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This Is The First Of Many

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In my last post, I made a list of the players that I felt new boss Paul Cook would probably keep – along with the reasons why. Out of a squad of 47, I could only find 15 that I believed were worthy of retaining. The list comprised of some of our regular team members, such as Flynn Downes and James Norwood, and a number of our more youthful fringe players.

One of them was Armando Dobra, and I was delighted to see he played the full 90 minutes last night and was arguably our stand-out performer! He surely has a future here with the Blues.

I think Cook will have warmed to his skills and his infectious personality, and I would like to think he may see something in Jack Lankester and Tristan Nydam to warrant a longer stay at the club as well.

Now it is very much a case of ‘out with the old in with the new’ as our manager intimated and today Stephen Ward joined Alan Judge in departing before the season had ended. The 35-year-old defender would have triggered an additional 12 months at Portman Road if he had made one more start. This is also why Judge had to pack his bags with immediate effect.

The season is all but finished anyway, and Cook told the official website that the former Irish international was well-liked at the club. “Stephen has been an absolute pleasure to work with, and everyone at the club wishes Stephen all the best for the future, and we thank him for his efforts this season.” For the record, he made 31 appearances in an Ipswich Town shirt.

I think this will be the first of many to find the exit door in the coming days. I would be very surprised and quite frankly disappointed if Gwion Edwards, Kayden Jackson, Freddie Sears and our two keepers did not follow suit – along with Janoi Donancien and probably Aaron Drinan. Loan players will leave and we can start afresh next term.

Add those has-been’s Cole Skuse and Luke Chambers to the mix, and this becomes quite a big exodus. Town needs to clear the decks of the deadwood and make way for a new refurbishment on all fronts! There may be a place for our former captain in a coaching capacity at Portman Road, but he should never raise his foot in earnest to a football anymore!

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2 comments

  • Dean Welham says:

    Totally agree Frank.. out with the old and in with the new. There can be no room for sentiment.As likeable as Skuse and Chambers are there time at the club must surely be coming to an end.Both have been good servants but are part of the old failed guard along with many others. Jackson and Edwards are inconsistent and I don’t rate either keeper. I hope some of the younger players can still improve. Dobra looks a good prospect and I’m hoping Dozzell Downes Woolfenden have benefitted from the game time this season albeit being underwhelming. Lancaster is talented but hasn’t advanced like I had hoped but maybe under guidance of Cook might come good. It’s the older senior players that need to go and it’s started with Ward and Judge.. Sears is not the player he was and will surely be released as well. I have faith in Cook to get it right on the pitch and with new owners chairman CEO and other key staff in place with more to follow I get the impression we will have real football people in charge of our club for the first time in a very long while. Nothing guaranteed but I sense some real hope and optimism returning to supporters. Let’s hope for a packed and rocking Portman road next season watching some exciting attacking football.. and winning games. I cannot wait..Blue Army.!!!

  • Frank Weston says:

    You have taken the words right out of my mouth Dean, and thanks for your well-informed synopsis.

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