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Tractor Girls Hit Four to Progress in FA Cup
at 19:10:07

@Saxonblue74 That was last year's final delayed due to covid.
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Pompey: We've Spoken to Grant But He Might Join Ipswich
at 16:28:39

FAO PhilTWTD

Sorry I got the ordering wrong for the source (saw it from EADT first on Twitter is all). However from my perspective 'might join' means as much as 'might NOT join' (!). Perhaps I'm bored of the weight of constant transfer speculation online. Thats not your fault because "we" seek it out, but given Mick's approach of talking about stuff when its done not before (unlike his predecessors) I was hoping those reporting on ITFC might follow suit. Apologies for any offence caused.
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Pompey: We've Spoken to Grant But He Might Join Ipswich
at 16:14:04

Utter non-story. Boo for following the EADT's cheap ploy for web hits and reporting it. Tell us when its done.
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New Joint-MDs Write
at 13:20:13

A comment on the footballing side might have been nice though gents. This customer offering you talk about is nothing if the football is crap and we're down in League 1 with 11,000 attendances.
Nothing on the academy or support for the manager either. It suggests their remit is not as broad as Clegg's in this regard. Perhaps Marcus has realised if you want a job doing, you do it yourself.
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Blues Target Arsenal Midfielder
at 09:12:38

I wonder how he compares to Massimo Luongo?
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Orr: Sir Bobby a Big Influence
at 14:47:34

Agree JWM - I'd rather he did his talking on the pitch!
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Keeper Henderson Set to Become Eighth Loan
at 11:41:27

FAO stainless - were you at Barnsley? I thought Loach was one of the key factors of us picking up an underserved and unlikely point.

Regardless of Loach's form, another pointless short-term signing on loan when we already have personnel to cover the position. I'd rather we fight relegation with our own players than someone else's. If Jewell gets into problems his default response is to sign some players. Why not try and train them harder and better during the week?
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Town Had 'No Intention' Of Stopping Fanzine Sales
at 14:53:50

A brief comment on Steve Pearce's line re "the way results have gone" inviting 'criticism'. The point of Turnstile Blues is to encourage discussion on all things ITFC, in particular aspects above and beyond the disappointment on the pitch. The fanzine was also in development before the season had started too, and would have come out regardless of how early results had gone.
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Town Would Still Consider Stadium Sponsor
at 08:39:07

Several mentions of supporters as 'customers' in the Co-Op news story, now we're an 'organisation'. No real problem with the club pursuing sponsorship options for the stadium (its not a new idea) - either way I'll always call it FPR. But I'm bored and get slowly annoyed by how much business BS is spouted by ITFC now. I work five days a week and hear this talk all the time. I'm not interested in hearing the same stuff trotted out by "my" football club.
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Leadbitter's Agent Confirms Boro Talks
at 12:05:21

Sorry for the tedious response, but I really don't care about Grant Leadbitter thanks TWTD. He's made his choice and it doesn't involve us, so I have no interest in reading about him and his future new club decision on here.

As for Kieran Westwood - yes please. He should have realised last summer his chances at Sunderland would be limited though.
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Leadbitter Turns Down Town Offer
at 17:01:37

Thanks for nothing Grant. Rarely justified (at least consistently) the considerable transfer fee and wages that we've paid for him. Will be remembered for having a starring role in one of the lowest points in the club's history - at least in recent times.

Why Jewell persevered with signing him up for so long given this plainly obvious outcome only he'll know. The supporters called this last summer and he should have been sold off or frozen out of the first team then.
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Town Topic: What Could Improve Matchdays at Portman Road?
at 12:16:37

Ironically I've literally just blogged about this (amongst other more pressing topics):

> Consult an acoustic expert to improve noise retention and distribution around Portman Road.

> Move away supporters to opposite end of Cobbold Stand for matches not considered high risk by the police.

> Select proper pre-match build-up music (no 80s movie or Euro 96 mega-mixes), and proper half-time entertainment.

I've also written to the club directly about the last one a year or two ago and then again this season and on both occasions got acknowledgement but no response to my actual feedback or recommendations.

Its one thing for the club to ask for supporters input, its another for them to actually do anything about it (i.e. don't hold your breath!).
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Town Topic: What Could Improve Matchdays at Portman Road?
at 20:38:27

Thanks all for comments.

I certainly concede that the Academy stuff might be a bit of a stretch (I did say 'target'!). However I do feel the club's justification for it is to merely unearth gems to sell on every few seasons, rather than to nurture for our first team. I'm tired of seeing our home grown players making it for other clubs as Surco72 mentions.

Fair comment brendanh on employing a consistent selection policy, if/when Jewell 'stumbles' upon a winning formula!

Thanks SouperJim - on the petty bits, attention to detail separates the good clubs from the bad. I accept there are more fundamental problems than the Britannia puddle however (even if it annoys me)!
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Jewell: Grant Has Told Me He Wants to Stay
at 09:23:25

This same story was posted exactly one year ago today about David Norris.

http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=18166&otd=y

We all know how that ended. Regardless of what players have "said" to PJ and ITFC, the reality is that these players are only loyal to themselves.
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Clegg Keen to Forge Closer IBC Link
at 13:03:41

I totally support the club looking to pursue closer ties with IBC and am pleased the back rent issue is close to resolution.

I am slightly concerned however by the condescending tone we're taking to go about forging these closer links. Its a similar feel to the club statements to supporters around the Academy debate (i.e. we're ITFC and we'll do what we think is right - whether you like it or not).

Whilst the comment: "...nothing will have a greater impact on the local community...than Ipswich Town being promoted to the Premier League" is probably fair - why does it need to be brought to IBC's and the local business community's attention? It only serves to inflate the club's ego and marginalise the local authorities and businesses we're trying to integrate with.

Seeking special treatment or acknowledgement for ITFC because of what promotion may bring to the community, is hardly a constructive starting point for discussions. IBC's remit extends slightly wider than the interests of ITFC.
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Jewell: Town Now More Flexible
at 12:48:31

Town lacking Plan B? I beg to differ:
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Mauricio Taricco on Life's a Pitch
at 22:44:56

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Mauricio Taricco on Life's a Pitch
at 15:58:56

Thanks FornhamBlue; getting all Town supporters united is the starting point to challenging the club's problems. Easier said than done though.
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Town Eyeing Norwich Striker
at 21:07:07

I'd rather lose with unproven Academy kids than with crappy old rejects signed on the cheap. Especially crappy old rejects from up the A140.

Better yet, lets get rid of clueless Jewell and Clegg and get people in who know how to run a football club. Maybe we'll start winning again.

The galling thing is that this might not yet be our lowest ebb!
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Jewell: My Fault, Not Clegg's
at 13:31:29

Have to say I disagree PJ, but nice of you to try and deflect.

Delivering on either a short-term or 'long-term' strategy is ultimately the responsibility of the CEO to facilitate. Clearly in football, the manager is the one delegated to do that operationally - but steering, leadership and any support required comes from above. Now thats how it works in most businesses - actually its more typical for the CEO to evolve any strategy themselves, but presumbably that stems from Marcus Evans.

I had a think off the top of my head of the tangigble output (from my lay view) of our current CEO to allow ITFC and its employees to achieve either short or long term (which most would argue doesn't exist, but I'll again give the management the benefit of the doubt) goals. I could only think of one positive (at the bottom):

Allowing the current manager to abandon an apparent long-term view to instead fill our ranks with freebie relics on single year deals and expensive loanees we cannot sign (or who can be recalled); disposing of experienced Academy and scouting staff; allowing the contracts of player's with considerable market value to expire; allowing transfer targets to sit in his office and then walk away to sign for our rivals; even contemplating Category 2 Academy Status (long term indeed); high match day ticket prices and increasing season ticket prices whilst quality of produce degrades significantly year on year; allowing a communications void to disconnect the club from its supporters, including spinning lines to appease disenchanted supporters.

The only positive I could think of was the good fee received for Connor Wickham, but I understand that comes with caveats and installments. I also chose not to blame Clegg for the inflated fees paid by Jewell's predessors for average players, but actually an involved CEO should be scrutinising those too, regardless of how much Evan's is willing to outlay.

Conclusion - I am increasingly concerned by Jewell's abilities, and I am still yet to be convinced of Clegg's. If someone would like to provide balance to this ranty comment, please feel free. I would be interested, particularly if I've missed something obvious.
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