Chopra Not Giving Up On Play-Offs
Friday, 17th Feb 2012 07:00

Ipswich striker Michael Chopra’s new-found confidence, together with the side’s recent return to form, has rekindled his dream of winning promotion to the Premiership.

Town were in the thick of a relegation battle just a few weeks ago but Chopra said: “We’ve won three games out of three and there is always one team that makes a late push for the play-offs. Why can’t it be us? We’re really flying at the moment.”

With Paul Jewell and his players currently 17th in the league, with 37 points from 30 games, perhaps few supporters will share Chopra’s confidence that a top-six finish is still on the cards.

But a win on Saturday over Chopra’s former club, third-placed Cardiff, and the play-offs will become less of a distant dream for many.

Chopra added: “One or two of the Cardiff players might have their minds on the Carling Cup final against Liverpool the following weekend. They might be thinking they don’t want to get injured and risk missing out. It could work to our benefit.”

The former England U21 cap will be hoping to continue an impressive run that has seen him net four times in his last three games — but he is adamant that he won’t celebrate if he finds the net against the Bluebirds.

He said: “I scored in the game down there and didn’t celebrate — and it will be the same if I score this time. I have the utmost respect for the club and the fans. I’d like to see them go up even if I’ll be trying to put a dent in their bid on Saturday.

“I loved my time with Cardiff. When Ipswich came in for me I had a choice to make as to whether I moved or I stayed to see out my contract. I wanted to be playing and I jumped at the chance.

“Cardiff were the first club to give me an opportunity to play week in and week out. When I left Newcastle I had a point to prove. At the start of last season, if we’d been offered a play-off final game against Blackpool, we’d have taken that straight away.

“With the team we had — Bellamy, Ramsey, Koumas and Olofinjana, all Premiership players — we’d have thought about getting promoted no matter what but it wasn’t to be."

Photo: Action Images

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Benters added 07:03 - Feb 17 If i were a gambling man i wouldn't put money on us making the playoffs :)
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ThailandBlue added 07:12 - Feb 17 Well i hope his Confidence rubs off on the rest of the players. Good to know that he has some belife in the team. COYB
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Superfrans added 07:32 - Feb 17 Even if we win on Saturday, we'll still be 11 points minimum off the play offs. It at going to happen. We should be targeting another 10-12 points to steer clear of relegation.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:05 - Feb 17

whilst it is mathematically possible, i do believe it is a bit beyond us in reality. although hindsight is a wonderful thing, hindsight is not needed here, we will finish 3 or 4 wins off a play off place, had this management and board sorted out the obvious( three defenders in) , we would now be in the play off zone, anybody dispute this? there is a reason why players dont want to join, why do the players who's contracts are coming to an end , keep saying there is a lack of communication from the club( carson, edwards, andrews , etc etc) cant make them feel wanted can it. it seems the club have learnt nothing from last season and players contracts. clegg out now..... coyb

Reus30 added 08:14 - Feb 17 We do have a game in hand so if all goes or way, we could be like at single digits. And then on, we have a chance
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BlueBoots added 08:25 - Feb 17 Need 75ish points to make the play-offs... 37 points at the mo... 16 games left... 11 wins, 4 draws, 1 defeat would give us 74 points... Unlikely
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Langdon_Blue added 08:38 - Feb 17 The team have proved that they can compete with the best in this league. Unfortunately, too many loanees, too many late goals agaisnt, too many silly mistakes have made the Play-Offs too much to ask this term. I'd like to see players contracted at Ipswich complete this season, with no more loan players, so that we can build for next season.
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Karlosfandangal added 08:42 - Feb 17 If we are in a relegation battle then we must be in with a shout of the play off as we are about the same amount of points from 6th as we are 3rd from bottom. or we are safe from the drop as we have no chance of making the play offs
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Pedlarjak added 10:26 - Feb 17 If he placed bets like this while he was gambling, no wonder he had problems!
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singtown added 11:14 - Feb 17 If we go on a winning streak of 6-7 more games in a row then anything is possible, the gap will be closer between the sixth position team by then The players have to dig deep and show us what they've got! start with the Cardiff game pls Always a good chance ending strongly while qualifying for the playoffs
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Doctor_Albran added 12:21 - Feb 17 I see that Chopra has replaced one addiction with another - is it drugs or booze...? Let's get safe first (9 more points), then look to the top half of the table (15 more points) and see where we are at the end of March before we start talking about the play-offs...
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simonsays added 13:08 - Feb 17 April fools day has come early then!
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Dissboyitfc added 13:26 - Feb 17 I was accused of being negative at the start of the season when I stated Ellington , ingimarson , bowyer were poor signings we did nt need, the money spent on those could have been put towards signing some defenders, something so obvious and had the defence been delt with, we would no doubt in my mind be occupying a play off place. Clegg out.....coyb...
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eaii added 13:41 - Feb 17 He has given up gambling but now seems to be on the drugs.
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arc added 14:29 - Feb 17 Playoff talk is silly. Just get to safety.
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Ipswich24 added 16:16 - Feb 17 Chops is doing great at moment but do wish he would be honest in his interview he jumped at the chance of joining us because we kindly paid off his debts when nobody else would.
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Forest_Glade added 08:56 - Feb 18 Chopra please score today. Come on u blues!
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tellitasiseeit added 13:21 - Feb 18

Players need ambition and if Chops believes the play offs is still possible I a m not going to say anything to the contrary.But safety is the top priority at this point in time.Get that right ,the rest will take care of itself.Then time for rebuilding the team with new players under 28 years of age.There needs to be a far stronger commitment by ME, Clegg , Jewell , and commit themselves to work with the youth through Town's Academy. Score prediction today T