Colchester boss John Ward says on-loan Town defender Tommy Smith faces a big test to bounce back having been at fault for three of Yeovil’s goals as the Glovers beat the U’s 4-2 at Huish Park on Saturday. New Zealand international Smith was subbed in the 75th minute.

Ward said: “Tommy’s an honest young man and I like him to pieces. I don’t regret bringing him here at all and Ipswich will benefit from this spell in the long run.

“He’s not got any excuses. I’ve had to take him out of there in the end just to look after him a bit because he’s stumbling around and it’s a bit embarrassing for the lad.

“Now he’s got a big test to recover from this. I’ll need to take a good look at him through the week and decide whether to pop him back in there next Saturday or not.

“It won’t do him any harm if he can learn from it. He’s a fine young man, an honest, straightforward guy, and I’m sure he’ll look at his performance very closely.

“In eight, nine, 10 years’ time he might have played a lot of Championship games and a few more internationals — good luck to him, I hope he does.”

Former Blue Dean Bowditch netted the Somerset side’s third goal, his 14th of the season.

Photo: Action Images

CanadianBlue added 14:36 - May 2 Oof. Does he want a job with my side's defense? He'd fit right in.
0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:39 - May 2 Is this a ploy to get him on the cheap?
0

BlueinBrum added 14:44 - May 2 "I like him to pieces" That's a new one!
0

hollywoodginge added 15:01 - May 2 I know tommy, he will recover from this, he is a great lad with a fantastic attitude and will be a cracking player in time. Chin up bud.
0

jas0999 added 15:36 - May 2 Not a great review. I still don't know what to make of Smith. Didn't really push on after the World Cup last year. Could go either way for him. Let'shope he bounces back!
0

BYRNE_16 added 15:43 - May 2 Come on tommy you get back from this! Come back to Town!
0

DiamondGezzer added 16:50 - May 2 A harsh lesson indeed, one from which I've no doubt you'll bounce back from given time and the right guidance. All the best mate.
0

fourth added 17:31 - May 2 I have 100% confidence in Tommy Smith. He does need to fit into a valid system of course. I very much hope he will be playing at Portman Rd as a regular next year and be instrumental in promotion.
0

paulnstar added 19:13 - May 2 do not think colchester will want to buy him my mate went and said he looked like a sunday league player and that yeovil were useless until smith gave them a helping hand
0

tractorboy2434 added 19:15 - May 2 I always thought he looked decent, in any case if he is as bad as Colchester say he will fit into our back four pretty well, just ask Norwich and Swansea.
0

willrigs16 added 22:19 - May 2 useless
0

Bowls1e added 23:02 - May 2 Has anyone checked that Tommy is safe after this statement.. Hardly a confidence boost for the lad.
0

Tractorog added 23:26 - May 2 I hope Tommy bounces back, but either way - whilst he is still learning it is better he plays with the U's than with us.
0

StortfordBlue added 07:55 - May 3 If I remember rightly, Titus Bramble had a similar nightmare when on loan at Colchester at the start of his career. Tommy will learn from this, and hopefully come back to Town a better player...
0

bluelady added 10:24 - May 3 im not sure he was stumbling around........ ok maybe had a poor game, ask Delaney he has had a few of them doesnt make him a bad defender. No wonder colchester going nowhere now with this 'people person' in charge, what a thing to put in print about a player!!!
0

Ipswich24 added 16:34 - May 3 I personally dont think Smith is good enough could get couple hundread thousand for him
0

robdaful added 17:22 - May 4 He's a good player. Showed it in the world cup. Don't get rid of yet!
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls