Town boss Roy Keane feels expectations are probably lower than they were a year ago after last season’s disappointing 15th place finish in the Championship. The Town manager is determined to avoid a repeat of the dreadful start which saw the Blues drop to the bottom of the table in the early stages of 2009/10.

Keane said: “I wouldn’t say expectations are greater than last year because we finished 15th and have lost some players. Jack Colback won our Player of the Year, both from the supporters and the players and he’s gone, we’ve not added and we’ve lost two experienced players [David Wright and Richard Wright].

“So, if anything the expectations are if anything are probably lower. But we set ourselves high standards at the club, we didn’t reach them last year and we certainly need to do better.

“We certainly need to have a better start. From October onwards our form was half-decent but we had such a bad start, not winning for the first 14 games never gave us a chance.

“The priority this year is to have a good pre-season and make sure we start the season better.”

Keane reiterated his intention that 17-year-old striker Connor Wickham will be part of his 2010/11 side: “We hope so. He’s just signed a two-year contract, but decisions like that ultimately would be taken out of my hands by the owner.

“Connor’s got the potential to be a top, top player, but that’s potential. He did very well towards the end of the season but to put pressure on a young boy of 17 to fire us into the Premiership is a big ask.

“He needs a bit of support around him and it’s up to the other players - Jon Walters, Tamás Priskin, Lee Martin, Pablo, whoever might be here - to support him. Let’s not be too dependent on one player. We’ve seen that with England with Rooney and it doesn’t work, I’m afraid.”

The Blues begin their pre-season fixtures next Tuesday when a Town XI travels to Newmarket with a more senior side in action at Southend on the following Friday.

Photo: Action Images

cheeseboy added 14:54 - Jun 29 reality - we have the wrong chairman, chief exec. and manager. bring back sheepshanks!
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bluearmy4life added 14:56 - Jun 29 Something behind the scenes is not right at all. I really thought this season coming it would be all positivity in pre-season bringing new faces in, Assistant manager joining us really trying are god damn harderst to make next season a successful one? If keane is trying to bring in chopra and co its about time SG ME does everything they can to bring in quality players to town. I personally don't see the point in SG being @ ITFC anyway he is an olympic specialist not a football one.

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jas0999 added 15:02 - Jun 29 I would agree. If we fail to sign a couple of decent players, I doubt we will reach the play-offs. The expectation last year was to win the league after all the hype of Roy's arrival - so in fairness the expectation must be lower. Probably not a bad thing. Roy is probably trying to play down our chances to reduce the pressure.
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pippaine added 15:24 - Jun 29 We will not miss either of the wrights they where not going to imrove with age, but in o'conner eastman and smith plus a few others coming through we are in better shape than before I have faith in the youngsters coming through, also if fit civelli and i'm sure a couple of good signings will work wonders
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belfasttractor added 15:46 - Jun 29 Don't like the sound of this!
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tractorboybig added 15:53 - Jun 29 I have a funny feeling about this. reading between the lines I think our ticket tout owner needs us as a tax loss. Buying race horses is far more important. His empire needs a loss leader product, and boy he has it.
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yorkshire added 16:11 - Jun 29 Ian Holloway will not rush into new Blackpool signings Blackpool manager Ian Holloway says he will not be rushed into making additions to his squad ahead of their debut season in the Premier League. Holloway has yet to make any signings since the club won promotion in May. "We're doing lots and lots of things but there's nothing in the papers yet and there won't be for quite a few weeks," he told the club website. "I've got the chairman looking at 16, 17, different players, asking clubs about them and what they'd accept." Holloway's side were promoted from the Championship after beating Cardiff City 3-2 in the play-off final. And the former Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City manager says he wants to retain the spirit that saw the club secure victory at Wembley. "What I want to do is get the characters right because I don't want to lose what we've got here, I think it's really special," he said. "The lads deserve other people coming in with the same attitude, not just to pick up money. "They'll have to come for the right reason, which isn't their wage packet - it'll be wanting to play in the Premiership for Blackpool."

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IpswichElvis added 16:15 - Jun 29 Sad fact about the comment above is that Blackpool's revenues far surpass ours now. With the money they make this season combined with their parachute payments when they come down mean they may have stronger purchasing power than us. That's why we need a manager who is not clueless and who can get us up into the Premier. It's becoming clear to even the pro-Keano's that Roy is NOT the boy. By the way, where all all the starstruck smitten pro-Keane dimwits today? Must be a line to jump over the bridge is there?

