Fringe Players Could Get Chance
Wednesday, 11th Apr 2012 08:56

Blues boss Paul Jewell says more of his fringe players could get their chance between now and the end of the season. Midfielders Ryan Stevenson and Josh Carson were amongst those who came into the team for Monday’s 2-1 home defeat to Leicester and a number of others could get an opportunity with the campaign over from a competitive perspective.

Jewell says those on the periphery who impress him in training may play during the final four games of the season: “As I said before, I don’t want to just give out shirts willy-nilly.

"We take every game seriously, we’ve got a tough game on Saturday at Crystal Palace then another on Tuesday against Birmingham, so it’s relentless really.

“But we might change things around because we did look a little bit tired against Leicester.”

Keeper Richard Wright and midfielder Jimmy Bullard may be amongst the more experienced players who may come into the side at some stage, while striker Nathan Ellington will also hope for some involvement after a first season at Portman Road in which he has made only one league and two cup starts, in addition to 14 sub appearances, and is yet to score.

At the other end of the scale, 16-year-old schoolboy Byron Lawrence warmed up with the senior squad on the pitch prior to Monday’s game against Leicester.

Jewell has previously said that the midfielder, who was on the bench for the Carling Cup match against Northampton earlier in the season, could make his debut before the end of the campaign, probably in the role usually occupied by Lee Martin.

Luke Hyam could also come back into the centre of the midfield, while Jack Ainsley could play some part at right-back.

Fellow full-backs Joe Whight, whose only involvement with the first team this season was a place on the bench for the Northampton match, and Callum Bennett, the only second-year scholar other than Whight to have been offered a professional contract, could also come into contention for some involvement.

Photo: Action Images

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footyblue added 09:10 - Apr 11 Please do and leave bowyer out of the squad altogether
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nitroblue1970 added 09:22 - Apr 11 Jaime Peters in goal!!!!
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algarvefan added 09:29 - Apr 11 haha Nathan Ellington...remember him??? We could have a rejects XI against Palace, go for it PJ!!!!!!
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bluelady added 09:30 - Apr 11

during a bored moment on Monday (there were a few) my son and i were laughing about how we should play an 'out of position' 11. To include:- ALB up front with Sonko, Bullard in goal, Chopra and Scotland at CB, Edwards on the wing (she says in an ironic tone!) etc etc will leave you to make up your own team but we just thought how funny it would be! Anyways i would love to see some of the fringe players now, in particuar Bullard to see if he still has it in him, i really think an on form Bullard played in the correct position could make our season next year as that creative midfielder we have missed laterly. Also Hyam, Lawrence and Whight. Def want to see Richard Wright wear the shirt for the last time too, he deserves at least one start.

BROTHERBLUE1974 added 09:34 - Apr 11 What about young Hyam, you no Paul the lad who help SAVE your job.
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bluelady added 09:37 - Apr 11

algarvefan.... in fairness to Ellington he has hardly had chance to shine has he. the few times i have seen him his hold up play was pretty good, not that i am saying he was a good signing, he clearly wasnt but he is being totally slated by so many like his has played week in week out and been awful! bit of a panic 'buy' by PJ but guess he has seen him at this best and hoped to re-create that, the 2 year contract i believe he is on was the biggest mistake, one year ok if it fails not the end of the world but 2 years..........

Tractorboy24 added 09:44 - Apr 11 2 cup starts for Ellington, did he start v hull? I don't think he was a bad signing, he's not really had a chance with chops and Scotland being (rightly) ahead of him with neither sustaining a significant injury all season.
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Tractorboy24 added 09:46 - Apr 11 I see he did, touché.
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footyblue added 09:52 - Apr 11 Why Wright he won't be here next year give Cropper a go and if Leadbitter wont be here no point in playing him TBH so lets play those that will be here and Hyam deserves to play because he helped save Jewells Bacon, has he learn't no I don't think so it's been so obvious Leadbitter and Bowyer doesn't work so why persist
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CornardBlue added 10:00 - Apr 11 Interesting the talk of Ellington, watched his old strike partner Jason Roberts playing for Reading against Leeds the other day . If only we had signed Roberts we could have made play offs, would love to see Chops and Scotland playing of a big striker.
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blueherts added 10:03 - Apr 11 Great - lets only pick players with a Fringe -Luuuukeeeee
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lowtit added 10:14 - Apr 11 please do not play the duke! get hyam on - scrap bowyer - sort it out PJ - let's make these last pointless games interesting at least -
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Bluecynic added 10:16 - Apr 11 CornardBlue- you are SO right. If only PJ had had the chance/vision to push the boat out and get Roberts and not Ellington I am sure we would be further up the table. He seemed to give Reading just that extra bit of class to surge ahead.
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Hamish1979 added 10:17 - Apr 11 Zzzzzz
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muhrensleftfoot added 10:17 - Apr 11

For starters, forget the players who won't be here next year such as Leadbitter, Bowyer, Richard Wright. And whatever has Hyam done wrong? Every supporter I've spoken to, thinks he should at least be on the bench. we've got Bullard for another year, so get him in the team, so he can get match fit and play like he did on loan last season. First choice centre midfield for next season should be Drury and Bullard, with Hyam and Stevenson as backup.

