I return home from Ipswich’s 2-1 defeat at home to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and I think to myself, ‘How much hope do we have? Will we ever reach up and grab that golden ticket into the Premier League?’

As I sit at home I wonder if we are in for another ‘So close, yet so far’ kind of season. One where we look so promising up until February, and then we lose it in the next few months, cementing our place in mid-table, then suddenly bolting out of the traps for the last few games.

It has been 14 years since we got relegated in May of 2002 under George Burley, and we are still stuck in the Championship trying to claw our way out, but losing our grip when it matters. I think to myself, 'Who’s to blame?’ Is it the managers, is it Marcus, is it the players, or is it us, the fans?

Everyone has minor responsibility for the position we are in, and I’m not sure how much longer the fans can hold out for. ‘We need a new chairman’, ‘We need to spend more money’, ‘We need a new full-back.’ All of these things that the fans want is not being delivered adequately.

The title of this blog, ‘Where do we go from here,’ is about our prospects for the new season, and looking what we have on offer this season, and whether or not we can compete with the teams in our league.

In my honest opinion, we have one of the best Championship-quality managers I have ever seen grace the dugout, his experience, his accolades and his qualities have been shown through various managerial positions, such as his work at Sunderland and Wolves.

No one can deny the fact we have a great manager in our grasp, and I can admit we are quite lucky to have him. When you look at the other clubs at the start of pre-season and you see that teams like Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Derby, Watford and Southampton were all looking at acquiring new managers, I thought King Mick would have been out the door in a flash, but he has stayed loyal to our great club, and he deserves the plaudits he is getting.

Now the real issue, the players. Yes, some of the players we have are top-tier Championship quality, even borderline Premier League quality if we look at Teddy Bishop, Tommy Smith and Andre Dozzell (I point out Smith because he is young and has been wanted by a few Premier League teams recently) but there are some players on the teamsheet that I don’t think deserve to be there.

To begin with, I have no worries in goal. Bartosz Bialkowski and Dean Gerken are both outstanding Championship quality keepers, who are both very good between the sticks. Of course, they’re not as good as people like Tim Krul, John Ruddy, David Stockdale and Lee Grant, but they are good enough to keep us in and around the play-offs this year, I hope.

The main issue for me is the defence. The signing of Adam Webster is a real coup for our side in my opinion. He was decent today in the loss, and I know that all the fans are ecstatic to see a right-footed centre-back play in the middle.

Adding in Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra, we have three very good Championship centre-backs, who in my eyes will all eventually play in the Premier League. Berra with a newly-promoted side, and Smith and Webster with a mid-table to bottom-half team, but they are very good to have. Back-ups like Piotr Malarzyck and Paul Digby are good to have as cover, barring the fact they don’t play as much.

The full-backs however, are my biggest concern. Now I know not many people will like me slating Luke Chambers, but I do not think he should be playing at right-back this season. When you’ve gone players like Daryl Janmaat, Liam Rosenior, Cyrus Christie all bombing down the wing with speed, you’ll cause problems for other teams full-backs, but Chambers doesn’t have that speed to match.

I’m not saying get rid of Chambers, not at all, I’m just saying he is much better suited to a centre-back role. Replacement-wise, what about Kieron Freeman from Sheffield United, we were reported to be looking at him in the summer, I don’t know why that stopped.

We all know Mick likes a free signing, what about Dwight Tiendalli released from Swansea, Jordan Spence released from West Ham. There are endless amounts of players available at right-back, just waiting to be snatched up

Then we get to Jonas Knudsen. Sigh, what do we do with him? I know he has the potential to be a very good left-back, but he is no Aaron Cresswell or Tyrone Mings. He is just not good enough to be playing for us right now.

You look at some of the left-backs for other Championship sides, and you see Charlie Taylor for Leeds, Massadio Haïdara at Newcastle, Robbie Brady at Norwich and you think to yourself, why can't we have someone of that quality?

Ben Coker of Southend has been looked at by Reading, so why not see if you can do a deal with him? Yes, it will cost Marcus Evans some money, and we know how he is with money, but you might as well give it a try, to move Knudsen out of the team.

