 | Forum
Reply | Good Luck Tractor Boys
at 18:53 2 May 2024
My view re Ashton himself as a person won’t change, but if you go back to my first ever post, you’ll note I always said the “blame” was between Lansdown (the owner), Ashton (CEO) and Johnson (Head-coach).
I think a combo of Steed / O’Leary has meant Ashton has focused on his strength…football administration / business.
At City he was given too much license to “dabble” where he shouldn’t.
(I think the game at your place flattered us…we just sat in a low block, and frustrated you first half. We scored two great goals that gave the impression we played better than we did) |
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Thread | Good Luck Tractor Boys
at 17:51 2 May 2024
Hi all. It’s been a while, but thought I’d wish you all the best for hopefully your final match of the season against Huddersfield.
Been a hoy watching true front foot football from your boys all season, even if I didn’t really want you to do well.
But I’d be more than happy to either / both Leeds or Saints stay down.
I still can’t believe you have done so well, but you have a fantastic manager, and your core players have been so good. But I think you have tried to outscore teams (and succeeded) and it’s been fun to watch. And you’ve caught the boring, defensive teams out.
So I fully expect you to be saying bye-bye to the Championship come Saturday afternoon.
Good luck!
Still don’t like Mark Ashton though 😉 |
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Reply | Bristol City fans seem to think Pearson is done if we beat them tomorrow (n/t)
at 11:18 25 Oct 2023
A bad “collective” - Steve Lansdown (owner), Jon Lansdown (chairman), Mark Ashton (CEO), Lee Johnson (Head Coach). They all got carried away, spending loads, no control, no plan.
I sensed from the interviews with the Arizona Pension guy (Mark Steer????) that he stands no messing…and it seems a really good fit, and good control exists through all the football functions.
McKenna appears to be outstanding. Fair play. |
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Reply | "Mark Ashton derby"
at 11:12 25 Oct 2023
I think you are right - focus is on owner v Pearson relationship at the mo’. Looks like he’s doing a good job for you. Judging by the impact of Gamechanger, through O’Leary, Ashton to McKenna, it looks like everything is great…and he’s part of a good set-up that suits all. We’d look a bit stupid to be making too much of it, seeing as to where you are in the league (on merit too).
As I’ve always said, I never blamed him for all of our mess, just he was part of it. And at the mo’ we are seeing the long term clueless nature of our owner and son causing friction with the fan base.
Big test for us tonight.
Nige, in fairness, is pretty mellow most of the time, but like Gremlins, don’t feed him water. |
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Reply | Bristol City fans seem to think Pearson is done if we beat them tomorrow (n/t)
at 01:18 25 Oct 2023
Yes, exactly that. Nige has done a very good job, wants to continue his time with us…but the owner doesn’t like him, because the owners son came out with some bad comments that Nige should be doing better…and Nige reacted. It feels like a relationship between owner and manager that might not be resolvable…hence Nige’s comments about insecurity.
Vast majority of fans are totally behind Nige. |
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Reply | If these targets are true
at 20:06 1 Aug 2023
True. We have similar issues, we have no PL clubs on our doorstep to take an “easy step down” a division, without a big relocation. |
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Reply | If these targets are true
at 20:02 1 Aug 2023
With McNally it appears some clubs wanted to buy him, didn’t want him on loan. Burnley only bought him a year ago, and want to “sweat their asset”. Got 3 years left on his contract, so they want to build his profile on loan and if he then comes back and competes, great. If he doesn’t they have a very sellable asset, more so than this summer. |
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Reply | If these targets are true
at 19:30 1 Aug 2023
“What don’t they like about ITFC”
It’s more a case of - what do they like more about other clubs. Without getting into history / big club debate, Ipswich are a new club (back) in the Champ and players will be wary about coming to you regardless of the “project and ambition” under KM and MA when they can settle for the perceived “guarantee” of other clubs.
Your way to overcome that worry is to overpay in fees / wages, probably both.
It seems like you (rightly) won’t go down that route.
For example:
Whether you think Simms was on your radar or Hirst always was 1st choice, nobody ever says they recruited their 2nd or 3rd pick do they? It’s not exactly novel to say “we’ve been chasing Hirst for weeks” to make it appear he was first choice. That’s not a criticism either, it’s just football, you spin-it. Pretty much every Champ club would’ve been in for Simms if they thought he was viable!
At the end of the day, you signed Hirst because he was the one you could get. Your fans are happy, it’s really immaterial who you might’ve been looking at, who maybe turned you down.. Even PL clubs don’t get who they want.
I think you should be pleased you stuck to your guns, because clubs / players will mess you about, use you as leverage to get get more elsewhere. It’s very true that “everyone knows Ipswich have money” so you will get featured in every agent led transfer rumour out there.
Enjoy the players you have already / have signed and see where it takes you. |
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Reply | Phil - Tom Cannon?
at 19:45 9 Jul 2023
Would not surprise me at all if they are in for him. Would be a good fit. Think Sunderland will give it a right go this season coming. Recruiting well, using the new Work Permit rules to good effect. |
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Reply | Was expecting a signing before the flight
at 19:39 9 Jul 2023
Ashton should know there’s a pecking order from his time with us. You can of course jump the queue by over-paying in terms of fees and / or wages.
Also Prem League teams are still not fully back yet, and if they are, they’re using the players they are potentially loaning out to cover their internationals who are being eased back in.
I’m sure you’ll get some movement over the next week or so, but the PL teams do use and abuse Championship clubs….it’s a moneymaking exercise for them.
Signings like Taylor, you can play the bully to a large extent. |
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Reply | Phil - Tom Cannon?
at 19:33 9 Jul 2023
Was really good last season for Preston, got a bit of everything, power, pace…
Would imagine his suitors will be top-end Champ clubs…that’s if Everton let him go. He’s very highly rated there, was a beast in their u21s last season before he got his loan. |
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Reply | Comment on the Simms signing
at 20:15 8 Jul 2023
The story coming out is that it’s £3.5m initial fee, another £1.5m based on apps and goals…and a £3m promotion add-on too. So £8m total possible.
I would’ve thought Everton might have pushed for a bit more.
Glad you agree on his mobility, can only suggest it’s a salty Mackems fan. |
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Reply | If the Simms rumours are correct
at 00:47 8 Jul 2023
Mobility is one thing that he doesn’t have a problem with. At 6’3” he’s one of the most mobile “big-men” I’ve seen. A very capable channel runner, as well as a target too. It’s one of the reasons Cov see him as a replacement for Gyokeres. They are a heavy counterattack team, so Simms’s mobility is exactly what they need. |
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Reply | Harper contract terminated
at 13:10 29 Jun 2023
The other cist often forgotten about is the transfer fee amortisation. £500k over a 3-year term, means you will have to impair (wrote-off) the final year’s cost £166k. Add that to any pay-off (as you’ve all suggested) and it’s something like a £200k cost overall. Not huge on its own though. |
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Reply | Thursday 29th June - squad update
at 13:02 29 Jun 2023
Excellent post ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ‘ðŸ»
The other consideration is without the ball generally. You’re going from a league where you had 59.1% possession (Wyscout data), and also a lot of control, especially in opposition third, to a new league where you might start seeing less than 50% more often.
You didn’t have many games, just 6, last season where you had less than 50% possession. Possession isn’t everyone as you’ll know, but the ability to take up high positions because you know you can advance the ball through the thirds in lg1 becomes a different reality. Starting positions become different. You may might you still have possession but it’s closer to your own goal than the season just gone. That can be quite a difference, and also just a shift from circa 60:40 to 50:50 is 9 mins less without the ball and 9 more minutes trying to get it back.
I’m looking forward to seeing KM’s approach. He’s very bright and a huge asset for you. |
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Reply | You got a new job Phil
at 22:04 19 Jun 2023
If you read my posts on here or OTIB, I explain exactly why. You’ll also note I don’t blame him solely, but as a collective from owner (Lansdown) > Ashton > Johnson.
We have some muppets on our forum, you probably think I’m one of them, but I’ll give you my rationale why.
Anyway, I guess I’ve had my say about Ashton. I’ll try to refrain from dragging myself into the argument any further, and concentrate on my usual MO of Championship football.
Good luck for the season |
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Reply | Mark Ashton
at 21:58 19 Jun 2023
Fair comment. |
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Reply | You got a new job Phil
at 20:55 17 Jun 2023
What are you on about?
The only thing I suggested you doing was keep an eye on the profit and loss / FFP versus your squad strength.
If you’ve kept an eye on it, and are happy, then great. Some of your fans posts on here show they have a far better grasp than you do.
You may continue to go from strength to strength. If you do, I’ll happily come on here and say Ashton has done a good job, found a good club to influence / take forward.
As per my OTIB post today (if you actually read it), I’m not gonna make wild predictions about who’ll finish above who, I’ve no idea what your squad will look like in 6 weeks time. If you sign players like Simms, you’ll improve your team hugely from what it looks like currently.
I’m glad you’re optimistic about the future. It sounds like your Evans was our Ashton…and everything is rosy.
Good luck for the season ahead.
If you travel to Ashton Gate, let me know, I’ll buy you a pint. [Post edited 17 Jun 2023 20:57]
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