****ing progress, your 'avin a larf!!

Hoppers, I believe that overall I was in agreement with you on your post but your response is worthy of much more than any point scoring exercise either of us could gain to win.

Lancs, my view, of which I expect critical responses to but would appreciate them in an adult way is...

Firstly, I have not enjoyed this season. I have found it frustrating to stay the least. I feel that we have been let down from the top to the bottom. I dont know what Clegg does. I feel he is a bad public spokes person for the club. He lacks approachability that I think is needed to convey messages and that no matter what you thought of Sheepshanks or Cobbold, they could at least deliver a message. He may be a superstar during a business lunch but from what we see of him he is out of his depth and I can see why many supporters are against him.
For Jewell, I have mixed views.
He has been responsible for most of the things I (and many of you aswell) currently like about our first team - Martin through the middle, who is showing the only form of his Town career atm. He brought JET to the club, who most of you have as star man for next season. He introduced Drury and Stevenson, which brought in the 'unheard of' players most of us have said we wanted and in Drurys case, although it hasnt been plain sailing for him he has proven to be one of our better player. He was also responsible for Cresswell, who not only falls into the 'lower league' signing but also 'youth' and has been voted as player of the season so obviously is doing something right. Last season he was responsible for introducing Carson to the first team picture and Smith is beginning to look at home in central defence.
That is 6 first team squad players that fall into the 'unheard of, unproven, or lower league' signings that we have been asking for and Martin who, whether by luck or judgment or as a result of difficut circumstance has finally shown some of his potential. Scotland has also shown this season form and ability that previously was unseen, although this may be down to a settled summer.
I feel that he has been badly let down by the likes of Sonko, Bullard, Bowyer and Chopra. I wont say they were bad signings. Bullard and Chopra were players that the majority of fans wanted here and we succeeded. Bowyers form for Birmingham last season was impressive and although I dont like the guy I think he should have been a good signing. I think all of these players on paper at least were good enough for 1 decent season. Possibly bad training has let them down but other players seem to have benefitted from our approach. Possibly bad attitudes should have been spotted during signing talks? Of these player I think the majority didnt complain when we signed at least 2 or 3 from the 5 so blaming Jewell for bad signings would be unfair.
Personally, I think Jewell has a typical Town manager approach. Not going down the lines of a keane/ Jewell debate but I never thought the Keane type manager would be a happy fit but Jewell for me at least comes from the same 'outlook' of manager as Royle, Burley and Lyall. He never seems to want to make things too serious when a light hearted comment can be used. Other than the Martin outburst I think he has always tried to make the players feel part of a family atmosphere. These are just my views from the outside so again could be wrong.
BUT,
we badly failed on the keeper front, I like ALB, or at least would say getting rid is not a priority but the situation this season has been abysmal and I feel Jewell should have either settled with ALB or got a clear replacement. Edwards at RB for me is a disaster waiting to happen and how he has played so many matches is frightening really. I reckon he is personally responsible for 10-15 goals against this season BUT fans voted him their second favourite player - maybe this is me getting it wrong.
I have mixed feelings on Hyam being left out. He is without doubt a talented player but I didnt realise until last week that he has had 5 bookings in 7 appearances this season. Maybe we are holding him back whilst working on this side of his game.
I feel Ellington should either be given game time or go. A player of his age/ experience is someone we can have within the squad if he is unable to make any visible contribution.
I feel we now have something that could work as a decent starting tactic and feel we could have 7 or 8 players who will slot in well. the 4231 should be a decent foundation on which to build. A couple of signings (for me at least a RB and a CB) will give us a first team that for me will be good enough to do well. We do have to work on a back up formation and the ability to maintain concentration for 90 minutes. To many times this season we have dropped points when we should have been clever/ sensible enough to win the game/ hold the draw. I am realistic enough to know it is a difficult league but I would guess that a bit more intelligence in both player training and tactics would have seen us quite easily into the top half.
I will not say anything other than this season has been a shambles but the league, although competitive is hardly full of strong teams and I believe that no matter how bad we have done enough in 80 minutes of 90% of our matches do have go more than we actually have. It is not acceptable that players can not maintain a certain level for 90 minutes and we really have to address the stupidity that creeps into our game. A lot of this can be sorted on the training ground.
I have probably missed a fair chunk out but it already feels an essay. Overall view though is that I feel the player acquisistion (sp?) is going along the right lines and that the first choice starting 11 may be near completion but we need a back up plan and we need options that I dont think are here.

