The last decent Centre Back we had talks about the need for some leadership on the pitch. http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich...layers_says_ex_skipper_jason_de_vos_1_1530660
Jason De Vos doesn't half talk a load of ****e though. The reason there were leaders is that John Lyall, George Burley and Joe Royle all knew how to sign and nurture players with those qualities. He is right that we don't have anyone like Matt Holland on the pitch who was so good at leading or through the Lya era Johnny Wark in the heart of the defence.
I would argue McAuley was a better CB but De Vos was a great leader and did well for his limited ability. He is exactly the player we need right now over any other. I completely agree with him in that article. The biggest problem we have is we do not have any leaders to lift people on the pitch when things aren't going our way to either shout at people to tell them to up their game or not let their heads drop. We have too many players who if we have a dominant spell but don't score let their heads drop and then we concede. Biggest problem in the team currently is lack of confidence and resilience!!
A few seasons ago we went to Pride Park to watch Town play Derby County, we won that day through a Jon Walters goal I think. During the game I couldnt help noticing what a disjointed, disorganised, rabble Derby were with no confidence and no leadership on the pitch, ( we werent a hell of a lot better ) watching recent Town matches I kept coming back to that day in Derby until the obvious finally clicked. Who was the soon to be sacked manager of Derby that day? Youve got it Jewell, we are playing the same deadfull standard of football in the same shambolic manner that Derby were playing that season until they got rid of him and yet hes still here. Frightening isnt it.
Not this time jonny, weve been to last 3 matches up there but its the Copdock Motor Cycle Show on Sunday at the show ground and Im entering my bike so theres a lot of work to do on the day before.