As I write this piece Town sit in 10th Place, 3 points adrift of the play off places. We are about to take on Charlton in what must be considered the biggest game of the season for sure, win and we are back in the hunt, lose and in my opinion we are out of it, 6 points may prove to much to overturn.
However all of these issues are currently taking a
back seat in my mind as I am happy to hear that the Flying Finn Shefki
Kuqi is back at Portman road (well at least until the summer).
Whilst Shefki isn't the Nugent or Healy we had expected none of us can question
his love of the club, and he certainly is drinking at last chance
saloon. I'm sure that Shefki isn't the same player that scored 19 goals
for us a few years back, but his presence must surely give the squad a
little boost and he will have the bit between his teeth to do what he
does best which is chase crisp packets, unsettle defenders and with any
luck score a few goals.
I mean let's face it this deal will be costing us very little in relation to what the Nugent deal would have and at worst Shefki will be able to rotate with Alan Lee and give us a good physical presence.
Personally I can't wait for the Charlton match and I just hope we get these 3 much needed points to boost our chances of promotion, surely the squad must be able to improve on Tuesday's shameful thrashing at the hands of Barnsley?
Showing posts with label Rivals- Les. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rivals- Les. Show all posts
Saturday, 22 March 2008
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Januarys Signings Reviewed
This week I thought I would run the rule over Town's newest recruits. I must admit to being fairly pleased with Jim's signings in January. I would have liked to see a Central defender and striker landed, but we made big efforts to sign McCauley from Leicester and it looks as though we will end up getting these positions covered in February by way of the loan market.
David Norris: From the reaction of the Plymouth board and fans, it looks as though Norris is going to be an excellent addition to our squad. Magilton clearly rates him very highly and whilst £2m may appear like the top end of his worth, Jim doesn't strike me as the sort of manager who will pay over the odds just to get a body through the door. I think he will add some much needed steel to our midfield, and surely it can't be a coincidence that our first away victory in 25 years was coupled with Norris being picked in this week's Championship team of the week? David certainly has big expectations resting on his shoulders (as well as a big price tag) but I feel confident he won't let us down.
Alan Quinn: When we signed him I must admit that I felt a little underwhelmed, my immediate reaction was- if he isn't good enough for the blunts why should he be good enough for us? However he is another player Jim was raving about and his first two games coupled with his wonder goal at Hillsborough have certainly endeared him to the supporters. Alan was a regular under Neil Warnock and I must admit that I hold his opinion in higher esteem than that of Bryan Robson. So for me, £400,000 could turn out to be a very shrewd piece of business for us.
Sumo: I, like all Town fans, have no idea how this one will turn out. I have seen his highlights on YouTube and I must say he looked very impressive. The thing is though, lots of players look good on YouTube, the important thing is- will he adapt to the pace of English football? Jim seemed very impressed with what he saw when Sumo was on trial with us, so much so that he immediately splashed out £600,000 on a completely unknown quantity. Like I said before, I trust Jim's judgement totally and don't think he would spend that type of money if he wasn't sure on what he was getting.
Stephen Bywater: Certainly the most unexpected signing of January. I was very disappointed that we lost Neil Alexander, although I can totally understand that the lure of Rangers was far too great for Neil. Stephen is one of those players who you will hate if he is against you, however he seems to be a player you would want on your side. I have always rated him at Championship level and think he must be considered a decent replacement for Alexander; I can't think of too many better and affordable alternatives to be honest!
So with a crunch match on Saturday against Watford, it looks as though all four of these players could well start for what will probably be the largest home crowd of the season to date. We will be facing one of the best teams in the league and we should all get to see if our money really has been spent well.
One thing I am thankful of is that we haven't had to go down the Norwich route and loan other sides kids- this is a very short term move and certainly won't benefit anybody in the long run!
Thank heavens' we have Marcus Evans and we no longer have to scrape around the bottom of the barrel like our feathered friends now appear to be doing.
David Norris: From the reaction of the Plymouth board and fans, it looks as though Norris is going to be an excellent addition to our squad. Magilton clearly rates him very highly and whilst £2m may appear like the top end of his worth, Jim doesn't strike me as the sort of manager who will pay over the odds just to get a body through the door. I think he will add some much needed steel to our midfield, and surely it can't be a coincidence that our first away victory in 25 years was coupled with Norris being picked in this week's Championship team of the week? David certainly has big expectations resting on his shoulders (as well as a big price tag) but I feel confident he won't let us down.
Alan Quinn: When we signed him I must admit that I felt a little underwhelmed, my immediate reaction was- if he isn't good enough for the blunts why should he be good enough for us? However he is another player Jim was raving about and his first two games coupled with his wonder goal at Hillsborough have certainly endeared him to the supporters. Alan was a regular under Neil Warnock and I must admit that I hold his opinion in higher esteem than that of Bryan Robson. So for me, £400,000 could turn out to be a very shrewd piece of business for us.
