SET TO SIGN: Ipswich Town winger Josh Carson
By Stuart Watson
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
7:00 AM
IPSWICH Town fans need not worry about Josh Carson – the teenager is set to sign a new deal.
The EADT understands that only the formalities are left over the Northern Ireland international winger penning a new contract – initially two years, with the third dependent on clauses.
A graduate of the club’s academy, just 18-years-old, and an exciting direct-running wide player; Carson is exactly the sort of player that supporters – keen to see a core of players the club can build around for years to come – want to watch at Portman Road.
However, doubts emerged recently as to whether the youngster would stay at Portman Road beyond the summer when his current deal expires. Despite playing well in a 2-2 home draw with Blackpool last month, the winger has not only been out of the starting line-up, but out of the squad for the last five games.
In fact, having burst onto the scene under the early management of Paul Jewell last season – scoring three goals in his first five starts for the club – Carson has made just five starts and nine substitute appearances this campaign.
“Josh is disappointed not to be playing, but he understands that he is still learning as a player,” said a source close to the winger. “He recognises that Ipswich is the best club for him to develop.”
Jewell announced at the start of pre-season that Carson had come back from his summer break ‘not in the best of shape’ and told him to ‘knuckle down’. And just last week assistant boss Chris Hutchings said publicly that the youngster had to produce every day in training if he was to force his way into the first team picture.
With widemen Daryl Murphy and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in top form and experienced midfielders Jimmy Bullard and Grant Leadbitter on the bench at present, Carson has some work to do if he is to force his way into a first team which has won four games in succession.
Town fans will be pleased that the youngster is ready to commit to the Blues though, allaying fears that he might become the latest in a long line of ‘academy products that got away’ following the success of the likes of Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield) and Liam Trotter (Millwall).
12 comments
Where is 'Mellow Yellow' now that the Town has starting picking up results? No where to be heard..I am off to the 'Pink 'Un' (sorry for swearing true Town Fans) to track him down..
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Warkys_Tash
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Well bluearmy78 did you not notice I took great care not to mention him by name?
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JOHN BURLS
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Steroo requests balance... the irony.
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I am Spartacus
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I sincerely hope this is the case and, although it really pains me to say it, good work from themanagement team if it occurs. That said, I hope they learn from this and don't leave it so late next time. Not tying down good prospects is a sin at ITFC.
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I am Spartacus
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
You are quite right John Burls, Steroo is just a wind up merchant. I admit to falling for it in the past. As of now I am ignoring him and his brainless inanities.
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Rex Ide
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
bluearmy you seem incapable of understanding a simple message.... Town have gone over a decade without producing any players precisely because they loan in players rather than attempt to develop their own. If you scoured the league for worse examples than Town you might find Chelsea... but the point is that Town are probably the worst in this division for youth development - so the pointless wittering about a non-performing academy in a club thaty does not believe in youth development whether its academy be grade 1, 2 or zero is utterly irrelevant.
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Rob Steroo
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Well stop referring to him then Mr Burls !!!!
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bluearmy78
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Remember fellow posters, ignore you know who, don't ever refer to him or mention his name, and he will fade away as he obviously thrives on our reactions. So start now!
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JOHN BURLS
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Steroo - Young town talent has been sold in the past not for the reason you suggest i.e use of the loan market but for two other reasons 1. The player wanted a move to either earn more or play at a higher level 2. The club needed to sell to raise funds. Like many many clubs Town are a selling club - get used to it. Even the likes of Liverpool have produced very little talent, over the same period of time you highlight, who have gone on to forge a career at Liverpool - Gerrard and Carragher are just about the only ones. Buying, selling and loaning players is part and parcel of football & has been so for many, many years - staggering you can't grasp this very basic principal.
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bluearmy78
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
' Perhaps you should add some balance' from the ever repetitive and comical RS. Can we have some fresh comments please Rob or come a good result at the weekend will be we treated to 'a good display by a team PJ tried to dismantleruin with loanswas lucky to formulate.
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Blue Exile
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I sincerely hope this is the case and, although it really pains me to say it, good work from themanagement team if it occurs. That said, I hope they learn from this and don't leave it so late next time. Not tying down good prospects is a sin at ITFC.
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I am Spartacus
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
You have run a number of frankly rather hysterical stories on Town's mythical academy - including promoting the ludicrous petition from the comical Trust. Perhaps you should add some balance. Since Town effectively commited suicide a decade ago who has graduated from the academy to either play at a higher level or play for Town? The answer is a remarkably short list. If you take a bit of journalistic licence, Wright and Dyer both of whom conspicuously underachieved. Bramble who is a standing joke, Whickham on whom the jury is out as unproven and Darren Bent who is perhaps the only really successful Town youth player of the last 15 years. Who has established a successful Town career in that time...erm not a single player, largely due to the suicidal use of loan players - a apractice that continues to this day. Hopefully the likes of Hyam and Carson can start to reverse that disastrous trend but history would suggest otherwise
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Rob Steroo
Wednesday, February 22, 2012