Boss Mick McCarthy believes his skipper Luke Chambers has all the attributes required to captain a team. The 29-year-old, famed for his post-victory fist pumps, has worn the armband for most of the 27 months that McCarthy has been at Portman Road, formally taking over as captain after Carlos Edwards’s departure last summer.

“I think [a captain needs to be] somebody who leads by example,” McCarthy said. “And that’s not necessarily about shouting and screaming on the pitch and being demonstrative out there. It’s how you conduct yourself on a daily basis, how you conduct yourself in training.

“That you train properly and have an influence around the place, you’re consistent on the pitch. If you’re not, if you’ve got a captain who is inconsistent and doesn’t play well every week.

“It’s very hard to be leading and give out to other people and demand from other people if you’re not doing it yourself.

“Chambo does all those things and he does them with aplomb. He enjoys his football, he has a real common sense to it. I think he understands his strengths and weaknesses, that’s a real plus, I think, and he has the respect of the other players, which is paramount if you’re a captain.”

He added: “We’ve got plenty of leaders in the squad now, we’ve got good characters. We’ve got good players and I think good, solid professional footballers, who know what it’s about to be a good pro and with good experience.”

McCarthy loved wearing the armband during his playing days, having skippered at club level and internationally with Ireland.

“I enjoyed captaining a team very much,” he continued. “It can be inspirational to the player who gets the captaincy.

“It can also be destructive. Some players get it and suddenly think they have to do something else, maybe direct traffic and everybody else and give information out.

“I have to say it probably did with me on one occasion when I was younger, but then you realise you get the captain’s job because of how you are and and what you do. You don’t have to do any more.

“It is about setting a good example and that was a great captain’s goal he scored [against Sheffield Wednesday]- far post, right-back from 12 yards out. That tells you the effort that he’s putting in. I enjoyed it and I know Chambo does.”

He believes players at the back are ideally placed to captain teams: “Defenders are in a position where they can see everything. You’ve got a great picture, centre-halves have especially. They’re in the middle of the pitch, you can see all of it. That’s a great vantage point.

“When I came here Carlos was the captain and I saw no reason to upset that. I’ve done that before, I did it at Wolves, changed captains, and suddenly it changed the dynamic of the place.

“But when Carlos didn’t play, Chambo was the captain. I thought he was a good leader on the pitch and he didn’t need the name but I know he appreciates the fact that he’s the captain and he has the armband.”

Photo: Action Images

Vancouver_Blue added 06:44 - Feb 17 Chambo, Tommy Smith or Berra are all leaders, but Chambo has definitely won the hearts of the North Stand with his fist pumps
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BotesdaleBlue added 07:14 - Feb 17 By far and a way the best captain we have had since Jason DeVos, who in turn, was the best captain since Mowbray. Unfortunately in the years inbetween, we have had a motley crew of so called captains for the most part, which reflects our dark years on the pitch in terms of performance. Well done Chambo. You are well on the way to making yourself a bit of a legend and again, we've had very few of those in recent years. Keep believing. COYB.

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Len_Brennan added 07:30 - Feb 17 Time for Chambo to move back into the centre alongside Christophe, with Jonny Parr playing right back for a while I think. Tommy needs a break & it's too important a stage in the season to have concerns in defence. It would give us better balance also.
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Blue_Heath added 07:36 - Feb 17 See above +1 (nothing against Tommy btw)
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warktheline added 07:43 - Feb 17 @len Brennan, couldn't agree more, spot on. A very difficult situation, Chambers, Berra and Smith, also very big characters in team, but if we are to play 442, then there is no room for Smith at present. I don't like two left sided CB playing together. Tommy could do with a break on current form, he's young and has time on his side. Always a worry with young talent, if not playing on a regular basis, heads get turned and they want to move on too soon.

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RegencyBlue added 08:06 - Feb 17 I agree Chambers is a fantastic captain. What he isn't is a right back!
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battyblue added 08:41 - Feb 17 Great Captain oozes passion and belief but right back not,, center half center half center half. and Parr is very good in midfield as well as right back so options with him.
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Guthrum added 08:57 - Feb 17 A great aspect of this story is the contrast with his latter days at Forest, when the captaincy really wasn't working for him and he received a lot of flak from the fans. What a turnaround to today!
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mow_the_lawn added 09:25 - Feb 17 Undoubtedly a good captain which is evident to see on the pitch, however I think he gets picked on this basis alone at times. He's not a great footballer, whenever he has the ball he chips it down the line every time regardless of whether there's a runner there or not often needlessly giving away possession and inviting further pressure. Berra and Smith are more accomplished centre halves who are solid defensively (bar the occasional slip up from Smith) and comfortable on the ball. Chambers is an old fashioned head it and kick it defender and we need more from him. When Parr plays at RB, it shows how weak we are there when Chambers is back there. Dont mean to be too critical but if the back four was picked solely on ability then Chambers would be on the bench each week.

