This FB post is absolutely spot on IMO

[hallamblue]

Regarding the transfer window, I honestly wonder how some people think it works?

I've seen posts blaming Mick for us not getting players in. Not quite sure how that is the case? Don't get me wrong, he's been at fault for a lot this season, but we can't blame him for players not being brought in.

Do we think he actually phones round other teams asking about players and offering money for them? It's not the 50's and 60's anymore. The days when a manager would deal with contracts and signing players doesn't exist today.

From the interviews I've seen over the past year or so where Mick has been asked about it, I've sort of managed to put together a picture of how it works, and I think it goes something like this;

Mick identifies areas of the squad that need strengthening, and puts together a list of targets based on what he, his coaches and his scouts have seen. He'll have chosen them based on the belief that they can do a job, and that they're realistic targets for the club.

This list is then handed to Milne, who, in conjunction with Evans, is in charge of the money. It's then Milne's job to look at the list and contact the players clubs to make an inquiry.

While this negotiation is going on at boardroom level Mick is taking care of his own responsibilities, such as scouting opposition, taking training, dealing with injured players, and generally being a football manager.

He'll contact Milne to see what's happening regularly, probably being told that "bids are in" and it's a process. That's why Mick's answer to the media asking him about possible signings is usually "as far as I'm aware there are bids in for players"

There'll be a general consensus as to how much a player is worth, but at this stage everyone and their granny knows that the transfer market in England is insane, and that players rarely sell for what they're worth. You either pay it, or you don't get the player you want.

When Milne is told that the player Mick wants will cost X amount it is then down to him and Evans to make a decision. Do they pay the money to get the player that their manager has identified? Or do they say "no thanks" and go elsewhere?

While this is going on other clubs are buying and selling players as well, meaning the market is ever changing.

My guess is that more often than not Evans and and Milne's reaction is to say "no thanks" and look elsewhere, probably with the help of a small group of players agents that they work with and rely on (general rule of thumb is that managers dislike agents, whilst many are actually on good terms with owners and chairmen, receiving tidy kickbacks for identifying talent for them) to get them players that may vaguely fit the bill for what their manager originally asked for.

Mick asked for player X, but is told that the club couldn't get him, and instead is told to give player Y a shot, he comes highly recommended by so and so etc.

This will be why, if you listen to Micks interviews last night, today and this week his answers to questions about what any of the new guys can bring to the team will be pretty generic. Answers like "solid player at this level", "got a decent amount of games under his belt" and "has been around long enough to know..." will be the order of the day. Nothing really specific.

He answers in this way because these aren't the players he identified and that his scouts told him about.

I mean seriously, we've brought in a full back that Mick is on record as having said wasn't good enough when he was on trial here not that long ago! Why would Mick actively want that player?

The recent debacle over Chamber's situation tells us that Mick has virtually zero say in contract negotiations either. We all know what he thinks of Chambers. Fans may not like him, but he's Mick's man in the dressing room, the captain, the first name on the team sheet.

The very fact that the club said on social media last night that Chambers wasn't sold to Forest not because the manager didn't want to sell, but because there wasn't enough time left to get the deal done speaks volumes.

Then Mick answered a question about Chambers contract being up in the summer by saying he "doesn't know" what's going to happen with regards to him being extended another year.

Open your eyes folks, the lack of quality signings, the bringing in of £10,000 non league players and guys who failed trials here previously aren't the result of the choices made by a manager who's been operating for twenty odd years at the top of the English game.

These are choices being made by people further up the chain of command who probably know a fair bit less about football than Mick does.

And for those who say "well, why doesn't Mick just walk then?" I'd ask if you'd walk away from a severance payment from your job? Would you waive a payment you're due under the terms of your contract?

I wouldn't.

This whole thing stinks in my opinion. And the stench is coming from the sh*t that is rolling downhill, not from the managers office.

[Bluemike]

Absolutely 100% spot on but the average dimwit won't take it in or even attempt to see some truth in it.

[marko69]

This thread should be "stickied" at the top for a few weeks so it can gather some reaction. It's a brilliant, informative post and it'd be wasted travelling down the board. Go on, Mike,....., you have Moderator powers. Sticky this thread, please.

[Bluemike]

This thread should be "stickied" at the top for a few weeks so it can gather some reaction. It's a brilliant, informative post and it'd be wasted travelling down the board. Go on, Mike,....., you have Moderator powers. Sticky this thread, please.

I am sure somebody will sticky it Marko but at the moment my Admin powers are confined to the prediction league section.

[marko69]

No probs.

FROSTEEEE ........ STICKEEEEEE

Nice find, Hallam.

I especially like:
Open your eyes folks, the lack of quality signings, the bringing in of £10,000 non league players and guys who failed trials here previously aren't the result of the choices made by a manager who's been operating for twenty odd years at the top of the English game.

[bluejacko]

Ok makes a lot of sense but then why did he play Spence if he doesn't rate him. He was obviously struggling so why then leave him on?
There is still a lot going on that can be laid at MM's door!

[herforder]

It's a good, and probably accurate, summary of how the club's transfer process operates - or, rather, malfunctions. At last night's shambles, and at both Lincoln matches, the air was thick with the sound of chickens coming home to roost. (Pte Fraser's rolling those eyes, and you just know what he's going to say!)

[Charnwood]

I've never really understood who does what at Portman Road and most confusing for me is why we have Joint Managing Directors, is it because neither are up to the job or is there more too it than that. I'm not sure how many Board Members we have these days but it appears to be pretty much a closed shop of just three or four including Marcus Evans who may or may not have a hands on part in what goes on. If we are this limited in resources it's no surprise we have little activity in the transfer market, and these Joint MD's, do they have a football background or are they simply Marcus Evans business minders. Finally if our Board does consist of just a Chairman, Joint Managing Directors and a Finance Director, I would suggest this is a very unhealthy structure with absolutely nobody there to challenge what goes on or bring fresh ideas to the table.

We also have a Director of Football, Dave Bowman, although as far as I'm aware he's not on the Main Board, but surely by nature of his job title he must have something to do with player recruitment, and didn't he come with Mick, and if so, surely this is where Mick will have influence and input.

When you start to delve into affairs at Portman Road it all appears to be a bit secretive and behind closed doors, and not the local football club it once was when even we fans were made to feel part of it.

[hallamblue]

http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/it_s_time_f ... _1_4872235

The EADT have printed this article which has really upset a lot of Town fans, who leave the journalist in no doubt where the problems lay, or what they think of the EADT role in reporting the goings on at ITFC, ( see the fans letters at bottom of page).

For once it makes a pleasant change not to see scum trolls posting their usual jibes on anything ITFC .

[ashfordblue]

Well me being a very astute retired Chairman of my own company , that was very interesting reading, and very true in many area's, we have people at the top who haven't got a clue as to certain players values, so hence they only offer what they think the club can realistically afford, it seems that the art of negotiating for a better deal does not apply upstairs, of course you don't pay the going rate, that would be fool hardy, but you do try to sit down and barter a better deal, and if nothing happens then you walk away, nothing gained nothing lost, but what you don't do is settle for second best product, as I have found in all my years in business cheapest aint always the best, and one can pay badly for going down that route, if I was Mr Evans, I would have definitely gone and pursued the striker Matty Taylor, at £300'000 it would probably be a steal and a good investment, and we would have sorted Micks Murphy replacement with a good proven striker, but there that's the mistake of letting someone do the buying of a product they don't know anything about, But Mick does, so should let Mick do the negotiating the good price to pay, not them, once he's got the right finance figure agreed, then Mr Milne says to ME please forward the funds for this player, sorted.

[Dubai Blue]

