[Blog] Can We Be Optimistic?
Written by WalkyTalky on Thursday, 10th May 2012 21:35

As we all know, this season has had its highs and obvious lows, but overall its nothing we were looking for last summer. With still a good few weeks until the 2012/13 season, can we be optimistic again, or not?

Last pre-season saw big signings and proven players at this level, which led us to believe promotion was possible, and to many, likely.

Michael Chopra is a key example, and I am not one to deny that I had high hopes for him, he had always seemed an obvious threat, and could always score goals.

He hasn't exactly set the world alight in his debut season with the Blues, and to be quite honest, apart from Aaron Cresswell and at times JET, nor have the others.

As is commonly said, we learn from our mistakes, which makes me question if Paul Jewell has. Too many old age players, which he has admitted to. I feel he began the season believing experience was vital for promotion, which I'm sure it was when he was managing Wigan, and of course Derby.

However, I think he's finally discovered the game has adapted. Speed is very vital in the modern day game, which many players over 32 can not offer. Of course experience is required, but we don't need a squad of oldies, we need young fresh legs, hungry for the game, and passionate about the club, wanting to wear the shirt and thankful to the fans.

This transfer window could be extremely vital towards our league position next season, we obviously need two new centre backs, along with a right-back, centre midfielder, winger, goalie and possibly a striker.

We obviously do not lack goals (unfortunately at both ends of the pitch) but we do need someone to play off Chopra, possibly a speedy striker, from the lower leagues perhaps Fleetwood's Jamie Vardy or even Portsmouth's Luke Varney? And the goalkeeper is obviously required, however I feel if we go for Colin Doyle we are not generally improving on Arran Lee-Barrett! As I've mentioned before, Lee Camp would be exceptional in my eyes.

I think now the team has had time to gel and learn each other's type of play, we could be on to a good mix here, and with a realistic amount of signings (seven max) we could seriously become promotion challengers.

Next season will obviously be difficult. As well as us other teams are improving, such as Leeds under Neil Warnock and the teams coming down from the Premier League, especially Wolves who know how to get out of this division, and somehow have managed to keep Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who scored for fun in this division last time out.

I'm sure next season could be the one. I know it's very hard to be judging when we have only just finished this season, but who knows? Can we be optimistic?

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bluethroughnthrough added 22:11 - May 10

I agree to an extent - but Jewell would have to pull off some fantastic signings to make us play off challengers. Clegg convincing those much needed players to come to Ipswich is another thing, and if we continue what now seems like an Ipswich tradition of selling our most promising players for less than they're worth and not investing in the team, Jewell has got a job on his hands. I hope I'm proved wrong, but there are many things wrong with the way our club is being run at the moment and until the people are the top get their policies/principles right then the players are just 'pawns'....on the other hand, lets all get behind the team and sing our hearts out and then a spirited Ipswich team will surely follow!

Garv added 22:12 - May 10

Warnock has taken Leeds backwards. Remains to be seen whether he'll take them forward again.

I can see Wolves going back up straight away if they can attract a half decent manager, but I think Blackburn might struggle.

I know we all want West Ham to fail but it might be nice if they aren't in this league next year because let's face it, if they are, they'll be up there once again.

I am optimistic, but I can't see anything better than a 7-12th place finish.

Some REAL improvement would be nice, success shouldn't be measured by play offs or no play offs.

buryblue77 added 22:36 - May 10

It all depends on how much money is made available and how far and deep our scouting network goes. After all, teams like Norwich and Swansea have proved that with the right type of attitude in a player it can be done without spending huge sums.
However with the relegated clubs and their parachute payments (although a lot of that payment simply covers players wages on large contracts if they stay after relegation) and the added attraction that going to a club like this brings to a player it is going to be increasingly difficult to compete in the transfer market. If we could unearth another 10 Cressy's (in the respective positions) we may be in with a shout.
Improvement is a must, even if hardly any money is spent, if Jewell can't manage higher than a top 12 finish then his contract shouldn't be renewed and maybe a young hungry lower league manager may be the way to go as well as the young hungry lower league player.
I've said it before, this summer's transfer activity and the sort of start we make to the season could well define the shape of things to come for our club for the next few years.
Optimistic, I really want to be but with a worrying setting in of pessimistic values for me at this current time.

mightytown added 13:56 - May 11

I think there is plenty of reason to be optimistic. granted, things may seem a little on edge at the moment with a lot of players released, a small squad with few youngsters pushing for a first team place.

however, the days of thrusting expensive players into the first team, hoping for promotion are over. The new FFP rules and academy system may have forced the club into this way of thinking but how long could we feasibly go on the way we were?

I think we all need to accept that promotion is going to be beyond us for the next 2-3 seasons, however, with the emphasis on bringing in youth and players with potential, does it really matter where we finish? obviously as long as we don't get relegated, and i wont accept more relegation scraps.

but if we can bring the experienced players we need to shore up the defence but replenish the squad with young, up and coming players that have been identified by the club as players who will become better over time, then wouldn't it be better to let them progress together over time without the notion that 'were going for promotion' hanging over them?

If we finish 15th for the next two seasons but we are watching week in, week out a young side, who play exciting football, a settled eleven with competition for places, then surely that's a good thing? we will reap the rewards in the future.

costs will be down through reduced spending, so when we do find ourselves in a position where our team has progressed and this is reflected in a higher league position and we have greater overall attendance = more revenue, then maybe we will be able to add that 1 player that makes the difference in regard to chasing promotion.

I agree, that if jewell and co cannot bring in the type of player they've said they wanted and we see the same old same old again next season and we get to Christmas with the season already over and the fear of relegation looming, then maybe it will be time to say thanks but no thanks.

this is a big summer for us, not in terms of next season but in regard to giving us the foundations to build success over the next 2-3 seasons.

i would suggest we need an experienced goalkeeper and centre back with the possible inclusion of an experienced front man ( i happen to think Gallagher would be a great choice) after that, I hope all the other players are below 25. we all say we want a team of cresswells and cresswell has undoubtedly been our player of the season but how often have we overlooked his defensive naivety because of his youth and enthusiasm? well if we put together a younger more enthusiastic team but with the experience needed to supplement this, then surely we'll forgive naivety in young players that are fighting for the cause?

to be honest, only blind faith has made me think we would ever get promotion over the last few seasons. I could look at our squad and know it wasn't good enough but still, somewhere in the back of your mind there's that 10 year old football; fan screaming 'were going up, were the best'.

I guess what im trying to say is mid table mediocrity might not be so bad or hard to stomach for the next season or two, if we are watching a young, exciting team develop before our eyes

RegencyBlue added 18:43 - May 11 I dont rate Jewell at all but would be more than happy to be proved wrong! I suspect however that Jewell will be gone by Christmas, along with our promotion hopes for another season!!
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DanLyles added 10:44 - May 13 I like the idea of us signing a target man with aerial ability as foil for Chopra. If Ricardo Fuller is still up to the task at this level then great, but if not Darius Henderson is great in the air, at holding the ball up, plus he scored more than Chopra last season in a struggling side.
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Blue041273 added 17:39 - May 16

At this point realism suggests the players currently committed to the club would not comprise a squad in which anyone could be optimistic of being promotion challengers. Any possible cause for optimism hinges therefore on bringing in a number of new players, integrating them into the squad and developing a playing style which brings out the best in the players both individually and as a team. Frankly I am not particularly optimistic that this will happen in the short term but I live in hope that we can make sufficient progress in order to give us optimism that this slough of despond in which we have existed for so long is coming to an end.