| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. 11:24 - Feb 26 with 7173 views | homer_123 |
But I've been wondering if I would enjoy watching us as much in the Prem. Yes, we'll get to watch some world class players at PR again but I have this nagging, niggly feeling that it won't be anywhere near as much fun as watching us over the last couple of years under KM.
The heart and soul of the Club was slowly and surely extracted from the Club under Evans stewardship. The link to the fans became tenuous at best. The community and family that the Club once was, lost as Evans had little to no interest after a few years of ownership.
Lack of investment off the pitch contributing as much as the lack of investment in the playing side of things.
Yes, we are now owned by an American pension fund but since Ashton et al came in the Club has rapidly and effectively built back up those links to it's fanbase, to the people that have long supported and followed the Club. Add to this the work KM and the team have done on the pitch is nothing short of miraculous.
And here's the thing - my nagging feeling is the squad will change significantly when we go up - these players have delivered so much and watching them, week in and week out, improve both individually and collectively is quite a sight but I don't think this team can really compete at that top level without major changes. It's not a slight on them or me being negative, it is just what it is.
I have enjoyed, so much, watching this group of players play beyond what, I am sure, even they believed they were capable of doing. KM and team have not just developed their footballing and decision making abilities but instilled an ethic, an approach if you will, to football that is something to admire.
I fear it won't be the same as the core won't stay the same when we go up. I rather lament that thought.
I've been lucky enough to watch us under Robson, Lyall, Burley and Royle as well as others. Given where we were not just on the pitch but what had happened to us off it. This group of players and what they have done with the help of Ashton, KM and the team deserves to go down in ITFC lore.
We are simply a joy to watch as we go about our business. That trepidation, excitement and nervous energy you feel on the way to ground, for me at least, is well and truly back.
Don't get me wrong, I am sure in the Prem it will be similar but I don't think it will be the same and right now, I don't want that feeling to change. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:22 - Feb 26 with 1441 views | TractorCam |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:13 - Feb 26 by Herbivore |
League 1 was crap. The only thing good about it was getting out of it and the run of performances that helped us to achieve it. It's easy to look back on it with rose tinted specs now we're well out of it. |
I agree, it's awful. But my other points stand. Hopefully this time next year we are in a position ala 2001 and can go from there. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:23 - Feb 26 with 1438 views | positivity |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:08 - Feb 26 by TractorCam |
But brilliant, cheap away days and 3pm kick offs. For the fan going experience, there's no doubt we have had a better last 4 years than Palace have. All fans of these size clubs say the same regarding the Prem, Swansea fans most recently last week on the train. |
but palace fans wouldn't have had the chance to see so much of eze, olise, zaha, guehi etc etc in the championship and league one... |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:26 - Feb 26 with 1444 views | itfc_bucks |
I've got a 10 year old lad. He finds it beyond belief that we've not only played Man City in the Premier League, but beaten them AND relegated them.
I'll be honest, I'm desperate for him to experience what we all did in the early 2000s. Massive victories against the likes of ManU, under the lights of PR. The North stand erupting. The dream of European nights. The reality of unforgettable games against the likes of Inter - as genuine peers.
It's all coming back, whether it happens this season or next, we're on a march and it's only going one way. | | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:36 - Feb 26 with 1415 views | Churchman |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 12:30 - Feb 26 by giant_stow |
Not like I'm some football supporting expert, but don't there's any doubt that getting there is more fun than being there. Even if your team does relatively well, there's still going to be lots of home losses. |
The OP is exactly how I feel too. Having experienced the Robson years on, I know that best period in particular can never be replicated because of the way the ‘big clubs’ have structured it. Most of the money and young talent hoovered by them, the fodder get the crumbs.
We, along with our peers like Norwich, can only get so far, which is why your point, GS, is very relevant. However depressing that is, it’s a fact of life while football retains this unsustainable model orchestrated by and to the benefit of the big six or so clubs.
