No doubt getting the budgets agreed before the window opens

Agree Bazza8564, which suggests targets are already identified to some degree but there will surely also be 'opportunities' to pick up players looking for a 'project'.....not sure projects ever existed in my youth, but then neither did the idea of Defensive Midfielder ! lol

PortmanTerrorist - I kind of agree regarding the term defensive midfielder but that certainly what Brian Talbot was and even Johnny Wark describes himself as taking that role!

Batterd Blue
John Wark defense midfielder lol
Top scorer in Europe 15 goals held record for bout 30 yrs glad he wasn't a attacking midfielder

Cressi Wark was a defensive midfielder but when opportunities allowed would arrive late to score the goals, being a defensive midfielder opposition did not see the need to specifically mark him. Attacking midfielders are marked by defence. A good ploy worked out by Bobby and his coaches.

Looks like ok peg leg has been advising Sam of late, Warkie what would he be worth today,the mind boggles one of the best

Words from ex players and bits circulating are already talking about “what Ipswich are planning next season” which makes me believe that targets are lined up and it's all largely in train. We need to bear two things in mind, firstly Ashton wasn't around last season to get his targets in very early, hence the poor start and pressure early doors. Also, the season starts July 30 because of the World Cup.
I've metMA and spoken to him at length about the club, he is the sharpest cookie i've come across in all aspects of business in forty years, he knows the detail on everything. He will have it nailed. He will have his Academy director nailed, he has other “head of” appointments nailed.
It's going to be fascinating watching it all unfold, the guy is phenominal. We were talking Warnock and he was getting McKenna, expect that type of quality in absolutely everything he has a hand in. Relax and wait guys i have a feeling we will be licking our lips in 6 weeks

I do have a inkling what Wark was saw his debut played centre half v Leeds in Cup systems were very different in the day great players would be great in any era ability and hard graft and the mental attitude to succeed

Cressi, yes filbert street replay on the Thursday night having played out a draw on Tuesday! Beat wasn't fit and came in alongside Hunter who told Alan Clarke that if he touched Wark he'd break his leg apparently. What a game, won 3-2 and was behind Clive Woods when he bent one into the top corner! Happy days!

Just for a bit of fun I'd describe Wark as a box to box midfielder ......... well at least on his first spell lol

For all you youngsters under 50 have a search on YouTube and see if you find that Clive Woods goal.

I think this is the game,

Regards

Neil
Aged 48 😂👍

A lot of our signings last summer promised much but delivered very little - Pigott, Harper, Edwards, Carroll, Fraser and Hladky to name the worst so I am hoping that this summer, we can sign players with the right attributes to get us promoted and that won't take time to incorporate into the team. If I hear the words ‘need time to gel' again next season I will scream!

There is a massive job behind the scenes to bring the club forward 20 years: from player recruitment all the way down to the ticketing system. We are light years away in so many departments, it is no wonder we struggled this season, as really every time Ashton sat down I'm sure he had an inbox that would make many of us weep. Seems like strategic planning is happening now though, which means if we liked last close season, we're going to love this one (more quality than quantity hopefully).

The problem with this league is you could have a team of fantastic players who are skillful but teams will just play dirty tactics to stop your flow of football. Managers have worked out how to slow our game down which hasn't helped in the games where we score 3,4 goals we got into a fast passing game which stopped our opponents. How many games recently have we done that? Players like Celina have found it hard and frustrating, Morsy is targeted every game as they know his one player that could potentially lose his rag and get yellow or red cards. We need to find a way round this then and only then will we get out of this horrible league

I agree Brendan so the key is to bring in a mix of players with different attributes required to get us out of this league but who have the quality to compete in the Championship. Not an easy task I realise. Skill is not enough - Celina proved that this season. We need physicality, grit and determination as well plus someone capable of taking a decent corner and FK.