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Skuse: No Lack of Ambition
Monday, 2nd May 2016 06:00

Stand-in skipper Cole Skuse has dismissed claims that the Blues lack ambition but admits he and the rest of the squad expected to finish higher in the Championship table this season. The 30-year-old wore the armband during Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the MK Dons in the final home game of the season with regular captain Luke Chambers out with an ankle injury.

“I’m not really the person to answer questions like what it takes to take the next step,” the former Bristol City captain said following Saturday’s game. “That’s down to staff and the hierarchy.

“The fans have been vocal in their criticism. Perhaps not in as many games as social media and the press would have you believe.

“There was perhaps one game, against Rotherham, when we were particularly disappointing, but believe me the players were just as disappointed as the fans were. The fans made their frustration clear but it hasn’t been as bad as it has been made out to be.”

Skuse doesn’t agree with fans - one armed with a banner at Saturday's match - who claim the club is lacking ambition or those calling for a change of manager.

“I don’t think the club lacks ambition at all,” he added. “People question the players, question the manager, question the owner but they really should be careful what they wish for.

“Who are you going to get in the Championship that is a better manager than Mick McCarthy? The owner has been very, very, very generous and has done a lot for this club.

“It is a case of the players stepping up next season. We, as players, thought we would do better than eighth, we thought we would be top six but it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.

“We don’t come to work looking not to do well, we have bad days, it’s human nature. I’m sure you have bad days at work sometimes.

“Every team has bad spells, we had ours at the wrong time and the fans get frustrated, we get frustrated but you can’t question the club’s ambition, or certain people’s ambition. We have had injuries to key players at key times but that is the nature of the beast.”

Reflecting on the victory over the MK Dons, he said: “It was massive to finish he season at home on a high. It has been quite a disappointing period over the past few weeks and the season has ended earlier for us than we expected. So, to get the three goals and three points was massive for us and the fans.

“Maybe it was because we had nothing to play for but also the team was as offensive as it could be with players coming back in, which showed by getting three goals.

“It was naïve of us the way we conceded. We lost possession and I perhaps should have brought the lad down and taken a yellow card but he got into the box. For the second it is always disappointing to concede from set plays or restarts.”

Town end their season at Derby next Saturday and Skuse wants to finish 2015/16 on a winning note: “Derby are in the play-offs and we have nothing else to play for but we will respect the league and look to get three points as we did here.”

Former Blues striker Dean Bowditch, 29, was disappointed that his MK Dons side left Portman Road having been defeated but was pleased to have received a warm welcome back from his old fans.

“To come away from the game when we have lost and be happy is hard but coming back was very good,” he said.

“I didn’t think the fans would remember me never mind give me such a warm reception. It was lovely.

“I’m disappointed for the gaffer, the lads and our fans but personally it was special to come back to such a great place where I have so many happy memories.”

He added: “When I left Ipswich I had to re-evaluate my career. I dropped down a level and started again with Yeovil, which was a fantastic time for me there.

“I have been with MK Dons for quite a while now and it has been brilliant. We have won promotions, our standards have been very high and I have learned so much. These are times I will cherish.

“I have a year left on my contract and I will stay and do my very best, which I always have done, and we will look to get promoted straight away.”


Photo: Action Images



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battyblue added 06:36 - May 2
Skusey glad to hear you read the press etc .....regarding the players stepping up next season it isn't going to happen with what we have because they are not capable of doing it,I wish for a new manager and a clear out of the squad.
3

bluefeast added 07:19 - May 2
Nobody will ever admit they are not good enough to achieve success , in whatever job they do. The sad fact for us as fans is yes we want promotion , but if we are not going to achieve that we want to be entertained. Our style of play i.e. one dimensional and predictable will not get us promoted ,thats the frustration. Look at top 6 over the last 8 seasons , look at the style of play ,look at the top two , possession football played with pace and a high pressing game wins games. Not long ball , imbalanced sides. The manager doesn't know how to coach football , or indeed how to pick a balanced side. He tried at the start of this season , did not do well with it away at reading and reverted to type. What that needed was to play players who are comfortable on the ball , especially at full back. Chambers has been so poor for 3 seasons at fightback bar probably 6 games ,why does the manager persist. That why we get frustrated and vent our thoughts. Lets hope this season has been a lesson learnt.
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Cakeman added 07:23 - May 2
Oh dear Mr Skuse....what is all this "be careful what you wish for"? Just wishing for value for money with entertainment would be a start and that is the very least to expect when paying a considerable amount of money to attend matches.
Also to say " you can't question the clubs ambition" is a statement which is hard to defend.
Where was the ambition in January just past or the the last close season for that matter?
Lots of money received in (Mings sale) and what did we get in return?

Fully respect your opinion Mr Skuse but mine is much different.
14

Penguinblue added 07:23 - May 2
Skuse - fair to average championship player. Has got a bit complacent IMO as one of the 'manager's' favourites.
Has lost his compass more regularly this year and strayed into the opposition's half.
4

sidtheswan added 07:35 - May 2
Sorry you and the rest of the squad (Bart excluded) played like you lacked ambition and were particularly awful against teams down the bottom at home . Whether it's you or MM's tactics there is not one midfielder who is good enough. There's no pace no skill and none of you can shoot straight or score goals a complete overhaul is needed to improve next season and that includes you . Leadbetter was our best recent midfielder ( despite what the majority of others thought) he passed he tackled and he scored and he was playing in a poor team and if it wasn't for the farce over his contract we would have got back more than we paid for him.
2

essex57 added 07:51 - May 2
Well said Cole
-1

TR11BLU added 08:08 - May 2
With you on our books.....I disagree
5

ChrisFelix added 08:25 - May 2
Good Championship player but let down by his appalling goal scoring tecord
5

finzha added 08:28 - May 2
Sidtheswan I'd say Bishop, Bru, Dozzell and Feeney count as 'good enough'. Don't you?
3

jas0999 added 08:30 - May 2
I'm sorry, but in January when all of our rivals strengthened and we opted to get rid of 4, bringing in a player not good enough for Barnsley on loan and a player not match fit - both cheaply - is a lack of ambition.

