Local derbies again next season
Well done Norwich in securing promotion back to the Championship. At least next season we should have one home game with a virtually full house and a bit of atmosphere! The last home game against Doncaster was an absolute bore, a typical end of season mid table nothing to play for game. The only bright points to come out of the game was the continued promise shown by youngsters Connor Wickham and Shane O’Connor, plus Gareth McCauley has finanally got his act together and he put in another sound shift in defence. Loanee Jack Colback has been our best player this season, as confirmed by his fellow professionals, and he will undoubtedly be back with Sunderland next season. I do not know why Roy Keane played him on Saturday, I would have thought it better to give someone else a chance as it was a nothing game. Daryl Murphy does not look that interested any more. He did not play close enough to Connor Wickham who had to lead the front line virtually on his own. I certainly hope we do not buy Murphy and Healy from Sunderland with Connor Wickham going in the opposite direction. Roy Keane has been big enough to admit he has made mistakes this season and lets hope he has learnt from them. He will certainly need to do some wheeling and dealing in readiness for next season but that is one deal I hope he does not make. Letting Jordan Rhodes go at the beginning of this season was his first big mistake. Jon Walters (pictured) by his own admission has not had a good season. When Jim Magilton bought him from Chester he was a striker, but in order for him to fit in the team Jim Magilton decided to play him on the right of midfield. His strike force at that time of Alan Lee and Pablo Counago were performing well and did not warrant change. That certainly worked for the first season. He is not a skillful player but does have a “presence” and it might be best to play him alongside Connor Wickham. That would allow somebody like Jamie Peters to play right side of midfield. There is not enough width in the side and we need someone with real pace to bomb down the wing and get behind defenders. Our midfield on Saturday lacked composure as usual. No imagination. They are very good at getting from box to box but there it ends.
If I were Marcus Evans I would not pump any more money into the squad. Roy Keane has enough players to sell and wheel and deal with before the start of next season. If he is not able to do this then it will be time to bring in a more experienced manager. Jim Magilton had no managerial experience before being appointed and it was right to change him when he had lost his way. If Ipswich start next season with a similar run to this season then Roy Keane will be under immense pressure. Another inexperienced manager under pressure is Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. They could easily come through the trap door and join Ipswich in the Championship. That would make another interesting home fixture, better than having to watch Scunthorpe again!