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Sears: Difficult Season for Me
Wednesday, 9th May 2018 17:34

Striker Freddie Sears has admitted 2017/18 was a difficult campaign for him but is pleased to be going into the summer having netted a goal in each of the final two matches.

Sears, 28, hadn’t scored for 38 matches stretching back to the end of the previous season before he found the net in the 4-0 win at Reading and then opened the scoring during Sunday’s final game of the season 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough.

“It was a difficult season for me personally,” the former West Ham man told iFollow Ipswich.""

“I think it was frustrating for a number of reasons but mainly because I wasn’t playing as much as I would have liked to and also because I wasn’t scoring goals.

“But to get on the scoresheet in the last two games was important and the season I’ve had made it that bit more special.""

“It was something that I needed and finishing on a high will give me some confidence going into the break.""

“The season was tough for the whole squad, though and while we’re looking forward to a rest now, we’ll be desperate to get back at it when next season comes around.”

Speaking in March, the January 2015 signing from Colchester admitted he might have to consider a move away from Portman Road this summer in order to play more regularly.

“I want to be playing, scoring and achieving stuff. It’s a decision I’ll have to make and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

“I’m not saying that I’m going to be leaving — that’s not the case. But we all think about our future and there will be some other boys also thinking about what they’re going to do.

“I’ve still got next year left on my contract here and I’m happy here, so let’s wait and see.”

Meanwhile, Paul Hurst remains the favourite for the Town manager’s job at 2-1 with Bet Victor - and 7-4 odds-on with SkyBet - with his current club Shrewsbury in action in the first leg of the League One play-offs against Charlton at the Valley on Thursday (Sky Sports Football 7.30pm).

Former Blues striker Shefki Kuqi is Bet Victor's second-favourite at 8-1, Simon Grayson, who has just left Bradford City after a short spell, is at 8-1 and Mark Warburton and St Mirren boss Jack Ross are at 10-1.

Ex-Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood, who TWTD revealed had been interviewed for the Blues vacancy on Monday, is at 12-1.

The 49-year-old is understood to have impressed Marcus Evans but is believed to want to change the current management structure, something the Blues owner said he wasn’t looking to do in his recent iFollow Ipswich interview.

The largely negative reaction from fans to the news that Sherwood was in the running will also have been noted with the club keen to build bridges with supporters after the fractious last couple of seasons under Mick McCarthy.

Former Town manager George Burley, Paul Cook, who yesterday signed a new four-year deal with Wigan, Frank Lampard and Tony Mowbray are all at 16-1.

Elsewhere, former Blues defender Josh Yorwerth, 23, has been named Crawley Town’s Young Player of the Season for 2017/18.


Photo: TWTD



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woohoo added 20:46 - May 9
As others have said, played in the centre he could be a goal machine next season. He's clever and has pace enough to scare most Championship defences witless.
Hard worker too.
MM was dumb not to make the most of his talents
7

blueboy1981 added 21:10 - May 9
..... jason0999 - not saying you're wrong, BUT a huge step up for him to hit the ground running, probably knows nothing, or very little, about our Club either. A much too bigger risk to take right now, such a move may well unsettle some of our 'younger' (excellent) back room staff already here. Who incidentally have done an excellent job as BK rightly applauds.

Think about it ... !!
-2

blueboy1981 added 21:13 - May 9
....... we're on the blocks ready to take off - right when the Carrot Road clan have many of their own problems, and mounting ... !!

Let's make sure we make the most of this situation, and capitalise on it.
2

cobboldblue added 21:13 - May 9
Agree FS better playing down the middle so will be good completion for that position next season.
2

blueboy1981 added 21:14 - May 9
grinch ....... about time you learnt the game, and recognised a damn good player, when you see one.
0

cobboldblue added 21:16 - May 9
BTW could do a lot worse than Simon Grayson IMO, did well at Leeds and PNE and yes more attractive football than MM & TC
-9

blueboy1981 added 21:20 - May 9
The Burley / Butcher scenario right now is the right choice at this moment in time. Extremely LOW Risk, and would blend immediately with what we already have here. That's the important thing right now. Two year contract (optional third) - NOTHING at all to lose - EVERYTHING to gain.
-1

Town4me added 21:55 - May 9
Simon Grayson!? Dear god, please no!!
7

jas0999 added 22:13 - May 9
Blue boy - I would usually agree with you. You may of course be right about Hurst.

Yet, I simly can't agree that Burley/Butcher is right for the club. I would see that as a backwards step and not one which ticks the box of change. There are other ‘safe' options out there - Warburton for example.
3

Swn98 added 22:14 - May 9
OH dear bluebore made yourself out for the fool you are!!!!!.....By the way why haven't you answered my question yet?
-1

Barhamblue added 22:17 - May 9
Freddie is good on the ball, fast and makes good space, but the biggest problem is, he is afraid to header a ball, so do we need a striker who can't header a ball? .. third or forth choice striker for me. oh and before you mention height, just look how Joey Garner leaps and wins headers.
0

Len_Brennan added 23:19 - May 9
I like Freddie & feel for him, having been messed around positionwise for 2 seasons. We need four forwards for next season & I'd be happy to have him in a quartet with Waghorn, Garner & AN Other - maybe an Ashley Fletcher or Danny Ward type. The new manager might fancy 2 up front again, which without double would suit Freddie.
McCarthy had success with individual frontman over the last few years, but for some reason never allowed the personnel settle. The season McGoldrick was rated at £7m, he was outstanding & scoring with Murphy as his supplier/back up. Then McCarthy changed it to have Murph as the main centre forward, with a deeper or wider McGoldrick supplementing him. Ever before his injury, McGoldrick was getting sulky with his lot. Then in came Freddie Sears & a hugely potent partnership with Murphy was born. Both scored for fun over the second half of that season in what was a partnership that showcased their strengths & abilities. The signing of Brett Pitman, return to fitness (ahem!) of McGoldrick & McCarthy's desire to accommodate all 4 strikers saw poor old Freddie shunted out wide, mainly due to his work ethic & non moaning attitude. His form never really recovered since.
He deserves a fair chance to prove his worth through the centre.
6

blueboy1981 added 23:24 - May 9
Swn98 ........ you wouldn't understand a logical and sensible answer - OBVIOUSLY.

Therefore I refuse to waste such debate with you - just go and continue your sulking up the nearest corner.
Oh - and don't forget to take your 'few' budders with you. They would be disappointed

Do me a huge favour - and don't read my posts, there's a good 'now sad, clappy'.
-4

blueboy1981 added 23:26 - May 9
jason0999 ........ Warburton - Safe ? - Can't say I agree with that - would be another Sherwood, and want to change the whole staff. What a waste, and gamble, that would be ?
1

blueboy1981 added 23:33 - May 9
Swn98 ........ instead of having a 'one liner snipe' (continuously) at people who didn't like your messiah - why not concentrate on putting a post together of some content, and reasoned debate.

If that is beyond you - just don't bother at all. And suffer your disappointment in silence.Time is a great healer, you will find.
-3

madmouse1959 added 03:12 - May 10
Ok for being a squad player but if he wants regular first team football i think it is time for a new challenge elsewhere..
0

Swn98 added 07:40 - May 10
The trouble with you bluebore is you make statements to deride users then you can't back them up with your much loved word facts.
You show your lack of knowledge in your statement about Butcher/Burley yes great Town men yet Burley was the
Architect of our current position and Butcher as a manager never achieved much.
-2

meekreech added 08:30 - May 10
Swn98

Sorry to disagree with you but the architect of the current situation was not Burley but Sheepshanks with his grandiose schemes for self promotion!
1

dirtydingusmagee added 08:41 - May 10
Are we nearly there yet ?
1

Swn98 added 09:03 - May 10
Meekreech partially true however it was GB who made some catastrophic signings the 2nd year of our last stint in the premiership with the unaffordable wage structure once relegated the rest has been 16 years of bad decisions and stagnation.
The arrival of MM gave the club some stability and he has left a good foundation for the incoming manager please lets not squander the pain of the last few years by a bad decision.
0

Northstandveteran added 09:30 - May 10
My initial thoughts of a Burley/Butcher partnership were of excitement.

I thought Terry a future Ipswich manager quite some time ago, thinking he did a rather good job in Scotland.

I then remembered posting previously about my concerns regarding Burley.
Let's remember the 3 0 loss to Grimsby and his foreign signings that ultimately put us into administration and the years in the wilderness that followed.

However.

Can you imagine the influence these two men would have?
The word legend is bandied around far too much but when it comes to ITFC these men are exactly that.

Everywhere a young player would go around the club these men would have their photos around the ground, real winners. The fans would be 100% behind them, tickets would get sold, they know the club inside out.
I do agree with many posters that it's not all about Ipswich old boys and we need new young talent but I really wouldn't be disappointed if it happened.

It's also important to remember, the last time Burley was in charge we had a winning team and hopefully he will have learnt from his mistakes.

Still favouring Steijn but will be optimistic whoever the new manager.

Great to see Sears back on form. I have posted on many occasions that he is a fantastic player, he just had his confidence knocked.

4

BobbyBell added 10:05 - May 10
There is no safe option with football managers. They can all fail at times. Personally I think the most important thing is to go back to the true Ipswich way of doing things and playing the game the true Ipswich way. Get the youngsters in and let them play with freedom whilst guided on field by a few experienced guys. Ipswich fans have always appreciated good football and real effort. What frustrated us was players out of position, negative tactics and the team being far too scared to express themselves.
I wouldn't be unhappy with Hurst but will he really suit us? Burley/Butcher know exactly what town fans want and expect and both those players came through our youth policy to become huge stars.
2

Razor added 10:39 - May 10
One nightingale does not make a summer Freddie and although you were treated terribly by MM you still missed some sitters-----time is up I am afraid.

Why has no one mentioned Nigel Clough-----my man for the job.
1

blueboy1981 added 10:42 - May 10
Razor - cannot agree with your first comment - second one - absolutely, a good choice.
0

blueboy1981 added 10:45 - May 10
BobbyBell ........ absolutely right - only more recent supporters would have other ideas, whose roots do not run deep.

We need to return, and enhance the unique Ipswich Town pedigree and style of play.
-1


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