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Veteran Boateng Training With Town
Veteran Boateng Training With Town
Thursday, 7th Jul 2011 23:02

TWTD understands that former Coventry, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Hull City midfielder George Boateng is currently training with Town. The 35-year-old is a free agent having been released from his contract with Greek side Skoda Xanthi at the end of the season.

Boateng, who was previously targeted by former Town manager Roy Keane in 2009 when his high wages proved a stumbling block, looks an ideal candidate for the holding midfield role Paul Jewell has been looking to fill this summer.

Born in Nkawkaw, Ghana, Boateng moved to Holland as a child and started his career with Rotterdam club Excelsior before moving across the city to Feyenoord in 1995.

In December 1997 he moved to Coventry City for £250,000, then a £4.5 million move to Aston Villa followed in July 1999, the midfielder playing in the 2000 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.

Middlesbrough paid £5 million for Boateng’s services in August 2002 and was in the sides which won the 2004 League Cup and lost the 2006 UEFA Cup final.

Hull City was Boateng’s next port of call in July 2008, the Tigers paying £1 million for a player who was to become a close friend of former Town loanee Jimmy Bullard during his time at the KC Stadium.

Capped four times by Holland earlier in his career, Boateng left Hull for Greek side Skoda Xanthi in July 2010, signing a two-year deal and playing alongside recent Town signing Nathan Ellington during his loan spell with the Greek club last season. It's understood that Boateng and Skoda agreed to go their separate ways at the end of 2010/11.

Yesterday, TWTD reported that Town could sign two players prior to next week’s pre-season tour of Holland with Lee Bowyer and Boateng looking the favourites to be Jewell’s fifth and sixth summer additions to his squad.

Elsewhere, former Blue Tommy Miller has joined Jordan Rhodes, Gary Roberts and Alan Lee at Huddersfield Town having been released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season.


Photo: Action Images



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tractorboy2434 added 23:08 - Jul 7
God who next, how about Roger Osborne or Johnny Wark, we will have the oldest and slowest midfield in the league, get out there and find some younger players for god's sake.
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taylor15 added 23:10 - Jul 7
why are we going for the veterans, who are way past it?!

i trust paul jewell, however, the singings he has made so far, only chopra has put a smile on my face, and maybe cresswell. we need someone who has a bit of flair, something to show. lewis mcgucan i would love to come here, and why not give a shot at nicky marnard?, these two players have some real quality, and can fire us in the right direction! and i wouldn't mind scott loach between the sticks, as he is an ipswich town fan!
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tractorblue99 added 23:10 - Jul 7
Fair enough I suppose. He was good when he played for Hull and he could persuade Jimmy to join...
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Garv added 23:11 - Jul 7
Not bad at all, there is nothing wrong with age and experience in the middle of the park, look at derry at QPR. With Martin and Carson on the wings it could balance out well.
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chrisw2045 added 23:14 - Jul 7
Yet another fantastic signing if it goes through, exactly what ipswich has been missing in recent years is the experience of players that have played at the top level consistently throughout their careers, Boateng euro cup finalist, bowyer champions league semi finalist last year league cup winner. Ipswich most certainly will be a dark horse next year the players being signed will certainly complement what we have an i would must rather either Boateng / Bowyer than Norris.
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MarkITFC added 23:15 - Jul 7
would prefer someone younger . has he still got it though ? cant imagine a midfield with both Bowyer and Boateng in it bit on the old side . Maybe he's just seen as a squad player ?
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Hungry_Badger added 23:17 - Jul 7
Hmmmm not to sure about this one I think he's a few years past it, experience is a good thing but perhaps to many older players now? Its ok I think to sign Boywer as he has been playing in the top flight right up to the end of last season but Boateng has been playing in the Greek leagues, not to convinced.
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Coco added 23:17 - Jul 7
oh lord
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RetroBlue added 23:19 - Jul 7
This guy is Bullards close friend I believe, and when he was interviewed on sky sports a few weeks back he looked in pretty good shape- Bullard even commented on how fit Boateng had kept himself. So although he has a fair few candles on his cake , if the man has kept himself in shape , his class will not ever go away and at this level would be a bloody good addition to the squad IMO. Imagine Boateng , Leadbitter, Drury and this other MF we are reported to be signing (cant think of his name !!!)
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Tractamatt added 23:19 - Jul 7
Im sorry to say this but when we are linked to players like this it makes me wonder how much money P.J . has actually been given. We are told that he will be given financial baking and that the wickam money will be reinvested into the sqad but here we are being linked to 35 year old freebies, surely it would be better to use the money from his potential wages to secure the likes of Bullard or koumas
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MaySixth added 23:19 - Jul 7
He is as probably fast as a Skoda these days
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MajorBlue added 23:24 - Jul 7
Would be a good signing if he still has the legs. Looks like PJ is going for experience to get us up and then would look to invest the sky bonus pot money on youth. May well work.
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paul73 added 23:29 - Jul 7
All this article states is that boateng is training with town,if he impresses pj,then I would trust his judgement.
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Sindre94 added 23:32 - Jul 7
Too many old players?
How old is Cresswell, Chops and Ellington?
These are players STILL with alot to give, they're not done just cause they've played at a few clubs before.
Our fans are so ridiculous !
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Bluetone added 23:36 - Jul 7
Come on you blue Zimmers.
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cooper4england added 23:40 - Jul 7
Don't panic captain mannering!
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Mr_Evans added 23:44 - Jul 7
We have been crying out for quality premierleague experienced players for years, and now we're being linked you lot are moaning!? Ipswich Town have been in the championship for nearly 10 years now.. We are not going to attract amazing players!!!
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TeamBowyer added 23:51 - Jul 7
2 great signings
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Bluearmy added 23:51 - Jul 7
The way i see it i don't care what age they are as long as they "perfrom well" for us that all that counts.

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LancsBlue added 23:56 - Jul 7
Jewell quickly identified that he had inherited a very young squad when he came here. We still have many young players and we need a balance. Don't just look at the signings, look at the whole picture. Luke Hyam can learn enormously from someone like Boateng and be ready to step up when the time is right. I am sure there were were equivalent QPR fans to our own moaners who winged about starting last season with the likes of Clint Hill, Shaun Derry or Heidar Helguson in their side but it didn't turn out too bad for them did it?
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Tractorog added 00:05 - Jul 8
Depends on his motivation, fitness and speed. All things that PJ will have a better view of from the training ground than we do from Phils articles (excellent though they are). I can see a chorus of "There's no one quite like Grandad" every time he scores.
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RedDust added 00:12 - Jul 8
Retro blue what motherf***er are we reprted to sign?
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hamster153 added 00:47 - Jul 8
Yep this'll be a good signing. Paul have a look at Cameron Stewart fro
Hull. We need a Sinclair or a tarabt type player to really set this league on fire.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 01:12 - Jul 8
There has been some criticism about the ages of the players Jewell is signing, but I think it will prove to be good for Town to have such quality, experienced players in the team. Ok, they may not have the pace of other midfielders, but so long as we have pace in the wide areas and up front, we'll be alright. With Boateng, Bowyer and Leadbitter pulling the strings in midfield, things should shape up quite nicely for us.
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RM909 added 01:17 - Jul 8
Yes! PJ is making up for previous managers' failures by building a Dream Team circa. 2007!
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