Most of you know me well enough, I hope, to know that I don't do WUM posts, and I hope that you don't see this as a WUM post A few years ago, I heard the news that Ipswich had been taken over with a massive cash injection, and I was extremely jealous, I will admit. Now it would seem that your club is struggling in a few ways, and ours, apart from our results so far this season, is doing ok. My questions to you Town fans are: Was it worth Marcus Evans taking you over? Do you think you would have been better off without him? Where did it all start to go wrong?
Simple answer, that week where we beat you Clegg came in Magilton was Sacked Keane was appointed. That's where it went wrong
Ok, let me answer it all! If done properly, of course the major cash injection was worth it. Where it all went wrong for me, was 0708. We were managed by Jim Magilton, who put together not a bad side considering the money. Counago came back, was playing well. We were insane at home, and couldn't win away! I think we were around 8th. In November I think it was, the takeover happened. We were handily placed ( if we could win away / keep the squad fit ) to make the play offs. We DESPERATELY needed a left winger. That was the obvious hole. So what does he do? Sign 3 sodding central midfielders instead. No idea what he was thinking, paid well over the top for Norris. We ended up finishing 8th I think, but if we'd invested wisely in January we'd have done well. The following season was a disappointment. Then Keane and Jewell have both been horrific. Both have shown severe ineptitude of management, both haven't addressed problem areas etc. I think the team spirit was shattered during 0708. Also, selling players like Rhodes for peanuts doesn't help! In a nutshell that's my views though!
Guess I asked for that Welly. Seriously though. Do you think things would have been better for you if he hadn't taken you over? The only thing I know about your club are its results and the very basics.
I blame Sheepshanks, he created this mess with all the money he threw around on the new stands immediately after we got into the premier league. He was the one that shamed this club by putting us into adminstration while he continued to draw a hefty pay packet while local suffolk businesses were forced to accept 5p in the pound! He is at fault ultimately for what has happened to our once great club. He destroyed the heart and soul of this club and sold us down the river to make a few quid to line his pockets. Its very interesting to note the silence from him now because afterall "He will always have the best interests of Ipswich Town and its supporters at heart" Yeah right ****ing posh boy Tory judas!
JWM As I have already said, I know nothing about the inside of your club, but from what you said i your post, it sounds as if there is a similarity between Sheepshanks and our own 'beloved' Robert Chase. Is that a fair comparison do you think? I know at one stage, Chase seemd to be on the telly and in the papers more than the actual club did.
Maestro - I think the club would be in severe financial trouble without Evans. We will get it right eventually, not with Paul Jewell though.
I would rather have the old Ipswich Town back, my club back, the one that belongs to the people of Suffolk as opposed to a faceless millionaire who knows jackshit about football!
have no clue to the ins and outs of buying businesses but i do sometimes wonder if it would be possible for the fans to (offer to) buy at least some of the club back.
If you do get relegated Hampy, and your crowds drop, is Evans likely to call it a day? Would you be able to survive then?
" To be fair westy, in addition to those 3 CMs we did get Civelli. " Correct, I'm on about 07/08 though, and we signed Civelli in 2009. God Civelli, another huge waste of money. He didn't even look like a football player, just looked completely awkward. So unlucky with injury!
I don't care about attendances. That's something that Norwich fans are preoccupied with. Our attendances are a third more than they were when I used to go regularly to Portman Road in the 90s and when we felt we were doing OK. As for Evans - he attends most of the matches - hes behind the club, he has local connections. The fault lies with Clegg.
Evans has gone from one extreme to the other with the level of investment. PJ is the victim of two previous managers not spending the then available cash well and now he has to deal with the complete opposite. It makes me think sometimes that a change of manager won't make much difference when it comes the transfer market. It's all well and good indentifying the players you need but if Evans doesn't want to spend money you are left with second, third or even fourth choice options that don't improve the team. I do think a different manager could do better with the players we have though, don't get me wrong.
San Diego - I think the money is there but Clegg doesn't quite understand how flimsy the FFP regulations are.