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PJH added 09:35 - Feb 17 Don't agree mow_the_lawn because on current form and on likelyhood of making a mistake,Smith would need to be one left out of back four. Smith was actually having his best game for a while at Fulham,until his error but the fact that there was (another) error is a concern. Although Chambers is not a natural RB, i think his performances there are improving, particularly going forward.

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Smithy added 11:27 - Feb 17 to say he's not a right back I feel is a bit unfair. Yes, totally agree his best position is centre half no question but for me he has really grown into the right back berth. Yes he is no world beater but at this level he is very very consistent and capable. The Sheff Wed game was a great marker, and the amount of times he appeared in the box showed how much he has learnt and grown into the position, certainly better coming forward then he used to be, defensivley he is sound. Elliott Hewitt is really the only natural right back we have in the squad, Jonny Parr by his own admissions prefers to play on the left, so would you choose him over Chambers, no! Added to the fact he for me is the best captain in the division no question, so has to play.

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riley26 added 11:54 - Feb 17 I think Chambo does a decent job as a converted right-back, however I'd be seriously thinking of making that switch to CB and bringing Parr in for the Norwich game. The pace of Redmond is their biggest threat and I'd be worried seeing him one on one with the skipper.
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Lightningboy added 12:14 - Feb 17 Better in the middle than at RB but that's a decent problem to have as far as Mick is concerned - better to have 3 very good centre halfs than none. Maybe going with all 3 at the back with Parr & Mings as wing backs is the way forward ala Liverpool at the moment. Bart Chambers Berra Smith Parr Skuse Bishop Mings McGoldrick Sears Murphy ?
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Steve70 added 12:36 - Feb 17 Agreed put the lad back @ CH - Tommy could do with a break.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 12:41 - Feb 17 So much love for Chambers. I think we got a great insight into the kind of captain he is for the rest of the squad at the end of the Charlton away game - the way he celebrated with Noel Hunt and (colorfully) sang his praises after the match, it was like he'd taken Hunty under his wing following that fruitless spell at Leeds and quickly helped him to feel like he belonged with us. Plenty more fist pumps for the rest of the season, please! :)

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thebeat added 12:43 - Feb 17 mow_the_lawn couldnt disagree more. Chambers and Berra are a better partnership than Smith and Berra. Much better balanced due to Chambers being right footed. Also if u think Chambers just knocks it forward randomly then u must look the other way when Tommys on the ball, hoofs it forward every time especially when its on his right foot. I think most fans agree Chambo should be in alongside Berra with Parr at right back. More natural, balanced back four with attacking fullbacks. Hopefully Mick bites the bullet soon and puts Tommy on the bench for the good of the team. Im not saying Smiths no good before anybody jumps on my back, just that hes only our 3rd best centre half.

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itfc94 added 14:28 - Feb 17 I love Luke Chambers. He swears when he wants!
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bluesince84 added 17:33 - Feb 17 a lot of people speculating the line up for defense on sat, but i don't think it will make a difference is either Anderson or Tabb get anywhere near the team. The worrying scenario for me is that MM gets the defense right, drops smith for a couple of games to pair Chambers and Berra with Parr and Mings on either side. Brilliant, but have a sneaky suspicion that again, the midfield will be the wrong selection. Come on Mick, strikeforce picks itself, just wish the midfield did.!

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rfretwell added 18:02 - Feb 17 Give over about Anderson and Tabb. Both give their all for the cause and have alot more skill and creativity than some fans give them credit for. Lovely cross by Tabb for Murphys header
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thebeat added 19:53 - Feb 17 Sorry but Andersons simply not good enough, league 1 player at best, we can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of good games hes had. Hes the only player ive seen who looks like hes running fast but isnt. Tabbs not as bad but we still play better when both are left out.
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blueboy1981 added 22:18 - Feb 17 ........ it's all too easy to blame Defenders for mix up's between themselves and their Goalkeeper - recently, has to be said, a bit of a problem for us. As much as I rate Bart as our No 1 Keeper, I do wonder if he puts his name on the ball early enough sometimes - after all it's the keepers ball / call in such situations - a Defender would normally expect an appropriate call from his Keeper IF he decides the ball is his. A Defender is in limbo somewhat until / unless he gets a call. Berra and Smith have both had these apparently unclear situations recently, which have led to goals being conceded - for whatever reason. I have a feeling this has been an issue behind the scenes recently - because it should most definitely NOT happen - it has / can cost us dearly and must be resolved. Chambers - undoubtedly a fully committed and enthusiastic Captain, who importantly, plays to the crowd, BUT - a Full Back ? ........ never, and is to some extent wasted out there.

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