It is interesting reading Keane's comments from last year abou the team needing time to gel and how he would ideally like to play the same 11 every week. Since that AGM, how many players has he signed? We are still waiting for a settled 11, but I fear we can never have it when the manager drops Man-of-the Match players (e.g. recently Priskin against Barnsley, dropped for Hull; Peters against WBA, dropped for Swansea).

Re. an assistant, Roy said in the summer that he had not had time to look for one and it is not a priority.

Re. Houghton, it is terrible that Newcastle sacked him after last year's title and when they are now 11th in the Premier League. Clubs are often far too quick to sack managers and I am generally glad we are not like that, but in our case Keane should not still be here. 6-defeats in a row in the second tier, when was the last time that happened if ever?!

Why the assumption that Clegg couldn't get deals done?

Have any of the trigger happy types on here considered that perhaps Clegg and ME refuse to pay 'considerations' to agents when they ask and that might be why deals stall?

It's a theory and if it's correct, I applaud them for it.

Should be facing a firing squad

Can't believe people keep mentioning Burley. He practically bankrupted the Club by purchasing rubbish players and then taking us down when there was no way we should have gone down. Apart from ITFC what else has he achieved apart from being sacked on more than one occasion. As for tonight it will be the usual waste of time - last year one supporter spoke his mind and was shot down by all and sundry. Its a closed shop I'm afraid.

Stow: that's harsh. Finidi didn't actually play that badly but was over-priced (not Burley's fault). His failure to replace R Wright was a big problem and Sereni obviously never wanted to be here. but his transfer record was actually very good in his time here - especially on the funds he had. His only other sacking, I believe, was by Hearts by a mad chairman when they were top of the table!

The backruptcy was as much Sheepy spending funds we didn't have on the ground and offering the players massive new contracts too soon.

Palace are struggling, but he's had to wheel and deal a lot and they look like picking up currently.

He did a great job at Derby and the Southampton team he got to the play-offs played brilliant football.

not sure he should come back here though, just saying that he's a good manager and has done pretty well since he left us. He was also harshly treated by ipswich. Our start wasn't that terrible - the Grimsby result seeming to be the killer - but Sheepy knew we were in trouble financially and wanted immediate promotion and thought sacking Burley was the way. That decision has been shown for what it was.

Although I did enjoy large periods of Joe Royle's time here. Unlike currently, when I can barely remember a 5 minute spell I've enjoyed.

TractorRoy if you think Keane needs me to tell him what i listed about his short comings it shows he is more deluded about the situation than maybe i thought as are a lot of his followers .And as for being scared to confront him to his face is laughable that is what he is setting himself up for by attending tonight and by remaining in the job after an attrocious 18 months in charge .
Ooooh beware of big bad Roy ,its you who needs to grow up and stop being star struck by a man who has achieved nothing for Ipswich Town but embarrassed us a great deal

What a joke this club has become under the current regime. We have an invisible owner who won't tell us what his long term strategy is, a CEO who know f… k all about football and provides no value add and a manager who has squandered the sort of budget other mangers in the Championship would dream about. We owe for £36million and are relying on the mercy of ME to survive, ticket prices are at rip-off levels, our crowds are falling, we are playing crap football, we are sliding down the table………. The heart and soul has been ripped out of this club. Give me the old ITFC any old day, even with the struggle to pay the interest bills to Norwich Union. At least we were a real football club then. We were shrewd when it came to the signing of players, we didn't pay ridiculous salaries like we do now to our overrated CEO and manager, we had a fairly settled squad, we didn't rely to such a large extent on couldn't give a f…k loan players, the fans were treated with more respect. Ipswich Town was admired for the way it developed its players, the style of football it played and for its ability to compete even though it was a small town club. We have every right to be angry at how far we have fallen.

NorthStand: I agree entirely.

couldn't believe it when that stat about our top season ticket being the third most expensive in the country came out. They can barely get away with charging championship prices for the dross we get served up bi-weekly let alone top-whack premier league prices.

Poyet and Tarricco for me. Poyet made Wise look a good manager!

North Stand that is a terrific posting but without Evans I fear we may be in Div One by now. We just could not go on the way we were and whilst I am far from happy with the current set up what other choice did we have as far as ownership is concerned.

Stow...Re Burley...we got relegated that season with 39points..a sum which would easily keep teams up most seasons nowadays.

He made a few mistakes here and there..getting rid of David Johnson,wasting cash on Finidi George & LePen..Wright & Scowcroft seemed to leave on their own account...plus that 2nd prem season we were deprived of Marcus Stewart for half the season with a broken jaw..that didn't help.

He's done a decent job everywhere to be honest..I think even Fergie would've struggled with the scotland job though.

Just my opinions...

Great post NorthStand... very well put.

Dear Mr Ashley, I see you are in the market for a new manager for your football club. You're clearly a man with great insight. You can see that what you need in a manager is not inconsequential skills like commanding the respect of key players, operating astutely in the transfer market, getting the club promoted, getting the club to punch above it's weight in the premier league, and thrashing your local rivals. You know that what you need is a big name. Somebody who can satisfy your ego. You're in luck. We've just the man! I can highly recommend Roy Keane. Not only will he prove what a powerful figure you are by signing such a big name his achievements are almost the exact opposite of the manager you have just sacked. Not just that but I'm convinced that his previous choice of football management positions will go down well with your supporters. Of course he's highly valued at Ipswich and everybody would be devastated to see him go, but I'm sure a few million compo would prize him away. A quick call to Marcus and it's a done deal.

Re the AGM to be held this evening, I agree with Stow Tractor Boy. No one bothers to ask the board or manager any questions. Everybody moans after the event, if you are going and have a question do not be afraid to ask. Otherwise you will have Keane until the end of the season and fighting a relegation battle.

i never said anything about him being a tough guy and people should shudder at the thought of talking to him etc, my point is that it is far too easy to slag someone off with a keyboard, if you are a 'man' have the guts to speak to him face to face and you will be really surprised what an intelligent footballing man he is, with a burning desire to achieve things at our club.
now as for me, if you were within arms reach and called me 'deluded' to my face i'd probably rip your nose off, but that's just me having a short temper for people who show no respect.


Surco72 added 15:14 - Dec 7
TractorRoy if you think Keane needs me to tell him what i listed about his short comings it shows he is more deluded about the situation than maybe i thought as are a lot of his followers .And as for being scared to confront him to his face is laughable that is what he is setting himself up for by attending tonight and by remaining in the job after an attrocious 18 months in charge .
Ooooh beware of big bad Roy ,its you who needs to grow up and stop being star struck by a man who has achieved nothing for Ipswich Town but embarrassed us a great deal

good grief, let's all vote for becoming the next luton town.


NorthStand added 15:28 - Dec 7
Give me the old ITFC any old day, even with the struggle to pay the interest bills to Norwich Union.

TractorRoyNo1: Roy may well be well-meaning (I for one don't think he's here just for the money) but that doesn't mean he's any good as a football manager. He's had 18 months of consistent mediocrity (and most of the time, worse) here and I can't see how anything is going to improve.

He desperately needs a number 2 but seems unwilling to look for one, or have one given to him and his footballing ideals appear to be to play dull, dull, dull football and hope it squeaks a result (which it mostly doesn't).

He may well leave here and do a great job somewhere else (Strachan has had decent success at two clubs and failed horribly at others) but it just isn't working here and someone in power needs to realise that before it's too late (relegation is a very serious possibility of the current slide isn't halted very quickly).

As Surco says, I don't see why he needs anyone at the AGM to tell him that his team plays poor football and has had bad results. It should be as plain as day to him.

Sorry, but your comments just disolved into yahyah-land after than initial phrase, get real he is a multi-millionaire, his house in Cheshire is on the market for just short of £10m, so he certainly would not put up with this grief "just for the money".
My point, is if someone has the opportunity to say it, then SAY it, rather than sprout on here, if is is so obvious as you make out, then there is no point in typing on this forum. I happend to believe it is not 'cut and dried', I agree that our results are currently cr@P and some of our performances are also, but that's nothing new for any Town fans who have been throuhg thick and thin (and thinner).
When it is impossible to get promotion, i will say 'nice try roy, good luck somewhere else', until then i will SUPPORT him, the team and the club. I have said many times, "fans are fickle, supporters SUPPORT' i suggest a few more should try the latter.

naa added 17:16 - Dec 7
TractorRoyNo1: I for one don't think he's here just for the money.

i think the real answer here is why is roy keane still manager anybody else and they would have been out on there ear a long time ago some come on evans grow some balls and have him out i still firm;y believe that jim magilton was a far better manager

Elmswellblue, at the last meeting when one shareholder criticised RK for his stream of moronic comments on TV relating to any subject rather than getting it right at itfc herr sheepshanks jumped in with the statement we don't have that sort of talk here and threatened to have the man removed if he continued. the steward tried to take the microphone away from the shareholder.

Nazism at it's finest.

Tonight is the one time shareholders should be allowed their say without fear of censorship. many of these small shareholders kept this club afloat with the generous donations to save us from oblivion.

Sheepshamnks - no!!!!!!!
He sold the club to Evans has taken out more in wages (plus bonus) than he has put in, sits in his free seat (which gives him a job with FA) blames Burley for everything- bloke is a failure- as is Clegg! Evans needs to more hands on or bring back Bowden

TractorRoyNo1, are you a Keane clone ? sounds like it ,even want to rip peoples nose off,! IF you are going ,you obviously wont be saying anything being as content as you are.

TractorRoyNo1 - obviously proves what kind of people impress you most ......... and who needs to be 'scared' of people anyway.... quite pathetic.

Clegg is clueless,lets get him out as quick as possible. Keane will make a good manager with help. Tbh his tactics aren't bad he's just lacking man management of his player's therefore we're playing with no confidence.

Speaking of unknown managers, take Lambert for example did well at Colchester, stepped up to Norwich, took them to the top of league 1, and now this year sitting comfortably in the playoffs after embarassing us and Derby, all on very little money. How about that then ???????? makes us look like fools !!!