FRINGES: Ipswich Town midfielder Jimmy Bullard
Fringe 10 can still force their way into the picture
By Stuart Watson
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
10:44 AM
IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell insists his fringe players will be given a fair chance to impress in pre-season.
"I was at Bradford City as a player and couldn’t get any further out of the picture. I was training on my own with kit with holes in it and everyone laughing at me"
With a host of players set to either turn down or be released from contracts this summer, the Blues squad will be reduced to just 20 professionals over the coming weeks – half of whom having found their chances severely limited this season.
Jimmy Bullard didn’t start a game in the final five months of the campaign, Ryan Stevenson was eased in after his January switch from Hearts, while forgotten duo Nathan Ellington and Jaime Peters were told they could ‘move on’ by their manager recently.
Homegrown youngsters Josh Carson, Luke Hyam and Jack Ainley made just 17 starts between them, Ronan Murray was loaned out to Swindon, while teenagers Joe Whight and Cormac Burke weren’t deemed ready during their debut campaigns as professionals.
And while Jewell has revealed he is looking to make at least six summer signings, he insists no-one is completely out of the picture.
“I might have certain opinions of players but I am one of these managers whose opinion can be changed,” said the Blues boss.
“I think you only have to look at our team. Luke Hyam didn’t get a look-in but then turned it around, Andy Drury was on loan at Crawley, Tommy Smith didn’t get a look-in.
“I am a massive believer in training. I have said Nathan and Jaime can move on, but if they are still here and give it everything they have got, things can change.”
He continued: “I was at Bradford City as a player and couldn’t get any further out of the picture. I was training on my own with kit with holes in it and everyone laughing at me. It was very hard and I couldn’t understand why the manager was doing it.
“I felt sorry for myself for a couple of days but then got on with it. Two years later I wasn’t playing for Bradford, I was manager.
“I’ve been as low as you can get. I’ve been that player who is told ‘don’t bother turning up as you won’t get in either team’ when a club takes 22 to Whitby Town to play a different side in each half.
“I know what it is like, but you can’t feel sorry for yourself and blame the manager and everyone else. I wasn’t going to give up, I just fought and fought.”
More Ipswich Town news
- Ipswich Town target Jay Tabb released by Reading
- Ipswich Town will face Barnet and Chippenham
- Mick McCarthy can build team around defensive duo
- Ipswich Town legend compares Blues’ defender to Allan Hunter
- Tommy Smith signs new Ipswich Town deal
- Mick McCarthy seeing red as new Ipswich Town kits are launched!
- Aston Villa prepared to offer £4.5m for Ipswich Town defender
- Ipswich Town gates are down but there is room for optimism
- Ipswich Town: New kits leaked on Twitter
- Bryan Klug can deliver academy success again, says former Ipswich Town youngster
ADVERTISEMENT
16 comments
Jewell - we know you can change your opinion because every time you open your mouth something different comes out which contradicts what you previously said. As for those people that bang on about Jewell inheriting a mess from Roy Keane you sound like a political party blaming the last Government for the problems they are incapable of sorting out. I would just point out Jewell claimed to be an experienced manager that would take ITFC back into the Premiership in 2 years. He was aware then what players and resources he had available so it simply does not stack up to keep on blaming Roy Keane - or any other previous manager. Jewell is the manager and is the one that claimed he could do the job. We are now 18 months into his reign and as far as I can see he has not made one forward step or done anything of note. As ever I await for someone (other than Chris Hampshire) to give me a positive example of Jewells management to provide just a little hope.
Report this comment
SussexTractorBoy
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
PJ is obsessed with the approach players make in training, as if everyone has to EXACTLY LIKE HE WAS and EXACTLY HOW HE WANTS THEM TO BE otherwise they can’t be any use on matchdays. Does he not realise that history is littered with brilliant players who were notoriously bad trainers? Surely management requires a bit more than this? This is why we’ll be increasing lumbered with lummox-like toilers who run about like headless chickens screaming and waving their arms rather than players who can actually play. It’ll increase our card count, but nothing else.
Report this comment
Pete James
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
tom sorry but you r wrong all of us as town supporters want the club to sucseed we are not just after pj blood he had his chance and he come up short he is on record admitting making mistakes the problem is not getting promoted is exspensive we have gone backwards this year when he promised forwards we know this because a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of posh is just unacceptable he gets paid well so he knows the score hes not up to the job hes already releasing his own players its time to move on
Report this comment
gutted
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Some Tom, like yourself, are seemingly incapable of grasping the reality of what is going on, and attack those that can, and call them negative! Quite amazing really. How you can defend Jewell is beyond me, yet feel free, as he is doing a wonderful job, if the job is the destruction of the Marcus Evans Company, formerly known as Ipswich Town Football club
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
When in need of an example, Tom steps in to help. Those that midlessly support the club whatever the circumstances are not helping things in the slightest. I'll always support Ipswich but agreeing with all that goes on with no regard for the facts is just incomprehensible. Those that try and associate questioning the goings on with 'not supporting the club properly' are way off base, and doing way more damage to the clubs long term health.
Report this comment
I am Spartacus
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Some posters here positively enjoy and take pleasure from criticising PJ and the club. If they spent more time actually getting behind the team and manager rather than slating him at any possible opportunity, we would actually have a better chance of pulling together and making progress. Some people just like to criticise, moan and welcome failure. Others are positive and proactive.
Report this comment
Tom
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
As ever, people state people are unfairly negative towards Jewell, but offer absolutely no reason for why we should have any faith in him? I will happily back him if I saw an solid reason to, unfortunately I have seen barely a slivver of competence so far. And I mean unfortunately, because I'd prefer Jewell hadn't wasted and gone backwards in the last 15 months. As before, all will become clear by the end of August- either the younger players are trusted and solid younger players brought in -or- we will be scratching around for loanees, maybe signed another Prem reject and still players with unresolved contracts ending next season. I hope it's the former, but fear the latter is more likely. Willing to be surprised, though.
Report this comment
I am Spartacus
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Frank, as the Chinese say, there is no point in running until you are facing the right direction, and we are not facing the right direction, so we need to sort that out first, which starts with the departure of Clegg and Jewell, and the appointment of someone who will sort us out. The answer to our problems is not Jewell, having caused the majority of them. He may well be here in August, yet if he is, the crowds will fall further, and we will struggle to attract any signings of note.
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Apart from the fringe players this manager will not play or is trying to unload. ie all of them
Report this comment
Rob Steroo
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Stop continuously slamming Jewell, he inherited a poorly structured club after the Keane-apocalypse, give the guy a chance, I believe he can get us up there, it's not his fault that some players didn't put their shift in either!
Report this comment
bense101
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Come on folks! I know some of Paul Jewell's sometimes come with an invitation to be criticised but we must all club together and back the man for now. Let's face it, he is not going away any time soon so we must focus on the positives for the coming campaign.
Report this comment
FRANK WESTON
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Couldn't get into Bradford City's teams but 2 years later he was their manager, says it all !!!!!
Report this comment
Brian Betts
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Please just say GOOD BYE and take Cleggless with you.And get some one else to put the meaning of PRIDE back in the once great name of IPSWICH.TOWN.F.C.
Report this comment
david bradley
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Now what s the difference, apart from the kit?
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Not sure if Jimmy can be described as a fringe player with that hairstyle
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Who was the manager at Bradford who had such a low opinion of Jewell - can't we have him for our one - PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!
Report this comment
Old Timer
Wednesday, May 9, 2012