Langdon_Blue added 11:00 - Apr 11 Makes sense to try new players now that there is nothing to play for. I'd rather lose the next few games this season, if it means giving experience to young players and winning from the start of next season. Also agree that there is no point playing players that want tohave already agreed with other clubs, to move on in the Summer.
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AlanMahon2011 added 11:06 - Apr 11 You can tell the seasons dead in the water
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bluelady added 11:10 - Apr 11

i agree about Cropper but for old times sake would like to see Richard Wright get the last home game of the season.....think he would get a great reception and FINAL send off from the club. such a shame he made the mistake of moving so many years ago, i believe staying here his career would have been very differant. hmm a certain Striker seems to be learning the hard way at the moment......

jas0999 added 11:16 - Apr 11

Nathan Ellington is a dreadful player. Bluelady makes a good point that he hasn't really been given a chance - but 9 goals in 5 SEASONS (counting this one) should have had alarm bells ringing before PJ signed his 'mate'. I am afraid Ellington is not the answer.

I agree that fringe players should be given a chance - but in for players who are either on loan or likely to leave in the Summer - not those who are the future of ITFC. PJ clearly got this completely wrong on Monday - and subsequently Edwards questioned the commitment of some players. PJ was at fault though - selecting those who may be leaving, but dropping JET, Chopra and martin - three key players not just this season but next season also.

The problem with Carson and Hyam though, is they have been left out for a while - for no reason. We now expect them to come in from the cold and perform. Unlikely - particularly after their confidence has been completely shattered by a below average manager who prefers playing loans and players like Bowyer - rather than those he could build a team around for years to come. Poor management. Really poor maangement.

bluelady added 11:27 - Apr 11

Jas cant agree having been at the game on Saturday Jet Chorpa and Martin were poor and looked like they needed a rest, Scotland was fantastic when he came on saturday. Jet made way for Carson (havent all the fans been asking to see Carson) and Martin made way for Stevenso..... Bowyer is the only one i would question i would have dropped him too and brought in Hyam. Also Jewell has used the loan market far less than Keane did... the only loan player Monday was Muprhy and we are trying to sign him on a permanent deal anyways. If players confidences are 'shattered' being dropped im sorry they are in the wrong game, it happens week in week out and you have to make the most of your opportunity, sadly Carson didnt make the most of it Monday but his time will come again. Keane 'shattered' Martins confidence, but look what happened he came back fighting and deserves his place in the team. The Hyam situation i really dont understand, lets hope he is integral next season, seems both Keane and PJ played them dropped him, really doesnt add up

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:39 - Apr 11

I don't really blame PJ for not throwing in a lot of alternative players before the Leicester defeat. After all, we were still in with a minimal chance of the play-offs, and it was important to create a sense of stability in the squad. Now that we have no chance of reaching the play-offs, however, I hope PJ will be a little bit more experimental. I do take on board his comment that a player has to "win the shirt", and we also have a duty not to field a clearly weakened team as this might affect other teams' chances. But I hope we do see at least one or two new faces before the end of the season, and if anyone is on their way out (PJ must pretty much know this by now) then I don't think they should be in the squad at all. It's just a pity our Academy is not lining up new players like it used to.

Lathers added 11:44 - Apr 11

I'm not paying £30 for a ticket plus travel costs to get to Palace only to see a joke of a team put out. Hyam who should start each week anyway, must play, and if he gives Carson, Bullard, Cropper and Sonko a run out then fair enough, but no point playing Bowyer, Leadbitter, Wright and Ellington when I doubt (and hope) any of them will be here next season. Also, it would be nice to finish as high as possible and with a cluster of teams only a few points above us we could still make a top 10 finish.

davidsc1971 added 11:44 - Apr 11

God another outstandingly obvious comment from the manager here. I mean it's not as if the rest of the Town fanbase were thinking anything else eh? End of season, nothing to play for, let's try some of the kids out.

I sometimes think I could be a football manager. It doesn't seem particularly hard work? (I am joking of course but this whole story is a statement of the bleedin obvious!)

BlueITFC added 11:59 - Apr 11

I agree that we should see the players going to be here next season play, the likes of hyam, carson, Bullard etc. and I think we shouldn't play bowyer or leadbitter as they won't be here next season. However, I would like to see Richard Wright in goal for the last game of the season as he will probably won't be here next season and he has been such a great servant to the club over the many years he has played here for.