Jimmy Bullard
Out-of-favour Jimmy Bullard currently sixth-choice in Ipswich Town midfield
By Dave Gooderham
Monday, August 6, 2012
1:18 PM
JIMMY Bullard is facing a battle to keep pace with Paul Jewell’s young guns after being dumped to Town’s SIXTH-CHOICE central midfielder on Saturday.
The playmaker was omitted from Town’s 20-man squad for Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Premier League newcomers West Ham for footballing reasons – missing a much-needed victory to lift the spirits of supporters.
The Hammers tasted a heavy defeat at Portman Road for the second time in little over six months thanks to goals from Michael Chopra, Luke Chambers and Jason Scotland.
It might have only been a friendly and played in front of little over 7,500 fans, but the Super Blues played with a vibrancy and purpose that had been largely missing this pre-season.
The fact 11 of the squad that featured were Under-23 suggests that Jewell has well and truly dumped his policy of depending on big-name, experienced players.
And 33-year-old Bullard could be the biggest casualty with Town’s most creative midfielder now facing an uphill battle to be included for the Championship season-opener at home to Blackburn Rovers in under two weeks.
Assistant boss Chris Hutchings said: “He is just out of the equation at this moment in time. There are always rumours about everything but he is fit, we just didn’t include him in the squad.”
After a largely dismal first full season at Ipswich which ended in a two-week suspension for turning up late for training, Bullard goes into his final year at the club looking to become the fans’ darling once again.
His first mission is to impress Jewell after being included in a second-string friendly against Braintree Town, getting just a half at Luton Town and even less time against Southend United.
In their penultimate friendly on Saturday, Jewell picked arguably his strongest team with Spurs loanee Massimo Luongo and Luke Hyam showing great promise in the engine room.
Ryan Stevenson and Andy Drury also appear to be ahead of Bullard in the pecking order as the new season approaches while Cheick Kourouma, whose contract situation remains unresolved, also featured against the Hammers.
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12 comments
Interesting that few if any of the posters on here recognise that Bullard has to take responsibility for his own career which is threatening to crumble, rather than to try to find a host of excuses and blaming PJ. It is nonsense to say that a professional midfielder cannot play in a different midfield position, and that if asked to do will forseeably fall apart to the extent that Bullard has done.
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Tom
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Played in the right way and in his preferred position, Jimmy Bullard could add flair to the team and impart his experience on the younger players, provided he doesn't repeat he Newcastle jaunt. Don't 'freeze' the man out completely Jewell !!!!!
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Brian Betts
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
By giving youth a chance I do feel Jewell may belatedly be getting it right - but do also agree that it is a worrying trend that when players fall out of favour with him they are very badly treated. I wonder how this affects team morale ?????
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Old Timer
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Another disapointing story to be published by the EADT. There are two sides to every story.
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Neil Gedny
Monday, August 6, 2012
We should all remember that it hadn't of been for Jimmy Bullard we would have disappeared i into Div one 2 years ago. Lets have a bit of loyalty to the guy who is a nice bloke and a great motivator. I await the flack.
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Rex Ide
Monday, August 6, 2012
I certainly hope jewell has opted for the youth option, i would welcome such a move , albeit 6 months late
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KEVIN FRANCIS
Monday, August 6, 2012
I cannot help feel that the apparent loss of form is not just coincidental to the ridiculous decision to play him as defensive midfield last year. I hear many fans on this site say just how marvelous Jewell is at man-management but all I see is one complete foul up after another. To misquote Dale Carnegie Jewell is a prime example of "How to lose friends and demotivate people".
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SussexTractorBoy
Monday, August 6, 2012
He was signed because if the form he showed on loan playing in one position, so Jewell started him in a completely different position at the start of last season, and then seemed to scapegoat Bullard when he didn't pay as well. He has been frozen out for months, and clearly has no chance of turning it around if not selected. Jewell did that with Martin, Hyam, Peters and Smith, and it is not something I like at all.
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Kevin Bailey
Monday, August 6, 2012
I still like Jimmy. Not the common view but he generally shows the same enthusiasm that supporters feel for the game. Players don't lose quality overnight so, surprise surprise, I blame Jewell and his cronies for their inability to get the best from him. I know Bullard takes some responsibility himself, but he wasn't helped by being played in a ridiculous position last season when we had Bowyer- made for defensive Mid- also available. I suspect we will just hear the normal 'he isn't doing it in training' waffle from Jewell as he tries to nudge Jimmy out of the picture.
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I am Spartacus
Monday, August 6, 2012
Give jimmy the chance to prove himself rather than remain de moralised by being left out. Last game of season he was the one that came over to the supporters to sign autographs and chat. Let him prove he has the enthusiasm and ability to continue to play first class football. Hope he hasn't been reading all the negative comments there are still fans who want jimmy to be part of the team. Come on jimmy you still have some loyal fans behind you. Given the chance he will make a difference to the team.
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jacmac
Monday, August 6, 2012
really sad state of affairs let himself down & the club,perhaps a loan somewhere else maybe the answere.
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david peters
Monday, August 6, 2012
All those wages to not even warm the bench? Why are we keeping him? Would it not be better to send out on loan if possible or to sell? Or is another club unlikely to be as rash as to take the risk?
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Tom
Monday, August 6, 2012