Sumo: I, like all Town fans, have no idea how this one will turn out. I have seen his highlights on YouTube and I must say he looked very impressive. The thing is though, lots of players look good on YouTube, the important thing is- will he adapt to the pace of English football? Jim seemed very impressed with what he saw when Sumo was on trial with us, so much so that he immediately splashed out £600,000 on a completely unknown quantity. Like I said before, I trust Jim's judgement totally and don't think he would spend that type of money if he wasn't sure on what he was getting.
Stephen Bywater: Certainly the most unexpected signing of January. I was very disappointed that we lost Neil Alexander, although I can totally understand that the lure of Rangers was far too great for Neil. Stephen is one of those players who you will hate if he is against you, however he seems to be a player you would want on your side. I have always rated him at Championship level and think he must be considered a decent replacement for Alexander; I can't think of too many better and affordable alternatives to be honest!
So with a crunch match on Saturday against Watford, it looks as though all four of these players could well start for what will probably be the largest home crowd of the season to date. We will be facing one of the best teams in the league and we should all get to see if our money really has been spent well.
One thing I am thankful of is that we haven't had to go down the Norwich route and loan other sides kids- this is a very short term move and certainly won't benefit anybody in the long run!
Thank heavens' we have Marcus Evans and we no longer have to scrape around the bottom of the barrel like our feathered friends now appear to be doing.
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Play-Offs or Not?
With 18 games left this season and with town now three points outside the play off zone are we going to make the play offs or not?
As you can see I have predicted us to win 9 of those 18 games which is a
tall order, if you calculate my predicted points with our current tally
we would end up with 73 points, which is usually close to the play offs
but not guaranteed, however this year that may well be enough with the
standard of this division being lower than usual.
If we achieved this 73 points mark we would be averaging almost 1.8 pts per game which again is close to where we need to be, but can we really expect the lads to win
every other game for the rest of the season?
I think the last week of the transfer window will hold the key to what we will be likely to do, if Alan Quinn ends up being our only signing then I think we will
struggle to make them, however if he is joined by David Norris and
perhaps one other player then you would have to say that we must have a
decent chance to make it.
Surely Crystal Palace can't keep their staggering run going for much longer, they will start to drop points at some stage, as will most of the sides chasing the four play off spots, whilst we can only sit back and hope for the best.
What is sure is that we will surely be in for one hell of a white knuckle ride.
29 Jan
Plymouth Argyle
H
3pts
02 Feb
Sheffield Wednesday
A
0 pts
09 Feb
Watford
H
1 pt
12 Feb
Crystal Palace
A
0 pts
16 Feb
Blackpool
H
3 pts
23 Feb
Stoke City
A
0 pts
01 Mar
Southampton
A
1 pt
04 Mar
Sheffield United
H
3 pts
08 Mar
Cardiff City
H
1 pt
11 Mar
Barnsley
A
3 pts (Yes at last)
15 Mar
Charlton Athletic
H
3 pts
22 Mar
Scunthorpe United
A
3 pts
29 Mar
Queens Park Rangers
H
3 pts
05 Apr
Colchester United
A
1 pt
12 Apr
Norwich City
H
3 pts
19 Apr
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
O pts
26 Apr
Preston North End
A
1 pt
04 May
Hull City
H
3 pts
As you can see I have predicted us to win 9 of those 18 games which is a
tall order, if you calculate my predicted points with our current tally
we would end up with 73 points, which is usually close to the play offs
but not guaranteed, however this year that may well be enough with the
standard of this division being lower than usual.
If we achieved this 73 points mark we would be averaging almost 1.8 pts per game which again is close to where we need to be, but can we really expect the lads to win
every other game for the rest of the season?
I think the last week of the transfer window will hold the key to what we will be likely to do, if Alan Quinn ends up being our only signing then I think we will
struggle to make them, however if he is joined by David Norris and
perhaps one other player then you would have to say that we must have a
decent chance to make it.
Surely Crystal Palace can't keep their staggering run going for much longer, they will start to drop points at some stage, as will most of the sides chasing the four play off spots, whilst we can only sit back and hope for the best.
What is sure is that we will surely be in for one hell of a white knuckle ride.
29 Jan
Plymouth Argyle
H
3pts
02 Feb
Sheffield Wednesday
A
0 pts
09 Feb
Watford
H
1 pt
12 Feb
Crystal Palace
A
0 pts
16 Feb
Blackpool
H
3 pts
23 Feb
Stoke City
A
0 pts
01 Mar
Southampton
A
1 pt
04 Mar
Sheffield United
H
3 pts
08 Mar
Cardiff City
H
1 pt
11 Mar
Barnsley
A
3 pts (Yes at last)
15 Mar
Charlton Athletic
H
3 pts
22 Mar
Scunthorpe United
A
3 pts
29 Mar
Queens Park Rangers
H
3 pts
05 Apr
Colchester United
A
1 pt
12 Apr
Norwich City
H
3 pts
19 Apr
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
O pts
26 Apr
Preston North End
A
1 pt
04 May
Hull City
H
3 pts
Friday, 11 January 2008
Should Refs Be Full-Time and Properly Paid?
Would this go someway to improving the performances of the ref's who along with diving players seem to be blighting our beloved game? The decision by Mr Halsey to dismiss Liam Trotter last weekend was one of the worst decisions I can recall seeing, and the F.A's insistence on backing their official was even worse.
I was chatting with the father of a high profile Championship/former Premiership referee the other day and he was telling me that ALL ref's in the football league (including the premiership) get exactly the same amount of money (£280 per match) for whichever game they officiate. This person's son, like most other officials, has a full time job which is far better paid than his part time job of referring.
To my mind this could be one of the issues; if Ref's were made full time and incentivised then surely that could help improve the standard? Football is now a multi billion pound industry, one wrong decision can have massive consequences to clubs, managers and supporters alike, I think with this in mind it is time to change the way's that the officials are treated.
For instance I think that ref's shouldn't all be paid the same amount of money and that the higher level you reach, the more money you earn, like most jobs it should be targeted and they should receive performance bonuses for when they have an outstanding game, but on the flip side should be fined when they have a stinker. If you think that even if they are in charge of two games per week for the whole season they are going to struggle to make more than £20,000!
If they were paid more money and made full time then they could spend far more time with players and managers, and learn more about the game and how players tackle, and generally things that really may help them do their job's to a higher standard. They would also be able to learn things about certain players and may be able to look out for those players who have a tendency to take a dive.
I guess what I am really getting at is that should a man who is in charge of a crunch title decider between Arsenal and Man Utd with all the added pressures that go with this type of match, earn the same amount as a man who is in charge of a mid table fixture in league two? I know the games are equally as important to the respective fans of those clubs; however it is clear that the latter should be a much easier task.
The only good thing is that if the premiership officials remain in the premier league and aren't demoted they receive a £50,000 bonus, meaning they would earn £70,000 a season as opposed to £20,000 in the lower leagues.
All in all though I think the gap between what players/managers earn and what the ref's earn is far to much, whilst I realise we don't pay our money to watch the referees, they do have a major role to play in the outcome of our matches, and maybe if they didn't have the added pressures of working two jobs, and were able to concentrate ENTIRELY on learning and developing themselves into better ref's, then perhaps they wouldn't dominate our papers after they continue to make mistake after mistake.
I was chatting with the father of a high profile Championship/former Premiership referee the other day and he was telling me that ALL ref's in the football league (including the premiership) get exactly the same amount of money (£280 per match) for whichever game they officiate. This person's son, like most other officials, has a full time job which is far better paid than his part time job of referring.
To my mind this could be one of the issues; if Ref's were made full time and incentivised then surely that could help improve the standard? Football is now a multi billion pound industry, one wrong decision can have massive consequences to clubs, managers and supporters alike, I think with this in mind it is time to change the way's that the officials are treated.
For instance I think that ref's shouldn't all be paid the same amount of money and that the higher level you reach, the more money you earn, like most jobs it should be targeted and they should receive performance bonuses for when they have an outstanding game, but on the flip side should be fined when they have a stinker. If you think that even if they are in charge of two games per week for the whole season they are going to struggle to make more than £20,000!
If they were paid more money and made full time then they could spend far more time with players and managers, and learn more about the game and how players tackle, and generally things that really may help them do their job's to a higher standard. They would also be able to learn things about certain players and may be able to look out for those players who have a tendency to take a dive.
I guess what I am really getting at is that should a man who is in charge of a crunch title decider between Arsenal and Man Utd with all the added pressures that go with this type of match, earn the same amount as a man who is in charge of a mid table fixture in league two? I know the games are equally as important to the respective fans of those clubs; however it is clear that the latter should be a much easier task.
The only good thing is that if the premiership officials remain in the premier league and aren't demoted they receive a £50,000 bonus, meaning they would earn £70,000 a season as opposed to £20,000 in the lower leagues.
All in all though I think the gap between what players/managers earn and what the ref's earn is far to much, whilst I realise we don't pay our money to watch the referees, they do have a major role to play in the outcome of our matches, and maybe if they didn't have the added pressures of working two jobs, and were able to concentrate ENTIRELY on learning and developing themselves into better ref's, then perhaps they wouldn't dominate our papers after they continue to make mistake after mistake.
Friday, 21 December 2007
Its Official- We now have money and could the budgies be any more jealous?
This week has seen the conclusion of the eagerly awaited take over of the club by Billionaire media mogul Marcus Evans. 98% of shareholders voted in favor of Evans becoming the proud owner of East Anglia's largest and most successful football club.
Our transfer war chest is now safely in the bank and I 'm sure Magilton and co are working overtime in finding the players we need to sign in January.
The thing I have found amusing about this whole situation is the reaction it has caused amongst the Budgie fans, I have read article after article and post after post from bitter and clearly deluded Norwich supporters claiming that this deal is somehow a really bad thing for Town and it is clearly going to signal the end of ITFC as we know it. The fact that we already have in place legally binding contracts as to what Evans can and can't do is apparently irrelevant and he will soon start to "Asset Strip" the club and our best players will be sold for peanuts, this despite the fact that Marcus won't see ANY return on his investment until we are an established premier league side, so in Budgie logic the best way for us to do that would be to make a few million by selling the likes of Walters, Haynes and Garvan now!!
