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McCarthy: Berra Hearts Exit Report "Just Ridiculous"
Monday, 16th Jan 2017 14:05

Town boss Mick McCarthy says yesterday’s Scottish report claiming Blues central defender Christophe Berra could leave Portman Road and rejoin his old club Hearts this month is “just ridiculous”.

It was reported that Berra, 31, was in the process of negotiating a settlement of the final six months of his contract with the Blues and would subsequently be set for a return to Tynecastle, but McCarthy dismissed the claim out of hand.

“That is just ridiculous,” he said. “Have you seen how many players we’ve had recently, the squad and the substitutes we’ve had? And I would be settling up Christophe Berra’s contract, who has played every single game? I don’t think so.

“How ridiculous that rumour is. There are rumours that might be close to the truth, but that’s as far away from the truth as you can get. It’s nuts.”

Asked about Berra potentially going back to Scotland, he joked: “He’s not heading back now, he’s got eight weeks off in the summer, he can do what he wants then!

“We’ve got an option on him to sign him. We’re talking again about options, he’s our player for the next 18 months if that’s what we want to do.

“I can’t see any reason why I wouldn’t want to keep Christophe Berra, he’s been different class, he’s arguably been our best defender for the last four years.

“He’s certainly been one of the top ones and has consistently played. He’s staying here as far as I’m concerned.”

Having signed Kieffer Moore from Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, McCarthy says he’s no nearer making a further addition to his squad.

“No, and nothing could be done between now and tomorrow which could affect tomorrow’s game anyway, so it would be for the weekend,” he added. “We’re still trying and still getting negatives at the moment.”


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blueblood66 added 14:15 - Jan 16
an option on him, as long as wants to stay surely?
2

ernie added 14:25 - Jan 16
Thank god for that! He may have made a few mistakes recently but a year and a half ago Berra was our best defender by a country mile, can remember game after game when he bailed out Smith and Mings and he won't have become a bad defender overnight, more likely due to the inconsistent form this season and getting used to playing with Webster.
10

BlueMachines added 14:42 - Jan 16
The club alone can extend the contract. Same with Chambers. Makes sense to extend if someone wants to buy him.. Means we could command a fee, even if it is a modest one. If he wanted to leave it would be kind of the club to let him go for free, but the club are by no means obliged to.
4

Lightningboy added 14:46 - Jan 16
Not been as good as he was when he first arrived but still a classy defender at this level and still at a great age for a centre back - we should be tying him down to another 2 or 3 years.
4

Marcus added 14:50 - Jan 16
Is there going to be a Berra Exit referendum?
1

FenboyBlue added 14:52 - Jan 16
So Berexit doesn't mean Berexit then ?

Not so Blue a Monday after all.
0

iaintaylorx added 14:59 - Jan 16
Good news. He's still one of the best defenders in the league. When the whole team start playing well, he will too. We had the best defence in the league the opening 15 games or so, and he doesn't suddenly become a poor defender!
3

dirtydingusmagee added 15:10 - Jan 16
smoke and fire come to mind .Its good that he is also ''different class'' [along with slugless].I don't take much notice of transfer talk unless and until its on the dotted line .I feel sure he will be gone before next season.
4

TR11BLU added 15:12 - Jan 16
Pity
-3

Cookycrew added 15:13 - Jan 16
Consistent Quality top Class Defender - for a change I do agree with MM - he has been arguably our best defender over the past 4 years. Some recent mistakes dosn't suddenly make him a bad player.
2

Warkys_Tash added 15:14 - Jan 16
Yes! Glad Mick set it straight. Best defender we have had in years & a top one in the EFL without doubt. He just needs to get back to cutting out the mistakes, but he has found the net again which is great news.

Venus, McGreal & Mownray all played until 35, Berra is only 31 which isn't old for a centre half. Wasn't Johnny Walk 37?

We have a thin squad, probably rumour started by an agent trying to drum up a fee.
2

Crawfordsboot added 15:15 - Jan 16
Now will the self righteous who decried Berta's behavior in seeking to have his contract paid up as disgraceful, outrageous etc. hold their hands up and in future think twice before slamming a town player based on a press rumor (gossip).
6

Kesgraveblue57 added 15:45 - Jan 16
It's a shame he not going as he has cost us lot in the way of points , he's not a leader just the third rate favourite of McCarthy it's a pair of them left at the same time, let's have a party

-6

Kesgraveblue57 added 15:51 - Jan 16
Sorry about my English instead ot it,s a pair should have read if the pair
0

runningout added 15:52 - Jan 16
Lincoln will be putting high balls in Berra's direction, hoping for a nice knock on again..
5

Kirbmeister added 15:56 - Jan 16
Kesgraveblue57 - I wouldn't worry about your English, you speak nonsense anyway.
7

Lukeybluey added 16:15 - Jan 16
Just heard we have signed Jordan Spence, until the end of the season.
1

rickw added 16:17 - Jan 16
Berra's made it clear he wants to return to Hearts one day, I assumed he'd leave in the summer. As we have an extra year option it does mean if he does ask to leave we can ask Hearts for a little money for him so we don't renew
1

rugbytomc added 16:26 - Jan 16
Berra is good in general. However, I would be tempted to drop him to sharpen him up as far too many costly mistakes lately I hope that hasn't gone unnoticed by mick and that he's at least having words with him if not dropping him because we can't afford costly mistakes at the moment.
Over the years he's probably made less than Smith or chambo or Webster but they've all had their breaks from the side and come back better.
He's so experienced he needs to find his voice and lead that backline
1

JimmyP45 added 16:57 - Jan 16
No we are not likely to sign any more players Mick says. 2 hours later we sign Jordan Spence lol. Does he not know about this?
2

Wickets added 17:21 - Jan 16
Good to know.
0

OldClactonBlue added 17:43 - Jan 16
Sorry fen boy meant to mark you up
0

itfcgene added 17:44 - Jan 16
Okay that clears that up. I know I am not alone in feeling a bit ignorant about contracts between a player and club. for example, it seems to me that the following consensus exists among some here: the terms of a contract are binding as long as a player is happy with that contract, but if he gets unhappy, it's legal and reasonable that he won't play until the terms are changed, which in my little universe seems a bit ridiculous...
0

blueboy1981 added 18:32 - Jan 16
Berra's not what he was - far from it - much better around, but still doing his bit - just .... !!!

Mark me down all you will - but it's true.
2

Brownie added 20:44 - Jan 16
Big fan of Berra's - I assume as he won player of the year here and was 3rd the following if my memory's correct there must have been a few of those although reading some of the comments on here perhaps not.

That said he has been in poor form recently with mistakes costing goals on the last 3 games. I'm for cutting him some slack and expecting a return to better form. If that doesn't happen the manager needs to deal with it. In the meantime he still is very much a player we should keep & get behind.
0


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