“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.
That quotation was attributed to an English monk and poet, who was born in Lidgate near Haverhill in Suffolk. His name was John Lydgate, and he was born in 1370. And yet, even today, it seems to make perfect sense. If you peruse through a couple of the remarks made by readers yesterday, you would see that Town opinions are as wide as the two goalposts, and what a sad and strange world it would be if we all agreed all the time. I crave debate and diversity, but I also yearn for football gossip. It is an intrinsic part of it. There is very little else to discuss apart from transfer activity at the moment.
That said, I like to think that I work on facts and not fiction, which explains why I disagree with a lot of those well-paid journalists who feed you false narratives. I am careful not to mention names of players that Ipswich might be associated with until it has become public knowledge, via other media outlets. This seems reasonable to me.
I have a few contacts and this is why I am not speculating but basing my theories on information I often get from the inside. One is a former EADT journalist, another is currently employed at Ipswich Town football club. Often they just text me with news.
I also have a friend here whose brother was a full-time referee in the Netherlands and is now working for a Dutch Eredivisie club as a public relations officer. They are all reliable sources from both sides of the water, and having supported the Blues for more than half a century, they sometimes impart information that I would not get elsewhere.
I suppose the question you must all ask yourselves is do you want it? I do this in conjunction with my youtube channel because I want the Town community to hear the latest news as quickly as possible, and as we have witnessed recently with regard to Ellis Simms, a lot of the gossip out there is inaccurate. Am I justified to question it – or for people like Tony, stay noble silent, and don’t interfere? It’s your choice I guess.
Our daily vlog can be found on YouTube and it is called BEING FRANK ON IPSWICH TOWN. Take or leave it, but 197 subscribers to date, seem to be taking it rather well.
The photo above is of my wife Arun Pankerd and it was taken at the soon-to-be-demolished Goodison Park, which I thought was appropriate given this seemingly never-ending saga concerning Ellis Simms! Smile and the world smiles with you!
I regularly disagree with what you write Frank but I enjoy what you happen to publish. I think as long as it doesn’t mean a potential transfer is sabotaged I see no reason why people shouldn’t speculate. However no one could accuse you of doing that with Simms as it has been talked about by everyone and his dog. Keep it up!
Thanks for that Redhotitfc. It means a lot – especially coming from you mate! I sometimes feel that I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, and that is why I began with that quote.
The problem is that the information you say is from the inside, via a certain journalist, is rubbish. Do you actually think the club, who clearly do all their work on transfers, very much behind closed doors, are going to tell him what’s going on? Knowing full well, that he’ll release that information? As thats what journalists do? Dont think so somehow.
Dear Chris, I would suggest that before you mouth of about my so-called rubbish, you should at least endeavour to read the column closely. I never implied ‘the information you say is from the inside, via a certain journalist,’as you suggest, and if you want to talk rubbish then that is it!
My word! Your imbecilic notions are worthy of some praise! I have never born witnessed such un-fettered garbage in the comments section before.
What planet are you on young man? The article clearly states several sources, and you decide through your eternal wisdom to pick out one of them to fit your narrow narrative.
Grow up and face the truth. Your argument is jaundiced and based on your own desire to defend the football club when all you are really trying to do is defend yourself.
Thank you Jacob for your support here. it is impossible to satisfy everyone, and as you so rightly suggest, I have more than one source of information.The journalist I referred to left the EADT many years ago, so I don’t understand his gripe. He obviously is a poor reader because he did not pick up on the fact that the journalist in question did not work on the inside, and was formerly employed by a local newspaper. As for the insider at the club, he could be a groundsman, the tea lady, or someone who is in a position to overhear conversations. More to the point, I do not reveal anything as a rule that is not already out there in the public domain. If it is not, then I invariably do not give a name to the player that Town are after.