I’m quite happy with the middle of midfield right now, especially with the strength in depth we have. Cole Skuse is a natural-born Championship midfielder, always in the right place to snuff out any danger. The first goal from RUSG today may have gone through him but it was only because of a missed header by, yep, Jonas Knudsen, sigh.

Kevin Bru and Teddy Bishop will be fighting it out all season long to partner Skuse in the middle, with them both showing a new attacking aspect of their game, especially what I saw with Bru today.

Having Luke Hyam and Jonny Douglas as back-up helps with injuries, with Douglas able to fill in for Skuse and with Hyam showing a hint of attack last season, he could work as a replacement as well.

I struggle to see Giles Coke getting many games this year to be honest, but I’m very much looking forward to seeing Andre Dozzell in action once more.

Everyone knows the problem we have with wingers at the moment, losing Ryan Fraser, Jay Tabb, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Larsen Touré last season, leaving us with only Cameron Stewart to carry the ship. But from what I saw of trialist Roland Lamah, if he signs on the dotted line, I would consider that I step in the right direction.

Maybe the addition of another winger might help. Gabriel Obertan was released by Newcastle, I know his wages will be high, but it’s a possibility. Ryan Hall is a rapid winger released by Luton at the end of the season, could come in as cover. Young players in the Premier League not getting first team action could make the trip down to the east coast, who knows.

I still feel like we have one of the best selection of strikers available in the league, no doubt about it. They each offer something special that needs to be combined together.

Daryl Murphy, on record our best striker, has the strength that gives defenders a nightmare when he is up against them, needs a ball to feet to help him out. There’s no point playing a ball behind the last line of defence, expecting to run onto it, as he doesn’t have speed in his game.

Freddie Sears, on the other hand does. He needs the ball played over the top or flicked on by Murphy, as that is his main outlet. He will terrorise defences for 80-90 minutes, not giving them a moment to breathe, but not without the right service.

Sadly for Brett Pitman he doesn’t have the speed of Sears or the strength of Murphy, but what he does have is incredible finishing ability. You saw it at Bournemouth a few years ago, here last year, and in pre-season. He knows where the back of the net is, no doubt about it.

David McGoldrick has the technical ability of a central attacking midfielder, and the touch of an artist, but he doesn’t have any speed or strength to match.

Each striker has there own individual ability, but none of them can combine it all together. Hearing reports of us enquiring about Ross McCormack made me confused, intrigued and having a five per cent chance of happening.

But for me we don’t need another first team striker to add to the squad. Maybe someone young on loan with a bit of pace for the final 20 minutes of a game, but no one special. Spend the money on full-backs, PLEASE.

I know this will be quite long, and I apologise for me blabbing on for so long, but it is my true feelings for the season ahead. However, I’m always the optimist. Hell, I’ve been following Arsenal for 13 years, and that my friends, is a struggle.

But I’m hopeful that with the right money, the right players and the right mentality, my question of ‘Where do we go from here?’ is answered with… The Holy Grail. The Promised Land. The Barclays Premier League. COYB

BrettenhamBlue added 06:18 - Jul 31 Very well written. Sadly I think if we get our crop of usual injuries we will suffer a series of calamoutous results. We have next to no chance of getting back into the Premier League this year. If results go badly for us and injuries abound we could exit the league the other way though. Coke, Stewart, Malarcyk are disastrous errors waiting to happen. Murphy looks past his best and if he gets injured our usual style of play (hit it long) is scuppered. If I was Mick I would be looking to sign another target man just in case. Emile Heskey is available and even though his age is against him I would snap him up right now as cover. Chambers at rb is a liability. Spence is an excellent alternative, though Foley would have sufficed. Knudsen needs to be a back up player and agree that we need a new lb urgently. Let's not even start on our wingers!

