Boss Mick McCarthy has paid tribute to keeper Dean Gerken, who he says has been “outstanding” during his first season at Portman Road.

The Blues manager brought Gerken, a free summer signing following his release by Bristol City, into the team in place of Scott Loach at Birmingham late in August and the 28-year-old was his first-choice for the remainder of the season.

Rochford-born Gerken made 42 appearances in total, while Loach’s only further involvement in the league was as sub in the 1-0 home defeat to Burnley and a man of the match display in the 0-0 draw with Blackpool at Portman Road when Gerken was out injured.

The former Watford man, keen to play regular football, has been made available for transfer this summer.

“I’ve hung my hat on him a few times, certainly when I left Loachy out,” McCarthy said. “I love Loachy but I put Gerks in the net and then Loachy came back and he had a good game and against Blackpool at home.

“There’s always that question from the media, ‘Loachy had a good game…’. I don’t know what the agenda is at times, whether they’re trying to second guess me. I’m not having a go

"Or whether it’s that they like that little bit of controversy about who I’m going to put in, ‘What can he do? Is he going to leave him out? He’s a local lad, he loves the club and all that’.

“And having hung my hat on Gerks, he’s been outstanding. I don’t know if he was involved in any of the player of the season awards but he’s had an outstanding season.

“I remember the save at Blackpool just before half-time and if that had gone in we would have been slapped and we ended up winning the game. He did that on a number of occasions and he did it on Saturday. It’s a great season he’s had.”

Photo: Action Images

cornishnick added 12:41 - May 9 How about a sneaky move for Manchester City shot stopper Richard Wright?
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Marcus added 13:08 - May 9 Read between the lines. Mick's trying to say Gerks has been so good that a talented Loach couldn't break through and wants to leave through frustration. Once Loach has been sold then the tone will slightly change to looking for a replacement who can compete for the first team. Translation: Loach is for sale, buy him to offload his contract then we can get a new first choice keeper.

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goat_man added 13:24 - May 9 Interesting use of the term "Outstanding". I would say that he would be a good second choice keeper, but his shot saving abaility just is not up to being first choice. Throughout the season teams needed no where near as many shots on target as we did to score a goal.
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michael99 added 13:27 - May 9 well said souperjim you have to spell it out to some people on this site( i have done the same but then i usually get negatives for sarcasm)
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KBsSocks added 13:27 - May 9 Michael Crowe looks good as No. 2 if Loachy does leave. Gerks maybe isn't Premiership standard, or maybe "not yet"; but he'll do us fine, as would Loach, for a few seasons. Yes, it would be nice to have an even better keeper; but I don't think GK is a priority when you think of who we've got (Gerks, Loach, Crowe), and especially the need for midfield playmakers. Anyway, I'm sure there'll be some signings over the Summer, and maybe a stunning surprise or two :-D

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michael99 added 13:40 - May 9 Gerks over Loach any day for me he looked a little shaky earlier on but grew into the role as no1,and i reckon will do even better next year.Could we do better?of course we could ,but we are skint ipswich at the moment .Does anyone expect us to sign lloris? All keepers make mistakes did anyone see paddy kenny let that one in againt us or the brighton goalie(who some people rave about-but not me)let that one in on the last day of the season?they were shocking

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Solly added 13:43 - May 9 Seen someone up top say we should "go for Darlow". What world do some of you live in? Here's going to cost at least £3m. Gerken will be keeper next year, and he's good enough.
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TimmyH added 14:30 - May 9 He's done ok in my book but not 'outstanding', also be interesting to know what he's like vocally? as we know commanding the defense is also important. I felt when Henderson had his second spell here last season there was a very good understanding with the 5 of them.
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Bluetone added 15:49 - May 9 McCarthy seems to have a limited vocabulary there are many words between Average - competent - good and outstanding that would be more suitable.
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Ipswich121 added 16:21 - May 9 He's had a good season whether you rate him or not- personally I feel he is a great shot stopper but he clearly has worse aspects to his game, although I feel he has improved a lot over the season with consistency he still has a long way to go, with less flapping at crosses but I think it has been steadily improving and will continue to do so, we need another keeper if we get rid of loach but I want mick to stick with gerken so we can start to have some solidarity that we have no doubt been missing over the last ten years.

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Hegansheroes added 18:33 - May 9 More utter rubbish coming out of Mm's mouth,. With all the other "great" players we have-Nouble, Tabb, Hunt, Anderson, etc we should have walked the Championship. We are a very average team playing negative football in front of falling crowds.Of course there has been progress under MM but there have also been backward steps, the team needs investment, starting with a new goalkeeper.

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blueboy1981 added 20:05 - May 9 ......... another of Mick's statements that can only be termed as absurd - Gerken is an ok Championship keeper - certainly no more than that - but he is a MM favourite, so that qualifies him to be ranked highly in Mr McCarthy's book. Cannot see him improving his game to the extent that he would ever be good enough for the Premiership, that's for sure. MM has some strange opinions, and makes some strange comments - this is just one of many. He seems to think 'Tabbs' is outstanding too !!!!!!! - I rest my case.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 21:57 - May 9 I think Gerks has been class for the most part, all keepers make howlers, anyone else notice Joe Hart earlier in the season? Seaman? Robinson?David James? His distribution worries me and no he's not the best at crosses but he is hell of a shot stepper and has kept us in games plenty of tines. He's not the best keeper in the championship but there is certainly worse so I'll be more than happy if he starts as first choice next season bearing in mind the midfield really is the priority this summer. Dosnt it rather look like Sam Walker is on the radar? Loachy happy to drop to L1, swapsies?

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BlueandTruesince82 added 22:00 - May 9 Di Canio style of management from Blueboy there
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billlm added 23:14 - May 9 for me if he hadent done his shoulder and I hope he recovers well id rather have henderson
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Eeyore added 23:26 - May 9 This is boring. Do you recon Norwich will manage 17 goals against Arsenal on Sunday? :-)
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Garv added 01:54 - May 10 While saving some points Gerken also cost us points, on more than one occasion. He's pretty much your run of the mill championship goal keeper.
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Davesullivan65 added 09:30 - May 10 Someone show me he is joking! Yeah! Or I hope you guys who are saying it's a cover for him being a number 2 keeper or shipping out ! Ps Sam Walker is no better! Get rid of Malcolm Webster, his coaching is out of date nowadays, nice guy but time to move on please .
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thebeat added 10:13 - May 10 Micks way of saying "before you all get excited ive got a tiny budget again so i wont be spending it on a proper keeper"
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Cakeman added 10:38 - May 10 I believe Gerken to have the edge over Loach and both have tried hard for the club irrespective of their ability which will always be for a matter of debate. If we have money to spend I would like to see a more experienced keeper compete for the number 1 shirt. Although a former Budgie, someone like Gilks of Blackpool might fit the bill and our budget?
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silkcutblue added 16:42 - May 10 The only thing outstanding about Gerks is that beard, new No 1 needed imo
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Eeyore added 00:01 - May 11 yawn
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MathieandMarshall added 13:18 - May 13 My seat is directly behind the goal in the Lower SBR and while I have been impressed with some of Gerks saves this season I have been more shocked at the number of times a cross has come into our 6 yard box and he has stood rooted to his line and left one of the back four to head it clear! For me both Loach and Gerken are decent shot stoppers, Loach has better distribution but neither can command their box and claim crosses. Need to flatten everyone in their path!

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