Jewell Will Decide On Team On Thursday
Wednesday, 3rd Aug 2011 11:57

Town boss Paul Jewell says he’ll make the decision on his starting line-up for Saturday’s season opener at Bristol City on Thursday. The Blues manager is still hoping to add to his seven new signings before his squad make the trip to Ashton Gate.

Speaking after Saturday’s unlucky 2-1 friendly defeat to Wolves, Jewell said: “Probably Thursday we’ll make that decision. We’ll see how the week pans out. You can make a decision on Monday and then someone gets injured on Tuesday.

“We’ll see how things go and see if anyone comes in, who comes in and then we’ll make that decision as quickly as we possibly can.”

The Blues boss used a 4-5-1 formation against Wolves with Mark Kennedy in the holding midfield role which is likely to be occupied by Keith Andrews if and when his loan switch from Blackburn is confirmed.

Jewell says he was experimenting with his options and wasn’t specifically thinking about next week’s game against the Robins: “I wanted to have a look at something. Sparky’s a good passer of the ball and he’s got experience.

“Pre-season’s all about having a look. I’m still not settled on my formation and my final XI for Bristol City yet, not by a long chalk.”

The Liverpudlian has always been an advocate of the 4-4-2 formation at his previous clubs but feels 4-5-1 currently gets the best out of his squad: “I would like to play 4-4-2 but I want us to be adaptable.

“I think that at the moment with the personnel we’ve got, the system we played against Wolves probably suits us that bit better.

“We have to pass the ball in that system and when we don’t pass the ball, when we get a little bit tired like we did in the second half, we get a little bit stretched and the system falls down a little bit.

"So, we must pass it with a purpose and I thought for the first hour against Wolves we certainly did that.”

Meanwhile, Everton’s Irish defender Shane Duffy has dismissed rumours that he’s joining Town on loan, but the 19-year-old, who faced the Blues during a spell with Burnley last season, says he wouldn’t be averse to such a switch, tweeting: “Haven’t heard anything yet. Would be a great move if it happened.”

Elsewhere, released winger Reggie Lambe is currently on trial at Cambridge United. Lambe has already spent time with Bristol Rovers, Newport County, Southend and Gillingham this summer.

Photo: Action Images

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broomfield123 added 13:54 - Aug 3 Jimmy Bullard anyone
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alexsmith111 added 13:57 - Aug 3 4-3-3 can work now we have the choice of etherington, carson, martin and jet. For first season in many we have some depth to the squad to cope. Scotland will the net this season more even if its from the bench
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Ipswichboy14 added 14:03 - Aug 3 COYB!
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Surco72 added 14:23 - Aug 3

Surely playing 4-5-1 that reverts to 4-3-3 with wide pacy attack minded players down both flanks at full back and midfield and allowing the two central midfielders on more is much more entertaining than playing 4-4-2 formation with 4 centre backs and 4 central midfielders like we did last season ?
It doesnt really matter the formation that is played it is the players playing those positions and the style of game you play

Garv added 14:39 - Aug 3 I meant fans of Ipswich prefer 442.
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Garv added 14:40 - Aug 3 I meant fans of Ipswich prefer 442.
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tractorboybig added 14:56 - Aug 3 Any system that gives us the points will do. even a 9-1
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brogansnose added 15:18 - Aug 3

As Elephant Blue pointed out, the key passage in the statement was about passing the ball which is entertaining and when we don't and we go back to hoofing and loosing control its cack.Having said that, if a player can't pass the ball then in my book he is not a footballer. There is no point in playing one system all the time as teams that do get caught out so a variety of styles will give us a tactical edge. 4-5-1, 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 can all be boring or entertaining according to how competantly they are done.

AlanMahon2011 added 15:23 - Aug 3 if its 451 its game over im afraid =(
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robdaful added 15:27 - Aug 3 To me "Jewell Will Decide On Team On Thursday" and "The Blues manager is still hoping to add to his seven new signings before his squad make the trip to Ashton Gate." Implies we could get a new signing or two tommorrow.
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NasAZ added 15:42 - Aug 3 get freddy adu!!!!
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DanLyles added 16:07 - Aug 3

From what I saw against Wolves, before we made 6 substitutions anyway, 4-5-1 lead to us controlling the midfield area but Chopra looked very isolated up front on his own. Lee Martin was outstanding on one wing and JET was relatively quiet but looked dangerous when he got the ball on the other. So...do we leave chops a bit isolated and dominate midfield OR do we sacrifice a bit of possession but have more of a threat when we do go forward??? hmmmm....

ipsuefa added 16:15 - Aug 3 When did we sign Etherington AlexSmith:p Although I'm sure MC would be happy to have a partner in crime down the bookies!
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pippaine added 16:51 - Aug 3 Andrews is a footballing midfielder likes to play deep and pass the ball around not the best tackler around but strong and athletic. will be a good signing and he wants to be here.
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footyblue added 20:04 - Aug 3 like i said earlier if we had the personel JET in the 2 games he has played hasnt looked interested and didnt look like he had pace xx
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jas0999 added 20:21 - Aug 3

Sorry, but I don't like the 4-5-1 formation at all - particularly in a home match. That said I can see that it may prove fruitful away from home (but not against a team like Bristol). I just hope we don't get a bad reputation and start being called 'boring boring Ipswich'. We slate teams who play negatively against us at PR and in fact the majority slated Roy and Jim on the odd occasion they adopted it - so why all of a sudden is it acceptable for PJ to play that way?