Winger Tommy Oar’s agent says Town’s style of play didn’t suit the Australian international, who left Portman Road after his contract was terminated at his request last Friday.

The 24-year-old joined the Blues on a free transfer in the summer having left Dutch side FC Utrecht, but made only four Town starts - just one in the league - and five sub appearances, scoring his only goal in the FA Cup tie against Portsmouth at Portman Road, before deciding to move on.

"When Tommy came they had a certain way of playing, but they lost a couple of games and the coach changed their style,” his agent Michael Jansen told beIN Sports Australia.

“With Tommy being a technical type of player, a more European style, he didn’t suit the play very well. Tommy just didn’t think it was working out for him."

Jansen says Oar is in no hurry to find a new club - as a free agent he can move outside the transfer window - with Australian reports suggesting a move to China is on the cards, while A-League teams, including his former side the Brisbane Roar, are also interested.

“He is relaxed about his future and has all the time in the world to sort things out,” he added.

“I cannot mention any clubs at this point but he is transfer free and a lot of interest is coming in which is normal with somebody of his status.

"We are taking it step by step. He only terminated his contract a few days ago. He’s top fit, played a week or so ago and is training by himself right now.

"The European window closes in a few days and when it does a lot of clubs will still be looking for players and much can change.

"There is a bigger chance he will go to Asia or the Middle East than back to Europe or Australia."

Jansen ruled out a move to another English club: "Ipswich treated him well and of course out of respect England is certainly a closed book for Tommy.

“[Mick] McCarthy was happy with him, the way he trained and prepared himself. He did a decent job but these things take time.

“But, if as a player, you see the way of playing [and] training aren’t working out it’s better to talk with the club and solve the problem and the club approached and dealt with things in a very decent way.”

Photo: Action Images

Kikapu added 11:26 - Jan 29 This is not ice skating or high board diving. There are no style points in football and teams don't get promoted on how good they look. Fraser seems fine with the system.
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hollywoodginge added 11:29 - Jan 29 oh well, this club has been around a lot longer than any current day player, and will be around long after they've all hung up thier boots. Not worth worrying about. I'm glad he addressed the issue, many would have just plodded along and taken a wage. Regardless of reason, the best outcome for all parties, next!!
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BlueSwede added 11:30 - Jan 29 What was he supposed to say when he is trying to find a new club, "I wasn't good enough to play?" Easy to blame the style of play rather then work hard to get ahead of Fraser and Sears.
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BlueNomad added 11:32 - Jan 29 Our style of play obviously doesn't suit Fraser, Sears, McG, Bishop or Bru either then! Strange really that those who go on about hoofball forget how technical, as well as hard working, they are. The bottom line is that Oar must consider himself to be a luxury player. We really don't need them in the Championship.
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OldClactonBlue added 11:33 - Jan 29 Budgycrusher - that might be your view but there are many, many, Town fans who cannot abide the style served up these days and will not return on a regular basis until it changes. If you were brought up through the Robson and Burley eras it's just not good enough. But I am hearing of youngsters too, who have stopped going this season to do something enjoyable instead. More teams are playing properly in the Championship now, and they're at the top of the League. And they also have a decent chance of staying there if they get to the PL with that foundation. As we did when we went up with George.

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paulcooperisgod added 11:34 - Jan 29 MM is doing exactly what ME has told him to do i.e stay in the Championship. Heaven forbid we got into the promised land because then we'd have to spend precious money and it's obvious ME doesn't want that! Surely it's time ME proved how big a fan of Ipswich Town he claims he is and put his vast weath behind 'his' club otherwise let someone who really is a fan take over and push his club on coz at the moment with ME and MM we really are just treading water

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cranky_old_tractor added 11:37 - Jan 29 Clearly did not have the oar to row the Ipswich boat. However, moral of the tale is that not all appears as it seems on the champion ship McCarthy. A little sense of mutiny and taking on water in recent games. A word to the wise would suggest that Evans, McCarthy et al seriously consider navigating away from hoof ball back to the brand of football that made Ipswich great. Its more attractive, retains and adds the crowds, softens the negative biting when your team plays attractive all out football to win each game and hopefully attracts footballing talent to one of the most easterly places in the country. Lets hope they listen!

