Luke Chambers has paid boss Mick McCarthy a huge compliment ahead of the busy Christmas period with the Blues three points away from the Championship play-offs in 10th, a significant improvement on their position when he took charge 13 months ago.

His Nottingham Forest contract having expired, Chambers signed on a free transfer for previous manager Paul Jewell in July last year and only featured on the winning side once in his first 13 league appearances.

That miserable run, which cost Jewell his job and saw him replaced by McCarthy, is in stark contrast to Town’s current form — and Chambers is in no doubt as to who should be given the lion’s share of the credit.

He said: “It’s no secret. In my opinion the manager has been an absolute godsend to the club. We’ve become a different team under him. We had a few horrible results at the start but I think the development from then to now has been huge.

“But we’re not getting carried away. We know what it takes to get results and I don’t think we’ve been too far away the whole season. Something has just clicked for us and we have managed to get ourselves on a little bit of a roll.”

He added: “The gaffer treats us right. There are never any grudges if someone makes a mistake or if it is someone’s fault for a goal. It’s just small things. Even if you’re not playing he speaks to everyone the same.

“David McGoldrick has been our main man but he’ll treat a youth team player who joins the lads for training just the same. It helps to know you have the respect of the manager.

“When he walks into the room he, instantly, demands respect but without being authoritarian. He’s very good the way he handles people and he’s very good when he sets our teams up.

“You know that if you’re not working at 110 per cent and not running your absolute nuts off you won’t be playing. When we do that, with the quality we have in the team, that’s what gets him results and he’s had that in the past.”

Chambers, who wears the captain's armband when Carlos Edwards is out of the starting line-up, revealed that he is regularly in conversation with the 54-year-old Blues boss: “If there’s an issue that he wants to talk about he’ll do it. I’ll have a chat with him most days and he’ll ask me how the lads are.

“I never feel under pressure but he’s a manager that you don’t cross the line with. If you do cross the line you know you’re in trouble and you don’t want to go there.

“But he can have a laugh with us — that’s the balance and I think it’s what makes him such a good manager.

“You can’t forget TC and he’s had his plaudits for the work he does with the strikers and the rest of the lads. The strikers have achieved a good return this season and long may it continue.”

Photo: Action Images

spanishblue added 06:32 - Dec 17 At last looks like we are getting a club again all for one & one for all onward & upwards let's hope we have a happy Xmas see yer Saturday
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SouperJim added 08:42 - Dec 17 I know some fans aren't in love with his style of football and I do understand why, however, it's been a long time since we've had a manager with the kind of attributes Chambers talks about. Anybody thinking we'd be better off with someone else in charge should be careful what they wish for.
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ArnieMsBigToe added 08:54 - Dec 17 Glad that there was a mention for Terry Connor. I think that he's a bit of an unsung hero. I always had a quite a bit of sympathy for Paul Jewell. The crock of sh1te he inherited from the dark lord was absolutely horrendous!! PJ tried to adopt a quick fix, which I can't blame him for. All the premiership has-beens weren't what we needed. MM & TC just had the last bit of cleaning up to do (Lee Martin, JET etc) I think that MM+TC have now made a very good platform on which to build. It was marvellous when they first came in. Before, with respect to transfers: the "will they" - "won't they" sign scenarios were very stressful to say the least. Then, enter MM & TC . Bish bosh wallop!! Job done. It was so refreshing. I don't know whether we will make the play-off's this season. Injuries and bad winter weather (not to mention the ever present threat of muppet officials) can make a break a season, but, for the first time in a few years, I am feeling rather hopeful. I noticed that MM didn't try to hold his cards close to his chest w.r.t EBanks Blake. No pussy footing about, just yes!! We want him. I don't know what the chances of getting Stearman are. That would be the final aprt of the jigsaw.

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minesapint added 09:34 - Dec 17 I agree with ArnieMsBigToe about Paul Jewell. He took over after RK had squandered the owner's money, sold our best young talent and filled the team with dross. OK, PJ made his mistakes with players who were past their sell-by dates but he also made good signings like Chambers and Creswell.
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MickMillsTash added 10:02 - Dec 17 Jewell lost his way massively and to be honest Boycotts Mum could have improved the organisation of that side. I'm optimistic about Town - I'm more optimistic when I don't have to watch the performances- but believe that McCarthy is the man to get us close to promotion. McCarthy has shown that he knows what is right and wrong and will have a plan to fix the problems. it may not be very pretty at the moment but its better being a Town fan in 2013 than 2012.