Great article Hallam. Thanks for posting it. There can be no doubt that this is how it works and I'm sure many (most?) on this board were already well aware of it as the level of discussion is mostly high here.
Probably there is one thing missing though. I'm betting that there is more communication throughout the process than is suggested, between MM & Milne/Evans. We know that prices in Jan are always highly inflated, not least because contracts tend to end in Summer and thus remaining contracts are being bought out in Jan. Personally I back the owner if he decides that prices are crazy for transfer targets and I really don't believe that MM isn't consulted when this is the case. Clubs also have no real motivation to negotiate with us as was suggested since budgets are set for a season and Jan sales are rarely necessary. MM clearly does believe in the principle of bringing in hungry lower league players and from all reports Moore is already showing signs on the pitch of this hunger that could help the general malaise. I think we should give the owner credit for bringing in a highly regarded coating/management team in MM/TC/BK. It was always clearly the strategy to bring players through and get temporary benefit from them on the pitch as their value increased fast.
I won't comment on the Chambers apparent debacle since we don't really know the details and speculation on this serves no purpose.
Finally praise where it's due to EADT. That article hits the nail on the head. If you are a fan then it's through thick and thin. You can always choose how to spend your money and maybe there are more tempting pleasures available right now than watching us lose to Derby on a cold Tuesday night. But what is the point in deciding to spend the money and then booing, criticising and not supporting your team. Better spend the money on watching a pay per view UFC fight and scream at the fighters, the effect will be the same but you'll be less cold.

[marko69]

Great article Hallam. Thanks for posting it. There can be no doubt that this is how it works and I'm sure many (most?) on this board were already well aware of it as the level of discussion is mostly high here.
Probably there is one thing missing though. I'm betting that there is more communication throughout the process than is suggested, between MM & Milne/Evans. We know that prices in Jan are always highly inflated, not least because contracts tend to end in Summer and thus remaining contracts are being bought out in Jan. Personally I back the owner if he decides that prices are crazy for transfer targets and I really don't believe that MM isn't consulted when this is the case. Clubs also have no real motivation to negotiate with us as was suggested since budgets are set for a season and Jan sales are rarely necessary. MM clearly does believe in the principle of bringing in hungry lower league players and from all reports Moore is already showing signs on the pitch of this hunger that could help the general malaise. I think we should give the owner credit for bringing in a highly regarded coating/management team in MM/TC/BK. It was always clearly the strategy to bring players through and get temporary benefit from them on the pitch as their value increased fast.
I won't comment on the Chambers apparent debacle since we don't really know the details and speculation on this serves no purpose.
Finally praise where it's due to EADT. That article hits the nail on the head. If you are a fan then it's through thick and thin. You can always choose how to spend your money and maybe there are more tempting pleasures available right now than watching us lose to Derby on a cold Tuesday night. But what is the point in deciding to spend the money and then booing, criticising and not supporting your team. Better spend the money on watching a pay per view UFC fight and scream at the fighters, the effect will be the same but you'll be less cold.

Unless of course you are a total bstd like me and switch the heating off.

Notice there is a "protest" thread, about a possible protest this week. I hope people heading along there to unleash some anger on Mick read this thread first. Maybe keep 25% of the anger for Mick and his tactic changes during games......, but unleash the other 75% on Mevans and demand his genuine plans for the foreseeable future.

[Dubai Blue]

Personally the only thing I might be tempted to protest against is parachute payments. It's the root cause of the January madness IMO.

[Quasar]

A brilliant read,

Milne, you c0ck, get the player Mick wants, or there will be "milne" out banners

( hope the office do read these )

[Watership Down]

Does this mean Chambers can sign for anyone without Ipswich getting a cent in the summer.

[Bluemike]

Does this mean Chambers can sign for anyone without Ipswich getting a cent in the summer.

I believe that is the case unless we take up the 1 year option and then sell him.

[hallamblue]

in.the last 6 months of the players contract if the parent club has activated the option, the player can speak to whoever he likes. Chambo has been approached by Forest but Mick put a block on it.....not sure how but he did.

[BLUEBLOOD]

in.the last 6 months of the players contract if the parent club has activated the option, the player can speak to whoever he likes. Chambo has been approached by Forest but Mick put a block on it.....not sure how but he did.

Knowing Mick he told them to F##k Off

[hallamblue]

in.the last 6 months of the players contract if the parent club has activated the option, the player can speak to whoever he likes. Chambo has been approached by Forest but Mick put a block on it.....not sure how but he did.

Knowing Mick he told them to F##k Off

lol I have no doubts whatsoever that's what he would have done!

[hallamblue]

This is a bit scary.......


Again a FB post....( I know) but , well the similarities of approach!!..........

