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Chambo Happier at Centre-Half
Friday, 19th Sep 2014 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy says skipper Luke Chambers is happier having switched to the centre of the defence in recent games. The 28-year-old started the campaign at right-back, where he spent most of last season.

“Chambo is happier at the heart of the defence but he’s been the consummate professional in terms of his application at right-back,” McCarthy said.

“That was difficult to change because we’ve had such a good defensive record with Chambo, Christophe, Tommy Smith and, as it was last year, Cresswell. That was a difficult one to upset but Chambo prefers it at centre-half.”

He says Smith, omitted to allow Chambers to move into the centre and Jonny Parr to come in at right-back, and midfielder Luke Hyam - who has dropped out following Teddy Bishop's emergence - have reacted well to being left out of the XI in the last two games.

“Top pros, top lads, they’ve been stalwarts of the team for me, but at some stage you’ve got to change it, and I did and it’s worked,” McCarthy continued.

“If it doesn’t work, they’ll both be knocking on my door. As it happens we’ve won, so they can’t but they both contributed on Saturday and they’ll contribute again.”

He says players who have been regulars can get itchy feet if they’re out of the side for long periods but that that situation is currently a long way off.

“The longer it goes on, that’s when it starts to tell,” the Town manager added. “They’ll still be glad for the team, for me, for the players, but for themselves they’ll want to play and there obviously comes a time when there’s a breaking point. But we’re nowhere near that.”


Photo: Action Images



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HackneyBlue added 06:22 - Sep 19
Just wish he was happier on the ball,just clears it without looking a lot of the time when in acres of space-needs to calm down and be more aware and don't panic hoof
-3

bluefeast added 06:32 - Sep 19
He very clearly believes a football is the hot potato. Get rid quick
-8

warktheline added 06:39 - Sep 19
No goals conceded since the switch, he belongs in the centre. It was high time for the Smith and Berra partnership to be dissolved.
3

BotesdaleBlue added 07:08 - Sep 19
Time will tell if this has been a smart move. Early indications are good with no goals conceeded in the two matches.

Moreover, this move has enabled us to play two (attacking) full backs for the first time in ages and I believe this is a very positive move and one that I hope will be perservered with by Mick.

I want full backs in the full back role 100% of the time from now on!!
13

bluelady added 07:10 - Sep 19
We looked uncomfortable early season in defence, the loss of Cresswell upset the balance. However with Mings maturing game by game and having two natural full backs and a eft and left footed c defence its looking much brighter
3

bluelady added 07:10 - Sep 19
We looked uncomfortable early season in defence, the loss of Cresswell upset the balance. However with Mings maturing game by game and having two natural full backs and a eft and left footed c defence its looking much brighter
0

Blue041273 added 07:30 - Sep 19
Luke Chambers, an Ipswich legend in the making. His post match connection with the SBR stand when we win is almost worth the ticket price on its own.
15

bluemikey100 added 07:42 - Sep 19
we look better but shame for tommy as he scores goals too
4

warktheline added 08:10 - Sep 19
Very good point on full back situation Botesdale Blue.
2

gazzmac4 added 09:38 - Sep 19
I feel bad for Tommy but as eluded to above i would much prefer to have a right back at right back and a left back at left back to give the team better balance. And Mings and Parr were very assured on Sat and Tues. And we cant really complain about the change given we got 2 clean sheets as a result!

The key for this little upturn for me is that MM sticks with it at Wigan. There has been a tendency in the past for our managers to play differing teams home and away when most of the time i see promotion chasing teams at PR they play the same attacking brand of football wherever they are. Conscious of throwing Teddy into the fire too much but he has to start again.

Would like to see Lukey Hyam instead of Skuse but again i wouldnt want to tweak a winning team too much!

Lets hope we give a good account of ourselves on the Sky cameras again!! COYBs!
5

Lightningboy added 10:14 - Sep 19
Shame for Tommy but 3 into 2 won't go...2 clean sheets says it all.
I wouldn't swap our group of defenders for any in this league.
3

dubblue added 10:25 - Sep 19
Agree with the above comments, it is good that we have two proper full backs, yes Tommy was a regular scorer but Christoph is proving he can score too....away from home!
1

CambridgeBlue added 11:18 - Sep 19
I don't think there's ever been any doubt that Berra - Chambers would be a better CB partnership than Smith - Berra - Chambers, but with a serious lack of RBs and Cresswell at LB, it was always going to work out like that last season and previously, especially with the money to spend. I think it'll probably stay this way for a bit, barring injuries, which is fine because we look solid. Only slight niggle about it is that Smith is much more one for the future and game-time will only make him improve from an already very decent level.
1

NoCanariesAllowed added 12:34 - Sep 19
It's odd, isn't it. We worry about the depth of our squad in so many places and yet, after years of looking defensively suspect, we're somehow blessed with such riches at the back that one of the best performers in our team has to miss out each week. Save for persevering with somewhat square pegs in round holes or joining this vogue of three-man defence plus flexible wing backs, there's not really any way to avoid disappointing someone.

Now if only we can lift the midfield to the same level of performance and competition we'd be laughing.
4

TimmyH added 13:02 - Sep 19
Firstly Mick created the problem with 3 central defenders in defense by 1.Buying Berra (great signing and due to past work with MM couldn't leave him out) 2. Chambers as captain (couldn't leave him out so played him at RB) as Tommy Smith continued good displays kept him in the middle.
For some time we have been crying out for a proper RB and the time had finally come after getting Parr on board and play him at RB (played there under Holloway) and with the emergence of Mings this season as LB we have a more balanced back four!
Have to say feel a bit sorry for Tommy as he's been made the scape goat and to a degree for Elliott Hewitt who I very much doubt will play in that position under McCarthy again.
3

hogster1970 added 13:10 - Sep 19
well im glad we have gone to a balanced back four, we look alot better fot it and chambo was getting caught out to often down the flank, how ever we have 3 brill cb,s and i for one would defo do a rotation of the 3, as there is nothing to choose between them, so i would rest one every week, that way every one is happy, no one is being left out so to speak, and either of them are to good to be left to rot on the bench, and i dont think it will cost us nothing in the rear guard at all.

its the same for the hyam scuse saga, i for one would rather see hyam on and partner bishop as he has alot more aggression and brakes up play better than scuse, this will become apparent when we get to play the more settled promotion chasing teams, they say never tinker with a winning team, well in some cases thats true how ever we have the points but we didnt exactly blow them away, if think the last brill performance over one half was the derby draw, and what a result that was, its a bit like formular one even the merc team are constantly making small ajustments just to keep them ahead and the behind teams are tinkering to try and catch up, football is the same esp if you are not destrying teams, and just scraping the results, one or two minor tweaks can make all the difference, we have just seen it with the back four, now lets work on the middle of the park, hyam for scuse and i think we are nearly there, we still have stwart to come back, we have henshaw on the bench atm,

we now have a team which when you look at the bench you think wow lets get him on as he can make a difference, its been along while since i can say that, proberly back in the haynes days, when he was our super sub.
2

PJH added 14:03 - Sep 19
How unusual to have everyone (so far) talking sense.
I also feel sorry for Elliott Hewitt because he has done nothing wrong.
It has to be good when it can be said that something like 20 players could
justifiably claim to be worth a place in the starting XI,That is what good
squads are made of.
3

paulthebluealien added 14:35 - Sep 19
Because it is his most comfortable position. A big fan favorite for passion alone.
1

strikalite added 15:58 - Sep 19
We could always play 3-3-1-3 as Bayern did the other night...

Hmmm, lets do it, with Forest away :)

1

warktheline added 16:30 - Sep 19
timmy, your post has undercurrents of negativity towards Mick, or maybe I'm reading it wrong?
0

pazelle added 18:34 - Sep 19
“If it doesn't work, they'll both be knocking on my door. As it happens we've won, so they can't but they both contributed on Saturday and they'll contribute again.”

Skuse knocked on your door after 2 wins and you changed the team Mick...

Hopefully Hyam and Smith will react positively to the disappointment. 6 points from 6 is lovely.

1

TimmyH added 20:23 - Sep 19
warktheline, partly as I do believe the problem came about to a degree by Mick bringing in another quality centre back when we already had 2, although in no way am I arguing that Berra isn't a quality signing, don't forget whose not to say we could or can be equally as good at the back with Smith/Chambers in the middle and Parr and Mings the RB's - Chambers/Smith combination was pretty good when Mick first came here. 'Chambo' has always been probably the weakest link defensively when in the right back squad.
Honestly believe the back 4 at present could now be together for some time bar injuries.
1

warktheline added 21:07 - Sep 19
Timmy, surely signing a quality player such as Berra, can only be beneficial for the club. Having 3 quality CB is a selection dilemma worth having in my opinion, and I guess Mick would suggest the same. Totally agree that the Smith/ Chambers combo was, and could still be a top duo. I for one haven't forgot these two boys forged the solidness that pulled us away from drop zone a couple of seasons ago, but that said, and it's only my opinion,Berra and Chambers paired together have the edge over other combos. I believe the change should have happened a lot sooner than it did. The only way around this dilemma was to play 5 across the back, but Mick is pro 442. As already stated by others, the emergence of Mings has forced the situation, as has the signing of Parr.
1

Jimmy86 added 21:37 - Sep 19
Its great to have 3 great centre backs in our squad and we are a lot more organised and hard to beat as a result. Last season mick was able to fit all 3 in the team, but that meant chambo playing at right back, a role which he had played at forest and a role he has certainly grown into here, his goal against doncaster is a prime example. He is more comfortable at centre back though and a right foot/left foot combo does providr better balance. Have to feel sorry for smith though, coz he hasn't put a foot wrong and scores goals. I personally would try a 3 5 2 formation because we have the personnel for it
2


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