No place like loan or no place like home?
The renowned social reformer Charles Henry Parkhurst once remarked that the heart has the eyes that the brain knows nothing of and if the home is where the heart is, then Daryl Murphy seems to have found it all here in Suffolk!
Murphy of course has played with us on and off since 2010 and has seen a few managers come and go as well.
In his first stint with the club he scored just 6 goals in 18 appearances for the blues.
His second spell with Town began in 2011- 2012 when he played 33 times during a season long loan but only scored 4 goals.
In those days though, he was playing out wide, which of course is not his favoured position.
His third loan spell with the club began in season 2012-13 when he started on 39 occasions but recorded just 7 goals but the turning point in his career with Town began on the day he signed a two year contract with the club in June 2013 under the watchful eye of Mick McCarthy.
His loan days at Town were over and he could finally start to settle down. Seven goals in just 12 appearances this term says he has!
Our manager also had the good sense to move him into his favourite position and the rewards for him and the club have been quite remarkable ever since.
Playing on loan usually means a lot of travelling and any number of other inconveniences that impact upon a player`s ability to settle.
This is especially so if you have a wife and children to deal with, which often means finding them new schools or commuting long distances to be with your love ones when the opportunity presents itself.
Is it any wonder then that loan players find it difficult to fully commit and the uncertainty of their stay exacerbates things yet further.
They could be recalled by their parent club at any time and even though players get well paid I guess the uncertainty plays havoc with your mind. It is not always conducive to team harmony either.
Tomorrow Town host Huddersfield at Portman Road and let us hope that for Daryl Murphy and Ipswich Town there is no place like home!
Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich
