Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
McCarthy: Chopra One of the Best Players Here
Tuesday, 20th Nov 2012 06:00

Manager Mick McCarthy insists that striker Michael Chopra isn’t out of his Portman Road plans, despite the former England U21 international having featured for just 12 minutes since he took over at Town.

Chopra, introduced from the bench late on at Leicester on Saturday, has been a sub in each of McCarthy’s four games in charge but the new Blues boss, who admits he knows little of the striker’s off-field issues, says he rates the former Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff man highly.

“I’ve a lot of time for Chops,” he said. “And certainly in terms of his ability he’s been one of the really good Championship players over the last few years. I’d like to get that happening again.

“I actually don’t know about his problems. I just want to see him on the pitch. I’ve watched him in training. He’s one of the best players here, there’s no doubt about that.

“Why he’s not been in the team is for other people. I’m seeing what he’s doing and I’ve been impressed with him.

“But in DJ Campbell we’ve got Johnny on the spot at the minute, who is sticking the ball in the net, and I think Murph playing up front with him is a good foil for him.”

That partnership may be set to change with Tyrone Barnett coming in on loan yesterday, although the Peterborough striker isn’t available for Saturday’s game against his parent club.

McCarthy says Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is also in the increasingly fierce competition for places up front: “Another one who is a really talented player and I’m going to try to get the best out of him as well. He can give us more, there’s no doubt. We will get the best out of him.

“Terry Connor’s worked with him, more as a centre forward. He’s done a lot of work with him already.”


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



MVBlue added 06:06 - Nov 20
Gone by next September
0

shamboy added 06:23 - Nov 20
Ha ha. How transparent. MM must think Chops and JET are thick. And he's probably right.
0

townietilidie added 06:42 - Nov 20
Completely agree with MM . Chopra is proven at this level . It hasnt happened for for him yet we all know that but Jewell always played him as a lone striker in a very unimagenative team where he often had to come so far back to get involved with play . How many lone strikers are prolific goalscorers ? Hope MM can get the very best out of him as he still could have a very big part to play in turning around our fortunes . IMWT .... COYB !!!!
0

village_blue added 07:01 - Nov 20
Seems like it's time to stand up and be counted then Chopra over to you now to prove the point you are worth keeping.
0

shamboy added 07:04 - Nov 20
It's nice to see the positivity, but what do you think MM REALLY thinks of Chopra?
0

Dissboyitfc added 07:09 - Nov 20
Town legend or Villain? Listening to MM , sounds as though he has the choice to be either, which way is he gonna go? At the moment though, all i can think of, is the help the club have given him and the Goals he promised,( which so far havent happened) So he is going down as a Villain......Coyb
0

BigAlwasmyhero added 07:13 - Nov 20
Plenty of us on here agree about Chopra (not all) so show us please, if and when you get your chance, like.......this Saturday!
0

MickMillsTash added 07:33 - Nov 20
McCarthy wants Chopra to start playing like he can, grow up and stop moaning. Its up to Chopra to get into the team. I think this is all pyschology. Agree that Chopra is one of our best players
0

JayITFC added 07:38 - Nov 20
Chopra supposedly spent the summer sweating the puppy fat off in the US yet looks bigger now than last season! Scotland dropped the weight after that first season and looked a different player - sharp, fit, alert, etc. Chops needs to do the same.
0

bluefeast added 07:45 - Nov 20
who is to say that Chopra wont have a fantastic 2nd half to the season , score vital goals and make a real contribution. Fact is he is our player ,and the more we support him the better chance we have of him doing the business. The last thing we should be doing is moaning and slagging our players off all the way to div 1. We have our part to play. COYB
0

TimmyH added 08:05 - Nov 20
On paper maybe his name is one of the best players here but in his time at Town he's been a bit disappointing, I said when we first signed him we had got him too late in his career and nothing has changed my mind, and then there all his off field shananigans...
0

Stato added 08:07 - Nov 20
@bluefeast portman road is the place to support the team and this site is a forum for debate. Since arriving at Ipswich Chopra has been given more starts than any other player I can think of in the squad but has not come up with the goods. It has done him no favours playing upfront on his own but that is the way much modern football is played. I thought we looked a really good side at home to Blackburn when Scotland came on and Chopra did well and with MM playing mostly 442 in his first few games Chopra may well get a chance to prove himself but at £15k a week I reckon we could spend our money better elsewhere and what irks me with Chopra is that the club have bent over backwards for him yet he is still in the thick of the trouble when it happens. All that said I cheer every minute he is on the pitch on Saturday.
0

bluelady added 08:23 - Nov 20
Shamboy I think MM thinks Chopra and Jet have what it takes to be two great players and he wants to get the best out of them, but it's up to them now to deliver. Doesn't take genius to work that out! Some people forget Chorpa was our leading goal scorer last year whilst not firing off all cylinders ..... Agreed this year he feels like a let down but the talent is there and hopefully big mick can bring it out. I like the idea of jet as a front man too and that's where he enjoys playing so more round pegs in round holes. Public praise of players much more effective than public hanging as has been the case with one or two managers of ours
0

martleshamitfc added 08:39 - Nov 20
Phil @ TWTD - you missed the word "was" from the title!
0

TR11BLU added 08:41 - Nov 20
Get rid, more baggage than BA.
0

brian_a_mul added 08:51 - Nov 20
Lets hope Chops can put them away when his chance comes along.

Great to hear Terry O Connor is already working hard and making progress with JET!
They seem to have identified JET as a project and putting some time into his personal training. If he improves his finishing and composure he can be a devastating player.
0

beerhelps added 08:53 - Nov 20
My, arnt the Norfolk posters busy today?
0

RevAdrian added 08:57 - Nov 20
There are some wise comments here this morning. You can help any individual so much but it is also up to them - I remember when Bobby Robson rescued Eric Gates from something or other when he disappeared to the North East for a few days - he gave him the help and Gatesy reacted wonderfully, becoming one of our great players. None of us are in a position to know the situation from the inside but I suspect that that MM is doing the right thing - over to you guys now to respond.
0

Kesgraveblue57 added 08:58 - Nov 20
If Michael Chopra is one of the best players at the club it only shows what a poor bunch we have down here
0

LordMamu added 09:02 - Nov 20
Chopra will be gone by the end of the summer - Mick's just saying the right things and talking him up for the market - he clearly doesn't rate him - I'd play Scotland ahead of him every time because at least he puts a shift in. Good idea to try and make JET into a centre forward - he has the talent and shooting boots on his day and his lack of work rate means we can't afford to play him anywhere else in the position we are in....Bring on Saturday I'm feeling oddly confident....
0

dirtydingusmagee added 09:22 - Nov 20
Chopra has been very disapointing, if Big Mick really believes in him, then he must now stand up and be counted.Chopra owes Town big time, his woes are self inflicted and its about time he sorted himself out.The club have been changing his nappies far too long .STAND UP Chopra, justify Micks opinion, Saturday is massive .
0

StuartBrett8 added 09:31 - Nov 20
If P.J was still here... do you think he'd play our loan striker as a lone striker? Just a thought ;)
0

bluemikey100 added 09:40 - Nov 20
wish chopra bang on form he wud have a dozen goals by now wed be top b like havin marcus stewart goals to rely on
0

pazelle added 09:42 - Nov 20
JET is being coached into Nw*nkwo Le Tissier
0

roytheboy added 09:52 - Nov 20
Chopra can be good, we know that, however I don't think he has sufficient pace to play him as a lone striker where he would generally need to get back further to receive balls from midfield etc. I would like to see him develop a partnership with Campbell and see what it could produce, maybe nothing, but worth a try I feel.
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024