After another season of mid-table mediocrity, Paul Jewell, Simon Clegg and Marcus Evans need to seriously review our transfer policy. Old timers beyond their sell by date on extortionate wages don’t work, it’s as simple as that!

It’s become a recurring theme in recent weeks that sizeable numbers of supporters are beginning to get worried by our current predicament (judging from the forums posts).

One of Jewell’s finest attributes is his ability to 'talk', frequently to say the least. Now it’s all well and good saying, “We need to look to the future, Financial Fair Play will come in soon”, but while Jewell continues to talk the talk, I get the impression a number of us are doubting his ability to these words into action.

Early signs don’t seem particularly promising. We’ve been linked with the likes of Paul Green, Dean Marney and Jamie Coppinger. Fair enough, a couple of these would probably be sound acquisitions, but it’s not sending out the right message. Back in January we were subject to transfer speculation regarding the likes of Matt Ritchie, Tyrone Barnett, and Jamie Vardy. For us, this was surely very exciting news.

So here’s the problem: good quality Championship players in their mid-twenties are potentially demanding high wages and bigger clubs will snap them up (eg Adam Clayton just transfer listed by Leeds). We’re geographically not ideal. We’ve spent the last decade slogging it out in the Championship with a gradual decline over that period.

If that wasn’t enough, we’re now formulating a reputation based on filling our team with old timers at the expense of young, hungry potential. Is Ipswich Town really an attractive proposition any more? No wonder so many recent transfer negotiations have failed miserably during Jewell’s tenure.

Now logic surely comes to the fore, with Financial Fair Play looming, we need to cut potential costs and build a hungry, efficient unit. If younger players can be guaranteed at least a game every now and then, there’s no reason why Ipswich wouldn’t suit both parties; the younger players will get a pay rise and play football at a higher level. The wages wouldn’t be a financial strain on us. Aaron Cresswell should justify what I’ve just said perfectly.

All successful teams will make a few astute additions to their squad in a transfer window (eg Reading). That’s where we’ve got a big problem, the spine of our team needs some strengthening:

Damien Delaney - Adequate backup, ultimately not good enough.

Tommy Smith - Bags of potential, will still make errors, perhaps a first team contender if we want to show ambition.

Andy Drury - Really impressed, does the simple things effectively, should be given a regular opportunity at first team level providing another centre midfielder compliments his attributes.

Luke Hyam - Worked well with Drury, very risky to consider him a first-teamer, sufficient back-up nevertheless.

Ryan Stevenson - Probably an average player for this level, potentially a very useful player next season, should be on the fringes of the first team.

Jimmy Bullard - Everyone knows his ability, if he gets his head together (unlikely), then he’s first team material next season. I don’t like him in a 4-4-2, could potentially do a decent job in Lee Martin’s position behind the striker, with Martin switching to the wing. This is probably unrealistic though.

Jason Scotland - Great player at this level despite his age, will chip in with the odd goal, hold up play is second to none, should be second in command to Chopra.

Michael Chopra - By his standards, not a great season, proven goal-scorer at this level, first team material.

Ronan Murray - Decent stint at Swindon, would have been better used at a side where he started most games. I don’t believe he’s ready for Championship football yet, another season on loan at a League Two club could reap the benefits.

So, in hindsight this core of players needs strengthening, let’s look at our ideal A team and B team for next season (at the moment).

First XI
GK: ?
RB: Carlos Edwards
CB: ?
CB: Tommy Smith (maybe)
LB: Aaron Cresswell
RM: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
CM: Andy Drury
CM: ?
LM: Josh Carson (maybe)
CAM: Lee Martin
CF: Michael Chopra

Ideally, an adequate replacement for every position would put us in a stable position.

Second XI
GK: Arran Lee- Barrett
RB: Jack Ainsley (maybe)
CB: Tommy Smith (maybe)
CB: Damien Delaney
LB: Joe Whight
RM: Cormac Burke (maybe, unlikely)
CM: Ryan Stevenson
CM: Luke Hyam
LM: Josh Carson (maybe)
CAM: Jimmy Bullard
CF: Jason Scotland

Summer recruiting priorities
GK: Tomasz Kuszczak and Colin Doyle have been linked. Doyle is more likely to come in search of first team football, I reckon he’s probably good enough. However, if a deal doesn’t go ahead, I’m sure Jewell will look to utilise the loan market.

CB: A centre back is the necessity, it’s essential we find someone who is key player material. The question is who? First, they’re expensive, secondly, who’s going to sell a quality centre-back? We may have to take an almighty risk and go for a younger player who’s impressed in the lower leagues, we should be prepared to pay a premium price. Ideally, another centre-half in addition to that is probably necessary.

That’s where Joel Ward comes in, equally adept at playing anywhere in defence and midfield. A utility player of his ability would be so useful. Once again, offering him big wages would be advisable, otherwise other clubs will inevitably snap him up.

CM: A box to box player would be brilliant, would complement Andy Drury’s game. Joel Ward could play there, but we’ve got to look for a specialist player. MK Dons' 23-year-old Stephen Gleeson could fit the bill. Other possible signings could be Cheltenham Town's 21-year-old Marlon Pack, just voted in PFA League Two Team of the Year. Alongside him in that select XI was Eunan O’Kane, another 21-year-old who plays for Torquay United.

A winger, preferably LM
Jamie Coppinger has been subject to speculation, he would be a handy addition. Matt Ritchie carries a big reputation, but Swindon will be demanding a premium price. Jason Puncheon is another player who stands out and seemingly struggles to get a game at Southampton. He could be seeking first team football.

CF: One new striker will do, 24-year-old Jamie Vardy carries a hefty price tag, but could be worth the risk. Gary Madine, 21, is another player who stands out. If Sheffield Wednesday fail to gain promotion, he could be worth a punt. Twenty-seven-year-old Izale McLeod is a surprising player who springs to mind, blessed with pace and a natural goal-scoring ability. He’s scored 22 goals in Barnet’s relegation-threatened campaign, very impressive.

Other possibilities
Huddersfield’s 21-year-old right-back Jack Hunt
Swindon’s 24-year-old right-back Paul Caddis (previously linked)
Crewe’s 18-year-old Nick Powell (very unlikely)
Crewe’s 17-year-old striker Max Clayton (very unlikely)

Well, that’s that, our season will be defined by this summer's transfer business. It’s inevitable fans want an instant return to the Premier League, but the fact is, this isn’t going to happen, not in this financial climate.

A mid-table finish with a younger, fresher looking team is by no means a failure. The logistics are simple, we have to build for the future. Evans quick-fix spending hasn’t worked, and won’t work in the future. Whether Jewell has the managerial shrewdness to sign the right young players will define his tenure here, I’m not feeling entirely optimistic.

mal1978 added 10:18 - May 4 watched eastleigh v sutton utd this season, eastleigh won 4-0 and some kiddy scored a hat trick, looked useful and was confident in front of goal, would be worth scouting IMO, took all his chances and nearly scored an ocerhead kick, go watch!
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Keaneish added 10:34 - May 4 Good blog and sums up exactly where we are to date! I have a few alterations on potential players for the starting 11 and positions but that's just my opinion on football! Some great recommendations for purchases this summer. I'd love to see the likes of a Caddis, Ritchie an someone like a Mcleod come in but ultimately a lot of transfers are going to be frees. This isn;t necessarily a bad thing though, there are some great bargains to be had at present. The likes of Joe Lewis, Luke Chambers, Adam Clayton etc... I have to agree though, all these recent links to date have hardly got be excited! I wanted us to hit this transfer window with determinate and renewed vigour following a rubbish campaign and although it's early days, i'm already feeling a little like it's going to be the Ipswich of recent years in this summer's dealings! If ME is balancing the books on fees, i'd go for: 1 - Joe Lewis 2 - Luke Chambers 3 - Adam Clayton 4 - Joel Ward 5 - Ben Parker 6 - Connor Wickham Loan If ME wants to shell out to the maximum 5 million of the FFP scheme, i'd go with: 1 - Keiran Westwood 2 - Jason Pearce 3 - Joel Ward 4 - Jordan Rhodes 5 - Matt Ritchie 6 - Sammy Clingan

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ITFC1985 added 11:01 - May 4 Joe Lewis on a free is a good shout Keanish! Not sure we'd be able to get the players you mentioned for under £5mil though lol Huddersfield would probably want £4mil - £5mil alone for Rhodes!! Some decent hardworking players in the list though, the kind of players i feel we need
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Keaneish added 11:20 - May 4 Agreed ITFC1985! He's going to go for big money! Not sure he's ready for the Prem yet so maybe a Championship club...but who's got that money to spend? Leicester? Speaking of Leicester...i heard Beckford fell out with Pearson! I wonder...?
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Mungo added 14:04 - May 4 Mark Ellis has been the lynchpin of a very tight Torquay defence over the past few years. He's 23 and I believe his contract expires in the summer, so could be available for a relatively small fee. Also, and at the risk of proving unpopular, Ryan Nelson is out of contract at Spurs in the summer. Over 30 I know, but I wonder if he would be interested in playing alongside Tommy Smith to help his development for club and country? Would also like us to have a look at Ledesma, who I understand has saved Walsall from relegation almost single handedly two years running and, if I can remember correctly, can play up front of wide left...

