Deadline Day Passes Quietly
Thursday, 22nd Mar 2012 16:57

Loan deadline day passed quietly at Portman Road with no moves in or out of Town.

Crisis club Portsmouth appear to have been in a strong enough position to hold on to the remaining members of their squad, including Joel Ward, who held talks with Blues boss Paul Jewell on Sunday, and even added Manchester City youngsters Luca Scapuzzi and Karim Rekik on loan.

Last night, Jewell said that Town are focusing on the long-term and it may well be that Ward - and perhaps team-mate Jason Pearce, who was a target in January - could be viewed as part of the Blues' summer business.

The availability of either player is likely to depend on Portsmouth's divisional status and whether Pompey's financial situation has been resolved at that point.

The passing of the deadline means Town will finish the season with only two experienced keepers - Arran Lee-Barrett and Richard Wright - with Alex McCarthy returning to Reading on April 11th.

Meanwhile, it's emerged that Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba's brother is a schoolboy with the Town Academy. The 13-year-old lives in London and spends a couple of days a week at the club. Muamba senior is continuing his recovery in hospital after collapsing in the Trotters' FA Cup tie at Tottenham on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Town manager Paul Jewell and U18s coach Russell Osman are amongst those taking part in June's Addison Lee Footballers’ Golf Classic at Spain's La Manga Club.

Photo: Action Images

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Sindre94 added 17:24 - Mar 22 Can't say Im surprised! Cheeky bid for Pearce ?!?!
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Special_A added 17:31 - Mar 22 I think this is the best outcome. Build on what we have got and start signing players as soon as the window opens in the summer.
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robdaful added 17:32 - Mar 22 Not shocked or sad by this tbh. We aren't going to be relegated so if we need cover we can give the youngsters a run out. Shame we couldn't bring people in with the view of permanent, but o well, bring on the summer.
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irishtim added 17:35 - Mar 22 Summer it is so. Didnt expect any signing to be honest.
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BluePG added 17:39 - Mar 22 How are Portsmouth still signing players?
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marc96 added 17:42 - Mar 22 A grand total of 50 thousand spent...
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Marshalls_Mullet added 18:01 - Mar 22 marc96... what on earth is your point? You judge a transfer window by money spent? Drury was £150k and is probably the best value for money signing we have made in recent years. I am happy with the way things are going, no need to waste money on Ward if he doesnt want to come. Far better to recruit in the summer than at this stage of the season.
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Ipswich24 added 18:11 - Mar 22 Would love to see us get Peace in the summer if can finish season strongly he can see we will be good club to join.
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Karlosfandangal added 18:48 - Mar 22 If Portsmouth are signing players it must mean they will see the season out. So our 6 points are safe good news
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jas0999 added 18:50 - Mar 22 Although concerned at whether a) PJ can attract players b) PJ can attract the right players and c) Clegg can do the deals in the Summer - I am pleased by this. Unless it was 100% definate that any player was going to join permanently in the Summer, we simply don't need any more loanees on the 'off chance' that they may sign.
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clive_baker added 18:56 - Mar 22

Concerned that the last 4 games of the season will have to be played with ALB in goal as i really dont rate him at all. That said, our season could be over by that point so it might not matter at all.

Regarding any other buys i think we've done the right thing. We need defenders, no doubt about it but we shouldn't rush into anything and we'll have a much clearer idea of how things stand in the summer when Leadbitter, Bowyer, Scotland etc have perhaps left or signed new deals.

Keep up the good work boys!

cressi added 18:58 - Mar 22

Lets not worry to much ref Joel Ward if he comes great if not so,not a player that makes you think well and most of us had heard little or nothing of him to our pursuit.Pearce this is his first real year in the championship Bournmouth last year so lets not just dive in there's all summer to get the right players in a deal thats right for our club. As for Henderson im happy we didnt get better out there who want to be here let the jelly eels have him.

Wickets added 19:04 - Mar 22

No worries on this. the point on Dury is well made we struggled to play with any tempo without him last night even when he is deemed to have had a poorer game the insensity he plays at carries the team foward,forces the opposition to make mistakes ,Bowyer just slows us down. Before Dury and Hyam came into the side we struggled, last night without them we struggled against a poor and not up for it Burnley side.