Whilst it is easy to have a sly dig at MM (especially at the moment) I saw this linked on TWTD and thought it was worth copying here for those that missed it.

In essence, it was written by a Wolves supporter in early 2012 when Mick was still their manager. He is showing the same frustrations many of us now feel: dull, rigid, unimaginative and going nowhere positive.

There are a few phrases that struck a chord with me, such as:

'One transfer that I will use to sum up Mick’s toils in the transfer market is Stephen Hunt. I fear this may divide opinion but hey ho. He is useless. Yes he “puts a shift in” which seems to be the only skill Mick looks for...'

-or-

'In my opinion, and some others, Mick appears to favour those who have grit rather than flair and it makes for a dismal sight. Often players seem stifled, which makes me sad, players like Matt Jarvis, who had such success last season was this season instructed to play a more inside roll, thus neutering his skill and making us even more dismal.'

Most concerning is the apparent mirroring of our current situation:
'This last month has been another transfer window where Wolves have been relatively quiet. Mick McCarthy is fantastic at man management and has exceptional motivational skills and is really attached to the club and I love that. He has done so much for us but something must be done about his transfer dealings.'
- scarily similar... yep, we would all love ME to give us a huge wedge of cash, but MM spent £45mil at Wolves...

I don't think MM is going anywhere this side of May, I'll always be thankful for him keeping us in the division after Jewell, the worst ITFC manager ever, left us to set up a car wash business, but I am utterly tired of the dull football and recent erratic tactics.

Sure, we all knew MMs dogged approach when he joined, but I'm sure most of us had hoped things might progress a little beyond hoof and grit.... I did anyway (stupid to think he might evolve, I know... ).

[Bluemike]

I don't get where all this nonsense about Mick putting a block on a move for chambers, it may be true but none of us know or ever will unless Mick, Chambo or the club actually come out and say it. What I will say is IF Chambers was pissed off on Tuesday night then fair play to the guy cus he was about the only one apart from Bart to come out of it with any credit, but then again he is a top bloke and a super captain.

[Ohiotractorboy]

1) I missed this, but when did Chambers become so out of fashion?

2) I have been around here for seven years now, and this is a constant theme of questioning whether ME opens up the wallet or not. Is he a cheap owner compared to other owners in the Championship?

3) It is interesting to see the parallels between Ipswich and the Cleveland Browns over here in the NFL. For those of you who don't follow the NFL, that is not good. To put it simply, the Browns have two people running the draft and makeup of the team. The are doing it through "analytics" such as measuring a players burst of speed, how high he jumps, etc. The coach is more of a football guy, who goes more on the intangibles...such as in soccer a player who just has the knack of being in the right spot to get the ball off of a block by the keeper and able to put it in the goal. The Browns really blew the draft last year on a quarterback, and the big question is did the coach blow it, or is he covering for the IT geeks running the draft? I see alot of similarities in this article with Mick identifying who he wants and Milne/ME giving him someone else instead. Both of these teams have had this same question for a while now, and just look how well they are doing.

[number 9]

1) I missed this, but when did Chambers become so out of fashion?

2) I have been around here for seven years now, and this is a constant theme of questioning whether ME opens up the wallet or not. Is he a cheap owner compared to other owners in the Championship?

3) It is interesting to see the parallels between Ipswich and the Cleveland Browns over here in the NFL. For those of you who don't follow the NFL, that is not good. To put it simply, the Browns have two people running the draft and makeup of the team. The are doing it through "analytics" such as measuring a players burst of speed, how high he jumps, etc. The coach is more of a football guy, who goes more on the intangibles...such as in soccer a player who just has the knack of being in the right spot to get the ball off of a block by the keeper and able to put it in the goal. The Browns really blew the draft last year on a quarterback, and the big question is did the coach blow it, or is he covering for the IT geeks running the draft? I see alot of similarities in this article with Mick identifying who he wants and Milne/ME giving him someone else instead. Both of these teams have had this same question for a while now, and just look how well they are doing.

I never thought in my lifetime ITFC would be compared to Cleveland Browns...sigh.

[marko69]

At least he never compared them to the Lions! That would've made me cry too.

[Ohiotractorboy]

My appologies...upon reflecting on this, it made me doubly depressed as to what I did