Blues boss Paul Jewell is aiming to have a squad of 20 players at his disposal for the 2012/13 campaign.

Jewell told the club site: "We are looking to add to the squad and ideally I'd like 20 first-team players, especially as it looks as though we will be going back to seven subs next year.

"We want to be in a situation where we can have players who come into the side and don't weaken it too much.

"We were fortunate last year in that we didn't get any injuries to players like Cressy and Carlos Edward,s but injuries and suspensions happen and we have to be in a position to cover them.

"I have to be honest though, there isn't the money around to spend on the squad there was last year. That's not just here, it's right across football. What's happened at Rangers and at Portsmouth - and the recession that we are in - has put clubs on their guard."

Jewell, who has been promised some cash to spend by owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg, has previously said he’ll be looking to make around six signings during the close season.

Photo: Action Images

Seasider added 16:14 - May 9 Expenditure on transfer fees has been falling steadily over recent years and would appear to be even less this year according to PJ.Obviously shedding so many players wage bill should be much lower;but we must be able to compete with other Championship clubs for players which we dont seem to anymore as always lose out where there is competition from any other club. People go on about Mr Evans money;but up til now it has got us nowhere,and dont forget the whole debt including that inherited by ME is owed to Marcus Evans Group so he could place club in administration if he so desires.

0

jas0999 added 17:29 - May 9 Didn;t he say this last pre-season? then he signed players like Ellington and Ingimarrsson - both of whom will be / have been paid off. Poor by PJ. Very poor.
0

h32 added 17:57 - May 9 Don't question anything - just keep coughing up you fools ............. that's all the Club requires of you.
0

JustSpivvyChops added 18:11 - May 9 Even if Jewell had plenty of money to spend, it would be nigh on impossible to successfully negotiate the season with a squad of 20, suspensions and injuries are a natural by-product of the game and we would be in a farcical position very quickly. The truth is, he hasn't got a lot to spend and we never get our first (or second in most instances) target, as we don't pay enough and have a CEO who doesn't understand football and market value's........so we are destined to start next season, with a squad of comparable ability to the one we have now. In that case, we almost got relegated with a squad of about 427 this season, so what makes these people think we can get promoted with just 20 of them? Hilarious and frightening in equal measures.

0

Keaneish added 18:53 - May 9 1 - ALB 2 - Edwards 3 - Cresswell 4 - Smith 5 - Delaney 6 - Martin 7 - Carson 8 - JET 9 - Drury 10 - Bullard 11 - Stephenson 12 - Hyam 13 - Chopra 14 - Scotland 15 - Murray 16 - Ainsley Peters, Ellington gone. Kennedy coaching. Lawrence, Whight not first team yet. So if we're signing 6, which of these two from the 16 aren't counted and might be on their way or is he counting Smith and Scotland signing as part of the 6!? For me and everyone else it's obvious to see where the holes are: 1 - GK 2 - RB 3 - CB 4 - LM 5 - ST 6 - CM or CB (depending if you think Ainsley is up to it yet...i don't as a centre back). Everyone in agreement? If so, PJ needs to deliver on this as he's pretty much spelled it out!

0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:18 - May 9 i think what PJ may mean is 20 experienced first team players to choose from, in which case i would take Murray and Ainsley from Keanish's list and add six. Im sure those two will figure as well though at some stage and maybe Lawrence, Whight etc but 20 senior players for 18 spots would be ok.
0

Paddy39 added 19:28 - May 9 mightytown I agree, we won't be promoted soon. For this season I would like us to identify those players we want and go all out to get them. Do not broadcast to other clubs who we are looking at because by the time we wish to buy them someone else has stepped in. Get hungry players who want to prove themselves. I don't see any big stars up at Scum but you have to give them credit they have done well this season. I would hope a good run in the cups and finish in the top 10 next season. I would be pleased with that but even more pleased if we finished in the playoffs. Lets hope PJ and the CEO get the right players in during this window. Keep the faith.

0

walberswick added 19:33 - May 9 He's still looking for half a first team. Progress? I'd get cracking if I were PJ.
0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:36 - May 9 h32 - you have already told us you arent coughing up so dont worry so.
0

Langdon_Blue added 19:53 - May 9 Between Keanish and Dozzells Bobblehat, I think that is exactly how things are. Ainsley and Murray, aren't in the mix at the moment. Just aswell, as 20 doesn't seem enough, the subs will pick themselves if 2-3 are out with suspensions or injury...which is very possible. We were extremly lucky with how few were not available during last season. Just hope Jewell doesn't think that is always likely to be the case.

0

Langdon_Blue added 20:00 - May 9 Also, just two GK's sounds quite risky. We played with 4 during last season. Unless they would plan an emergency loan in the event that one was injured or sent off???
0

TimmyH added 20:30 - May 9 Yeah agreed too many mis-firing ex-premiership oldies were bought last season and their wages just too big! maybe one reason why he is focusing on a 'tight' squad, although 20 might be a couple short on what I expect, allowing for injuries/suspensions etc. A few more to leave in the coming months I expect.
0

Blue041273 added 22:17 - May 9 His aspiration is to have 20 first team players to select from week by week. Nothing wrong with that. After all last season at times we were struggling to find 11 players worthy of first team status and needed to use the loan system to augment a desperately thin squad. However the various views on the merits of the players currently on the books do not suggest a consensus on the composition of a first team squad and PJ needs to work his socks off to assemble 20 players which we will all consider to be first team quality.

0

StochesStotasBlewe added 22:23 - May 9 h32, coughing up to follow my beloved blues is an addiction i,m afraid.
0

hrj added 23:17 - May 9 Marcus Evans is the second weathiest owner in the championship according to the Sunday Times rich list surely he must see we need some better quality this summer our fans deserve better. Worth £625 million things can't be that bleak and we should be able to afford some half decent signing and not free transfers. Give us fans something to shout about.
0

Sindre94 added 00:02 - May 10 7 subs, great.
0

singingtheblues added 01:02 - May 10 a squad of 20? - given that we currently only have 16 & that only half the players we sign are any good then we need to sign another 8 players! we used 35 players during the season just gone - is a squad of 20 realistic? - presumably at least 2 of them will be goalkeepers?
0

h32 added 18:52 - May 10 Dozzells Bobblehat - you're one of the people who need to be concerned obviously - at the moment I am getting satisfaction from the fact, that for the first time for several seasons now - I have NOT been mugged. Enough is enough, until we move forward again - assuming we will someday again. As Clegg has said, he is well happy that Twelve Thousand + Season Tickets have been sold - therefore expect much of the same for next season you fools.

0

h32 added 19:02 - May 10 pinewoodblueboy - as it was for me for nearly half a century - until last season I woke up.
0

buryblue77 added 23:15 - May 10 h32, from aptly abbreviated PR, what else do you expect Clegg to come out with. Master of spin, he's only ever going to try and spin a positive situation out of a bad one and say he's happy with 12,000 or so. Attendances at their lowest since the Duncan era, almost.
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls