The time has come for the club to make the big decision and terminate Roy's contract. These are my reasons as to why.

Roy has completely failed in his task to get Ipswich promoted to the Premiership this season, and on current form, is compromising his chances of doing it next season by getting us into a relegation dogfight that could see us lose our Championship status. This is despite taking over the reins of a team which finished ninth last season with fans concerned that the then-manager wasn't getting the best out of his players.

Keane decided (wrongly, in hindsight) that the way forward for Ipswich was to drastically alter the team and has brought in almost a whole teams worth of players at some considerable expense. Whilst there is room for some argument as to the relative merits of the players that he has bought in (which is totally subjective and I don't want this post to descend into 'Healy is dead rubbish, innit'), it is clear that Keane has concentrated his transfer activity on players that are either Irish or ex-Sunderland players.

I feel that this has had the impact of limiting the transfer options open to us and vastly increasing the amount that Keane has had to pay for players. Steve Bruce must have been fed up with the amount of calls he received over the summer from 01473 numbers checking on Daryl Murphy's availability. His constant tracking of his ex-players surely led Sunderland to feel that they could up the price for Leadbitter and Edwards. Leadbitter is clearly a very good player at the Championship level, but I think we certainly paid more than the going rate for him.

Ex-Sunderland players' phones must have been busy leading up to the emergency loan deadline, with at least Stern John and Ian Harte contacted. With Nicky Shorey going to Nottingham Forest, casting our net away from Sunderland (or Sunderland and Ireland in Harte's case) could have been useful.

I'm not sure as to why Keane has struggled to attract players, but I think that his reputation (and our current performance) is a big factor in some players deciding to stay in Premiership reserve teams.

In terms of his player handling, I believe that I'm right in thinking that all of the players who were never going to play for the club again, have now done so. Players seem to come and go in his affections as the wind changes.

Couñago was going to be sold to Swansea, then became increasingly important as the season stumbled into ineptitude, and recently has fallen foul of Keane and can't even make the squad. The fact that he is clearly the best of our forwards as holding up the ball and bringing others into play should make him a definite on the bench, if not the team, but not at Roy Keane's Ipswich.

Owen Garvan had been totally out of the picture at a time when the team was crying out for a midfielder who could hold the ball, play some smart passes and help the team dictate a game. Selling Jordan Rhodes wasn't a masterstroke either.

All of these have been debated to death on the forum, as has the poor start and the shockingly bad return of one win in 17 games, but the most telling reason for me that he should go is the same one that did for Jim Magilton. Jim wasn't sacked because he finished ninth, he was sacked because people wouldn't buy season tickets if he was still the manager. In short, he was having a negative impact on the overall health of the club as a business.

I believe that Roy Keane is now in the same position as he is risking our continued status as a Championship club. Some fans may argue that we have too strong a team to go down, tell that to Norwich, Charlton, Southampton and Newcastle fans who all said the same things at this time last season.

Despite the fact that we have picked up points from some fellow strugglers, we have only beaten a Derby team struggling to find enough players to fill the bench, and are current form is that of a relegated team - 13 points from 17 games will see us down.

I think that we must seize the mettle and sack him now, giving his replacement time to analyse the squad and make the necessary changes in January. Norwich didn't do this last season, giving their manager's job to Bryan Gunn after the window had shut; please let us learn from their mistakes.

The transfer window dictates that we act now. There are potential replacements for Keane out there in Curbishley, Burley, Darren Ferguson etc. It is now time to put the club to the fore, and make the business decision to limit the risk of us being relegated. It'll be sad for Roy, but he will easily find another job on the strength of his name.

Remember, Keane himself told us that any mediocre manager can get to mid-table in the Championship. Let's take his advice and get one quick, before it's too late.

ipswich1992 added 00:53 - Nov 29 My example of a team who timed there sacking spot on and managed to survive in the premier league last season was blackburn with paul ince. He had 17 games was clearly not good enough they got rid of him and stayed up. Lets be honest weve had nearly half the season now and still havnt set the league alight (like i expected us to do when keane was appointed). Also he has been saying himself for a while that when we get one win the confidence will be there and more will follow. Since that first win againast a very poor derby side came we have drawn 2 vere winnable games so where are these wins coming from? Im not going to mention his signings which have been very poor apart form the last 3 deadline day buys (rosienier, leadbitter, edwards) who are all good players who we paid a bit too much for after keane had said the squad was already good enough. The signing of stern john startles me he said himself ive always respected him since i released him at sunderland- meaning he wasnt good enough for a team who got promoted so thats clearly a panic buy abd lets face it hes awful. So simply i think if we lose 2moro he has to go. People say we cant sack a manager when were 6 games unbeaten but 8 points out of 18 isnt a gooreturn isit? And if we lose 2mora that will be 8 points from 21 thats relegation form. Keane Out (although it hurts me to say it) my head rules my heart on this one.

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DrJeckyll added 01:24 - Nov 29 the arrogant man often snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. All these proud and arrogant peacocks pronouncing their judgements on people they have had no personal contact with can only be setting themselves up for a big fall. Like a teenager that thinks he is wiser than his grandad, their pronouncements are risable and if there is any mercy in this world their ignorance will be laid plain for all to see in the very near future

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Peterclark18 added 10:18 - Nov 29 Excellent analysis and well thought out criticism.I totally agree with all said.How many games does it take to blend? Just because he was a good footballer does not qualify him as a good manager.There have been many over the years.Geoff Hurst and Bob Moore come to mind.Club has been destroyed--not a family club anymore--just a business.I spoke to a current player who intimated that there is a realm of fear at the club--none of them dare say that in public for obvious reasons.No one wants to come and play for him either as they can see what happens when you are out of favour(Garvan,Dav Wright ,Counago etc).Stern John looks like desperation--and thats what it is.Look at tactics too--all players in our own box defending corners and then booting it upfield to no where and then its staight back again.Think of game against PNE who were down to 10 men and we still did it.Players bunching on one side of the pitch when we take a goal kick--use the width! Our ball into the box hold no fear for opposition defences either. If he had any pride he would admit that he's no good and go.He doesnt need the money either.

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Back_The_Boss added 18:44 - Dec 13 Decent blog, some valid comments.
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