TWTD understands Blues defender Tommy Smith is close to joining MLS side the Colorado Rapids.

Smith, 27, joined Town at 16 after moving from New Zealand and has been a regular for much of his time at Portman Road, but has largely been behind skipper Luke Chambers and Adam Webster this season.

The All Whites international will not be involved in this afternoon’s FA Cup third round tie against Sheffield United at Portman Road with the move likely to go through this week.

Smith has made 251 starts and 17 sub appearances for Town, scoring 23 goals.

Colorado are managed by Anthony Hudson, who was New Zealand boss until November.

Yesterday, manager Mick McCarthy revealed that the Blues had made a loan enquiry to Brighton regarding centre-half Connor Goldson, who was close to joining Town in August.

The 25-year-old seems likely to join the Blues once the Seagulls have added another defender to their squad.

Meanwhile, we understand Crystal Palace have cooled in their pursuit of Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Talks between the clubs have continued throughout the week but with no agreement reached regarding the overall package.

It’s believed the Eagles have turned their attention to one of their other targets with McCarthy having confirmed their interest yesterday, revealing they have a list of at least six potential targets yesterday.

Photo: TWTD

Northstandveteran added 15:30 - Jan 6 1 0 Sheffield utd Just about to spend my £10 on a few drinks in this lovely warm pub. Blue Army!
1

LWNR2013 added 15:30 - Jan 6 No great loss for me. Good left cb but always on the right. Some great headed goals a few years back.
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Crawfordsboot added 15:40 - Jan 6 I can't help but note that his player rating is close to being the lowest on the squad list. How does that reconcile with the majority of the posts on here. Could it be that there is just a hard core of moaners who use every topic to berate MM and ME! I simply do not see him as being at the level we need if we are to make progress therefore thanks Tommy and good luck.

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warktheline added 15:41 - Jan 6 @gcon, well done ! Finally worked out how to use arrows! Buffon!
2

algarvefan added 15:43 - Jan 6 Well I think that's just crazy, last one out of Portman Road please switch off the lights. WTF is going on?
6

blueboy1981 added 15:44 - Jan 6 The Club has capitulated. R.I.P Ipswich Town. Last one out turn the light off.
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NorthantsTractorBoy added 15:50 - Jan 6 WTF - this makes no sense to me for a few reasons 1) By my reckoning this would leave us with 2 decent centre backs, of which one is only just back from a significant injury. Even if we bring in the chap from Brighton to replace him this is not enough, esp as we don't seem to have any youngers ready to break through 2) Smith is one of our best and most reliable players, and this is not exactly a step up for him that we couldn't stand in the way of 3) Smith is a fans favourite, so selling him would drive an even bigger wedge between the club and fans I wish the club would be more honest with fans - don't pretend we're targeting promotion if we're not prepared to invest, are willing to sell our best players, and only target loans/freebies to replace them :(

4

lightingblue added 15:55 - Jan 6 Looool. Let's all put a fiver in the pot and do a sweep regarding what will happen next. Eastenders and Corrie don't have this many turns and twists. I reckon administrators are on the train. Just gone past shenfield apparently.
3

blueboy1981 added 15:58 - Jan 6 Swn98 ....... you get more pathetic with every post - shame you don't realise it. I reckon you and McCarthy share the same wellingtons ( ... trust you know what they are).
4

dangerous30 added 16:02 - Jan 6 maybe we are clearing out players so we can bring in better players
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Swn98 added 16:05 - Jan 6 If i were you blubore i would take a bit more time over what you write you have plenty of time as you don't have to travel to the games.
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blueboy1981 added 16:31 - Jan 6 ....... at this rate Swn98 you'll have plenty of time and space too- you'll be the only one there - not forgetting your mate Mick of course. Perhaps that's just what you need to place a sensible post - odds on that would be astronomical, but I still won't be placing a bet on that happening.
1

TimmyH added 16:35 - Jan 6 @crawfordsboot - are you being serious? that players rating list is for just 3 games this season (1 game he started and the other 2 as sub) and this after sometime out, so to go by that is not having an argument. Maybe you should check out previous seasons when he actually started a string of games! before Webster came here or his back injury of last season. In fact just looked at archive player ratings of the 2015/16 season - Smith was rated 4th with an average of 6.5 per game from the EADT fans survey ahead of Berra, Knudsen and Chambers!!! - GOD! people have short memories.

