Once MM signed Webster, Chambers days were numbered, if he plays Webster, Chambers can only play at right back, and I believe even MM is beginning to realise Chambers is a liability there.

Truthfully ITFC need a few new faces to lift spirits within the squad, to see this happen would mean a number of fringe players plus the unhappy Luke Chambers leaving . Giles Coke, Luke Varney, and Jonathan Douglas should also be part of the group to leave. Then MM needs to be brave and go for some experience by trying to get Right Back Phil Bardsley from Stoke and test the water to see if Michael Carrick would fancy a move to be playing more regularly than he is at Man Utd. I know it is an outside chance of getting a quality player but if you don't try then you don't get that type of player. Then to take a chance go north of the border and sign Ross County striker Liam Boyce who has scored 11 league goals this season in 16 games for a mid table Scottish Premier side. danny Ward from Rotherham could also be a good signing. Whatever happens in the next month the club, the supporters and the manager needs new recruits to give everyone a lift and hopefully improve results.

I will refrain from using the term "proper bloke" but will use the term "decent bloke", whilst many of the comments raised about his abilities as a full back may be factually correct, the tone of some of the comments in my view are totally uncalled for, this is a player who has worn the shirt with pride and always given his best. Whatever Luke's destiny we should all respectfully wish him the best and if he ends up returning to Portman Road in another clubs shirt then I believe all true ipswich fans will applaud him warmly.

Cannot fault his effort even when hopelessly out classed on numerous occasions and costing us a shed load of goals when played at right back(not his fault is it Mick!?) he must have wanted the ground to swallow him up at times!! in all fairness to him he has stuck with it under the most trying conditions with Skuse(is this man really a footballer!!??) playing him into trouble more often than I care to remember, but at 31 he is now the past(as are a few others) and if offered a good move then good luck Mr Chambers you have served us well.

Cloddyseedbed - I am sorry to say this friend but for the first time ever I have to disagree with something you have said! That is Emmanuel might tire after three matches! Sorry but that is the biggest load of modern BS that I have ever heard. If you were just a few years older you would understand why I say that. I was a Soldier (1Para) at seventeen (and how old is Emmanuel?) as was everybody in those days and would have been expected to play the equivalent of about twenty football matches in forty-eight hours and then carry on for as long as it took. Mind you every other word you say I agree with in its entirety but that statement has always got right up my nose. I belong to the people who think that footballers today are spoiled and heavily overpaid. Emmanuel is, in my opinion, more than ready to take over and if he had been given the opportunity would by now be one of our celebrated first team players. A Happy New Year to everybody and I wish for two things, Mick out and success in.

BillBlue, football has changed over the decades and like you I am Emmanuels biggest fan, but sometimes they do tire when they step up from what they have been playing to playing twice a week in the 1st team. At that age not just from the physical difference but mentally stepping out of the firing line for an odd game sometimes. I agree with your point about many footballers being spoiled and heavily overpaid. As players if they ever want a rest and they will always say no, a manager with experience should know when it is the right time, not sure MM does!! Back in the day Beattie was given painkilling injections to get him on the pitch playing, did it do his long term football career any good, no. Ipswich had a small group of players when we were the most successful and many played when maybe they shouldn't have, but we were not blessed with a big squad. Happy New Year my friend. Ps I personally feel the return of national service would be a way of getting respect back into society.

Well I for one will be very sorry to see him go. He came here as a centre half and a good one too but thanks to poor management we found ourselves without a right back so he was put there. Yes he's struggled but has had little support from the man in front of him and his right sided partner up to this season, Tommy Smith was so blatantly left footed as to be no help on that side.
Not only that he's sometimes likely to pop up with a goal and in fact has found the net as many times as Freddie and he doesn't get called a donkey.

Billblue....a Joe going straight to Battalion does not become a Tom overnight....he simply lacks the experience to become that just because he has passed out from Depot Para...the same for Emmanuel...he had the attributes and training...given time he will become that fully fledged first team player...his experience to cope developed through regular first team games...

Hiltzkooler - I personally did six months very heavy training before going to P Company and I was very, very, fit and ready for anything which is what I said. I do not know what 'Joe' is but perhaps you mean a Rookie? Any real soldier has to be ready for anything from Day One otherwise he will not last long, you do not have time to acclimatise (possibly in today's environment you might) nor learn from your elders and nor should footballers who today are mollycoddled and overpaid. A person who is paid money to play football should be both mentally and physically fit. With more experience he will become a better player but that does not change his mental or physical levels. I am afraid this modern generation have too soft a life and that shows in everything, even your comments.

Yep could be a good move all round...but only a 'link'

Good servant & passionate guy. Attitude great as has said all along doesn't want to play RB.

If true I would definitely let him go. He is a top earner and in my view despite all the above is not worth his place even at CB now.

Don't think he deserves the stick but I am sure he can cope. Ultimately they have all had some criticism from MM downwards and being Captain he will cop a lot of it. We loved the fist pump & swearing on TV interviews at one time but everything at the club is very low at moment and not suprisingly attitudes have changed.

Probably paper talk anyway!

COYB!

Billblue....Joe....Joe Crow...hmmm too soft a life?!....re read what I wrote...the subliminal message to the actual message.
Your missive and surmising about 17/18 year olds is woefully dated..even in the military context which I fully understand.
Emmanuel requires blooding in the arena...the evidence is there this season if one cares to view it...

Emmanuel needs time to develop but if you don't play young players how do you know if they are good enough? The squad needs to be strong enough to allow those players time in and out of the team as required. That means investment in both youth & transfers.

The manager also needs to pick the young players and if they perform keep them
In the team. MM has constantly picked same players regardless of form - Chambers, Knudsen & Douglas to name but three - so either squad not good enough or manager too stubborn to change.

Probably a bit of both to be frank. I have to agree with Hiltzkooler re rather stereotyped views of the younger generation & I am not sure the military analogy is relevant. No disrespect intended but we are talking football & nothing as serious as being a soldier.

McCarthy has backed his captain through and through, I believe he has now "maybe seen the light" as in regards to playing him out of position. But I equally think that this pig headed manager will not lose face by dropping him.
Playing your heart out every game and consistently making errors does nothing for the team or fans, but the abuse should not be aimed at him. Aim it at the man who picks the team week in week out, who consistently overlooks below par performances that would mean getting dropped by the majority of current championship managers if that player was in their team. If that's not the case then why bother with having competition for places.
Chambers and Smith looked a good balanced pairing before he brought Berra in, and with Chambers going to right back that left us with two left sided centre backs and from then on the whole side has been compromised.
Well lets see what happens at QPR tomorrow, COYB's.

babyblue added 11:09 - Jan 1
Interesting as I went to a baby/toddler play event last week and the people next to me were clearly wifes/girlfriends of ITFC players and one of them said that MM was looking to bring another RB in as 'Luke' will be leaving. Didn't bother posting then as so much talk around but would support this plus MM looking at the RB from Dundalk

Yes - Anymore insider info please? Hopefully Emmanuel will get a run in the team but more importantly make those attacking runs that Chambers has been unable to do. If he does go then he has been a great servant to the club and team.