Berra: Chance to Move On Up
Friday, 29th Nov 2013 06:01

Defender Christophe Berra believes Town can improve their league position over the next three games, possibly even to the extent of gate-crashing the play-off places.

After Saturday’s trip to face Charlton the Blues have two home games in the space of four days as first Blackburn, on Tuesday, and then Huddersfield visit Portman Road.

Berra, 28, said: “We’re only six points off the play-offs right now and that situation could have changed for the better by Saturday week.

“We could be, say, two points off and if we do well and other results go in our favour it is possible we could even be in the promotion zone.

"But I’m sure there are going to be a lot of teams involved in that right up to the last couple of weeks of the season.

“At the moment teams will fear us — nobody will like coming to Portman Road and I don’t think there have been many easy games for teams that have played us there.

“I think it shows the progress the club has made under Mick McCarthy. I don’t know if people would have been thinking like that a couple of seasons ago but now the fans have expectations and it’s down to us as players to make sure those expectations are fulfilled.”

Berra believes mid-table Town can derive some satisfaction from the fact that they have run the Championship’s top three close this season.

Leaders Burnley, Leicester and QPR are all locked on the 35-point mark going into this weekend’s programme and although the Blues have lost to them all, each defeat was by the odd goal.

Berra added: “A loss is still a loss but in all three games it could have gone either way. We had chances in them all but you can see why these teams are at the top because when they get chances they take them and make you pay.

“If you take Leicester, they have been together for three or four years and they’ve got that cohesion from the experience of playing together. We’re still learning and gaining that but hopefully in time we can gel together like them and become a force to be reckoned with.

“Leicester have also had a big budget as well and they have a lot of good players, probably earning top, top money. Ipswich have cut that back a little bit but the teams that spend the most aren’t always the most successful.

“We’ve got a good team spirit, a good manager, a good staff and we’ve got good players as well, so if we do the fundamentals right we can take our chances from there.”

Photo: Action Images

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Surco72 added 08:08 - Nov 29 Don't really see why teams would fear us we have won 5 games all season and only half of our home games ? Am hoping we go for it against Charlton as they are struggling for form and we need another away win after losing home games which would lift us for two winnable games at home
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John_Portman added 08:32 - Nov 29 Nice to hear some confident chat from Berra, hopefully the rest of the squad are feeling good too. This is an important game though as Surco72 says, a win could really help us in the next 2 games and could rake in the points. If we lose however i wonder just how long we can stay confident - especially with such a fantastic support going down to Charlton
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craigyboy10 added 09:17 - Nov 29

With this signing of Jordan graham now we finally have a bit of pace and skill I can see us climbing the table. I'm not laying all our hopes on one player but before he came in I thought we are only a couple of players away from having a very decent team in the championship.. Bit of creativity in the midfield is what we have seriously been lacking.. Can only see it benefiting results and if he really does turn it around for town hopefully extend the loan and add 1 or 2 more in January.. I think this could be one of towns most exciting seasons for a long time!!

COYB

bluelodgeblue added 09:28 - Nov 29 Berra,s comments?? just another kiss of death that normally comes when players talk themselves up before key matches!!
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TractorBoyOlly added 10:39 - Nov 29 Usual crap, should be there or there abouts but we won't.
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Garv added 11:14 - Nov 29

"A loss is still a loss but in all three games it could have gone either way."

Well that's just plain wrong, I wasn't at QPR but the report said they battered us second half. Burnley, perhaps there's a case but they always looked a better footballing team. And Leicester, well we never looked like scoring, and they were constantly breaking on us, it was pretty obvious which way it was going to go.

Can't believe how happy our manager and some of our players have been with our performances this year. Shows a lack of ambition if anything.

TimmyH added 13:49 - Nov 29 Agreed @Garv - as Keanish mentioned the other day will be happy if we're only 6 points of the play-offs come the business end of the season but unfortunately can't see it happening.
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hogster1970 added 14:48 - Nov 29

im with bluelodge here, shut the f@ck up go and apply your trade kick some butt when we have the 3 points then spout off about it, although i agree with what he is saying or any of them, as they say if you are going to talk the talk you need to walk the walk, im personally going to charlton and looking forwards to 3k supporters cheering on the mighty itfc how ever we need a good strong attacking team at the start