Delap and Hirst

[mendipblue]

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/25021450.i ... v2-IqCnbMn. We want to be together. KMck explains.🫣

[Blue Wilf]

Too little, too late I am afraid. We don't get paid £5m a year and have been saying this for half the season so it is hardly a revelation now.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Yes, a few of us have been saying for months now that this should happen, yet KM has stubbornly resisted trying it even though we hve picked up just 1 point in the last 9 games.

He is now saying that "it's not impossible" that he will start both together.

Not impossible, maybe, but extremely unlikely. I would go so far as to say that it's impossible it will happen unless KM has a brain transplant.

[marko69]

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/25021450.i ... v2-IqCnbMn. We want to be together. KMck explains.🫣

“We want to be together” ? Where does it say that in the article?
Have Delap & Hirst both stated this in a different article?

[mendipblue]

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/25021450.i ... v2-IqCnbMn. We want to be together. KMck explains.🫣

“We want to be together” ? Where does it say that in the article?
Have Delap & Hirst both stated this in a different article?

They didn't i was quoting from the old Prudential adverts. Look on YouTube. "We want to be together "

[marko69]

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/25021450.i ... v2-IqCnbMn. We want to be together. KMck explains.🫣

“We want to be together” ? Where does it say that in the article?
Have Delap & Hirst both stated this in a different article?

They didn't i was quoting from the old Prudential adverts. Look on YouTube. "We want to be together "

Ah right. That was a tad cryptic!

We should start doing this with all posts.

"Who wants to live forever!" KMcK explains.

"Hey, did he say this? Does he think he really is the Messiah and he is immortal?"

"Na man, he's just a Freddie Mercury fan. Certainly no Messiah. How can he be? If he was the Messiah he'd know that Hirst & Delap up front was the key to English Premier League survival."

[hallamblue]

It's only took him ALL season to come to that conclusion. Unbelievable!

[arana peligrosa]

April 1 horseshit. Took a moment to realize, truth being was caught out initially until you see the date in question. The EADT evidently having a play on today.

So McKenna plays essentially the same start league formation 365 days a year, then lo and behold one day out of all that you get an article suggesting he intends to try something different. Say again were caught out for a short time which was clearly what the publishers intended. After that you can pretty much see through it. Some may find it more provocative than amusing, just depends how you view it.

[marko69]

Think its got a March 26th date on it, Saint.

And hopefully if Stuart Watson was intending an April Fool stunt, it’d be something bigger and better than that. Like “Kieron McKenna in talks with Man Utd on the eve of the Cherries game after yet another EPL loss at Forest!”

That’d garner a “FKN WAIT, WHAT?!”
For most people it would garner that. Not all.

[Bluemike]

He's actually explained nothing.

[ITFC2024]

Media speculation that Burnley and Leeds are interested in Hirst. I hope we secure Hirst with a new deal, otherwise we’ll certainly be in the brown stuff.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Media speculation that Burnley and Leeds are interested in Hirst. I hope we secure Hirst with a new deal, otherwise we’ll certainly be in the brown stuff.

I think that if Hirst gets an offer he'll be off like a shot, and I for one would not blame him. Why would he show us any loyalty when KM has blindsided him all season?

[hallamblue]

Word ^^^^


Meanwhile Gus Poyet says of Delap ........

A little early for him' - Chelsea legend Poyet says Delap isn't ready for 'big club'



Chelsea legend Gus Poyet says he's 'not sure' if Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is ready to lead the line for one of the Premier League's top clubs.

Delap has been a sensation this season, bagging 12 goals in his first campaign as a starting striker in the top tier.

He looks certain to leave the destined-for-the-drop Blues this summer, with reports suggesting he has a £30m relegation release clause in his contract.

A host of top clubs have been linked with him, with Poyet's former side Chelsea and fallen giants Manchester United among those most often mentioned.

The former Chelsea and Spurs star Poyet - though he's a fan of Delap - insists that the 22-year-old may not be ready to step in as the lead striker for a 'big club.'

“Liam Delap is a player who has promising characteristics, but is he ready for a top side?" he told Discasino.

"I’m not so sure, I think it would come a little early for him. He has done very well for Ipswich this season, I like him, and he has impressed me this season - he will get better and better.

“In my mind, he is at the stage to be back up to a real top striker at a big club and learn from them, to then take over when that player moves on.

“We must remember that playing for Ipswich and being the main man and playing for a top side is not the same thing whatsoever.

Gus Poyet says he's not sure Delap is ready to lead the line for a 'big club'Gus Poyet says he's not sure Delap is ready.....You need to win for the bigger club, and the teams you play sit a lot deeper, everything you do must be perfect.

“Some players can make that step up and can take advantage of these situations, maybe he is one of those – we will see.

"He needs to be able to adapt to these ways of playing and he can be a brilliant forward for these clubs, as he’s such a promising talent.”

I agree 100% with Poyets summary and tbh we could end up losing BOTH Hirst and Delap.

I'll be honest, if it was a choice between Delap and Hirst, I'd want Hirst all day long. He's a much more rounded striker compared to Delap, who is basically about power and speed atm. One striker is a team player, and the other isn't, and Mckenna has completely cocked it up with regards to how he's used these two strikers this season. If a newly promoted club comes in gor Hirst i think he's gone and it'll be Mckenna's fault for ignoring him all season.

[Bluemike]

For me Delap is all but gone, no idea where to and once departed I don't really care tbh.

Hirst stays or Hirst goes, again not overly bothered either way, yes he'd be a decent member of a Championship squad but at 26 has proven he's not loaded with goals at any time of his career so even if he stays we'd still need a proven out and out goalscorer to feed off the likes of Hirst, Chaplin and Hutchinson etc. Add to that a suspect injury record which we also have to be aware could occur again.

[arana peligrosa]

Would say it depends what league we're in from August whether Delap chooses or gets to stay but guess that's kind of already answered. After the relegation players are going to move on, either we won't be able to retain them or they'll take the chance to try elsewhere. Can't concur that whatever division we find ourselves in that Hirst is a more feasible start option than Delap. The latter has been phenomenal for us and provided a threat on the field not seen for many a season. He's no Phillips or Crawford but when involved, you're always going to have a chance. Can create as well as score.

We got past players that arise every now and again scoring at lower league for club names like Oldham Athletic and Derby. You see the names when they score for their respective teams/ run through results. It's not that you'd wish them back, their time here was spent and they did what they could, but it's good to see they're doing OK for another employer and finding target quite regular at a lower level.

[ITFC2024]

To be honest, if Liam’s agent is smart he should tell him to stay at Ipswich. The 30-million release justification limits the potential for big money later. If Liam does well in the Championship (which he obviously will) his value will only rise. Inevitably Delap’s value will rise exponentially, and his agent could get a windfall of compensation. It’s just economics! Transfer now, and Liam’s worth is limited due to the contractual clause. Come January 2026, he’ll probably be worth much more!

Any thoughts? Am I wrong?

[shabba]

Yeah I think you’re looking at it wrong. His agent is better if moving him to a smaller prem club for 30m, to do well and get game time, make commission, then move him again 2 years later for more money to a big club and earn again.

However it’s not the agents ultimate decision - he is just acting on behalf of the player.

I suspect a number of teams will trigger the clause and Delap will decide where he goes based on a number of factors, incline wages and contract, game time etc.

[hallamblue]

To be honest, if Liam’s agent is smart he should tell him to stay at Ipswich. The 30-million release justification limits the potential for big money later. If Liam does well in the Championship (which he obviously will) his value will only rise. Inevitably Delap’s value will rise exponentially, and his agent could get a windfall of compensation. It’s just economics! Transfer now, and Liam’s worth is limited due to the contractual clause. Come January 2026, he’ll probably be worth much more!

Any thoughts? Am I wrong?

McKenna once again alluded to Delap possibly staying , and talks with him will happen in the summer. He said this in the weekly interview.
The way I see it is , if Delap stays Hirst will leave. He’s not going to play second fiddle to a young striker and sit most of the season on the bench , and I really can’t say Id blame him for that view. The problem we might have is both players could leave.

I’m hoping we hold onto a good deal of our squad and the tight nit feel about the squad and McKenna ( once again stating he is staying), may have a big influence of players aspirations to also stay. Interest Summer ahead guys n gels I think…. I won’t lie, I’m really look8mg forward to next season.