Our club has become the laughing stock of the division. We have a tactically inept manager playing boring, predictable football to the tune of discontent and disappointment in the stands. The question is can anybody defend Roy Keane? Can anybody justify keeping with this man?

Since Keane came to Portman Road to the fanfare of an expensive two-year contract and the promises of promotion, our club has witnessed poor results, widespread dissatisfaction and declining attendances.

I am usually a firm believer in being patient with the manager, but I had my doubts about Keane from the beginning. I wrote an article on 606 expressing my reservations over Keane’s transfer record when he was revealed. Keane’s signings at the club have been poor, that’s indisputable. I struggle to pick out many positive, consistent performances from the likes of Damien Delaney, Carlos Edwards, Grant Leadbitter, Lee Martin and Tamas Priskin since they arrived at the club with their big reputations and inflated transfer fees.

I can remember when fans were so bitterly hostile to Jim Magilton in his final months, believing that a change was necessary to break into the promotion places. Arguably those people were correct, but the subsequent decision to hire Roy Keane has completely undermined the reason of firing Magilton and the good squad both he, and arguably Joe Royle had left behind. We would be better with Magilton still at the club, alas for the benefit of hindsight.

Take a look at Magilton and Royle’s final seasons at Ipswich Town, considered to be poor campaigns by our club’s standards, but compared with what is happening at the moment puts their Ipswich careers into perspective:

Royle’s final season – 56 points, 53 goals scored, 66 goals conceded

Magilton’s final season – 66 points, 62 goals scored, 53 goals conceded

Keane’s first season – 56 points, 50 goals scored, 61 goals conceded

If we persist with Keane this season then I fear it will be our worst season for decades, even worse than his first. We will be sucked into a bitter relegation battle in a tough division and I seriously doubt our ability to survive. The fact is we have won one league game in the last nine.

It pains me to have to say this, because our club usually gives managers time, but Keane has got to go if we want to salvage anything from this wasted season.

MyBlueHeaven added 21:13 - Jan 3 Can't disagree with this but the thing is there are two people who can defend and justify Keane - Messrs Clegg and Evans. Evans especially. But for how long though?
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yorkshire added 21:17 - Jan 3 Not rightly sure what point your point is regarding the points total. We are currently half way through the season and have half of the points required to match both last seasons total and BFJ's last season. We finished well last year and there is nothing to say we can't do that again. Anyone who saw todays game would concur that we were unluckly not to get a point and there have been a number of other games like that this season. This is a turning point ofr the season and I truely think that ME has to 'back him or sack him' but as far as I am concerned whilst he is manager, I will support him and support the team that I love.

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Jesney_Havoc added 21:30 - Jan 3 no
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tractorboy2434 added 22:38 - Jan 3 Anyone would concur that we deserved a point, well actually I would'nt, yes we gave Forest their goal but in the 2nd half I thought we were woeful and they never looked like conceding, would probably have been able to step it up and get a 2nd if required, but they were'nt, as we were poor and got exactly what we deserved, nothing.
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WadzillaBhoy added 05:53 - Jan 4 To be fair today neither side looked liked scoring we neutralised each other. The game would've finished as a stalemate.
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dirtydingusmagee added 07:51 - Jan 4 as jesney said NO
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TractorRoyNo1 added 11:37 - Jan 4 only one reason, Town have a proud record of giving their managers time, he is still under contract, i believe the 'laughing stock' are clubs like Sheffield Utd who are now on their 4th manager in 12 months
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denhamblue added 13:29 - Jan 4 no
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Carrotblue added 13:33 - Jan 4 Keane promised to get us out of the championship in two seasons, and by the end of this one he will have achieved it, shame we will be in Division one, Hartlepool here we come!
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TimmyH added 16:07 - Jan 4 BBC summed the match up as 'dire' and Ipswich as 'woeful' - any points deserved after those comments?
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yorkshire added 17:23 - Jan 4 Not sure which BBC you've been reading Timmy but this is an extract from their match report "Town, however, will feel aggrieved they did not get something from a game they competed well in throughout. "
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Lightningboy added 22:25 - Jan 5 Big NOPE..Keane's been a total disaster. Give me Magilton any day of the week.
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smokester added 23:34 - Jan 6 We're not a laughing stock. We've got a manager lacking in tactical and motivational skill (2 serious flaws!) and a lot of fans with no patience. Unless we get into really serious relegation trouble, let's try and honor his contract then next summer find a manager able to build a successful footballing side over time.
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