Former Ipswich Town captain Carlos Edwards would like to see more leaders on the pitch among the current crop of Blues players.
Edwards, who played more than 170 times for the Portman Road outfit, and captained the side under Paul Jewell, is back living in Suffolk.
Having played under Town boss Mick McCarthy (on loan from Sunderland, at Wolves in 2008), as well as for 18 months at Portman Road, he knows what McCarthy demands - and feels the players need to take more responsibility for the recent slump in form.
“What that club is missing right now is a lot of personalities,” Edwards said.
“Back when I played and back a long time before me, the club had big personalities in the dressing room.
“When you look at the team today, you only see one leader on the pitch, the captain, Luke Chambers, why?
“He is a good captain, but why is it just his sole responsibility to be vocal?
“Everyone should demand more. You get a lot more respect when you are vocal.
“I know the gaffer well, of course I do and he always puts a smile on my face. He’s a good man-manger, him and Terry Connor, they complement each other.
“Even at this stage of the season, what he has at disposal is good, not bad, not the worst. But I just think the lads out there could do a bit better right now.”
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Edwards was a popular figure at Portman Road during his almost five-year stay at the club.
Capped by Trinidad and Tobago more than 90 times, he played in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany for the Caribbean island. They lost 0-2 to England in the group stages of the Finals – “I swapped shirts with Ashley Cole and have it framed,” he adds.
But having spent spells at Wrexham, Luton and a successful one at Sunderland, it’s Ipswich, Edwards calls home. He wants nothing more than to see the Blues get back to winning ways after a barren run – on Saturday Town entertain Leeds United. Town have not won in five.
“I would like to see the players be a bit more brave,” Edwards said.
“Take games by the scruff of the neck. They are good players. Fans would be understanding. I saw Ipswich play Derby and I don’t think we had a shot. Players need to roll their sleeves up and take responsibility.”
As regards McCarthy, Edwards has plenty of respect for his former boss and knows he must be frustrated right now.
“Mick is a calm manager, he’s been around long enough,” Edwards said.
“When he is ready to raise his voice he does and when he does, he really means something. I have heard it.
“That doesn’t do players any harm.
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“But players need to react in the right way. I can feel Mick’s frustration when I hear him say certain things at the moment. In some ways what Mick needs to do is be that force that is hard to beat. If the team doesn’t concede, they don’t lose.
“At the moment we are conceding too many easy goals.
“That’s very unlike Mick’s teams.”
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