Blues legend Terry Butcher believes Town have a foundation on which they can build a side which can compete next season after missing out on the play-offs by one place and five points in 2015/16.

Butcher, 57, believes the Blues suffered from losing the likes of David McGoldrick, Teddy Bishop and Ryan Fraser to injury for lon spells and says it’s players of their ilk that manager Mick McCarthy needs to add this summer.

“They’ve been up and down and it’s been difficult this year,” the former England centre-half reflected on the season just gone. “The injuries to key personnel have been a major factor.

“You just hope that next year we can get a good run at it with one or two good signings because the nucleus is there, the foundation is there, it just needs adding the more talented little gems like Fraser and people like that. We need to get them on board.

“I think it’s a disappointment for everybody that we didn’t get into the play-offs having got there the previous year, but now Norwich are back down as well and we’ve got the Old Farm derby to look forward to and I just hope now that we can go on and win them rather than playing second best to the lot up the road.”

Regarding his own future, Butcher says his management career may be over having left his most recent club Newport County, where his former central defensive partner Russell Osman was his assistant, back in October.

“I don’t know. It probably is but we’ll see what happens,” he added. “I just enjoy coming down here to Portman Road and watching from afar and doing my radio and TV bits and things like that. You walk away, no pressure and you just enjoy life.”

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 18:12 - May 23 I certainly agree there is a base, but there is also an awful lot of players who aren't good enough. Assessing the squad, Bart is one of the best keepers in the league and although I don't rate Gerken he is adequate back up. Defence for me still needs strengthening and we need a right back. Knudsen improved and deserves the left back role. The midfield is the key area. Looking at players leaving, either released or loans, we could do with at least three additions, basing the midfield around Bishop. Skuse should be the ONLY defence minded player - but he divides opinion. Is he good enough after this seasons showing? Up front we look okay, but clearly didn't score enough. Perhaps question marks over Murphy and we lost Varney. I'd personally like to see another striker come in. Pitman is a super sub. There are always questions over McGoldricks fitness for an entire season. Perhaps a loan striker for cover a we don't want a repeat of this year.

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stevieiriswattii added 18:22 - May 23 I only saw Mr Butcher at the end of his Town career, but he always played with fire & passion. His managerial career has been rather mixed, but I would be pleased if he was back at Town in some capacity.
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ArnieM added 21:46 - May 23 Town could do little wrong in using TB's experience as a defensive coach .
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GiveusaWave added 00:28 - May 24 Sorry, but I think we "talk up" this squad far too much and fail to actually look at the opposition squads. Harry from Bath does a great job in that department before match days but if you look at the DEPTH and QUALITY of some of the other squads its unreal. I'm happy about the Webster transfer but still feel we are NOT competitive enough. We need a lot of luck this season including all the following: Bart to have a season just like the last one. Murphy to get back to scoring 16-20 goals and showing us the form from the season before last. Dozzell, Bishop and Mcgoldrick all being in top form and not getting injured. Knudsen to have a great season. Players on the outskirts of our squad (Coke) to have a fantastic season whenever they have to come into the team. If we get this combination, we will go up. But it's asking a great deal.

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carsey added 08:41 - May 24 I think what @guentchev is saying is that Town need a season like Leicester just had with no players getting long term injuries, the first choice 11 being able to play the full 90 minutes and when the manager does call on the squad players they come in and do a good job. Like others I have serious doubts about McGoldricks fitness and even young Bishop has to prove he is over his "growing pains" and can last the season because we have no one else who can play in these roles with their ability. Whatever happens I just want to see us with the ball on the floor more.

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ghostofescobar added 09:00 - May 24 Still a hero to me, being of a certain age. Great that he still refers to ITFC as "we". Good lad!!
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Currie10 added 09:14 - May 24 Does make me laugh when people say the defence needs strengthening though at times I can understand what they're getting at. People do realise in over 30 fixtures last year we kept a clean sheet or conceded just the once.......!?
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Lightningboy added 10:46 - May 24 Spot on with your comments jas0999. With Webster coming in presumably as right-back I think he'll move Chambers into the middle with either Berra or Smith (one of those 2 ain't gonna be happy obviously). Skuse is very average imho and i'd like a new midfield "general" brought in - the problem is Mick thinks Skuse is "different class". We need a bit of pace added to the forward line/wings and we need to cross our fingers that Bishop & McGoldrick stay fit most of the season. Other than that,keep the ball down and try to play some decent football would make a nice change..we are capable of it Mick!

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Vic added 13:55 - May 24 Jas0009 - so basically you're agreeing with Mick then! That's what he has said and is doing.msigned a defender and said that we need more goals from midfield and is looking for two wide men.
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RRanger added 15:55 - May 24 Good post Jas0999. I like Skuse as our defensive midfielder. I think he suffered this year for much of the season because he was one of two or three midfielders all best at similar roles. Douglas,for me was disappointing. I live in West London and saw him on quite a few occasions and he always seemed one of Brentford's better players, scoring vital goals but he never really did it for us and I suspect he had his best years at Brentford. For me Skuse, with Hyam if Skuse is injured as backup should be our holding midfielder with Bishop playing the creative central role plus two others (possibly Dozzell, Bru or a new addition) either side of him.

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blueboy1981 added 17:57 - May 24 The Club has always had a foundation - shame about the quality of what has gone with it over recent years. TWTD ......... whatever happened to them ?? - no prizes for the answer.
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brian_a_mul added 21:13 - May 24 Good to see terrys opinion of the town squad. I agree regards our injuries to our most creative players ( bish, didz, Fraser and murphs). For me, Mick was a better centre back than Butch. We don't need butch in any coaching capacity.
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MathieandMarshall added 12:25 - May 25 slightly off topic but watched the BBC documentary "Alfies Boys of 66" last night. The general feeling was that Sir Alf picked the best team for the job and not the best players!... round pegs in round holes even if that meant leaving out one of the "stars" How many managers these days try to shoe horn all of their best players into a team. Mick certainly does and you can see Hodgson trying to do it now to accomodate Kane, Varney and Rooney. I'd love to see a balanced side next season,. people playing in their strongest positions and if that means Mick has to bench a Berra, Murphy etc then so be it for the greater good of the team

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