They don’t want the likes of Leicester winning the PL, FA Cup or anything else. That’s for them, their prestige and entry into competitions and access to money further afield. Sport? Competition? Do me a favour. It’s the last thing the Man City’s and Chelsea’s want.
This is why I like the tipsy turvy competitiveness of the Championship and indeed further down the pyramid. Real clubs, real identities, real people at games, true passion.
Look at the outpouring of well wishing towards Tony Mowbray on Sat from every person in the ground. Can’t see that happening at the big clubs in quite the same way with their new corporate ‘fans’, who don’t know much about their club let alone the concept of relegation and losing.
However, you have to strive to be the best you can be, just as you do in life. So we should try and reach the pot of gold or poison chalice and as you indicate, enjoy the journey. I fear the destination. I remember the getting crushed every week particularly from Lyall/McGiven’s time. It was no fun. But let’s see how good we can be, even if it means moving on from the marvellous players of the last few years. |  | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:42 - Feb 26 with 1400 views | giant_stow |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:36 - Feb 26 by Churchman |
The OP is exactly how I feel too. Having experienced the Robson years on, I know that best period in particular can never be replicated because of the way the ‘big clubs’ have structured it. Most of the money and young talent hoovered by them, the fodder get the crumbs.
We, along with our peers like Norwich, can only get so far, which is why your point, GS, is very relevant. However depressing that is, it’s a fact of life while football retains this unsustainable model orchestrated by and to the benefit of the big six or so clubs.
They don’t want the likes of Leicester winning the PL, FA Cup or anything else. That’s for them, their prestige and entry into competitions and access to money further afield. Sport? Competition? Do me a favour. It’s the last thing the Man City’s and Chelsea’s want.
This is why I like the tipsy turvy competitiveness of the Championship and indeed further down the pyramid. Real clubs, real identities, real people at games, true passion.
Look at the outpouring of well wishing towards Tony Mowbray on Sat from every person in the ground. Can’t see that happening at the big clubs in quite the same way with their new corporate ‘fans’, who don’t know much about their club let alone the concept of relegation and losing.
However, you have to strive to be the best you can be, just as you do in life. So we should try and reach the pot of gold or poison chalice and as you indicate, enjoy the journey. I fear the destination. I remember the getting crushed every week particularly from Lyall/McGiven’s time. It was no fun. But let’s see how good we can be, even if it means moving on from the marvellous players of the last few years. |
"However, you have to strive to be the best you can be, just as you do in life."
Yeah bang on in so many ways, not just sporting, but in football terms and as things stand, promotion is full of mixed feelings. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:47 - Feb 26 with 1388 views | Radlett_blue |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:13 - Feb 26 by Herbivore |
League 1 was crap. The only thing good about it was getting out of it and the run of performances that helped us to achieve it. It's easy to look back on it with rose tinted specs now we're well out of it. |
Indeed, the teams outside the top 8 usually came to PR & put 10 men behind the ball, wasted time at every opportunity & were mostly awful. The only pleasure was in beating such teams & getting out of that awful league. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:49 - Feb 26 with 1385 views | hype313 |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:36 - Feb 26 by Churchman |
The OP is exactly how I feel too. Having experienced the Robson years on, I know that best period in particular can never be replicated because of the way the ‘big clubs’ have structured it. Most of the money and young talent hoovered by them, the fodder get the crumbs.
We, along with our peers like Norwich, can only get so far, which is why your point, GS, is very relevant. However depressing that is, it’s a fact of life while football retains this unsustainable model orchestrated by and to the benefit of the big six or so clubs.
They don’t want the likes of Leicester winning the PL, FA Cup or anything else. That’s for them, their prestige and entry into competitions and access to money further afield. Sport? Competition? Do me a favour. It’s the last thing the Man City’s and Chelsea’s want.
This is why I like the tipsy turvy competitiveness of the Championship and indeed further down the pyramid. Real clubs, real identities, real people at games, true passion.
