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McCarthy: Forest Game Could Be Berra's Last for Town
Friday, 5th May 2017 14:46

Town boss Mick McCarthy admits that Sunday’s game at Nottingham Forest could be central defender Christophe Berra’s last match for the Blues with the 32-year-old Scotland international keen to return home for family reasons.

McCarthy says the Blues are yet to take up the one-year option on Berra’s contract which otherwise is up this summer.

“Possibly, that’s not been taken up,” the Blues boss said when asked if the match at the City Ground might be the final time Berra wears a Town shirt.

“It’s been widely known that Christophe has got a desire to be back up in Edinburgh because of his daughter.

“And I met her on the pitch on Saturday and I said to him ‘I can see why you want to go back to Edinburgh’.

“They’re still discussing that between him and Marcus. Let’s put it this way, I wouldn’t want to keep a player that wasn’t happy and not wanting to play.

“But we all know that if we did take up his option I think Christophe is also resigned to the fact that he’d play. He wouldn’t come back and down tools, he’d probably still be the best defender and he’d want to play.”

Regarding the option, the Blues boss added: “We have to give him a letter to take up his option by the end of May. There’s not a decision been made on that yet.

“People don’t always like options but I think [owner] Marcus [Evans] has been double shrewd and clever in terms of us having all these players on options this year and had we been relegated, we’d still got the options and their wages would have been seriously cut.

“I think it’s a great motivating tool when you’re coming to the end of the season. I’ve seen it, I pretty much saw it when I turned up here, there were one or two not bothered because they weren’t going to be here anyway, their contracts were up, they could walk out, they were going to get relegated, they’ll probably get another job in the Championship.

“That’s stops that - ‘By the way, if we get relegated you’re still here and you’re going to be on 50 per cent, 40 per cent, 30 per cent of your salary’. If that’s not a motivation to run around and make sure the club stays in the league, I don’t know what is.”

Might Town look to take up the option then look for a fee with Berra’s former club Hearts - from where McCarthy signed Berra for £2.3 million in 2009 when Wolves manager - repeatedly having been linked and Rangers also reported to be keen?

“That’s really Marcus’s shout, to be honest,” the Town manager added. “I get that. I guess if there was a deal to be done with another club even if it was a swap deal and they said ‘Right, we’ll sign him and we’ll swap him for somebody’ but that’s not the case.

“It’s a difficult situation and it’s kind of a sad one because we’ve got a really good defender but I get it. Football is not everything, he’s got a family. And, as I said, I saw his little girl on the pitch on Saturday and if she was my daughter - or my granddaughter as the case may be - I’d want to be spending time with her as well.”

McCarthy says that purely based on football he’d certainly keep hold of Berra, who he brought to Portman Road on a free transfer following his release by Wolves in the summer of 2013.

“Yes, no question he’d be here,” he continued. “As a defender, he’s one of the best I’ve worked with. Consistent, plays games, he’s quick, he’s good in the air. He’s just been a pretty much ever-present whenever he’s been fit.

“There was as spell he didn’t play at Wolves but I don’t know how many games he’s played under me, quite a lot I think, 300 maybe.”

He added: “He’s a really top defender, he’s been a really good servant to both clubs, certainly while I’ve been there, and he’s a good guy as well. He’s just a really top professional. I can’t speak highly enough of him actually.”

Berra has made 183 starts and one sub appearance for the Blues, scoring 14 goals.


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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:03 - May 5
Ibrahima Sonko. Wow. forgot about him!
1

parkinshair added 18:04 - May 5
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howdonblue added 19:40 - May 5
Whatever Cheshire blue
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howdonblue added 19:42 - May 5
Season ticket applications don't lie mate !

If your an advocate of this type of football good luck pal !

0

GiveusaWave added 19:44 - May 5
Until we've sorted out the contractual situation with Spence, Berra should stay. If we don't sign Spence, Chambers will end up at RB again and we need Berra in the centre.

From a PURELY business perspective, we should take the one-year up on his contract.
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Tractorboy1985 added 19:51 - May 5
A superb servant and goes with my blessing! The season we reached the playoffs he was MOM 50% of the time! Deserves more credit! Knudsen has made him look v average over the past few years! When mings was left back he excelled! All the best christophe! Best centre halve we have and a big gap to fill! Over to you MR EVANS!!!
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Pilgrimblue added 20:05 - May 5
So you've been loving it Cheshire! Berra has been good signing for us but this season he's looked slow and rarely passes. In fact his hoofing goes anywhere and doesn't take his time. Tackling still good as is his heading but for me that's not enough in this league. Good luck to him
2

RoyalAscotBlue added 20:20 - May 5
Very decent Championship defender, and yes he is quick. He doesn't want to be at Ipswich though so it's pointless keeping him here. Poor management though because we knew he didn't want to be here 12 months ago so why didn't we sell him, or do some sort of deal, with one of the top flight Scottish teams then?
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TimmyH added 20:38 - May 5
Since the play-offs not quite the same player and can't see him as the future for Town in the centre so a parting of the ways would be best for both parties. Been a good servant for the club considering we got him on a free transfer (or otherwise). All the best!
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runningout added 20:42 - May 5
howdoblue There isn't that many dischuffed with the manager. Berra has done ok for us, but not overwhelmed
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Suffolk_n_Good added 20:55 - May 5
Been a great servant to us, but I think it's the right time to part company, I hope to see Chambers & Webster as our centre back pairing next season
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lightingblue added 21:41 - May 5
Personally I think berra is not that great. Keep Taylor for experience, even though injury prone, I think his a good professional example to have around the place and even a coaching position with the younger defenders. Wise old tool. Build smith and Webster as a partnership. Chambers is potentially similar to Taylor and a defender coaching role is needed. With kenlock and Emmanuel at full back/ wing backs we have the basis of a solid defence. In all fairness smith has played enough games now to be streetwise enough in the championship and take the responsibility to help the 3 remaining young players in defence. About time we have youth dictatorship in the team.
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JimBaxter added 23:11 - May 5
Happy being blue...that Scottish pub team known as Glasgow Celtic would rip this excuse for an EFL team to pieces...Berra has been a half decent defender over the past few years and I wish him luck wherever he goes
1

Sam added 10:10 - May 6
Berra has been an excellent servant to the club and if he goes back to Scotland( provided that is where he goes) we wish him the best of luck. Good luck tomorrow.
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