Tractor-Boys.com

Luke Chambers watched last week’s FA Cup stalemate against Lincoln from the Portman Road directors’ box – because he wanted to avoid the possibility of clashing with fed-up fans.

Chambers sat out the game because of a knee injury and decided against taking up a seat in the stand to ensure he didn’t become the victim of abuse from supporters eager to take out their frustration at the club’s miserable run of form.

The club captain said: “I was in the directors’ box and it looks a lot easier from up there. I was thinking ‘Next week I’ll do this, I’ll do that’ but we’ll see when it comes to Saturday.

“I sat in the directors’ box because if I’d been sat anywhere else I probably would have got into an altercation.

“I didn’t hear too much sitting there because the people there are pretty mellow. But yes, I can hear it and see it, and it’s very difficult at the moment. But what can you do? We can only change it as players by improving our performances.

“We won’t achieve anything by arguing or having disagreements. I’ve never done that in my career, argued with a fan, and I never will.

“They pay a lot of money to come and watch us and this is the entertainment business so they need to be entertained. We need to stand up and be counted, and improve ourselves – quickly.

Chambers doesn’t deny the players have a problem performing at Portman Road in what has become an increasingly toxic atmosphere this season, adding: “It’s very difficult. Obviously, people aren’t very happy and I don’t know how many it is but it seems like a quite a lot. We’re just trying to do our best.

“But it’s impossible not to hear it. At the end of the day we’re humans. I think we handle things better than anyone coming in who’s just been playing parks football. I think we have to because we’re used to positives and negatives, but it’s very difficult at the minute.

“I can’t criticise anyone for having their opinion on football, what they’re watching or the team. That’s going to happen because it’s football and when things aren’t going well, for whatever reason, people have an opinion.

“They might think we should be in the top six, but just because we were near the top six last year and in the top six the year before means absolutely nothing when the new season starts.

“If teams are investing like you are seeing – the top 10 or whatever – it’s almost showing now. We made the play-offs a couple of years ago and we’ve not really moved forward from there in my opinion.

“At the end of the day we’re all normal guys, normal people who have families and we’ve all got things away from football. Football’s our job and we are paid a lot of money, so we need to be able to stand up, take it and get ourselves through the difficult times.

“We can’t be shying away from it – we’re having a tough time and we’ve got to stick together, which I think we always do and always have done.

“I’ve had a part to play in that. The boys are a very, very good group – they’re honest and it’s not through lack of trying. We’re all trying to do our best to get ourselves out of this pretty crap run we’re on. We need to continue to do that.

“It was an opportunity for me to watch a game from a different angle last week. It was a very different experience for me, having played most of the games for the last few years.

“Lincoln are flying and they came here with absolutely nothing to lose, enjoyed their day and almost got what they were after.

“We managed to get something out of the game and give ourselves another opportunity to give a proper account of ourselves on Tuesday night.”

charlton837 wrote:He is also quite clearly pissed off in the way are treating him in terms of a new contract

Luke Chambers has admitted to being saddened by the club’s failure to speak to him about a new contract to replace his current deal, which as it stands expires in June.


While manager Mick McCarthy has offered a strong hint that Town will probably exercise their option of a 12-month extension, the lack of certainty about his Portman Road future is clearly playing on the mind of the ex-Nottingham Forest defender who has clocked up 219 appearances since being signed in July 2012 by then boss Paul Jewell.

Chambers said: “I’ve got six months left on my contract and the club have an option for another year. But nothing’s been said yet, so I don’t know what’s going to happen, to be honest.

“I’m very happy here and I think people have seen the way I play for the football club. I think I’ve given absolutely everything, both on and off the pitch. So that’s where we are. I’d like to stay but I just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Chambers, his wife and their young family are settled in Ipswich but a national newspaper recently linked him with a move to Wolves. When asked if there was any truth in the report, the player responded: “You’ll have to ask them. I don’t know anything more than what I’ve read.

“There have been a couple of conversations with the club but that’s about it. So it is what it is, it’s football.

“There’s been a lot of talk about loyalty in the game but I don’t think there is. We’ll just have to wait and see.

“I think the club should have done something before now but it’s not something I really want to get into. Do I feel let down? I don’t know really.

“It’s a very difficult situation and it’s difficult to talk about. Anything I say can be misconstrued. Am I frustrated? I’ll probably keep that to myself but I haven’t missed many games in my time here and to be down to the last six months of my contract is a little bit strange.”

But while his future remains unresolved, at least for the time being, Chambers is loath to criticise either owner Marcus Evans or manager Mick McCarthy at a time when Town are under pressure from fans, whose interest is on the wane after a depressing run of form.

The captain said: “I can never criticise the owner because he’s put in a hell of a lot of money and it’s not my position to criticise him. He brought me into the club, he’s looked after me with a good contract and I’ve been here a long time. We’ve had relative success.

“There may be things where you think ‘If we’d just done that’ but at the end of the day it’s his club, he’s spent a fortune on the training ground and he’s got his plan.

“All I can talk about is the first team squad and I do think we need some signings. But he’ll be trying to do deals.

“As players we would like two or three players to come through the door and make a difference. The club will be desperately trying to make signings who can make a difference for us.

They’re not just going to bring in anyone and they never have done that. I think most of the players who have been brought in have generally made an impact and we need that now.

“We’d love to have some new players in because we don’t want to stand still. We’re not just happy coming in to pick up our wages and going home. We want to win. It’s as hard for us and we feel it every bit as much as the fans.

“Do you think we want to go out there, lose and then get booed and abused? I don’t. I don’t need to do that.

“I’ve played about 600 games in my career and I don’t need to go out to play on a Saturday and be unhappy.

“I want to be happy, as the fans do. They want to be entertained and they want to be happy winning games, just as we do.”

herforder wrote:In most walks of life, 'honesty is the best policy' is a good yardstick by which to operate: the exception often being professional football. I believe, therefore, that LC deserves great credit for providing the most truthful, and clearly heartfelt, comments and opinions that have come out of this club for many a long day. Shows passion, maturity, frustration and even anger: we could do with a few more like him in the team.....a natural leader, who probably knows his own limitations, and those of his team mates, but never shirks responsibility, or gives less than the maximum every single time.

hallamblue wrote:The treatment of Chambers by Evans, says everything you need to know about the owner. He's no shrinking violent when it comes to business. Which is exactly how he views ITFC - leave the sentiment to the fans.

I don't think things are as rosy amongst the players as Chambers makes out. There was clear "unrest" between, Knudsen and several other players in the team last home game. The player didn't look interested AT ALL.


However , Chambers comments , for me, smack of an open comment about Evans' handling of recruitment ( or lack of it), and he clearly feels the Club are showing him a lack of loyalty , which I agree with. He is practically saying, come on Evans, we need players in NOW, the manager don't have the support he deserves.


.
So, when Smith returns, who us going to be left out of the back four? For me it has to be Berra, he has been very out form for a while now. Making mistakes week in / out costing us goals. Chambers I can forgive because he is played out of position.


Maybe trying....


....................., Webster..........Chambers............Smith

Emmanuel..............................................................................Kenlock