x

McCarthy: Bart's the Best in the Championship - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy says he rates keeper Bartosz Bialkowski as the best in the Championship, the 29-year-old having put in another impressive performance as the Blues beat Wigan 3-2 at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

Bialkowski had been the Blues’ standout performer throughout 2016, carrying off virtually all of the 2015/16 player of the year awards in May and continuing that form this season.

Having made a rare error which led to Cardiff’s goal in the recent 1-1 draw with the Bluebirds at Portman Road, the former Southampton and Notts County man was back to his best at the weekend.

"We all make mistakes,” McCarthy reflected when quizzed about Bialkowski’s consistent 2016 form following Saturday’s match.

"I’ll put him up there, get him on the selling list by rating him, shall I?” he joked.

"You know my thoughts on him, I think he’s the best one in the league. If there’s a better one I haven’t seen him.

"Lots of people require different things out of their goalkeepers. Some like it so they can have it at their feet and be almost like a sweeper and pass it out and be clipping balls here, there and everywhere.

"That wouldn’t suit him, but he catches it and keeps it out of his net, which is a particularly good quality for his goalkeeper. He’s different class, he really is, he’s a top-class goalie.”

What to read next:

Women's Championship Now WSL2
The Barclays Women’s Championship, to which Town Women recently won promotion for the first time, has been renamed the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2) ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Harness: Thanks Rams, I Had a Great Time
Blues forward Marcus Harness has thanked Derby County fans for their support during his season-long loan spell with the Rams.
Greaves: Delighted Hull Stayed Up, I'm Excited to Go Back
Hull City will be one of Town’s opponents in the Championship next season following their final day survival, and Blues defender Jacob Greaves was delighted for his boyhood club.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Burley Given All-Clear After Cancer Treatment
Blues legend George Burley has been given the all-clear following his recent cancer treatment.
TWTV Video Verdict - Brentford Plus Alan Lee and Season Stats
The TWTV team reflect on the 1-0 home defeat to Brentford and are joined by former Town striker Alan Lee to look at the Blues’ frontline as well as Adam Wilkin, who provides a statistical overview of the season.
Ipswich Town 0-1 Brentford - Highlights
Highlights of this afternoon’s 1-0 home defeat to Brentford.
Frank: Exactly as Difficult as I Expected
Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted his side’s 1-0 victory over the Blues was as difficult as he had anticipated.
McKenna: VAR is Taking Away From the Game
Boss Kieran McKenna believes VAR “in its current guise” is “taking from the game as a spectacle”, the Blues’ 1-0 home defeat to Brentford having been repeatedly stopped for incidents which the Town manager believes were marginal decisions rather than clear and obvious errors.
Palmer: We Need to Sustain Pressure For Longer Periods
Town goalkeeper Alex Palmer feels sustaining a performance over 90 minutes is the Blues’ target following the 1-0 defeat to Brentford at Portman Road.