The other issue this season is players like Skuse. He and Murphy were excellent last season, but have been nowhere near as good this year. I have been a fan of Skuse and the ugly stuff he does during a game, but this year he has been less effective in my opinion and nor justifying his guaranteed start.
10

Mullet added 08:59 - May 2
I've not read the story properly, so I'm just going to make a passing reference to Skusey and repeat the same whinge I've been making for months. Facts aren't relevant and may well prove me wrong. Especially if I fail to ignore things like what has actually happened outside of my little fantasy world.
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essexboy added 09:02 - May 2
Really,the only reason your backing the manager is because some of you would not get into the team if we had a different manager.Is that not right.!!
7

Knightsy added 09:40 - May 2
I like Skusey, but what a Numpty.

I can think of loads of games that we've been disappointing.

Hull City, Blackburn (even though we won we was shocking), Rotherham, Charlton, Brentford, Fulham, The wins against Reading and Forest we was poor.

Basically the 2nd half of the season has been disappointing.
5

Pinewoodblue added 09:48 - May 2
Most depressing article have read all season. Not Phil's fault he can only report on what is said. Pleased to note that the players were as disappointed as the fans after the Rotherham game. Let's look back and see how they responded, see what ambition they showed. In the following six games we lost one and drew five. Sorry But to me thst shows a complete lack of ambition. With eight gsmes to go the chances of making the play offs were good but what did MickM do about it, did he reignite the missing spark and press on determined to make the play off, no he didn't.

Manager and players are just far too comfortable with their lot. You will not find a better example of a lack of ambition.
13

MattinLondon added 09:58 - May 2
If Skuse and Douglas are first team regulars next season then that means we haven't improved the quality of the squad.
8

Surco72 added 10:07 - May 2
Very average player who doesn't protect back four enough like other CDM in league and offers nothing at all going forward .
Doesn't ever dominate games but 1st on team sheet every week , that alone shows lack of ambition
9

essexboy added 10:19 - May 2
finzha,yes,but how many games have they played between them.Not Many.!!
1

Daleyitfc added 10:20 - May 2
More excuses : whereas I'm hoping for a single ex-Skuse.
5

crunchie1978 added 10:22 - May 2
What about your total lack of ambition to make a telling forward pass cole? Mind you i forgot about your 100% pass conversion rate......back to berra!
6

Bob7881 added 10:28 - May 2
I like to think that the current team have onnce again punched well above their weight this season. As the McCarthy backers point out he sets the team up to play a certain style because the quality of player he has available. Todays pro footballers have been groomed from a very young age so how they cant kick with both feet and not understand the basics of pass and move is beyond me. So i can only conclude we have had a great season with a team who are not fit to be proffesional footballers. The other point is it shows how poor the Championship standard is and yet managers and players can command vast salaries something is badly wrong with our game.
4

patrickswell added 10:43 - May 2
Talks about young players stepping up next season - but we expected the club and a squad that made top 6 last season to step up this year. They didn't. Across the board, they sat on their hands and squandered the opportunities they made. All those must-win games to try and make the top 6 in March/April. No one had the courage to make things happen and win those games. You all did just enough. Just enough not to lose, just enough to make it look like one of those things. Like our owner does just enough to keep the club going but b,,,get all else.

The fans just want a bit more. You've all done very well over the last 3 years, but something extra is needed now. We blame Evans more than you and the players, Cole, but this is supposed to be the best squad we've had in years even with our most creative players missing, apparently. There's nothing better than all of you, according to our manager. And how did you reward such positivity? By failing.
1

BrettenhamBlue added 11:26 - May 2
Positives
Knows how to tackle and tracks back effectively. Passes the ball with prosition to Berra and stays in own half for most if not all of game.
Negatives
All of the positives above.

Where is Mickszzztactics when we need him?
2

Lightningboy added 12:00 - May 2
Sorry Skuse but for me a lot that is wrong with our team are players like you mate.

Not your fault as i'm sure you do your best but you are one of the most average and let's be honest boring players I have ever seen wear a town shirt..no creativity,1 goal in 3 seasons (at this level).

No wonder fans are leaving in their droves..we need some excitement and creativity from the middle..central midfielders who get the game by the scruff of the neck,aren't afraid to run (and pass) forwards not just backwards and side to side & someone to chip in with a few goals from the middle every season.

This side needs an engine room and a brain...something we have lacked since the days of Magilton & Holland..hopefully Dozzell,Bishop and a couple of new summer signings will provide that.

If you are here next season Cole then for God's sake get some shooting lessons during the summer.
5

Superfrans added 13:04 - May 2
Good words Cole. Some of these fans don't know what they're talking about. You get that at lots of clubs. Disappointing end to the season, respectable league position. Let's hope we can grab some points at Pride Park to finish the season on a high.
-8

Steelmonkey added 13:18 - May 2
Well Cole if you think that Saturday's win over MK Dons was good than perhaps you should start looking through your eyes and not out of your a$€e, you might even be able to see a forward pass to make. How you have been a first choice player only goes to show what a poor selection of midfield players we have. Yes your probably the best of the bunch, but that really does not say a lot. Let's hope the one of the "big money buys" that we MIGHT get in the close season is a class above what we have.
4


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