Carlos Edwards applauds the travelling fans at Coventry
Carlos Edwards frustrated at Ipswich Town’s indecision over his future
By Stuart Watson
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
1:03 PM
CARLOS Edwards is growing increasingly frustrated with Ipswich Town’s continued indecision over his future at the club.
Blues boss Paul Jewell insisted last week that the Trinidadian – one of 11 Blues players rapidly heading towards the end of their current deals – was ‘quite happy to see how things go’.
However, the EADT understands that the normally all-smiles player feels that Jewell, chief executive Simon Clegg and owner Marcus Evans have continually stalled negotiations over a new deal for months now.
A source close to the 33-year-old player said: “The manager keeps saying that he has concerns over Carlos’s age and weaknesses as a defender.
“Well he has started all but one league game this season and not once been in the treatment room, while it’s the manager who is playing him at right-back.
“Carlos is settled in Ipswich and wants to finish his career here, but he’s not being made to feel particularly wanted at the moment.
“He understands the club’s position but just wants to know where he stands.”
Edwards was offered a new two-year contract last summer on the basis that he would have taken an immediate pay cut of close to 20%. He turned that down, putting faith in his own ability to earn himself better terms during the final 12 months of his deal.
And while he has had plenty of off-field disruptions this season – a string of driving offences leading to a spell of community service, while his prematurely born twins have been in-and-out of hospital since last October – he has continued to be one of the club’s most consistent performers.
The EADT also understands that a compromise deal has been offered to the club.
Edwards will accept a reduced basic salary, but – confident in his fitness – wants increased appearance money and a clause which will see him automatically given a second year if he starts 23 league games next season.
LA Galaxy’s interest in the versatile player has cooled since David Beckham signed a new deal there, but it is understood that a number of Championship clubs – many of whose scouts watched Edwards put in a superb display in the 3-2 win at Coventry on Saturday – are closely monitoring the situation.
Town saw key duo Gareth McAuley and David Norris leave the club on Bosman free transfers last summer, with Jewell insisting he would not let a similar scenario unfold.
The Blues currently have 11 players in the final few months of their contracts, the other 10 being: Grant Leadbitter, Jason Scotland, Josh Carson, Tommy Smith, Lee Bowyer, Ibrahima Sonko, Richard Wright, Mark Kennedy, Cody Cropper and Cormac Burke.
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21 comments
One thing consistently mystifies me and whilst not applying to Edwards is why do players expect higher wages when their team gets promoted but expect to keep them same high wages when they get demoted. Yes, I am aware of contracts but what other profession pays for failure. If Clubs are try to "cut their cloth" it's about time this stupid situation was rectified.
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whymarkmariner
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Why would you not renew his contract? Very quick with great powers of recovery, superb crosser and occasional scorer of (always) good goals. I would say its no-brainer but clearly from the views expressed below, that is not the case.
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blueinblue
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
A decent enough player I think but not one for the future due to his age. He isn't going to improve himself or the team from now on. We can get a better player for his wages so I won't cry if we don't keep him although i will if we don't actually get someone better. We need to scout for an up and coming future star "purpose built" right-back. Never optimistic Jewell can do that based on his track record but maybe there's a glimmer that even he realises he has to change his signing approach. There's a lot of talent out there in the lower leagues in the form of young hungry players who would kill to play for a champoinship side - those are the ones we need to be looking for - commited players. Also nothing wrong with the odd foreign player if we can find a "gem"- last couple of seasons we seem to have gone very UK-centric in the signings. Maybe a foreign scout has been scrapped along with stripping back on regular reserve side, academy etc?
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Ipswich'Til-I-Die
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I can see both sides here- But 1st I find it highly amusing that some of the same people who were complaining we didnt have enough young players are now bitching that we hav'nt offered a new contract to one of the older players My view is if carlos is willing to compromise then wes woorth keeping. He's still quick and can still change games. Tfe fact is he is not a rb. PJ has had to rebuilld the defence and i think the cb posutions had to be orted 1st but in the summer we have to sighn a rb. Carlo can then play in his prefered position and can act as cover at rb if needed. That said is the wrong side of 30 and thats 10k freed up for someone else. Maybe 2 if they are youngsters. Still I say sign him up
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TrueBlue
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
More consistent than any other town player, always plays with passion and yet he gets berated by most people here - I can't understand it. At 33 he's still quicker than most and I believe it would be a big mistake not to hang on to him.
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G
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Offer him a new deal, i love watching him play, he isn't bad, just play him at RM and not as a RB, no matter how hard he tries (and he is trying quite hard) he will never be a defender...
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Mark Hughes
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
OK, so the EADT scribs are lazy? What does that make your comments Steroo? Again, here we go. The usual SterooGed Potty Scott tag team of using every word they can think of to criticise Ipswich. We could be the best team in the world .... well actually if we were I don't think these pansees would be on here! By the way John Burls, your an Ipswich supporter Rob Steroo your just a bit of a wolly actually. For Carlos Edwards? Obviously, he is not the most reliable right back but there you go, we have to just keep winning games and going up the table and I'll be happy.
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Paul The Alien
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The way the town management team treat their players, it isn't any surprise at all they struggle season in season out and are usually in a relegation dog-fight. This is one reason why no good young players ever want to sign for town and who can blame them.
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ged scott
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Chris Hampshire, queue should read 'cue' and in my christian name the i precedes the a. Hope you don't mind me pointing to these errors but to achieve credibility one must also be accurate. Up the Town !!!!!!
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Brian Betts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I think CE needs to be thanked, but allowed to leave. His wage is around £10k pw and that money would be better spent on a younger RB with potential. Carlos patently isn't a right back, he is a trier, but Keane and Jewell to have played him there for so long says more about them than him. For 1 more season though, at half the wage, he might be worth one last go at RM. Just another example of mis-management and lack of communication from management to players (Same at beginning of the year with Norris and McCauley). We win despite those in charge rather than because.
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I am Spartacus
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
@Frank Weston: Oh Frank, what are you saying? I usually agree with your optimistic opinions but I’m afraid I can’t agree with you in this case; I think you are being far too harsh on Carlos and like Kevin Bailey I don’t think age is an issue in this case. Carlos clearly divides the fans perhaps more than any other player. Funny how we all see different things in a game (queue for Brain Betts favourite saying?).
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Chris Hampshire
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Carlos is over the hill,we need younger players to take this club forward.It is not his fault he is so bad in that position,you have i`m afraid have to blame PJ for his inability to see that we need a proper FB in this position and not a makeshift,if you look at where the goals against have come from this season most of them have come against Carlos.Good bye carlos.
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brisie58
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I think the CE should be applauded for what he has done for town. Yes, he has not been the best RB and may have been at fault but it has not been through lack of commitment to the cause. He is, and always has been an attacking player which requires a very different skill set to an RB. It is fairly obvious that he still sees himself as such, i.e. 'while it’s the manager who is playing him at right-back.' I personally think he may be worth keeping for an extra season but in the guise of a RMRW. If a RB can be found, I think Carlos still has the ability to create chances. With MC, JET and Scotlands movement, his service could be very useful
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Blue Exile
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
John Burls it is more than a bit hypocritical for you to call the club pathetic. That is not a very impressive list of 11 players and the only one really worth keeping has been belatedly offered a three year deal - and even he cant get in the current team. Do you know Carlos' wages? I think not. Do you think any sane employer would guarantee another years employment if somebody turns up for work for half the year? I think not. Is Carlos any better than David Wright? I think not. Are you an Ipswich suporter? I think not.
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Rob Steroo
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Carlos hasn't kept his mouth shut since he arrived at Portman Road, and in all honesty he has been an amazing flop. True he isn't a defender, but he's not a goal scorer either. At 33 he isnt the quickest on the pitch, either attacking (usually poorly) or defending (even poorer). I can't see why people rate him so much. Just because he plays everygame doesnt make him a great player, it just shows how lacking we are in talent ! His terms dont look bad though.
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J P W
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I actually feel that Carlos has a point here, as he has been played out of position, and despite being 33 is he actually losing fitness? I would suggest not. Giggs is 39, and whilst I am not suggesting that Carols is in the same class as a player, from a fitness perspective, I would suggest that he most certainly is. In fact, over the season, he and Scotland have probably been the most consistent two players, despite, or maybe even because of their age.
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Kevin Bailey
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Are there no reserve, youngster right backs at the club?
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Graham Vine
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
F.W., say what you want but don't agree with you know who, ignore him and in time he will get fed up. As for Edwards, he is one of our best players and it is not his fault PJ plays him out of position. In any case he has improved considerably at RB and I haven't seen many misplaced passes lately or inadequate marking. He is, despite being out of position, learning his new job. I think the club bureaucracy treat many players very badly when it comes to getting contracts on paper. They are pathetic and is an indication of how unsure they are of themselves.
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JOHN BURLS
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Frank - Whilst I agree I would not keep Edwards, due to his age, you are ignoring the fact that he is only partly to blame for being a liability at right back - the other person is Paul Jewell who knows he isn't a right back, did nothing about bringing one in and plays Edwards in that position...He would probably SOUND a much better player in his true position !!!
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bluearmy78
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I find myself agreeing with Rob Steroo in that I think Carlos Edwards is a liability at ring back and his age his against him gaining an extended contract. He has pace but for how much longer and he has been at fault for so many goals this season with poor passes and inadequate marking that I would not miss him if he went.
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FRANK WESTON
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
You lazy EADT scribes can try but I am not sure you will find any Town fans remotely interested in seeing Carlos stay. Given his age, off-field problems and the fact that he only seems to be played out of position it would be little short of senseless to even consider keeping him.
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Rob Steroo
Tuesday, February 7, 2012