Former Blues midfielder Scott Fraser, who joined Charlton on deadline day, has admitted his frustration at being played in a left-sided midfield role for most of his short spell at Portman Road.

The 26-year-old signed for the Blues from the MK Dons in the summer but made only 18 starts and two sub appearances for Town, scoring his only goal on his debut, before departing on Monday, a move manager Kieran McKenna revealing yesterday that the former Burton man was “desperate to go”.

Having impressed and scored regularly for the Dons playing centrally - 14 in his one season at Stadium MK - Fraser was surprised that ex-Blues boss Paul Cook used him in a narrow left-sided role. Fraser didn’t feature at all under McKenna, although was unavailable for some of that time due to a knee injury.

“Never at any point was I thinking I was going to go there and be played out on the left wing,” Fraser told the South London Press.

“With the numbers I’d achieved over the last few seasons I’d done that playing centrally — whether that was as a number eight or a left-sided number 10.

“I never achieved them by playing out wide. It’s similar to asking a winger to play as a number 10 — the skillset is not the same in any way.

“I never really got the chance. The chats I had before were that I was going to a big club and you’re going to be the one that is going to help us, very much, get to the Championship. It never worked out like that. That’s football sometimes.”

Fraser, who Charlton were initially keen to sign a couple of seasons ago when former Town midfielder Lee Bowyer was manager, was hoping his time with the Blues would win him international recognition.

“That again was one of the biggest frustrations of the Ipswich situation,” he continued. “I was told the season before that I was close and they [Scotland] were more aware of me than ever which, for a player in League One, speaks volumes.

“They told me I had to be playing at a higher standard on a regular basis in front of big crowds.

“I had that opportunity, in my head, at Ipswich. Now I’ve got the chance again at Charlton to play for a massive club in front of great fans — really kicking on, in terms of me and the club going up to the Championship, has got to be the aim to help all of us.

“Once a manager and whole club show that much faith to go and pay the money — and give me a long contract — it shows how much they wanted me.”"

Having joined Charlton he says he believes the three-man midfield boss Johnnie Jackson utilises suits him.

“One hundred per cent” he added. “Even from watching the game on Monday [a 2-1 win at Portsmouth] I was seeing positions I could get into.

“I was thinking ‘I wish the deal had got done earlier so I could get on the pitch’. It was a game I would’ve loved. We got a fantastic result. I’m sure when I get in the team I’ll enjoy it.

“I’ve got a Twitter account but I don’t really use it. Tracey [Leaburn], our player liaison, was telling me she can’t quite remember a reception like I got on social media.

“I thank the fans for that. To make my debut in front of them on Saturday [against AFC Wimbledon] is something I’m really looking forward to. Hopefully we can nick a result.

“This should be a Championship club. They had a slow start to the season but since the gaffer came in they have really picked up. We need to get some positive momentum which we can finish off this season and also take into the next one.”

Photo: TWTD

DinDjarin added 11:21 - Feb 4 Have said all along Fraser is a great player at this level and shame on Cook for not using him correctly even when we were struggling for results. Probably the best 10 in this league when on form. Will regret this one.
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Marinersnose added 11:27 - Feb 4 He was very average but tbf he was played in an alien position and therefore his strengths were not brought to fruition. Cook for me was a demolition man in so many ways. A gamble that didn't payoff. He clearly needs Richardson alongside and not a bunch of mates. Good luck Fraser you don't become a bad player overnight.
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Cakeman added 11:29 - Feb 4 Disappointing to read of past players moaning about their previous clubs. He may well have good reason to complain about being played out of position under Paul Cook's time but he hasn't given our new manager a chance. Maybe he just didn't settle at Ipswich or perhaps couldn't handle the competition for places. Either way I wish him well but we only want players here if they really want to be here.

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SE1blue added 11:50 - Feb 4 “Now I've got the chance again at Charlton to play for a massive club…” Mhmmm.
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Europablue added 11:52 - Feb 4 Cakeman, he also said that he wanted to be a guaranteed starter. To me that sounds like someone who likes being a big fish in a small pond. "They told me I had to be playing at a higher standard on a regular basis in front of big crowds". What a stupid comment, what difference does playing in front of big crowds really make? Leaving MK dons was a bad move and didn't help his international aspirations. He's gone from a team that is now very much on for the playoffs this season to an inconsistent Ipswich team where he hardly played to a Charlton team who are basically done for this year, but could easily be competing at the right end of the table. He should have shown maturity in recognizing that not settling into the team was down to the previous manager, and not settling down in the area was due to him not settling into the team. It sounds like he didn't give KM a chance, so why would KM try and hold onto a wantaway?

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ashleylewis10 added 11:53 - Feb 4 Looked very average as no. 10 in the MK came. That was his chance. I think the biggest disappointment was his penalty miss at Burton. Our season could've been so different if we'd won there. I like Fraser but he seems a bit of a poor character
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barrystedmunds added 11:56 - Feb 4 “Charlton” and massive club in the same sentence! Now I know he's talking sh#te
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chepstowblue added 11:56 - Feb 4 Looked uncomfortable in his role. Somehow we didn't get the best out of a good player. We're making a habit of it. He's going to a Charlton side who gave us our biggest mauling of the season, and unlike us look ready to put in a late play off push. Could be an excellent move for him.
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Radlett_blue added 12:14 - Feb 4 Another reason why Cook was a poor Town manager - signing supposedly one of the best No.10s in the league & playing him on the left wing.
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Europablue added 12:16 - Feb 4 chepstowblue Charlton are so far behind us that you can basically count them out of the running. We need to win our next two games before we even think about being in the hunt for a playoff place, then after that we would have to see a marked improvement to beat one of the better teams in the league in MK Dons (who incidentally we should have easily beaten when we played them at home).

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SouperJim added 12:28 - Feb 4 blub If he was all that he would have got his head down, worked hard and overcome adversity. I can appreciate he may not have been played in his favored position, but he looked slow, disinterested and had little to no impact when he played. I want our players to have a bit more about them frankly. He should have been busting a gut to show what he can do and then grabbed his opportunity when it came along. He has nobody to blame but himself. He may go on and be fantastic for Charlton and good luck to him, but he sounds like a bit of a fair weather player based on what he's said here.

2

Len_Brennan added 12:32 - Feb 4 He has a point & our previous manager is responsible for that, however he didn't give it a chance under McKenna, which suggests a degree of fragility that we can do without. The signings of Aluko & particularly Celina, and even Chaplin really affected him & his chance of playing in the #10 role.
4

Lightningboy added 12:36 - Feb 4 Being asked to play on the left wing & getting paid a small fortune to do so?...you'd swear he'd been asked to play in goal,the poor dab. Jeeeez,exactly the sort of powder puff “player” we've seen too much of over the last decade. Will not be missed.
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WorcesterBlue added 12:58 - Feb 4 I am prejudiced because I have a major issue with players who can only play as a 10. That is usually shorthand for “I'm a tidy player who hasn't got the work rate or tenacity for CM and isn't fast enough or good enough in front of goal to be a centre forward'. If you are Christian Erickson you can get away with that but Fraser frankly isn't good enough to. If you need everyone else to do your donkey work to shine, play at a lower level. Fraser fits this profile completely and it is clear he wants to be the big cheese and the playmaker without doing the hard yards. Unfortunately I Feel similarly about Celina though I think McKenna may be able to address this. What he certainly didn't need was two of them so this is good judgement I think.

3

BlueBlood90 added 12:58 - Feb 4 I can understand his frustration being played out of position while Cook was here and it was pretty clear he shouldn't have played there but Cook has gone now and Fraser has been injured the entire time McKenna has been here so you would think he'd stick it out until the end of the season at least. I still personally would've preferred if we let him leave on loan rather than permanently.

1

Stato added 13:04 - Feb 4 But he was also played at 10 for us too which seems to be forgotten. He was given a lot of pitch time and made no real impact and when he was out of the team we won at Portsmouth and Wycombe and home to Fleetwood with the only defeat away to Plymouth.
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ringwoodblue added 13:06 - Feb 4 We need focused players who can play in a number of different positions (except the GK of course) not whingers who throw their toys out of the pram if they don't get their own way. Glad he's gone.
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cressi added 14:17 - Feb 4 Yes played out of position But never gave McKenna a chance to pick him Personality if it is to hot in the kitchen your no good to this club
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TimmyH added 14:29 - Feb 4 You won't be missed...not very flexible is almost his excuse. To me he came across 'leggy' and a bit lethargic.
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bobbyramsey added 14:55 - Feb 4 Poor sod, I feel for him, what a waste of time and effort. I also feel for ITFC, I think they could regret this.
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shefki86 added 15:00 - Feb 4 Wow….. clearly not anywhere close to having the right mindset if you're gonna cry about being played slightly out of position!!? Good riddance if you're going to give up when it gets a bit hard
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runningout added 15:28 - Feb 4 not sure of these “May regret this one” posts. Personally don't think it's worth the effort. Good luck to Fraser where ever he may be
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SussexTractor added 15:58 - Feb 4 How much did we pay for him and then sell him for? It was "undisclosed" but some press reports say £750k purchase and £500k sale (EADT). This is not good business practice. Better to loan him out and then sell him, if he does the business on the pitch for Charlton.
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cat added 15:59 - Feb 4 Fraser has potential no doubt about it, but unfortunately he was the victim of us signing to many players for the 3 positions behind the front man. I think McK has got the right balance now so hopefully we will kick on.
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bluewarrior added 16:05 - Feb 4 Good players shine wherever they play. Fraser didn't - looked lightweight, slow and unfit from the start. I didn't think he would turn out to be a whiner and excuse maker.
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