4

blueboy1981 added 16:42 - Jan 6 ...... TimmyH ..... some just don't know, others choose only to remember what suits them.
2

NoelTheDub added 17:03 - Jan 6 Havent posted in yonks get 2 minuses so things havent changed still a rubbish team,crap manager,as for the owner sell and keep it in your pocket.Our windows are shut for January as usual only open to let players out.Club is dying for a long time....
5

Rensham added 17:06 - Jan 6 Closing down SALE! Everything must go.
4

dirtydingusmagee added 17:36 - Jan 6 were you the mascot Swn , lol did you get a pat on the head, and meet your idol Mick, next season get a bigger box to stand on perhaps yo will be able to see what actually happens on pitch .
2

Ipswichbusiness added 17:38 - Jan 6 The club will re-sign MM on a long-term contract in the summer. They know that the outcome will be to reduce season ticket sales to nil so they are adjusting the wage bill accordingly.
1

davidsc1971 added 18:10 - Jan 6 Well the low points just keep getting lower don't they
2

skelly202 added 18:28 - Jan 6 Swn 98 'Unfortunately this is partly to do with those stay away so called supporters (bluebore and Warktheline)to name but 2 lost revenue has to be made up somehow.' Surely this comment was just to provoke a reaction. You seriously cannot believe that people giving up their season tickets is the cause of the demise of the club? I am one of those people, having decided that on limited resources and over a hundred mile round trip and the fact the entertainment value was not great (possibly an understatement) that I could no longer justify the expense (I am realistic - I do not expect us to win every game and understand that different games require different tactics). Could I ask that you answer the following question: Why do you believe that so many have decided not to renew - is it really possible that they are all wrong?

4

Steelmonkey added 19:24 - Jan 6 Just another point in MM master plan to p#%s off the town faithfull before he walks?
1

SickParrot added 19:52 - Jan 6 I believe that having watched some games from the stand Tommy commented that he could see why fans complained about the way we play. Fatal error! Players who express any dissatisfaction about McCarthy's preferred type of football (10 behind the ball and hoof it up) are always shown the door (Stewart, Orr, Parr, Best, Pitman ...)
2

KiwiBlue2 added 19:55 - Jan 6 Very sad. Webster and Tommy should have been the cb pairing on ability. However MM had to have a spot for Chambers so put him at rb a role he was not adequate for. MM having paid significant fee for Webster was obliged to pay him. MM also fan off Berry who was kept a season too long. Tommy seemed to be the expendable player in this shambles. Irregular game time and injuries over past season or two did not help hIm. He should have been kept.

2

Steelmonkey added 20:03 - Jan 6 Skelly202 different tactics for different games - if you weren't so series that would be funny. If MM plan A doesn't work then that's it, we have watched so many games that are not going our way and what does he do, inexplicable substitutions which in no way help our game play. He has no idea how to change his game play half way through a match. We need someone to take stock of this club and implement a strategy to turn this club around. Let's take a chance on an upcoming manager from a lower league, someone who is used to working on a limited budget but one that gets results with new ideas and guts to try and make it work, rather than play it safe "any point is a good point" attitude.

1

gosblue added 20:22 - Jan 6 Chris Hughton to MM - if you think you can have our CB before we have found a replacement you can feck off. MM/Evans to anyone coming in for our players - Yes no problem, just take him. If we don't get a replacement we've got plenty of proper blokes who can play out of position.
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