Blues boss Paul Jewell was delighted with the way new loan signing Massimo Luongo settled into the Town side during Wednesday’s 2-0 pre-season victory at Cambridge United. The Tottenham midfielder caught the eye playing at the most defensive point of a diamond midfield.

Jewell said: “He’s a good player. I was aware of him last year. I’m good friends with [Tottenham assistant first team coach] Tim Sherwood. I spoke to Tim, I spoke to Harry Redknapp. I’ve seen him play a couple of times and he’s always impressed me.

“Considering the first time he trained with us was on Tuesday, for a 19-year-old I thought he showed great confidence.

“It was only a pre-season friendly, but you can see he’s got that touch of quality. That system does suit him. We’ll have a look at a couple of different systems before we kick off. You can tell that he’s a really good footballer.”

The Town manager wants the Blues to be versatile and says they need to build on Wednesday’s performance ahead of the start of the season, which begins with the Capital One Cup match against Bristol Rovers at Portman Road on Tuesday 14th August: “We’ve got lots of options, lots of different types of systems that we can play and we may be flexible but we’ve got an awful lot of work to do before we get to the games that matter and I think we all know that we need to improve as we go along.”

Meanwhile, Town and Derby are continuing to discuss a fee for Rams’ striker Steve Davies, according to reports in the Midlands.

The 24-year-old has been on Jewell’s radar since May with the player understood to be keen on the move, but the clubs have been unable to agree a fee with Derby believed to want £1 million and Town understood to be valuing him at around half that figure.

Photo: Action Images

MooseJuice added 09:44 - Jul 27 Doesn't look great for Hyam then.
0

sotd78 added 09:50 - Jul 27 Seems to me that we either bring on our own players (like Hyam) or go and do the same for some other bigger club. Now which would we really prefer?
0

Vic added 09:55 - Jul 27 sotd - there's clearly something about Hyam that 2 different coaching teams don't rate. Notice I don't say 'managers' - foir the simple reason that these decisions are seldom just a mangers decision (unless of course your name is Roy Keane!). Most punters on TWTD seem to rate him, but for some reason the coaches at the club don't. I'm happy to go along with their judgement, even though I don't yet know what the problem is.

0

Maverick_Mitch added 10:00 - Jul 27 To get anywhere we need to be flexible and adapt to beat key rivals - something we seemed to lack last season. Having options is no bad thing and doesn't mean players like Luke Hyam are going to lose out. Not the greatest PJ fan but there does seem to be a plan this year but selling Cressie shouldn't be part of it! Fans want to be entertained and he certainly did that for me last year.

0

harby1 added 10:02 - Jul 27 Could it just be that Luongo is a better player tha Hyam! Midfield is a very important area so its no suprise if a player better than we have becomes available then we have to try and get them in! If Hyam is as good as we hope he is he will raise his game and compete for his place! We cannot stop moving forward as a team just because it might stop a home grown player coming through! All our great home grown players got in to the side because they were good enough and that should never change!

0

Surco72 added 10:09 - Jul 27 sotd78 ...personally i would rather we play the best players available to get out of this league ,if Hyam is up to it he will play if he cant get in a championship side he is not good enough for where we are aiming surely . We cannot keep moaning about finishing in poor league positions and then when replacements are brought in moan that Smith,Carson,Hyam ,Edwards,ALB,Peters wont be played and are not given a chance it contradicts itself ?

0

StanwayBlue added 10:09 - Jul 27 We can hardly expect either Luongo or Hyam to play every game - maybe we now have two good holding midfielders! Injuries etc won't then be disastrous!
0

rayman_10 added 10:12 - Jul 27 Totally agree Harby! At the end of the day, as a fan, I want to see the best 11 we can get on the pitch and have the best possible chance of winning games! Whether it's Hyam or Luongo, they are in a blue shirt. As long as they are giving 100% I don't care where they come from! Hyam was the only defensive midfielder we have at the club so to provide him with, what Jewell says as 'quality' can only improve him! He is still only young.

0

Flip added 10:13 - Jul 27 why is this "the end" for Hyam? this could be the beginning, both are young they can help each other out, Hyam will now need to work hard to keep Luongo out of the team, if we bring in better players than our own wont we have a better chance of promotion?! or maybe Hyam & Luongo could play alongside each other ie Martin, Drury, Hyam, Luongo, JET in a 5 man midfield? now actually get behind our players this season COYB

0

jas0999 added 10:25 - Jul 27 I personally rate Hyam and frankly think he was harshly treated by PJ last term. Our improved results co-insidered with his inclusion in the team. However, he is clerly not rated by the manager of the club and that's all that matters. I have no doubt Luongo is a decent player - otherwise Spurs would not have offered him a contract extension. The problem is he's only a loanee - and we have little chance of signing him permanently. We could therefore find ourselves back to square one next Summer - much the same as we did this pre-season; with none of our loanees last term still at the club - nor some of PJ's permanent signings! Having said that, if he assists in a promotion challenge, it will be worth it - but another mid-table season and you could argue it would have been better to play our own youngsters ... time will tell!

0

SouperJim added 10:29 - Jul 27 I'm sure Hyam has fitness problems, there is more going on with him than meets the eye and it's got nothing to do with his footballing ability or the coaching staff not "rating" him.
0

mightytown added 10:47 - Jul 27 i can understand people wanting to see the likes of hyam being given a chance but i do not agree that loans are a watse of time in regard to developing other teams players and not our own. If hyam is good enough and shows the desire and form to play then he will keep luongo out of the side. I think many fans feel jaded towards loans because of the high number we have had in the last couple of years who have largely proved to be mercenaries. Luongo on the other hand is young and eager to prove his worth. Yes, he may go back to spurs at the end of the season but can they offer him what we can? regular first team football and fan idolisation (if we all get behind him). him signing a new deal perhaps indicates a permanent switch is in place so spurs can command a fee for him at the end of the season if we want to keep him. they may see him as part of their plans for the future but there is a conveyor belt of talent at premier league clubs - he is a long way of their first team and if suits all parties for him to make the switch permanent then a deal could well happen. I'm sure once he is a permanent ipswich player all will get behind him. jewell obviously rates him and from the report above sounds like he is already impressing. we've not spent a great deal this summer but brought in some exciting new faces. the loan deal is a good option and cost effective. I hope we continue to sign players in this vein for the rest of the summer. My only fear is losing cresswell at this moment in time!

0

SheffieldBlue1 added 10:51 - Jul 27 I'm liking the look of our central midfield this season now. Luongo and hyam should be very capable as defensive minded holding players, whilst bullard, drury and stevenson as the attacking options in my mind makes a balanced central midfield, with competiton for places as well. The only issue could be lack of creativity, but hopefully this can come primarily from the wings, through martin, JET and carson. Also pleased we seem to be signing players not for their names, but for their fit into the team, r.e andrews and bowyer last season.

0

bluey360 added 11:12 - Jul 27 Why can't Hyan n Luongo play as 2 defensive midfield players the back 4 were too exposed especially at home last season we were too easy too get at n we suffered in so many games Soton, Forest, Doncaster: don't read anything into Luongo signing a nice contract means absolutely nothing just gives spurs a bigger fee if we try n sign him next summer: I still think we need another CB right sided, a left winger in which I'd sign L.Freeman n another striker I'd prefer Baldock over Davies even if it was on a season long loan but with a view too signing him permanently

0

BoredWithThisNow added 11:30 - Jul 27 Lets hope Hyam uses the signing of Luongo as the spur (sorry) to improve further and compete with him and push him hard a spot in the team. I would be appalled if Jewell sees this as the end for what we all see as a prospect even if he isn't the finished article. Never through the baby out with the bathwater (refer to idiot Keane and a certain J Rhodes).
0

ChrisMakin2012 added 11:39 - Jul 27 I genuinely cannot believe we're getting excited over a player who isn't even ours and probably never will be! Hyam's the one loosing out here
0

saffronblue added 11:45 - Jul 27 Bluey, I agree no reason that Hyam and Luongo cant play together, look at Man City they play with two defensive midfielders which releases their four attacking players.
0

ITFCPrideOfAnglia added 13:00 - Jul 27 Hyam now needs to prove himself and challenge Luongo! Last year i was very impressed with Hyam And Drury Together in the middle of the park. This is what we need lots of players challenging for places !
0

Warkys_Tash added 13:33 - Jul 27 @mighytown I am not a fan of the loan system for the reasons that we never seem to be able to sign the young decent players after the loan expires, Dos Santos, Livermore, Colback, Townsend to name a few. However, you have made some valid points in your post & I just hope what you say turns out to be reality for once. Wouldn't it be nice?
0

Fatcatevans added 16:08 - Jul 27 It might be the incentive Hyam needs but I still think he's a red card waiting to happen. He needs to learn the difference between controlled aggression and indiscipline. Its the latter thats causing the doubt in the coaches minds not his ability
0

Talbs77 added 20:05 - Jul 27 Yeah except he's not a signing is he, we have him on LOAN. No doubt if he improves the team its a good temporary signing however if he stops Hyam/Carson from developing and then buggars off back to spurs (who benefit from getting a better palyer) then I could actually see this being a bit of an issue. But by all means I hope the boy does well although lets not get carried away he's played a freindly againt Cambridge.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls