Lee a Better Player Since Return to Town
Friday, 13th Sep 2013 12:16

Alan Lee believes he has become a better player since being talked out of retirement by Town boss Mick McCarthy.

Lee returned to Portman Road in the summer to join the academy coaching staff, having decided to hang up his boots following his release by Huddersfield.

But he was persuaded to change his mind by McCarthy, who invited him to sign non-contract terms and later refused to rule out the possibility of using him at first team level.

Lee, 35, revealed that his time spent training with McCarthy and coach Terry Connor has paid off handsomely.

He said: “I still think I can learn as a player and that’s down to Terry. The training on Friday started at 10am but the strikers did an extra 30 or 40 minutes beforehand, working on their finishing with Terry.

“At some clubs, players would just be kicking the ball into the back of the net, whereas Terry sets up specific drills that are more realistic. I have not had that much time spent with me or anyone care about me that much for a few years.

“I have been playing as a target man, so for someone to say we are going to improve your finishing and work at different things is fantastic. My finishing has got better and that’s down to Terry. If he can teach an old donkey like me, then he’s not doing too badly!”

Lee is full of praise for the training and coaching provided by McCarthy and assistant Connor, a partnership formed at previous club Wolves.

He added: “To be able to learn from someone like Mick in training is brilliant. Sometimes I have to remember to snap out of trying to work out why he is saying things [from a coaching point of view] and concentrate on the training session as a player.

“He has a fantastic team with great experience, all very level-headed, and I am very grateful to learn from both him and Terry.”

Photo: Action Images

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thechangingman added 12:56 - Sep 13 What a great, positive little story. This has really encouraged me and I hope that we'll start to see the fruit of these sessions on the pitch. Maybe even a goal or two from Alan would be good too... ;0)
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bluemikey100 added 13:06 - Sep 13 kevin phillips scored plenty last couple seasons so why not carry on
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Hoppersblue10 added 13:14 - Sep 13 Well he did get one thing correct " an old donkey like me"....Lol. As you are probably aware I am not the biggest Alan Lee fan, but this story has softened my attitude towards him slightly, good luck to him, if he is needed I hope he gives it his all & does well for us.
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TimmyH added 13:15 - Sep 13 He's desperate to get into the first team...might do a job as a substitute.
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ChurchmanBlue added 13:16 - Sep 13 Could someone talk David Wright out of retirement as we need a right back. Saw him coachibg at the academy last night, just seems a bit of a waste that he has not been asked to help out.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 13:25 - Sep 13 Score more goals than Nouble will.
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Stretchyboy added 13:25 - Sep 13 I liked Lee first time around, but i really don't get it this time. I honestly don't think he can give us anything that we actually need, other than experience. For me, this is one step back..we need to move forward and think of the future.
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IITFC1948 added 13:29 - Sep 13 churchmanblue Could be because he"s not retired he"s playing for Colchester and is doing his coaching badgers with us
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Garv added 13:33 - Sep 13 Old donkey like me. Brilliant.
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ChurchmanBlue added 14:04 - Sep 13 IITFC1948 - That would explain it then.
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Fatcatevans added 15:05 - Sep 13 Coaching badgers? ITFC1948. Is that to avoid the current cull?
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PunchNoHopers added 15:57 - Sep 13 Got some money on Alan already to be our top scorer in the league this year, just hope he gets the game time now!
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kalypso added 16:02 - Sep 13 why do our shirts look like they're on back to front?
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kalypso added 16:46 - Sep 13 why did we pay to get rid of JET? i'd rather have JET for another year than Lee. I can't see any forward scoring more than 10 this season.
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Pessimistic added 16:47 - Sep 13 Alan Lee as a player has never let Ipswich Town down and his physical attributes, as well as his football intelligence, is just what the team need most of all in my view. I think Alan can make a difference and the least he deserves, with our strikers not striking, is a place on the bench.
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Pessimistic added 16:49 - Sep 13 Answer to your question Kalypso is because the players are too!
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Wickets added 17:39 - Sep 13 ER Kalypso 'cos we where paying JET a stupid wage!!!!
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jas0999 added 19:19 - Sep 13 Very positive. Great to hear. I like Alan lee and would love to see him play for us again. No worse than murphy to be honest, but with a better goal scoring record.
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