Town goalkeeper Scott Loach has admitted he could be forced to consider a future elsewhere.

Loach is set to play in tonight’s FA Cup third round replay at Preston but it will be only his seventh senior appearance of a season in which he has given way to Dean Gerken as the club’s number one.

He played in the 1-1 draw between the sides at Portman Road 10 days ago but is adamant that his love for Ipswich, the team he followed as a youngster, will not be allowed to stand in the way of career progress.

Asked if he would consider asking for a move, or to depart on loan so he could play regularly, 25-year-old Loach responded: “It’s a tricky question because I love the club and I want to play.

“I want to be the gaffer’s number one but there is a stage at some point where you do need to play games. I’m quite fortunate so far that I’ve managed to play a lot of games but there’s only a certain period of time you can go without playing before you kind of settle into that number two role and that’s not really what I want.

“We’ll have to assess it over the next couple of months and see where they go. It might be a chat we need to have in the summer but at the minute my main focus is that I hopefully get a game in the replay and then put in a performance that gives the manager a problem.”

The former Watford and England U21 keeper started the current campaign as Mick McCarthy’s first choice changed after Town lost three of their first four Championship fixtures and Gerken was instead given the nod.

Loach added: “When I’m 40 and retired I’ll look at the shirt on the wall and I’ll be able to say I played for my boyhood club. It doesn’t matter if I’d played one game or 100 games, no one will be able to take away the fact that I played at Portman Road and fulfilled my dream.

“Obviously, the club means a lot to me but so does my career at the end of the day and that’s the main thing in my eyes. If I have to move on it has to be right for everybody as well.

“I won’t just move for the sake of it. Anything can happen in football and, you never know, I could be in and play the last 20 games of the season. I’m ready for any outcome.”

Photo: Action Images

Len_Brennan added 06:33 - Jan 14 Disappointing but understandable, he is not as good & reliable as Gerken and will not be a number 1 at the club again. Mick clearly doesn't fancy him & he makes too many errors which would prove costly over the course of a season. It's always good to have players who love the club & support it in the team/squad, but sentimentality can have no place in picking your best side.

4

bluefeast added 07:40 - Jan 14 He needs to seize the opportunity when he gets it. Both our keepers are good shot stoppers. However they are both to slow to react in terms of commanding area.
7

Mark added 07:58 - Jan 14 I think Gerken is very clearly ahead of Loach now, so it's understandable if Scott wants to think about moving on. No one wants to look back at a career sitting on the subs bench. I suspect he might have to drop down a league to get first team football however.
1

essexboy added 07:58 - Jan 14 Shame this.i can understand how he feels but he will get his chance,just put in a great show tonight and make it hard for MM to leave you out.But you must learn to command your area better.Good luck Scott.COYB
3

buryblue77 added 08:23 - Jan 14 I can understand this, if I wasn't getting the opportunities I believed I should be getting in a job I would also look to move on, this is after all his job. However, I don't feel he's good enough to be our number one, if fact I could imagine he will have to drop down a level to get regular football. I don't think there's a huge amount between him and Gerken though, maybe Gerken is slightly quicker off his line and more commanding, in an ideal world I would like to see someone better still between the sticks.

8

Popeye added 08:29 - Jan 14 Was a consistent performer at Watford, talked about as a future england keeper and it was rumoured Spurs were interested in signing him! Maybe the hype got to him because since then his career has stalled. If town go out of the cup then maybe MM could get cover and allow Loach out on loan but he looks resigned to moving on in the summer.
0

DurhamTownFan added 08:33 - Jan 14 Very difficult for keepers to really stand out in a game, as often you're not doing anything for long periods and everyone's attention follows the ball. I don't really think there's that much to pick between the two keepers, but MM has clearly got his favourite, and so much of keeping is based on mentality and confidence, so if you're out then that's very hard to get back (look at Hart even, recently at City). Trouble for us is, if we let Loach go, then what? Who else is there who'd be happy to sit in the wings?

-2

Cloddyseedbed added 08:38 - Jan 14 Understandable but never mind.
-1

ChrisMakin2012 added 08:55 - Jan 14 Poor goalkeeper. Fans will disagree because he is a "true blue". Face reality.
-3

Karlosfandangal added 08:59 - Jan 14 You can understand, The problem for town is getting another keeper, how many years did we go with loan keepers and chopping and changing keepers. There are not many around and we would be looking for someone at least Loach standard but ideally better than Gerken. Bring back Cooper and Sivell happy days
2

Hegansheroes added 09:11 - Jan 14 Bring back Cody Cropper
1

yorksblue added 09:18 - Jan 14 It started to go wrong when Supple decided to go. I blame Keane.
3

owdboy1 added 09:19 - Jan 14 My cousin, who is a long term Watford season ticket holder was amazed when we got Loach. He described him as a good reaction shot stopper, but very poor with crosses and often gets caught out by long distance shots. We have seen exactly these faults - he has not improved his game at all since signing for us and we should look to replace him.
2

SouperJim added 09:49 - Jan 14 “When I'm 40 and retired I'll look at the shirt on the wall and I'll be able to say I played for my boyhood club. It doesn't matter if I'd played one game or 100 games, no one will be able to take away the fact that I played at Portman Road and fulfilled my dream." What a guy.
2

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 10:01 - Jan 14 Although a good shot stopper he makes too many errors and is nowhere near commanding enough, as seems to be the general opinion on here. Shame cos he is obviously blue through and through , but so am i and i don't think MM will give me a game . Suppose i could ask...
1

Gingerblues added 10:12 - Jan 14 I still don't think we have this position sorted. I am not convinced by either although Gerken is the better of the two. I think MM took a punt on Gerken because he has no money and it has turned out well. The reality is MM has pulled this team together with nothing and he is getting the best from them.
1

Michael11 added 10:50 - Jan 14 I agree with most the above comments. I don't feel comfortable with Loach or Gerken in goal to be honest. Gerken's a brilliant shot stopper but for every world class save like Charlie Austin's header, he'll virtually give a goal away like Gary O'Neill's. Think we really need to address this situation as we haven't had a reliable number 1 since Kelvin Davis.
6

theobald1985 added 10:51 - Jan 14 feel really sorry for loach as in reality gerkin has made just as many mistakes but was not dropped after them like scott. DG is a good shot stopper but is dodgy on crosses and has a massive mistake in him. loach should have been back in after derby if mick was being fair but it did not happen.i feel he was made a scapegoat for poor early season form when in reality the whole team was playing poorly.he is 25 a good keeper and whatever anybody says it is important that he is a town fan.if mick was to put his faith in him and say your my number one he could hold that position for the next 10 years and get better and better but he was dropped treated unfairly and had his confidence destroyed and he will end up being moved on which i feel is a real shame

3

dirtyboy added 11:15 - Jan 14 Worth pointing out how tight the defence was under MM at the back end of last season.
1

essexboy added 11:29 - Jan 14 The defence went pear shaped when Chambers was moved to wing back.!!
0

Jimmy86 added 14:22 - Jan 14 I certainly think at times loachy has been unfairly treated, by both jewell and mccarthy. As an above poster said gerken has probably made just as many mistakes as loach has and although gerken has done brilliant of late, esp over the xmas period id say there isnt an awful lot between them. Loach pretty much found himself dropped for making 1 mistake and that isn't right in my opinion. Mick stuck with gerken after making mistakes so whats different. People say dont be blinkered by fact loach is a town fan and it dont mean he's any good etc, the same situation applies to local boy "one of our own" hyam. Question is why is so much patience afforded to hyam and not loach?? Its the same principle. If sentiment doest come into it with loach bein a town fan, why does it with hyam being a local boy??

-1

Garv added 14:56 - Jan 14 Gerken should not be guaranteed a spot every week. I would fear for Loach if he made an error similar to Gerken's on Saturday.
1

Marcus added 15:14 - Jan 14 Both good shot stoppers. Loach is slightly better at kicking. Gerken is better at commanding the area. Gerken also seems to have slightly more confidence after making an error. I think Gerken is the natural first choice right now but Loach could be if he can improve the mental side of his game.
0

battyblue added 15:30 - Jan 14 I played a lot of my football in-between the sticks and both keepers make me crindge not coming for crosses even in the six yard box but Dean Gerken is the better in my opinion although not of a high enough standard , a good keeper should boss his area and work like an extra defender when called upon neither does this a lot of the time Gerks and more so Scott stand rooted on the line and hope the defenders can deal with it hence we give away more corners =more goal scoring opportunitys if a keeper catches a cross the threat is over also punching can not always be avoided but the times i have seen a keeper punch when he could have caught and someone whacks it straight back in the net is unbelievable but all said and done we have what we have and have to make the most of it with Gerks no1 as he should be and Scott no2 and i cant see that changing until Gerks get injured so good luck Scott what ever you decide you are a smashing fellow.

0

battyblue added 15:34 - Jan 14 And good luck tonight Scott i hope you have a blinder.
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls