Very sound mate.Which is exactly why Ekwah will get interest. A version of Ekwah that is on form 100% of the time is not a player Ipswich could get, so they will look at what he could be and hope McKenna can unleash it. I would bet he could.
Very sound mate.Which is exactly why Ekwah will get interest. A version of Ekwah that is on form 100% of the time is not a player Ipswich could get, so they will look at what he could be and hope McKenna can unleash it. I would bet he could.
Yep. He wasn’t wrong.Aye, didn’t Mowbray say he needs a kick up the arse every day?
You get players like that in every dressing room in the world from the top level to sunday league.Aye, didn’t Mowbray say he needs a kick up the arse every day?
Hes also only played 18 months of senior football, it takes time for players to find out what they need to do at senior level. Think johnson used to always say a player needs 100 games under their belt to start to realise what its all aboutYou get players like that in every dressing room in the world from the top level to sunday league.
Oh I agree we shouldn't sell. Imperative the new coach can motivate.We need our new manager to be able to do it. I wouldnt sell this summer, despite thinking he needs to up his game. So long as the nee gaffer thinks he can get under his skin a bit.
Yeah clever teams look for tools and traits within players not form while playing out of position.
This is the drum I keep incessantly banging and is also where I think you’re maybe a little inconsistent (I say that with the utmost respect as I think you’re one of the best posters on here and I may be misinterpreting where you’re coming from anyway).Which is exactly why Ekwah will get interest. A version of Ekwah that is on form 100% of the time is not a player Ipswich could get, so they will look at what he could be and hope McKenna can unleash it. I would bet he could.
Bang on with everything, including calling me inconsistentThis is the drum I keep incessantly banging and is also where I think you’re maybe a little inconsistent (I say that with the utmost respect as I think you’re one of the best posters on here and I may be misinterpreting where you’re coming from anyway).
I would argue this applies to almost all our signings, even the most derided and the worst performers. All have tools and traits that if identified, encouraged, eked out and utilised correctly would see them become assets and comfortably performing at the required level. Ekwah is the embodiment of that as we’ve seen it play out before our eyes. It’s the cornerstone of our recruitment strategy.
The missing part (and it’s the most fundamental and important part) is a really good head coach to pull all that together in the way you say McKenna could for Ekwah and in the way he has for Davis and Hirst and Chaplin and Luongo and Burns and Clarke and Woolfenden and etc etc etc.
I really think a good head coach changes the complexion and perception of everything - recruitment, the coaches, the DoF, the model, the lot.
It’s why I’m so frustrated with the club (over the Beale fiasco above all else) and with the appetite now from the majority to rip the whole thing up and start again just when we’re so close to something good (in my opinion).
Actually I will caveat that I personally think the failure to bring in a proper CDM last summer is the other big failure along with the head coach decision. Though we were so close to getting Crespo so they get a little leeway from me there.
Bang on with everything, including calling me inconsistent![]()
Of courseIncluding you being one of the best posters on here - arrogant!
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I’d say Ballard is a 12m plus player. Ekwah maybe 6-8 m but it’s difficult to say and most on here didn’t think Simms was worth 4.5m last summer so I imagine lots of supporters wouldn’t value Ekwah or Ballard anywhere near as highly as I do.Who came up with £8m for them two? Honestly transfermarkt is ruining peoples brains.
I’d say Ballard is a 12m plus player. Ekwah maybe 6-8 m but it’s difficult to say and most on here didn’t think Simms was worth 4.5m last summer so I imagine lots of supporters wouldn’t value Ekwah or Ballard anywhere near as highly as I do.
I’ve just about stopped laughing after reading this bit…
They continue: “For both, a combined deal worth in the region of £8m seems more realistic, as Sunderland will be well aware of Ipswich’s increased financial power following automatic promotion to the top flight.”
I agree with this . If we can replace Ekwah for a more defensive aggressive equivalent and keep Neil we are better balanced. However, he scores goals. We have to have more goals in our side.£8M wouldn't buy Ballards left leg. Where do these people get their valuations from? I would be happy if we got 5-6 for Ekwah mind, as I think he is dispensable. Ballard isn't.
We’ve got Evans to replace first. Only reason to get rid of Ekwah is if we can bring in an upgrade or he’s blocking the development of someone we see as being better.I agree with this . If we can replace Ekwah for a more defensive aggressive equivalent and keep Neil we are better balanced. However, he scores goals. We have to have more goals in our side.
Aye that’s true like. I’m not a fan of Ekwah’s heart but a fan of his left pegWe’ve got Evans to replace first. Only reason to get rid of Ekwah is if we can bring in an upgrade or he’s blocking the development of someone we see as being better.
I think Ekwah is a ten million plus player. He's inconsistent, He can play a bit but more importantly he's a big lad which despite everything they say now is still the overriding factor when it comes to being able to play in the top league. That comes with a premium.
He needs some serious 1-1 training pre season, with the emphasis on physicality and strength