This season could change dramatically for the better if three things occur. Christian Walton and Macauley Bonne have already proved their worth at this level, and I believe that it is vitally important that we tie them down to long terms contracts. I am not suggesting that it will be easy, but this is where CEO Mark Ashton can prove his true value to the club. Getting deals like this over the line is not straightforward, but if he is successful in acquiring their services, then I think we can make the play-off’s after all!
We know that Macauley wants to stay. It was his life-long dream to play and score in an Ipswich Town shirt, and he has already done this twelve times! As for Christian Walton, I guess it is nice to be number one again, and after so many other loan moves, surely he might like the idea of staying put for a bit.
The other player who is now at the forefront of my thoughts is James Norwood. Anyone who has read this column on a regular basis will know that I have mixed feelings about him. His goal scoring record speaks for itself. With Tranmere Rovers, he scored as many goals in a season as Sergio Acquero – admittedly at a much lower level. He has been Town’s top scorer for the last two season’s in League One and has scored four in four and might even overtake Bonne as the club’s top leading scorer by the end of the campaign.
The downside is his temperament. He mouths off to referee’s far too often and gets far too many needless yellow cards in the process. That said, I have noted that since he came back into the side he has not been booked! Has he learned to curb this appalling habit – or is it because the side is playing so well? I think Town playing with two strikers has obviously helped his cause. There is no doubting his talent and his natural goalscoring abilities and, on balance, I would also like to see him stay.
