Column: The Revolving Door

As the 2020/21 season ground to a merciful halt, there was only one question on the lips of Ipswich Town fans… When are half of this lot gonna leave?

The long-awaited re-boot of Demolition Man, starring Paul Cook, has gotten underway, with the club announcing their retained and released list on Monday. Whilst there were some surprising choices made at either end of the spectrum, I am certain that each decision was carefully made by men who know what it takes to galvanise a football club. This week, I want to reflect on the players leaving the club whilst throwing my hat into the ring regarding one or two additions that Town could be looking to make this summer. It’s set to be the biggest swarth of change at the club for a number of years, but let’s have one final look at a team that birthed painful memories and burnt our £10 notes.

Luke Chambers – This one felt incredibly bittersweet. There will likely be a longer column reflecting on Luke’s time to be published in the future, but it’s definitely worth mentioning a couple of things now. Despite his flaws, Luke Chambers served our club with distinction. Some clubs search for years for a player who will lead on the pitch and act exemplary off of it. Whilst we are all acutely aware that Chambers’ time was up, it didn’t hurt the blow of watching a brilliant captain depart the club. As he said in his farewell message: ‘you only ever see half the story’, a damming reflection on the realities of having to hold your tongue despite the chaos that might surround you.

Cole Skuse – Similar to Chambers, it will be weird not seeing Skuse’s name associated with the club. However, the time was certainly right for the former Bristol City anchor to depart. Whilst his finest moment was a thunderbolt against Cardiff, Skuse will also be remembered for his fantastic service to the club. The two relics from the Mick McCarthy days have left the building and hopefully we can all start to forget a painful 5 years of football.

Freddie Sears – A man that started so bright, only to fade faster than a faulty dim switch. Freddie was a breath of fresh air when he entered the club, scoring some vital goals in the push for the play-offs. I would say that he hasn’t been the same since sustaining an injury at Norwich, but he wasn’t exactly prolific beforehand. By all accounts a great guy, but another one who had reached the end of the line at Portman Road.

Alan Judge – Is Alan Judge’s best moment in an Ipswich shirt being ‘headbutted’ by a raging bald referee? Whilst that question lingers, I will put on record that I have an enormous amount of respect for Alan Judge. Not only has he lost his mother in the past year, but there were certain personal issues that were overcome when he first moved to the club. He may never have shown the class that he displayed for Brentford, but his tireless work ethic was admirable. I could be wrong, but it struck me as if he never jelled with the group and that alone is reason enough for him to find greener pastures.

James Wilson – James Wilson was voted player of the year this season… maybe that was the final nail in the coffin. I am incredibly surprised the award was run but I’m not too surprised that it was the Welshman who took it home. Wilson was reliable and showed good spells this year, but there was never any value in retaining a 32-year-old centre-back. His every thought revolved around kicking the ball into touch and whilst he served the club well, it was definitely time for all parties to move on.

Emyr Huws – I genuinely have no idea what to write about Huws. Good goal against Newcastle? Well played at Villa Park? An excellent talent plagued by injuries, Huws will be slotted into the Tom Adeyemi category of enigmatic Town midfielders that were so skilled they disappeared for a year. Whatever the reason, I hope Huws can finish his career somewhere nice, providing another set of fans with the faint glimmer of great memories he created at Ipswich.

Stephen Ward – Wardy was the most Mick McCarthy signing in a post-McCarthy world that you could ever imagine. He started bright, but the wheels soon fell off… he’s effectively the embodiment of Ipswich’s past two season. Whether it be Cork or the Costa Del Sol, I hope Ward can enjoy his final years as a player before inevitably moving into coaching.

Tristan Nydam – This one left many confused, but sometimes a fresh start is beneficial for all parties. On the whole, we never got to see what Tristan could actually do at this club, with his best moments taking place for the U18’s or U23’s. Another career plagued by injury, Nydam’s extra drop of class will be missed at Portman Road. It’s always a shame to see a quality prospect leave without fulfilling his potential, but maybe the time was right for the youngster to try his luck at another club after a torrid time at Portman Road. I’m sure he will find success soon and I wish him all the best.

That sentiment applies to all these individuals. Whilst they were mostly representative of an awful period for the club, I will never wish ill on players that represented the club I love. Sure, they have contributed to a season in which I have opted to sleep instead of watching a football match, but they all deserve to find success in their next career ventures.

I won’t go through every player that’s staying, but let’s just say that I’m not too surprised. Nsiala was worth an extension, Donacien is a good back-up choice to KVY, El Mizouni has the potential to be a classy player, Jackson has a (albeit decreasing) market value and Drinan must have shown something! No one is enthralled about any of the same players remaining, but it’s impossible to rip apart a squad in its entirety and expect immediate results. Cook has a recipe for success (pun very much intended) and I’m certain there’s more departures to come.

However, as per the revolving door nature of football, there will also be plenty of incomings at Portman Road this summer. As a throwback to old times, I will briefly mention three players that I believe would be excellent additions to the Town squad. I’ll leave the speculation to the industry’s most reliable source, EFL Hub, and instead place these names on record as recommendations. My scouting knowledge stretches to a few good years on Football Manager, so I am clearly best-placed to find the next big thing.

Callum Connolly – I’ve started obvious, but with good reason. A man that knows the club, remains at a good age and has attained an excellent pedigree, I would put good money on Connolly being an Ipswich player by the start of next season. He’s a versatile midfielder/defender with leadership qualities and an eye for goal. He’s already engrained in the Paul Cook way, having played for Wigan in 2017, and I think he could be a fantastic addition on a free transfer. Whilst people may moan about free agents, acquiring a 23-year-old with 142 appearances already to his name is nothing be disappointed about.

Jack Sparkes – We all love Myles Kenlock, but we’re also aware that a quality left-back is needed for next season. Sparkes, 20, is a dynamic full-back currently turning out for Exeter City in League Two. In a similar ilk to Aaron Cresswell, Sparkes has an eye for goal and a wonderful ability to create chances from the wide areas. He has already made over 50 appearances for Exeter and has a good understanding of the Football League hardships. It won’t be long before this lad is plying his trade in the Championship, and it would be nice to see Town get in there before he is snapped up by another ambitious side.

Hakeem Odoffin – Despite Town’s inability to score, I appear to have chosen all defensive-minded players… whoops. Much like Connolly, Odoffin is a versatile player who can occupy centre-half, right-back and defensive midfield, where has played most of the season for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership. Odoffin has been around the block quite a lot for a 23-year-old but now appears to be playing his best football in Scotland, most recently being included in the ‘WhoScored’ team of the season. Whilst Lee Evans may be the most obvious addition to Town’s midfield, Odoffin’s superb reading of the game would permit him to be another candidate to fill the role of a commanding central midfielder.

It took a while, but we got there in the end. Plenty of names will be linked over the following weeks and months, we have just have to strap in and see what choices the football club makes. As opposed to recent years, we can actually be excited about a transfer window and with large wages removed from the bill, there’s plenty of scope for Town to make some marquee signings and start assembling a side fit for League One promotion, but also a side that can kick on in the Championship. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

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