The envy coming out of Carrow Rd is immense I imagine that was enhanced this week when our Youth team and Gary Roberts thrashed what was their FIRST team up until very recently 5-1! When you think about it I guess you can see why they would be so bitter, I mean they have had no past, they haven't got much of a present, and judging by the quality of players coming out of their "Academy" they don't appear to have much of a future either!
Anyway enough about the little team from down the road, our main priority in the short term MUST be to get an away win and our next two away games (Leicester and Coventry) seem ideal places to start, then we have a top of the league clash against WBA at the fortress on New years day, before a fairly attractive looking Cup tie, and then we can start to see where Jim will be spending his wealth.
As I stated last week I feel we need to strengthen in several areas, none more so than in Defence, I hear that Birmingham have a decent defender available by the name of Martin Taylor apparently he can be bough for around £1m and has already confessed to loving the East Anglia area, and the only other side in East Anglia who could compete for him apparently can't afford to sign the only reason why they have won a few games, so come on Jim let's make their bitterness grow even further!!!!!!!
I wish all Town supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and let's get some bigger crowds down at the Fortress as the players both need and deserve your support!
Our transfer war chest is now safely in the bank and I 'm sure Magilton and co are working overtime in finding the players we need to sign in January.
The thing I have found amusing about this whole situation is the reaction it has caused amongst the Budgie fans, I have read article after article and post after post from bitter and clearly deluded Norwich supporters claiming that this deal is somehow a really bad thing for Town and it is clearly going to signal the end of ITFC as we know it. The fact that we already have in place legally binding contracts as to what Evans can and can't do is apparently irrelevant and he will soon start to "Asset Strip" the club and our best players will be sold for peanuts, this despite the fact that Marcus won't see ANY return on his investment until we are an established premier league side, so in Budgie logic the best way for us to do that would be to make a few million by selling the likes of Walters, Haynes and Garvan now!!
The envy coming out of Carrow Rd is immense I imagine that was enhanced this week when our Youth team and Gary Roberts thrashed what was their FIRST team up until very recently 5-1! When you think about it I guess you can see why they would be so bitter, I mean they have had no past, they haven't got much of a present, and judging by the quality of players coming out of their "Academy" they don't appear to have much of a future either!
Anyway enough about the little team from down the road, our main priority in the short term MUST be to get an away win and our next two away games (Leicester and Coventry) seem ideal places to start, then we have a top of the league clash against WBA at the fortress on New years day, before a fairly attractive looking Cup tie, and then we can start to see where Jim will be spending his wealth.
As I stated last week I feel we need to strengthen in several areas, none more so than in Defence, I hear that Birmingham have a decent defender available by the name of Martin Taylor apparently he can be bough for around £1m and has already confessed to loving the East Anglia area, and the only other side in East Anglia who could compete for him apparently can't afford to sign the only reason why they have won a few games, so come on Jim let's make their bitterness grow even further!!!!!!!
I wish all Town supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and let's get some bigger crowds down at the Fortress as the players both need and deserve your support!
This week has seen the conclusion of the eagerly awaited take over of the club by Billionaire media mogul Marcus Evans. 98% of shareholders voted in favor of Evans becoming the proud owner of East Anglia's largest and most successful football club.
Our transfer war chest is now safely in the bank and I 'm sure Magilton and co are working overtime in finding the players we need to sign in January.
The thing I have found amusing about this whole situation is the reaction it has caused amongst the Budgie fans, I have read article after article and post after post from bitter and clearly deluded Norwich supporters claiming that this deal is somehow a really bad thing for Town and it is clearly going to signal the end of ITFC as we know it. The fact that we already have in place legally binding contracts as to what Evans can and can't do is apparently irrelevant and he will soon start to "Asset Strip" the club and our best players will be sold for peanuts, this despite the fact that Marcus won't see ANY return on his investment until we are an established premier league side, so in Budgie logic the best way for us to do that would be to make a few million by selling the likes of Walters, Haynes and Garvan now!!
The envy coming out of Carrow Rd is immense I imagine that was enhanced this week when our Youth team and Gary Roberts thrashed what was their FIRST team up until very recently 5-1! When you think about it I guess you can see why they would be so bitter, I mean they have had no past, they haven't got much of a present, and judging by the quality of players coming out of their "Academy" they don't appear to have much of a future either!
Anyway enough about the little team from down the road, our main priority in the short term MUST be to get an away win and our next two away games (Leicester and Coventry) seem ideal places to start, then we have a top of the league clash against WBA at the fortress on New years day, before a fairly attractive looking Cup tie, and then we can start to see where Jim will be spending his wealth.
As I stated last week I feel we need to strengthen in several areas, none more so than in Defence, I hear that Birmingham have a decent defender available by the name of Martin Taylor apparently he can be bough for around £1m and has already confessed to loving the East Anglia area, and the only other side in East Anglia who could compete for him apparently can't afford to sign the only reason why they have won a few games, so come on Jim let's make their bitterness grow even further!!!!!!!
