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Skuse Signs New Deal
Monday, 19th Oct 2015 13:18

Town midfielder Cole Skuse has signed a new contract running until the end of June 2018 with an option for a further season. The 29-year-old’s current terms were due to end next summer, although the Blues had an option for a further season in that deal.

Manager Mick McCarthy is pleased to have tied one of his key players down on a longer term deal.

“It was very important that we did that,” he said. “I spoke to him in the summer and just said I could see that his contract was running out, although we would have had an option on him so we could have taken him for another year.

“But if you don’t move and do it it’s a sign that you’re not wanting to do it, I think, and quite clearly we did with Cole because he’s been excellent since he’s been here.

“I think he’s a perfect example to everybody here in the Academy building, where we are at the minute, of what they should be aspiring to be as a professional footballer.

“Talk about low maintenance, he’s really very professional and just a lovely guy and a top player he’s been for us. Delighted, really thrilled he’s signed.”

Skuse, who joined the Blues on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2013 from his hometown side Bristol City, told the club site: “Obviously I’m thrilled to have signed a new contract.

“I knew my contract was up at the end of this season but the gaffer and the owner made it clear they wanted to keep me and I’m delighted it has been sorted and that my future is here for another three years.

“I’ve loved my time here. I never realised what a big club Ipswich is until I came here. The support the club enjoys is fantastic and hopefully we can get where we all want to be, the Premier League.”


Photo: Action Images



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NSL added 13:24 - Oct 19
May as well give Jay Tabb a new contract whilst your at it Mick!
-13

MickMillsTash added 13:26 - Oct 19
Good player, good enough ? not sure but certainly better beside Bru or Bishop.
9

tallguy6767 added 13:27 - Oct 19
Hope he took a pay cut !!!
-16

Townie29 added 13:46 - Oct 19
Very much needed player as we saw last season. Hope he gets some creativity alongside him though
15

punch_bowl added 14:01 - Oct 19
Will he get a bonus if he passes it forwards this season? ;)
-2

Garv added 14:10 - Oct 19
Very much a steady eddy.
-1

JackITFC96 added 14:11 - Oct 19
Probably the last player anyone should be slagging off, this is great news.
20

uefacup81 added 14:22 - Oct 19
Skuse is one of those players who will never be noticed for his flair, or his goal scoring prowess. But is one of those players who is instantly missed the minute he leaves the field for his solidarity, and the way he holds the midfield of the team together.

A very important re-signing.
22

Europablue added 14:29 - Oct 19
Whilst I'm frustrated that our team never really seems to kick on an fulfill our potential, some of which is due to McCarthy's stubborn tactics, I can't see how we can fault his man management and the quality of the squad that he built compared to any other team we have had for years. Who wouldn't sign Skuse for another three years in the same situation? We always want better players in, and we can't be loyal based on past performance, but who would people who don't rate him get in?
5

CambridgeBlue added 14:34 - Oct 19
Skuse is an excellent player who does a brilliant job for us in the centre of midfield. Certainly no complaints about him over the last few years. It's a shame that the only available midfielders to go with him at the moment are Douglas and Tabb, but that's hardly his fault or Mick's.
8

jert16 added 14:37 - Oct 19
Great news.. a very valuable player for us!
11

rinkydinkpanther added 14:39 - Oct 19
It's a good job he's 'low maintenance' - because he's low skilled. Would be a real problem if he was low skilled yet high bloody maintenance with it!
-14

Bert added 14:50 - Oct 19
Good news. Every club needs someone like Skuse who will muck in, get the youngsters going, play his socks off etc. Yes he needs creativity alongside him but that will come when Bishop is back. Support the guy and stop this character assassination.
12

cooper442 added 14:51 - Oct 19
I really do not get peoples feelings for this bloke , the guy is just a very average player , and to get out of this division we need players that are more than!
-5

Jewels added 15:02 - Oct 19
Man of the match Saturday in my opinion. Every team needs a skusy, just the one though!!
9

