Our league position over the last couple of seasons has had an affect on contract discussions (hence the feeling of deja vu). We are unlikely to offer new contracts, or certain terms, to players if we are unsure which league we will be in the following season. Mick may have a point in keeping players on their toes and fighting for their contract until the end of the season instead of giving them the security before they've earned it. It could also backfire and we could lose a couple, but if they don't want to fight for a contract and do things Micks way then they are not needed at Portman Road. I have trust in Micks approach and it will certainly sort out those who want to be here and those who don't. At the end of the day anyone who's not interested in waiting until the end of the season and showing the desire to stay at Ipswich is probably better off leaving anyway and just shows their mercenary nature of only chasing money and a lack of loyalty.
Whilst I agree to a certain extent, we've heard this the past 2 season with Jewell previously and lost players because of it. Whilst McAuley is the only real player I was gutted about leaving we lost players who had value, albeit small in Norris and Leadbitter (who is now captaining a team at the top end of the table). What it appears to have resulted in is the players actually picking up form as MM says and then catching the eyes of other clubs, who can offer them a better deal!! McAuley said he would have accepted a deal had he been offered a contract the summer prior to when he left but he didn't after that because he did not felt wanted by which point he was in form and had his head turned!!! Whilst really the only player of value to us whose contract is up is Martin, whoever leaves at the end of the season will need replacing. Whilst I do not want us to offer contracts willy nilly I'd like to see us stop the revolving door of players in and out of this club. We loose players who we don't neccessarily think are great but then we realise we have to replace them and this hasn't been done the past couple of season and if it has it costs us more money and means there has been little continuity in the team because we are constantly having to rebuild!! In some ways I do feel MM is right or perhaps it's his way of saying I don't think these players are worth another contract (but he obviously wouldn't say this publicly) but it's the 3rd season on the trot this has happened and it seems to me we are always worse off because of it!!!
Unlike previous situations I trust what Mick is doing. If we lose players for nothing again so be it. If the players don't want to buy into Micks philosophy then they are better off away from PR. I'm hoping that the majority will want to be part of Micks revolution and will be happy to leave things until the end of the season. Those that don't will have various reasons for leaving and I wish them the best but I won't be crying if they go. I'm looking more to the future than wasting time reflecting on past mistakes made by different people. You say that it's the third season running that we are in this position but it is also the third season running that we have been in a desperate way at this point of the season so I can understand the reluctancy to begin talks when the future of the club is at stake. The only difference this time is that we actually have a manager who knows what he is doing and I think a lot of players will want to continue under his guidance.
The full list is: Andy Drury Arran Lee-Barrett Carlos Edwards Jason Scotland Nathan Ellington Jack Ainsley Cormac Burke Ronan Murray Joe Whight Cheick Kourouma Lee Martin I'd keep Drury (unless we can get a replacement) - he isn't "great" but is a good squad player who can step in when we get injuries like today ALB - Hendo is only a loan so we need atleast 2 keepers on our books. I'd like to see Loach as our regular #1 and ALB is a decent backup for a few games if necessary Edwards - obviously getting older so 1 bad injury and he might never recover so it makes sense to keep extending a 1 year deal (seems to be getting younger though?!) Burke/Murray/Whight - haven't seen them play, but won't be on much ££ and are said to have potential so worth keeping them around Not bothered about Martin, he certainly runs around a lot and perhaps MM can work his magic on him. Seems to be building a good partnership with Cressy. I'm just worried that if we renew his contract he will want silly money and we could get the same for cheaper elsewhere. Ignoring the money side of things, if a deal can be done I would probably like him to stay, purely for the fact he was the best player in an awful PJ team for a while.
