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McCarthy Thrilled for Chopra
Monday, 3rd Dec 2012 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy said he was “thrilled” for Michael Chopra after the striker came off the bench to score Town’s final-minute winner in their 2-1 victory at Bolton on Saturday, the Blues’ first ever win at the Reebok Stadium. The Town manager also revealed that the idea of playing Bradley Orr in the centre of midfield had its roots in a game he saw almost a decade ago.

Chopra slammed home the rebound after Trotters keeper Adam Bogdan spilled Orr’s volley from the edge of the area, much to the delight of his boss: “I was thrilled for him because I think he’s had some tough times with us. He’s done nothing other than be excellent with me — trained well, travelled, been on the bench.

“I said on Wednesday, ‘You can have a day off if you want it’, but he came and played in the U21s [practice] game. His attitude’s been terrific. It was a great striker’s goal. He’s a player, a proper player, make no mistake about that.”

After the game McCarthy said he felt Chopra and fellow subs Daryl Murphy and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had won the game for the Blues, but equally as important were the manager’s tactical changes, amongst the most significant switching Orr from right-back to central midfield.

Orr, like Chopra, came through the youth system at Newcastle United before moving on to Bristol City in 2004 and McCarthy said he recalled seeing the loanee from Blackburn in such a role at that early stage of his career.

“The first time I saw him play he was playing for Newcastle reserves in centre midfield,” McCarthy recalled. “I asked him in the week, because [with Nigel Reo-Coker and Luke Hyam injured] we were two men down, if he would do it for me and he said it was no problem.

“Andy Drury was looking a bit knackered, he’d not played a lot and I just thought it would give us a bit more bite, and as it turned out it worked. It’s nice when it works, isn’t it?”

Meanwhile, Bolton boss Dougie Freedman felt keeper Adam Bogdan wasn’t to blame for Town’s winning goal despite failing to hold on to Orr’s strike: “It’s taken a deflection, he’s got a couple of people in front of him, he’s done well even to get anything on it, so there’s certainly no complaints, in fact I thought he was one of our better players.”

He added: “We’ve got to understand how to see out a game. I think that’s the big message from today.”


Photo: Action Images



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Sir_Bob added 06:06 - Dec 3
“I said on Wednesday, ‘You can have a day off if you want it', but he came and played in the U21s [practice] game.

I think MM maybe tutrning Chops around slowly but surely. Keep it up Chops. We need you!!
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Dissboyitfc added 07:25 - Dec 3
Agreed Sir_Bob, but chops need itfc even more, he needs to work hard to get a contract here, dont think there are too many clubs in this division or above, going to be fighting for his signature with his known probs, so much baggage going on.......COYB
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StuartBrett8 added 08:01 - Dec 3
Such a nice change to get some luck :)
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bluelady added 08:14 - Dec 3
How refreshing that another manager is saying "we just need to see teams out" how many times has it been us that were one up and then lost two one? Have we even done that once under MM? Ok we did get hammered twice but other than that we have not looked like a team who are easily beaten, and to be one nil down and make changes away from home to win a game is just so refreshing!
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Frase1987 added 08:33 - Dec 3
One of our key problems in recent years is that some of our players were actually becoming quite UNLIKEABLE. It's good to see this is turning around, might even have a chant for one of them one day! (can you imagine?)
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Bananaman added 08:53 - Dec 3
This is good man management from Mick. He is doing everything right so far. COYB
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itsonlyme added 09:14 - Dec 3
MM certainly seems to bring out the best in players. He just needs to lift those players on the edge of the first team, like Ainsley, Carson and Whyte etc.
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1Finshefki added 09:15 - Dec 3
Great photo!
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Bootros added 09:49 - Dec 3
Good man management and good fan management. Mick knows the fans are down on Chopra and a few positive stories like this will rebuild the fans' trust. Top bloke, MM.
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howdonblue added 10:44 - Dec 3
I for one feel that chops has really got his head down since Mick has been at town.
what player couldn't be impressed by the man!!

old school boss.

MICK SIR YOU ARE ALREADY A TOWN LEGEND ...
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Lennyboy added 10:53 - Dec 3
I agree with everyone on here concerning MM's ability to man manage. I would sayn that 80% of football management is man management, the rest is tactical. We nver had that percentage with Keane, in fact his ratio was non existant. PJ was out of his depth really, nice guy but no tactical and had trouble knowing how to really man manage. MM has done so much in four weeks and I hope it stays like that. COYB!!!
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Seasider added 12:27 - Dec 3
Stats dont lie 5 points adrift of 23rd club when MM took over on Nov 1st and now 1 month later 5 points clear of bottom three.
There has also been marked improvement in Lee Martin,Murph,JET,Tommy Smith,Luke Chambers, Stephen Henderson,Bradley Orr and Cressy, as well as continuation of good form by DJ,and the bringing in from the cold of Guirane N'Daw.Thats nearly a whole team!
Would like to see Bilel Mohsni a bit more before he goes back to Southend in a months time;but if Mick doesnt think he is up to it then cant disagree considering what he has done in past month.
Before match I said Drury not up to it and sure enough was' knackered' after an hour,according to Manager;but didn't Bradley Orr do well when he was switched to midfield,another master stroke!
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Berts_chin added 13:19 - Dec 3
Perhaps just a bit of credit is due to Evans and Clegg for seemingly having got this appointment right. When they've taken flak for the previous two managers, it only seems fair.
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daniel9624 added 13:31 - Dec 3
Lennyboy, partly agree with what your saying, but man management is only possible when players trust the gaffer. If he doesn't get tactics right, the players lose faith and management becomes more difficult. MM is getting tactics spot on, attacking at the right times and not shutting up shop to try and see out the game (we just haven't got the players to do that at present) so its much more 50:50 than it seems.
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runningout added 14:28 - Dec 3
think Chopra has never quite reached his best, maybe it's not far away.. Though it's definitely not the 'Chopra Show.' Our whole squad are not far from their best as one... hope they can keep it up of course.. have been bitten on the a*se too many times of late to get carried away though
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Mr_Evans added 14:47 - Dec 3
I have to say, I enjoyed Chopra's Twitter comments on Saturday, he stated;

"Find it funny the press want to interview me after I score the winner, yet they don't realise I don't forget all the rubbish they write about me. No thanks, stop writing rubbish about me and then I'll do interviews."

Think this is to do with the 'bankruptcy' story. Fair play to Chops. Let's hope he lets his football to continue to do his talking for him.
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Marcus added 14:59 - Dec 3
I've watched Chopra's career for a long time with interest. Ultimately he reminds me of myself in both good and bad ways (yes I'm half-Indian with a historic gambling problem). He needs strong and confident leadership to get his head in place. I'm currently applying for a position that would be my 'last chance' to get my life going again, he has his chance at Ipswich to show he can live to his potential. I know with the right people around him he can do it (and so can I).
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peteswindon added 15:45 - Dec 3
Get off Chopps back. He is a proven goal scorer and with the right support will get hat fulls of goals for us. Super Michael Chopra
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runningout added 16:03 - Dec 3
no one on his back with past few posts.. Cant blame certain elements of the press and media being interested in what Chopra has to say..
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BuckieBlue added 19:16 - Dec 3
MM remembers tactical incidents from games 10 yearsa go...wow! Hope in 10+ years to come he has plenty of good Town memories to look back on!
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TimmyH added 19:33 - Dec 3
Well hopefully scoring in the last minute and giving us that winning feeling will give Chops a 'wake up call' that if he puts the effort in he still has a future at this club.
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Morgan added 21:05 - Dec 3
I've been outwardly critical of Chopra under PJ but everyone gets a fresh chance with a new manager and i can't ask for more than the endorsement that Mick is giving him here. Fair play and keep up the good work, you have the ability.
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Talbs77 added 21:13 - Dec 3
I think this shows the players are behind MM in a big way and if he can get Chopra playing then I think we really are in business.

Doesnt matter what we think of Chopra as a person (I think I've made my view clear on here before) but noone can dispute he's a good player who can help get us the results to climb the league.

I heard that thicket Adrian Durham on Talksport tonite mocking us as apparently a few fans expressed relief on twitter after saturdays result.

Its time we started shoving this mocking down peoples throats as I'm sick of our club being down with the basement boys. Theres only one way we can do this...winning.

Well done boys, feels nice to start feeling proud of you all again.
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petom added 22:39 - Dec 3
Perhaps at last MM is putting right the damage done by Keane, and carried on by Jewel. He is using the same squad of players,but his tactical nous and his man management skills are inspiring players to play for our club !!! I had written off Chopra as a waste of space,but how wrong can you be, MM has kept faith in him and he comes on to score the winner.Putting Orr in central midfield was a brilliant tactical move. I feel another statue coming on
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Tractorboy1977 added 23:29 - Dec 3
well done chops u may have personal problems dont we all but still think u got it in you. your one of my favourite players so keep at it things will come good in the end ;)
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