My ITFC 11

Roughly 13 years ago, my dad took me to my first ever Ipswich game. From that moment on, I have been captivated and emotionally invested in every element of Ipswich Town Football Club. Over a decade as a season ticket holder, I have seen many players don the famous blue and white strip. Some good and certainly some bad…

In this blog, I am going to pick my ultimate Ipswich eleven, since I began watching the club week-in-week-out. This is an idea I hope you, the reader, will participate in, sharing your own ultimate 11’s using #MyITFC11 on Twitter. If you do wish to take part, don’t forget to tweet @Hubitfc so I can see the great squads you all put together.

For now, allow yourselves to reminisce in the last decade of quality players at Portman Road. The choices may have been scarce, but there are some top players on this list…

Goalkeeper – Bartosz Bialkowski

It’s very difficult not to pick Bialkowski for this team. The three time player-of-the-year has become somewhat of an Ipswich legend during his time at Portman Road, making 168 appearances for the club since signing from Notts County in 2014.

Arguably one of the greatest free transfer purchases in the club’s history, Bart has shown his shot-stopping skills in abundance across the past 4 seasons. Competing with Dean Gerken, another good keeper in his own right, Bart has managed to capture the hearts and minds of the fans, a true icon of Town’s recent history.

After a poor season, resulting in Town’s relegation from the Championship, Bart’s future now hangs in the balance, with clubs circling like vultures to pluck him away from Suffolk. We must accept that he is far too good for League One, despite some shaky performances last term.

Now a Poland international, we may have to say goodbye to Bart this summer; I’m certain he’ll get the heroic send-off that he deserves.

Right-Back – Carlos Edwards

Not only would this man be my first choice right-back, but he would also be the captain of my team, Carlos Edwards.

Signed by Roy Keane in 2009, alongside Grant Leadbitter, Edwards quickly became a fan-favourite, just as he was at Sunderland. Predominantly a right-winger under Keane, Edwards was converted to a full-back when Paul Jewell joined the club as manager.

As someone who sits in the lower tier of the Co-Operative stand, watching Edwards cut inside of cock-sure wingers was great to see. He had an elegance in his play, as well as a charm that made him a very likeable character to both fans and players.

Voted player’s player of the year in 2012, Edwards was given the captaincy by Jewell. Edwards left for Millwall in 2014 and, despite not featuring consistently for ‘The Lions’, also became a hit in South London.

Edwards made 176 appearances for Town and will always go down as one of my favourites.

Centre-Backs – Christophe Berra and Gareth McAuley

When witnessing the dire defensive displays of the past 12 months, I often sit and wonder what could of been if Christophe Berra and Gareth McAuley had ever played alongside one another. Both towering centre-halves with over 100 Ipswich appearances to their names, they are arguably the two finest defenders Town have had in the last decade.

McAuley spent most of his years tightening a leaky defence under the rough and tumble management of Roy Keane, whilst Berra created an unbreakable, surprisingly goal-heavy, partnership with Tommy Smith.

McAuley managed 115 appearances for Town before departing on free transfer to West Brom in 2011, where he spent the next 7 years of his career as a starter in the Premier League. Berra’s Ipswich career ended in similar fashion after 4 years at Portman Road, opting to return to Scotland in 2017, re-joining former club Hearts.

Both full internationals who came up big for the club when necessary, Berra and McAuley will be fondly remembered as two commanding centre-halves that made watching Ipswich defend that little bit easier.

Left-Back – Tyrone Mings

Other than the strikers, this was the most difficult choice I had to make. Tyrone Mings or Aaron Cresswell? In the end, I opted for the former, but it could have so easily been the latter.

Why Mings? Well, his impressive career and Ipswich record speaks for itself. Starting in the low leagues with Yate and Chippenham Town, the young full-back was brought to Portman Road for the measly sum of £10,000.

After the departure of the aforementioned Cresswell, Mings cemented his spot at left-back, spending two seasons as a commanding force in the Ipswich back-line. 57 appearances, with 1 goal to his name, Mings impressed plenty of sides, with Town doing their best to knock back bids. Eventually, in 2015, Mings signed for Bournemouth for a fee believed to be £8 million, not a bad profit…

Mings makes my team for his class both on, and off, the pitch. A complete wind-up and brilliant player to witness, Tyrone often reflected his humble up-bringing, with many great stories coming to light regarding fans, friends and family.

His Bournemouth career stuttered after a horrendous injury that kept him out for over a year. However, after a loan spell with Aston Villa, that ended in the Midlands club gaining promotion to the Premier League, Tyrone Mings looks back to his commanding best.

Right-Midfielder – Ryan Fraser

Few players have caught the eye like Ryan Fraser, both at Portman Road and beyond.

Joining Town from Bournemouth on a season-long loan in 2015, Fraser made an instant impact, scoring on his debut at Brentford on the opening day of the season. His pace and trickery, matched with his muscular physique, made him a handful for any Championship side.

