Goodbye, Jim - and thanks for the memories

IT was the right decision - but I can't help feeling sad at the sudden axing of Jim Magilton.

Make no mistake, this season has been miserable for the most part.

The football has been drab and uninspiring, and the club seems to have moved backwards. When Doncaster scored their third at Portman Road earlier this month, the Premier League never felt so far away.

Too many of Magilton's signings have failed to deliver consistently and too much cash has been wasted in the process.

Meanwhile, baffling tactics have left jaded fans frustrated and bewildered.

Ultimately, the level of terrace discontent meant his sacking was inevitable.

However, my lasting memories of Magilton will be of his career on the field, not off it.

As is the case with Bryan Gunn at Carrow Road, when any popular footballer swaps playing for coaching there is always a risk that their hero status will be wrecked.

But I hope fans will remember the passionate and capable midfield general, who fought for Town as if he were a born and bred Suffolk boy.

I hope they will recall his magnificent hat-trick in that unforgettable play-off semi-final nine years ago - and his many excellent performances as the Blues romped to an unlikely fifth placed Premier League finish.

His spell as Blues manager failed to work out - but try not to let that tarnish the memory of Jim Magilton the player.

posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 1:28 PM by Josh Warwick

Comments

Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:51 AM by Rose-tinted

# re: Goodbye, Jim - and thanks for the memories

Badger, I like your columns, but I don't agree with your sentiment this time. I don't think 'Super Jim' was great in either role he held for itfc. As a manager, he was an unmitigated disaster, bringing in countless midfielders to replace young and promising youth players like Trotter and Clarke, and at the end of this season, even Garvan. The balance of the team was never right - even playing his 'star signing' Walters as a right back one game - and, even this signing, who was arrived as a striker, let's remember - was turned into yet another midfielder! - another one to replace Haynes or Peters on the right - two more youth players with real promise.

His honesty and passion could never be questioned - I have an abundance of both qualities, but would be useless managing Ipswich Town fc, however much I'd love to in my head.

And as a player - the ONLY phenomenal achievement was the hattrick - why do we remember it? Because Jim rarely scored for our club. Not only that, but I still think he was one of the main reasons for us going down out of the premiership. He could pass a ball, no doubt, but do you remember when he tried to turn and catch up with (any) player that ran past him? His lack of pace, height and physical presence on the field was a sad reflection on many of his future midfield signings.

So, in summation, this day has been one of the happiest I can remember - long live itfc, and let's hope the next manager can get some of these guys playing again, can mould a team rather than a collection of individuals, and starts playing some of the youth again - our foundation for so many years until now. That and one decent striker, watch out Premiership - here we come!
 
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