Will Our Wingers Finally Win Through?

When we look back on our season, perhaps the most disappointing aspect of it all was that apart from Teddy Bishop, no one else came through into the first team picture.

We can forgive Cameron Stewart who incurred a broken jaw early in his Town career and then had his head turned by money issues but for the rest of the nearly men, it is a bit of an endless enigma.

Alex Henshall came with good recommendations and the fleeting moments that he got on the field he looked quite good. Sadly quite good was not good enough for Mick McCarthy and although he made the bench quite often he rarely played.

In an interview for the club website there is hope for the 21 year old, who understandably never got much of a look in at Manchester City before he moved to the blues on a two year deal.

Our manager believes that although he was a slow starter he has put the work in of late to make a serious impression and will hit the ground running when he returns to pre-season training.

Let us hope so because what we lack perhaps most of all is some speed and some skill from a tricky winger. Ideally it would be nice to see two speed merchants running down both wings but speed alone tells you little because you need the intelligence to play the right ball and know when to shot or cross or pass. Top players get this but sadly average players don’t.

That was the problem with Lee Martin of course and more recently to a lesser extent the same applies to Stephen Hunt.

Even Martijn Rueser was considered by some fans to be nothing more than a headless chicken when he was employed by Ajax but as he overcame a horrendous double fracture he had plenty of time to think about how he could improve his game and this he most certainly did!

So then, in some cases coaches can instill in players good habits but they have to have the football intelligence to develop these ideas. Hearing is one thing. Listening is another.

A football genius does not need to be coached but sadly we are digging for gold if we expect to unearth one any time soon!

I like the look of Dylan Connolly though. He has lightening pace and at 20 year of age, a very promising future. He has already received lots of plaudits in his native Ireland and of the three I have mentioned I hold out more hope for him than anyone.

Cameron Stewart is 24 and should be pushing on now but he did sign a three year contract when he left Leeds so maybe next season he can force his way into the first team now that his troubles appear to be over. Hector Berlioz once said, ‘The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have the talent for luck!’

Many supporters have argued that Mick McCarthy waits too long to blood some of our young talent but he has proved by playing 18 year old Teddy Bishop on a number of occasions already that if you are good enough you will get your chance!

His philosophy is straight-forward. Train hard every day and never give up the ghost. Stay focused on what you need to do to make a lasting impression and your chance will come.

Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich