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Cook to Field Strongest Side Against Barrow
Friday, 3rd Dec 2021 11:31

Town boss Paul Cook says he’ll field what he feels is his strongest team when Barrow visit Portman Road in the FA Cup second round tomorrow but admits it’s difficult to judge what that is at present.

Asked whether his selection has to be a little bit different than it was for the first game against Oldham with the trip to Charlton on Tuesday, he said: “I think one of the things that our fans will be comfortable with is how difficult it is at the minute, for whatever reason, to pick what we deem our strongest Ipswich Town team.

“I think due to the changes in the summer where we recruited a lot of good players, no doubt about it.

“I think the epitome of it was the Oldham game at home in the cup when we produced probably one of our flattest performances of the season four days after playing so well at Wycombe.

“I think that probably encompasses the difficulties we’re having in relation to picking consistent teams and trying to get consistent performances. The reality is that we want to pick the strongest team tomorrow afternoon that we feel will take us into the third round of the FA Cup.”

Cook is determined to make it through to the third round: “Desperate to be in the cup. Our fans were a little bit disgruntled at the end of the game the other night, Wednesday night. We made 11 changes, we make 11 changes in a game.

“I think the starting line-up indicates your intent in the competition. We should have won the game, by the way, but that shouldn’t detract from the fact of what the team selection was.

“Tomorrow will be what I feel will be his strongest XI to get us in the third round of the cup.”

Quizzed on whether it’s difficult picking is lone striker with Joe Pigott having said he’s in need of games and Macauley Bonne currently without a goal in five, Cook responded: “Again, the selection matters are selection matters, aren't they? For supporters, supporters always want to see certain players.

“That's the reality for Macauley Bonne. If you had spoken four weeks ago about leaving Macauley Bonne out of the team, then you wouldn't have been allowed in Ipswich town centre and now four weeks later in football, we are speaking about him being left out of the team.

“That's what football is today, and you're not going to change it. I just live in a solid world. I just make my decisions off a solid base.

“I'm a very loyal manager, I try and be consistent with players that do well for me.”

James Norwood scored for the U23s on Tuesday and Cook was asked whether there is any way back for the striker, who has been training with the development squad and is set to be made available in January.

“I'm not going to be answering questions on players individually. We've got a strong squad. Lads all have different levels of where they are in the squad,” he said.

“We want to concentrate on the positivity around the game tomorrow and being in the third round of the FA Cup.”

Cook was similarly tightlipped on loanee Louie Barry’s lack of involvement against Arsenal U21s on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately for you, as much as I’d love to, I can’t answer questions on all the players all the time, it’s just not right,” he said. “Louie’s part of the squad, I can’t physically pick every player.”


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jong75 added 11:41 - Dec 3
Please play 2 up front. 4-1-3-2. As Bryan Clough used to say.KISS. Keep it simple, stupid.
1

Barty added 12:07 - Dec 3
I agree - play 2 up front but PC wont do that I bet.
0

midastouch added 12:33 - Dec 3
What is our strongest side? Has he even found that out yet?
5

midastouch added 12:34 - Dec 3
And our so called strongest side couldn't beat Oldham at home in the last round.
3

Shineyblueknives added 12:34 - Dec 3
Barty, would you risk a 4-2-4 with the front wide two dropping back when needed?
Maybe a combo of Donacian and KVY on the right
0

Bergholtblue added 13:12 - Dec 3
I'll believe it when I see it.
0

grow_our_own added 13:29 - Dec 3
"Cook to Field Strongest Side" - how will we be able to tell? There's usually a big gap between the strongest side from among the players in our squad, and Cook's idea of what that is. Hence we are mid-table in L1.
1

ChrisFelix added 13:44 - Dec 3
I hope that Jeffers can coach Bonne as how to handle a one on one with the keeper. It's about time he leant to take the ball around the keeper, rather than shooting at him.
0

grow_our_own added 13:45 - Dec 3
Our strongest side, assuming Cook's favoured 4-2-3-1 is:
G: Walton
D: Janoi Edmunson TotoBurgess Coulson (2nd choice: Janoi with KVY right, or BurgessPenney 3rd choice)
DM: Morsy El MizEvans
M: Burns (otherwise from AlukoCelinaEdwards) Chaplin AlukoCelinaEdwards
F: Bonne
0

grow_our_own added 15:39 - Dec 3
Our strongest side, assuming Cook's favoured 4-2-3-1 is:
G: Walton
D: Janoi, Edmunson, Toto or Burgess, Coulson (2nd choice: Janoi with KVY right, or Burgess or Penney 3rd choice)
DM: Morsy, El Miz or Evans
M: Burns (otherwise from Aluko or Celina or Edwards), Chaplin, Aluko or Celina or Edwards
F: Bonne
0

RobsonWark added 18:49 - Dec 3
As long as you don't pick PENNY or FRASER it will be a strong squad Mr Cook.
-1

Linkboy13 added 21:03 - Dec 3
Seems to be a lot of budding Peps on here with their different formations. The problem is no system is going to work unless you put the work in and this team doesn't seem capable of that. Anyone who's played the game would have admired the organised Rotherham team who worked hard knew their roles and stuck to them with great discipline.
0

KiwiTractor added 22:56 - Dec 3
How about playing Janoi at centre-back alongside the fridge, and then KVY (or Burns when he is fit again) at right-back, to bomb forward and link with Aluko.....?
1

ThaiBlue added 08:46 - Dec 4
He does not no his strongest side,what does that tell you about cook,bloody useless
0

Bazza8564 added 09:08 - Dec 4
An opportunity for me to vary the formation a bit, id go 532 effectively 352 against this lot, just to see if we are more effective this way, no need to two defensive MF
My XI
Walton
Donacien, Burgess, Fridge
Burns RWB, Penney LWB
Morsy
Aluko & Fraser in the creative MF roles
Pigott & Jackson up top

That should give us 4 DF minded Players and 6 attacking, and gives us the to look at a blend of Height and pace up front chance, and give Macca a rest.

My bench would be
Holy, Toto,Carroll, El Miz,Chaplin,Celina, Bonne.

I dont have an issue with 4231 like many do, we been twice as creative this year over last and lets face it, our frailties have come from sh*t mistakes and lack of competitive attitude so far, not formation, and had our stars scored their penalties Tuesday no one would have spent the last 3 days grizzling either.

COYB, lets
0


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