I wish all Town supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and let's get some bigger crowds down at the Fortress as the players both need and deserve your support!
Our transfer war chest is now safely in the bank and I 'm sure Magilton and co are working overtime in finding the players we need to sign in January.
The thing I have found amusing about this whole situation is the reaction it has caused amongst the Budgie fans, I have read article after article and post after post from bitter and clearly deluded Norwich supporters claiming that this deal is somehow a really bad thing for Town and it is clearly going to signal the end of ITFC as we know it. The fact that we already have in place legally binding contracts as to what Evans can and can't do is apparently irrelevant and he will soon start to "Asset Strip" the club and our best players will be sold for peanuts, this despite the fact that Marcus won't see ANY return on his investment until we are an established premier league side, so in Budgie logic the best way for us to do that would be to make a few million by selling the likes of Walters, Haynes and Garvan now!!
The envy coming out of Carrow Rd is immense I imagine that was enhanced this week when our Youth team and Gary Roberts thrashed what was their FIRST team up until very recently 5-1! When you think about it I guess you can see why they would be so bitter, I mean they have had no past, they haven't got much of a present, and judging by the quality of players coming out of their "Academy" they don't appear to have much of a future either!
Anyway enough about the little team from down the road, our main priority in the short term MUST be to get an away win and our next two away games (Leicester and Coventry) seem ideal places to start, then we have a top of the league clash against WBA at the fortress on New years day, before a fairly attractive looking Cup tie, and then we can start to see where Jim will be spending his wealth.
As I stated last week I feel we need to strengthen in several areas, none more so than in Defence, I hear that Birmingham have a decent defender available by the name of Martin Taylor apparently he can be bough for around £1m and has already confessed to loving the East Anglia area, and the only other side in East Anglia who could compete for him apparently can't afford to sign the only reason why they have won a few games, so come on Jim let's make their bitterness grow even further!!!!!!!
I wish all Town supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and let's get some bigger crowds down at the Fortress as the players both need and deserve your support!
Thursday, 13 December 2007
All I want for christmas are four new players!
After two more pathetic away defeats it was fantastic to be back at Portman Rd and even better to gain a confidence building victory against Leicester even if it was in controversial circumstances. The away "disease" as Magilton calls it, seems likely to stop us from pushing any further forward than mid table, that is unless, as Jim says, we get in new players and get rid of the duds.
For my money we MUST strengthen in four key areas if we are to challenge for promotion this season, they are a
colossus central defender in the mould of Taylor on loan to the Budgies,
a combative central midfielder in the mould of Norris at Plymouth, a
tricky left sided midfielder in the mould of Hoolahan at Blackpool, and
one more bustling striker in the mould of Alan Lee.
If we were to bring
in these four types of players or, at worst, the first three mentioned
positions, then I think we must have a fantastic chance to make the play
offs and possibly challenge for the top two. This seasons championship
is one of the worst for some years and it really is wide open for near
enough any of the top 14 to make the play offs. The hard part in getting
these players will of course be ensuring we aren't taken to the cleaners
by the selling clubs and greedy agents, but we shouldn't fear as all
transfer dealings will be conducted by our chairman David Sheepshanks!!
I do think that clubs should hire trained negotiators to handle
transfers especially in the current cash strapped days of football when
paying the market value for players is essential. When you sell your
house you use an agent to negotiate the best deal for you, I see no
reason why clubs couldn't have trained sales people who can handle all
their negotiations.
On a more negative note I must say that I think our home crowds are
becoming appalling, a ticket at Portman Road this season must be amongst
the best value for money you can find, yet less than 18,000 turned up
for a fixture which was contested in the premiership not long ago, our
away support in contrast has been top draw; 3,000 to Charlton, 2,500 to
Watford, 1200 to Bristol on a cold Tuesday night, 1500 to Cardiff for a
Noon kick off. For my money we must have the best away support in the
division this season, and probably the largest decline in home support
from last seasons figures, amazing when you consider the contrasts in
the teams fortunes home and away!!
In the words of a very drunk cook "come on Ipswich fans Lets be having
you"
For my money we MUST strengthen in four key areas if we are to challenge for promotion this season, they are a
colossus central defender in the mould of Taylor on loan to the Budgies,
a combative central midfielder in the mould of Norris at Plymouth, a
tricky left sided midfielder in the mould of Hoolahan at Blackpool, and
one more bustling striker in the mould of Alan Lee.
If we were to bring
in these four types of players or, at worst, the first three mentioned
positions, then I think we must have a fantastic chance to make the play
offs and possibly challenge for the top two. This seasons championship
is one of the worst for some years and it really is wide open for near
enough any of the top 14 to make the play offs. The hard part in getting
these players will of course be ensuring we aren't taken to the cleaners
by the selling clubs and greedy agents, but we shouldn't fear as all
transfer dealings will be conducted by our chairman David Sheepshanks!!
I do think that clubs should hire trained negotiators to handle
transfers especially in the current cash strapped days of football when
paying the market value for players is essential. When you sell your
house you use an agent to negotiate the best deal for you, I see no
reason why clubs couldn't have trained sales people who can handle all
their negotiations.
On a more negative note I must say that I think our home crowds are
becoming appalling, a ticket at Portman Road this season must be amongst
the best value for money you can find, yet less than 18,000 turned up
for a fixture which was contested in the premiership not long ago, our
away support in contrast has been top draw; 3,000 to Charlton, 2,500 to
Watford, 1200 to Bristol on a cold Tuesday night, 1500 to Cardiff for a
Noon kick off. For my money we must have the best away support in the
division this season, and probably the largest decline in home support
from last seasons figures, amazing when you consider the contrasts in
the teams fortunes home and away!!
In the words of a very drunk cook "come on Ipswich fans Lets be having
you"
Friday, 7 December 2007
Magilton: Savour or Fraud?
I know full well that there will be plenty of people criticizing me for this piece and it is sure to raise some eyebrows but I feel like I need to get it off my chest as I am very upset at the amount of time and money I along with numerous other supporters have wasted watching what appears to be a complete imitation of the Real ITFC!
Now don't get me wrong pre-season I didn't expect us to make the play offs this season, however we have a great chance of doing that now especially with our new found wealth, but we will achieve ZERO if we don't learn how to win away from home, our fantastic home form will count for very little if we continue to look like startled rabbits caught in a head light every time we venture onto an opponents playing surface. You cannot possibly compare the two sides that play home and away yet they are the same players??
I am certainly not suggesting I would want Magilton sacked but I do feel VERY cheated as a town fan as I know we can perform, it's just we only seem to do so every other week! I do think though we may have been a little hasty in rewarding Jim with a reported £500k a year contract, based on a poor season last season and what so far has been a very peculiar season this year!
It will be interesting to see what kind of an owner Mr Evans is, will he be the type like Gibson at Boro who stands by his managers or will he turn out to be like Mandaric at Leicester who changes his managers more often than he changes his socks, surely though he won't be happy at allowing his team to play like amateurs at every away match?
One thing is for sure our away support has been exceptional considering I for one go into each away game fully expecting to lose, 1100 fans on a Tuesday night in December at Bristol is top class and to me puts our home crowds to shame which in my opinion have been very disappointing.
I personally won't be spending any more money on 7 hour round trips until we win a match away from home, and from what I have seen so far at West Brom, Hull, Cardiff and Bristol it probably won't be this season!!
Now don't get me wrong pre-season I didn't expect us to make the play offs this season, however we have a great chance of doing that now especially with our new found wealth, but we will achieve ZERO if we don't learn how to win away from home, our fantastic home form will count for very little if we continue to look like startled rabbits caught in a head light every time we venture onto an opponents playing surface. You cannot possibly compare the two sides that play home and away yet they are the same players??
I am certainly not suggesting I would want Magilton sacked but I do feel VERY cheated as a town fan as I know we can perform, it's just we only seem to do so every other week! I do think though we may have been a little hasty in rewarding Jim with a reported £500k a year contract, based on a poor season last season and what so far has been a very peculiar season this year!
It will be interesting to see what kind of an owner Mr Evans is, will he be the type like Gibson at Boro who stands by his managers or will he turn out to be like Mandaric at Leicester who changes his managers more often than he changes his socks, surely though he won't be happy at allowing his team to play like amateurs at every away match?
One thing is for sure our away support has been exceptional considering I for one go into each away game fully expecting to lose, 1100 fans on a Tuesday night in December at Bristol is top class and to me puts our home crowds to shame which in my opinion have been very disappointing.
I personally won't be spending any more money on 7 hour round trips until we win a match away from home, and from what I have seen so far at West Brom, Hull, Cardiff and Bristol it probably won't be this season!!
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Sheepshanks- Sinner or Saint?
I am becoming increasingly surprised at the thought processes of those who are heaping praise on David Sheepshanks for his part in 'bringing' Marcus Evans - or more importantly his money - to Portman Road.
The man who brought the Club to the edge of financial ruin is suddenly being lorded as its saviour. I shake my head in amazement.....
David Sheepshanks is, at best, a very 'average' businessman with little on his CV to applaud. In fact as far as one can discern Sheepshanks has not got any qualifications, certainly none he let's on about. While he has always been a person who has touted himself as the ultimate Town fan this should not detract from the fact that he made mistakes which cost the Club dear. And in business you normally pay for those mistakes - if you are the man in charge and hence the desk on which the buck stops - with your job.
We all know of the 'extenuating circumstances' which have been put forward to excuse the disastrous financial period from which we are only just starting to emerge (how could we forget them, he reminds us ad nausem!). Of course the collapse of the ITV deal was not the fault of David Sheepshanks, despite his involvement in the negotiations, but equally those in high office are in part expected to be able to see possible outcomes rather more clearly than the rest of us who are not in possession of all the facts.
However, the purchase of overpriced and ineffective players, the payment of ludicrously high wages, Why did we have to pay Marshall £17K/wk? I expect Serini & the ageless
Finidi George were paid roughly the same? Also the mass building of new stands on high interest borrowed money are surely his responsibility - if they are not why was he/is he paid a Chairman's salary?
On that point a paid Chairman, in this league, is an expensive luxury - and let's be very clear about this - if a high profile job had become available at the FA Mr Sheepshanks would be long gone. We also have Derek Bowden who to all intents and purposes runs ITfc, also very well paid for his services.
Did he bring Marcus Evans to Portman Road? I very much doubt it. Rumour/fact has it that Sheepshanks has been seeking investment in the Club for several years - some refused on the basis that it is a bottomless money pit, some because Mr Sheepshanks himself was refusing to stand down unless he were to sell any potential investor his shares. Yes, all of this is conjecture but there is sufficient evidence from enough sources to suggest it is based in fact.
Marcus Evans (if indeed he exists and is not simply a front for a consortium) may well have found ITFC with no help whatsoever from the Chairman. He/they have extraordinarily complex financial dealings throughout the world and clearly a team of tax/investment advisers monitors this on an ongoing basis. Debt is a very useful tool when offset against highly taxed profits and the Marcus Evans 'team' may well have seen this Club as a tax write-off coupled with a possible sell-on profit situation if we can be manoeuvred back into the Premiership.
Is it any coincidence that this deal has been brokered when promotion is not out of the question with or without new funds? We may have been identified by his team as a Club which could gain promotion with a bit of help - rather than one requiring a whole new squad. Costs are well under control due to the lack of funds for the last few years and the debt was, no doubt, negotiable - as well as being tax deductible! Figures suggesting a settlement figure of £8M are probably not wildly inaccurate.
By taking such a huge stake in the Club Marcus Evans can amalgamate these losses with his gains elsewhere; again his ability to acquire such a massive holding would have made ITFC an attractive proposition.
Did David Sheepshanks bring Marcus Evans to ITFC? I doubt it. I suspect we were identified for all the reasons outlined above.
And finally ........I hope that Marcus Evans will also ensure that the £12M he is putting into the Club is carefully monitored. Let Derek Bowden spend it - he seems to know what he is doing. Have Mr Sheepshanks' passport temporarily revoked - on no account let him travel abroad looking at players, and have Sven's number banned on the Club switchboard so that he cannot 'recommend' any more players - we can't afford them!!
Cynical? Maybe! But the sad truth is that Mr Sheepshanks is not a good businessman and he is expensive. That I have learned to live with - what I am struggling with is the unproven belief that he has brought us salvation. I think it came here by itself!!!
But if our Chairman has one skill it is self promotion. The AGM/EGM approaches. No doubt a tear will appear in the corner of his eye as he tells us how hard he has worked to put the Club back on track........and some will no doubt lap it up. This is Suffolk after all. Anyone in a suit with a cultured accent is trusted implicitly.
Of course he always stated that once the Club was re-established on a firm financial footing he would resign. Shall we see that happen? I won't be hanging by my fingernails................... He also dismissed reports creditors were to be offered 10p the £ for what was owed. (source EADT Feb 2003), as it turns out it was only 5p so I suppose he did tell the truth on that occasion.
The man who brought the Club to the edge of financial ruin is suddenly being lorded as its saviour. I shake my head in amazement.....
David Sheepshanks is, at best, a very 'average' businessman with little on his CV to applaud. In fact as far as one can discern Sheepshanks has not got any qualifications, certainly none he let's on about. While he has always been a person who has touted himself as the ultimate Town fan this should not detract from the fact that he made mistakes which cost the Club dear. And in business you normally pay for those mistakes - if you are the man in charge and hence the desk on which the buck stops - with your job.
We all know of the 'extenuating circumstances' which have been put forward to excuse the disastrous financial period from which we are only just starting to emerge (how could we forget them, he reminds us ad nausem!). Of course the collapse of the ITV deal was not the fault of David Sheepshanks, despite his involvement in the negotiations, but equally those in high office are in part expected to be able to see possible outcomes rather more clearly than the rest of us who are not in possession of all the facts.
However, the purchase of overpriced and ineffective players, the payment of ludicrously high wages, Why did we have to pay Marshall £17K/wk? I expect Serini & the ageless
Finidi George were paid roughly the same? Also the mass building of new stands on high interest borrowed money are surely his responsibility - if they are not why was he/is he paid a Chairman's salary?
On that point a paid Chairman, in this league, is an expensive luxury - and let's be very clear about this - if a high profile job had become available at the FA Mr Sheepshanks would be long gone. We also have Derek Bowden who to all intents and purposes runs ITfc, also very well paid for his services.
Did he bring Marcus Evans to Portman Road? I very much doubt it. Rumour/fact has it that Sheepshanks has been seeking investment in the Club for several years - some refused on the basis that it is a bottomless money pit, some because Mr Sheepshanks himself was refusing to stand down unless he were to sell any potential investor his shares. Yes, all of this is conjecture but there is sufficient evidence from enough sources to suggest it is based in fact.
Marcus Evans (if indeed he exists and is not simply a front for a consortium) may well have found ITFC with no help whatsoever from the Chairman. He/they have extraordinarily complex financial dealings throughout the world and clearly a team of tax/investment advisers monitors this on an ongoing basis. Debt is a very useful tool when offset against highly taxed profits and the Marcus Evans 'team' may well have seen this Club as a tax write-off coupled with a possible sell-on profit situation if we can be manoeuvred back into the Premiership.