Look at the outpouring of well wishing towards Tony Mowbray on Sat from every person in the ground. Can’t see that happening at the big clubs in quite the same way with their new corporate ‘fans’, who don’t know much about their club let alone the concept of relegation and losing.
However, you have to strive to be the best you can be, just as you do in life. So we should try and reach the pot of gold or poison chalice and as you indicate, enjoy the journey. I fear the destination. I remember the getting crushed every week particularly from Lyall/McGiven’s time. It was no fun. But let’s see how good we can be, even if it means moving on from the marvellous players of the last few years. |
I'm with you on all of that.
My only real valid reason for going up would be to secure ourselves financially, because as each season passes we're going to be hamstrung by relegated parachute teams.
If we went up and then got relegated, it would give us more than a fighting chance to go up again in a stronger position.
However, as we know, there are no guarantees, as we are currently witnessing. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:51 - Feb 26 with 1369 views | Radlett_blue |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 14:49 - Feb 26 by hype313 |
I'm with you on all of that.
My only real valid reason for going up would be to secure ourselves financially, because as each season passes we're going to be hamstrung by relegated parachute teams.
If we went up and then got relegated, it would give us more than a fighting chance to go up again in a stronger position.
However, as we know, there are no guarantees, as we are currently witnessing. |
The aim of a club the size of Town is to become a sustainable, middling PL club, who might get lucky one year in a Cup or get into the Europa League. Financially, Town need to get into the PL as without the TV money, Gamechanger will keep losing money & then sell out at some stage. | |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 15:04 - Feb 26 with 1349 views | phillymark |
Understand the point but as a supporter I want us to win every game
No reason we can't aim to be a Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Brentford or Fulham. Bournemouth have no dreams of winning the prem but their performance yesterday versus Man City was pretty impressive and we can aim for stuff like that | | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 15:17 - Feb 26 with 1328 views | dirtyboy |
We're greater than the sum of our parts.
If we achieve the ridiculous and by some miracle get promoted to the Premier League, then I have every faith that McKenna and the backroom staff, Ashton et al, can put a few additions in where needed to make us compete without going mad and ripping up all the good that is in this squad.
Leicester were an outlier, but showed that nothing is impossible.
However....just enjoy each game as it comes. |  | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 15:19 - Feb 26 with 1326 views | Guthrum |
People said similar things this time last year, how we'd change a lot of the squad, not be able to play with as much freedom or have as much success. That didn't come to pass.
I don't think Ipswich Town are yet playing to the maximum of their potential. It will require some additional leavening, yes, just as we signed a few extra players before and during this season. Also different individuals have come to the fore. There is room for further development, individually andas a team.
I was talking to a friend of mine, ManU supporter, who has taken to watching our games when televised. He thought our style of play would suit the Prem and we'd do ok, unlikely to go straight back down. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 15:23 - Feb 26 with 1315 views | baxterbasics |
There are a few things to NOT look forward to in the event of promotion - getting beaten regularly would soon dampen the PR atmosphere, tickets even harder to get hold of for those of us who can't get a ST, more fair-weather fans who just want to see Man City or Liverpool.
Also VAR is a well discussed killer of joy.
But what is the point of it all if not to aim to be the best, and play with the best? Being hammered every week is far from certain - Burley's team managed to punch above it's weight, almost as much as KMs team is today. What's to say he can't replicate that in the Prem? I'd love to see the current squad give it a go with only minimal upgrades - lets face it there could only be so many changes anyway given finances and/or FFP rules. So we wouldn't necessarily see a complete overhaul to this beloved team.
If we have another season in the Championship that's no disaster, but it may mean we see KM depart all too soon, same for the likes of Hutchinson, and the uncertainty of new management. I feel like we wont get the same shake of the dice second time round, this may be our best oppo for several seasons to come.
So on balance, bring on that promotion ASAP, I say. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 15:57 - Feb 26 with 1279 views | GeoffSentence |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 12:56 - Feb 26 by Cheltenham_Blue |
Anyone who says, "I'd rather be in League One", is making stuff up.
