Town boss Mick McCarthy says he will be looking to add goals to his midfield during the close season with widemen again amongst his targets.

The Blues, whose midfield McCarthy admits haven't scored regularly enough, have lost a number of players who operate out wide this summer, while previous recruits such as Alex Henshall, Dylan Connolly and Cameron Stewart, who remains a Town player but is available for transfer, have failed to make an impact.

“It’s important to get our recruitment right this summer, but that’s no different from any other year really,” the Blues boss told the club website.

“The wide areas are an issue for us. We have lost Tabby [Jay Tabb]. Ainsley [Maitland-Niles] has gone back to Arsenal and obviously Ryan [Fraser] is back with Bournemouth so we need to look at that.

“Goals from midfield have been a problem for us over the last two or three years but we looked to have got on top of that with Ryan, who certainly contributed in that area. He was a real loss for us.

“Kevin Bru got a couple of goals, Dougie [Jonathan Douglas] is a goalscoring midfielder operating in the right system, we need to get Bish [Teddy Bishop] back fit and contributing in attacking areas as well. We certainly need more in terms of goals from our midfield.”

The Blues are already in talks with loanee Liam Feeney, who is a free agent following his release by Bolton, about a permanent deal and were recently amongst a number of Championship clubs linked with Southend's 21-year-old out-of-contract midfielder Jack Payne, who scored nine times during 2015/16.

Regarding 25-year-old Stewart, who has a year left on the contract he signed in the summer of 2014, having so far made just two Town sub appearances in the FA Cup during the 2014/15 campaign and spent most of the season just gone on loan at Doncaster, he added: “He’ll be looking to get a club.

“He’ll be back for pre-season, he was here [recently] and got weighed, his body fat was measured and got his programme for the summer. He’s in good shape at the minute, he’s not been playing, but he’ll come back.

“I’m always disappointed if it doesn’t work out, whatever it might be, because that’s a reflection on me because I signed him and it’s a reflection on him because he’s the player and he has to perform.”

Meanwhile, Maitland-Niles, who spent 2015/16 on loan with the Blues from Arsenal, has been named in the England U19s squad for two friendlies in Mexico on June 4th and 6th.

Photo: Action Images

Rowski added 21:00 - May 16 Concur lol I meant Moncur!
0

tractorgrl added 21:53 - May 16 I'm hearing (from a Col U supporter) that Wolves have offered 500k for Moncur, we offered 200k no idea If its true
1

Tractamatt added 21:54 - May 16 It has to be time for Mr Evans to put his hand deep into his pockets and offered £3m for Fraser I'm sure it's more than possible and with Bournemouth looking at new wingers and midfielders his game time will be limited so he may be up for a move.
3

hoppy added 22:09 - May 16 "The wide areas are an issue for us. We have lost Tabby [Jay Tabb]. Ainsley [Maitland-Niles] has gone back to Arsenal and obviously Ryan [Fraser] is back with Bournemouth so we need to look at that." Surprised to see him mentioning having lost Tabby... didn't he have him available all season, and then not use him at all in any league matches? Convenient now to include him amongst those that need replacing, isn't it?

10

Keaneish added 23:45 - May 16 Really? Well that's interesting given you've refused to give any inkling of your transfer policy away in the last 4 seasons! Why now? Because we're unhappy? Because you and ME know the football is dross? Because season ticket sales are down? Learn from your naive belligerence and stubbornness and start next season like a train. That's the bottom line for me.
12

trevski added 23:47 - May 16 Its good to see that Mick is kind of realising his mistakes from last season and is already working to rectify the problems. Getting goal scoring midfielders and new wide players, getting rid of the oldies, realising he was playing people out of position. Now we just need a new right back and to work on the strikers a bit
2

Superblue95 added 00:50 - May 17 2 more wingers desperately needed along with signing feeney. Add to that a specialist right back and a goalscoring midfielder (possibly a new keeper to challenge bart and then get rid of Gerken who is dreadful), then promote some of the young ambitious lads to replace the deadwood and we could have a cracking squad. Tweak the playing style and next year could be interesting. Then again, haven't seen many pigs flying recently...

1

clint_eastwood added 00:58 - May 17 A new left-back please.
0

prebbs007 added 05:56 - May 17 Why would any wide players of any quality with any ambition want to play for this dinosaur ??? Let's be 100% honest peeps. They won't get the blimmin ball. With this idiots style of play Chambers & Knudsen will lump the ball at the donkey Murphy and everyone else will run around a lot. The favs will play every week no matter form or opposition and the dross will continue. If we are realistic about promotion we need players capable of playing premier league football as we won't be buying 11 new ones if we go up. That rules out Gerk the Berk, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Hyam, Douglas, Coke, Digby, Murphy. Pitman & Sears are possibly ok for back up premier league squad. Basically Michael we need a whole lot more than a couple of wide men !!!!! Another good attempt to sell season tickets tho but hard luck, fans are not stupid and have wised up to your cr&p

7

Stato added 07:34 - May 17 Never mind midfield our strikers fired blanks all season. None of the youngsters look ready to challenge Murphy so looks like we're stuck with a big old lump target man as our main atyle of play and I doubt Murph will bring in 10 goals never mind 20
6

WorcesterBlue added 08:25 - May 17 Agree that wide players needed but actually think we need a strong running hard tackling midfielder with a pass more than a goal scorer (could liberate more attacking players we already have?). But most of all we need defenders who are comfortable on the ball and the rot starts here imo as none of ours are so we just hoof it. All about opinions 👍
3

Dissboyitfc added 08:26 - May 17 Really do need for things to change. We all need to feel good about our team. I hope that those in the right places really are listening to what are genuine and sincere complaints/conerns. Mick and Marcus, get it sorted!
3

GiveusaWave added 08:32 - May 17 Personally hope Murphy and McGoldrick have a cracking Euro 2016. If we can keep them fit with Sears and Pittman (with Morris coming in to take over from Varney), then we don't need new strikers. I do have some concerns about our young players. Not their talent, but the fact that they seem to be being snapped up by bigger fish. Harry Clarke was a huge loss last year as he really looked like the creative winger/midfielder we have all been waiting for. I saw Sam Ford play twice and he was undoubtedly the best young striker at the club. And now Benyu may well be going to pastures new. We need to keep and play our youngsters and give them a real chance in the first team or we will end up losing them. I do support Mick but fear that without adequate funding we may be bringing in Coke MK2 in the close season.

2

ivegottheblues added 08:47 - May 17 The bad news here is that MM is planning for next season - looks like he'll still be around.
6

Mr_Evans added 08:55 - May 17 Niall McGinn - Aberdeen winger, 28. Scored 21, 14, 7 & 12 goals in his last 4 seasons.
0

Penguinblue added 10:04 - May 17 A new manager (a positive footballing one) should be top of the list
7

Razor added 10:34 - May 17 All I can say is talk is cheap and action speaks louder than words----and a lot depends on the owner and whether he will actually release any hard cash. We did try and recruit in January but I understand player in question wanted too much so was told to jog on. Interesting why early bird offer extended to middle of July----will any new recruits be in by then iand so tempting fans to buy?

2

TR11BLU added 10:35 - May 17 To$$er You spent the whole season picking two and sometimes all three NON goalscoring midfielders when you did have other options. Then on top you needlessly picked Douglas sufficient times to activate that clause??? So we go into next season with all three still here and likely two of the three will start again every week. If Douglas sits it out he is safe in the comfort of being paid for F-All. Do one Dino, maybe we can then have a team to be proud of again instead of the butt of other managers jokes...

6

Lightningboy added 10:48 - May 17 Hope Mick's been watching the play-offs - really like the look of Graham Carey of Plymouth - 26 and very energetic with an eye for a forward pass/shot at goal.
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:17 - May 17 It's ok focusing on what we need, but where do we find it? It's not as if we'll be the only team looking to strengthen, and I can't see us competing financially even with the majority of the Championship clubs. That means that we're already probably out of the market for proven talent. So maybe our only realistic option is to take a punt on the lower leagues or abroad. It might just work out. Maybe....

2

GiveusaWave added 11:50 - May 17 A lot of the comments on here today make sense. Lower league or signings from abroad do seem to be the realistic options rather than cast offs and frees from Championship, League 1 or League 2 clubs. Niall McGinn is a good suggestion and is achievable.Moncur also seems a viable option. If we were looking abroad I'd suggest Oscar Lewicki, a former youth player at Bayern Munich who now plays in the Swedish league. Still has 1 year left on his contract so would require a fee but worth it as creates a bunch of assists every season. Is there any further news on whether Smith is going to sign?

1

Vizslaraner added 12:52 - May 17 Six players at Walsall are quality, lower league and hungry to do well. Both full backs are good, winger, two midfielders and sawyers and Bradshaw r quality. If Barnsley finish it off, one or two from there Wd be great additions
0

neil1968 added 14:40 - May 17 I reckon Charltons Ademola Lookman would be a fantastic signing along with Gary McKay Stevens from celtic . Class wide midfield player
1

Lightningboy added 15:36 - May 17 To me it seems that we leave all our signings until the very last minute as to not have to pay new signings over the summer months - which is why more often than not we miss out on any bargains/the best players from Championship/Leagues 1 & 2. We don't need that many new players - maybe only 3 or 4 - so can we please stop faffing around and at least let the manager bring in who he wants early before others get in before us.

2

Seasider added 17:05 - May 17 Agree with you once again Cloddyseedbed. Tractamatt-Doubt if we will get Ryan Fraser back,unless its on loan again;but failing that how about Jonny Williams?I know he is not a natural wide man;but similar type of player and Mick doesn't seem too bothered about players in their natural positions anyway! trevski and Superblues 95 How about giving Jo sh Emmanuel a go at RB,which after all is his natural positon

2

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls