Aaron Cresswell is helped off after pulling up with a hamstring injury against Millwall
Paul Jewell wants to sign at least three defenders
By Stuart Watson
Monday, April 23, 2012
12:11 PM
IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell wants to sign at least three defenders this summer.
Full-backs Aaron Cresswell and Carlos Edwards – who have missed just one game each this season – came first and second respectively in the official Supporters’ Club ‘Player of the Year’ awards on Saturday night.
But while the Blues have come on leaps and bounds defensively in the second half of the season, a 3-0 defeat to Millwall at Portman Road at the weekend shows there is still much work to be done.
Cresswell limped off with a bad hamstring injury, with Ibrahima Sonko – set to be released when his contract expires in June – the only defender on the bench.
Veteran left-back Mark Kennedy will hang up his boots in the summer to become a coach, while young right-back Jack Ainsley has just one Championship start to his name and young left-back Joe Whight has yet to make his first-team debut.
Speaking in the build-up to the game, Jewell said: “At times this season we have got by. Our two full-backs have not been injured and they have arguably been our two best players, certainly the most consistent.
“We have been fortunate, but we are not going to be fortunate all the time. We need cover for someone who can play left-back or right-back and we need a couple of centre-backs.”
And with those comments coming back to haunt him little over 24 hours later, the Blues boss said: “Aaron’s pulled his hamstring pretty badly we think. I suppose if there’s any good time to get injured it’s now, but it’s a shame because he’s had a terrific season.
“We know we need to strengthen in the summer and, as I said last week, one of the areas we need to strengthen is cover in the full-back area.”
Jewell could yet decide to reignite his attempts to sign Portsmouth duo Jason Pearce and Joel Ward, with Pompey boss Michael Appleton saying: “I think Jason is certainly one of the assets we have got on the field of play and I will be very surprised if he is here next season.
“He and Joel Ward have attracted offers from the Championship this season so you would think they’ll go. You wouldn’t have to be a brain surgeon to work that one out.”
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16 comments
On a slightly different tack (if the moderator will allow) please can everyone consider donating to Claire Squires, the lady who died within sight of the finishing line at the London Marathon on Sunday. She was running for the Samaritans, who do save lives. She has now raised £318,000 posthumously, and having struggled around the Marathon three times, (doing it for St John's Ambulance) it would be great for her family if £1M could be raised.
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Kevin Bailey
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The other thing, Alan, is that nobody would give up their season ticket lightly, it would always be with a heavy heart. The talk of playing the youngsters, then not doing so, and the abject performance against Millwall, could indeed be the tipping point, and the straw that broke the camel's back
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Kevin Bailey
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Now let's see: who fits the right profile? "Very expensive, quite old, injury prone and well past their sell-by date"! Should be quite a few out there ...........
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CasperF
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
@Alan Chaplin, ever heard of 'the last straw that broke the camel's back'?
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Brian Betts
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I find it unbelievable that there were supporters who went to the Millwall game still wavering whether to renew their season ticket. One game? What about the season overall to make up their mind?
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Alan Chaplin
Monday, April 23, 2012
Actually the defence has improved hugely. Where we are weak is creating chances because we have too many ball winning midfielders and are powderpuff up front. Chopra doesn't fit into the lone striker role as he is too slow, not a target man and weak in the air. He is a poacher who plays off another striker. But jewell is terrified that we let in too many goals so he sacrifices a second striker and plays two deep lying defensive midfielders which means we lack creative flair in the middle.
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Tom
Monday, April 23, 2012
After saturdays fiasco at least we now know that mr jewel has no self esteem or respect for his employers , after he was belittled by supporters he should now be writing out his resignation not looking for defenders , if anyone at the millwall game were wavering on the point of purchasing another season ticket, it must have made their minds up to keep their money in their pockets.
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KEVIN FRANCIS
Monday, April 23, 2012
I THINK YOU NEED MORE THAN THAT MATE
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MIGUEL100
Monday, April 23, 2012
most of the town fans see that jewell is not the man for ipswich. is MR E blind. they cant not all be wrong. i have been once. and could the players who are not up to par. and for the person who said i know nothing about football. well every thig i said would happen has come true.yes my wrighting skills are not up to rhode scoller leavel and imiss spell a few words lol. it was nice to see the young lads at half time at the leicester game i know they had fun good for them. they got a bigger cheer than the town players
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mike benham
Monday, April 23, 2012
Jewell may want to sign players BUT will he be allowed to by CEO Clegg and 'hands on' Evans ?
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Brian Betts
Monday, April 23, 2012
3 defenders, a proper keeper, a holding midfielder, a proper left winger, another striker, a fitness coach that can get 90 minutes out of the players, a defence coach that can teach them how to defend, a new CEO and a way to vring back the 5000-odd fans who've become so dispirited with things that the ground looks like Darlington's on a bad day. Does Jewell need to go? I've never been one for a managerial merry-go-round but this has all been going on a little too long.
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Andrew Mehen
Monday, April 23, 2012
To be fair, he did play the youngsters, as some of the team on Saturday were under 30
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Kevin Bailey
Monday, April 23, 2012
I would take Keane back if offered...then I would be happy with a coconut on a stick instead of Paul 'I will play the youngsters' Jewell.
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Vanmunt
Monday, April 23, 2012
Hmmm... I wonder if this 3 includes a Goalkeeper that he is so keen to get? If not, that would then be 4 new players, not to mention at least 1 required MC, a wide player and a desperately needed prolific striker. So much for 'no wholesale changes'. Thing is, would have been nice to see Jow Whight given a couple of games (wonder if he will get the last game over Delaney?). Ainsley was barely given a chance to prove a thing in competitive matches. Who knows, they may have failed, but Jewell (in taking us through the worst season in my living memory- with HIS selected players), continues to completely ignore the traditions of youth players getting opportunities. I hate Jewell being our manager.
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I am Spartacus
Monday, April 23, 2012
I am embarrassed by Jewell please get in a proper manger the man has no idea
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ian wright
Monday, April 23, 2012
Let's hope that he does so. For another club.
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Mike Wyatt
Monday, April 23, 2012