When Jordan Rhodes was sold for what seemed a pretty meagre sum I had some doubts about the deal, as did many.

Of course, the sum involved seems up for discussion, so to speak, but however much it was it seemed that we were selling off some of the family silver (albeit perhaps at the time nickel-plated), an action we didn’t think was now necessary with billionaire Mr Evans in - or at - Town.

The rights and wrongs of that piece of business will be discussed for many a month as Jordan continues to impress elsewhere and with Reading seemingly willing to pay a decent fee for him now. Of course, it's especially painful when one of Mr Keane's problems is that our first team strikers (the ones deemed worthy of a place at the club) can’t seem to hit a barn door from 10 paces at the moment.

Whilst connected I suppose, Connor Wickham is a very different proposition to me, he has a very special talent. A big strong lad with skill and a true striker's eye, indeed he could well be considered the family silver (gold-plated) and if these rumours are to be believed (and I see no reason why they shouldn’t) the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal et al are no fools when it comes to young prospects.

So here we go again, not an unusual situation for an Ipswich fan over the years, a good (perhaps even great) young player having taken advantage of a superb youth system only to be prised away by the lure of much gold and majesty surrounding the biggest clubs. Or will he?

One of the 'out of the box' thoughts I had when Roy Keane joined us was that he would give us some 'real' credibility, not the credibility we’ve had in the past – that of everyone’s second club, a friendly day out in Suffolk etc – no, the credibility of a club with ambition, with a chairman with money to back up that ambition and now with a frontman equal in fame to any other frontman for any other club in the game. Think about it, Roy Keane is a huge figure in the football business, worldwide they don’t come much bigger.

So, for a young impressionable Ipswich footballer deciding what to do in the future he won’t be sitting opposite a dithering George Burley, an ageing Joe Royle or blustering Jim, it's flipping ROY KEANE! A footballing icon/legend and I would have hoped a footballing hero of Connor Wickham’s when he was first donning his soccer boots.

I believe this to be Roy Keane's first big test. Some would say getting us out of the bottom three, up to mid-table somewhere and then an assault on promotion next season was a bigger one. I think we will do that anyway, but if we are to do that and stay there we need to attract good players and keep the ones we’ve got.

I am a big fan of Mr Keane's and believe he has had to do most if not all of the things he’s done to change the kind of club we are. Actually I don’t want to be "good old Ipswich” any more. I want to be part of Keano’s army! Somehow scaring the hell out of the opposition on the pitch as well as on the bench! I want us to do what Sunderland did, bulldoze our way to the Premier League and then see where that takes us. Yes I want to be a bulldozer not a flipping tractor! I’m actually a bit sick of that tired old Suffolk trademark.

But again to do that we have to add to our assets and keep the ones we have as long as we can and if Mr Keane cannot be the frontman that plays a skilful lead role in keeping Connor Wickham for a couple of years and making him an essential part of that bulldozing side then I see little point in him being here.

With Wickham he cannot employ the “Do you want to be here or not, and if you have to think about it, you can f*** off!!” tactics he clearly employs with some who need that attitude. He has to be a bit more skilful than that with good young talent, in either keeping them or attracting them. In his book he tells of the times that Cloughie and Ferguson put their arm around him on a few occasions he needed it, now it’s his turn!

I for one won’t accept a rueful shrug and “we can’t stand in the boy’s way” at a press conference to announce Wickham's departure. You’re Roy Keane – a legend - part of football royalty. With the backing of Marcus Evans's millions you should be able to attract most players and certainly keep any 16-year-old!

So, with Jordan still making the news at the moment I will be keeping a close eye on all things Connor. In my eyes I sincerely believe this to be Roy’s first big test!

muhrensleftfoot added 14:08 - Nov 18 Just to echo "Mark"'s thoughts about Joe Royle. So many people were negative about him, but he did a great job & nearly got us promoted when he was forced to sell anyone worth any money & sign freebies/cheapies like Shefki & Alan Lee. Joe said £2million would be enough for him to guarantee us promotion, & I believe him. It was great entertainment, even with a poor defense, we always had a good chance of outscoring the opposition.

0

PutYaBootsOnKeano added 14:22 - Nov 18 thoroughly agree with article and sentiment.
0

Lightningboy added 15:29 - Nov 18 pickles - i've supported itfc for nearly 30 years and I will support them looooong after mr.Keane has jumped ship..your comments really are quite moronic & you're continually showing yourself up to be a little backwards , but hey keep it up.
0

tom_the_blue added 16:40 - Nov 18 Let's be realistic here. Connor is 16, just about breaking into the team and is yet to score a league goal for the club. These big teams are being LINKED with him, nothing firm yet. I personally don't believe he has done enough to warrant a big money move to one of these large clubs. Yes, he may have bags of potential and under the right guidance could have a big future, but we don't know. He could be another Bowditch, Clarke etc who were bigged up at the beginning when breaking into the team but then ammounted to very little. Although I doubt it highly as he does seem quality, he is yet to really proove himself. If he knos what is good for his future, he will stay with us, hopefully force his way into the team and score a few goals until a couple of years time when he can go join a big team fo a large amount of money. But if he is greedy and/or sees the bright lights of the premiership calling him and leaves now, he would be left to rot in the reserves and occasional cup subsitute apearance, and this could seriously hinder his development. I know what I woulod do, but if the lad wants to leave then Keano, or anyone else for that matter, can do nothing to stop him.

0

jonf added 13:10 - Nov 19 "chislehurstblue - there's much more to life than money you know." UEFA81: you're right, there is more to it - actually playing for a half-decent team. Besides who likes being in the relegation places? Assuming these rumours of big things to come (for CW) in the shape of a move to the likes of Arsenal, Man U etc are true, then I doubt that CW will see it as much of a big footballing move to further his playing skills with other top youth players as he would see it as an opportunity for a bigger paycheck. In which case I don't think that Roy can really do much about it if he decides he wants to go. No-one likes an unhappy player who will most likely not be at his best until he gets what he wants (Cristiano Ronaldo's last season at Man U springs to mind). The best we may be able to hope for is that we get a decent price for him if he leaves, although I'm sure like most people on here will feel I do hope he doesn't.

0

Facefacts added 22:00 - Nov 19 If the top English clubs want to offer Wickham a contract, then they will want to do this as soon as possible, so he can get the kind of coaching he needs to turn him into the finished article. In two/three years time it's a lottery as to what level he will be at, as we may well be in League One. I make the point about how badly our team must be being coached, since we have spent so much money under the later Magilton period, and now under Keane, and have gone backwards. We need a blog about the coaching at our club, from someone who can speak with authority on that subject.

0

Blogs 297 bloggers