 Neither the Culture Club Nor the Crazy GangWritten by Edmundo on Wednesday, 2nd Nov 2016 20:49 Having read the recent blogs, I am more concerned than ever that Ipswich Town FC as we know it is on the slide. The thing is, if a club is something other than its history and its fans, then what is it? An asset? A small business? More than the current on pitch performance, we have seen the slide in ambition from the club. Compare where we are now with previous times: 1989: The club misses out on the play-offs for the second season running, with some poor football being played under John Duncan. However, memories are fresh from the halcyon days of a mere seven years previously, there is heritage at the helm as the board of directors, though stung by their Pioneer Stand debts, still have the ambition to push to get us "Back Where We Belong" (remember that poster in 1992?) A year later enough is enough, Duncan became the first manager to be sacked at Portman Road and the rest is history. 1997: After narrowly failing to beat Sheffield United in the play-offs, George Burley's rapidly improving squad is beset by injuries as the 1997/98 season gets off to a poor start. However, this leads to the unveiling of some exciting new talent both from the youth set up (Kieron Dyer gets a lot of games) and in the form of signings. Play-off heartache awaits for another two seasons, but hope springs eternal as Burley's entertaining teams always did. Now, after a thoroughly exciting first half to the 2014/15 season, Town limp into the play-offs and are given the coup de grace by the Scum. We then endure a downward spiral in performances and results. Academy ambition lies in creating enough talent to either sell or have on the bench as back-up. Meanwhile, Norwich, never poor investors in local youth, take the cream of local talent. The owner/yes-men of the board keep schtum about any kind of plan. The manager has little connection to the club beyond wearing the tracksuit and has no affiliation to the fans. Fans desert the ground, and more and more local kids start wearing Spurs/Arsenal/West Ham tops as there is not the slightest hint of any 'pull' towards Town. How long before the players have enough? How long before he 'loses the dressing room'? I am ashamed to say it, but I hope that he does, because then Mick McCarthy will go. But do we really stand any hope in hell whilst there is such a disconnect between the club and the community? These are dark days. Keep the faith, but don't throw stones at those who have lost theirs. Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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