 

This thread has generated more heat than light but if we lose at Doncaster and finish 17th (our lowest league position in 50 years) the knives will be out for Jewell & Clegg!

 

i hope you win and he stays. that should tell you something...

 

Problem is Supers he will stay even if we lose!

 

Aren't I glad I never got dragged into this thread too deeply. **** me that lot took some reading.

 

War & Peace!

 

Ain't seen too much peace!

 

We can get a bit excitable when our Monkey's up.....

 

Typical factions being created and infighting and name calling between Ipswich supporters which has been a common theme throughout the last few years on 606/not606.
It sucks when what is going on at our beloved club drives a stake through the middle of our supporters amd causes scenes like witnessed on this thread.
It almost reads the same as the end of the last few seasons. Split opinions on what needs to be done and how to achieve it causing arguments. The only recurring theme is that we all say, and have said in the past, that a coherent plan needs to be made known to the supporters but we are still ****ing waiting.

 

Interesting article !!

My personal opinion, is I like to stick with the manager until I really cannot see them being the right choice. Took a while with Magilton, I didn't like Keane from day one, however I have to say I was cautiously optimistic Jewell would do a very decent job !

He comes across well to the press, appears a likeable guy, and obviously achieved two promotions at Bradford + Wigan. However, I think we're also aware how Sheffield Wednesday and Derby went. VERY negative comments from their fans. So I was a bit 50-50.

I think Jewell did a good job LAST season generally. A decent save from the performance away at Millwall, turned us around slightly, Bullard on loan seemed inspired etc....

Then there was the summer.

Bye bye Connor Wickham...... in came Chopra ( I think we were all excited there ) and others, that in my mind looked the best summer for some time. Ellington was the one transfer that had my frothing by the mouth. I couldn't and still don't understand the 2 year deal ! 1, fine, worth a gamble but 2 was moronic.

I don't think anyone anticipated the central defence issues being so shambolic at the start. Jesus, I couldn't quite believe it. Thank goodness Sonko came in
( He REALLY did a FANTASTIC job early in the season ) I did an article before of goals conceded WITH and WITHOUT Sonko, and it was reduced something like 50% without Sonko.

Then there was the diamond - fantastic to start with, then quickly found out - cue 7 straight defeats after looking fantastic for 6 including West Ham away...! Weird, how can a side oozing confidence suddenly become embarrassing !? I found this exasperating at best. We REALLY did look promising prior to Palace at home.....!

Then the loanees - AHHH Jewell went to town on this. Andrews / Stockdale / Collins etc etc etc. Short term solutions certainly, long term answers ? Are any of them three with us now ? Course not.

What I will say is Evans DOES HAVE deep pockets to fund Chopra / JET transfer fees plus all sorts of wages.

Did anyone see us thumping West Ham 5-1 at home coming, setting up a fantastic run. Suddenly, Martin / Hyam / etc etc looked like cracking players. Drury too. We were starting to play some good football ! Probably due to creating some unity.

I'm gonna cut this shortish, as I think we all know the various issues of the season. Incase people are wondering why Josh Carson has hardly played, judging by the antics I've heard from him after Saturday night that could be perhaps why. I thought he was a cracking little player, but either get your head down this summer and sort yourself out, or lets just cash in. We cannot carry people!!

Has progress been made ? VERY good question. In some ways, yes I think so. I believe we're playing the best football since Royle's days. Infact, we remind me slightly of the 05/06 side this season. Had potential ( BADLY lacking strikers that season ), alas, it hasn't quite worked ! We also have a goalscorer in Chopra, a unpredictable player in JET who I believe with a full summer could be SOME player next season, and a revitilsed Martin playing well too ! In theory, we have OBVIOUS areas of the team to fix, and surely we won't repeat last summers mistakes again ? Jewell himself has admitted mistakes ( try getting that out of Keane ), acknowledging too many loans, and appearing to realise lower league hungry quicker players are the way to go.

HOWEVER, clearly some areas this season have been unacceptable. A goalkeeper with a 24 hour loan recall clause - are we mental !?!? That has disaster written all over it. The inability to address the key areas in the team,,,, sticking by Leadbitter / and to a certain degree Bowyer,,,,, Ellington TWO YEARS !! TWO ! ... tactical ineptitude after the diamond was cracked.... relying on loans........ etc etc etc

Personally, I am still in the pro Jewell camp. I believe we're not a million miles off potentially, if we can keep Martin / JET / and Chopra sorts himself out even more thats a rather good front 3 for the next campaign. Yes, he's far from perfect Jewell, and I am very disappointed with this campaign. However, if we replace Jewell, it could be loads more changes yet again ! Lets keep faith now, but next season he HAS to deliver. By then, it's completely HIS squad, and frankly after the faith he's been offered, he MUST deliver.

 

Very good posts tractorbhoy and Westy. I pretty much agree with all of what you have said in them. Noone can say this season has been good. It hasn't!! Regarding Clegg I do find it hard to criticise him because like you say I don't actually know what he does but clearly he could do with some work on his public relations, he comes accross abit like a tory MP, arrogant and smug!!

As for Edwards as I've said many times before although he is naive defensively I think if we actually had 2 decent CB's it wouldn't be quite such a problem. Also he is a huge asset attacking wise from fullback, he appears to be more of a threat there than he ever was for us at RM!! But certainly I think we do need a specialist RB next season. Although I don't really see how some fans voted him player of the year because he has been responsible for some pretty shoddy defending and at points during the start of the season looked a real weakness and many fans and the press wanted him out of the team, these are now saying he has been the most consistent performer over the season??

& as you say Westy I can understand why we took a gamble on Ellington, he was a free transfer and had a very successful time under Jewell at Wigan where he was superb, so at least worth a punt considering we needed so many players in over the summer but I cannot understand a 2 year deal!!
Westy next season what do you classify as Jewell delivering??

 

Has anyone noticed that those still behind Jewell are the ones who write essay length posts?

 

By delivering, I mean real progress. For the past three seasons ( since the money ), I have said " we HAVE to come play-offs ", and felt we had a good chance of securing a top 6 spot.

For this season, I DEMAND top 10, but clearly want more, like any fan. I don't want us labouring 14-19 in the table, having 7 losses on the bounce, 13 without a win etc. I want us to GROW A PAIR, develop a decent mentality, dare I say it, like NORWICH. They DON'T lose two in a row under Lambert, remarkable.

I'm not ( foolishly perhaps ? I donno ) worried about ANY other side in the league next season. I believe in fixing the holes, and in theory ( my little head anyway ) we SHOULD have a rather tidy side. Also, I believe we WON'T have such a poor start, and I have a feeling our SQUAD could be better all around.

Time will tell. Jewell is on borrowed time in some fans views, but our last 18 or so games
( bar Millwall ) has been a vast improvement. Lets hope we can carry that into next season. I'm quietly optimisitic.

 

I think thats a realistic opinion I pretty much think the same. I would be unhappy and surprised if we are not in the top 10 next season. Like I've said I think the past 18 games we have actually played well and got 30 points which is playoff form and I can only see us being better next season, I cannot see us having as bad a defence as we have had this season, so surely things can only get better!! I'm optimistic that next season will be the first season in years that we will be fighting for something in the last few games of the season.

My only concern next season is that I don't think we will have much strength in depth which could be crucial if an important player gets injured but time will tell on who we manage to get and also who signs new contracts. I still think that we won't get off to a particularly strong start next season again, as hopefully we will have a fair few players coming in and although we all don't like it sometimes they take time to settle!!