So What Is This Squad Really Worth?

Well, judging by our appalling performance at Wigan, you may think that it is, in fact, very little. You might be right, but if we are talking about a mass clear out in the summer, where would they all go? Owner Marcus Evans must be desperate to get some return on his investments, but it might not be as much as he thought. It is not the whole squad but the key players in it. Apologies to Aaron Drinan, David Cornell and other squad members. For the record, you will probably be included in part two!

1. Tomas Holy: (45,000)  He is a thoroughly nice guy and is the third tallest goalkeeper in professional football. He kicks the ball upfield effortlessly but sadly rarely finds one of his own players. He is often left ball-watching when goals go in – partly because he is not agile enough to deal with goal threats. How many times have we seen him just standing there, as the ball finds its way into an empty unattended net?
2. Kane Vincent-Young: (60,000)  He is a very talented right wingback with great acceleration when he plays! And there lies the problem. When does he play?
3. Stephen Ward: (retirement) He has played 50 times for the Republic of Ireland and has played in the top flight of English football. Sadly, he will be 36 in August, so no future as a player.
4. Toto Nsiala: (150,000) An Everton reject who has had an in and out career with Ipswich since Paul Hurst bought him along with Jon Nolan for a combined fee of 2 million pounds. The new boss seems to like him, having worked with him before. If he does stay, then he needs to improve drastically on what he has done to date. His valuation will have dropped massively.
5. Luke Chambers: (retirement) Another old head, who will be 36 in September. He has already seen his best days in a Town shirt and will probably retire shortly and look for a coaching job at the club. He has been a loyal servant of the Blues and has been captain for many years. To date, he has played 371 times for Ipswich in what is destined to be his last campaign.
6. Andre Dozzell: ( 100,000) He has represented England at all levels from under 16’s to under the ’20s. Living off the successes of his father and is very much a one-trick pony. It is a shame to see a player who has come through the academy move on, but it might be necessary at 23 when his career is seemingly on the wane.
7. Teddy Bishop: (100,000) Bishop showed great promise when he broke into the Town team in the Championship, but long-term injuries have blighted his career. He’ll be 25 in July and he is reaching a crossroads in his career. There is little doubt he has the ability, but his record in the medical room will devalue his real worth.
8. Gwion Edwards: (50,000) Edwards was signed in 2018 on a two year deal with an option for a further year for 700,000. He is still Town’s second top scorer on five, but his last goal was many months ago. Extraordinarily profligate with his crossing – which invariably finds the opposing keeper, and suffers from a severe bout of delusions of grandeur.
9. Alan Judge: (50,000) Called grandad by Flynn Downes but the ‘headless chicken’ to the rest of us, Judge is no longer the spring variety at 32! He is full of endeavour and always tries his best but ends up on his backside far too often when there is no contact with other players made, and does not track back enough. In other words, you could say he is very trying!
10. Freddie Sears: (free) He is a pale shadow of his former self, but this is not his fault entirely. Too many Town bosses have not played to his strengths, and now sadly, his strengths are waning somewhat. As the seasons have progressed he has retrogressed, and if he left the club at 31, there would not be many takers in this division – or below.
11. James Norwood: (700,000)  He scored 82 goals in 165 appearances for Tranmere Rovers but then he came to Ipswich and he has struggled to stay fit. When he does, this tempestuous talent can score goals, and he is the Blues top scorer with 7 goals this season. Norwood is an endless enigma. He gets booked for mouthing off too much but will always try his best.
12. Kayden Jackson: (350,000) For a number 9 he just does not score enough goals. This has been the case throughout his career to date, and his best spell was when he netted 16 times for Accrington Stanley in 45 appearances. He has played 86 times for the Blues and scored just 15 goals. Not good enough – even at this level, and he should move to pastures new.
13. Cole Skuse: (retirement) He is now 34, and will probably see out his days at Town and might even join Chambers in a coaching capacity. He has gone under the radar with Town fans for many years, but when he is not in the side, Town lacks the experience and know-how that he possesses.
14. Oliver Hawkins: (free) Signed a two-year deal in August 2020 but will not be sticking around much longer. He is a gangly forward, who like many of our other striker’s scores far too infrequently. Injuries have plagued his career of late but I cannot see him impressing Paul Cook.
15. Jon Nolan: (200,000) He came with Nsiala to Ipswich from Everton but he never played a first-team game for the Toffees. After Shrewsbury failed to gain promotion, manager Paul Hurst left for Town he took one of his favourite midfielders with him. Injuries have prevented him from performing to his best but he does have talent – although he dawdles on the ball too much.
16. Armando Dobra: ( 150,000) His valuation here is based on his very limited appearance record in an Ipswich shirt. When he plays though he excites! The 19-year-old has immense talent that still needs to be unlocked, but this Albanian international will be aided by the new manager, who knows all about raw talent when he sees it.
17. Luke Woolfenden: ( 50,000) He has been at the club since the age of 11 but at 22 he is still struggling to stay in the team! I quite like this player and hope he stays but it is about time he stepped up to the plate before it is too late!
18. Flynn Downes: (450,000) Arguably the best midfielder at the club when he is fit! The 22- year old signed his first one-year professional contract with the club in June 2017 but took his eye off the ball with talk of a pending move to Crystal Palace earlier in the season. If he wants to stay, then I am quite sure manager Paul Cook will want to keep him.
19. James Wilson: (100,000) Wilson signed a short-term contract with the Blues in 2019 and came in on a free transfer from League One rivals Lincoln City. He immediately impressed and signed an 18-month extension in October 2019, which should him at the club until 2021. A no-nonsense centre back who keeps things simple and has a calming influence at the back.
20. Jack Lankester: (50,000) Born in Bury St Edmunds, he has been with the club since he was six and is an avid Town fan. A serious back injury curtailed his rapid progress, but this kid is still a bright prospect, and once he reaches full fitness, I think the gaffer will have noted his true worth!
21. Myles Kenlock: (20,000) Has been with the club almost 7 years but has been in and out of most Town manager’s thoughts and has never really nailed down the left wing-back position. He could be moved into midfield but his lack of a goal threat could be a problem and at 24 years of age must try to impress the new boss to stay at this club much longer.
22. Emyr Huws: (100,000) He joined Town from Cardiff in 2017 after a short loan spell and immediately impressed. Who could forget that wonder goal against Newcastle for example! At 27, he probably still has a future in the game, if he can steer clear of injuries for long enough. I have a feeling though that it will not be with Ipswich Town.