Fairplay Ox We have signed Cole Skuse from Bristol and our targets include Harry Forrester from Brentford, Alan Judge from Notts County, Tabbs from Reading, Stearman from Wolves, Kenny Mclean from St Mirren and a few others that Mick is keeping close to his chest. Yes I have a very good feeling about next season which is shared by the majority of Townies! With the nucleus of the young players we already have such as Aaron Cresswell, Tommy Smith, Luke Hyam, Scott Loach, Frank Nouble and Luke Chambers we have a young squad with a good mix of experience. Exciting times lay ahead for us.
I would like to see us both in the premier season after this - two clubs fighting against financial odds. I would also like to see the back of some other clubs currently in the prem
Are Ipswich genuinely capable of challenging for a top 6 spot next year or is it wishful thinking? I know you can't predict the Championship and that Ipswich had a great mid to end of season this year but it could of been just a false start? We had enough of them, under Roeder originally for example.
Yes I remember this it was a real rut. Like being marooned on a motorway in a misfiring car whilst the lights of the destination don't get any nearer - don't wish that feeling on anyone!
Well looking at their form under McCarthy this season they were playing well enough for the play-offs (if he'd been in charge for the whole season), so I don't think you can completely write them off. Reading and Wigan could well be pretty strong next season, although I expect QPR to be mid-table. Brighton look good, Bolton seemed to get stronger as the season went on, so I guess as usual it's going to be pretty tight for a play-off spot. I'd say they've got the management team in place, so with some shrewd signings could well compete. Depends how much is in the transfer kitty I guess.
Do you actually rate Loach? I ave seen a fair bit of him in previous season and feel he is hugely overrated. Or has he improved massively this season? Stearman would be a very good signing for you and I'd imagine you have a good chance of signing him
Loach has grown in confidence this season and now looks really good inbetween the sticks. We have had 14 clean sheets under Mick and the defense now looks rock solid. There is no reason with a few tweaks why we can't be seriously challenging for a play-off spot next season. Everyone mentions Wigan but don't forget they have a paper thin squad and they will lose some of their best players in ths summer. The European competition will not help them either as the Championship is relentless. We have an excellent manager who knows this league inside out and performs his best on a tight budget. Top 6 is a realistic target for us.
I want Ipswich to get up, I really do. I miss the Derby games like hell. Win, Lose or Draw. Besides it must really hurt them seeing us developing into a stable premier league team. Also, as time goes by historical achievements are becoming less relevant.
Despite all the assertions that you have money, and shed loads of it, to do any good, Crystal Palace have proved you can rise above finance if you have the right manager, with the right players and the right attitude. I'm sure Ipswich, despite their extraordinary amount of losses, have the manager capable, like Holloway and Warnock, of getting the most out of the playing staff. But things have moved on in the last two years since we were in the Championship and has anybody any real clue as to who are the better players from L1 and L2 who a club like Ipswich will have to bring in?
I agree what did for Wigan this year was the extra games! They will pocket the cash from a Europa run and have a better chance season after next!
If the roles were reversed I'd be pleased for them and want this for our club as well! We are both real clubs and should have more respect for each other!
They can go and **** themselves as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather see them rot in the gutter. I will never forget how their fans acted when we were last relegated, it will always remain in my memory.
It would be good to see ITFC able to get some better re-inforcements in and mount a challenge next season with a view to an old farm derby the following season, hopefully resulting in another 9-2 aggregate victory for the forces of light. Our time under Lambert shows what can be achieved with a decent manager capable of motivating a group of players who buy into the project. No reason why Ipswich couldn't do the same with the right manager, players and a bit of luck.
I said on another thread I could well see an awful lot of their players staying because of the European football. None of them are really good enough to go to a side playing European football (except maybe Swansea), so their chance with Wigan is likely to be the only one they get for a while. I could see Martinez and a lot of the players staying, at least until January when they'll likely be out of Europe. If they aren't doing well in the league I could see a lot of departures in January. I agree though that competing on multiple fronts will not help them. I think they'll start strongly and then fade, particularly after January.
We gained 53 points under Mick which equates to something like 1.65 points per game and that is play-off form. Its pretty amazing considering that these were pretty much the same players that we had when Jewell was in charge. All we need is 3 or 4 decent additions to the first team to add to the young talented players we already have in Cressy, Smith, Loach, Hyam and Nouble and we will be a serious contender for promotion next season. If any one can deliver us promotion it will be Mick and Terry.
I would think that the Championship will be as open next season as this as all three relegated clubs have issues - Wigan will probably lose some players and the Europa League will cost them points, QPR are at least as likely to implode and have Harry walk as to stroll to the title and Reading aren't really that good. Any well-led club could find themselves on a decent run and it is amazing what a bit of confidence combined with some ability can achieve. I see no reason why you couldn't be top half and getting into the play-offs next season. I'd just like us to have a season playing some decent football not spending the whole spring looking over our shoulders!
You have to agree though JWM, that was despicable behaviour, and the huge role reversal since could be seen as Karma!
Oh what's the matter sweetheart did that offend you or something? If you cast your deluded senile old brain back in the past you might remember what happened on our forum, but knowing your selective memory you've probably forgotten, not that you were a participant or anything. Dave, yes your right it is karma. I'd never want Ipswich to go out of business but I would want them to at least go through what happened to us.