It was a horrible place to be, and I for one, never want to be there again, with its sh1t officials, sh1t pitches and Andy Holt. |
30 minutes of, often sh1t, football and 60 minutes of @rse sitting, goalies hanging on to the ball, throw ins taking forever and subs slow walking off the pitch.
No thanks, wouldnt want that again |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 16:20 - Feb 26 with 1261 views | textbackup |
It’s mad to think this time next year we won’t be in for a shot of winning the league, but a European place seems entirely possible |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 16:24 - Feb 26 with 1247 views | Vic |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 13:23 - Feb 26 by Alberto_the_frog |
The last set of figures I looked at, 7 prem teams were making a loss |
That surprises me. But very happy to be corrected. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 22:13 - Feb 26 with 1115 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 13:18 - Feb 26 by Herbivore |
The Championship is a fun league to be in, it's super competitive and you get an interesting mix of teams, plus it feels much more like the teams in the bottom half can beat the sides at the top compared to the Prem. However, financially it's not sustainable for us to just remain in the Championship forever. We'll be losing £10m to £15m a season just to tread water and the only way to change our financial status is to suckle at the Prem teat for a bit.
Added to that, the nature of competitive sport is that you want to be the best you can be and that's not compatible with being content to bump about in the second tier indefinitely. We aren't going to be aiming to win the Prem but over time we could build a squad capable of at least being very competitive. Brighton have managed it, Villa too after a recent stint in the Championship. We should be looking to better ourselves and that means gunning for the Prem, and if we miss out this season we'll be giving it a bloody good go next year. [Post edited 26 Feb 2024 13:18]
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We got bored of the Championship a long time ago. It is exciting because we are playing entertaining successful football. I am sure we will continue to play entertaining effective football in the Premier League too. Even if success is relative and European football might be a dream too far (in the short term at least). |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 23:17 - Feb 26 with 1082 views | bazza |
I think a lot of people said the same when we got promoted last season, but the core of the team is still together and have proven they have what it takes to perform at the very top, it’s more about the character and mentality, than anything else, and I genuinely believe that team could sit mid table in premier league. |  | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 07:49 - Feb 27 with 1001 views | Herbivore |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 23:17 - Feb 26 by bazza |
I think a lot of people said the same when we got promoted last season, but the core of the team is still together and have proven they have what it takes to perform at the very top, it’s more about the character and mentality, than anything else, and I genuinely believe that team could sit mid table in premier league. |
To be fair, there's a few posters who are STILL prone to claiming that some of our players aren't good enough for this level, despite us being joint second with 72 points from 34 games. |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:04 - Feb 27 with 981 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 16:24 - Feb 26 by Vic |
That surprises me. But very happy to be corrected. |
It's worse than that.
The only Premier League clubs that made a pre-tax profit in 2022
Man City 41.8m
Liverpool 7.4m
West Ham 12.3m
Brighton 24m
Brentford 29.7m
Aston Villa 0.5m |  |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:35 - Feb 27 with 964 views | Churchman |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 22:13 - Feb 26 by Nthsuffolkblue |
We got bored of the Championship a long time ago. It is exciting because we are playing entertaining successful football. I am sure we will continue to play entertaining effective football in the Premier League too. Even if success is relative and European football might be a dream too far (in the short term at least). |
I think it was less being bored with the Championship and more being bored with how we played in the Championship. And the growing feeling that we were never going to get out of it by being promoted as the club was getting weaker in itself and compared to others.
All that has changed, at long last. Yes, the team has flaws, but we are wonderful to watch. In full flow it’s almost like the opposition are not on the pitch. I agree with the comment that there’s more to come too.
