The final day of the January transfer window looks set to pass quietly at Portman Road with little movement in either direction. Clubs have until 11pm this evening to add to their squads, although Football League sides can utilise the ‘emergency’ loan provision from a week’s time until the fourth Thursday in March.

Speaking on Friday, manager Mick McCarthy said no one would be moving on, aside perhaps from young players going out on loan to gain experience. Out-of-favour striker Paul Taylor may well join another club or perhaps have his contract settled.

In terms of additions, it's likely that 19-year-old former Shelbourne winger Dylan Connolly's move to the Blues will be confirmed.

Aside from that McCarthy has said he will look at using the loan system as and when required in the remaining months of the season.

Managing director Ian Milne told Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk that no deals were ongoing and that no bids had been received for the likes of Tyrone Mings, Teddy Bishop or Daryl Murphy during the window, despite plenty of media speculation.

“Nothing at all. I can look you in the eyes and say we’ve got nothing going on, it’s very quiet,” he said.

“I was talking to the owner Marcus Evans and he said there’s nothing, no interest and that’s how we want it to be.

“My personal feeling is that the closer it gets to the final day of the transfer window the less and less we’d want to do a deal anyway because we want this team [to stay together]. It’s business as usual.”

The Blues are challenging for promotion for the first time since Evans took over in December 2007 and Milne says the Blues owner is keen not to do anything which might hamper the team’s chances of going up.

“Marcus takes advice from Mick and there’s been no change from the last time we were talking all about this in the last transfer window. Why would we want to change it with this team, it’s got strength and depth.”

Photo: Action Images

townietilidie added 06:32 - Feb 2 We must add two new faces if we are going to take our push for promotion seriously . Its been a great season so far but I can see us losing pace with the top 3 if we don't add something extra . I think Sears can be a very good signing IF we complement him with some quality but I don't see that in the current squad . Yes there are plenty of grafters and the hard working player Mick demands has rewarded us with our best league position in years but I think its been easy to see for all the hard work the players put in we are too direct and predictable , other teams know exactly how we are going to play and we need someone who can help us play with another dimension . I wouldn't be surprised to see today pass without any new additions as I think Mick prefers to use the emergency loan option . C'mon Town , lets get this promotion push back on track . IMWT

16

Jimmy86 added 06:35 - Feb 2 Disappointing, but it's usually quiet on deadline day from towns perspective. I know there is the loan window, I just feel we could do with a couple of decent additions to get us over the line. We have a small squad, who have done so well to get us where we are, just hope we can remain challenging. Don't know why the powers that be consider signing new players as hampering the squad, team spirit perhaps, just a shame that we are not adding to our small squad the same as others around us are. Be a shame if we missed out as a result

8

mojo added 07:05 - Feb 2 All well and good saying we don't want to do anything to hamper the team's chances of going up but equally the club should be doing all it can to support Mick in getting the club up. Not a fan of bringing in loans of Premier starlets who we are never likely to sign permanently but could be just what the team needs at the moment.
2

battyblue added 07:19 - Feb 2 Tight arses squad is to small so keep playing under achievers week in week out.
-4

Fatboy added 07:20 - Feb 2 I was worried that Daryl Murphy was mulling over a bid from a Premier League club when I heard he wasn't playing due to an "injury", but having read Ian Milne's comments above hopefully that's not the case.
2

Sparky85 added 07:58 - Feb 2 I'm sorry but I don't understand the logic here. Between the next game on the 7th Feb and Brentford I believe on the 7th March we have 8 games. With Feb being a short month that is 8 games in 28 days! That's a lot for most teams but I fear our thin squad will suffer. You need momentum going into a period like that and we don't have any. I'm so please with where we are and the job that has been done so far, but without reinforcements I can see us struggling with fitness. MM clearly wanted another striker with the Sharp talks happening. So there must be something available financially. Changing the subject though the formation needs addressing. We have no natural wingers apart from Stewart who never plays. So why play 442? The 433 formation worked wonders and we have the right players for it. It's effectively an attacking 451 as we have strikers that defend from the front. No one will complain if we lose or draw games if we actually go and try to win them. The problem is MM is happy at a playoff place, which I would have taken at the start of the season, so just wants to grind out points to get to 75. My team where available for the rest of the season would be: Bart Parr Chambers Berra Mings Skuse Bru Bishop Murph Sears Mcgoldrick

29

blueherts added 08:06 - Feb 2 Spot on Sparky We do need at least two players - one of which I believe will be a loan deal for JW - not sure if he is fit , but he has not been incl by Pardew Another Murphy type - ie Wood , Doyle(s) ? Eoin or Kevin would at least give us decent cover in the busy run in Maybe Mick is happy with his lot or maybe ME has said no cash ? Still irks me we have a waster like Taylor taking £10k a week out of the club Just think how we could use that now with MM

1

jpring89 added 08:07 - Feb 2 settling for the play offs at best then.
0

blueblood66 added 08:08 - Feb 2 Calm down people. The loan window is open in a week and I am sure MM has one or two lined up, we have enough in the squad to get a result at Rotherham.
0

muccletonjoe added 08:17 - Feb 2 Can anyone remember a deadline day which wasn't quiet at portman road?
8

crossyIP2 added 08:28 - Feb 2 What a bore ZzZzZzZz! I wanted to see Mick hanging out of his car window talking to sky reporters this evening! Oh we'll will have to settle for JW & Wood in on loan in the next few weeks...
2

commuterblue added 08:36 - Feb 2 i hope it's a quiet day. we are already making sizeable losses every year (we can't ask ME to put much more in, really, he's already covering losses of several million pounds per year) the only activity would be exits, and for all of McGoldrick's poor form of late, he can still turn it around ( he was awful against Charlton, I thought, but still hit each post and the cross bar...) And when the loan window opens yes I expect we will add one or two, particularly as cover. It strikes me that this is by far the best option. Any money we spend on transfer fees reduces the amount we can spend on wages, and we're clearly spending a lot on wages.

-4

Ipswich58 added 08:50 - Feb 2 The best we can hope for is MM to open his eyes, stop being stubborn, and start changing the formation. Sparky85, good looking line up. Be interesting to see stats on players MM has brought in but rarely if ever used. Quite high me thinks. He ends up picking his journeymen aka Tabb- Hunts and Anderson - clearly outbid their depth. I fear though it's too late for MM to change. But a little tinkering would change whole dynamic and give a a much needed lifted. He sees criticism and only digs his heels in deeper. Surely Stewart and or Henshall would give us pace and variety. Why did he buy them if he doesn't rate them. Management is about being flexible and coping with different individuals.

5

ArnieMsBigToe added 09:00 - Feb 2 I think you're all taking Mick too much at face value. If he has got someone in the pipeline, he ain't gonna tell us until it has happened. Be patient . . . and watch . . .
0

brittaniaman added 09:24 - Feb 2 I do believe if we beat Rotherham no loss, no draw then I think it is Game on again ??? Then perhaps we can get a good start for February like we started December !!!! But as most fans think we do need to freshen up the team with new ideas as well.
1

Surco72 added 09:24 - Feb 2 We need a good passer in the middle of the pitch and pace out wide , other teams have loan players in now and have had all season Bamford , Ibe, Texiera, Akpom, Afobe, Bent ,even Reading have signed Chalobah what are we waiting for ? Get Lingard from Man Utd fast , stays wide and scores goals
8

bluefeast added 09:52 - Feb 2 Signing new faces guarantees nothing. Im convinced MM knows exactly what he is doing , therefore we really should be getting behind every player. We are in a sticky patch but are very well positioned.
3

yerfdog87 added 10:04 - Feb 2 Best opportunity to get promoted and we still not prepared to risk it and get some fresh quality in, why we don't go for tom ince? Its now or never for promotion as always the best players will leave in summer. We lack midfield pace and quality, if Murphy was out for the season then its game over, no one else can head the long balls we always play. Didz is well under par all season. Like many fans I believe but we were in this position before at Xmas and blew it. If we lucky to make play offs we won't win it. Pull your fingers out and sign players we desperately need. Tabb n Anderson n skuse not good enough!!!

3

MickMillsTash added 10:07 - Feb 2 Deadline days involving Town? When we chased the Portsmouth 3 and got none Did Taylor come on transfer deadline day, we also go Bullard, Andrews and Murphy after the season started one year Signing loads of players is not the answer- ask Forest, signing the right players is the answer. Ask Mick
7

TheSelkirk added 10:10 - Feb 2 McGoldrick's name now conspicuous by its absence when there is talk of players leaving. With Leicester having just signed a new striker and Didz being totally out of sorts now, I can't see him going anywhere - let alone for £7m.
3

yerfdog87 added 10:13 - Feb 2 Also the only way Marcus will ever get he's money back is through promotion. I see Bournemouth £4.5m bid for gray, that's how confident they are going up. What about us! Diddly squat. £100m jackpot is slipping away, we are in a rut n everyone else on fire and we out of puff. Fair enough keeping best players but promotion is a must otherwise it will be same scenerio as cresswell, originally he was going Fulham so goes to show we needed the cash. Where had that gone?

4

tomitfc added 10:21 - Feb 2 Every other promotion chasing team has strengthened and all we get is 'don't panic we have until the end of march blah blah' it will be too late then. It's now or never or it's yet another season in the championship.
3

prebbs007 added 10:21 - Feb 2 Strength and depth ??? Is he having a laugh ??? It's only 2 games ago when we couldn't even fill a bench !!! This team is massively over achieving and will not get us promoted. We need additions or we WILL miss out and all the effort will be wasted. We have no wingers, Saturday proved that. Anderson and Tabb especially are nowhere near good enough. Skuse is very limited. Didzy struggling at mo but still quality. The defenders are limited also. Not one of them is comfortable on the ball. Chambers is getting regularly exposed at full back. We need Lingaard, Williams, Wood and NOW not in an emergency window. Teams have worked us out and if we don't do something about it today feb, with 8 matches, will take us out of contention. If Marcus wants return on his investment this is his chance. Don't blow it now. And MM MUST stop supporting his favourites who are not God enough especially Tabb Anderson Chambers Skuse Smith Huntx2. To say we can't get better is just wrong. I hope I'm proved wrong today and we do some business or the season will be a massive disappointment as this group have not got what it takes.

13

airliner added 10:46 - Feb 2 Really surprised as Derby are spending big getting Tom Ince on loan as well as Bent. No real hunger here from The owner to finally get promoted automatically.even Reading are spending up to £2.5 million on a Danish striker. Loans are no good we need permanents!
5

bellazzurri79 added 10:48 - Feb 2 Derby are signing Tom ince..... They signed Darren bent two weeks ago... That's a team that want to be promoted.... Well done Steve mclaren Mccarthy time to show your intent, if we don't get anyone of quality into the side that played on Saturday then we may be saying '7th was a good finish for us as mccarthy only spent £110,000' Come the end of the season.
10

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls