Tractor-Boys.com

(taken from TWTD)

Joe Royal was appointed manager of Ipswich Town

Now what was you memories from his reign?

Mine was being 2-0 to Sheff Utd with 10 men and coming back to win 3-2

Shefki, Shefki, Shefki

Too many to probably mention but most recognized instances would pick :

# Win at Norwich (2 - 0) towards end of season 2002 / 03 (unfortunately just missing out on a play-off chance)

# Win over Wigan Athletic around Christmas 2003 or 04 (?) (2 - 1 home, last minute winner, both sides were (around) top two at time of game)

# Win over West Ham 2004 play-offs home game, Bent only goal. (Really thought we were going to do it i.e. make the final game)

# Play-offs 2005, 2 - 2 draw at the same opposition a year later, Kuqi scored, can't remember the other. (See above)

# 6 - 4 win over Crewe (?) believe home game, crowd got value for money that day and then some

Not sure with the latter, memory's not what it once was, could just as easily been with Burley or Magilton here, but going to include it.

Royle was arguably the last fine manager here, at least one you could put faith in and know you had half a chance of achieving something. McCarthy falls short as he's provided less and that one fine season last aside, what is there really to look back on.

Of course Burley took us into the EPL (and with it a fifth placed finish) while Mr Royle was unable to navigate past successive play-off attempts in the championship league, but without question one of the best and favorite of recent managers in this clubs history.

Pity in retrospect he wasn't allowed to continue (feel to this day departure was too soon) as we could have been spared the collective sh*t of subsequent names thereafter, but still a fine individual and established managerial name.

Day to remember being an ITFC fan; Barnsley play off final. Brilliant day at a pub in Edinburgh. Reuser's goal,......, and up on the table dancing! EPL EPL EPL!!!

marko69 wrote:Day to remember being an ITFC fan; Barnsley play off final. Brilliant day at a pub in Edinburgh. Reuser's goal,......, and up on the table dancing! EPL EPL EPL!!!

I was on holiday in Weymouth that day and was seriously worried that a boat trip around Portland harbour would mean missing the game. Luckily I got back to see the second half in a quayside pub.

Reuser was a great little player wasn't he.

marko69 wrote:Day to remember being an ITFC fan; Barnsley play off final. Brilliant day at a pub in Edinburgh. Reuser's goal,......, and up on the table dancing! EPL EPL EPL!!!

I was right behind the goal that day what an amazing day that was

I still say if we still had BFJ at the helm with the money these other cretins have wasted, we would have been promoted into the premiership a lot earlier than under Burley, and stayed there, a wonderful manager, worked miracles with no money, met him and his wife in Johnny's Indian restaurant Blue Naan in Hamilton Road Felixstowe, had a good crack with him, lovely man, he could still do a bloody good job here with all his contacts, if only ehh, and we had the wonderful Pablo Counago to entertain us, he was loved by the Town fans, Bent & Shefki we played some bloody lovely attacking footie under Joe, ohh when we stuffed Megson's Forest 6-0 at home and then Crewe 6-4 what a game that was, we used to have well over 25'000 fans at home games under Joe, some very good days with Burley, then a rapid decline with the rest that followed, Magilton just ok, Keane s**T Jewell S**t Mick bearable hoof ball,

With regards to football managers ratings....., RK invented the "sh*t" rating.

itfc76trev wrote:

marko69 wrote:Day to remember being an ITFC fan; Barnsley play off final. Brilliant day at a pub in Edinburgh. Reuser's goal,......, and up on the table dancing! EPL EPL EPL!!!

I was right behind the goal that day what an amazing day that was

Even better watching it in a pub deep within inbred country. Great pleasure being surrounded by yellow folk that day.

ashfordblue wrote:I still say if we still had BFJ at the helm with the money these other cretins have wasted, we would have been promoted into the premiership a lot earlier than under Burley, and stayed there, a wonderful manager, worked miracles with no money, met him and his wife in Johnny's Indian restaurant Blue Naan in Hamilton Road Felixstowe, had a good crack with him, lovely man, he could still do a bloody good job here with all his contacts, if only ehh, and we had the wonderful Pablo Counago to entertain us, he was loved by the Town fans, Bent & Shefki we played some bloody lovely attacking footie under Joe, ohh when we stuffed Megson's Forest 6-0 at home and then Crewe 6-4 what a game that was, we used to have well over 25'000 fans at home games under Joe, some very good days with Burley, then a rapid decline with the rest that followed, Magilton just ok, Keane s**T Jewell S**t Mick bearable hoof ball,

Yes was 95 per cent that was with Royle so appreciate the confirmation. Winning the 2000 play-off game (as others have put forward) was for sure a great experience but that was -without question - with George Burley, so Royle can't really take accolades for that achievement.

Pity as you say that Royle was never allowed the opportunity to continue after 2005 - and they brought in some Grade-A f*ck-ups for his replacement - time we can't get back that put the club back several seasons - but people in authority made the decision at the time for a change in direction, only problem was, it was one that retrospectively incorrect.

Is it too late to bring him back ? Unfortunately it would appear he announced his retirement years before now. Hell if the opportunity was there I'd have him back as soon as tomorrow and let McCarthy on his way if only it were possible.