What of the players? Which ones can we safely say are going to make up a promotion winning side? Whilst we have seen real quality in some of the existing players, If 2007/08 has taught us anything, it is that others are maybe not quite what was needed. Today, we look at the key players from 07/08.
When looking at 2007/08, one of the abiding memories will remain the coming of age of Jon Walters. After several years trying to make his mark, he looks like he has found a team who will provide a platform for his abilities. The irony of it all is that, after such a long wait, he made that leap within a very short period of time; approximately one month.
As Ipswich began their pre-season programme, it was difficult to see where Walters would fit in, with Pablo Counago re-signed to partner 06/07 top scorer Alan Lee. But within a month, he had adapted, perhaps excelled is a better word, to the right midfield position. No Ipswich fan need any further history lesson on this, suffice to say, "the boy came good."
Pablo returned and, again, his impact was immediate. Counago looks like a class above in this division and looks to have benefitted from the extra experience gained since he was last at the club. He also nullified any concerns about his goalscoring ability. He has shown himself to be a first choice selection and those days of being left on the bench away from home, whilst Jim searched for a winning formula, look quite distant. Any doubts about his ability to perform when the conditions werent quite up to standard were also dispelled- his best period of the season were in the months prior to Christmas. Alas, if he could maintain that very high level throughout the season, he could probably single-handedly win us promotion....
Which brings us to Alan Lee. Inevitably, the million dollar question regarding the quality of Lees performances is still "Is he fit this week?". With the club turning down bids over the summer, it looked plausible the club might look to move him on. For the first few months of the season, Alan Lee went about showing just why he should remain at the club. The swashbuckling performances that we have grown to love returned, with an equally sharp eye for goal.
Unfortunately, it didnt remain. His form faded, along with his confidence and his fitness. To be fair to Lee, it could be argued that the former were affected by the latter.
But the only predictability about Alan Lee seems to be his unpredictability. On his day, he deserves a place in our first eleven and can play a key part in winning us promotion. Alas, when he isnt up to it, he offers very little. It seems inevitable that an additional forward will arrive at the club over the summer. The management will therefore no longer be forced to carry Lee when he isnt on form or fully fit. The problem for him will then be, will he get back into the side again?
Danny Haynes has had a season which largely mirrored 06/07. Bright strong performances, which allude to a talent which could take him far beyond the Championship, interspersed with woeful performances where he looks completely out of his depth.
Haynes is an enigma. The home games with Charlton Athletic and Norwich were a fine case study. In the former, he could not put a foot right. Every pass was cut out, his control was awful and his general impact was almost neglegeble. Then he struck a stunning volley into the corner of the net and the back pages of the newspapers were written. Against Norwich, he tormented them with his pace and power, finding space to run into and causing their backline a torrid time. He registered the winning goal, to add to his collection of derby day successes. Yet, Haynes was largely culpable for what should have been a 3 or 4 goal winning margin remaining at just 1.
And this makes no mention of his away performances either.
Suffice to say, its hard to see which way his career will turn. On one hand, he has struggled at times to find a role in the Ipswich starting eleven. Currently, there is no place for him when we have a fully fit squad. Yet, stories persist on a regular basis regarding a big Premiership transfer.
He is still a young player, so it would be no surprise to see him suddenly find some consistency (he is certainly not lacking in confidence) and quality in his performances. If he does, and the manager clearly thinks hes capable, then it will be almost impossible to keep him out of the team.
Yet, nobody would be really surprised to see him spend next season in the position which is still currently his best- as an extremely high impact substitute.
David Norris and Velice Sumulikoski have both arrived to strengthen the midfield. The former has come with three things- a reputation, a pedigree in the Championship and a price tag. Unfortunately, injuries have made it almost impossible for Norris to show exactly what he will bring to the side. However, the presence of those three things mean that most fans are agreed that he has a key role to play in the future of the side. Possibly as captain.
Velice came with none of the things Norris came with, hence there was a bit more patience whilst he found his feet in english football. Patience which was shown to be unnecessary within his first month, as a series of outstanding performances showed that he is more than capable at this level. Towards the end of the season, injuries and fatigue, possibly as he adapted to english football, limited his impact somewhat but its certain that he will also have a big part to play in the future.
