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Woolfenden: Fresh Start
Tuesday, 4th Jan 2022 15:45

Centre-half Luke Woolfenden believes Kieran McKenna’s appointment as Blues boss has presented a fresh start for players such as himself who have been on the fringes for much of this season.

The 23-year-old made only two league appearances after the end of August before returning to the side under interim-manager John McGreal when the Blues faced Sunderland a week before Christmas.

The academy product subsequently kept his place and impressed during new boss McKenna’s first match as the Blues defeated Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 at Portman Road.

“I’ve not played that much this year for different reasons but I’m looking to kick on now and get back in the team,” Woolfenden told the club site.

“It’s a fresh start and a chance for a few of us to get out there and go again. When you’re not playing, it’s the worst thing in the world. Now, with a new start, you can get your head together, see if you are in the plans and go from there.

“All of the sessions have been really good, really sharp and really intense. It’s been a lot of football fitness rather than just running. It’s been very game-related, so I’ve found it really good.

“Kieran has been at the biggest club in England and one that is definitely in the top three biggest clubs in the world [Manchester United], so I've just been picking his brains about that.

“Just knowing how the top athletes live and work will be good for me and everyone else at the club.”


Photo: Matchday Images



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Carberry added 15:57 - Jan 4
Haven't we heard this before?
0

Ipswichbusiness added 16:03 - Jan 4
He says that he hasn't played much for “different reasons”. It would be interesting to know what they were.
3

Suffolkboy added 16:10 - Jan 4
Carberry , Let's clear away the doubts and look on the positive side ; we all know this young man has real potential so if KM can get him fired up , inspired to “ love “ his football and to focus then we should all be delighted !
From a distance ,and with hindsight, it does look as though PC played the compromise card with LW ,which obviously didn't re- light any flames !
I wish him every success ; at 23 he's the world and a career in front of him ,and ITFC can only be the winners if he prospers .
COYB
29

Saxonblue74 added 16:15 - Jan 4
With respect, PC was only here for 5 minutes! Didn't that represent a "fresh start"? That said, he did look decent against Wycombe and it was good to see him higher up the pitch.
1

Saxonblue74 added 16:16 - Jan 4
.....PC must have had faith in him or he would have been out of the door with the rest of the dead wood.
1

Barty added 16:17 - Jan 4
Its a fresh start for all players to impress the new boss
3

Europablue added 16:33 - Jan 4
If I was one of those players that PC shifted out, I would have stuck it out knowing that I would outlast him and have another chance!
-2

TimmyH added 16:54 - Jan 4
I was waiting for an article on Woolfenden after last Wednesdays game and the new manager...and here we are! but I won't care one jot if KM can start getting the most out of our present squad with maybe further additions this month as some will depart.
5

Cloddyseedbed added 17:36 - Jan 4
Woolfy has had several fresh starts. It's time for him to knuckle down, concentrate for 90+ minutes and give his all to the club. He's 23 and his performances have been erratic to say the least. If he does knuckle down he will have a good future, if he doesn't he won't. Manager merry go rounds are no good for players/fans or clubs in the long run. Hopefully now they can all see a bright future with this management in place, if they give full commitment to the cause.
4

ArnieM added 17:38 - Jan 4
There's definitely a player in there, he just has to cut out the errors . Hopefully the new coaching staff can do that 👍
4

Carberry added 17:50 - Jan 4
Oh Suffolkboy, what a wonderful benign world you live in. Let's get him to 'love' his football rather than all the other trappings of being a professional footballer at the age of 23, lots of money, fast cars and the attention of the opposite sex. I do hope he turns into a reliable, talented defender who can develop to another level but as I said we have heard this clean slate story before. It's what he does now that matters and he could do worse than taking a look at Donacien and the way he has conducted himself to get back into the team and stay there. And I don't believe Paul Cook had any compromise cards in his pack whatever you thought of him.
1

Linkboy13 added 18:17 - Jan 4
Most important area of the pitch is the centre of defence. The Wycombe game was the first time this season we had two working in harmony and that was the basis of our win with Wycombe only really having one chance all game. We all know that Wolfenden can play at league one level after all he's played at championship level and not looked out of place he just needs show more maturity and grow up.
1

Karlosfandangal added 18:51 - Jan 4
Woolfenden has disappointed me over the last couple of seasons.
But over the last few games he has played he starting to look like the player we all expected him to be.
He and Edmunson could form a great partnership and be the back bone f the defence in the Championship.

Be nice to mention them like Butcher and Osman or Hunter and Beattie, however they have a long way to go but it's a good start.
3

churchmans added 18:53 - Jan 4
All this cock s###ing over man u this man u that top club in the world!! No not more
-9

churchmans added 18:54 - Jan 4
Not no more they aint
-4

Bert added 19:26 - Jan 4
This is the last chance saloon for a number of players so let's hope that they listen, learn and earn their not inconsiderable wages. The Wolf needs to shed his casual manner as soon as he leaves the dressing room. He could cement the position with Edmundsen as Toto unfortunately is not the safe but forward looking player we need at CH.
2

ringwoodblue added 21:21 - Jan 4
I'm pleased for Woolfie but I agree with others that this is really his last chance to establish himself as a first team regular and I hope he grabs it with both hands.

It also amazes me when players say about training being much more intense under a new manager. Just begs the question, what were they all doing under the previous manager?
1

algarvefan added 21:50 - Jan 4
I look forward to the day when we have 3 at the back Edmunson, Woolfenden and Baggot. Young and top class and a great defence to build from.
0

MickMillsTash added 21:50 - Jan 4
Edmundsen is the best defender he will have played alongside. Hopefully Edmundsen will make any mistakes Wolfy makes less catastrophic than Chmabers or Nsiala would have done. Wolfy will never have a better chance.
-1

hrj4 added 23:02 - Jan 4
It's early days at the moment but all the players are making positive noises about the training sessions our new manager McKenna is putting on for all the players let's keep our fingers crossed.
1

bobble added 02:58 - Jan 5
maybe the marvelous manager McKenna is a magical motivating messiah ....and perhaps all our past 4 previous managers are in charge of the english cricket team as they appear to play like town used to and give in at the slightest hint of the game getting to hard ans show absolutely no heart or gumption to fight for their team .....


go town, and go australia !!!!
0

PortmanTerrorist added 11:21 - Jan 5
Woolfy really gets judged harshly for me.

Imagine being a young CB and playing at ITFC these past years...Joyless. Imagine having to carry your experienced, Captain defensive colleague at times. Imagine getting played on the wrong side of the back line. Imagine being asked to played FB. Imagine having so many managers in so few years. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU FOSTER YOUNG TALENT....and yet he still finds something to show us why he is a cut above.

Burley was the expert at this, which I find myself repeating (hoping someone at the Club utilises his services in this area alone), and he would identify 1st Team talent and tell that young player he would be in the side, playing in his favoured position (one he would know) and come what may, barring the unforeseen, the lad would be in for the next 5 games. That is how you build confidence and players.

Woolfy, with the right guidance, is way above League 1 standard so can only hope that now he has an actual Coach, we may see that consistently.
0

gosblue added 15:37 - Jan 5
An interesting comment about training being more football fitness rather than just running. That's what a coach from a top club brings. I remember Liverpool doing it that way when they were kings of Europe. I imagine that's how city do it now too. It's no wonder our boys were looking heavy legged and couldn't last 90 minutes. Back in my day, endurance training was at the start of pre-season for the benefit of the one or two players who came back carrying a few pounds and to blow away the cobwebs. Conditioning training was when it really started and definitely not halfway through the season. I think we are about to see a whole new level of performance. COYB
0


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