 [Blog] £2.65 Million and Waiting?Written by Keaneish on Thursday, 19th Apr 2012 13:35 It feels like every day since September 1st 2009, Ipswich Town fans across the globe have been debating (arguing) about the effectiveness of a particular Roy Keane signing, Grant Leadbitter. Now, at the end of his contract, the debate rages ever more, still without much in the way of resolve. Here’s my take on it. After a dismal summer in the transfer market, Town kicked off the 2009/10 campaign with two draws and three defeats (not a bad start considering what was to come!). So, in true Roy Keane managerial fashion, to the chequebook was got and in came Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter for a combined fee of £4 million. Ouch Marcus! Carlos Edwards? Great, he’s been tearing full-backs apart for years. Grant Leadbitter? Well, as the pivotal all action midfielder in Sunderland’s successful promotion campaign, a string of England U16 – U21 honours and a one in 10 goal ratio, he must be worth the reputed £2.65 million price tag right? Only time would tell, and, being the patient type of fans we are renowned for, time is what he’d been given. Three seasons or 961 days to be precise. I guess the best way to approach this debate is to consider what we expect from this type of midfielder, putting the price tag aside for one minute. It’s fair to say that during my lifetime we’ve been spoilt in that department. Pictures of Ipswich legends must litter the corridors, and, although we play different systems these days images of midfielders like John Wark, Brian Talbot, Colin Viljoen, Roger Osborne, Arnold Muhren, Frans Thijssen, Matt Holland, Mick Stockwell and Vemund Brekke Skard are a timely reminder of what we expect! Surely they serve as inspiration enough as to what it takes and means to play that position in an Ipswich Town shirt week-in, week-out? So, given the never say die, cover every blade of grass on the pitch, box-to-box mentality that these predecessors instilled in the ITFC Hall of Fame, has Grant Leadbitter shown these qualities which we demand? It’s fair to say that during his tenure he’s been integral to some of the worst series of results in our history and some of the worst performances in recent memory. No wins in 14 (nine for Grant due to his late addition to 2009/10) to start the campaign, the second worst in out history. 7-0 in an FA Cup game at Chelsea, 7-1 away defeat to lowly Peterborough and bottom of the table on several occasions under back-to-back managers. Clearly Grant doesn’t shoulder all the responsibility for this as it’s a team game but the CV doesn’t make impressive reading, especially presiding over some heavy defeats home and away as skipper! So, what of him as an ‘all action, combative, goal-scoring’ midfielder. Well, 115 games in Town shirt and 13 goals would suggest that we still have the same goal scoring midfielder that won Sunderland promotion all be it many of those from penalties. Until recently we never saw the type of long range effort rippling the back of the net that he has so often tried in countless games over the course of his time here. At no point can I remember him bursting into the box and gambling a la John Wark to provide a much-needed goal for his side and that added spark of ingenuity and endeavour to rouse a slumbering, apathetic team display. A moderate disciplinary record would suggest that although he gets stuck in he isn’t reckless, or particularly feared in a tackle. There have been some silly yellows along the way resulting in needless suspension here and there but on the whole not the strongest in a tackle. What was Roy Keane doing with him on the training ground I wonder? A neat, tidy footballer that retains possession well but then all too often struggles to find telling passes and looks for the easier sideways ball. A poor set-piece taker at best who too often can’t clear the first defender at corners. A tireless worker yes, but even alongside David Norris, who eclipses even Matt Holland and Micky Stockwell for blades of grass covered per game, the huff and puff was all too meaningless when possession was regained only for it to break down time after time on the edge of the 18-yard area. Box-to-box? Not really. A towering presence in the air? Most definitely not. A leader of men? No. Possibly worst choice of captain in my lifetime. A varied repertoire of long and short range passing? Sadly not. ‘So what?’, some might say? ‘Paul Scholes doesn’t have a lot of these attributes and he’s one of the best midfielders England have produced in the last 20 years’ (Mr Keane likened Grant to Paul on his arrival). However, Mr Keane, there is one very major difference between the two. Paul Scholes was always in the right place at the right time, which negates a lot of these points above. That can’t be taught, it’s a gift as a footballer, which separates the good, the bad and the great. Grant is a million miles away from this comparison but given Keane’s managerial ability, we should maybe ignore statements of grandeur like these. After all, we should be in the Premiership by now. So, after three abject or mediocre at best seasons we look to the contract situation of Grant and offer him another! I can only assume to save such a large shortfall on a large transfer fee. Roy Keane had 15 out of contract when he took over and Jewell has repeatedly stated he wants to avoid that situation so an offer is made early, and subsequently rejected! Negotiations are re-opened under the Financial Fair Play rules and a time limit placed on Grant to respond to the club's offer. A ‘fair’ offer we can assume, but given the restraints in place and previous failings in these situations it’s futile to even begin to understand what happens in these discussions between Simon Clegg and players' agents. As fans we always come up short. So, given that the initial contract offer was rejected prior to the Financial Fair Play rules we can only assume his ‘No’ answer is a formality. One point of note that supports this theory is that when Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League in 2006, Grant stalled on a contract offer allegedly waiting for other offers to come in. We can only assume this didn’t as he signed on again for Sunderland but with the rumour mill already predicting an imminent return to the North East and blogs up on Teesside such as ‘Is Grant fit to lace Barry Robson’s Boots?’, we have to assume that he may well have played his last game in a Town shirt. In my opinion, an over-inflated and slightly desperate transfer fee for a young promising player who, aside from the last 10 games out of 115 in a Town shirt has failed to live up to expectations and is some distance off emulating those that were great. A slow burner? Keane couldn’t get the best out of him but maybe Jewell has begun to show he can? Maybe, but I think there are many better free or cheap transfers currently out there and a fresh installation into that midfield is needed to partner Andy Drury for me. In any case, shouldn’t we be asking ourselves if he’s fit to lace John Wark’s boots? Note: stats were taken from statto.com and Wikipedia, if they’re not right then don’t bother posting a comment ridiculing them. I’m a football fan not an armchair stats geek! Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
|
   Blogs by KeaneishBlogs 295 bloggers |