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BlueNomad added 11:40 - Jan 29 I reckon being one point off the play-offs in January proves we are "just treading water." Absolute disaster! The season is over already! PaulCooper do you know any supporters who have the money to buy the club (and its debt)?
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vanmunt added 11:57 - Jan 29 OUCH... we have been bemoaning our style bur that is pretty damning coming from a player.
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:58 - Jan 29 Freddie Sears probably gets p####d off too ,he isnt getting the chance to make the impact he is well capable of making . It must be frustrating to players ,having to play out of natural positions or playing a ''style'' that dosnt come natural to them .Good luck to Tommy,Towns loss in my humble opinion .
1

Jimmy86 added 11:59 - Jan 29 And so the truth comes out. I took the homesick comments with a pinch of salt and it's now obvious why he left. He has just voiced what many fans on the terraces know and talk about every week. At the start of the season our play had evolved from last season and we were certainly playing better football. Then came the Reading debacle and that scared Mick and he then reverted to the previous 2 seasons. Our direct style, which achieved results to a certain degree is poor entertainment and not pleasing on the eye and I'd often a topic of debate. Fans were able to tolerate it, when it brought results and a degree of success, but it was poor none the less. A player has now left as a result, which is rather damming for Mick.

9

MVBlue added 12:00 - Jan 29 Thing is, ME let paul Jewell loose with cash and he bought in JET and Reo-Coker. Lots of players out there cruising through games picking up WADS of cash. Lets see where we are in May shall we? Mick sinks or swims at 6th place.
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derby123 added 12:01 - Jan 29 Pragmatic blue spot on post. I asked the same question about buying club and got called a dickhead. It's funny how certain posters feel it acceptable to hurl personal abuse, but give them any back they cry about. Quite frankly the negativity on this site is ludicrous if I was a player reading all this I'd just give up. On the subject of oar modern day footballer can't be arsed to work hard, good riddance.

4

Bluetone added 12:01 - Jan 29 'PragmaticBlue there is the debt you owe to another person and then there is the debt equivalent of witting out IOUs for money owed by your left hand trouser pocket to your right hand trouser pocket.
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ArnieM added 12:01 - Jan 29 Well Mr Oar's comments says it all really doesn't it. A sad day for Town. where has all the football gone?
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truckerblue added 12:03 - Jan 29 As the late great Mr Clough once said, If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there.
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Keaneish added 12:14 - Jan 29 We agree with you Tommy. Unfortunately we have to gro and bear for at least another two years! I guess the games he's referring to when the style changed are the Brighton and Reading defeats because we definitely resorted to type after that farce on Sky against Reading. It damaged Mick's ego and pride and he retreated into his shell.
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Lightningboy added 12:17 - Jan 29 Don't really blame him..should have realised what he was letting himself in for before joining though. The sad thing is that McCarthy does make some bloody good signings but hasn't got a clue how to get them (or let them) play attractive football.
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Tufty added 12:17 - Jan 29 Just an agent trying to get his signing on fee
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jas0999 added 12:22 - Jan 29 Not surprised by this. Our style of play has progressively got worse, not helped by having no creative players in the centre of midfield. Hoof is our primary option or in the event the central players get the ball its a backwards pass. Ticket prices are high, but the product on offer in terms of quality of players and style of play is more suited to twenty pounds rather than thirty five. Of course Micks hands have been tied. Quality players cost money. Our uninterested and unambitious owner is only interested in cheap cheap cheap signings. If you take away the loans, other than Pitman, I'm struggling to identify any other summer signing who has added anything to the squad. Yet the PR spin machine continues to tell us what a fantastic squad we have and that there is no need for additional signings. Big few days. Do we want a play off place or middle table finish? Our transfer activity will answer that question.

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Len_Brennan added 12:22 - Jan 29 A few of us suggested that this may be the real reason for Oar's exit and were criticised heavily for it by some posters on here. There is no positive angle to this story. Those who say good riddance because he wan't prepared to completely change his game to suit the manager who only signed him a few months earlier, presumably for the very skills which he was now being asked to abandon in favour of a defensive kick & rush style, are missing the point. The loss of Oar and Parr within days of each other, both of whom looked to leave of their own account, is significant and telling.

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runningout added 12:23 - Jan 29 Don't care for lightweights ..
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Kikapu added 12:26 - Jan 29 ArnieM, I think Oar's agent said it all. MM started off the season with a much more expansive game with Sears, Fraser, AMN, McG, Bru and Bishop on the books but, as his agent said, after the Reading game (forced by many injuries and a leaky defence) he returned to last year's tactics. I've no doubt that when he has the players MM will turn to more attacking and attractive game but, given budget limitations, it'll take time. Too many don't see that there is a strategy being played out here. One that takes time and careful planning. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. Keep the faith.

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TimmyH added 12:26 - Jan 29 Oh well knew the home sickness thing was a bit of BS but at least he's come out (through his agent) with what we now know to be the truth of the matter. All history now and a replacement needs to be found of similar ability. Doesn't say a lot about our football though, the Burley/Royle days seem far behind us now.
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ipswichboi added 12:28 - Jan 29 get out and stay out.
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