EYE ON THE BALL: Ipswich Town right-back Carlos Edwards
Carlos Edwards may have been given the captaincy – but he is still waiting on contract offer
By Stuart Watson
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
12:00 PM
THE vultures are beginning to circle around Carlos Edwards.
A number of teams are closely monitoring Ipswich Town’s in-form right-back as the Suffolk club continue to stall over a contract offer.
The Trinidadian was named in the Championship Team of the Week following an impressive display in the Blues’ 3-0 win over high-flying Cardiiff City at Portman Road on Saturday.
Not only did he produce a typically lung-busting run to set up Michael Chopra for goal number two, but he also got in some brave blocks in his own box to help seal back-to-back clean sheets and a fourth successive victory.
Handed the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Ibrahima Sonko for the last two games, Edwards has made more appearances than any other player during manager Paul Jewell’s managerial reign – starting 54 of his 56 matches in charge.
And yet the 33-year-old player of the season candidate – keen to stay – still hasn’t been offered a new deal, despite the fact his current one expires in little over four months’ time.
After heaping praise on a number of his players following Saturday’s impressive win, Jewell was asked how impressed he was with Edwards’ display. “He’ll be telling me he’s won the toss twice now and deserves a new deal because of that!” joked the Blues boss, before quickly moving on.
The Star understands that Edwards is prepared to accept a pay cut – backing himself to earn more money and a longer deal through appearance-related clauses – but that Jewell has reservations over the player’s age and defensive abilities.
And the latter is something that assistant boss Chris Hutchings – a former right-back himself – has now voiced publicly.
“Defensively he could be better – he knows that – and we’re constantly onto him and working on drills in training,” said Hutchings, before Saturday’s game.
“Carlos has been converted into a right-back and he’s never going to lose his attacking instincts because that’s how he was brought up. I guess wing-back would be his most preferred role.
“Sometimes when you’re a forward-thinking player you can switch off or drift into places which give you a hard task recovering.
“When you have pace, though, that can cover a multitude of sins.”
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13 comments
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Tom
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Carlos may be old but surely the vultures are not circling as you suggest? He looked quite spritely in the 30mins I saw in exchange for 100 pounds
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Rob Steroo
Thursday, February 23, 2012
This is a non-story: pointless, speculative, space-filling. Go and stand in the corner. Anyone would think that the East Anglian was a provincial newspaper.
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Ken Hairy
Thursday, February 23, 2012
There is no debate, great player with adaptability and supremely fit. Brilliant crosser, not just for Chopra on Saturday but regularly sets up great chances.
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blueinblue
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The vote is warped. As an RM I might consider offering a 1 year deal on reduced terms. As a RB I would never offer him a contract- that path leads to utter madness. Anyone that considers him an adept RB is both tactically vacuuous and has missed all the mistakes this season. I suspect, with this possibly being Carlos's last big contract he will probably look for at least a 2 year deal, which is something Jewell might do, but no sane person would.
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I am Spartacus
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Carlos Edwards seems to me to care! He was fantastic on Saturday - and what about the cross for Chopra's goal? Far too few players have shown his commitment - that commitment all the more laudable for being played 'out of position'! He has shown weaknesses but he still has the pace to get out of problems. Does anyone feel that Leadbitter et al. have shown the same dedication to the cause? I think it was a great idea to make him captain.
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Manchester Blue
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Shelia surely you realise eadt will say anything to try and cause unrest in the club. You are quite right they did say Carlos was offered a new contract which he turned down. He is not a full back and is to old for a long contract, and hope and believe we are building a younger team.
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Cyril Baker
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
So Carlos Edwards is too old ? Well he is superbly fit for his age and has not been seen at his best in his rightful position, thanks to Jewell. Who was it who signed 'youngsters' Bowyer, Bullard, Sonko & Ellington who were all injury prone ? The answer of course is Jewell. He'e going back to his old contradictory comments.
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Brian Betts
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I think that Carlos has played well of late. However, so did Jimmy Bullard last season and everyone was shouting to sign him up on a permanent contract, despite his age. I think that most people would agree that jimmy has not been the same player this season. Carlos has come under a lot of criticism for his defensive play.
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NB
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
It would be an absolute disgrace if Carlos was let go, and most supporters would be upset. He is a superb player who has adapted to being played out of position. For goodness sake PJ sign him for another year now.
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JOHN BURLS
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I think the club is right to reserve judgement on Carlos Edwards. At the moment he is playing out of his skin but how long before he makes his usual defensive lapses again which has time and again cost Town dear?. Too old to be given a long contract and if he accepts a pay cut of 40 percent in keeping with Greek govenrment strategy then maybe a six month extension would suite both parties.
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FRANK WESTON
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Carlos is not a full back and never will be, he is an attacking wide mid-fielder.He has played out of position for a long time and has received unfair comments due to this.PJ should have addressed this situation last season in signing a full back.Hower i feel that if we are to move forward we should be signing younger players and therefore i dont think it a good thing to extend his contract IF he is just going to play at full back next season.
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brisie58
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
"still hasn’t been offered a new deal" I thought he HAD been offered a new deal in the summer and turned it down?
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Sheila Windscreen
Wednesday, February 22, 2012