Town boss Roy Keane says he expects current top two QPR and Cardiff to fill the automatic promotion places in what he otherwise expects to be the tightest Championship in years. The Blues boss sees his own side as one of a number chasing the play-off places.

Keane said: “I think the two teams that have the best chance of promotion will be QPR and Cardiff and then there’ll be a battle between all the others.

“And I’m including the likes of Portsmouth, the teams that are capable of going on a run of games, in that.

"Middlesbrough too, if they get the right new manager, you just don’t know what’s going to happen. Forest, Swansea have had a great start to the season, we saw Watford the other night, Norwich.

“We just hope we’re in the mix. I think it will be a lot tighter between the next few teams, but I would still fancy Cardiff and QPR in terms of the automatic promotion places and then there’s a battle for the next four.”

Keane believes gamblers need to be careful with their money: “If you’re a betting man, never touch the Championship on your coupon; you just never know what you’re going to get.”

Photo: Action Images

chripswich added 15:31 - Oct 22 read my blogs and you will see i like Keano for his honesty and his entertainment factor... BUT... this is the most stupid thing he has ever said.. imagine dressing room banter "well the gaffer doesnt expect us to get into top 2 so f**k it..lets just see about the play offs..." stupid stupid stupid.. and what would Marcus Evans think of that... the mind boggles sometimes..

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rubberblood added 15:37 - Oct 22 mmm yes i do wonder sometimes about his comments. Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people
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whoppit added 15:37 - Oct 22 Keano had this to say when he took over at Ipswich "I enjoy working with ambitious people; they want to get back in the Premiership. A lot of people in life don't have ambition". So, Roy - I take it you have lowered your ambitions to the play off's have you?? But it's okay, any idiot can get promoted from the championship can't they Roy?
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dubblue added 15:42 - Oct 22 Agree not the best thing to say if you want to motivate the players. the play-offs are such a lotto.
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Bluetone added 16:06 - Oct 22 The man's a bloody moron. That'll do wonders for player moral. Nothing like the gaffer saying we're not good enough it might motivate some to say we'll show him but others will think it's not worth trying then.
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JayITFC added 16:10 - Oct 22 If he thinks the top 2 is done and dusted then he has already failed in this '2 year promotion plan' nonsense as the playoffs are just a lottery. Chances of getting their are slim and after that you've only got a 25% chance.
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Blue92 added 16:11 - Oct 22 He's called Norwich promotion contenders - however true this may turn out to be, it's not a great thing for him to be saying as Ipswich manager. Imagine the uproar he'd have caused if he had said that Manchester City would win the prem when he was at united, or worse still, if he'd have said that Rangers were better than Celtic when he was with them. (Although as a Celtic fan himself, he never would have)... but you see what I mean?

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Karlosius added 16:20 - Oct 22 @Blue92 He hasn't said Norwick will win the league. And he didn't suggest Norwich were better than us. As for his comments. Granted, maybe not the best thing to come out with publically. It is true though.
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bleedblue added 16:46 - Oct 22 He's doing a Mancini guys..... "Chelsea cant be stopped to win the Title" Then ManCity beat them 1-0 and are now 2 points behind! Its a spin to the press and to keep everyone talking. He would have told the players about such report, and no manager in the position he is in, would say we cannot achieve 1st or 2nd place. God, people get so ropped into comments made so quickly, take a step back, and think about it, some of you think Keane is just trying to get himself sacked or something, if he wanted to do that, he would just walk, he has the money to retire! He is a very clever and head strong person who knows how to wind people up and get them talking and most of the time reacting to his comments! I love Keano! COYB!!

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tom_the_blue added 17:34 - Oct 22 Agreed, poepled moaned when Mancini said Chelsea would win the league, but all him saying that did was take some of the pressure off his players, and they beat Chelsea and now have a chance of winnig the league. If Keano saying this has a similar effect, who will be complaining then?
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tom_the_blue added 17:34 - Oct 22 *people
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GarvanIsGod added 17:49 - Oct 22 Judging by football manager it can be a number of things. He is trying to take the pressure off his players so they can perform better as they are free from it. Most likely one as I can't be asked to write the others
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ReusersTown added 18:13 - Oct 22 Yep that is not the right signal to be giving out!! but can we stop calling the play-offs a lottery basically the team that wins is not determined by probability its usually the team in best form or who can handle the pressure better
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Mark added 18:41 - Oct 22 Maybe he is saying this to take the pressure off, but some of the comments can't be very motivating for the players and do not encourage people to go to Portman Road to watch Ipswich. In the last week or so we have had comments about Ipswich not being a team that can score two or three at home, saying the fans don't know much about football, saying the club couldn't get the player(s) into the club he wanted in the summer (Derry), and now that we can't win automatic promotion. If after two year's of Keane's management and the total transformation of the playing staff the best we can hope for is to be "in the mix" for the play-offs, that is very disappointing. Added to the negative tactics and high match prices, I can see why attendances are falling at Portman Road.

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RetroBlue added 19:11 - Oct 22 I cant help but feel this is RK's thinly veiled swipe at Evans, regarding his lack of spending power this season ...ie QPR and Cardiff have such strength in dfepth ....we dont , sceanrio. To some extent , he has a point !
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:56 - Oct 22 Keane never ceases to amaze with his statements, he never seems to tire of chewing his foot. We as supporters are constantly being told to get behind the team, yet he now comes out and says this, if that is how he is in the dressing room is it any wonder the team dont seem motivated and ''dont show up''. If a supporter came on here and said we can forget auto promotion they'd get slated for being negative .

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PSGBlue added 20:01 - Oct 22 I had started to believe that Roy Keane had turned things round back in August, but its now last season all over again! For those who still love Keane, well Keane doesn't love you! The man is interested in one person - himself and doesn't care who he upsets, including the fans who pay some of his wages. I for one would rather have a manager who is Ipswich through and through and finish mid-table, than have this t*** in charge of our club and gain promotion. Keane Out!!

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nkotb_sect5 added 20:07 - Oct 22 I believe ........... Everything that he says should be listened to with amusement. The man has one ambition, be the best on the planet at everything he does; and is totally commited. Fans, clubs, employers are secondary. Have faith, grab the shirt tail, enjoy the ride. Keano
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Back_The_Boss added 20:59 - Oct 22 Q.P.R will be a very tough team to stop. There will still be several other places up for grabs.
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ChambersM added 21:03 - Oct 22 Spot on psg ...he's not an ipswich man in any shape or form and isn't up to it at all.
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bobble added 21:29 - Oct 22 mr keane does not seem to have the best public relations and teambuilding skills
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Keaneish added 22:54 - Oct 22 Chambers and PSG...name me an Ipswich person through and through who is currently out there to manage manage our club!!? Who is an Ipswich man Chambers? Was Bobby Robson an Ipswich Man? Was Sir Alf Ramsey an Ipswich Man? Bobby was a Geordie who never played from the club and Alf was a Cockney who played for the Spurs, so in other words... What's your point? Ah, once more you don't have one. Like i said last time, do one... Mowbray? Is he Ipswich through and through? Not really! Think you'll find he's Boro. Who else? Anyway - look forward to reading another sh**e post after the Forest game tomorrow Chambers. Don't fancy our chances of a win but if we do it'll be a week's peace from the monotonous Keane diatribe...

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ChambersM added 23:02 - Oct 22 Spot on psg ...he's not an ipswich man in any shape or form and isn't up to it at all.
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Keaneish added 23:39 - Oct 22 Go to bed Chambers, you'll oversleep, miss your paper round and subsequently have have no money to buy any stickers for your album this weekend.
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ChambersM added 00:16 - Oct 23 My point is he is in no where near the kind of mould of manger we have had before who have succeeded, completely the opposite, a tw*t
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