New signings at last

Once again, after a long running transfer saga, Jim Magilton has got the player who appeared to be his first choice all along. Paul examines the signing of Gareth McAuley and Jims determination to build the new Ipswich Town "spine" that he has talked about.

Jim Magilton is a very determined man. Very clear in what he requires. Sometimes he has shown himself to be perhaps just a bit too determined for a referees liking, either whilst playing or managing..... but, its a quality which is very welcome.

Jim has spoken quite a bit about how he sees the need to build a new spine to the team. Quite simply, it seems that he is interpreting the teams brittleness towards opponents in a very literal sense. Time to strengthen the side right through the middle with some real quality.

He achieved objective number one when he brought in David Norris. We thought that was a drawn out saga, with several bids refused and a stubborness on behalf of Plymouth to sell the player. But, eventually he got his man before the end of the transfer window.

Objective number two has proven to have taken slightly longer still. Gareth McAuley was first enquired about back in January. Again, after more bids were turned down, it seemed as if Jim had given up, but talk of other targets was simply a smoke-screen. Because come the summer, further bids were made and finally Jim got his man.

Objective number three is the longest of all. Richard Wright was supposedly on the brink of signing for Ipswich throughout last summer. It eventually did not come off, but stories have persisted ever since that he will make his long awaited return to his boyhood club. Indeed, it seems ever more likely that Wright will finally re-sign for Ipswich in the coming weeks, marking a completion of Objective number three.

After this, it seems the final piece of the new "spine" of Ipswich Town will be a forward. There has not particularly been any player continually linked with Ipswich over the past few months in this area, but one thing that we can be sure of is that Jim is more than likely to get his man again.

Kuqi Future

Shefki Kuqi has declared his desire to stay at Ipswich beyond the end of this season. Paul looks at whether there is a role for him at the club.

Shefki Kuqi has to be one of the most popular players to have played for Ipswich in recent years. Whilst he isnt necessarily the most talented player we have had, he has certainly proved to be one of the most effective, not least during his 04/05 player of the year season.

Nobody begrudged Shefki the opportunity to leave the club and try his luck in the premiership, with moderate success. But he is now 31 and has spent the best part of the last two seasons failing to live up to expectations in the Championship. It would not be unreasonable to think his best years are behind him.

With all that in mind, why would we want him back? Its a question that many fans wondered when we initially re-signed him on loan. But a couple of factors have emerged since that point which have a major bearing on his position.

Firstly, his performances. Whilst he has only had minimal time on the pitch, it was clear from his 20 odd minutes against Norwich that he has a very real role to play in the current Ipswich side. Our style of football did not need to be compromised, yet he was still able to bring his blend of effective, hard working and, in many ways, skilled football to the side.

Secondly, his impact. It is very clear that this football club means quite a lot to Shefki Kuqi. He has spoken on numerous occasions about how special it is, how much it feels like his home, and it seems evident that this is not just soundbites for the press. The fans feel the same about him. His work rate and attitude endear himself enormously. Combine the two and you have a player who has a huge impact on both the team and the crowd; he is visibly lifted to be on the pitch, whilst at the same time the crowd are lifted to see him there, given such effort for the side. The buzz that went around the stadium when he was poised to come on against Charlton Athletic was something that has not been witnessed for any other player this season.

Thirdly, the Alan Lee factor. With Lee rumoured to be on the move at every passing transfer window, and with the form and fitness of the player being routinely called into question in recent months, it suddenly doesnt seem such a bad idea to replace his physical impact with the stability of Shefkis performances. Whilst Kuqi may lack the ability of Alan Lee, his form is of a much more consistent level. Sometimes, a consistent player can be of great value to a manager.

So, my opinion, perhaps like many others, has changed. What was previously nostalgia for a player we once loved, has now been replaced by a belief that the player of old is still there. And still has an impact to make on his favourite club.

Welcome back, Shefki!

Going Forward

There is one week to go before the end of yet another transfer window. But this one really is the last one, the last chance to make a difference before the end of the season. In his first column, Paul is worried about the state of our forward line.

Its my first column, so I thought I would talk about something which seems to have become really important to us, particularly since the weekend.

Its a big week for us really isnt it? And all the big decisions to be made before we even play a game of football.

The need for another forward is more pressing than ever. Jon Walters is gone, possibly for the season, lost to injury. Now Pablo is suspended for three games, which amounts to almost half our remaining games. It was difficult to tell what happened at the time, but if he really did spit at a player, then there is no excuse.

Danny Haynes is so hot and cold, anybody would think he needs his thermostat replacing. Charlton was a perfect example. An outstanding goal, sandwiched by more bad touches than Georges Santos playing his greatest ever game.

Shefki is injured and, lets be honest, no-one really knows what we are going to get from him when he is fit anyway. Its pretty evident that Crystal Palace certainly werent happy with what they got.

Jim must be touching Alf Ramseys foot every time he passes that statue, praying that Alan Lee keeps himself fit.

Its frustrating that we werent able to deliver any of David Nugent, Darren Bent or David Healy. To be honest, the first two looked to be out of our depth anyway, so there was little surprise that they didnt arrive in the end. You cant blame the club for aiming high, now that we have the resources to do so.

But now comes the time to get bodies in. It looks likely that Jim will have to look a little further down his list of "possibles" in order to get a player in. There is an argument to say that we shouldnt rush into signing anybody and that they have to improve upon what weve got, but frankly I think that time has now passed- we havent got anyone else available at the moment, so anybody is something of an improvement!!

Every game is vital now and its perhaps lucky that the transfer deadline will force Jim into narrowing his options and bringing in someone before the QPR game.

Come on you Blues!!