke, Bellamy, Whittingham. Those players will all get double figures this season.

“People have to understand where we're at as a club. We’re putting on 17 and 18-year-olds to try and get us back into games.”

Despite Wickham’s return from injury, Keane says he’s still looking at potential loan targets: “I still think we have to keep an eye out for one or two attacking players if they’re available. We’ve spoken to one or two clubs and talks are ongoing, shall we say.”

“We need our strikers to keep putting the ball in the back of the net so it gives me the situation where I don’t really have to go out looking for players.

“And we’re not really, we’re just making enquiries and being kept up to date with one or two clubs about their attacking players that they might let go.

“And if they do let them go, as I’ve said before, the players we’re interested in, I’m sure they’ll have a few options.”


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



Mark added 13:08 - Oct 30
I don't want to see Wickham leave, although if a really big bid came in I would be tempted seeing as he isn't setting the world alight at the moment.

As for Keane's comments about strikers, I totally agree. However, surely it is his fault to a large degree. He focussed most of our summer budget on a goalkeeper and he spent all our loan budget so far on a defender and three midfielders. After the money Keane has spent, WHY are we looking to 17 and 18 year olds to get us back into matches?
0

brendanh added 15:12 - Oct 30
Should have kept Stead then Roy.
0

AshFinland added 18:11 - Oct 30
I've given up trying to make any sense of the utter nonsense that comes out of this man's mouth.

As has been previously stated, why do we have three midfield loanees if our attack is the area that needs strengthening? If money is so tight at the moment, who are we going to bring in who is any better than Stead? Why is a man who claims that the buck stops with him continually making excuses for our position? How is team morale supposed to improve when the manager seems to spend most of his time bemoaning the lack of quality in our squad?

I just wish he'd stop talking.
0

Effie added 20:24 - Oct 30
Why are we all so obsessed with Wickham? He reminds me of " a bull in a china shop " "headless chicken" call it what you like. He may well prove me wrong but I can see little sign at the moment- his first touch is poor and for a tall lad his aerial ability is nil.
0

robdaful added 22:31 - Oct 30
I don't want to sell wickham but i don't want him to walk out for free as we could buy a couple of good strikers for the amount being offered (that being reported). so if a good
good offer comes in that allows us to buy us a decent striker then maybe we should accept it
0

PutYaBootsOnKeano added 23:25 - Oct 30
you lot are mental. if u went to games you'd see how much better Scotland is than Stead. So bored of clueless fans on this site, who cant remember more than 1 week before them. Keane is exactly right, as he is 90% of the time. It's not his fault we're short up front, because we're not short by much and its his players making us a competitve club again. if you want the quick win bullsh&t blame either evans, for not pumping money hard and fast, or eff off and support someone else like qpr.

to everyone else; good result this week, eh!
0

PutYaBootsOnKeano added 23:28 - Oct 30
ps. wickham hasn't scored yet in the league. most strikers with that record get dropped. stop deluding yourselves.
0

delias_cheesy_flaps added 04:51 - Oct 31
Totally agree with PutYaBootsOnKeano & Effie

Seems to be another case of over hyping by the press with regards to Wickham, he has the potential to be a very good player but he's not showing it at present.
0

Back_The_Boss added 06:52 - Oct 31
Wickham and Livermore linked up well when they came on. Always looking to find each other and by doing so nearly scored. I hope Keane noticed.

Livermore's shot at the end is a candidate for miss of the season!
0

bobble added 07:34 - Oct 31
so you spend all our money on goalies and defenders and.........................
0

StowTractorBoy added 13:00 - Oct 31
Agree with comments on here - Wickham vastly over rated as were Billy Carke and Dean Bowditch to name but two. Take the cash in January I say
0

samitown added 09:02 - Nov 1
I don't want us to sell him but i would sell for 8 million+Jake Livermore and Andros Toownsend to Tottenham. if we needed a striker we should have kept stead because he worked hard and gave 100% why did we sell him??????????
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024