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GFH added 11:32 - Jul 31 Personally I'm trying to be optimistic about the season ahead but realistically I can't see how it can be any better than previous ones, but you never know 90 points and promoted by April would be good!
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Surco72 added 13:29 - Jul 31 How has MM showed loyalty ? Not one club came in for him and the ones you mentioned are premier league or looking for a very quick return to a league Mick has consistently failed at . We need a top class keeper , Bart is ok Gerks is poor , we need two attacking full backs who can cross for the modern game , a hard defensive midfielder who really protects the back four , two pacy wingers and a new tactical approach to our game apart from that we will win the league

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miltonsnephew added 13:49 - Jul 31 Get jack Harrison in from New York city fc where Lampard and Pirlo are playing, 19 and a Winger and English. Looks a great prospect.
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CambridgeBlue added 18:22 - Jul 31 First thing I'd want to do as one of the most promising players in the US and the no 1 draft pick is leave New York for sunny Ipswich.
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jas0999 added 18:30 - Jul 31 We are a long way off having a team capable of challenging for promotion. Our back up keeper can't be relied on; we don't have a top right back; no wingers or attacking goal scoring central midfielder and for me we are a striker light. An actual goal scorer. Murphy is past his best and McGokdrick injury prone.
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miltonsnephew added 18:34 - Jul 31 Yes Cambridge blue I agree but in this day money talks and if we offer a good wage maybe the lad would want to come home to the uk!! You never know
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Oldozblue added 10:35 - Aug 1 Let's face it we are nearer Colchester with our emphasis on frees and loans than top Championship Challengers like Villa, Newcastle or Norwich. We will be doing very well to avoid a relegation battle which looks increasingly likely given our pre-season form. The rest of the league has moved on - have we?
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Pilgrimblue added 22:01 - Aug 3 A good summary but it really emphasises our shortcomings. We've not got good enough full backs, our style of play from the defence is hampered by players like Berra and Smith who have no confidence in bringing out the ball and passing forwards and a midfield that's marginalised by balls flying over their heads so rely on scraps by winning balls from tackles or picking up mistakes by opposition. i can't disagree about our forwards as Murphy should have been sold last season along with McGoldrick and funds used to buy replacements. No brainer selling players at the top of their value , now both are worthless! I'm still not sure about MM. Yes he's stablised the Club and he found some gems (Sears Mings) but his style of play is killing our dream. Managers like Howe would get better results from the same squad by encouraging passing and attacking formations. For example Douglas did well at Brentford in attacking role but under MM he looks very poor. And Sears looks a 20+ goals a season but he's been used out wide! As for ME, none of us are aware of his plans. He threw money at previous managers but now seems happy to just chug along going nowhere. Fans are deserting in their thousands as they become more detatched from the Club they love. This has left MM relying on youth and loans to bolster his regulars. Under Burley we had entertainment, style, flair and expectation, quite the opposite from now. Things must change and quickly.

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TomTheWriter added 00:15 - Aug 4 completely agree with what you are saying pilgrimblue, we have to many players that are seemingly scared of receiving the ball at their feet and running with it. i feel that the signing of Webster is a step in the right direction in terms of nice looking football, as he is willing to retrieve the ball and look for a pass rather than smack it up the field for Murphy. The only others i can think of he look to play the pass rather than punt it is Skuse and Bishop, but it is not enough. MM needs to bring in a few players who know how to pass, whilst also bringing in a few who know how to run with the ball. I hope Grant Ward is someone who likes having the ball at his feet, cause if not, then its more money gone down the drain

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Penguinblue added 07:17 - Aug 4 I disagree with you about McCarthy but like your optimism.. The single best thing Town can do to improve is to dispense with his services. He could not manage in the Premier league so little point keeping him to try and hoof us out of the Championship. Getting rid of him would end the nonsense of Chambers at right back and the other nonsensical selections and negative tactics.

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Pilgrimblue added 09:56 - Aug 4 My sentiment entirely penguin, we can only hope that another team wants him more than we do! Sadly we've got him to 2018 by which timewe'll probably be in no better place than wher ehe found us. But maybe he'll go by Christmas and leave Klug in charge, one can only hope.
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