Having netted just once in his 136 Town appearances to date you might be forgiven for thinking Cole Skuse is a bit concerned about the lack of goals, but the experienced midfielder is anything but.

In fact he is at his self-deprecating best when the talk turns to goals — or rather, as in case, the lack of them.

He came close to his second Town goal in last week’s 0-0 home stalemate against Aston Villa, having a netbound effort cleared off the line in stoppage time by the visitors’ substitute, Aly Cissokho.

But Skuse, whose only goal so far came in the 3-1 home defeat of Cardiff in April last year, laughed: “He could probably have chested it down then volleyed it away but he did me a favour and made it look better than it was. It was as close as I’ve come in about 18 months though.

“I know my capabilities as a player. I know I’m not going to go out and suddenly replace a Teddy Bishop or a Ryan Fraser. I’m not going to get 20 goals a season or create 20 goals a season.

“I know what I’m capable of and what I’m being asked to do. You don’t want your creative players to get injured — that happened last season — because it puts more of a strain on the more defensive minded players. But we all have our parts to play.

“The fans have been brilliant with me because they realise what I’m about and what I can do.

“I’ve never scored lots of goals at any stage of my career. It’s not as if I came here from Bristol City with a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder because I did the same job there as I’m trying to do here.

“The frustration from the fans might have been because the likes of Bish and Didzy were injured last season and we were lacking that bit of creativity.”

Skuse dismissed the thought that he might not like to see team-mates getting the main plaudits and declared himself delighted that his recent partner in midfield, 34-year-old Jonathan Douglas, was attracting so many positive comments from supporters more aware of what he contributes to the cause.

He added: “Since day one I’ve said Dougie hasn’t had the career he has had for no reason. He’s played at some top clubs and played a lot of games.

“You know what you’re going to get from Dougie — he’s a very honest boy and a great lad — and we’ve seen how he can perform day in, day out, at training. I’m glad he’s getting his praise at the moment.

“I can’t speak on behalf of Dougie but for my part it doesn’t bother me one iota if I’m not getting plaudits.

“The fans are entitled to their opinions and if other players get the plaudits I’m more than happy because they probably deserve them anyway. We’re just doing the job we’re asked to do and trying to do our bit to help the team.”

Photo: TWTD

BrettenhamBlue added 12:22 - Sep 23 Wonder what the odds are of Skuse scoring the first goal at Leeds.
4

Burnzee1991 added 12:24 - Sep 23 Waht an absolute Gent Cole Skuse is. He does a fantastic job for town and is very underrated believe me we'd miss him!
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Burnzee1991 added 12:26 - Sep 23 25-1 with William Hill @PJewellisaGod on there now placing my bet for Saturday lol
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tractorkent added 12:53 - Sep 23 I think Cole does a great job for us but skuse and Douglas or Skuse and Hyam in the middle, come on give us a break!
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JimmyP45 added 13:03 - Sep 23 I would like to see Skuse more concerned with his poor passing ability rather than goals and leave the goals to the more attacking players.
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Garv added 13:29 - Sep 23 I like Skuse, I really do. I just wish he had a bit more pressure put on him and and his position. It doesn't really matter how he plays because he knows, without fail, he will in the team the next week.
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Hegansheroes added 13:38 - Sep 23 Skuse damned well should be concerned not only with a lack of goals but also his lack of creativity. Unfortunately his attitude sums ITFC. Sorry I forgot, he always puts in a shift, what ever that means
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MattinLondon added 13:39 - Sep 23 I just find it strange that creative players are expected to add defensive qualities to their game and are expected by MM to run back to do all the ugly side of things. Whereas players like Skuse can continue to play as a glorified defender.
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brian_a_mul added 13:53 - Sep 23 A vital cog in the team, would really miss him in his anchoring role. Hyam doesnt yet have the fitness, intelligence & discipline to perform consistently effective as Skuse. Very few players in the league can match him in this regard.
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hoppy added 14:17 - Sep 23
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crunchie1978 added 14:55 - Sep 23 I'd agree with a few comments on here he needs to be more creative...I'm pretty sure when he grew up wanting to be a professional footballer it wasn't to be a " defensive midfielder "...just wish he'd take a risk once in a while especially if we are losing the game...he never does...I rate him but at times he needs to step up..
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vanmunt added 15:20 - Sep 23 Skuse sums up Ipswich Town at the moment perfectly.. bang average and dull.
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Pilgrimblue added 17:19 - Sep 23 Skuse ought to be concerned about his lack of assists. He's a defender in all but name nowadays. He does his tidying up etc but never looks up and turns to make a move up field, even when there's space. I'd be interested to see his stats of who he passes to and where his touches are (a mass of dots in his own half). Maybe MM keeps him back which is a shame as I feel he could do more esp with Douglas to back him up. But he is slow and if he gets too far up he'd probably not get back to help defence so for me this would be his last season at PR.

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whiskey added 17:24 - Sep 23 He's great at what he does - I rate him as one of the best players in the team, but he needs someone with more attacking prowess and speed than Dougie to feed the ball to. I'd like to see Mcgoldrick in front of him or Bishop, Ward, etc I think Douglas is expected to track back and defend when needed, but this doesn't seem to work when the way we move the ball up field usually is on the break or just lumping it out of our 25. And when we do that usually it's just Pittman trying to hold the ball up until Dougie or Sears get back into attacking role. I would like more passing from the back, instead of lumping it up field, but that's not MM's way, for now. I've not completely given up on MM's tactics. He is doing what he needs to do to, given the means at his disposal, and this won't change until we're up a division. That's a bit of a dull portrait but accurate I think.

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Seasider added 18:14 - Sep 23 With a manager like Mick McCarthy Cole Skues is in an ideal world.He is picked for every game he is fit,and has a manager that doesn't seem to want or expect him to go over the halfway line very often. However like most if not all of the current squad he seems a nice bloke. McCarthy has certainly found what he had earlier in his stint at Portman Rd ie a solid defence;although feel that Chambers is a liability;but like Skusy is always picked. What Mick seems incapable of doing ,despite having several attacking players,is to forge this mean defensive trait with a more free flowing attacking brand of football,that gets more than just the odd shot on target;hence the poor scoring record. If he manages to do this then Town could be up there challenging this season.Unfortunately being the type of player he was seems to rub off on his teams,which no doubt is partly due to his coaching;but I remain hopeful that one day he will manage this.After all he has changed his formation from always being 442 to 4321 or 433 which he was commenting on the other day. I live in hope rather than expectation.

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TimmyH added 20:43 - Sep 23 He does seem a nice bloke BUT the paragraph where he says he doesn't expect to score 20 or create 20 a season made me grind my teeth somewhat. I'm not sure what Cole's record is for creating either but it can't be many more than what he has scored, he does the basic things well but that's about it, as others have said there should be far more pressure put on him for his position...all far too cosy.

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