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McCarthy Delighted With Tabb
Tuesday, 16th Sep 2014 06:00

Manager Mick McCarthy has been delighted with the way midfielder Jay Tabb has started the season. The 30-year-old was largely out of favour last season but broke into the XI in pre-season and has been one of the standout performers in the opening few weeks of this campaign.

“Tabby’s great, he’s just a top, top pro,” McCarthy said. “He hadn’t played at the end of last season, he kept his chin up, came back and didn’t know what was going to be happening at the start of this season.

“But I said to him, ‘Look, you come back and if you’re the best player, you play’. And that’s what’s turned out.

“He just gets on with it. He’s a proper player, a proper bloke, I have a lot of time for him.”

With Cameron Stewart and Stephen Hunt over their longer-term injuries and Darren Ambrose joining the squad last week, there is plenty of competition for the left midfield role.

“And Alex Henshall,” reminded McCarthy. “It’s great. It’s nice to have that kind of a problem when you’ve got players who are not involved.

“Tabby knows the job. He’s not a flying winger, he’s not going to drop his shoulder and go past people but he can work himself into those positions and he does such a great job helping his full-back. He just knows the job.

“He has got competition, but they’re going have to play well to knock him out of the side.”

The Town boss says Paul Anderson does a similar job on the right-hand side: “They know when to tuck in and when to get back out and do the job, whether they’re playing on the inside or the outside.

“That’s the role of a wide player. It makes me laugh the suggestion that wingers should stay up the pitch and just take people on. They don’t, they have to get back and have to track because modern-day full-backs are rampaging forward.

“The last thing you want to be doing is chasing Tyrone Mings and Jonny Parr or Scott Malone against Millwall, but that’s what our wingers have to do, and those two do it particularly well.”


Photo: Action Images



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IpswichFan26 added 06:17 - Sep 16
Tabb has been decent this season, I mean he hasn't done much but he was never going to be prolific in the chances created/goals/assists department. He's been mostly solid and has done well (mostly) at protecting and helping Mings at left back. I do imagine that when Stewart gets fit enough however, MM will play him instead. He's a player that's more ready than Henshall is at the moment to take that spot regularly IMO and has pace, is exciting and can surely create something. I'm excited for when he gets his chance in the side.
1

BlueMachines added 07:06 - Sep 16
Lets not forget Tabb is 'different class!'
1

Surco72 added 07:55 - Sep 16
For me Tabb will always be very average , I am hoping by MM bigging him up that means he will be dropped for Brighton game . He had a good second half against Fulham and Millwall apart from that I cannot see why MM would be delighted ?
If you play safety first football MM with average players who will tuck in and narrow the game down for us it limits the passing outlets .
In 2014 we have played 32 games won 11 , drawn 9, lost 12 , this season played 7 won 2, drawn 2 ,lost 3 , average mid table form . Please stick with the youngsters and really go for it MM lets see Henshall start
6

BrettenhamBlue added 08:12 - Sep 16
Don't really know what to make of this story, suppose that's why MM is manager and not me.

For me, Henshall, Bishop, McDonnell, Parr, Hunt, Ambrose would all be better in the wide left position.

But Tabb is a "different class" after all.....
4

Len_Brennan added 08:22 - Sep 16
Tabb was poor last season, no question, but some supporters want to pretend that it has been the same over the last few games just so they can have a go at MM.
By all means criticise tactics & how the team is set up in an apparent negative formation if you wish to call for the inclusion of a different, more attack minded player, but be fair to Tabb as he has done exactly what he has been asked to do this season, done it well & put in a huge amount of effort doing it.
2

SouperJim added 09:59 - Sep 16
Tabb has been one of our best performers so far this season. I understand that people would rather see a skilful attacking winger like Henshall, but Mick picks the team, not us. All you can ask from Tabb is that he gives it everything and performs to his ability. He has worked so hard in games so far, has supported the attack much better and has linked up well with Mings.

Anyone complaining about his performance so far this season, particularly over these last two games, quite frankly doesn't know their backside from their elbow.
1

MattinLondon added 10:23 - Sep 16
Tabb is the type of player who can turn a relegation threatened team into a mid-table team. Someone who can help a team pull off a surprise draw away at home. But not someone who can produce that extra bit of class to win a match.
3

Simonds92 added 10:26 - Sep 16
Absolute b*****s! Cannot see what game anyone watches if they think Tabb would be anywhere near a starting place in any of the other top 15 teams in championship. He gives us nothing going forward his delivery from set pieces is awful, and I completely disagree that his presence helps us defensively he constantly comes inside, leaving Mings with a winger and full back bombing forward against him and this was exposed massively in the Norwich game where Lafferty had so much room down that side. Anderson is the slightly better one of the two but I cannot understand playing two wingers that are more comfortable running towards their own goal than the oppositions! How refreshing it was to have Bishop playing Saturday who actually looked to go forwards as the first thing in his mind. Henshall I think looks to do the same and looks really promising, our team is sooo defensive surely 2 attacking minded players is not too much to ask?!
3

grf1g08 added 10:37 - Sep 16
I wonder if Tabb is chosen to offer more protection to Mings while he is still learning his position?
0

TimmyH added 11:32 - Sep 16
Personally what I've seen of Tabb this season he has done ok, but that is the sort of player he is...a worker, he's not prolific at making chances or being creative and we know he doesn't score much so can you blame him for consistently being picked?
I feel if we're going to climb the table and be play-off candidates then eventually another player of better quality has to eventually come in and give us more width whilst still having the ability to protect Mings defensively to a degree.
2

StowTractorBoy added 11:52 - Sep 16
Don't get this anti Tabb scenario no he is not a world beater but the guy works his socks off. He tracks back, he tackles and does what MM asks of him. He plays narrow at times as that's the way MM wants him to play as with Anderson. Its not just about being a flying winger and in this respect Henshall is nowhere near being a regular choice. Tabb and Anderson cover acres of ground during a match yet still get criticism for their efforts. Flair alone will not win us games. On Saturday Tabb and Anderson went a long way in helping us secure the victory and long may it continue.
0

TractorWood added 12:27 - Sep 16
I'm fairly indifferent about Tabb, he always puts in a shift and works hard (which I appreciate) but very rarely creates anything. I understand Mick selecting him as we need to mindful of Mings getting forward and potentially leaving us exposed on the counter.

In the later stages of Birmingham and Derby, their defences had absolutely no answers to Henshall and his deliveries look to have potential. I would love to see a midfielder score!
1

Surco72 added 12:52 - Sep 16
Anyone who thinks Tabb is any more than average and one of our better performers this year is talking out of his elbow .
1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 13:03 - Sep 16
I really hope our players don't come onto this website, I really do.
-1

TheSelkirk added 16:44 - Sep 16
I'm not a big Tabb fan but I guess he can only play the way he has been asked to play.

To be honest, my greater concern at the moment is an out of form Skuse.
2

theobald1985 added 17:13 - Sep 16
its just like playing 2 left back one in front of the other because MM is so scared of the opponent and thinks long balls forward and set plays are our best hope of a goal.
if hes not going to beat a player and get balls into the box then get him off the left wing. boring tabb boring mick they were made for each other
1

boysinblue added 19:43 - Sep 16
I like him but he's bloody useless
0


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