Elizabeth added 15:22 - Oct 19
Two words .. BOO HOO!!
-8

Kesblue66 added 15:26 - Oct 19
Oh dear,looks as if we are stuck with him,exciting times ahead i dont think,still he is a lovely fellow.
-6

Bluetone added 15:29 - Oct 19
Skuse matches the badge, good work horse nothing more nothing less.
-1

bluelady added 15:54 - Oct 19
great news a really good player that those who understand football recognise. HOWEVER he does need a creative player next to him - bring back Bru for goodness sake! Skuse does a great job protecting the back four - take him out of the picture we look much more shaky at the back and this was proven last year when he didnt play. he will never set the world alight, he isnt that type of player but doesnt mean he doesnt do a grand job. Just watch his movement off the ball, a clever player who reads the game exceptionally well. A holding midfielder isnt there to attack he is there to take the ball of the defence and supply - somethig Skuse does very well. Like i said give him a flair midfielder along side him and the balance works - currently he is made to look awful but his shambolic partner who is a poor excuse of a holding midfielder and really cannot attack either!!
9

terryf added 16:07 - Oct 19
Very good business
Although he can blow hot and cold sometimes he's the sort of player you don't notice until he's not playing.
Like to see Bru or Bishop (when fit) playing alongside him though
Would put money on him being Mick's first name on the team sheet!
7

prebbs007 added 16:33 - Oct 19
Well he has been part of our outstanding back 7 this season so must be worth a new contract. Yeah righto Mick. Reward mediocrity again. If we can't improve just resign you favourites. Progress?? Don't think so.
1

sidtheswan added 16:34 - Oct 19
Good championship player
1

Len_Brennan added 16:51 - Oct 19
@bluelady
I think the situation with Skuse is indirectly key (if that makes sense) to our current difficulties. I'm generally in agreement with what you say, but actually think Skuse probably needs to be part of a 3 man midfield to be really effective, certainly the way the team is currently playing and with the defensive frailties we have.
Skuse is not a defensive tough tackling midfielder and I think that is what we would need alongside a creative midfielder in a 4-4-2 where the wingers are attack focused. he is, as you say, a holding midfielder, the type who does most of his work which goes unnoticed. Hyam would actually be a better fit alongside Teddy Bishop than Skuse would in that set up.
We had success last season with a 3 man midfield of Skuse, Bru & Bishop and I think that is a set up which suits him most. Also we were playing 2 wide players, in Tabb & Anderson, who were defence minded first & foremost, unlike the more exciting Maitland-Niles & Fraser who are a totally different dynamic on the wings. McCarthy is trying to compensate for having 4 attackers on the pitch (2 wingers & 2 strikers) by having 2 holding midfielders protect the back four; a back four who have all had a dodgy start to the season. Douglas, to be fair to him for once, is trying to play a very different game to what he did last season for Brentford, but it's clearly under instruction. Part of the reason for that, in my opinion, is that Skuse is too nice a footballer to play the enforcer role that is needed to allow his midfield partner play a bit more football and get forward more. I fear that we would/will see a far more hesitant Bru when he gets back in the side alongside Skuse, if the team remains set up the same as it has over the last 6 weeks.
I would still start Bru over Douglas of course.
3

therein61 added 17:32 - Oct 19
To be fair to him he does a lot of the donkey work breaking up play etc but he is only effective with a couple of get up and at em midfielders around him to give the ball to he had a good season last year after a slow start,but himself and Douglas together does not work and puts the unbalanced back four(that is continually picked)under more pressure that more than anything is costing us goals against we need more positivity in all areas I still believe in the squad we have it's the selections that are lacking.
3

Bluebell added 17:38 - Oct 19
What a lot of miserable people on here. You just have to watch him in games and I would guess he does more running than any other player. He also brings it down to his feet unlike a lot of the others who head the ball all the time.

Skuse is one of our better players. He needs an attacking midfielder alongside him. Douglas in his own right is fine but they both sit back too far. We need someone to attack and get the balls to the strikers without resorting to hoofing up the pitch.

9


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