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riley26 added 10:05 - Dec 17 Think the missing piece really is a Matt Holland type on the middle. Goal scorer but works his socks off. McGugan, who we will face on Saturday is always one that comes to mind, although a lot of Forest fans used to claim style over substance with him. But just something to link defence ad attack more fluidly would be perfect.
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muccletonjoe added 10:11 - Dec 17 I do not agree with everything mm does but I do agree with Chambers when he says we have improved over the past year , that is without question and full marks to mm and tc for that. I believe we are still improving this season and a good christmas will see us making a few of the promotion contenders looking at us in a different light
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runningout added 10:44 - Dec 17 obvious, but understand the statement that we have improved while MM and TC have been here.. going back in time to when we became a seemingly 'money no object' club, we didnt realise funds would be needed to avoid relegation from this league, rather go the other way...
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Jimmy86 added 10:55 - Dec 17 Riley26 I agree with you regarding your comment about mcgugan, im gutted we didnt go in for him in the summer. Would certainly have scored goals from midfield, i guess there are 2 reasons we didnt try and get him 1. He not a mccarthy type player and 2. His wages. Shame coz he a decent midfielder at this level and could prob make the step up to prem standard
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Marshalls_Mullet added 11:35 - Dec 17 Arnie..... Ther is no way Tc is an unsung hero, there are many articles in the twtd archive praising him. I rate him and he's very important, but not unsung.
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WorcesterBlue added 11:39 - Dec 17 I've been quiet on here since the flak I got last time I dared to criticise MM. However, undoubtedly MM and TC have steadied the ship and made us a team who few teams will look forward to playing and he has to be one of the best man managers around. And I agree, with two or three decent signings (attacking CM, decent right winger and striker - or play Marriott!) I think we could be serious play-off contenders. I still maintain though that you can play good football and be hard to beat and I think MM has limitations as a coach which have longer term effect on any success we have and will certainly mean not much attractive football played in the next few seasons. But then, if we're successful.....?

2

TimmyH added 11:40 - Dec 17 Largely agree with Chambers about being a 'different team' but hadn't he only been here a few months before Mick took charge? maybe somebody like Edwards or Smith should comment on this. Overall Mick has generally got us more organised and without doubt with more 'steel'.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 11:47 - Dec 17 Worcester....10th is success compared to recent times, and we would almost certain be in league 1 if MM hadn't come on.
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RaymondovicBlue added 12:14 - Dec 17 OK - so at one level this is a non-conversation ... Mick is our manager and is happy coming to work, so why talk about whether we want him or not ! But on the other hand, surely those who say they don't like his style .. because the football doesn't look good and flash ...... don't you realise that you have to mend the big hole in the bottom of the boat before it is worth spending time and money painting the decks and putting out fancy deck chairs ?? Flip me - we have come MILES (nautical or land !) in just 13 months and of course that is down to MM and TC ... and ME for appointing them (and putting up the £1m stay up bonus carrot). Paul Jewel said he was coming for the long term, but was not tough enough to take it slow and wasted millions on deck chairs as well making a couple of great "hole mending" signings ! Town are having a really good season, and if you want to know why the fortress PR is not full - it is NOT due to the lack of goals .. .it is because the likes of me just cannot afford to come !!!!! RANT OVER. Thank you for letting me get that off my chest. Happy Christmas to you all!

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HALLSJ added 13:24 - Dec 17 Totally agree RaymondovicBlue, as a Staffordshire Town fan, the cost that would be incurred to bring myself and son to Portman Road would be in excess of £100 inc travel, how can I justify that? Been to Bolton Away and will go a couple of other aways but a visit to Suffolk before the end of the season would be great - reduce the price some what please
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Karlosfandangal added 16:19 - Dec 17 Good thing about MM is he plans ahead, We could be losing Tunncliffe in Jan as his deal is up but he is looking to sign Hunt till the end of the season, so he now will only have to shuffle the pack a little. I think we are in the position we will end up by the end of the season, bring in some one or two quility players in the close season and we will not be too far off, just need to keep our managers for more than 2 years to stop rebulids, just need to strengthan

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JWM added 17:01 - Dec 17 @HALLSJ How about taking you son along to the FA Cup game against PNE? Tickets for this game are cheaper than usual and should be a good game to watch!
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Kikapu added 17:37 - Dec 17 The quality of comment from you guys has improved too. Much more interesting to read than *expletive deleted* comment after comment.
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blueboy1981 added 19:25 - Dec 17 WorcesterBlue - good post.
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ericclacton added 19:39 - Dec 17 This man is playing out of position, I thankyou.
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RaymondovicBlue added 16:22 - Dec 18 Never had plus 17 before - thanks guys - Happy Christmas !!!!
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