McCarthy: New Loanee Adds Something Different
Thursday, 28th Nov 2013 15:02

Manager Mick McCarthy says new loan signing Jordan Graham gives him a different option as the Blues move towards the busy Christmas period of fixtures. The 18-year-old Aston Villa winger has joined Town on loan until January 4th and will go into the squad for Saturday’s trip to Charlton.

McCarthy says that although he already has plenty of wide players at his disposal, former England U16 and U17 international Graham isn’t quite the same: “He’s an exciting talent, he’s highly thought of. He’s been rehabbing from a bit of patellar tendinitis, which happens with kids coming through.

“He is an exciting prospect, he’s a proper winger. I think we’ve got wide midfield players but he’s one that more would probably go past somebody around the outside with his pace. It’s a good one for us coming up to Christmas with all the games that we’ve got.”

He says Coventry-born Graham caught assistant manager Terry Connor’s eye: “We’ve always got scouts out looking at games, at U21 matches, and TC had seen him at Arsenal with Steve McCall, so we know of him.

“We were just asking what we could get if we could get somebody in to change it. He was one that we liked and we decided to phone Paul [Lambert] and he’s quite happy for him because he thinks highly of him.

“If he can come down here and get in the team and get games it would be beneficial for the both of us.”

Primarily right-sided Graham will have to win a place in the side from the current incumbents, McCarthy says: “It was a bit out of the blue for Paul when I rang him.

"They like him, they think this will do him good and I’ve explained to Jordan, he’s not going to come in and get straight in the team, he’s got to get in the team and if he gets in the team and he’s the best, he stays in the team.

“That applies to everybody. But I think it’ll be good for him and good for Paul to have him in our first-team environment and travelling with us. And with the games that we’ve got there’s every chance he’ll get football at a higher level than the U21 league.”

The Blues boss has no doubt that Graham is ready for Championship football and believes he is currently more advanced than wingers of a similar age at Town, such as Jordan Adekunle and Jack Doherty: “He’s ready to play, I don’t doubt that at all.

“He’s got really good technical ability and pace. Having just met him, he’s a good physical specimen, as they all are. He’s fine, he’ll be OK to play.

“He is [ahead of Adekunle and Doherty]. If I’d got somebody in the building who I thought could do it, I wouldn’t go out and find somebody else. And that’s with the first team.

“I look at the first team and people ask me if I’m taking people on loan and I reckon I’d have to do really, really well to get players better than what I’ve got to come in. But this is somebody different that we haven’t really got in the building. If I’d got one, I wouldn’t have got anybody else.”

He says the addition of Graham will be Town’s only business before today’s 5pm loan deadline: “No, nobody coming in and nobody’s going out, as far as I’m aware.”

Photo: ITFC

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connor_wilgrove added 15:34 - Nov 28 im excited about this , maybe he can add the flair we desire
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Pabloisgod84 added 15:44 - Nov 28 i hope the lad does well for us and we need pace but whats the betting he sits on the bench most of the time, has a few 20 minute cameo appearances and goes back to villa with everyone wondering what was the point of it all.
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BigginBlue added 16:27 - Nov 28 @Connor wilgrove how did you manage to get the fifa 14 cover like that? Any chance you have a ps3 version?
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TimmyH added 16:33 - Nov 28 Have to agree with Pabloisgod - Mick has hardly shifted his priorities when it comes to not being beat formations, to start him he'd probably have to put a 'proper' left winger on the other side (probably Hunt but knowing Mick keeping Anderson in the line up), which looks to attacking for MM. I too can only see him coming on as a substitute.
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ArnieM added 16:53 - Nov 28 It wouldn't be good for team morale I a kid was brought in on loan and wdnt straight into the team. MM /TC know what they are doing. Fine adjustments are all thats needed. Problem is us Town fans have become used to constant sweeping chances which do little for team continuity. COYB'S
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muccletonjoe added 16:56 - Nov 28 Very good signing , the very big IF is will mm actually start with him before january and go out to take games to the opposition.
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kevtblue added 17:33 - Nov 28

Just give the lad a chance even if he is on the bench to start with which I am sure he will be it gives us another opition and pace that we really dont have. MM and TC may be trying to give our existing wide men something to think about as they need to up their game to stay in the side. Even if Jordan is on the bench its still valuable experience of 1st team football that he cant get at Villa at the moment so that suits Paul Lambert as well.
Welcome to Ipswich Jordan looking forward to seeing you play and CYOB.

Seasider added 17:40 - Nov 28

Knowing how cautious our Manager is and reading the above certainly looks like wont be going into team on Saturday;but I am flummoxed by constantly playing Anderson and often Tabb who are both useless.
Perhaps he was given food for thought when he saw Leicester using whole width of pitch with REAL wingers hugging the touchlines;did anyone else notice how many times Casper Smichael their gk;put goal kicks or throw outs direct to them.

Mick didn't seem at all happy on Saturday but as he usually does concentrated on the defensive frailties rather than the lack of attacking options on our flanks.

Wonder if we will see Hunty and Jordan Graham starting during the next month,I sincerely hope so but wont be holding my breath.Just as I would like to see Chambers and Smith back in the middle together;but would he drop Berra.I'd be very surprised if he did as its not Micks way unfortunately.

Cookycrew added 17:55 - Nov 28

Time to ditch Anderson on the right.....I certainly hope so.
Hopefully the start of putting our players in their natural/best position.

Perhaps that also allows Anderson to play on the left (where he prefers to play) & see if he can finally do something to impress there........

Likewise, for me - revert back to Smith/Chambers at central defence please with hopefully buying Stearman for right back in January. Or am I just dreaming?

Hegansheroes added 18:27 - Nov 28 If Anderson is the best we have for the r wing position the others must be really bad &JET even worse but doubt Bristol City fans would agree
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runningout added 18:30 - Nov 28 No doubt about Jordan Graham myself... seen him a couple of times for Villa young ones, .. maybe you shouldn't quote me on it :)
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warbeat78 added 20:33 - Nov 28 Couple of clips off him on youtube looks quite a handfull for defenders,should be able to step up alevel
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 21:02 - Nov 28

A bit confused by this - why bring in a loanee when we have just signed Hunt, we brought Jordan Adekunle in from Crawley after impressing and with Carlos Edwards and Anderson already fighting for wing slots? Taylor has also looked good right side when played, although he is not the long term right wing solution.
Sorry Mick, not impressed by this signing, hope im proved wrong!