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Chambers: I Didn't Know If I'd Be at Town or Forest
Thursday, 23rd Feb 2017 19:07

Blues skipper Luke Chambers has admitted his time at Town was very much in the balance when his former club Nottingham Forest made a deadline day move for him last month. The 31-year-old was offered a two-and-a-half-year deal by the Midlanders with his Blues contract up at the end of the season with Town yet to trigger an option for a further season.

“It was in the clubs' hands really,” Chambers told Sky Sports’ EFL Weekly, speaking about the move which manager Mick McCarthy ultimately stopped from taking place.

“Obviously there has been a lot made of my situation in the summer with my contract. I never asked to leave, it’s just an opportunity came up which would have been better for my future with the club undecided what they want to do with my contract.

“It’s nothing I really want to go into, but it was a difficult day. I didn’t really know if I was going to be playing in the evening and whether I would be here or there.

“Obviously Nottingham Forest is a club where I had a tremendous time, I was there for five and a half years and played a lot of games for them and had some good times, so that will always hold a good place in my heart but at the minute I am with Ipswich and looking forward to the game at the weekend.”

The Town captain, who was praised by McCarthy after that evening’s match, the 3-0 home defeat by Derby, was visibly down at the final whistle.

“I tried not to let that affect us, I was upset the way the day had gone and also the fact that we’d just got beaten 3-0 against Derby,” he admitted.

“Times were tough at that time, we weren’t particularly performing very well but when you hear your manager talking about you in that way, it’s always nice to hear and it gives you a bit more confidence.

“I’ve never been unhappy here and the lads have always been brilliant with me, the fans and the manager.

“I am enjoying my football at the minute, I am playing centre-half and we’re performing well, so it’s all good.”

Speaking after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Leeds, McCarthy said he now expects Chambers to get a new contract with the Blues.

Chambers has been playing through the pain barrier having damaged his ribs when colliding with former Town loan keeper David Stockdale when scoring the Blues’ goal in the 1-1 draw at Brighton.

“I knew he was coming so I was expecting the impact,” he said. “It’s turned out I’ve cracked two of my ribs, broke one and stress-fractured another.”

The defender has also been under the weather this week, but says he’s on the mend ahead of Sunday’s derby at Norwich: “I’m all right now coming into the end of the week, I feel a lot better.”

Looking ahead to Sunday, he says celebrating a win with one of his traditional fist pumps would be that bit more special: “I think it would be that little bit sweeter, especially with what’s [riding] on the game and what they’re chasing for. It would be nice to go up there and upset the apple cart a little bit.”


Photo: TWTD



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Mark added 19:11 - Feb 23
I would like to thank Luke for his superb attitude despite the way he must feel the club is treating him. Some players would have thrown a sulk at having a move with a 2.5 year contract blocked. Instead Chambers turned out for Ipswich that evening and gave his all, showing more passion than anyone else on the pitch. He deserves a new contract, or at least his extra year triggered. Let's agree a deal on fair wages to keep him.
18

jas0999 added 19:18 - Feb 23
Whatever your view of chambers, his service and efforts at the club deserves so much better than the treatment he has received Marcus Evans.
15

Freddies_Ears added 19:33 - Feb 23
Chambo, you will always be a legend at ITFC. If you get offered 2 more years, then I will be celebrating.
10

Michael11 added 19:38 - Feb 23
The way we're treating him is pathetic IMO. He's been a great servant for the club and we should either offer him a contract or let him leave. I hope to see the biggest fist pump of his time at the club on Sunday!
11

cat added 19:56 - Feb 23
Club legend!! Get real Freddie's ears! His only been good for 3 weeks, rest of the time our Dino had hung him out to dry! 😂😂
-5

12th_Man added 20:05 - Feb 23
Played in his correct position helps cat
8

Dolly2.0 added 20:45 - Feb 23
Best captain since Matty H. Been through some sh!t but still keeps going. Inspirational.
9

Fat_Boy_Tim added 21:01 - Feb 23
What is this mythical "bad treatment" Chambo has recieved?

1. He's being paid about £600K a year to play football.

2. He signed a contract with an extention clause in it for the club to use. He knew that, when he signed it, the club was under no obligation to use it right up until the end of it. They would be within thier rights to wait until the last day and then trigger it.

3. He's captain of the club.

4. He get's played at right back, even when his regular position is occupied by another player.

5. He's going to get a new, and presumably improved, contract.

6. MM has employed a new system, now that we have competition at right back, which accomodates him in his prefered position.

The only place he's been badly treated is by keyboard warriors on here.
6

ArnieM added 21:08 - Feb 23
Stay with US Chambo.....

Evans, f luckin sort it out man!!
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 21:10 - Feb 23
The millionaire footballer knew the terms of the contract when he signed it. It's the nature of the profession.

Agree he should play at CB, agree he should get a new deal but the contract is the contract . Had the club ket him leave theyd be getting it in the neck anyway . Gid forbid we decide to keep a defender when we need defensive cover.

Maybe had a replacement been found he would have gone, maybe he'll go in the summer. Who knows? Point is the club kept a defender because we need them in the squad and some people are still bitching, get some perspective
5

Tractastic added 22:29 - Feb 23
There are very few natural leaders in football and in Chambers we have one. He has been and still is a brilliant Captain Despite being played out of position by MM I have never heard him complain ad he always gives his all. I agree his pace exposed him at RB but now he is playing at CB he seems far happier and more assured. I just hope that MM is learning that from all the current injuries and enforced changes which have led to a great recent run.
4

carsey added 23:26 - Feb 23
Chambers woes were caused directly by one man and that was McCarthy who insisted on playing him at RB. the world and his wife could see it and many said it but Dino was too stubborn to do anything about it.
No sooner has Chambers been returned to his natural position than he plays better and strangely the team play better.
As a leader and as someone who gives a 100% on the pitch I admire Chambers. Is he the most gifted footballer ever to pull on a Town shirt? Of course not but he is definitely worth another 2 years in my view particularly as Berra is more than likely to move on in the summer and with Webster and Tommy I reckon that would be a decent back 3.
5

Len_Brennan added 09:27 - Feb 24
“I am enjoying my football at the minute, I am playing centre-half and we're performing well, so it's all good.” - I don't think it's a coincidence that him enjoying his football & the team performing well is happening when Luke is playing at centre half.

As for the "bad treatment" you ask for Fat Boy Tim, he has been played out of position for 3 years, as Mick tried to convert him into a right back instead of buying a proper one. At the time his was moved across, Luke had just come off a very successful season in the centre, was being lauded on here as one of the best in the division and was rightly being spoken of in terms of a possible international call up by Ireland. Despite Luke giving his best week in week out, it was clear that certain weaknesses in his game for that position were always going to give him problems, particularly when up against top wide men. Mick however, out of stubbornness as much as anything else, would not contemplate admitting his mistake & the more the fans pointed it out, the more he stuck to his guns.
After a while a fair number of fans took against Luke & he started to get stick from the stands & we saw posts where he was called a donkey etc. His international prospects - something he was really interested in - completely disappeared and ultimately we arrived at this January where his value to many fans, & clearly to a number of people within the club itself, was low enough to consider jettisoning him.
Yes he got paid as per the terms of his contracts during that period, but I don't consider the fact that I get paid at my work should entitle managers to redeploy me longterm to roles I didn't sign on for, or for other stakeholders to abuse me when they arrive at my place of work, or over the internet, because I'm not as good at this new role as someone who is a specialist in it, despite consistently giving my all. I think I would consider that very unfair and yes, "bad treatment".
2

cat added 09:58 - Feb 24
Lee Brennan- good post, thing I can't understand is why he was never played at CB, surely based on his performances over the last 3 weeks can we honestly say we had better in that position than him during the last couple of seasons, bottom line is MM obviously had no faith in him as a CB, strange one that
1

Pendejo added 10:37 - Feb 24
Some youtube footage on Monday of a Carrow Road fist pump would be very much appreciated.

COYB
1

Kikapu added 10:47 - Feb 24
Cat. Not so. It was paucity of money to buy a decent rt back and Chamber's willingness to help out in that position that caused this mess. MM always had great faith in him as CB. Just a question of 'needs must'. I doubt if either thought he would be stuck out there for so long though.
1

cat added 15:10 - Feb 24
Kikapu- how about Parr, much better RB IMO, but overlooked and moved on to accommodate Chambers.
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:00 - Feb 24
Fairly sure Pare wanted the move cat.

The biggest crime agains RBs at this club in recent years was Keane treatment or David Wright, whom he never replaced but lumbered us with Darren O'Dea on.loan
0

blueboy1981 added 18:15 - Feb 24
Chambo has had a rough deal with McCarthy - he has had plenty of good words to say about him, but he has continuously played him out of position, and in doing so Chambo has had some unfair criticism from certain fans who know no better.

Chambo is no RB (which he readily admits to) and never will be.

Get your act together McCarthy, give the guy a decent contract - and treat his past efforts for us with some respect, which many of us rightly do.
0

blueboy1981 added 18:15 - Feb 24
Chambo has had a rough deal with McCarthy - he has had plenty of good words to say about him, but he has continuously played him out of position, and in doing so Chambo has had some unfair criticism from certain fans who know no better.

Chambo is no RB (which he readily admits to) and never will be.

Get your act together McCarthy, give the guy a decent contract - and treat his past efforts for us with some respect, which many of us rightly do.
0

runningout added 19:01 - Feb 24
Like any footballer, mustn't rest on your laurels. At the end of the day returning to a club rarely works out well..
0


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