Knudsen: McCarthy Leaving Has Effect on My Future
Thursday, 5th Apr 2018 17:32 Jonas Knudsen has admitted the impending departure of Town boss Mick McCarthy could impact upon his own Portman Road future.
With McCarthy due to leave next month Knudsen will be heading into the final year of his contract, the club having already informed him of their decision to trigger the one-year option they held on his services. Beyond that the Danish defender’s future is uncertain.
Knudsen said: “I need to think about my situation a bit more. The gaffer has been a big part of my career in England and I told him that before.
“I said I wanted to know what he was going to do and while it’s not just about him, I have been very happy playing under him.
“You never know what is going to happen and who will be coming in as the new manager. Does he like you or does he not like you? That’s how it is in football.
“I have a year left here now and I will always do my best for this club, 100 per cent in training and of course in games.
“But I cannot deny that the manager leaving is having an effect on what I will do in the future.
“I am very happy here and I like living in the area and playing for Ipswich Town, which I think is a great club. My wife loves it here as well, which is also important to me.
“I am definitely here for another year and then we’ll see. I haven’t heard anything from anybody at the club so I can’t say anything about signing a new contract. That’s how it is. All I can do is wait and see whether the new manager wants me or not.
“I have ambition to achieve more and I believe I can do it. I want to play in the Premier League and so should every player.
“I am 25 and I have played here for three seasons. I want a chance to play at the top level and I would love to go to the Premier League with Ipswich — that would be absolutely brilliant — but I also have to be realistic sometimes.
“Maybe I will always stay in the Championship but I believe you always have to set the bar high. If the new manager comes in and decides he wants to keep me, and the owner wants to offer me a new deal, I would be ready to talk about it. If I can see that Ipswich are going to go for it, the Premier League, it would suit me nicely.”
Knudsen echoed the views of other Town players when he stated: “I was very disappointed to hear the news that the gaffer was moving on. He has been absolutely brilliant for me, bringing me to England, and I have played 118 games under him. I am so grateful to both him and TC [Terry Connor] for what they have done for me.
“I have learned so much from them and if I have made a success of coming to England, which some people haven’t done, they are due a lot of the credit.
“When I heard they were not going to be staying at the club I was so disappointed. They have done a lot for this club. Mick has built something and now he is leaving, but that’s how it is in football.
“Personally, I would want him to stay because he has done a fantastic job and I’m not just saying that because I am in the team and play every week.”
Knudsen and his team-mates were lifted by the positive vibes as a result of the Easter Monday display against a play-off chasing Millwall side not only unbeaten in their 13 previous league games but seeking a seventh successive away Football League win for the first time in their history.
He said: “It is disappointing that there haven’t been more occasions like that this season. It was such a great atmosphere, which the Millwall fans helped to create, and the Leeds fans did something similar earlier in the season.
“Our own supporters were in great voice as well and you saw how the players react when it is like that. It was perfect.
“As players we love playing to a crowd like that and it showed what a big part of football the fans can be. It is not enjoyable for the players when the fans are not creating the atmosphere, but when they do it like they did on Monday it is absolutely brilliant.
“I could tell people enjoyed it and while we obviously wanted to win it was a game that could have gone either way and a draw was probably fair.
“I know it is a two-way thing between the fans and the players, and we need to give them more of that in the last few games of the season.
“I don’t know for sure, but maybe it has something to do with us being in the middle of the table and being a little bit more free to play that way.
“But from my point of view, while I know it is great to watch games like that, we are professionals and we need to win games to get points on the board.
“I know we got one point the other day but that’s not how football can be all the time. It was great — I had family members over from Denmark and they thought it was fantastic but every game isn’t going to be like that.
“We still have six games to go before the end of the season and our aim must be to do as well as we can in each and every one of them.
“We will do it for the club and the supporters but also the manager because he has been so important in all the players’ careers.
“I think we have a very good squad here and that is down to the manager, as well as things like the team spirit.
“You saw it on Monday when we were 1-0 down and nobody knew what was going to happen in the second half.
“We talked about it in the dressing room and what we wanted to do, and I think we showed what we are made of when we went back out to the pitch.
“We didn’t go on to lose by more goals, we came out and put in a performance to fight back and make a real game of it. The gaffer was delighted and so were we that we were able to give him something back.”
Photo: TWTD
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PortmanTerrorist added 18:47 - Apr 5
It really has bothered me for a while that the players feel so strongly toward a manager who has very literally stated that Promotion is virtually impossible, targeting 6th place early season. Even if you don't have money you surely have to keep belief and ambition. I think there is too much lip service and coasting now.
Rest easy easy that all those talking fearfully now from within the Club will be talking about our new manager, WHOEVER it is, being a breath of fresh air in the very near future.....that's football.
PS: I think you done OK Jonas, but if you want to go, then go. Us supporters will see every player out before WE stop believing in our Club....not passing individuals |  | |
H1960 added 18:47 - Apr 5
No surprises here, Knudsen knows that his automatic selection is no longer guaranteed. | | |
itfcjoe added 18:50 - Apr 5
Some pathetic comments on here from so called supporters, Knudsen been one of our best players this season |  | |
Skip73 added 19:01 - Apr 5
Stupid comments on here again |  | |
lightingblue added 19:04 - Apr 5
In all fairness, everyone thought Damion deleany was not premier league standard. His been at palace for several year still | | |
ElderGrizzly added 19:11 - Apr 5
News commenters doing what news commenters do.... |  | |
dukey44 added 19:14 - Apr 5
A question to throw out there!! Billybaxterwasbest are you pi..sing off with Mick too as you have nothing to add of any good meaning to our club Ipswich Town if so I've never read it on here!! Fingers crossed two birds with one stone 😉 😉 👋!!! | | |
dukey44 added 19:16 - Apr 5
Sorry but no way has he been one of our best players? He looks lost some games? | | |
cat added 19:19 - Apr 5
Not the smartest interview I've witnessed on here! Knudsen won me over during the first half of the season, the enthusiasm, attitude & desire he showed on the pitch was awe-inspiring to say the least, unfortunately that was usually in the warm up and once the game got going, got kinda lost, specially at l/b.
