We may already have signed six players but with our mounting injury crisis, the need to sign a lot more has become increasingly apparent. Some supporters perpetually argue that we must “trust the process.” Under CEO Mark Ashton and manager Kieran McKenna, that kind of thinking is understandable because they have never failed us before, but I am becoming increasingly concerned that we are leaving things a bit late. Liverpool is but 12 days away, and yet our squad is still looking threadbare.
The rumour mill is rife with players that Ipswich are interested in, and in the case of Blackburn’s attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics, two bids have been rejected by the Lancashire club. This saga is reminiscent of the Jaden Philogene episode, which dragged on for yonks until his old club Aston Villa came back in for him only a year after he had left them. We are told that Town are looking at multiple targets but the only ones that hit the headlines are the same old suspects. Szmodics, Odobert and Jordan James. The movement seems, on all fronts, agonisingly slow, and it is all very well in trusting the process if there is a process to trust. I am not at all convinced.
As this goes to print we are less than 2 weeks away from our opener at Portman Road against Liverpool, and we are very short on numbers. Striker George Hirst has a knee injury that might need surgery, and we know that another key player, Nathan Broadhead could be out for months with a hamstring tear. Add to that another forward Ali Al-Hamadi who is recovering from an operation in the summer, and Harry Clarke who has also required surgery, and we don’t have a lot of depth to our squad. Before those injuries to Broadhead and Hirst, we were still on the lookout for more players. Our midfield needs two midfielders because we cannot rely on Morsy, Luongo and Taylor to stay fit forever or avoid suspensions. In the case of Sam, it’s almost inevitable.
What we require is at least one well-seasoned midfield maestro with Premier League credentials. The other could be someone who is learning his trade like a Jordan James, but we better get a move on because time is of the essence and recruits need to bed in. Our defence is sorted and Jacob Greaves is an excellent addition – although the jury is still out on Ben Johnson who we got on a free from West Ham United. And up front, we need additional help. Omari Hutchinson is back thankfully, but I have not been impressed with Liam Delap so far, as apart from his physicality he appears to lack guile and in the top flight of English football as a striker, you certainly need that. If we got Odobert it would help and of course, Szmodics is a midfielder who scores goals so he would be a useful asset too. Getting these deals over the line quickly is of paramount importance now. We had a head start with automatic promotion but we have largely wasted it with too much procrastination and following too many false leads it seems.
Who writes this rubbish!? Firstly it’s ‘OUR squad’ not ‘are squad’ and then the ‘Trusting the process if there is a process to trust’ it’s served us well since Ashton and McKenna have been here so far. If you bothered to read ANY recent interviews with Ashton he said he’d have liked a couple more over the line but this isn’t championship manager where you can sign who you like we are in the most competitive market now going for young talent that are expensive, and experienced heads who most teams from midway down are also after OR keeping. The absolute musings of a schoolboy 🙄
Who writes this rubbish? The answer is probably you Tony. I made one fatal typo and yet that was the first thing you highlighted which suggests that this was your primary motivation for writing. Start reading The Times and you will find occasional typing errors there as well, but your criticism was selective because I also wrote in another paragraph, “just 12 days away from our opener at Portman Road,” which clearly confirms it was a genuine mistake. The article was completed in a bit of a rush because I had to visit my wife in a nursing home as she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at just 50, four years ago. Some things are more important than even football.
You seem to forget that this is not the Ipswich Town of old. We have money to splash and we have spent big so far but have not always got the targets we desired. Jayden Philogene is an example of that but I am not critical of the club because they did everything they could to get that deal over the line. The point is, we had a head start in transfer negotiations thanks to automatic promotion and yet, are purchases have been sluggish to put it mildly since the arrival of Aro Muric. Your rather petulant remarks that when it comes to childish behaviour you could be top of the class!
So because I mentioned your typo error that’s the only reason I was replying? What utter nonsense the reason for replying was due to the absolute garbage you wrote regarding ‘the process’ and your absolute delusion regarding how transfers are done. This is not championship manager on the laptop where you can buy whoever with a cheat code. I’ve given you reasons which shockingly you’ve overlooked and focussed on the typo remark and then discussing your personal life which has nothing to do with this.
Ashton and McKenna are meticulous in their research for the ‘right player’ philogene was out of our hands he went to a champions league club and as I said Ashton has come out and said he was hoping a couple more would be over the line but they’re not as clubs want too much money or are holding on to those players. We can only compete with bottom 5 of the premier league for people or top championship at this time and guess what they’re all wanting the same players. We’ve done more business than most of those around us some clubs haven’t signed any players as yet. It’s a long process and I and MOST town fans are realistic it’s a competitive pond we’re swimming in now and it doesn’t happen overnight. Your comment ‘trust the process if there’s a process to trust’ is idiotic, childish and shows a serious lack of football knowledge and quite honestly a complete disrespect to what both Ashton and McKenna have achieved. A minority of our fans don’t deserve the football club we have now and by your remarks you neither.
Yes need players but i do trust in mckenna/ashton yes its harder in the prem clubs further down the leagues clubs know you have money and its in thier intrest to get as much as they can i think when it happens it will happen in multiple they said on talspirt that transfer sactions can go on for two weeks keep the faith loved your comments though
Thank you Robert. Some people are so blinkered that they only see one side of every argument, when in fact we all support the same club but have different opinions of it. I do not expect everyone to agree with me, but I am entitled to my opinion, as of course you are,and having supported Town for more than half a century through the good times and the bad I think I have witnessed a lot.
Never read so much rubbish. Hesitancy and procrastination? Where on earth do you think that? Clearly you have no idea of how hard it is to sign players in the premier lge. They have been working theirxasses off trying to get deals done, but it doesn’t jhappen just like that. Look atcthd whole transfer window. We’ve signed more than most pl clubs this window.
I disagree. The procrastination aspect was directed towards other clubs and not Ipswich in particular, but anyone who has a modicum of intelligence will realise that we have the financial clout to do deals quickly, but not apparently the desire to override some of the obstacles. Look man, we are all Ipswich Town supporters at heart and although we are a broad church of opinions, free speech is about expressing them. You are entitle to your opinion but so am I, having supported the Blues since 1968. How about you? Are you a relatively new recruit or are you old in the tooth like me?
You make out we have a bottomless pit of money and yes we have the 6th richest owners in the premier league but do you not understand the profit and loss system and ffp?? Newcastle are one of the richest clubs in the league and did you not notice even they couldn’t buy who they want and remember their income is a hell of a lot more than ours by gate receipts and fans alone. It’s not Monopoly money when will some fans realise this. They are doing their utmost go and watch ashtons interviews on the matter! Oh And I’ve been going home and away since 86!!
I guess what you meant to say was, “Why on earth do you think that?”
Are you correcting people’s grammar?? Please go and read your reply to me above when I corrected your ‘are club’ and ‘our club’ you went into a major rant telling me your life story. Go look up irony and profit and loss in the premier league.
Are we supporting the same side, Tony? Your pathetic attempt at trying to rile him seems not to be working but as you bravely sit in front of your computer splurging out all the insults that spring into your little head you are completely missing the point. Everyone is entitled to their point of view and I wonder if you would be so brave to write what you write in a face-to-face debate? The habit of sneering marks the egotist, the fool or the knave and in your case probably all three. ( Johann Lavater.)
Yes we are supporting the same side Jacob although I’m not quite sure what you’re on about I was replying to the original poster not you I’ve not even seen a post from you. The original poster who seems to think he cannot trust the process that’s served us so well under Ashton and McKenna so far and who also thinks we have a bottomless pit of money to spend and that Ashton isn’t doing enough. I’m merely correcting him that we have profit and loss to abide to and look at Newcastle as an example as to how they couldn’t go out and buy anyone until they sell and their profits are way way more than ours. Maybe the original poster won’t be happy unless we get points deducted for going over? Regarding opinions so because you may agree with him I don’t have to and there are at least facts behind mine with profit and loss. And why wouldn’t he or you understand that?? Or why wouldn’t you both trust in the process that’s served us so well??
In reply to your other remark yes I’m quite happy discussing my opinions face to face with people.
Wonderfully well articulated Jacob, and you nailed it with that excellent reply my friend.
Tony loves the sound of his type. Grow up, pal.
My type? What coming up with the fact I trust McKenna and Ashton as it’s served us so well why the original poster doesn’t and doesn’t grasp profit and loss that even Newcastle have to seek before they can buy?? Debate it back if you think I’m wrong but with facts.
Well said, mate.
Have you had your head in the bin again Tony looking for rubbish?
What are you on about?? Head in the bin for also having an opinion that I trust the process Ashton and McKenna. If you don’t that’s up to you like the original poster but I’m giving him my reasons why it’s bull the last two years have shown that and Newcastle have shown why even with a lot of money you can’t just keep spending look at forest and Everton even Newcastle can’t spend without selling first and they make a lot more money than we do. People are just unrealistic thinking we’ve got money to burn.
Looks like rubbish is what he probably dishes out ever day Jim, along with verbal abuse.
Well said, Jim.
One can have a certain arrogance and I regard that as fine, but it is jolly hard to reconcile your flagrant lack of respect for another fellow’s point of view.
What you have lowlighted Tony is your lack of decorum in a public place and you should feel ashamed to confront other genuine Town supporters with such distasteful language.
You have a certain point of view and that is acceptable but the way in which you try to belittle someone else’s opinion is tantamount cruel and abusive behaviour.
Remember what Lord Chesterfield said when he was referring to manners and morals? “An injury is much sooner recovered from than an insult.” Guard your words carefully Tony. You never quite know who might be listening.
Thank you so much Crispin for your words of support. It looks as if the days of the English gentleman are a dying phenomena.