Is it any coincidence that this deal has been brokered when promotion is not out of the question with or without new funds? We may have been identified by his team as a Club which could gain promotion with a bit of help - rather than one requiring a whole new squad. Costs are well under control due to the lack of funds for the last few years and the debt was, no doubt, negotiable - as well as being tax deductible! Figures suggesting a settlement figure of £8M are probably not wildly inaccurate.
By taking such a huge stake in the Club Marcus Evans can amalgamate these losses with his gains elsewhere; again his ability to acquire such a massive holding would have made ITFC an attractive proposition.
Did David Sheepshanks bring Marcus Evans to ITFC? I doubt it. I suspect we were identified for all the reasons outlined above.
And finally ........I hope that Marcus Evans will also ensure that the £12M he is putting into the Club is carefully monitored. Let Derek Bowden spend it - he seems to know what he is doing. Have Mr Sheepshanks' passport temporarily revoked - on no account let him travel abroad looking at players, and have Sven's number banned on the Club switchboard so that he cannot 'recommend' any more players - we can't afford them!!
Cynical? Maybe! But the sad truth is that Mr Sheepshanks is not a good businessman and he is expensive. That I have learned to live with - what I am struggling with is the unproven belief that he has brought us salvation. I think it came here by itself!!!
But if our Chairman has one skill it is self promotion. The AGM/EGM approaches. No doubt a tear will appear in the corner of his eye as he tells us how hard he has worked to put the Club back on track........and some will no doubt lap it up. This is Suffolk after all. Anyone in a suit with a cultured accent is trusted implicitly.
Of course he always stated that once the Club was re-established on a firm financial footing he would resign. Shall we see that happen? I won't be hanging by my fingernails................... He also dismissed reports creditors were to be offered 10p the £ for what was owed. (source EADT Feb 2003), as it turns out it was only 5p so I suppose he did tell the truth on that occasion.
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Where are you?
Having seen Town play two matches within 4 days I failed to see any similarities between the two performances.
Having seen Town play two matches within 4 days I failed to see any
similarities between the two performances. At Cardiff we were inept and
apart from hitting the bar after 30 seconds were second best to
everything (apart from getting in the tunnel at half time) for the
remainder of the match! Against Southampton although we weren't at our
glittering best we still had too much for a saints side who showed lots
of characteristics of past Burley sides, lots of nice football without a
cutting edge and very poor at the back.
What I am also at a loss to
understand is why our support has become so poor at home, but for my
money seems to have increased away? I mean surely the glory hunters have
missed the plot here; we never win away from home, yet win every game at
home! At Cardiff we must have had over 1,000 fans which is superb
considering the ludicrous kick off time, yet at home in what was a
fairly attractive looking fixture on paper less than 20,000 turned up!
I wonder if those stay away fans will be turning up next season should we
get promoted? The team has produced the best football in the division
all season and thoroughly deserve crowds which reflect that, I know you
can argue Watford only get 15,000 despite being top of the league, but
their support has always been low, we know that we have far more fans
that could turn up because they have turned up in the recent past. My
final point on this is that surely now with this investment deal all but
done and our lofty league position the crowds can only start going one
way.
We now have a sequence of 4 home matches out of the next 6 games, this
is an IDEAL opportunity for us to cement ourselves amongst the top 6,
win those 4 games and pick up 3 or 4 away points (Has to happen
eventually even the budgies have now won away) and we will be firmly
challenging for promotion.
Having seen Town play two matches within 4 days I failed to see any
similarities between the two performances. At Cardiff we were inept and
apart from hitting the bar after 30 seconds were second best to
everything (apart from getting in the tunnel at half time) for the
remainder of the match! Against Southampton although we weren't at our
glittering best we still had too much for a saints side who showed lots
of characteristics of past Burley sides, lots of nice football without a
cutting edge and very poor at the back.
What I am also at a loss to
understand is why our support has become so poor at home, but for my
money seems to have increased away? I mean surely the glory hunters have
missed the plot here; we never win away from home, yet win every game at
home! At Cardiff we must have had over 1,000 fans which is superb
considering the ludicrous kick off time, yet at home in what was a
fairly attractive looking fixture on paper less than 20,000 turned up!
I wonder if those stay away fans will be turning up next season should we
get promoted? The team has produced the best football in the division
all season and thoroughly deserve crowds which reflect that, I know you
can argue Watford only get 15,000 despite being top of the league, but
their support has always been low, we know that we have far more fans
that could turn up because they have turned up in the recent past. My
final point on this is that surely now with this investment deal all but
done and our lofty league position the crowds can only start going one
way.
We now have a sequence of 4 home matches out of the next 6 games, this
is an IDEAL opportunity for us to cement ourselves amongst the top 6,
win those 4 games and pick up 3 or 4 away points (Has to happen
eventually even the budgies have now won away) and we will be firmly
challenging for promotion.
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