Strange interview that one, although showing he's fiercely loyal to the MM extinction club, he could now find himself in ‘no mans land' stuck between the manager and supporters. |  | |
1RWR added 19:35 - Apr 5
Smithy0981 & others, darned well hold your water!
1) Am I reading this thread wrong or what......I don't believe Knudsen said anything about not wanting to stay, he says "I like it here & my wife likes it here'! Forgive me for being forward, but I think he's saying he would like to know the future [wouldn't we all] whether he'll be in the new managers plans or not, considering he's on a short contract.
2) I don't understand all the negatives towards Knudsen, he's come in from Danish lower league [I think] & I for one don't think he's a bad player, not the best, but certainly not the worst.
3) Has anyone ever stopped to consider that MM may have told him to play defensively? To stop the long throws? Give the guy a break please!
4) Let's see how JK plays under the new manager, if he's as bad as some of you think, then fair play, carry on slagging him off, but until then.........'button it'.
Rant over, apologies, spaghetti hoops on toast now ready, gotta go! |  | |
dusty added 19:39 - Apr 5
My personal selection of players who we own, who should be shown the door at the end of this season.
Chambers, Skuse, Hyam, Bishop, Mc Goldrick, Bru and Knudsen. Sears I feel sorry for. He should be given another chance under a new manager. Of those suggested for departure, some are clearly not up to it and others are so injury prone that they are an expensive luxury! | | |
LondonBlue73 added 19:40 - Apr 5
Not posted for a while as the anger in supporters to common sense player comments baffles me. Why are people slating Jonas due to him stating his loyalty to his manager and sadness of him leaving. Why do people state he plays for ITFC and the manager has be effect. It is idiotic views like this that stops players bonding with clubs as much as players not being approachable.
For the record I think at best Jonas is ok at this level, he has improved and does give 100% lack of talent is not his fault but reflects the sad lacknot investment.
However get real people who here would honestly not consider their future if somebody they respected and had loyalty to that made work enjoyable and got the best that he couldmin terms of team spirit form your colleagues was moving on. I did a job I loved for 4 years a change in manager meant everything that we liked changed in my opinion for the worse. I resigned. That's reality he is an employee, he is not local, does not have England let alone Ipswich in his heart. When the late great sir Bobby left, how many of those players moved on. We need supporters to support the team and the shirt the players will be 3-5 years at best as now will Managers, it's wrong bit it's realistic. | | |
Wickets added 19:44 - Apr 5
I like Jonas and hope he continues to improve and stays. I think he has got it wrong with the fans providing the atmosphere comments , Town fans showed against Millwall that if the players playing on the front foot give the fans something to cheer about they will respond but fans find it very hard to cheer negative defensive unexiting play. |  | |
skusesrightpeg added 19:51 - Apr 5
Not committed ta-ra another that shows they don't care about the club | | |
Woodbridgian added 20:06 - Apr 5
While it must be difficult for the players saying anything with McCarthy still there this is still a ill advised interview. Think Knudsen has been OK but can't say I'm going to worry too much if he stays or goes. Personally would far sooner see Kenlock given a run in that position anyway. | | |
nc41 added 20:08 - Apr 5
As an ITFC fan I feel more embarrassed reading some of those comments than anything that has ever happened on the field. For goodness sake, support the team with a little more enthusiasm. sigh. | | |
Gcon added 20:09 - Apr 5
I have found many of the comments on this site over the last couple of weeks to be revolting, and as an Ipswich supporter, really embarrassing.
There are a bunch of people on here who seem to think it is open season with regards to berating everything to do with this club.
Attitudes to all players, to the gender pay gap post etc etc are just shameful.
The numbskulls have taken over TWTD. | | |
Pilgrimblue added 20:15 - Apr 5
He's given 100% and maybe with new manager he will achieve a higher level BUT its up to him to continue improving. Interesting to see whether he steps up or ..... |  | |
Dissboyitfc added 20:25 - Apr 5
“I know we got one point the other day but that's not how football can be all the time. It was great — I had family members over from Denmark and they thought it was fantastic but every game isn't going to be like that.
Yes we know every game isnt going to be exciting, but it should be more regular than once or twice a season! |  | |
massivemole added 20:26 - Apr 5
Bang Average player, not great not bad. Easily to replace. | | |
CornardBlue added 20:36 - Apr 5
I just don,t think these players understand why us supporters want a change of Manager. We are fed up with his boring negative tactics.
Of course Knudsen wants MM to stay he is his type of player, Hoof it as far as you can and by-pass the midfield, a Cresswell or Mings he is not. And will never be Premier league class
The players should understand that us supporters pay a lot of money to watch Ipswich and want to be entertained every game, how many times has that happened in the last 2 seasons. | | |
oldegold added 20:44 - Apr 5
Staggeringly average player who would sruggle playing in the 1st division let alone the Championship and only kept his place because McCarthy never chooses on merit but on favourites. Kenlock is far better and we alll know that and in a normal club would have been chosen in place of knudsen.Hope he goes as I never rated him or other mccarthy favourites to boot and he has the mccarthy mediocrity stamp all over him. |  | |
muccletonjoe added 20:54 - Apr 5
So is this what it has come to now ; dissing every player that has a good word for Mick McCarthy. Because I think you will find it is pretty much all of them. Which leaves you supporting what exactly? |  | |
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