Blues boss Mick McCarthy says striker Brett Pitman’s recent lack of game-time is simply a matter of him having preferred the other options at his disposal to last season’s 11-goal top scorer, who last appeared when he started the 3-0 home defeat to Derby on January 31st, his 29th birthday.

“I had a chat with Brett yesterday, he hasn’t come on for four or five games and I just said to him I’m pretty fortunate, I’ve got other options and that’s what I’ve tried,” McCarthy said.

“And sometimes that’s what it amounts to. It’s nothing he’s done wrong. But we’ve had the physical presence of Kieffer Moore and we’ve had that energy and pace and that ability to run in behind of Freddie Sears, and that’s just what I’ve chosen to do.

David McGoldrick and Tom Lawrence, both more number 10s than out-and-out goalscorers, are McCarthy’s preferred front pairing at present. Does he believe he needs to play someone who is a more recognised goalscorer?

“They’ve been our goalscorers and arguably for the last few weeks our best players,” he added. “We always need a goalscorer, everybody needs a goalscorer.

“Where are we going to get that one from? Freddie was knocking them in for fun at one stage and then it’s been sparse for him.

“Pits has scored four goals, he’s done OK, Didz has done OK, Tom’s been the shining light in terms of scoring goals.

“We need to find them from elsewhere as well. Emyr’s added to it, we need to get defenders back scoring as well and share them around.

“If it’s not a season where we’ve got one outstanding goalscorer then let’s spread them around and get more from elsewhere.”

Huws has scored twice since joining on loan from Cardiff and McCarthy has been pleased that the midfield has scored more regularly this season, Grant Ward has five, although he would like more.

“And Jonas Knudsen has added a couple of goals. The centre-backs have normally had more than that from corner kicks and freekicks.

“The midfield have contributed, a couple of them, and then I guess we need more assists from them and more goals.”

McCarthy has previously said some of the younger players in the squad will get their chance once the Blues are safe and he says the same is the case with some of the more senior players on the fringes.

“Players that are in the first-team squad as well,” he continued. “Kieffer, does he warrant a start? Yes, probably, but not in front of Didz and Tom Lawrence.

“Danny Rowe’s impressed everyone in training, would he be able to start, yes he would, and Tristan Nydam.

“Playing in the way we’re playing might suit Andre Dozzell better, it would suit him better playing as one of three.

“I’d like to get Teddy Bishop back in it as well. There are a few things that I’d like to see but I’m not going to do that at the expense of us being as organised as we’ve been and playing like we’ve been playing.

“I’m not suggesting it would cost us, but why change it when it’s been going OK, let’s make sure we’ve got enough points.”

Photo: TWTD

cat added 16:44 - Mar 6 I would prefer it if Moore was given a chance from the start, with his height I would expect him to fit in to the style of play, maybe he could get on a few of the hoofs up front and make a menace of himself. Nothing against Pits though, there's no doubt he has an eye for goal, probably better as an impact player from the bench.
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iaintaylorx added 17:10 - Mar 6 Sadly have to agree with cat^ Moore looks too slow and doesn't use his height as much as he should in terms of being a physical nuisance. Was worth a punt, but doesn't offer anywhere near enough to be on the bench. Pitman is much better.
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Daleyitfc added 17:10 - Mar 6 I would prefer to see Moore employed in a position that made the most of his talents : I would suggest hot-dog salesman .. or corner-flag.
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ivandeighton added 19:02 - Mar 6 Don't rate Moore one bit
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Mark added 20:36 - Mar 6 I am sure that if Huws, Ward, Lawrence and McGoldrick create the chances, Pitman would score them. Brett is not a Murphy replacement and he often plays poorly, but he has shown he will score chances (often not created).
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runaround added 22:12 - Mar 6 Mick says why change it when it's going OK but he changed it to bring back Skuse for Dave. Double standards! It always seems to be the younger, talented, attacking players who get "rested" or subbed off! Football has evolved but Mick hasn't & im not sure that even with masses of money to spend it would be any more entertaining. I don't expect to get promoted or win every game but I do expect ITFC to entertain & try to win the game instead of trying not to lose

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KiwiTractor added 06:29 - Mar 7 From what I've seen, Moore has similar skills to a lampost
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naa added 10:21 - Mar 7 Must admit I haven't seen anything from Moore that warrants him being ahead of Pitman in the slightest, especially when we're currently trying to play a more passing style of play. Bringing Moore on just encourages hoofing, which Moore doesn't seem that capable of playing.
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muhrensleftfoot added 11:03 - Mar 7 Another example of odd tactics from Mick. He played Pitman up front on his own for several games, when we were hoofing the ball high up to him, which doesn't suit Pitman's game at all. Now we are trying to play the ball on the ground, with 2 up front, which probably suits him better, Mick isn't playing him at all, not even off the bench. Just doesn't make sense to me.

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Lathers added 14:25 - Mar 7 I can't believe he's only 29! Tough paper round or what! I've never really rated him and I only see him being effective in a team that creates a bagful of chances. Clearly that doesn't happen at PR so he doesn't really fit in. He's done Ok considering, but he's very much a squad player and I would always play DM, TL and FS ahead of him. As for Moore, he will end up plying his trade back in the National League like James Alabi has done.

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Seasider added 15:46 - Mar 7 muhrensleftfoot.Spot on,was about to say the same thing so waste of time repeating. Would add,Pitman has only scored 4 goals;but from how many appearances? Not given a chance even from the bench lately;so how does the Manager know what Pits would do under this system.Seems to be freezing him out as he did with Jonny Parr,another good player who took his talents where it was appreciated.

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Lathers added 19:47 - Mar 7 Seasider, normally 100% agree with you mate, but firstly I would say how many of Pits goals have been pens? 3 out of 4? Secondly I genuinely don't think he is good enough for a team that aspires to be top 6, where as I rated Parr and agree he was frozen out when he always offered something positive. Pits was decent in Bournemouth's promo, because he came on for the last 20 and was served up with half a dozen good chances, hence his 15 goals.

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