Fraser suffered an injury part-way through the campaign and never really found his feet in the Town squad once returning. I believe, had Fraser stayed fit for the entire campaign, that Town would have had another run at the play-offs.

Fraser went on to showcase his class for Bournemouth in the Premier League, having made over 150 appearances for his parent club. Call-ups to the Scotland national side have helped Fraser’s stock rise in recent years, with his best season coming last term.

Now being chased by the likes of Arsenal, Fraser is truly one of the finest loan players to grace the Portman Road turf. His pace, skill and trickery on the wing, combined with surprising strength for someone his size, is something that hasn’t been seen at Portman Road since his loan spell ended in 2016.

Central-Midfielders – Cole Skuse and Owen Garvan

I must admit, I found it difficult to pick two players from the last 10 years to fill the central midfield roles, which says a lot about the quality that’s filled that position in recent years. However, after much deliberation, I came to a decision.

My managerial head is on here, thinking about what kind of partnership would be the most beneficial for the rest of my team. Cole Skuse and Owen Garvan represent the diversifying styles of play that would benefit any side; much like Berra and McAuley, it’s a shame we never got to see this duo play together.

Both Garvan and Skuse made appearances aplenty for Ipswich, with Garvan making 163 appearances and Skuse, still a part of the Town squad, having made 235 so far. Whilst both men had moments of frustration, they also, at times, oozed class.

Garvan is the more attack-minded of the two, sweeping balls forward for wingers and strikers to run on to. As for Skuse, he’s the commander, the veteran with a great footballing brain who assists the defenders with clever tackles and a tireless work ethic. Neither men were stand-out players during their time and Portman Road, but it’s very difficult to think of a central midfielder who has stood out in the time I have been a season ticket holder. I dabbled with the idea of putting Jonny Williams in this team but his inconsistent injury record, combined with the reality that he doesn’t really fit in my system, means he’ll have to remain an impact sub for now.

Again, the classy options were pretty scarce but Skuse and Garvan represent the best of the rest of the past 10 years.

Left-Midfielder – Tom Lawrence

I’ll let you into a little secret, I never really liked Tom Lawrence. His arrogance and play-acting got on my nerves, alas I understand that’s what it takes to be a good player in modern day football. The antithesis of the honest Ryan Fraser, Lawrence made an impression by drawing fouls and scoring worldies during a season-long loan from Leicester in 2016.

Still to this day, Lawrence’s 9 goals in 34 appearances is the best return of his career. When there’s a choice of Lawrence or someone like Lee Martin, I know which way I’m going to sway.

Part of the frustrating last two years of the Mick McCarthy era, Lawrence sparked light in a dark time for the club, showing his class on a weekly basis. Mid-way through his loan spell, Lawrence did go off the boil but, to be fair to the now 25-year-old, the whole team did during the 2016-17 season.

Lawrence encapsulates the modern day footballer. Not the finest, easily frustrating, but unplayable on his day. That’s why he’s in this team, for his spells of class that, unfortunately, aren’t always on show. If he could maintain a consistent level of top-form, he would most certainly be playing in the Premier League on a weekly basis.

Strikers – Connor Wickham and Giovani Dos Santos

Is it unfair to put a player in here that’s only played 8 games for the club? Who cares? Giovani Dos Santos, in his short, 8 game loan spell for the club, showed more class and skill than any other player of the past 10+ years. The Mexican magician, loaned from Tottenham for the latter stages of the 2008-2009 season, encapsulated everything a footballer should be. I’m not over-exaggerating when I say that I loved him… and still do… Come home Gio.

As for Wickham, it’s very difficult not to appreciate a truly immense centre-forward who was effectively produced by the football club. At the tender age of 16, Wickham made his senior debut for the club in 2009, against Doncaster.

Wickham went on to make 65 appearances for Town, scoring 13 goals in that time, including a memorable wonder-strike against Sheffield United. The Englishman departed the club in 2011, joining Premier League Sunderland for an initial fee of £8 Million. Wickham’s career failed to take off at Sunderland, with many Town fans wishing he’d spent another year to hone his craft before moving on. He left Portman Road too soon and, unfortunately, the rest of his career has suffered because of it.

Nowadays, a combined strike-force of Wickham and Dos Santos would be enough to terrify any Championship defence. With service from wide-men like Fraser and Lawrence, this team would surely be fighting at the right end of the table.

And that’t the team!

Over 10+ years of quality (and non-quality) whittled down to 11 players. Do you disagree wit my team? Do you agree with my team? Have you been watching the club for 60 years and can therefore dwarf my slightly pathetic squad? If you’ve answered yes, then let me know by tweeting @Hubitfc and using #MyITFC11 to tell me who you would select for your ultimate Ipswich Town squad.