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[Blog] There Is Always Hope
Written by SouperJim on Monday, 13th Dec 2010 09:54

I write this at my lowest ever point as Town fan. I'm sat at home, off work with the flu, Sky Sports News on the telly, praying for a certain piece of breaking news. However, having had time to reflect on our ineptitude at Preston, one little spark of pride remains.

Ipswich fans really are amazing. Some would have you believe our fans are awful, fickle, impatient creatures who don't get behind the team. Don't believe it. Most of the people saying such things have a level of patience and love for the club that I can only admire. As for the rest of us, I can only ask, would Roy Keane have lasted this long at many others clubs, all things considered? Given the level of support he has had, both financial from the owner and in terms of time from the fans? I very much doubt it.

This is the quality in Ipswich fans that I'm proud of. We might battle with each other and argue 'in' and 'out', we might struggle to back the football on show (who wouldn't?), but the fact remains that despite Roy Keane being the worst manager in the history of our proud football club, we are still torn between loyalty and desire for change.

But change must happen. This isn't the 70s or 80s, football has changed for better or worse and comparisons to the early days of Robson or Ferguson are useless. Perhaps our success in the League Cup is helping Keane cling to power.

However, even this achievement doesn't stand up to much scrutiny. Extra time wins at Exeter and Crewe, during the period of the season when we were playing our best football. Scraping past Millwall at The Den, then even League Two basement dwellers Northampton causing a minor wobble before being swept aside at Portman Road.

The performance against West Brom is the only one of the bunch which could be called impressive, but as much as I enjoyed that night, even Roy would concede that the baggies never really turned up.

So what has Keane really achieved at Portman Road? Don't get me wrong, I like the guy. Some would call him a thug, but football needs characters like Roy Keane. Committed, likeable, honest to a fault, I really wanted Roy to succeed. But it seems clear now that under Roy we are only headed in one direction.

If change is going to happen, it needs to happen now, before it is too late. January will soon be here and a new manager would need time to bring in his own people, assess the squad and make decisions on what areas most need to be strengthened.

There is some truth in phrases like "better the devil you know" and "be careful what you wish for", but the form table would suggest that things can't get any worse, whatever happens. And there is always hope.




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HKBlue added 10:12 - Dec 13
Thank you for this post!
Finally someone admiring the talents and personality of Keane however recognising his faults during his time at PR.
You've pretty much summed up how i and many others prob feel...
Keane a great man and great character however his time at PR needs to come to a close or else we're going to battle to stay up! Though there's something in me if it happens very soon i still believe Keane could just bring this club back together though it's so small that it makes it hard to believe. I would loved for Keane to be successful here at PR though i also think his time is up...

However lets just keep faith while he is here... in the end it's not our decision whether it's his time to go or not, i mean ME and Clegg really aren't going to be persuaded by the fans... that's too obvious...

COYB - Lets turn this around!
Good post mate
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brittaniaman added 10:49 - Dec 13
I think at the moment Keano is a softie he has lost that passion he had as a player, look at the time as a player he chased d"urso all over the pitch when he gave a dubious penalty to middlesboro, yet down here last week when the same ref did not give us a penalty, he just shrugged his shoulders and said it"s just one of those things, I do not mean he should chase him off the pitch again, but just a weany protest. also I wish he would get off his seat and give more direction like other managers do.
If keano does stay he must must get in an experianced mentor to help him through this bad period. sooner rather than later (Wilkins for example comes to mind) BUT do it now.!!!!!!!!!
We all guess that Marcus Evans is hanging on to him for his high profile,for his buisness interests, and by the way Marcus Evans does exist have seen him at games at PR.
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CherryHintonBlue added 12:18 - Dec 13
The honour of the worst manager in the history of the club has to go to Jackie Milburn, I'm afraid. In his one-and-only season, 1963/64, Town finished bottom of the top flight, and shipped 121 goals in 42 matches, and remember, this was only two seasons after being Champions. Milburn did, however, set up the youth team, and for that we should be forever grateful.
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owdboy1 added 14:40 - Dec 13
Statistically Jackie Milburn was the poorest (to date), however as someone who saw all the home games that season it was a lot more fun watching Town then than now - the football was at least entertaining!. Milburn was also left by Sir Alf with a team of old men with no Reserves worth bringing through. He had virtually no money to spend and did bring in a few players who served us well into McGarry's era. One of Keane's biggest failings has been an inability to purchase the right set of players to form a team - too many runners / tacklers and not enough skill in midfield. Whilst I have never supported Keane, I do wonder about the help he gets from our scouting system ,as for several years now we have failed to find lower league players to bring through, which was one of our strengths in the past . I also think that sacking Klug was a major mistake. By the way Cherryhintonblue keep producing your statistical blogs - very interesting reading.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 23:39 - Dec 13
i was with you until the following statement;

"that despite Roy Keane being the worst manager in the history of our proud football club"

he might be 'one of the worst' but your bias destroys your argument
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SouperJim added 12:37 - Dec 14
Statistically Milburn might have an inferior record, but we were in the top division at the time and he inhereted a rapidly ageing squad and next to no resources. Keane has spent a significant amount of money and has been in post for longer, yet we still appear to have gone backwards and can't even consider ourselves a mid table 2nd tier team.
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Vexorg added 11:01 - Dec 16
"likeable, honest to a fault"
"a great man and great character"

Er, sorry, who are we talking about? Nothing I see in the man fits those adjectives.

Ask Richard Wright how he found out he had been dropped when Keane was telling the press he had spoken to the guy. Re-read John Walters comments. Re-read the Dwight Yorke book. Indeed, re-read some of his comments on here about players who couldn't play for the club again.
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WREXHAM_BLUE added 21:35 - Jan 4
Great blog.
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