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Pitman Hoping to Make it Third Time Lucky
Friday, 3rd Jul 2015 06:00

New striker Brett Pitman is hoping his move to Ipswich will make it third time lucky in his quest for Premier League football.

His goals — 13 from 18 league starts and a further 16 games from the bench — helped the Cherries to top slot in the Championship last season and he has an answer for anyone confused by his decision not to remain on board for their first-ever crack at the big-time.

Going further back in his career he was close to joining Blackpool in August 2010 after the clubs agreed a fee of an initial £400,000, only for the deal to collapse after Pitman had made his way to the North-West for talks.

He recalled: “I had a medical at Blackpool and in the end I decided it wasn’t for me. There were one or two reasons why and in the end I think it was a good decision.

“Ipswich could be third time lucky and it would be nice. That’s what I have come here for and hopefully we can get there. It would be nice to play in the Premier League.

“I wasn’t forced out at Bournemouth — it was my choice to leave. If I was going to be frustrated now at not being there I wouldn’t have come here. It’s nice to be at a club where you’re going to play a fair bit, hopefully, and that was why I chose to come to Ipswich.

“I’m here for football reasons but from what I’ve seen of the area it’s very pleasant. Bournemouth is a lovely area but from what the lads have been telling me I’m sure this is just as nice.”

Jersey-born Pitman, who first joined the Cherries when he was 16, had a year of his contract still to run when Town boss Mick McCarthy picked up the phone to opposite number Eddie Howe to check on the player’s possible availability.

Pitman added: “People ask if I am gutted at missing out on the Premier League with Bournemouth. It makes you look back and you think ‘I could still be there and I could still play’.

“But realistically I didn’t know how much I was going to play and when Ipswich came in for me I thought it was a really good challenge, one that really excited me, so that was why I chose to come here.

“I know there will be competition for places here and I think that’s good. No one has a God-given right to play so if you play well I’m sure you will stay in the team. If you don’t there are a few options up front. Hopefully, we can all chip in with our fair share of goals and that will help us.”

Asked to compare the Ipswich squad with the one he left behind at Bournemouth, he said: “It’s difficult to compare, to be honest. At the start of last season we probably didn’t feel we were going to be right up there at the end.

“It’s how you start and how the season goes obviously. All the players are not back yet so we’ll see but they reached the play-offs here last season so they can’t be too far away.”


Photo: Action Images



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MeenoITFC added 07:56 - Jul 3
We've lost a few but not key players apart from mings. Same squad as last year but strengthened with parts of the jigsaw getting put in place. 2 or 3 new ones get them to gel pre season then hit the ground running. COYB
1

Bluebell added 08:31 - Jul 3
I am really surprised that Bournemouth wanted to get rid of these 2 players. Let's hope for our sake it works out well for both of them (and us) and they help us to the Prem next season.

Who knows, we may pass Bournemouth as they are on their way down again!
3

bluefeast added 08:48 - Jul 3
Tactile answer to the comparison of squads ,bouremouth had a bunch of real technical footballers ,we have athleticism etc. However with these skilful additions things are balancing.
2

RaymondovicBlue added 10:24 - Jul 3
Happy to know that our squad is going to be better this year. Hoping that it all gels and we get top two!

Certainly the additions are good ones, and whilst Mings will be missed - we now have midfield players who can get crosses in so our LB can stick to defending!

Onward and upward!
1

afrodids added 10:33 - Jul 3
we hope so too . welcome to town brett hit the ground running. what a strike force we have goals from all 4 . A RB and a mF playermaker.required Look out championship he we come.
1

ThatMuhrenCross added 12:32 - Jul 3
It'll be interesting to see how much he plays. Trying to work out what sort of formation Mick will go for to incorporate everyone. Maybe something like this?

Bialkowski

RB??
Chambers
Berra
Parr

AM-N
Skuse
Bishop
Fraser

Sears (sub. Pitman)
Murphy (sub. McGoldrick)

What a dilemma!

1

runningout added 14:50 - Jul 3
if we are ruthless and clinical week in week out, we will go far... Seems obvious I know...
1

Warkys_Tash added 20:12 - Jul 3
RaymondovicBlue, why would you want overlapping attacking fullbacks?

I think Messrs Ramsey & Robson would disagree!
0

BerlinBlue added 22:29 - Jul 3
He really seems to have his head screwed on, and at 27 is at a good age for a striker. The Channel Islands aren't exactly known for being a hotbed of footballing talent, but who knows, he might end up emulating a certain Matt Le Tissier. His goals record so far is certainly more than promising.

Very happy he's here.
1

TimmyH added 15:29 - Jul 4
'Third time lucky'?! - surely he got 'lucky' second time when Bournemouth won promotion? then unlucky when they let him go (surprisingly).
0


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