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As clubs across the championship attempt to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season, Ipswich Town have gone about their business in a very quiet fashion compared to some of the more lavish spen𝐆ding by their fellow promotion c🔥ontenders. Is Mick McCarthy avoiding upsetting the balance of a strong core of the squad or will this lack of investment cost Ipswich a play-off spot at the end of the season?
Despite having lost just three of their last 16 league matches and sitting eighth in the table, many Ipswich fans feel new first team signings are needed after a 3-0 los🌱s to Birmingham and an FA cup defeat away to League 2 Portsmouth.
Nearly all of Town’s top six rivals have been busy in January; Brighton have signed Leicester midfielder Anthony Knockaert, whilst Middlesbrough have brought Jordan Rhodes to Teesside and were also linked with Ross McCormack. Hull City have shown an interest in Danish international striker Nicklas Bendtn🦋er, Derby have spent around £4 million on just two players and Burnley have been showing an interest in Brentford winger Alan Judge and signed Alex Pritchard on loan from Tottenham. Birmingham have signed Will Buckley on loan to replace Demerai Gray and paid Watford £1.5 miilion for Diego Fabbrini, while Sheffield Wednesday have signed Gary Hooper and Aiden McGeady.
Mick McCarthy however; insisting ꦬhe is happy with what he already possesses, has only made minor improvements to his squad. Despite Australian winger Tommy Oar leaving the club due to homesickness, James Alabi being released and Jonathan Parr moving back to Norway, the only signings have been versatile full back Kevin Foley and 32-year-old winger Jerome Thomas on free ✨transfers. Both have played very little first team football over the last two years. A year ago, The Tractor Boys signed attacker Freddie Sears from Colchester United for £100K, whose nine goals helped Town to a play-off semi-final. This season, it seems unlikely that either of Kevin Foley or Jerome Thomas will have the same effect.
However, a large influx of new egotistic players on a large transfer fee and big wages can upset the balance of sides. In the latter part of last season, Derby County slipped from first place to eighth after signing high p♉rofile Premier League players in an attempt to bolster their promotion push. Could they capitulate in the same manner again? If those like Derby who have spent big this window do fail to gain promotion this season and grab the incredible money now on offer in the Premier League, they could be dealt severe Financial Fair Play penalties as fellow Championship clubs have been for overspending.
Mick M𒈔cCarthy also has a knack for getting the best out of ‘journeymen’ who are considered by many to be ‘past it’. In 2014/15, the signing of Noel Hunt was met with scepticism by many Ipswich fans but he silenced the doubters with a late winner on his debut. Cole Skuse; signed from then League One Bristol City in 2013, has been one of Town’s best players over the last year. Another example is 32-year-old Daryl Murphy – the man who failed to light up Sunderland or Celtic. He signed on a permanent deal at Portman Road after three loan spells with Town in 201💛3 and was the Championship’s top scorer last season with 27 goals.
With the added quality to their rivals and few additions to the Ipswich squad it will not be easy for Ipswich to finish in the top six. However, with the likes of Ryan Fraser, Christophe Berra and Freddie Sears in the team, and the option of the loan window later in the season if they need extra quality, should Town remain injury free they still stand a ver🧔y good chance of making the play-offs.
By Thomas Irvine
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