Notts County's Alan Judge
TRANSFER LATEST: Ipswich Town have bid for ‘Irish Messi’ Alan Judge
By Stuart Watson
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
6:00 AM
IPSWICH Town have made a bid for the man dubbed ‘the Irish Messi’.
The EADT understands that the Blues have offered League One club Notts County £500,000 for tricky attacking midfielder Alan Judge.
The diminutive 23-year-old – who is capable of playing wide or through the middle – picked up two trophies at the Magpies’ end of season awards following a campaign which yielded eight goals and 13 assists.
He netted three stunning goals in the Midlands’ club’s last two games of the season, against Wycombe Wanderers and Colchester United, as Keith Curle’s side agonisingly missed out on the play-offs by goal difference.
It’s the sort of form which led to the energetic Dublin-born player being playfully compared to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi by his adoring supporters.
And while a number of Championship clubs have been scouting the former Blackburn academy player and Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, it is Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell who has made the first move.
Notts County manager Keith Curle said last week that he was set to offer new contracts to both Judge and 17-goal top-scorer Jeff Hughes, insisting that ‘it sends out a strong message that we want to keep our best players’.
However, it’s understood that the County boss – whose development squad manager is former Town coach Chris Kiwomya – is under pressure to raise some funds in the transfer market this summer.
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- Bobby Ferguson recalls the challenges he faced when replacing an Ipswich Town legend
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- Ipswich Town renew their interest in keeper Lee Camp
- Alan Judge set to sign for Blackburn
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- Marcus Evans’ salary cap plans scuppered as the Premier League once again flexes its muscles
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25 comments
You are entitled to your opinion Brian, but I am not the one getting upset about matters I have no control over. Final entry on this page.
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Cyril Baker
Thursday, May 24, 2012
No Cyril, You are the joke !!!!!!
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Brian Betts
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Brian, That is a joke.
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Cyril Baker
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Cyril, PJ did need cover but he was party to the exodus of McAuley, Norris, Wickham, Priskin, Eastman, O'Conner & Murphy and he must have known about the deficiency in the goalkeeping department well before signing Wright. Yes Wickham did want Premiership football but there was also the £8M+ factor which ME & Cleggie also wanted but where has this money gone? Probably on wages for the players you say PJ didn't want. You wanted constructive criticism from me Cyril, well here it is honour PJ's contract for another disappointing 'c**p' season.
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Brian Betts
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Blue army 78, you are so right he did not sign players he did not want, because he actually signs no players.
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Cyril Baker
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I'm wondering about that Joey Barton. There seems a good chance the Hoops will let him go and it's unlikely any other premier team would have him. He's certainly put a bit of fire in our belly. What does everyone think?
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Jerry Jones
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
For those with the memory of a cheese mite.....PJ quoted as follows... “I think last year I brought in too many who were maybe past their best,” admitted Jewell, whose ageing team at Bradford was once nicknamed his ‘Dad’s Army’. “Now we need to look on the younger scale.
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Kevin Bailey
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Cyril - Are you really suggesting that PJ signed players he did not want ??? They may not have been his first choice but to suggest he didn't want them is be ridiculous in the extreme and would make Paul Jewell a complete & utter fool....I'm no fan of his, as I think he is a terrible manager, but I don't think for a second he signed players he didn't want....And you have the temerity to suggest others who post on here know nothing about football !!!
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bluearmy78
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Indeed, yet that is only part of the problem, the inability to target, and move speedily enough to even get to the negotiating is as big an issue. In fact, both halves are pretty shabby.
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Kevin Bailey
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Kevin you know for a fact he wanted those players do you, I would suggest he had no choice as no money was made available and needed cover.
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Cyril Baker
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Kevin- Yes but its cleggy doing the negotating!
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TrueBlue
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
We are more likely to sign the Argentinian Alan Judge......
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Kevin Bailey
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Frank, it was Jewell that wanted Ingmarsson, Ellington and Bowyer, not Clegg.
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Kevin Bailey
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
This would be a terrific signing. To those bore yawns who think otherwise, let's just let them get on wit it *cough* Steroo.
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Paul The Alien
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Yesterday it was the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and today it's the next Lionel Messi.... Like nearly ALL the stories about players being targetted last summer the chances of these actually happening are about as slim as the real Ibrahimovic or Messi signing.... You have to factor in the fact that Town are highly unlikely to be a Premiership team any day soon, the apparent lack of cash at the club and of course the dreaded Clegg factor....All of Jewells top targets of last summer decided to ply their trade elsewhere and after one of towns worst season's on record the jury is very much out on Jewell...Add in to the mix the lack of real investment in the clubs infrastructure by Mr Evans (aside from a pot or two of paint) and the constant fiasco when it comes to player contracts and you're left wondering why would any player chose ITFC over anybody else ?? I have been a harsh critic of Paul Jewell but it does make you wonder how last season would have played out had he been able to get in the players he had identified as his top targets last summer....These are just the kind of young emerging players Town should be competing for and if ME is not prepared to back the manager or the CEO is not able to properly negotiate with players & agents then Paul Jewell will have another season where he has been hampered in what he is trying to do...With recent statements about the financial fair play rules being trumpeted from the rooftops loud & clear at PR I believe we are being softened up to the fact that there will be little or no investment in the squad and it will be these rules and these rules only that are to blame...
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bluearmy78
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Firstly, given the EADT track record of highlighting our transfer targets I am doubtful that we will see this through. However, we are in need of young hungry players and this lad is a decent prospect and exactly who we should be targetting, yet even before any direct quotes or comments from anyone at ITFC posters on here are using it as an excuse to have a dig. When it is due then carry on by all means but at least wait until you have something to gripe about. we will be linked with a lot of players this summer, the EADT will link us with more but I am holding fire until the signatures are placed on contracts (and i concur that Clegg is appears to be a hindrance at this point however how tightly are his hands tied)
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Blue Exile
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Does the football world have to be told by the EADT and ES that we are after certain players before we sign them? Can't help.
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JOHN BURLS
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I really hope Clegg stays out of this one!! He sounds promising.
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Marc Wilson
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sounds good, a very positive move from PJ.
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RC
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
At last Jewell and Cleggy have found a player they can pursue for the entire transfer window to the total exclusion of absolutely everybody else. That way we can finally get permission to speak to him in the final hours only to be told he doesn’t want to come. That gives us the exiting prospect of going back and chase him some more next January while getting by with a legion of short-term loans – preferably old and fat ones in positions where we don’t actually need to strengthen. This is the only way to conduct business during transfer window and I’m so pleased we’re led by such brilliant minds! I only hope some 35 year old injury prone overpaid has-beens will be available over the next couple of months.
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Pete James
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Anyone described as the something of someone, usually isn't the anything of anyone.
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Mike Oxlong
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Perhaps the EADT reporters should take up the baton from JK Rowling as the imagination certainly seems to be there. Where else but the EADT could you see the name of ITFC linked with the names of Messi, Ibrahimovic and Solksjaer in the space of a couple of days? Might just get Bob Smith or Fred Jones from the Royal Albert Sunday FC if we are lucky and Jewell can find a 6 ft 3 ins diminutive striker or a young 33 year old and Clegg can find a pen and the paperwork in time.
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SussexTractorBoy
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I would like to think we stood some chance here but my confidence with tranfer negotiations under the watchful eye of Simon Says does not fill me with optimism I must confess.
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FRANK WESTON
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
This is perfect player for town. He is young, scores goals and hungry. Good scouting, but I hope P.J follows through with it.
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Lloydze
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
whatever next... perhaps even now the magnificent Town manager is masterminding a bid for the Tierra delFuegoan Ronaldo. I am sure the EADT will be the first to update us on what may (or may not) be happening.
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Rob Steroo
Tuesday, May 22, 2012