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Chambers Looking Forward to Return to Centre-Half
Tuesday, 27th Sep 2016 06:00

Town skipper Luke Chambers is relishing a rare opportunity to re-establish his central defensive partnership with colleague Christophe Berra in this week’s home clashes against Brighton and Huddersfield, two teams currently sitting third and second in the Championship respectively.

A hamstring injury to Adam Webster in the 1-0 weekend defeat at Leeds has ruled him out of the Portman Road double-header, Chambers replacing him and relinquishing his right-back role to Josh Emmanuel as Mick McCarthy’s injury-hit team seeks to go into the forthcoming international break on a six-point high.

Chambers said: “I have a chance to go back in the middle, something that I’ll probably be a bit rusty with but, hopefully, something that I can enjoy and help the team do well.

“Hopefully I’ll fit in there nicely and easily, but I haven’t played there for a while. It’s going to be an interesting experience again but one I’m looking forward to and hopefully I can enjoy it. I’ll just be trying to help the team win games and do well.”

Chambers agreed that Webster’s arrival in the summer from Portsmouth led him to think his chances of a return to a central defensive role would be even more limited.

But he added: “I’ve always said I would like to play centre-half but I’ve played at right-back for, what, three years now? I don’t even know if I can say I’m a centre-half any more because I’ve been playing at right-back for so long.

“Whether I’m everyone’s favourite playing in that position is up for debate but I’m just trying to do my best for the team and help them be successful. I feel we’ve been fairly successful in the last few years when I’ve played there.

“I played right-back at both Northampton and Nottingham Forest and as things stand now I’ve probably played as many games at right-back as I have at centre-half.

“If it’s a debate it’s for everyone else to talk about. I’ve played 200 games in four years at this club so I must have been doing something right there.

“People might think I do a job there — whether I do as good a job as a lad who’s played right-back his whole life is for people to decide for themselves.

“All I can do is try to improve and try to do the best I can for the team. I’m probably always going to divide opinion but it’s just one of those things.

“I will play where I’m asked to play and without fuss. I want to play my part in making the team successful, like we were a couple of seasons ago when we made the play-offs.

“I don’t think we have conceded too many goals over the last four or five years since I’ve been at the club. Before I came here the team was finishing 15th or thereabouts for three years.

“I think it has been a positive time since I came to the club so it’s a bit of a downer when everyone talks about me playing at right-back.

“But if the manager is choosing me to play there he must think I’m the right player for that position and we haven’t been languishing in the bottom half of the league.

“I enjoy playing there but I think as a team we need to offer each other a lot more options when we have the ball, whether it’s me on the ball at right-back or someone else, to make our jobs a bit easier — and to make it easier to watch for everyone.”


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tractorshark added 08:51 - Sep 27
Very honest answers from Chambers.
He's clearly a decent bloke but not a genuine right-back.
That said, he has become a scapegoat for the team's deficiencies.
There are just as many problems further up the pitch, like a complete lack of midfield creativity and strikers who, on paper, look great but actually are very inconsistent in front of goal.
3

BrettenhamBlue added 08:52 - Sep 27
Don't worry. Like it or not you'll be back to playing right back in no time. We can all clearly see you are a right back and Freddie is a wide player (oh, and Best is a target man).
4

TimmyH added 09:56 - Sep 27
should have been playing there yonks ago!!!...enforced by injuries otherwise Mick would NEVER be playing him as a centre back. Mark me down all you like but it's true.
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muccletonjoe added 10:09 - Sep 27
Emmanuel , if good enough needs to show it tonight
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Sixto6 added 10:52 - Sep 27
Keep telling people you are a centre half ! For Christ sake don't tell them your a right back !
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cornishblu added 12:46 - Sep 27
Muccletonjoe...whoever goes in there needs to be given a chance ..luke has had three years and still not got it right....my concern would be if Emmanuel gets in and has a poor couple of games he will be dropped and this would be MM justification for going back to plan A.....anyone needs 12 games on a run before a full balanced assessment can be given
Safe journeys to all who go tonight COYB
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muccletonjoe added 13:05 - Sep 27
Cornishblu , you know he will not get a run of games to prove himself. Which is why he needs to make it difficult to drop him. He has not got the best of games to do that in , up against a pacy individual who is a handful for anyone. I wish the lad well.
2

theblueginger added 14:02 - Sep 27
Personally, I was always quite confused as to why Chambers wasn't kept alongside Smith years ago. In the second half of 12/13 they formed a very solid partnership, that certainly brought the best out of TS.
I know Berra is a very good defender in his own right, but as the beat has said on the phone-in before, you get the sense he is very much an individual on the pitch. Chambers, being the excellent communicator he is, seemed to enhance Smith greatly in his first season here.

I also think having the captain more centrally located on the pitch, helps with duties as a leader, although that may be my old-fashioned way of thinking.
1

Seasider added 15:47 - Sep 27
Once again Chambers being more communicative and honest than his one dimensional Manager
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coolcat added 14:33 - Sep 28
I like the way Mick McCarthy pushes the boundaries with players by putting them in new positions and one of those was Chambers at right back. It's necessary for players to adapt to cover for injuries, having a small squad etc and increases competition between the players.

I remember when Mick first put Chambers at right back and how Chambers was reluctant as his natural position is in the centre, but just got on with it and has not made a bad job of it either. We reached the play offs in 14/15 & got to 7th 15/16 whilst he was rb.

My favourite game was Watford away 14/15, which I also went to. It was one of the best team performances I've seen from Town. Defence were particularly good and Chambers made a brilliant block against Guedioura in the first half. He's also recently made some excellent blocks at Derby.

It's good for the team that he can play in both roles. It's a testament to Mick that he can bring out the best in his players.
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