Neil Harris is strongly rumoured to be the next Ipswich manager - apparently it'll be confirmed soon. I must say that on first impression, this seems a step down from Paul Cook and a rather underwhelming choice. Hopefully he'll galvanize a strong squad and gets given a fair chance from the supporters.
Looks like it's gonna be Neil Harris - and will be unveiled / paraded at the Sunderland game Not too sure how i'd feel about him. Very underwhelming appointment if it's true, but doesn't have a bad record, albeit with not a lot of experience. But, as some have said on here, there isn't a lot of quality managers out there at the moment that would work in L1 (well, no one better and more experienced than Cook)
Actually, the more i think about it, the less i think he'll do a good job. If his style is tough physical football like he's played at Millwall & Cardiff, then we don't have many, if any, in our squad that can play his style
I hope that he's more of a pragmatic manager, who was simply making the best of the players and resources that he had at Millwall and Cardiff, rather than somebody wedded to a long ball style of football. I really don't feel our squad is made to have its midfield bypassed, particularly as I'd argue our midfield is the strongest area of the pitch. We have good players here and we did show signs earlier this season of being a dominant, composed, and efficient goalscoring side. It'd be a shame to rip that all up and go back to bread-and-butter defending, clearing lines, and aimless long balls to a couple of lumps up front. Ultimately, if Harris comes in and does that, but achieves promotion this season or next - then there can't be many complaints. But if we're adopting long ball football, results remain inconsistent, and we continue lurking in the mid-table positions - or worse - then the impatient Portman Road atmosphere will get very toxic, very quickly. Particularly as Harris isn't coming across as a popular appointment - if the strong speculation is indeed correct.
Hm, the rumour mill as been whirring for days, and all signs indicate Harris. I agree with Nuggets in not being at all impressed by him, but, if, and its a big if, he gets us promoted following his preferred style and formation at previous 'tough' clubs, then I will support him. But as you both say, we havent the players of this make-up and talent. Except one, well perhaps two, the Pig & Norwood! We are all sick to death of Hoofball. I am sure that he is not the Gamechangers ideal replacement either, but we have to work wth what is in the market place. Lets see who it will be, and interested to see what the FA Cup team tomorrow will be too. I imagine a mix of the U23's and our B team. They wont want a tired, long journeymen of our 1st XI players back at PR for the next big game v Sunderland in front Gamechangers and the new manager.
The good news is that he will be a temp manager until Judge gets his badges & can come in full time & lead us to the premier league
I'm not too fussed who it is, he may or may not be a good fit, time will tell but if results are poor....he will be shown the door! I personally think he may do ok.
Prepared to see what he can do and he has got a half decent record, think we could do alot worse but based on the context of who we've just sacked and the ambition to do something this season I don't understand. I would fully back him and he deserves to be given time but if this season ends as a damp squib I honestly think Ashtons head should be on the block. For me if the ambition is to get promoted this season you go for someone like Warnock. If that wasn't the ambition and Cook just didn't fit then we should branch out a bit more and look for someone who will build an identity at the club, which doesn't really fit Harris. For me I'm perplexed by either scenario really because I think sacking Cook may have actually decreased our chances of promotion. You can't sack a manager who has revamped the whole team and behind the schemes the whole backroom staff are new and expect consistent results and performances on the pitch unless it is really bad (aka Hurst where we looked relegated from the off). If that team had been together for a season or 2 and were getting stale I could understand it but that team hadn't even properly gelled. If its the second scenario where Cook doesn't fit, well why let him buy a whole new squad if you're not going to back him with a bit of patience based on his previous record. All I can say is this next appointment better be a good one otherwise the good will of Ipswich supporters will soon fade towards the board.
Hmmm, slight turn of events - all of a sudden the bookies have Anthony Barry (the Chelsea coach) as (almost) joint favourite with Harris. It's safe to say, that no one has a scooby who'll be our manager - hope they make their minds up soon
I too hope it's Barry!! Mind you after seeing this latest debacle, we would be lucky to get Barry Humphreys!!
