The Forgotten Men At Portman Road

When Paul Cook signed him, everybody raved about the qualities of Kyle Edwards, but these days, he seems to be the forgotten man at Portman Road. Over the transfer window, there has been an influx of new players, which has undoubtedly strengthened our squad. The question that perpetually hangs in the air is, at what cost?

The recruitment of a local lad and former Blue Harry Clarke seems to be a good investment. Having watched a video of his career since he left Ipswich, he has matured into a player with enormous potential. He leads from the front, is fast and defends well and with some goals in his armoury, having once been a striker at 14 for the Blues.

I like what I see, and although I did have doubts about the price on his head, on closer inspection, it is probably a good deal for a player still learning his trade. He is but 21, but with an attitude that will enhance the squad ethics in its broadest structure.

Now we have agreed that the price is about right for young Clarke, we must ask, but at what cost to the rest of the Town squad? Kane Vincent-Young is perhaps the most vulnerable because his four-year contract ends in August. On account of his work for good causes during Covid, he received Ipswich’s PFA Community Champion award for the 2020–21 season. Sadly, in this money-driven football business, there is little room for sentiment, and it’s what he does on the field that counts the most. In this respect, it could be argued he has underachieved. Defensively he is seen as a bit of a liability. He has some technical ability, but if we are to go up this year, it is unlikely to be because of him. Cook once removed him before the break, after giving away a needless penalty and then getting yellow-carded. He has talent, but defensively he panics far too much.

But my main worry is for Kyle Edwards. From the moment he first wore an Ipswich shirt, I was instantly engaged. He has deft skills and is exciting to watch, but just like Macauley Bonne, he has been essentially frozen out under the McKenna regime, and I think his confidence has suffered as a result. He needs to be playing regular first-team football to rekindle his form of old, and he too can feel that he has an important part to play in our promotion push. I do not sense that he is content being a fringe player, and with two new striking additions coming into the building over the last few days, his chances are becoming more and more limited. McKenna has done well to keep everybody happy so far, and of course, this includes George Edmundson and Greg Leigh, but the bigger the squad, the more likely discontentment will begin to surface.