Keane can now be banked on to get it right
By ELVIN KING
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
2:54 PM
IPSWICH TOWN: Blues fans can today put their money on manager Roy Keane getting it right.
Some of the Irishman’s dealings in the transfer market with his previous club Sunderland and in his first year in charge at Portman Road left a lot to be desired.
But he can now surely be banked upon to act shrewdly when the emergency loan window opens next week.
The summer transfer window slammed shut yesterday tea time with Keane making no late additions to his squad.
With club owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg keeping a tight rein on Portman Road finances, Keane has emerged successfully - if a tad frustrated at the limitations placed on him - from his close season dealings.
He has brought in a 24-goal a season striker in Jason Scotland in place of three front men who contributed 14 goals between them last term.
And the sale of Jon Walters and Jon Stead and the loaning out of Pablo Counago has resulted in a hefty £2million profit despite the £750,000 spent on Scotland.
This ‘profit’ comfortably covers the arrival of Marton Fulop and Mark Kennedy as well as loans involving Darren O’Dea and Andros Townsend.
On top of this Keane’s decision to outlay £1.7million on Tamas Priskin, which looked a poor decision last season, is now beginning to look astute.
And his controversial judgement not to offer Richard Wright and Liam Rosenior contracts in the summer appear justified as neither player has been able to get fixed up with another club.
Alex Bruce, another former Town favourite, was sold for £225,000 and has yet to play for Leeds in the Championship while Owen Garvan, David Wright and Pablo Counago find themselves at a Crystal Palace club currently languishing in the bottom five.
Grant Leadbitter’s capture this time last year has proved a wise one and Carlos Edwards is now making an impact while Scotland, Fulop, Kennedy, O’Dea and Townsend look set to also figure regularly this term.
Take out Gareth McAuley, David Norris and Jaime Peters and Keane is now picking players he has brought to the club.
Lee Martin (£1.5m on a four-year deal) admittedly looks like being a poor buy at this stage with the player on loan at Charlton.
But otherwise – with the addition of a smart decision to give the likes of last season’s academy scholars Luke Hyam and Ronan Murray their chance – Keane can surely now be banked on to bring in the right quality of newcomer when the loan market re-opens.
This would give his side a timely autumn lift as they look to consolidate their bright start to the season.
More Ipswich Town news
- Bullard, Leadbitter and Stevenson all play for experienced Ipswich Town reserve side
- Carlos Edwards frustrated at Ipswich Town’s indecision over his future
- End to the spend
- Ipswich Town duo in Championship team of the week
- We’re not safe from relegation yet warns goal hero Michael Chopra
- Paul Jewell praises fans as Michael Chopra salutes Town’s battling spirit
- Paul Jewell delighted as Ipswich Town grab late winner at Coventry City
- Late Michael Chopra winner breaks Sky Blues’ hearts
- Lee Martin has been sent to Coventry – and he couldn’t be happier!
- Jewell wants future signings to settle in Suffolk – just like Aaron Cresswell
17 comments
Sorry, but this is a totally biased view of Keane's transfer dealings. Scotland 1 goal from 32 Premiership matches... great in the Championship(?) so, do we sell him to IF we get promoted? Stead and Walters both contributed towards the season's 'good' start. Kennedy injured, Townsend sent-off... someone needs to keep a perspective!
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Bleeding Blue
Monday, September 6, 2010
This is the most interesting international break I've had for years! Rob and Ged you're great. Keep it coming, only 5 more days to go.
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Portblue
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Is it possible that Ned Snott and Nob Balou exist simply to make everyone else feel deeply relieved that they are not them? Mind, it still doesn't stop one wishing that they'd go and play in the traffic.
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Klopse
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Steroo you say: "Last time I looked at the EADT they asked for views, not a discussion & most views end up heavily edited - apart from Mr Assirrratttti's that never seem to make any sense."...(Still can't spell I see!)...As to views making sense, I think the words pot, kettle & black come to mind here..You are in no position to judge other people's views when all you spout is contemptuous rubbish along with your mate Scott..
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Paul Assirati
Saturday, September 4, 2010
It's a good start, under difficult circumstances. Judgement should be reserved until later in the season.
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Klopse
Friday, September 3, 2010
This paper and those "views" of Elvyn King, and I emphasise that they are HIS views, come over as so hypocritical at times..The local Journalist here think they are writing for one of the red tops with the way they try and stir things up, with "non stories"...Anyway that is how the red tops get their "headlines" by feeding off the local press, and in some cases it is fed to them purposely in great spoonfuls!!
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Paul Assirati
Friday, September 3, 2010
Last time I looked at the EADT they asked for views, not a discussion & most views end up heavily edited - apart from Mr Assirrratttti's that never seem to make any sense. And my view is that just a modicum of thought & accuracy would make the articles on here more engaging.
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Rob Steroo
Friday, September 3, 2010
'He has brought in a 24-goal a season striker in Jason Scotland'. HE HAS SCORED ONE SO FAR!!! That's what everybody said about Tamas. I thought the idea of a newspaper is to print facts, not stir things up. Or is that why you hired Scott & Steroo...
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Adam Mitchell
Friday, September 3, 2010
A wise man once said "Discussion is an exchange of views; an argument an exchange of ignorance." The great shame of this forum is the persistent ignorance that pervades the initial exchanges from 2 of our number, that seems to prevent any reasoned debate or discussion. By simply being persistently negative those without a valid view create an argument out of what should be a debate. I would like to re-start the debate by simply asking, whether fans of the club think Keane's transfers and release of players has been, as the article suggests, better than perhaps any of us realised?
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Ged Robsteroo
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The facts are keane got it right , hard to stomach for some no hopers on here but the facts speak for themselves, keane will be in the portman road hotseat for as long as robson was , possibly longer , not good news for some , but frankly , who cares?
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KEVIN FRANCIS
Thursday, September 2, 2010
My past doubts about RK have disappeared. Anyone who can start the season with results such as ITFC have got must now know what he is doing. Keep it up and don't let Clegg upset you!
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JOHN BURLS
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Can't speak for Ged Scott, Kevin - but if you want my thoughts on this ludicrous tosh it is that Jason Scotland scored 23 goals less than the figure mentioned & that the only reason Town look a committed cohesive unit so far this season is precisely because keane has been prevented from buying rubbish. Given last season's daft mid-season loans of Stern John, Murphy & Healy I don't hold out much hope of Keane doing any better this season...and rather hope he leaves well alone and gives some Ipswich players a chance.
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Rob Steroo
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Roy Superman Keane "shrewd" well now Ive heard it all. But look here, he is the still the greatest ever manager at Ipswich, with his fantastic calmness and gentlemanly ways.
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ged scott
Thursday, September 2, 2010
With only rubbish to talk about before we get going again,its a perfect chance to say this. I notched on the TWTD site that certain people were calling for Ged and Rob to be struck off posting on here and that they had made fans stop reading this site. Please, please never allow that to happen. A huge portion of humble pie at the end of the season will be reward enough for me.
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Portblue
Thursday, September 2, 2010
I wonder what Messrs Scott and Steroo will make of this headline and story?, but I like all the positive aspects of it. Lets hope it all comes to fruition
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Kevin Fincham
Thursday, September 2, 2010
He is getting there that's for sure. He may have made mistakes but you know what they say, where there is a will there is a way.
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FRANK WESTON
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Yes you are so right about Roy Superman Keane, I will first thing tomorrow go to the betting office and put my 5p on town to get promoted.
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ged scott
Wednesday, September 1, 2010