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multipulemicky added 16:21 - Jun 29 please god no not another season like last season! anybody want to buy my season ticket off me? going to put it on ebay
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yorkshire added 16:36 - Jun 29 Maybe Elvis they are just sick and tired of reading the same old crap from so called Ipswich fans. And as for Mr Multiplemicky - I wonder why you bother coming down to Portman Road anyway - if you want to sell your season ticket a month before the season even starts then I am surprised you bought it in the first place !!
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Surco72 added 16:37 - Jun 29 keane stop whinging about not being able to sign players and try managing and getting the best out of the very capable squad we have like holloway did at blackpool,like souza dis at swansea,pearson at leicester none of them spent millions last season like we did they just played as a team , unit and for each other and their manager. big name players or signings do not guarentee a team look at englands individuals and their failings

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ipswichfrancis added 16:59 - Jun 29 i have a feeling RK will walk away if results do not show for the first 10 games this season...... RK has shown us that he's really pathetic last season, don't see things improve much this season as long as he is still around! Face the truth!
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Burer added 17:13 - Jun 29 “I wouldn't say expectations are greater than last year because we finished 15th and have lost some players. Jack Colback won our Player of the Year, both from the supporters and the players and he's gone, we've not added and we've lost two experienced players [David Wright and Richard Wright]. ..........................and you're still our manager.
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Mark added 18:03 - Jun 29 Like others, I find the comment about having "lost" two experienced players unbelieveable when we chose to give them away! As for expectations, how can then be lower now than a year ago? Since then we have bought a £850K defender, a £1.5M winger, a £1.3M winger, a £2.5M central midfielder, a £100K central midfielder, a £1.7M striker and some free transfers. That is big investment. As for Evans and Clegg, if they will not push for promotion then surely Evans will get no return on his money. I think they have to either fund Keane and back him, or sack him and bring someone new in. Keeping him here without proper funding could see us getting relegated, and certain will throw away a golden chance to go up (a league with no Newcastle and no West Brom). Keane clearly only values a few players and I can't see him motivating players he has tried to get rid of, dropped and upset.

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Eireannach_gorm added 18:18 - Jun 29 Nice one gypo! so its: Casper Ankergren -GK Frank Queudrue - LB Steve Finnan- RB Jan Vennegor of Hesselink -CF Clinton Morrison - CF No need for Mr. Evans Or if he wants to get involved, Martin Petrov, Jay Demerit, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack! Those two Ipswich guys look good!!
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Eireannach_gorm added 18:28 - Jun 29 and Mikael Silvestre at left back.
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noitan added 18:40 - Jun 29 Mark. It is going to be very difficult for him to motivate those he has tried to get rid of. Some were told at end of last season that they were not in his plans and to look for other clubs. Now it seems as though there is difficulty in getting them out and also bringing in the " characters " he wanted. RK seems to be implying in his recent statements that there is going to be little if any movement in. That is how things stand at the moment, of course this could change and new players may appear but at this moment in time things don't look too good on the transfer front, either in or out.

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cheeseboy added 18:43 - Jun 29 we need a manager who has a clue in the transfer market. quite ridiculous. there have been so so so many bad signings. We have to face reality - who the hell wants to play for Roy? Please prove me wrong Mr Keane - show me you give a flying fig about this club and the football we are playing. I will gladly eat my hat if we have more than 10 points after our first ten games.

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kentblue added 20:29 - Jun 29 Keane is trying to protect himself by lowering the expectations - it looks like a season of struggle, more sulks and rants from the manager with ITFC busy going nowhere.! ( until RK GOES !)
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blue_moon09 added 21:24 - Jun 29 This is great entertainment like all Norwich fans this is music to our ears sounds like you tractor boys are in turmoil. None of you like KEANO, no players new players in, fans not renewing season tickets, plenty of spare blue seats at PR. Sold every week at Carrow Road!! Can't wait for the season to start were on the UP
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generalpublic added 08:55 - Jun 30 expectations ......the only one we have is that miserable roy will get the boot 1 year to late...16th place this season
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:37 - Jun 30 good point noitan, Keane now has to motivate players that he would happily have got rid of , do's that sound like road to success ,dont think so.Some of us take sh;t for ''being negative'' ,even Keane is now ,so wake you Keane worshippers, the game is up .
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h32 added 17:43 - Jun 30 Surely everyone must now be asking this question: - WHAT EVER HAS HAPPENED TO OUR ONCE PROUD AND GREAT CLUB ?? Cannot beleive the total lack of activity during the close season, in terms of preparation for the coming season. Even the 'super optimists' must now be seeing what we tried so hard to get across to them last season. Much optimism? - I THINK NOT - but hope, above hope, otherwise.

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h32 added 18:05 - Jun 30 Has this club ever faced a season in such a despondent mood throughout ? - I personally can't remember a scenario as dire as this. So much for the 'head honcho' and his money!!! - mind you after last seasons 'blow' of around 8 million, maybe you can understand caution - if that's the case RK should have gone at the end of last season, and we reset to zero with a new Manager ....................... just thoughts ............... born out of much frustration.

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shoopdelang added 12:20 - Jul 1 I love his honesty, all be it brutal and unforgiving at times. He always speaks his mind regardless of who likes or doesnt like it.
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