Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Three Players Town Should Sign
Written by bluecobblers on Wednesday, 10th May 2017 14:47

It is obvious for anyone that has watched Ipswich Town play this season that our squad lacks the quality and cutting edge that teams above us possess.

Therefore, after Mick McCarthy and Marcus Evans have their summer ‘talks’, I am hopeful that we will attempt to invest in our squad this summer. There are several midfield and forward additions that I believe we should try to bring to Portman Road this summer to add teeth to our attack, but I have narrowed down a shortlist of three players that we should target.

3 – Jason Cummings

The Hibernian frontman has been in electric form for the last three seasons, bagging 19 goals this year in the Scottish Premiership, as well as 36 goals in 66 Scottish Championship matches in the previous two seasons.

The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting talents emerging from Scotland, and will have several Championship clubs eyeing him up this summer.

The 5’10" striker was close to joining Peterborough last summer for around £1 million and with three years left on his contract, he is likely to cost around £2 million. Whether Mick is given the funds to buy Cummings, he may not want to risk that much to sign someone who is unproven in English football, but I think the SPL Young Player of the Year nominee is the kind of player we should be targeting.

Quick, young and with an eye for goal, Cummings should give our attack the focal point it needs, and if he replicates the form he’s achieved in Scotland for us, £2 million will seem a huge bargain.

2 – Bradley Dack

The 23-year-old from Gillingham is an attacking midfielder that could transform our team completely. The midfielder has scored 30 goals in 159 games for the Gills, roughly equating to a goal in every five games for the club.

Winner of the 2015/16 League One Player of the Year, Dack was linked to a move to Leeds in the January transfer window, and the Yorkshire club will likely make another summer move for him.

Whether Ipswich can compete with the other Championship clubs trying to secure the signature of a midfielder whose playing style has been compared to Frank Lampard’s, Dack is certainly a player we should be trying to sign this summer.

1 – Harvey Barnes

A versatile attacking midfielder who spent the 2016/17 season on loan at League One MK Dons from parent club Leicester, the 19-year-old is the perfect player to fill the Tom Lawrence-shaped hole in our squad.

While permanently signing Barnes is unlikely, Ipswich would be the perfect club for Barnes to continue his development at (hopefully Lawrence puts in a good word for us).

The midfielder was awarded MK Dons’ Young Player of the Year Award after impressing during his loan spell, scoring six and assisting one in 21 matches for the Midlands side. Barnes can play on either wing as well as in attacking midfield, and attacks defenders directly with pace, putting him in a similar mould to Lawrence.

While loaning a player is never as rewarding as signing one, Barnes represents a realistic and cheap option for Mick this summer. If we can bring in the midfielder for a loan spell, this allows funds to be spent on other areas of the squad. I will not be surprised if Barnes is seen running down the wings at Portman Road next season, hopefully it will be in blue and white.

Thanks for reading this article! Comment below who you would like to see in a Town shirt this summer.




Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

theblueginger added 15:19 - May 10
All good shouts i hadn't really considered, but:

-I would rather us sign Liam Boyce form Ross County if we have been looking at the Scottish leagues. 20 so far this season, and 15 in each of the last 2 years before that.

-Dack hasn't had the season he had last year. I remember reading there being concerns with his fitness,= and application, rightly not something MM is likely to tolerate. Still a good player but we could do a little better.

-Not heard of Barnes so won't comment. I would personally rather bring in someone a little more experienced, and then give Dozza/Benyu?Morris greater opportunities.
0

bluecobblers added 15:30 - May 10
@theblueginger

Boyce would be another good striker, would add a more physical side up front too. I'd prefer to see more of our own youngsters as well, and while Barnes can play in the same position as Dozzell and co, he can also play out wide like Lawrence did, so could play on the left wing, leaving space for Benyu or Dozzell to play in the centre, which I think is their more natural position.
0

joepublic added 17:33 - May 10
Enjoyed the blog and would be overjoyed to see some attacking/creative players like the ones you have recommended.
0

Len_Brennan added 18:12 - May 10
Jason Cummins - "19 goals this year in the Scottish Premiership". Nothing against his ability or indeed his appeal to us as a potential signing, but Hibernian won the Scottish Championship this season, so I don't think he has played in the Scottish top flight so far.

I do agree with the principle of being prepared to pay £1m or more on good young talent. It can be treating as an investment as well as buying a good addition to our match day squad. Peterborough seem to do it on a regular basis; getting in early when buying obvious talent that others are looking at from the lower leagues, selling on for big money and then reinvesting in the team.
We seem to be decent enough at spotting real talent - to be fair to McCarthy on this one, he has identified some very good players even in his time with us - but then back off when we can't get them for around £100k. Or we have ruled out going for someone who is valued at £1m or 2m, even though there is every chance that a good season in the Championship could turn that value into £6m or £7m. I suppose Webster is the closest we have come to that & who knows how much Premiership sides would be willing to pay for him now had he not got injured. The bids for Hugill are somewhat different in that McCarthy was desperately trying to replace Murphy with a similar unit, albeit 5/6 months too late.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for us to be selling off our best players every transfer window, I'm just highlighting the wider benefits of taking calculated risks every now & then.
1

titanicclown added 19:02 - May 10
Interesting view on some potential young signings. Some championship players Ive been impressed with at portman road recently are:
Defender - Jake Cooper - Reading
Very tall, dominant, left footed centre half. Had Murphy in is pocket at Portman Road and seems to be out of favour at Reading.

Midfield - Ryan Woods - Brentford.
What a player this lad is. Deep midfielder who can run the show and put his foot in. Probably out of our price range but was very impressive.

Striker - Danny Ward - Rotherham.
Gave Berra as tough a time as anyone. Proper number 9, good in the air, decent strike and an all round handfull - would suit Mick.

Id be happy with any of these! Id also be happy with a manager who told Skuse he has to get the ball of the back 4 - genuinely believe that would solve alot of our problems.

0

beacon added 19:15 - May 10
I'm afraid Bradley Dack has been half the player this season also very injury prone , dodgy knees I think, maybe that is why he remained at Gillingham, When he on top of his game there is no better in Division 1
0

miltonsnephew added 21:22 - May 10
I can see us next season Loaning back Murphy from Newcastle when he isn't getting in the Newcastle side.
2

Dalty added 07:15 - May 11
All decent shouts. Completely agree we should focus our summer on strengthening our attacking options, think we're comparatively well stocked in the GK (IF Bart stays), centre back, full back and central midfield (several young players coming through) positions. Quality additions on the wing and at centre forward are essential.
1

Oldsmoker added 10:26 - May 11
@miltonsnephew
Agreed. I can see this as a possibility too.
That would place Murphy as probably the most loaned player ever.
Rarely plays for the club who owns him.
0

JimmyJazz added 17:35 - May 11
I think loaning Murphy back would be a real backwards move. 1 it's a loan. 2 we would just revert to hoofball - did we ever move away from hoofball?

I'd like to see us get in Josh Cullen from West Ham, looks decent with Bradford but not sure he'll get a chance at West Ham
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 21:33 - May 11
Sam Gallagher on loan if that's a route we go down
0

dalianwasexciting added 17:15 - May 12
Interesting names, would not be averse to any but as said perhaps there are other options. I like the look of John Marquis at Doncaster, but agree Danny Ward is a proper number 9. The key however, is to not play a lone striker with little or no support.
0

StavangerBlue added 10:44 - May 13
Look chaps, if we are looking at bringing in players who also interest the likes of Rotherham United we are doomed.

No disrespect to Rotherham but they are a Division One club looking to establish themselves in the Championship; this year they struggled and went down.

Ipswich are, I hope, a Championship club looking to get into and stay in the Premier League. We need to aim higher and raise are expectations and the quality of players coming in. Or does MM and ME see Ipswich on par with Rotherham?
0

norfstanda added 15:07 - May 13
Nathaniel mendez-laing at rochdale is worth a look aswell. Seen him play several times this season and looks a player. Quick, direct and creative.
0

Currie10 added 05:25 - May 14
I wish we'd gone in for Luke Freeman of Bristol City ( then ) before QPR pounced. Would make our midfield tick.
0

Southamptonblue added 12:47 - May 19
By speculating on who you'd all like to see join Town, you're just setting yourselves up for bitter disappointment when McCarthy unveils his big signing of the Summer - someone you've never heard of on a free from mid-table League 2 side.
0
You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs by bluecobblers

Blogs 295 bloggers

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024