TractorBeezer added 19:07 - Mar 22

Now that we are safe, this may not be such a bad thing. We must keep a sharp focus on identifying suitable targets for selected positions including GK, CB and RB. I acknowledge that Smith will likely continue to come good and that Delaney had a good game last night. Edwards is also doing well but we need to prepare for the future. We should also be engaging in a meaningful dialogue with Leadbetter if we want to hold on to him.

strikalite added 19:10 - Mar 22 I'm just thankful that we're now in a position in the league where this isn't an issue for us, we don't need to appear desperate even in the loan market and we can plan for the summer... More quality youngsters like Cresswell good enough to make the step up please!
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gilo1973 added 19:35 - Mar 22 This is a direct question for jas0999 - is PJ doing a good job at the moment?
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manualthetisfanclub added 19:51 - Mar 22

Glad this crap loan window closed,as I see it seems most clubs chuck money at the dregs of other clubs in the grim hope they will improve their squads,as for these Pompey players,why oh why does pj pursue player who obviously don't want to come,they are happy where they are not getting paid,let em rot!would rather sign players who want to come and where the blue shirt with pride! Coyness!

Wickets added 20:05 - Mar 22

i try to answer that, i like PJ he is very likeable but i'm not sure our management team know what they are doing tactically and with personal on match days, last sat is the only time i can think of that we have seen sub's that have made a differance.We happend on a winning team because of injurys, the inclusion of Dury and Hyam got us going but they only got into the tean 'cos others where unfit! now they are left out again.PJ complained we played without tempo last night but Dury has been giving us that tempo,Bowyer never will. 2 in middle of the midfield must be Dury with either Hyam or Leadbitter, PJ does seem to understand this. He has not been able to secure the keeper rightsided centre half or right back we all know we need, playing ALB has cost us many points.the signing of Ingmasson,Ellington and both Bowyer/Bullard on high wages was poor judgement,one of them would have been ok. He has for me got to do betternext season.

Wickets added 20:07 - Mar 22 sorry ment does NOT seem to understand this
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StowTractorBoy added 20:35 - Mar 22 I would have liked Ward Henderson and Pearce if only to save us from looking on this site everyday until August to see if we have signed anyone. Please PJ get it sorted well before we kick off on August 18th.
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itfckieren added 21:37 - Mar 22 If we are after a right back then why don't we try a bid for Kieran Trippier from Burnley, was it just me or was anyone else impressed with him? Looks very solid & very assured on the ball.. I was thinking also why don't we try & raid Rangers for Neil Alexander? Great keeper when he was down here
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Sindre94 added 21:54 - Mar 22 Itfckieren i agree, trippier is a good player:) way over-ambitious but clyne would be amazing but wont happen
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Blue041273 added 22:20 - Mar 22

Hi Wickets, I could say I'm with ment on this.

Seriously I understand your comments on PJ's tactical nous with regard to substitutions. Last night was a good example: we were warned that we would need to protect the players through squad rotation because of the upcoming games but did nothing until right at the end. With 5 on the bench there needs to be a compelling reason why subs are not employed and I'm not convinced that the management of the squad was particularly effective last night. Of course PJ is the man who is paid to take the tactical decisions. I doubt with 3 points pocketed many would complain but it seems to be wasteful not to use subs efficiently. I too am looking for a more positive approach to substitutions in the future. After all it is a squad game these days.

Keaneish added 23:09 - Mar 22

With regard to the sub issue which seems to have arisen, why make a substitution when you don't need to? For me it sounds like we were right not to make any subs last night (excluding Sonko).

We scored 10 minutes into the second half and were very dominant. Most managers normally give it 15 minutes after a half time team talk to see if there's an improved performance after the break and we got it last night. Why change a starting 11 that's winning and in control of the game. !-nil is a precarious lead so why alter things too much and upset the balance of the game?

If we'd have scored another i'm sure we would have seen an introduction. Seems like PJ got it right to me last night.

As for Drury, he'll be back in the starting line-up Saturday i'm sure as was Martin the other week. Every player needs a rest.