Is Steve Taylor Made For Ipswich Town?

He has proved his defensive qualities at the highest level of English football and now we have him until the end of the season. Manager Mick McCarthy sees him as more than a defender though and someone who will rally the troops when they go into battle.

If he can steer clear of injuries, this could be our best signing of the season! Steve Taylor stood out when he was fit even in the exalted Premier League so imagine for a moment just how impressive he could be in the Championship with Town?!

I have always liked the player and sadly, just like Kevin Beattie of old, his only real weakness has been those long term injuries that have plagued him throughout his career so far.

If we are fearful of relegation then this is the kind of man you want in your team. He is strong in the tackle and fully focused and at 31 and a couple of days, he could end up getting a lengthier contract with the Blues, if everything goes to plan.

In training he has impressed and he came through two very testing training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday with flying colours apparently and this is why McCarthy decided to take him on.

Yet apart from his aptitude at defending, there are more strings to his bow and one of them is his motivational abilities.

He leads by example and no person can be a great leader unless he takes genuine joy in the success of others and in Steve Taylor we have some one who should breathe new life into a squad that seems so dysfunctional these days.

More good news for Town is that David McGoldrick, Tommy Smith and Teddy Bishop have all trained this week and Didz and Bish could play some part at Preston.

Sadly Myles Kenlock remains sidelined with the calf injury and Tommy Smith is still along way off match fitness at this stage.

But the best news of the day is undoubtedly the recruitment of Steve Taylor, who should be a more than adequate replacement for the injured Adam Webster.

He can even wade in with the odd goal too and in his first game in Europe in the Uefa Cup in 2006 he scored against Celta de Vigo!

At the end of the day though, it is his leadership qualities that impress me. As the influential Greek philosopher and author Plutarch once said, ‘ An army of stags led by a lion is much more formidable than an army of lions led by a stag.’

Captain Fantastic Mr.Luke Chambers would do well to take note.


Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich