What If Town Reached The Summit?

Having been inspired to write about the Town players who could make the grade if we ever made it to the Premier League, it seems as if we have very few players in our squad that have the potential to live in it.

As I suggested earlier, before the season began, I was convinced that both our keepers were at best just above average but I am now starting to have second thoughts!

During the course of this season Dean Gerken has been far less accident prone than normal and has made some outstanding saves, as well as commanding his area much more effectively than before. He has improved discernibly but he would always be my second choice when our Polish goalkeeper is available.

And that is the point, because Bartosz Bialkowski has excelled since his enforced exile and he really does look the part these days, pulling off magnificent saves in a number of games that have largely saved our bacon and I am coming around to thinking that if we did get promotion he may just be good enough to keep his place in the team!

Elsewhere, there are not that many likely lads but a fit Teddy Bishop or David McGoldrick are capable of holding there own and of course Freddie Sears has already proved he is good enough playing in it with The Hammers as a sixteen year old!

In defence it would be a struggle to find anyone quite good enough in my view but I would like to think that Tommy Smith could do the business as he had played pretty well on the world stage with New Zealand in the past.

I believe too that Brett Pitman is good enough to make an impression because he is a very intelligent player and still young enough to make his mark – unlike Daryl Murphy who sadly has past his sell-by date.

Cold Skuse is another calm and generally collected individual who has the tenacity and indeed composure to survive in the top flight in my opinion but after that I would be seriously struggling to suggest anyone else?

And perhaps that is part of the trouble. If some of the squad fear they would not be good enough and discarded, would they be as committed as the rest to progress to the promised land?

Well then, that is my personal take on the make or break of the Town squad but what do you think? Am I neglecting someone who perhaps doing them a disservice?

Tell me what you think and compile your own list if you wish on the would he stay or would he go debate.


Frank Weston – editor of Vital Ipswich