Keane Has Target in Mind
Monday, 17th Aug 2009 11:30

Town boss Roy Keane says he is closing in on his midfield replacement for the injured David Norris. Sunday’s Irish newspapers reported that the Blues are keen to bring forward November’s proposed signing of Bohemians youngster Gary Deegan.

Keane says he is narrowing his focus, but refused to be drawn on names: “There’s one I’ve got in mind.

“Sometimes you home in on the player you potentially really can get. There’s a lot of midfielders I admire out there, the Gerrards, the Lampards, but I’m not sure we’re in a position go and get them just yet.

”A lot of other managers speak about players at other football clubs, but I try not to do it.”

Deegan appeared likely to join the Blues in November when the Irish season ends, along with team-mate Brian Murphy, who TWTD revealed last Thursday is set to sign a pre-contract agreement with Town. However, reports in Ireland yesterday claimed that the Blues are looking to hasten his switch.

Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon wants to keep hold of the 21-year-old for as long as possible, with his club chasing three trophies at present, and has put a fee of â‚¬500,000 (£430,000) on his player’s head.

Town are unlikely to want to pay a fee of that magnitude for someone they could pick up for significantly less in a few weeks' time. Despite Deegan being out of contract in November, Bohemians and former club Shelbourne would both be due compensation under FIFA rules if he were to leave at the end of his deal. Wolves and Newcastle have also been linked.

One player Keane admits is unlikely to return to Portman Road is Giovani Dos Santos: “I’ve spoken to Harry Redknapp a number of times about one or two different players over the last few weeks and when Gio went back at the end of last season I always thought it would be difficult to get him back.

“When he first came here I raised my eyebrows thinking it was a good catch for Ipswich because he’s a talented boy.

”But you never know what might happen in the next week or two. We might have to wait until the last day to see what can happen, it’s different with loans anyway.

“As much as we’re homing in on one or two players, you have to be open-minded. Sometimes you make a call to a manager and hope he’ll get back to you. Some do, some don’t, and fingers crossed one or two might get back to me and a deal which we thought was dead might suddenly happen in the next week or so.”

Elsewhere, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that Town’s attempt to sign striker Daryl Murphy is back on with discussions in progress: “Talks are ongoing as I understand it and we will just have to wait and see if these talks come to anything.”

Murphy was close to joining the Blues in a joint £5 million deal involving Dean Whitehead earlier in the summer and even got as far as having a medical at Portman Road.

That move collapsed when Hull City came in for the frontman, but talks between Murphy and the Tigers broke down and he is still at the Stadium of Light. Whitehead subsequently moved to Stoke.

TWTD revealed that the move was back on almost a fortnight ago, with a national newspaper incorrectly claiming that a deal had been done last week.

Keane says there have been no further enquiries regarding his players in recent days, but expects one or two departures as he wheels and deals in the final couple of weeks of the transfer window.

Photo: Action Images

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CapnBlues added 15:11 - Aug 17

McAuley is a great defender, he just had a shocking game on Saturday which is strange cause normally you play well against your old teams! I agree with him not having the pedigree to be a captain. Look at Jim and De Vos in recent years who would scream out orders at every opportunity! I barely see McAuley order his players around for corners or free kicks. The most animated I've seen him was at Carrow Road last year when the ref forced him off the pitch!

blue_nose added 15:13 - Aug 17 A midfielder is what we NEED!!!!! Plus I am sure Wickham is available up until after the WBA game as on other posts it says he will miss the CC Peterbough game and Preston? So Priskin and Wickham to start or Priskin and Stead with Wickham coming on after half time to get at tired legs!!!
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WickedBlue added 15:31 - Aug 17

Play Bruce instead of McAuley? Are you lot insane? Bruce is the worse defender we have, he actually costs us games. At Coventry that first goal was more down to him than anyone else because he wasn't where he should have been. And how many times does he get himself sent off with stupid tackles? Get a grip people, RK gets paid to pick the team so support whatever team he does pick, even if it is Bruce he picks.

Abbott31 added 15:38 - Aug 17 Keane cant even buy us a win let alone a decent midfield general! KEANE OUT, KEANE OUT, KEANE OUT HE HAS GOT TO GO!
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welshtractorboy added 15:45 - Aug 17
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welshtractorboy added 15:49 - Aug 17 Abbot31 Keane out? dont be daft. He is the BEST manager we have had for sometime. He has got a two year plan not a two game plan. If you are a TRUE fan you should be supporting him and not suggesting stupid things like that!!!! Come on you Blues
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MarkITFC added 15:54 - Aug 17 well said Welshtractorboy - hes had two games and people r moaning. Pefetic
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Abbott31 added 16:00 - Aug 17

I have been to all 3 games doubt that all of you can say that. And all of them have been poor, no creative talent and no goal threat! The players we have brought in have been nothing but average. Just because he was a good player does not mean he is a great manager. He walked out when it got hard at sunderland and you watch he will do the same with us! You have no idea.