I think McKenna would be mad to leave whats building here for now. He has a perfect working environment to do something special. The only concern for him must be the unfair disparity in the way finances are structured (parachute payments), but even then the three relegated teams next year won’t be as strong as last year’s
If I were him with the opportunities that will arise, I’d only move on to a seriously bigger job - no smaller than say an Aston Villa. | | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:44 - Feb 27 with 950 views | baxterbasics |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 07:49 - Feb 27 by Herbivore |
To be fair, there's a few posters who are STILL prone to claiming that some of our players aren't good enough for this level, despite us being joint second with 72 points from 34 games. |
Now I love every player who currently wears the shirt for us - but in a way those negative Nellies have a point - the wizardry of McKenna is he has got this team performing beyond the the sum of its parts. This is why I fear staying in this league any longer will see it all unravel if/when he moves upwards without us - we may not get in touching distance again for some time. | |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:55 - Feb 27 with 939 views | Herbivore |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:44 - Feb 27 by baxterbasics |
Now I love every player who currently wears the shirt for us - but in a way those negative Nellies have a point - the wizardry of McKenna is he has got this team performing beyond the the sum of its parts. This is why I fear staying in this league any longer will see it all unravel if/when he moves upwards without us - we may not get in touching distance again for some time. |
Disagree. I think in all honesty the such and such player isn't/is a Prem/Champ/L1 player is a load of old nonsense. And whilst McKenna is an outstanding manager and coach, he can't perform actual miracles. If the players at his disposal didn't possess the physical, technical, and mental qualities needed to implement his style of play at this level then we wouldn't be sat joint second after 34 games on a points total that would, in any normal season, see us coasting to automatic promotion. So I don't personally make the negative nellies right at all. | |
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| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 09:06 - Feb 27 with 920 views | gordon |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:55 - Feb 27 by Herbivore |
Disagree. I think in all honesty the such and such player isn't/is a Prem/Champ/L1 player is a load of old nonsense. And whilst McKenna is an outstanding manager and coach, he can't perform actual miracles. If the players at his disposal didn't possess the physical, technical, and mental qualities needed to implement his style of play at this level then we wouldn't be sat joint second after 34 games on a points total that would, in any normal season, see us coasting to automatic promotion. So I don't personally make the negative nellies right at all. |
Either way it's great that guys like Kayden Jackson, Cameron Burgess, Massimo Luongo who you wouldn't have expected to be able to play a significant role in a championship promotion chase a few years ago are able to do that - I think that's due to a mix of McKenna's coaching, really clearly defined team roles, a supportive, positive environment, and the players themselves being motivated to work really hard on improving. |  | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 09:09 - Feb 27 with 912 views | Churchman |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:55 - Feb 27 by Herbivore |
Disagree. I think in all honesty the such and such player isn't/is a Prem/Champ/L1 player is a load of old nonsense. And whilst McKenna is an outstanding manager and coach, he can't perform actual miracles. If the players at his disposal didn't possess the physical, technical, and mental qualities needed to implement his style of play at this level then we wouldn't be sat joint second after 34 games on a points total that would, in any normal season, see us coasting to automatic promotion. So I don't personally make the negative nellies right at all. |
I agree with this. I don’t see any L1 players in our team or in in fact the squad. They were Championship players last 15 games of last season which is why they smashed most teams out of sight.
So credit to the players as well as KM, who has done a fantastic job. Credit to the people behind the scenes too who have given him the environment to do what he does. That shouldn’t be underestimated. You can tell that everybody at the club is pulling in the same direction and striving to improve every aspect.
There’s lots to do. It’s very exciting. | | | |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 09:30 - Feb 27 with 880 views | Alberto_the_frog |
| So, I'd love to see us promoted, don't get me wrong. on 08:04 - Feb 27 by Cheltenham_Blue |
It's worse than that.
The only Premier League clubs that made a pre-tax profit in 2022
Man City 41.8m
Liverpool 7.4m
West Ham 12.3m
Brighton 24m
Brentford 29.7m
Aston Villa 0.5m |
Yes. I knew the figures I'd seen were quite old. It's hardly the promised land, is it? |  | | |
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