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McCarthy: One Out of Two's Not Bad
Thursday, 12th Feb 2015 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy is delighted that the summer signing of midfielder Kevin Bru has worked out well even if fellow pre-season trialist Balint Bajner proved to be a less successful acquisition.

Mauritian international Bru, 26, signed a new contract until 2018 with an option for a further season last month, while Hungarian striker Bajner, 24, departed permanently for League One Notts County, for whom he scored his first goal in Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory at Leyton Orient.

“It's not perfect because I took two of them in," McCarthy said. "Balint, and I always like to take credit for the ones that worked, but Balint didn’t, although he played in the first game [against Fulham] and he contributed at Birmingham when we got a draw through him winning the header and putting the cross in.

“I always take the positives out of it, but that hasn’t worked out, however Kevin Bru has. Two of them walked through the door, I’d take that every pre-season.

“If I could take two players in for nothing and one of them turns out to be as good as Bru, then I’m in the plus column.”

He added: “He’s a good player, you could see he was a good player. He was at Clairefontaine, the French centre of excellence, but not everybody who has been through a centre of excellence ends up being a footballer, of course.

“You’ve got to have a bit more than just technical ability. And he has. When he came in he was quite slight but he’s far from slight when he’s playing on the pitch, he puts his foot in and he works hard. I’m really pleased with him.”

McCarthy says Bru, who spent last season with Bulgarian side Levski Sofia having previously played for clubs in his native France, swiftly settled into English football, making his full league debut in the 1-1 draw at Derby in August.

“I think he picked up the pace of the Championship pretty quickly,” the Town manager continued. “I’m not so sure he knew the rules at Derby, that was a problem when he was running out of gas after about 80 minutes.

“He said to me ‘Gaffer, I’ve got to come off’ and I said ‘I’ve made three substitutions already, you’ve got to stay where you are, you plonker! Is it different in France, Kevin? Is it four subs? You better stay where you are!’.

“But he kept going and I admired him that day, I respected him after that because he was goosed but he kept playing and I thought ‘Fair play to you Kev’.”

The midfielder, who sent in the cross for Luke Chambers’s winning goal against Sheffield Wednesday having come off the bench has also become a firm favourite with fans.

“I think they’re shouting ‘Bru!’, aren’t they?” the Town manager joked, making reference to the crowd’s tribute to the Paris-born player.

Meanwhile, another of the summer’s additions, winger Cameron Stewart, is still to make his league debut, his appearances so far having been limited to games from the bench in the FA Cup ties against Southampton.

“He’s got to get in the team,” McCarthy said. “That’s his bag, he’s got to get in there. He’s got that little bit of something, but he’s not ousted Ando, Tabby, Hunty or any of them yet. It’s down to him.”


Photo: Action Images



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bluefeast added 07:37 - Feb 12
tabby , ando , hunty , the word YET stands out like a huge one. Stewart has pace and goals in him ,the others don't . Give him a go.
3

blueherts added 07:48 - Feb 12
Bring in Connolly - he will show em how its done !
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carsey added 07:55 - Feb 12
Personally I think he deserves a go. Anderson in particular has been pretty ineffective of late whereas Stuart has something to prove and Connelly is an unknown to opposition defences.
Whatever happens we need a win at Fulham to get back on track. March is full of much harder fixtures starting with the budgies' so confidence and momentum are important.
3

muccletonjoe added 08:31 - Feb 12
Seems as if mm requires a bit more out of Cameron Stewart and at the moment he is not showing enough of it. Agree that bru was class on Tuesday night and should keep his place.
2

TR11BLU added 09:09 - Feb 12
'he's not ousted Ando, Tabby, Hunty'

HHmmm hardly been setting the world alight lately have they, any of them.
Get him in Mick.
@Carsey, just looked at March fixtures....crikey....
On the plus side, April (after Bournemouth home) is full of times whose season will likely be over so if we can stay in the mix we may have an extra couple of games!!
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Pilgrimblue added 09:26 - Feb 12
MM has been forced to make changes and maybe we're seeing Parr develop as left midfielder in place of Hunt and Tabb. But after Andro's performances recently surely Stewart should be given a go. Not sure what he's got to do but getting on bench every game would be a start!
4

ArnieM added 09:33 - Feb 12
If people recall MM saying that how a player trains has a major input into whether they get picked for the team. Thst would suggest thst Stewart is not showing uo very well day in day out at the training ground. SOMETHING is wrong when a player with undoubted skill and pace can't make the team after nearly a season ig being here.

As Mick has said, it's down to the player!
1

Bergholtblue added 09:41 - Feb 12
Bringing on Mings changed the game Tuesday. That was not just his presence but also the role played by Parr. The partnership really worked with Parr doing a good covering job when Mings went forward. Parr also got into good forward positions himself and I can see him getting on the score sheet again soon, if he continues playing in that midfield role.

As for the other side I thought Ambrose had more than a decent game and should keep his place. Did enough defensive work in support of Chambers and another who could, or even should, have notched up a goal Tuesday.
2

Garv added 09:41 - Feb 12
Got to have him on the bench.
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brittaniaman added 09:58 - Feb 12
As long as MM. keeps picking his strongest available Team, and not out of form favourites, then I can see us keeping on the tails of those three in front of us !!!!
Perhaps overtake them hoping there Wheels will fall off ?????

Just a mention (nothing to do with us of course) But Bent has acquired 3 extra points for Derby with the timing of his goals !!!
2

blueherts added 10:07 - Feb 12
I think we will be getting one or two additions and I cannot see why JW doesnt slot back in .
We need quality cover , he is not featuring at Palace and I am sure he is now fit
Stewart , Henshall - had a taste of 'bigger clubs ' and maybe dont out that extra effort in
As I say the boys from Ireland we have just signed , WILL HAVE HUNGER . this is their big chance
Connolly is no Jack Doherty - he is class
I think he may be on the bench on Saturday and great thing bout that is he is the unknown !
Actually I would like to save him for the scum and rip em to shreads
Agree about Parr and Mings both cover for each other and I think Ambrose did that better than Ando for Chambers
Maybe Stewart does do enough coming back
Amount of tmes Murph is back helping out shows what MM expects - many players are only happy moving fwd and not work back
3

Superfrans added 10:34 - Feb 12
I think I love our manager. down to earth, steady head, never panics - and can obv spot a player. fwiw, I reckon Bajner will make a career in Div 1/2 as well. He'll also have a lot to thank Mick for.
2

Superfrans added 10:35 - Feb 12
Blueherts - have you seen Connolly play? I like what I hear, but haven't seen anything yet.
1

Hegansheroes added 12:17 - Feb 12
The three MM mentioned have been the weak link in this season's team. How many goals between them? Hunt runs round like a headless chicken, Tabb just runs & Anderson does FA. MM has been too loyal to them & the enforced changes on Tuesday made us look a far better team, especially when Bru came on. I do hope Stewart gets a chance & Ambrose retains his place, at least he is a goal threat. Maybe should have done better with his header but at least he was in the right place.
3

harlingblue added 13:29 - Feb 12
In reference to Superfrans, Connolly looked very good in the U21 game v Millwall on Monday, I think he could certainly make an impact from the bench.
0


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