Town boss Mick McCarthy says Luke Chambers has been top drawer at right-back and has praised his skipper’s selflessness and leadership.

Asked whether he feels Chambers had particularly impressed him during the Blues’ recent six-game undefeated run, McCarthy said: “I don’t think he’s been any more consistent than he’s ever been. He’s been top drawer there at right-back.

“He’s a centre-half, we all know that, he’d prefer to play at centre-back and that’s something I love about him, that he actually plays there and does it selflessly.

“And at times, when he’s had it tough maybe against a flying winger or it’s just not been his day, he never complains, he just gets on with it and plays. He’s a really good leader, on and off the pitch.

“And doing things the way he does is a great sign of a leader, he does it selflessly and for the team. I’m delighted with him and I do think he’s playing well at the minute.”

McCarthy says the 30-year-old is being encouraged to be more attacking, as is the Blues’ other full-back.

“I have asked him to get forward more, both him and Jonas Knudsen, they’ve certainly got the legs and the fitness and the ability to do it,” he added.

“I think that rather than being hesitant when they do it, when you do it with that bit of gay abandon, for defenders especially, it’s great when you get licence to go forward.

“I’ve never stopped him from doing it, by the way, but maybe we’ve just encouraged him to do it a bit more.”

Photo: Action Images

sidtheswan added 16:35 - Dec 9 I swear myopic mick watches a different back 5 to the one everyone else sees . Somebody needs to tell him we play in blue !
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footyblue added 17:03 - Dec 9 This is Carlos Edwards all over again square pegs in round holes just doesnt work you MM sais that after 2 games of being here and Yet you persist in the same
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blueboy1981 added 18:29 - Dec 9 ....... 'top drawer' at Right Back ... ?? - when the Manager makes a statement like that - it is concerning.
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blueboy1981 added 18:34 - Dec 9 ..... subsequently, we must be one of, if not the, easiest Defence in the Championship to play against. They all do there best - but to play two out of four, out of position, is ludicrous when it is so obvious and quite simply not entirely necessary by any means.
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prebbs007 added 18:51 - Dec 9 Are you taking the PI$$ Mick ??? Chambers is the worst right back in the league bar none. I challenge anyone without their MM rose coloured glasses on to prove me wrong. Any team playing us knows all they have to do is attack us in the channel between out of position chambers and out of position smith and they will destroy us. Our defensive record is a joke. This is down to mr stubborn continuously playing players who are a) out of position b) out of form or c) not up to this level. We have the worst full back combination for years at the club and our opponents exploit it week after week but Mick picks the same back 5 game after game. It's not even funny anymore. We have zero chance of top 6 until you admit your wrong. It takes a bigger man to hold up his hands to a mistake than to bury his head in the sand a hope. That's what you're doing Mick and fans are voting with their feet as attendances fall. We are 11 points of automatic and 12 points off relegation. Is that good enough ? NO !!! And neither is our team !!! And chambers is comfortably one of the worst.

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H1960 added 19:23 - Dec 9 More crap from Mick, he seems to be making these comments to justify his team selections and tactics. Every week its more of the same and to most of us its obvious where the problems are, just not our stubborn manager who seems determined to ignore criticism and go his own way.What does Jonny Parr have to do to get a game? If I were him id be seeking pastures new In January.

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thebeat added 19:56 - Dec 9 He will never admit hes wrong im adraid. He will just continue to play the same favourite players week in week out, when we win he will just say i told you i was right even if we've gone 5 or 6 games without a win before that. Ive now given up on ever seeing a decent fullback play for us while hes in charge.
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HackneyBlue added 20:41 - Dec 9 Technically the worst fullback here since Graham Harbey.For kicking the ball out of touch under no pressure he is second to none but he is not a full back so you have to take that into account. It reminds when in the good old days if a keeper got injured he would be replaced by an outside player who looked completely out of his comfort zone.
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TimmyH added 22:09 - Dec 9 Amazing that Mick has commented of recent times how many players have been class - so I take it the ones he hasn't mentioned have let the team down? He's commented on Knudsen, 'Best back 5', Berra (being back to form), Douglas, Murphy (also back to form), AMN (earlier on the season, saying he would be a star in the making) and now Chambo. I'll make a prediction Sears or Gerkin or Skuse next in line. Okay some will say it is good man management and to a degree it is...but really as 'top drawer' as Mick says?...but agree on Chambers, good captain but not in the right back position!

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Warkys_Tash added 23:21 - Dec 9 Some odd comments about Parr on here...unless I am missing something I thought the best spell last season that took us up to 2nd was playing two attacking full-backs... Parr on the right & Mings on the left. Currently neither are playing, one for obviously reasons. We now have two non-attacking full-backs, in fact a decent centre half & a poor Championship left-back, who doesn't like to cross the ball or the half-way line only to take a pointless long throw. And by the way Mick, why don't you work on getting someone in front of the defender heading that throw-in away? At least once a game would be useful..!!

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TimmyH added 11:10 - Dec 10 I got it wrong! - this morning it is the turn of Pittman (great technical attributes). Mick really 'lauding' up the players currently.
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