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Jewell: We're All Delighted for Chops
Jewell: We're All Delighted for Chops
Monday, 6th Feb 2012 06:00

Blues boss Paul Jewell says everyone at Portman Road is delighted for Michael Chopra, who netted three goals in two games after returning to the starting line-up earlier this week. Chopra’s stop-start season, which has included a spell in the Sporting Chance Clinic, has now yielded 10 league goals.

Jewell said the 28-year-old might have scored more than two during the Blues’ 3-2 victory at Coventry, having scored the first in the 5-1 hammering of West Ham on Tuesday: “He came into the team against West Ham because he’d looked sharp in training. He could have scored three or four goals on Saturday, he had some good opportunities.

“I thought the first goal he scored was vital because we missed the penalty, he followed it in, sharp as a razor and he got a lovely little header in the last minute.

“Everyone’s pleased for Chopra, he’s had a tough time of it. He’s had his problems and they don’t go away overnight. The players and the club have rallied round him, and the supporters as well.”

The Town manager says last summer’s £1 million signing from Cardiff is getting back to form after a quiet spell in the wake of his time in rehab getting to grips with his gambling problems: “We’ve just been waiting for him to take off. I think he’s got 10 goals now, which is amazing for someone [who has had the season he’s had].

“I did say at the start of the season that he tends to score in patches, so let’s hope he goes on a bit of a run now because he’s got that little swagger coming back into his game and the goals he scored at Coventry were a great lift for us, not just for him.”

Chopra himself added: “My confidence was low, you could see that from the way I was playing. But I was raring to go last week and when I was given the nod to play against West Ham I was just desperate to repay the club and repay the manager because they have done a lot for me.

“Last year I had a lot of problems in my life. I just have to repay them and I can do that by scoring goals and winning games.”

He was delighted with his last minute winner: “We have been working on crossing and things like that and I was there to get a flick on.”

Jewell had praise for the 1,164 Town fans who made the trip to a snowy Ricoh Arena: “Terrific. It’s easy to say fans are great and I think a lot of people say it just to curry favour. But I think they’ve had to watch an awful lot of dross at times since I’ve been in charge, but one thing that’s always there is the support.

“Yes, they get disappointed, like we all do, but 1,100, a thousand or whatever it was at Birmingham and 20-odd thousand there the other night for the West Ham game is brilliant.”

