The one player we actually spent a fee on last summer and he didnt make a single appearance for the club. Good it was only 25k!! Just hope the same doesn't happen with bodger and badger!!!

One that just didn't work, it seems. But at least when Mick gambles, he keeps his stakes low.

Worth a small punt last year. Shame though. Good luck to him.

It was worth a try on the lad and I wish him all the best. From what I heard, it seem homesickness had quite the effect on him.

Alas another 'punt' that has not paid off. Albeit he was a youth. As long as we get, I guess, 2 in 5 of these no fee (unproven at this level) gambles to pay-off, maybe its a strategy that can work. Certainly the youth strategy has taken a blow with the academy, so this is what we're left with on our meagre budgets. Wordsworth, Veseli, Nouble, Doherty haven't worked out. I think Mings is more in the youth category, but may come good.

If you think about our expected starting line-up

Gerken
Chambers, Berra, Smith, Parr
Anderson Hyam Skuse Stewart
Murphy McGoldrick

Apart from our 2 youth product these are all 'proven' players who we've paid higher wages for. Albeit Anderson flopped spectacularly. None of the 'punts' sighted above apart from Henshall and perhaps Hewitt are knocking on the door of the first team (Hewitt was at least playing regular football albeit at a lower level).

Now add Bru and Bajner.

We do need to wake-up to the fact you need to bring in players who have truly performed, the punts do not a promotion team make.

As for Hunt and Tabb, proven, but in their prime 5 years ago. Now taking valuable dressing room real estate.

Was more a personal issue with him, home sickness etc more than total lack of ability.

Shame, but worth a punt!

Unstable - Anderson didn't flop spectacularly at all. Average, but due to McCarthy admitting he'd asked him to play a more defensive role

Hi Marcus - I was about to delete 'flop spectacularly'. But if you think back he was heralded on arrival. The provider of width, deliverer of consistent service, a reliable JET.

He just couldn't beat 'the man' his confidence was shot from very early on. You elude to the fit used but he had to tuck in. What to support 2 defensive midfielders who rarely broke forward, and a very defensive right back.

I watched 4 or 5 performances where the town shape was begging for him to get to the by line.

So yes a big flop.

However, I have a sneaky suspicion he might do allright this term. He's a confidence player.

Lol@ jimmy. I really hope they turn into club legends now, just so the Portman Rd faithful can sing the bodger and badger theme tune!

Bodger and Badger are never far away!

Blueandtrue82 tell me about it!! What a great show that was, think they willboth do well if given time

Delighted for Limerick! At least Doherty will be playing a decent level, you never know, as he gets more experienced and mature we may have first dibs on him. Give a few years and see where he is at- look at Richie Towell!

Speaking of League of Ireland, we were linked with Richie Towell earlier, I hear from Dundalk FC that this transfer may actually be on the cards (€350k) for Town.
Would be a good signing even at that price.

Hope he doesn't come back to haunt us, he is only 19

There was a young winger called Jack
Who joined Ipswich to bolster attack.
He got sick of home
Se we sent him on loan
Now where he began he's gone back.

Oh, Limerick the CLUB.