Column: Inconsistency

‘The inconsistency is our consistency.’ Those were the words of Paul Cook following a miserable 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood on Tuesday night, and his summary of the season couldn’t be more accurate. Since dropping into League One, the Town players have continually failed to a show tactical nous, and it’s the culture of failure that is beginning to weed out the very weakest in the squad.

Paul Cook isn’t turning around a pushbike, he’s having to perform a three-point turn in an oil tanker. The bloated squad, accumulated over a number of years, lacks any kind of quality at either end of the pitch. Bright sparks are soon dimmed and I commend Paul Cook for his calm nature during his post-match interview following Tuesday’s gutless defeat. Ultimately, he’s correct in thinking his players need protection; when Hurst or Lambert called them out on their failings, they quickly retreated into their shell. I don’t know about you, but I was glad to hear that no player was doing press duties after the Fleetwood game; the last thing fans want is to be fed sound bites about how ‘we can improve’ and how the ‘top two is still there for the taking’. I would wager that this League One season is the worst in years and whilst covid has played its part in that, we should definitely be a stronger force in such an inconsistent division.

The upcoming summer transfer window is monumental for the club; there is a chance to press the reset button and slowly begin to change the mentality at Portman Road. We have numerous players out-of-contract this summer and I wouldn’t be quick to renew any of them. Instead, I would take advantage of a busy market by making three key purchases, picking up some shrewd signings that have also just been released, and bulk the rest of the squad with academy players. The amount of senior players at the club can’t be healthy for anyone: the wage bill must be huge, the players can’t consistently develop and any manager would struggle to keep them all happy. Ultimately, the biggest failing of this club over the last few years is the assembly of a squad that possesses plenty in numbers, but has zero quality and drive.

I have full faith that Cook will turn this around. From now until the end of the season, I will be interested to see which players he places his trust in. I can easily see Luke Woolfenden coming back into the side and it wouldn’t surprise me if Armando Dobra started to break through. Unfortunately, the likes of Jackson, Edwards, Judge, Huws, Sears and Drinan have consistently failed to turn in the performances required to represent any club, let alone Ipswich Town. Cook needs, and I’m sure he knows this, a strong base on which he can build. Moulding a squad around the likes of Woolfenden, Downes, Dozzell and co. will allow us to utilise the academy prospects, whilst also cultivating a strong squad with a desire to win for this football club.

That brings me back to two players: Cole Skuse and Luke Chambers. When these two depart, it will be a sad day. Both of them have been terrific servants for this football club and Luke Chambers in particular has dedicated an awful lot of blood, sweat and tears into helping this team. Whilst he has captained the worst Ipswich side in history, his love for the club cannot be questioned. However, the time is right for both of these veterans to move on, allowing the club to move forward with fresh ideas and fresh captaincy. If he’s still at the club next season, I think it would be fitting that Chambers hands the captaincy to Flynn Downes, a player he has mentored throughout his time at the club. Hopefully both men can remain part of the club in a non-playing role, as I believe they are both strong personalities that embody the ethos of the club. However, their presence on the pitch no longer adds to the team, I would actually begin to say that it’s hindering them.

Ultimately, all fans want a team that they can be proud. I have no doubt how difficult it must be to be part of something so rotten. The club has been declining for five years and with those at the top showing a lack of transparency, that can only impact the overall feeling at Portman Road. In addition, the covid world is uncertain for everyone, with some of the squad having faced personal tragedy and issues, for which I have nothing but sympathy. However, I wish we’d see that translated into stronger and more driven performances. Unfortunately, we bare witness to limp and arduous performances from players who aren’t fighting for the club. From my view, it doesn’t even seem like they’re fighting for their contracts. As Cook said, some players have shown him that they don’t have what it takes and if the reality of the task that’s facing him hadn’t already dawned, it certainly has now.

It certainly is the hope that kills you. If it isn’t a silent owner dampening your mood, it’s a raging Scotsman, and if it isn’t him, it’s an underperforming group of players who desperately need to start playing for the shirt. My distinct hope is that many of these players can pick themselves up and restart their careers with Ipswich Town. In August, when stadiums are nearing full capacity, we can applaud Paul Cook’s team back onto the pitch, regardless of players and league, and push forward as a united group that want one simple thing: Ipswich Town Football Club to succeed and thrive.

Thank you for taking the time to read my column. If you enjoyed, feel free to share it around. I’ll see you soon!