Town boss Mick McCarthy has hailed his skipper Luke Chambers as an “inspiration” and says he will continue to be his right-back, despite fans’ opinions being split on the 30-year-old in that role.

Chambers, who is primarily a centre-half, has been McCarthy’s regular right-back since the start of the manager’s first full season at Portman Road, the 2013/14 campaign.

However, some fans have never taken to the Kettering-born defender in the position in which he also played for spells at former clubs Northampton and Nottingham Forest.

Quizzed on the split opinions on his captain as a full-back, which again came to the fore this week after the Aston Villa match, McCarthy said: “I’ll try and put my best ‘bothered’ look on for that! Everything we do at the minute seems to split opinion.”

He added: “He’ll be playing on Saturday, so that probably tells you something about that one.

“Chambo had played at right-back before I [played him there]. I went to see him play for Northampton and he played at right-back and I thought he was going to play at centre-back.

“I have to be honest, I didn’t see him a lot more after that until I turned up here. Yes, he’s probably a centre-back but he’s done amazingly well. And I am delighted with him.

“On Saturday it was one of those days when he’s just had a bit of a tough day, but if anybody gives any more than he does in terms of the commitment to the cause here I’d like to see it.

“And he’s just gone and done it selflessly. Let me tell you there’s nobody better in the club and he’s one of the best captains I’ve had in terms of bringing everybody into it and welcoming people and just driving the players on and doing it by example. He’s fantastic.

“So I’m sorry to all those with the split opinion but he will be playing there on Saturday and on Tuesday and probably on Saturday and probably for the next 38 games or whatever we’ve got left. He’s one of the first names on the teamsheet, nailed on.”

McCarthy says he’s not looked for a more specialised right-back since Chambers has taken on the role, loanees Bradley Orr and Richard Stearman having played there in his first half-season at Town after he had moved former skipper Carlos Edwards, the regular right-back under Paul Jewell, into midfield.

“We’ve had a particularly settled back four or five for a long, long time and he’s been one of them and been particularly good, I think,” the Town boss continued.

“We’ve spent a bit of money this time, but I think it’s been spent wisely, certainly on Grant Ward and Webbo.

“And I don’t know where I’m going to get one as good as him who’s not going to cost me an arm and a leg and that’s got the same character, the same determination, all the characteristics I love in footballers. So no, I haven’t.”

McCarthy likes the sort of versatility that Chambers has shown in his time at Portman Road with players happy to play anywhere they’re asked.

“I think they are, they do,” he said. “I kind of hear squeaks of discontent about people, but they’re great.

“Are they great players? Well no, I’m not going to say that, they’re great personalities and really top players for this club and doing what they do in doing it so selflessly I think is terrific. Brett Pitman’s another one and Chambo certainly is.”

As a captain McCarthy says Chambers is one of the best he has known, having previously worn the armband at Forest.

“He has a real effect on other people around him,” the Blues boss added. “There are some captains who go in with a teamsheet and some who go for the toss of a coin, some that do whatever they think captains should do.

“But he is a leader, the lads call him Skip and they all look up to him. He’s been an inspiration to a lot of lads at this place.”

Photo: TWTD

bedsitfc added 06:09 - Sep 24 Well done Mick I love how he always supports his players. Chambo is more a right back now as he has played a lot more games in that position I also love chambos passion for the club
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jas0999 added 06:25 - Sep 24 Quite right to support his players and of course none of this is Chambers fault. He is being played out of position by a manager whose ego simply won't allow him to admit it's not a good decision. Luke gives his all. Works hard. But is not a right and week in week out opposition managers exploit that. Luckily Bart has saved us on countless occasions.
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BlueandwhiteWizard added 06:46 - Sep 24 Chambers attitude and commitment aren't in doubt, he is a good captain. But and it's a big but, he is not a good right back, it's that simple. Being a good professional does not mean you can play out of position to the required standards. Fair play to him for getting on with it for so long and not moaning but if Mick can't see his weakness as a full back then it speaks volumes.

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algarvefan added 06:48 - Sep 24 I have always been struck by what a great leader Chambo is, you can see it, week in and week out. Is he in the right position, probably not, but has been given a job to do by the manager and he does his best. There is no more you can ask of a player or captain and although we are all entitled to our opinion I do believe it says Mick McCarthy on the managers door and not one of ours.

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prebbs007 added 06:49 - Sep 24 There's no split in opinion Mick Everyone knows he is useless at RB and regularly costs us goals. His positioning is terrible. He lacks pace. He can't pass. He can't cross and he is a liability at full back. Teams that play us know if they attack down the left they will have success, especially when left footed Smith is next to him. But you don't change it because he's a good leader And there in lies the problem. Let's hope he doesn't cost us the game today COYB

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trncbluearmy added 06:58 - Sep 24 agree with all the positive comments about Chambers but there in a nutshell is why we will not get promoted whilst we have someone so stubborn in charge who is not big enough to admit he is wrong
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Sir_Bob added 06:59 - Sep 24 And the you go ladies & gentlemen, the reason we won't be getting promoted any time soon. An old man stuck in his Stubbon way. All the things MM praises him for, effort, commitment, personality, good leader, have never once been in doubt. It's the fact that he's just not very good
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brittaniaman added 07:22 - Sep 24 I agree with all the previous comments !! He may be a great guy and Captain but as a right back no, he has slowed down lately, and a youngster called Webster saved his embarrassment against Villa, which would have cost us the one point. But McCarthy being the stubborn yorkshire man is trying to prove a point against the fans as usual ??
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Brownie added 07:23 - Sep 24 Echo comments of Blue & White wizard! Chambers is maybe my favourite player in curent team for his passion but he is not a RB & is not in good form. I would leave him out today. To have played 3 years out of position says bundles about his attitude though. It also says bundles about MM stubbornness!
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Sixto6 added 07:24 - Sep 24 Chambers commitment has never been in doubt ! Just his ability as a right back ! I feel sorry for him being played out of position but you cant deny that he has been very poor for a while now.
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Umros added 07:36 - Sep 24 Passion - yes Quality - no. Very straight forward really.
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virginblue added 07:36 - Sep 24 And this is why I won't go whilst McCarthy is in charge. Basically sticks two fingers up and says he'll play whatever. Also completely contradicts what he said after the MK Dons game last season, when he said Chambo would be in the squad as a centre half this season. When did Chambers last play well?
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ITFCGloryDays added 07:44 - Sep 24 Until that right back position gets properly resolved, and given MM's stubbornness, with that being of Chambers age for another 4 or 5 years, we will not get promoted. Yes, Webbo great signing, but if you still have a weakness in your back 4 and an area where the opposition can take advantage of them nothing will change.
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Len_Brennan added 07:51 - Sep 24 Fair comments on this one. High regard for Chambers as a player, a captain & a man, just stark realisation as to his weakness in a position he would prefer not to be played in. It's not just about commitment; if it were you could play me at right back & I would give everything for the club. Unfortunately my best days are behind me, I wasn't a defender & my ability left much to be desired in any event. The Villa game was not just a bad day at the office, it was reminiscent of a number of games over 3 years where a team with a decent player had a go at Chambers & he was found lacking in the role of right back.

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Surco72 added 07:51 - Sep 24 MM is wrong about Chambo as he was wrong about playing Gerks , NoUble, Tabb repeatedly but will never admit it which is why he drives so many supporters away from clubs . The worst thing he says is that Chambo will be selected however he plays for every game , what signal does that send out to young and reserve players ? You have no chance of making my team unless of injury

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bedsitfc added 07:56 - Sep 24 The argument that he is not good I can take! The argument that he is being played out of position is a non argument as he has played more as a RB than CB what makes him a CB?
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BlueandTruesince82 added 08:09 - Sep 24 Agree with most of Mick says re character, commitment etc and I don't have amy problem with backing your platers in public but Chambo is not RB, he's a CB who can play at RB there is a difference. We need a RB. Love Chambo though. PhilTWTD what happened to the chap on trial?
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sidtheswan added 08:10 - Sep 24 MM once thought that Gerks was better than Bart and therefore we know from experience that he can be wrong. One of MM's good points is his loyalty to his players however it is also one of his bad points as he refuses to listen to criticism and it's his way or no way . I'm hoping that he gets sacked before I die of boredom as this tedious man is no Ipswich manager . Getting back to Chambo he is a legend and an excellent captain and also apart from Edwards possibly the worst right back I've seen at this club. It is fine to play him there as a one off but not on a regular basis . If you got any right back from the 1st division it would be an improvement and wouldn't cost too much . I can guarantee that we will never get promoted with square pegs in round holes and MM has too many . The right back is a specialist position as is a goalkeeper and you wouldn't play Chambo in goal just because he is an inspirational leader !

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ArnieM added 08:11 - Sep 24 I think is publicly backing himself and his decisions ( as we would hope he would do in his role as manager). That's not to say I agree with him constantly playing players out of position and in some cases totally ruining their form in the process.
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joepublic added 08:14 - Sep 24 Josh Emmanuel must feel sick reading these sort of comments from MM. Playing players regarless of form is probably what drove Tommy Oar and Johnny Parr away.
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jonbull88 added 08:17 - Sep 24 We have conceded less goals during the last few seasons with chambers at rb, than we did with Wilnis and Wright in that position and they were "considered rb's". Also you only have to look and listen to what the other players say abot him, they love him, he is a major factor in the excellent squad harmony. Yes there are better right backs out there but it's not always about how good or bad the player is, you've got to look at the bigger picture.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:18 - Sep 24 Mick isn't going to go out and criticize his captain. That's not his style, and I respect him for that. And yes, Chambo is a great pro, and his commitment and passion are never in doubt. But I can't help but agree with most on here that he isn't a right back. Regularly humping the ball back to the opposition just puts us under pressure all the time, when we should be starting up a counter-move. Instead, it's so predictable. But it looks as if our right back position isn't going to change - unless it's forced on Mick by injury. I'd certainly play Chambo in the middle, by the way. I wonder too what happened to the guy on trial - evidently nothing doing or we'd have heard by now.

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OldClactonBlue added 08:24 - Sep 24 As I recall Chambers was pretty dreadful against Reading too.
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Kikapu added 08:30 - Sep 24 Some of you should read HarryfromBath's 'Notes for Leeds' and see what their fans think of the Evans - MM leadership of our club. Would you really want to swap for theirs? If Mick is happy with Chambers at rb - I'm happy.
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Penguinblue added 08:45 - Sep 24 This sums up the stupidity of McCarthy. Chambers is no right back, he cannot captain the team because everyone, except McCarthy it seems, knows that it is invariably Chambers at fault, often in the build up, for most the goals conceded. McCarthy is so far from a modern football manager it is beyond me how so many of you think he can ever take Ipswich froward McCarthy OUT - the sooner the better

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