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saffronblue added 14:21 - May 4 Good blog, still think we need a proper RB, Carlos plays his heart out but I still think his positional sense is poor, I would play him on the RW and move JET to LW. Adam Smith would fit the bill. Pearce signed for Leeds earlier but St Ledger may still be an option. Would prefer Westwood over Lewis, what about Fraser Foster from Newcastle?
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Ipswich24 added 15:02 - May 4 Westwood in goal and bring in Joe Lewis too. Adam Smith right back Joel Ward utility Mcfazden from Crawley Centre back we need to go all out for Matt Ritchie and Powell from Crewe yes will cost a bit but will make profit on them when sell
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Reece_ITFC added 11:09 - May 5 there are only a couple of signings i would like ipswich to sign this season, we need a quick striker and can finish and is calm in front of goal, someone like Jay Rodriguez, he has been quality for Burnley this season and is still only young!! we need a comited center half who isnt scared to make a tackle, like mcfazdean frm crawley, and a box-to-box center midfielder who can defend, score and be a leader, like david Norris, i dont know why we let him go! another good signing would be mcleod from Barnet :)

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buryblue77 added 13:27 - May 5 Good blog and a good evaluation of where we really are. the trouble is, too many fans live in the past, we are a small club who got lucky but since the 80's when we met our demise we've not really been in the running. Five seasons in the Premier League and two relegations in its twenty years does not automatically give us the right to be up there. I would however see anything below a top half finish as failure, outside play offs is not where we want to be either, but with so many strong teams, FFP coming in and all the revenue that the relegated clubs bring down then competing with them will become increasingly difficult. I like the list of players you've suggested too. This summer is going to be an interesting one and could well shape the way our club is going for a few years to come.

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Lightningboy added 20:53 - May 5 Ryan Nelson would be a very good signing BUT only if he's fully fit - we don't want the Ingimarsson situation yet again. Adam Clayton would be another good signing and could fit in very well alongside Drury. Still think we should be going for Westwood as a GK. I just hope Jewell doesn't go down the loan market route again - it sends out the wrong signals from the start - don't mind the odd one but that's it - the odd one. George Boyd is another one out of contract isn't he?..worth a go?

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bluearmy4life added 09:17 - May 7 Keaneish..... I like your targets if Marcus Evans spends £5 million on getting those calibre of players in. I would like to think we would be challenging with those additions.
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SheffieldBlue1 added 21:01 - May 7 Good blog here, sums up very well our current situation. The point raised that i found intriguing is the issue of possible centre back additions. Everyone is firmly agreed that a CB is a prerogative, but no-one is able to name who this should be. Usually in this sort of situation I would have a shortlist of 3-4 players that i would believe to be suitable, mostly due to a mild Football manager obsession, a basically non existent love life and a love for anything ITFC related, but here i find myself stumped. No player is jumping out as a potential candidate, not in terms of a current PL player not getting game time or a Lower league player who could fit the bill. In January I hesitantly outlined James Perch from Newcastle, who at the time was a bit of a laughing stock in the toon, but he since has had a resurgence and has started against both Chelsea and Man City, so no longer seems a viable option. At RB i think Adam Smith from Spurs is worth a phonecall for sure. Young and talent, and definitely not going to usurp Kyle Walker in the 1st XI, he could be looking for regular first team football. Whilst on the phone with the Tottenham hierachy, i'd also mention how Andros Townsend looks like a man who needs a permanant home who would love him dearly, as i believe he would fit in nicely on the left wing, possibly for not a lot of money. Keaneish, once again I find you speaking a lot of sense and find your targets well thought out and viable. But once again you bring up the issue that i believe is haunting our club - 'Ambition vs Stability'. Clegg will be the one that decides this, and i personally think if given the choice between Matt Richie and Dean Marney, he will choose the later safer financial option, as opposed to the more talented player. The two players that strike me as interesting potential signings are Adam Clayton and Sammy Clingan. Clayton obviously has some potential, but I have to admit i have limited knowledge of his actual ability, but there seems to be a general consensus that he would be a positive addition to our squad. I think, perhaps, this is because he more creative that our current CMs? As for Clingan, obviously he has a Norwich past, but putting this aside would he be a good addition? I rate him as a player, but think he might be very similar to our current CMs, such as Hyam, Drury, Stevenson etc, as in he's not exactly a creative force, which i believe is what any new CM needs to have in abundance.

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TractorClarke added 17:26 - May 15 Mr Blogger mentioned on here that Chopra has not provided this season or something along those lines, i dont agree my opinion of course but i would like to point out that even though he had an addiction and was in rehab and had spells out of the side he still got double figures for the season. In fairness to chops that is pretty good going to be going through what he was and to do that is quite good, i also think he will be very good next season.

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