BrightBlue added 16:00 - Aug 17 Abbot31 you were probably one of those idiots booing at the end of the game Saturday!! Or more likely just a whinging moaning armchair fan who probably has never even stepped on a football pitch let along had an elustrious career on one!! KEANO KEANO KEANO
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welshtractorboy added 16:05 - Aug 17

Never Yes also been to all three games Coventry we with any luck should have won easily,Shrewsbury our second team did well,again with any luck should have won easily and Saturday did not play well first half our manager saw this and changed it at half time,we then played much better ok did not win but did not loose either. We all know our squad will get better with a few more additions. On the Shrewsbury game our YOUNG lads could hardly walk after game yet two stood up and took a pen.

PimsNumber1 added 16:06 - Aug 17 Stead needs a partner he cant operate as sole striker. we should get shittu in to beef up the defence and pratley or bodde from swansea. Pratley would be cheaper .
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Abbott31 added 16:09 - Aug 17

Bright Blue my old foe, as much as I am taking on your advise I was not booing at the end of the game I was shouting abuse. And for your imformation I have stepped on a football pitch and is certainly a higger standard than what you have ever played MUPPET!

Now back onto the serious stuff Keane has got to go, this animal has no clue what sort of manager plays 1 up tops at home apart from jimbo and this MUPPET!

Sir_Bob added 16:11 - Aug 17

Hesselink was quoted on a dutch website over the weekend still to be interested in coming to Ipswich. He's training with FC Twente at the mo.

When Peters comes back, start playing him at right back to overlap, we haven't had a full back do that in years.
Play Priskin or Wickham up front with Stead.
Garvin in the middle with Trotter, Walters & Martin out wide.
Get a decent center half to play alongside the inconsistent McAuley & there you go

bellyboy added 16:13 - Aug 17 i am an ipswich fan through and through yet i am affraid to admit i am on the same side as Abbot31. Keane is a dissapointing fellow and i beleave it's to move on. centre of midfield is a joke. i would rather keane brings himself out of retirement, pulls on the blue jersey and players there himself. Peters ans Trotter aren't up to it!!
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welshtractorboy added 16:14 - Aug 17

Abbott31 if you have played at any standard surley you can see the makings of an excellent team. Like i said Keano has a two year plan,Rome was not built in a day so surely he should have the backing of us all. He is getting rid of all the dead wood and replacing with good players who want to play for us and know he expects the best out of everyone

The boo boys WILL NOT drive him away

lewis added 16:24 - Aug 17 I doubt most people will take your side in saying Keano out considering 3-4 people have already gone against you since you posted it so I will have to disagree.
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welshtractorboy added 16:25 - Aug 17 Well said lewis. If we would have lost 7-1 in our first home game you both may have a point, we didnt.and WE got a point!!!!!!!
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BrightBlue added 16:25 - Aug 17 Abbott31 - I'm a muppet and Roy Keane is a muppet! You sir are the one making pathetic comments, I believe therefore that you are infact the MUPPET! You are the sort of so called fan who would moan if we has Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho at the helm.
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Abbott31 added 16:28 - Aug 17 you two jokers are starting to really rub me up the wrong third leg, if you have a problem talk to my agent! you no what they say about the welsh, sheeps and all that! lewis you have no idea about football have you ever represented any1 as good as godmanchester reserves. No is the answer to that!
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lewis added 16:30 - Aug 17 Just because I havn't played for a 'good' team, doesn't mean I don't know anything about football, and you have no evidence of that as i'm actually talking common sense unlike you. None of us care about who you play for apart from your little physcic bellyboy who i'm sure will try and stick up for you.
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Abbott31 added 16:30 - Aug 17 look twtd followers, I am only joking silly I know just fancied a laugh at your boys expense. I have full belief that Roy Keane will take us places, not sure what places they are but I am comfident he is a winner and has brought ok players to the club.
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Wozza added 16:31 - Aug 17 So now you have to have played football at a high level to know anything about it? Righto.
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welshtractorboy added 16:38 - Aug 17

What can i say Abbott? This really does show what type of person you are.(Welsh,sheep jokes to follow i suppose)
Got it you are a Noooooooorwich fan? you want a good manager ?
Yes im welsh and proud,i follow ITFC home and away,i live over 200 miles away from PR, have supported through all the good and bad times.Welsh yes,a true loyal tractor boy ? yes AND A BELIEVER.