Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’s delighted with his central defensive pairing Tommy Smith and Luke Chambers. The Blues boss has stuck with the partnership — along with full-backs Bradley Orr and Aaron Cresswell — for the last eight games

McCarthy said: “They’ve been excellent. I’m delighted with them. They’re both playing well.

"I thought they were excellent again on Saturday [at Wolves] and even more so at the end of the game when Wolves put Roger Johnson up and were just lumping balls into our box, the two of them were excellent, they headed everything.

“They’re not the biggest, they’re 6ft 1 or 6ft 2 at the most and Luke’s not even that. They’re two good competitors and I’m very pleased with them. They’re doing themselves real justice.”

The Town manager was a centre-half in his playing days and says he spent some time working with the duo and the rest of the defenders when he first came to the club at the start of November: “We did a bit of that when I came in, in terms of defending individually one v ones, full-backs and centre-backs, and partnerships in terms of the full-back and centre-half and centre-halves together.

“But I think they’re both just good players, nice steady players. Both good competitors, that’s what’s nice about them, they want to go and win the first ball.

“Chambo’s played a lot of games, he’s played for Nottingham Forest and Northampton, and I think Tommy’s played a few games too. They’re comfortable with each other, a nice left footer, a nice right footer, there’s a good balance.”

However, with Danny Higginbotham joining Sheffield United from Stoke at the end of his loan spell with the Blues, McCarthy knows he needs to add to his central defensive options during the transfer window: “That’s the fragile nature of the team, the spine is there, but that is the spine, the two of them and nobody else.“

Photo: Action Images

FrimleyBlue added 08:12 - Jan 3 To be honest mick I don't think we can trust you. Where was the squad rotation? You lied Sort it out NOW
0

Rentaghost added 08:33 - Jan 3 A bit harsh mr knowitall. The club hasnt the biggest squad and who would you suggest is better than the starting line up.
0

daniel9624 added 09:51 - Jan 3 More than harsh, just plain idiotic I'm afraid! Rotation is for teams with squads with two players for every position, we unfortunately barely have one! It could be argued that one or two cold have been swapped in or out, but with a cup game coming this weekend, MM probably hoped that the first eleven could pull out one more game, alas it was not to be.
0

Stato added 10:15 - Jan 3 I'd be surprised if that quote was made AFTER the Brighton game
0

Kesgraveblue57 added 10:48 - Jan 3 Playing well we lost our last Home game 3-0 remember
0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 11:31 - Jan 3 Unbelievable !! Doesnt take long does it before people start whinging does it . Brighton had played a game less than us and looked sharper. Yes with hindsight maybe we could have done with some fresh legs but after two good away wins had MM changed the team the same people would be on here moaning about that. The whole thing about this league is that on any given day any team can beat any other, look at P'boro going to Cardiff and winning. Brighton werent brilliant, they simply were sharper and did their jobs better than we did on the day. MM has done brilliantly so far and remember this is not even his team, so how about we trust MM and let him get on with the job, cos i think he knows a bit more than anyone on here.

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls