Ipswich Town owner Marcus Evans unveiled his five-point plan during the festive period. Do you agree with it and do you think manager Mick McCarthy will adhere to all areas of the strategy?
There may have been some mitigating circumstances – with several key injuries and the sale of Daryl Murphy – but it was undoubtedly an insipid and uninspiring 2016 for the Blues.
• See results of the poll here
Their league record for the calender year – P46 W15 D15 L16 F43 A46 – tells the tale.
With many feeling that the Championship’s longest-serving club is simply treading water, owner Evans outlined his long-term plans in a 2,000 word self-penned programme article ahead of the recent home game against Bristol City.
His five-point strategy is:
1 – ‘To provide a significant ongoing financial commitment to the club’s academy, enabling a steady flow of players into the first-team’
2 – ‘To provide a sustainable and competitive squad salary budget’
3 – ‘To make annual investment funds available to purchase players in the early stages of their career and to assist in their development’
4 – ‘Maintaining a stable management and coaching team’
5 – ‘To develop a team to play attractive and exciting football’
Today, we are asking whether you agree with Evans’ strategy and whether you think McCarthy will adhere to it.
During his four years in charge, McCarthy has handed eight youth team players their first-team debuts. Take Teddy Bishop out of the equation and the other seven have 24 starts and 13 substitute appearances for the Blues between them.
The Blues boss has made some bolder team selections of late and started homegrown trio Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock and Andre Dozzell. The entertainment value has improved and there were plenty of signs that McCarthy’s cautious approach is changing in the 3-2 win at Wigan, 2-1 home win over Bristol City and yesterday’s 2-1 defeat at QPR.
However, Emmanuel was substituted at half-time at Loftus Road, while Dozzell remained an unused sub after 35-year-old Jonathan Douglas replaced Kevin Bru.
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