Boss Mick McCarthy says it wasn’t a difficult decision to allow striker Michael Chopra to move on to Saturday’s opponents Blackpool on a free transfer in the summer. The Blues manager says the 29-year-old was never at his best during their time together at Portman Road.

“I think I told everybody I was going to let him go at the end of the season,” McCarthy said. “He knew that but when he came back I gave him the opportunity to get himself right, to be fit and to play.

“But that really didn’t happen, so when Blackpool came in it was a no-brainer for me. Having said that, it’s sod’s law he’ll probably get on the pitch and have a chance, which they always do when I let somebody go.”

Does McCarthy feel he’s currently short of a penalty area predator in the Chopra mould? “I lacked a player like that when he was here.

“Chops has been a really terrific player, he got me a goal at Bolton but I don’t think he was ever at his best, certainly when I saw him.

“And if he had’ve been, and if he’d been the Chops of six years ago, he would have been in my team. For whatever the reasons [he wasn’t], and to be fair he’s gone to Blackpool and he still hasn’t played, not regularly.”

Chopra has made two starts and six sub appearances for the Seasiders and came on in the 77th minute of last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, McCarthy says there’s been little talk about the 6-0 thrashing in last season’s corresponding fixture a couple of months before he took over as boss.

“Not this week, but it was last year because it was a particularly horrendous trip,” he recalled.

“They went up and stayed in a hotel, got slapped 6-0, then had to go up to Carlisle and got slapped after extra-time. They couldn’t even manage to lose in 90 minutes.

“And then they had to come back all the way down having had two defeats away from home. So yes, I have heard that story once or twice!”

A repeat of last year’s scoreline seems unlikely with McCarthy believing his side has made progress since then.

“We look like a fairly solid team and not that far away when you consider the teams that we’ve played,” he added. “But Blackpool are flying, however, there’s not a lot between any of us.”

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 07:17 - Nov 8 Chopra certainly had plenty of chances both here at ipswich and in life, such a shame really, mustnt judge people, but its hard with this one...... Can soon see him hanging up his boots, then his daily routine will be a real challenge, lets hope he doesnt get on the pitch tomorrow.....coyb
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stickymockwell added 07:21 - Nov 8 Could you change Micks quote to this? “But that really didn't happen, so when Blackpool came in for the no-brainer I let him go"
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ChrisMakin2012 added 07:47 - Nov 8 Forget Chopra Midtable Mick, what about Jason Scotland? !!
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BlueMachines added 08:38 - Nov 8 Chops in a shirt with Wonga.com sponsor. Oh the irony!!
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1RWR added 08:42 - Nov 8 What about Jason Scotland chirismakin? He's past his best as was seen last home game, nice guy, good pro but his days are long gone sadly so fail to see your point dear boy, sorry.
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Surco72 added 09:16 - Nov 8 I think his point is that where Barnsley had the ability to bring on Scotland who created himself a couple of good chances and could have won Barnsley the game we bring on Nouble who didn't touch the ball . Whether his best days are past or not I would bet he outscores Nouble this season ,and I would much rather he was on our bench than our offerings so far this season
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 10:08 - Nov 8 ChrisMakin2012 - i echo 1RWR, what about Scotland ? Great pro and under used in some of his time here but now only making cameo appearances for Barnsley. Surely your not suggesting he was the way forward ? Would have been handy on the bench maybe, but if that had happened no doubt you or some other whinger would have been moaning that he was blocking a place that Marriott could have.

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bluelady added 10:27 - Nov 8 Sucro but at least in Nouble we are looking forwards and not backwards.. He has got better the last two games and given time I think will come good, if not it's the next youngster not a 30 something striker we need
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mr_bean added 10:43 - Nov 8 Brilliant! Quote of the season: “Does McCarthy feel he's currently short of a penalty area predator in the Chopra mould? 'I lacked a player like that when he was here.'"
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whosroundisitanyway added 10:49 - Nov 8 About an 18 hour round trip for me tomorrow. Don't even want to see Chopra on the pitch, just an away win for the travel weary fans. PLEASE!!!
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Michael11 added 10:53 - Nov 8 Mr_bean I was just going to paste that quote myself haha! Absolutely brilliant. I want Ipswich to win with all my heart, but if we don't, then seeing Luke Chambers stick Chopra in Row Z (or Row P because their ground's a tin pot) then that will be a very good consolation.
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dubblue added 11:51 - Nov 8 Yes when it comes to the ones that got away, I would not include Chopra unlike Scotland not to mention Jordan Rhodes....
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Jimmy86 added 12:49 - Nov 8 he hasn't played all that much since joining blackpool and to be fair was probably right that he moved on but I truly believed when he signed for us that he was the goal scorer we needed. You can bet ya bottom dollar (no pun intended) that if he plays tommorow he will be extra motivated and its written in the script that he would prob score against us, what with having a point to prove etc. fingers crossed for 3 points though. COYB

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bohslegend added 13:28 - Nov 8 Away win 1-2. Tommy Smith special and a tap in from Murph.
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TimmyH added 13:32 - Nov 8 Let's be honest here Chopra was past his 'best' when we signed him...end of.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 13:39 - Nov 8 Anyone who thinks Nouble is better than Scotland is deluded! How many goals has Scotland scored today? And how many goals has Nouble scored in his entire awful career?
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ChrisMakin2012 added 13:41 - Nov 8 Scored this season*
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jas0999 added 16:08 - Nov 8 Chopra is thankfully in our past. A poor signing as it turns out. Time to look forward and to the future.
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Garv added 20:51 - Nov 8 Chopra wasn't at his best under McCarthy, but having Aaron Mclean ahead of him was an absolute crime.
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blueboy1981 added 23:12 - Nov 8 ....... don't bet against him showing us where the net tomorrow though - don't even mention the possibility of him scoring the winner !
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