A good start to the new season. I have only seen the home game against Burnley which we should have won. There were encouraging signs in that game that there was a better team spirit and a greater determination to win. As we all know the squad has been far too big and expensive for the past two seasons, so it was obvious that there were going to be departures. Roy Keane is gradually moulding a team that he wants and not one that he inherited. From the outside it looks as though he has concentrated on moving out the larger wage earners that Jim Magilton bought to the club, coupled with the mistakes he made himself in his first season at Ipswich. David Wright, Richard Wright and Pim Balkestein were not offered new contracts. Liam Trotter got himself a better deal at Millwall. Those on loan with Ipswich last season namely Liam Rosenior, David Healey, Daryl Murphy and Jack Colback all returned to their own clubs. Then Roy Keane named eight players he was prepared to listen to offers for. Of those Kevin Lisbie, Lee Martin and Pablo Counago have all gone out on loan. Alex Bruce, Owen Garvan and Jon Stead have been sold. The other two Colin Healy and Alan Quinn still remain at the club. Jon Walters has also now been sold for £3 million plus, which is a superb piece of business. 
Making players available for transfer must be unsettling for them especially if they have family commitments so I can understand Jon Stead becoming unsettled. He was our best player against Burnley and put in a really good shift. There have been additions to the squad. Goalie Marton Fulop and experienced full back Mark Kennedy should be good signings. Youngster Conor Hourihane has arrived from Sunderland and another youngster, Andros Townsend, is on a season long loan from Tottenham. Defender Darren O’Dea has also arrived on loan until January from Celtic and this week Jason Scotland was purchased from Wigan and takes over the number 10 shirt worn by Jon Walters. However the money recouped from sales does not balance out the huge outlay on players that Marcus Evans initially supported. That gamble will not come off unless we gain promotion to the Premiership. If that happens then I am sure the big mistakes that Ipswich made in their second season in the Premier League will not be repeated. Bad purchases on big money and long contracts. The team spirit disappeared and Ipswich was doomed to the division where we now are.
We have progressed to the third round of the Carling Cup with two hard fought away wins. A home tie in the next round would be good to bring in some extra revenue. The draw will be made on Saturday before we host Bristol City complete with Jon Stead.
Roy Keane certainly would not win any popularity stakes and his man management skills are questionable but at the end of the day all we all want is to see our beloved Ipswich back where they belong. If Roy Keane can do it “his way” then we will forgive any of his shortcomings.
Roll on Saturday and Bristol City.