Photo: Action Images


Photo: Action Images



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Sospiri added 06:09 - Feb 6
Anyone know he's getting on with getting on top of his gambling addiction?
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Duncan added 07:16 - Feb 6
I don't think we'll ever truly know but let's jus hope banging in the goals for us replaces the buzz of gambling
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Sospiri added 07:26 - Feb 6
True. I just know how hard addictions are to beat. When the stress increases - most addicts go straight back to whatever their fix is. Hopefully not with Chops - both goals on saturday were proper strikers goals.
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Sindre94 added 07:37 - Feb 6
chopra is a quality player , just need to keep banging them goals in ;)
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DiamondGezzer added 07:54 - Feb 6
Starting to make the Million pound fee look an even bigger bargain.
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OriginalMarkyP added 08:00 - Feb 6
Curry Flavoured fans? What's he on about?
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das_bones added 08:03 - Feb 6
Class is permanent as they say! Coyb
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trulyblue added 08:25 - Feb 6
There was actually 1,165 Town supporters not 1,164....... The nice man on the cash turnstyle didn't charge me for my 4 year old son :-)
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Stato added 08:39 - Feb 6
I Chopra and Scotland we've got 2 decent strikers but surely we need another 2 of a similar standard if we are going to challenge for promotion. I was surprised we weren't in for Maynard as surely he was within budget ? Might be Scotlands last season so definately need some activity on the transfer front.
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Essexnblue added 08:57 - Feb 6
BossMan, It was never the fee with Maynard, but he wanted 20k per week and got 15k from West Ham.
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brazil1982 added 09:24 - Feb 6
Chopra's instinct and reaction to the missed penalty was brilliant.
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Daleyitfc added 09:41 - Feb 6
This should read : "He came into the team because Jason Scotland is close to his appearance threshold". The cynical view is usually the correct one.
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Bergholtblue added 10:06 - Feb 6
It was a bit of a gamble to bring him back in, but I bet he beats his addiction in the long term. I'll wager he will be our 20+ goal man next season.
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dugoutdave added 10:09 - Feb 6
B****y hell Daleyitc - dont you ever stop moaning - I honestly think Ipswich are better off without supporters like you. Cynics are indeed sometimes funny but you are just plain boredom personified
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bluelady added 10:22 - Feb 6
Daley, know what mate who gives a stuff why he is playing, his is making the most of his opportunity and proving to be good value for money. At the end of the day he has been brought in as our no.1. Pj rested him as he has been through a lot emotionally lately, seems the rest has done him good and he has come back sharper and more like the Chopra of old. I watched him Tuesday, he isnt a normal striker, standing up pitch waiting for a ball to his feet, he covers so much ground, worries defenders even when off the ball. With him, Martin and Jet all constantly pushing forward we are becoming a very hard team to defend against, been a long time since we have seen that. Sort out the defence and we are almost there. I also think Edwards will be better with a stronger back 2 in place, i know he wonders a bit and in a team defending badly all the time is a liabilty, however in a confident team driving forward, with a decent CB to cover him i do believe his exciting style of play only adds value to our attacking force.
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Surco72 added 11:05 - Feb 6
Daley perhaps he came in because no matter how well Scotland is playing he doesnt score goals ,which at the end of the day is what it is all about ,and why give him another big contract when the money could be spent on a youngster for far less wages from a lower league
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Lightningboy added 11:50 - Feb 6
Took him out of my texaco fantasy team last tuesday...hopefully the curse has been well and truly lifted.

Play this guy and he will get goals..everyone has a rough patch but Chops is the fox in the box that we've been lacking over the last 6 or 7 seasons.
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LFCITFC added 12:03 - Feb 6
We all knew Chops would come good, lets not forget JET too, a great month for him as well
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roytheboy added 12:17 - Feb 6
I am delighted for Michael too, he will do well for us I'm certain.
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Garv added 12:48 - Feb 6
"Lets hope he goes on a run now". Yes let's, how many times have we said that?

Not being negative just stating a fact. We said it after Bristol City, then after Brighton, then he scored a lovely goal at Barnsley which we thought would kickstart some form. Consistent form is what Chops has struggled with, but now, as long as he keeps playing well (not necessarily scoring goals), he will get a long run in the side and THEN the goals should come.

Also with JET and Drury about now we have some real service into him, as we saw against West Ham and Coventry.
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arc added 13:04 - Feb 6
I'm always intrigued by the way managers refer to players. Jewell here calls Chopra "Chopra"–not Michael, Mikey, Mickey, Chops... There is presumably nothing to read into that at all, but anyway.
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AndyStannard added 13:21 - Feb 6
Get Paul Jewell out!!!! Definately need a new manager NOW!!!!!!
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dugoutdave added 13:43 - Feb 6
AndyStannard - I notice you've said it twice on two different topics today. Now be a good boy and give your daddy his keyboard back. Come back and post when you've grown up.
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bluelady added 13:49 - Feb 6
Garv nail on the head, a confidence player who had a lot going on in his life, as well as trying to create his own chances on the pitch as no-body was putting any decenty balls into the box. although a 'loan' striker, he often has both Martin and Jet supporting him. i think Drury and Hyam have to take massive credit for both doing the job of a central midfielder........ both are actually proving to be good box to box players, covering each others back to allow surges forward. keep it up and sort out the defence and we can look forward to some far better footie
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Gazelle added 14:04 - Feb 6
If you look at the table only Leeds, Southampton and Blackpool have scored more than us so i don't know why there should ever have been any criticism levelled at our strikers. Two wins with 8 goals is great but no clean sheets in either shows there's a lot of work to do still.
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