Tommy Miller returned without much fanfare, which seems to summarise much of his impact upon the side. Asked to do a role at odds with that which he had previously filled in his time at Ipswich, he endured something of a rough ride from fans. Whilst not exactly taking on the mantle of "boo boys favourite", he did endure some of the criticism for the teams collective failure away from home. However, as the season wore on, his impact became more noticeable. His partnership with Sumulikoski was probably the pick of the many midfield combinations that were tried, whilst his performances in the last month of the season, including two headline grabbing goals in the last two away games, appear to have won over the fans somewhat. With the new players coming into the club unlikely to include a midfielder, Millers continued involvement in a potential promotion team looks likely.
Alan Quinn also arrived at the club with glowing tributes from the manager himself. As a former team-mate, Quinn clearly made a big impression upon Jim Magilton. His industrious approach play and quality on the ball allowed him to fit into the side seamlessly in mid-January. Yet, despite the fact that he seemed to find his place so comfortably, doubts remain concerning his lack of pace as a wide player, something which Town fans lamented in the last player to hold down the left-midfield spot, Darren Currie. The lack of a left foot is something which also has been a concern, and something which seemed to bypass all outside the club until he made his debut for the club.
Despite the limitations, he is clearly a player that Magilton brought in to do a specific job. It remains to be seen who will be brought into the club to play full back behind him, which might further show his suitability at left midfield. There remains the possibility of a left-footed player coming into the club who may challenge Quinn, but at this stage, his role in the first team seems assured.
Owen Garvan had another confident season, further strengthening his value. His elevation to the full Republic of Ireland squad is a further testament to this. Yet, from an Ipswich Town point of view, its arguably a watershed season both from his perspective and that of the club. With the player seemingly deliberating over a new contract offer, there is a possibility that he feels three years of first team football at Championship level is enough and that its time to look to move his career on at a higher level. Equally, with a year remaining on his current contract, failure to sign an extension will almost certainly result in the club attempting to sell him, if past actions are to go by.
Yet, in a strange paradox, its probably been his least succesful season at Ipswich since he made his debut in the opening game of 05/06. He found himself out of the first team when fully fit; for the first time, he found that the manager actually preferred other players. This was added to the bout of "homesickness" which he endured prior to the start of the season and for a while, according to reports, threatened to jeopardise his season.
The uncertainess regarding his future, coupled with the influx of new midfield players over the last six months, means that his position in the centre of midfield is no longer as certain as it was a year ago. Very much a case of "watch this space".
Defensively a variety of factors have helped to quickly cull the numbers, to the extent that those remaining can feel quite secure at this current moment in time. With De Vos, Wilnis and Sito all leaving the club, the loans of Simpson, Bywater and Colgan all expiring and the transfer listing of Dan Harding, its evident that there are only likely to be defenders moving in one direction- into the club.
David Wright had a strong season of marked improvement. He showed composure on the ball and an ability to get forward at key moments. He was perhaps unfortunate to lose his place in the starting line-up when Danny Simpson arrived on loan, but that seems to have been more a reflection on his own versatility, particularly given that he soon regained it again. Without a doubt, he looks to be the first choice at right back again next season, as he has been for much of this season, whilst also showing himself to be more than capable at left back and centre back. He is another who may also be in line for another role at the club, that of captain.
Alex Bruce, as in his first season at the club, had to ensure spells out of the side, as both Fabian Wilnis and Richard Naylor replaced him alongside Jason DeVos for short periods. However, his endurance saw him recover his place. A season that has seem him consolidate his position, his pace and spirit have shown him to be very capable at this level. Question marks remain over his physical strength, something which has perhaps undone him against the more robust forwards in the division. However, allied to a strong defensive partner to cover for these deficiencies, he has shown that he can do likewise to cover for their own shortcomings, as Im sure Jason DeVos appreciated on occasions. With further central defensive enforcements likely, it seems inevitable that Bruce will probably find himself on the bench for periods of next season aswell. However, it would also be no real surprise to see him fight off any newcomers and regain his position again. His elevation to the Republic of Ireland full squad is a just reward for his performances.
In the next installment, we will look at the impact of the fringe players; those that are capable of becoming an integral part of the first team and those who are slipping away.
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