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Douglas: Only a Matter of Time Before We Turn Things Around
Friday, 14th Oct 2016 06:00

Town midfielder Jonathan Douglas says he and his colleagues are desperate to get back to work after the international break.

Douglas & Co head for his previous club Blackburn tomorrow seeking to end a run of four games without a win or a goal and he is confident they can reverse that trend at Ewood Park.

The Irishman, who will be 35 next month, admitted: “The result against Huddersfield is one we want to get over.

“We’ve had a nice break and got away from football for a while. I went back to Ireland and spent a couple of days with my family there, which was good, but we’re all back now and raring to go.”

Boss Mick McCarthy has already acknowledged he is in the midst of his toughest time since taking charge at Portman Road but Douglas believes it won’t be long before Town turn the corner and start to climb the Championship table.

He added: “The run we are on is in the back of our minds and of course it’s very worrying. But we’ve got the lads who are capable of getting us out of this and I believe with the ability that we have in the squad that we will.

“It’s just a matter of time — or a little bit of luck here and there — and it will turn around for us. I’m not worried really because I know what we have in the team and in the dressing room and that we can put a run together.”

Boss McCarthy has been a target for the fans’ anger, with some even calling for him to be sacked, and Douglas added: “They have a right to have a go at us and it’s up to us on the pitch. The manager works his butt off every day of the week and it’s up to us on the pitch to get the results that are not happening at the moment.

“The manager is taking a lot of flak because he’s the manager but before he came here I think the club was looking at League One and he’s turned it around. To be fair to him he’s done it on such a low budget that he’s done remarkably well to be honest.

“If he’s getting the flak it’s down to us to pull him out of it. A lot of the lads who are playing here owe him a lot and I’m one of them. He’s given me an opportunity to play for a club like Ipswich and I’ll be doing everything I can to get us turned around.”

Douglas welcomed the second international break of the season when he said: “A break is always nice — I’m not getting any younger — and it was good to get away.

“I’ve got a young daughter back home in Ireland so it was nice to spend some time with her. It can be difficult when you are a long way from family.

“My little girl lived in London until the start of the school year when she moved back to live in Ireland. Since then I haven’t been seeing her as much as I did before and it’s the same as Christophe Berra with his little girl [who lives in Edinburgh].

“But we all know it’s part and parcel of being a footballer because it’s a short career and you need to give everything while you’re in it. Christophe probably thinks the same but I suppose it’s the same for every player.

“We’re away from home a lot and we travel a lot but it’s a great job that we have, it’s a great life and we’re very privileged. It’s a sacrifice but we play football for a living, which is every young kid’s dream. It was my dream and it still is!”

Town are boosted by the fact that players like David McGoldrick, Adam Webster and the on-loan Jonny Williams, who has yet to feature since joining from Crystal Palace for a fourth time, are all nearing a return to full fitness.

Douglas added: “Jonny’s looking really good. He’s back in full training with us and the international break means there are a few more of the injured players getting involved again. The squad is getting bigger, which is great because we will need everybody for the push.

“Didzy and Webby are back training as well, so with Jonny it’s three big players, three big characters, for us. They are three very talented players that we need for the squad. It’s a small squad so to have three players like that returning can only help us.”


Photo: TWTD



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Suffolk_n_Good added 06:57 - Oct 14
"Dougie" is right it's only a matter of time before things turn around, in his case, if he was to attempt a "quick turn" with the ball at his feet against Blackburn, he'd probably complete it in the 38th min against Burton on Tuesday!!!
7

hoppy added 07:07 - Oct 14
“It's just a matter of time — or a little bit of luck here and there..."

...or how about another possible explanation, that maybe it's a matter of needing to change the personnel involved, particularly in midfield?
8

BrettenhamBlue added 07:21 - Oct 14
We have to stay positive with things getting serious, loss against Blackburn and we have a relegation scrap on our hands.
0

evansblue added 07:37 - Oct 14
I think as fans we need draw a line over the previous results and performances and go again. Yes it's been poor but the negativity from fans has been relentless. If we have two poor performances v Blackburn and burton then by all means rev up your keyboards but let's give the team a chance.
6

mickeyjb added 07:42 - Oct 14
I do think there is a lot of players like dougie that know that this is his last big pay cheque as I'm not sure how many of our players would get a starting birth in any other championship side at the moment. Bart, Ward, Sears (when played in correct position). This is from who may start on Saturday not who we have at the club. Maybe it's better to put it like this:

How many of our team would get into a current top six team and yes that includes Norwich!!! If hardly any of our players are good enough then how do we expect to be there? Certainly we can see it's not because of the excellent manager we have!
2

Dissboyitfc added 07:53 - Oct 14
There will be no turn around unless he makes changes for the better, but cant see it happening.

Webster will be back and josh will get drooped and the skouglas combo will again be our midfield.

What has anybody seen from recent performances to suggest things will turn around?
5

Surco72 added 07:56 - Oct 14
Don't care what Douglas has to say , he shouldn't have played so many games to allow a contract extension last season after repeatedly poor performances and should be nowhere near the matchday squad this season . Job for the boys created by MM
9

Scuzzer added 08:16 - Oct 14
time...how about next May...ooops that will be too l
2

goat_man added 08:40 - Oct 14
Seems to me that Douglas is doing a lot of these interviews....next season's captain? :) :)

Xx
4

martin587 added 09:15 - Oct 14
What utter rubbish.It's not a case of "things will turn round soon"?A club like this SHOULD not NOT be in Situation like we are now.The running of this club is a disaster And a crying shame that us supporters have to endure below average football,and that's putting it very mildly.!! Things will only change when MM leaves and not before,Sorry,but TRUE.
5

BrettenhamBlue added 09:17 - Oct 14
Think Chambers will still be Captain next season, but Douglas may well be Captain the season after.
0

beornioblue added 09:21 - Oct 14
do the decent thing "Dougie" .......

and mind out for the dangerous passes to your own face like last time out
2

MattinLondon added 09:39 - Oct 14
On a purely human level it must be horrible for both Douglas and Berra not being with their very young children. I have a lot of sympathy for them and if a club comes in for them nearer to home then I guess as fathers they will want to leave.

Back to football — Douglas, Skuse and Bru will start with Bru being subbed off in the sixty-eighth minute. Best will play up front and be subbed off in the seventy-third minute and replaced by Reg.
4

bluehook added 09:51 - Oct 14
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
1

bluehook added 09:51 - Oct 14
More inane platitudes. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
2

TR11BLU added 10:54 - Oct 14
Why not stay in Ireland then and lock Dino in your shed for a couple of seasons...
3

rinkydinkpanther added 11:02 - Oct 14
I agree it's only a matter of time. Problem is, I don't have until the 2152/3 season.
1

TimmyH added 11:03 - Oct 14
It's about time Mick started managing rather than leaving that threesome in midfield (we all know who they are) all the time. Personally feel 2 of that 3 needs dropping and not just for 1 game and Emmanuel needs to stay at RB.

Should be interesting to see the starting line up tomorrow...
2

surgery added 11:06 - Oct 14
Tomorrow

Bart

Chambers
Webster
Berra
Knudsen

Bru
Douglas
Skuse
Sears

Best
?
0

jayessess added 11:47 - Oct 14
If you look at the stats, we're actually "lucky" to be where we are. What we need is an increase in quality, not a bit more fortune.
3

Currie10 added 12:11 - Oct 14
Surco72 - sorry disagree with you there while pants last season, playing in a system where Douglas is decent he's been one of our better performers this season. Certainly rather him than Bru any day of the week.

Sears and Bru have been shocking this season. Having a half fit Best hasn't helped either!
-2

jas0999 added 12:24 - Oct 14
We will turn things around once either Skuse or Douglas are dropped. Too negative playing both.
2

rodney added 14:11 - Oct 14
The only direction we'll turn in is towards League One with Douglas in the team. A waste of a wage and stealing a living.
2

Carberry added 16:03 - Oct 14
Heaven forbid that I say this but it sounds to me that Dougie is a very decent bloke with a level headed attitude to football and life. That's a plus for our club. It wasn't Phil Neville's fault that he won 59 caps for England and similarly it is Mick who keeps picking Dougie. Let's make sure we keep recognising the difference between the bloke and the footballer and respect that.
1

Seasider added 17:53 - Oct 14
Interesting that both this Irishman and the Scot,both continue to live in other countries.
I remember Roy Keane insisting that his players lived in the area,as he did;unlike our present manager,so presumably they can live where they like as long as they turn up for training.Just saying.

Regarding interview,these are so predicatable that its not worth commenting on.
1


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