Town legend Ray Crawford says he can’t understand why the Blues allowed skipper David Norris to leave on a free transfer this summer. Crawford, 74, hopes to see Norris in action again next season but with his local club Portsmouth, one of a number of sides chasing the 30-year-old.

Speaking to the local Hampshire press, who appear certain that Norris is joining Pompey, although with Hull, Nottingham Forest and Leeds also understood to be contenders, Crawford says the Blues should have acceded to the midfielder’s insistence on a contract beyond the next two seasons: “Do you know what, I cannot understand why Ipswich have allowed him to go.

“Apparently, he wanted a three-year deal. Well, give it to him because I think he is a fantastic player. He’s captain, scores goals, defends well, is very mobile, has great energy — the lad does the lot, he really does. The complete midfielder. How do you replace somebody like that? They all love him up there.”

Former striker Crawford was clearly a big fan of the ex-Plymouth man during his time with the Blues: “He has this amazing energy to get up and down the pitch, which means he will perform in any position you ask. I actually think centre midfield is his best role.

"He will cover people, when they are caught out he goes across and will challenge anyone breaking through either side.

"For years I watched him home and away for Ipswich and he never had a bad game, always top notch.”

Elsewhere, Watford are claimed to have turned down Swansea’s £3 million bid for reported Town target Danny Graham, while Wigan are said to be the club who have had a £3 million offer for Craig Mackail-Smith from Peterborough. Town had also been linked with the Posh frontman but with Paul Jewell playing down his interest.

Photo: Action Images

BrettenhamBlue added 09:51 - Jun 3 Can't believe that it was as simple as wanting a 3-year deal..... If true.....shows how pathetic our negotiations with players have become.....
0

olimar added 09:52 - Jun 3 Is he worth £2m? I dont think any Ipswich fan would argue that he is. Would "the complete midfielder" who "does the lot", be worth £2m? Yes, he would. Good player, but not great and in a years time, I doubt many Town fans will be saying "We miss Norris", because no-one can really say definitively what we would miss about him.
0

Wallingford_Boy added 09:53 - Jun 3 Agree with Raybo, never understand the criticism he had on here, a real leader.
0

clive_baker added 10:00 - Jun 3 Evidently a class player but i have to say Mr Crawford is wrong here. Norris did nothin to justify another 3 years on the sort of £££ he's on.
0

itfc1981 added 10:03 - Jun 3 I didnt think it was possible to mistake Wickham for Norris!!!
0

prozach added 10:10 - Jun 3 Thanks for the years service David, but I really don't think that we will miss him. He has energy, but does he really affect a game that much? Has not got a range of passing, doesn't win anything in the year, and dives in all the time. Decent player, but not £2 million quids worth. From what I hear, he does not want to join Pompey, but is going to Leeds or Forest instead.

0

prozach added 10:10 - Jun 3 *sorry, air not year, lol
0

Superfrans added 10:15 - Jun 3 Can we please stop referring to players as "reported Town target". It means nothing. The press assume we are targetting everyone. Of course we're not.
0

ipswichjon added 10:28 - Jun 3 "scores goals, defends well, is very mobile, has great energy" yes but he can't pass! and if his work rate and energy are his key characteristics they'll be the first things to start dropping off as he gets older. I'd only give a Bullard type midfielder a 3 year contract as his game is built on positioning and passing, two skills based on experience not fitness. Thank you for the service and hardwork David but players like this are this are available from the lower leagues for lower wages and younger ages e.g. Anthony Sweeney at Hartlepool.

0

ITFC4daprem added 10:32 - Jun 3 can we
0

ipswichtillidie added 10:32 - Jun 3 With all due respect to Mr Crawford who is a legend for town, he's knowledge of Ipswich and our current squad of players is very limited, I've heard his wayward opinions on the radio and it seems he now spends most of his time down sarwf watching someone else because gathering from what he was saying when I have heard him he isn't a regular at postman road. Either that or he is watching a different game to me! Norris won't be missed- letting him go on a free was the only travesty here.

0

budgieplucker added 10:54 - Jun 3 Hmmm " does he really affect a game that much?" Top scorer with 11goals. Ten MOM nominations from TWTD subscribers. Gritty performances away against Crewe and Exeter to win us cup matches we would normally be dumped out of (taking us on to witnessing one of the highlights of recent seasons a semi-final with Arsenal). He might not have been one of our most skillful or creative footballers but if that doesn't constitute influencing games I would like to know what does. Now of course arguably he is too similiar to Grant "I can't hit a barn door" Leadbitter, but sure is damn it we certainly gonna need a twenty goal a season striker to make up for lack of fire power in midfield. But then again perhaps the "born again" former Manchester Utd starlet Lee Martin might reign in with 7 or 8 goals this season to compensate. Back to Ray Crawford, a man who was a true ITFC legend, I had the privilege of watching Ray play for Ipswich many times and respect his opinion. Hope Ray keeps his boots polished cause we might need a striker to make up the numbers come 31st August.

0

cornishnick added 10:54 - Jun 3 I agree with Raymondo. And whatever you think of Chuck, letting him go on a free is criminal. In our team of mediocraty, he was one of our better players. It's hardly as if our door is being beaten down by talented midfielders (or any players for that matter) wanting to play for us.
0

CaughtInTheBrambles added 12:17 - Jun 3 All the animosity towards Norris is based on the "We won't be held to ransom" comment and everyone seems to have the impression he wanted more wages. But it was stated at Christmas time that Norris had been offered two years and wanted three but this 'fact' passed everyone by. The club have made another cock-up, if they had offered him an optional third year he probably would have accepted, but they didn't. I wonder why the club have no intention of committing to players wages beyond the 2012/13 season except for players with obvious selling potential. It's does not dispel notions of lack of ambition nor does it dispel the "olympic" theory that seems to gain creedence with every failure to sign a player. Meanwhile we have to replace one of the best players we have signed for a decade (I agree wholeheartedly with Crawford on this), we will not get a player as good.

0

tractorboybig added 12:33 - Jun 3 How much are we going to pay for a competed replacement? I doubt we will find one,if Norris wanted to stay but could not agree terms then we are only going to get someone worse. Still we are an ambitious club chasing promotion????? Like f***.
0

gypo added 12:35 - Jun 3 history get over it lets move on forget about norris ,mcauley,bullard.
0

blueblood66 added 12:42 - Jun 3 we always missed him when he wasn't in the team..big loss well said Ray, hang your head Clegg
0

MickMillsTash added 12:59 - Jun 3 It seems strange that we would not give him 3 years at 30 when we said that we were talking to Bullard who is 32 and has a worse injury record. Whether we will miss him or not all depends on who Jewell brings in to replace him. Until this is established no-one can really comment. Does anyone have any recollection on how many said that we would not miss Walters and he is over rated etc?

0

blue_em_away added 13:00 - Jun 3 Ray you are a legend but... which Norris have you been watching?
0

Garv added 13:29 - Jun 3 Way too much praise for an average player I'm afraid. Woefully slow, dives in all the time picking up numerous bookings (like Leadbitter), limited range of passing, did he score a goal from outside the box in three years with us? I can't think of one. Energetic yes. The argument of "he was our captain, therefore we should have kept him" is ridiculous. Captains do nothing in football, we could make Jason Scotland captain but most wouldn't want to keep. In two years time, even one maybe, I cannot imagine him being a first team player or as good as he was before at all. Perhaps he did 'deserve' a three year deal but he is not good enough for one I don't think. Leeds or Forest will probably give him a three year deal and end up selling after two years to a league one club. Good servant to the club, always gave his all and can't fault his work rate, but for me not good enough.

0

PYBlue added 14:32 - Jun 3 No we don't all love him. Glad he has gone.
0

Lamby95 added 15:29 - Jun 3 People say Bullard kept us up but Norris gave us many vital goals. IMO will be missed.
0

jas0999 added 16:21 - Jun 3 'Norris won't be missed' - really? Leading goalscorer and club captain ... I think he will be missed and difficult to replace. I can honestly see Drury and Healy starting the season in central midfield roles and that to me would be very disappointing.
0

h32 added 18:06 - Jun 3 ...... you're not the only one Ray who can no longer understand the thinking of this once great Club - it only proves beyond any doubt that the people running the Club now, have NO idea whatsoever. It is a shambles throughout. But equally it has a number of supporters who have no idea either:- 'Norris and McAuley' won't be missed - what a ridiculous statement by any sensible, football knowledgeable, person ?. What does the future holds for this Club now ? - actually I don't think anyone knows, but it isn't lookin' good.

0

cressi added 19:04 - Jun 3 Ray its called GREED
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls