An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Here you can chat about everything and anything related to ITFC and other football issues. This forum also hosts the now Internationally famous TB.com ITFC match previews which contain insightful pre-match thoughts, previous highlights, news links relating to Town, form guides and other bits and pieces. Feel free to discuss meet ups/travel plans in here as well.

Moderators: Charnwood, Bluemike

Post Reply
User avatar
Bluemike
Global Moderator
Posts: 32292
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 5:26 pm
Location: Ipswich

An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by Bluemike » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:30 am

Dear Mr Evans,

First of all, I want to emphasise one important point. I am a loyal Ipswich Town supporter, in my 50th season of going to matches at Portman Road.

Nothing will ever change that. I will continue to follow the team through thick and thin, and I know there are many thousands of fans who feel exactly the same way as me.


But the point of this letter is to tell you that, in my half century as a supporter, I cannot recall a more frustrating and depressing spell than this. Whereas I used to go to games full of hope and anticipation, I now dread what I am about to witness.

For the last year, the supporters – your paying customers – have had virtually no entertainment. Game after game has come and gone and none of them will live in the memory.

Monday afternoon against Fulham was yet another low point. We were literally passed off the park in an utterly embarrassing way. We made Fulham look like Barcelona, so dominant were they. Yet, in truth, they are only a slightly above average Championship team, who will be delighted to make the play-offs.

There was an unfortunate irony in the timing of this new low. It was exactly two years ago, on Boxing Day 2014, that I was among the travelling Blue and White Army at Griffin Park, to witness Town demolish a good Brentford team.

Daryl Murphy put us ahead after 19 seconds, and within the blink of an eye we were 3-0 up. The final score of 4-2 flattered Brentford who, like us, made the play-offs that season.

That win put us top of the table for a couple of hours, and I remember leaving Griffin Park convinced that with a relatively modest amount of strengthening in the January transfer window, we would have a really good chance of going up.

Instead, the last two years have seen constant decline, both in terms of results and the entertainment level. That season we just scraped into the top six, in the last campaign we missed out, and our style of play was utterly dire.

This season, we are more likely to be dragged into the relegation dogfight than have any chance of challenging for a place in the top six.

Even the legendary patience of the loyal Ipswich Town fans is wearing thin.

Crowds are going down, and the atmosphere at games is the most toxic I have ever known.

It takes an awful lot for the Portman Road crowd to turn on the manager, but it is happening increasingly regularly now.

It is painful to hear sections of the ground chanting against you and Mick McCarthy, but the level of frustration is understandable.

Your manager has not helped himself with his continued negative selections and tactics. Yes, I know he rescued us from relegation four years ago, and we are grateful for that. But I wonder how many employees would get away with countering criticism of their work performance by saying: “Yes, but I did something good four years ago?”

In my view, Mick McCarthy did a very good job for the first two years - in fact, up to and including that Boxing Day win at Brentford. Since then, I believe many fans would question his decision making when it comes to team selection and tactics. It is just so negative and produces boring football.

McCarthy has also not helped his relationship with the supporters by saying what are frankly daft things after games. Defending the debacle against Forest was an example – the worst performance I can recall – until the Fulham game, that is.

Why could he not just admit that we were utterly woeful against Forest? At least he did say that the Fulham display wasn’t good enough.

All of which brings me to my question: where is our club going under your ownership? You bought Ipswich Town nine years ago now, and, to my mind, things have gone backwards.

We are nothing more than a below-average Championship team which plays mind-numbingly dull football. We have absolutely no chance of promotion with the current squad.

We all read your three-point strategy: develop the academy, buy young, promising players, and have a competitive wage structure. All very sensible. But, bluntly, I don’t see a great deal of evidence of it working at the moment. The first team is packed full of older journeymen, and youth rarely gets a look in.

Promising players like the young full-backs Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock are picked in emergencies and then instantly discarded when Mick’s stalwarts are fit to return.

As for the wage structure, we seem to struggle to attract the quality of player who would make a difference to the squad. After each underwhelming transfer window, we hear that we’ve made offers for such-and-such a player, but the deal wasn’t done.

There can only be two reasons for that – either the wages we were offering weren’t attractive enough, or we weren’t prepared to pay the transfer fee – or possibly both.

In a way, it is admirable not to be held to ransom by clubs, players or agents demanding “ bonkers” (to use one of McCarthy’s favourite words) money but it is surely a recipe for continued stagnation.

So, where is the club going? I saw managing director Ian Milne at the AGM talked rather dismissively about the alternative plan – where an owner spends loads of money, maybe £30 million, gambling on winning promotion to the land of milk and honey which is the Premier League.

Yes, we all know that can end in tears. No-one wants reckless spending, but surely sensible, but significant, investment in our squad is what is needed?

Certainly £10m in transfer fees would make a huge difference. Yes, I realise there will be big wages on top of that.

We have to somehow break this stagnation. If the supporters see no change, then another thousand or more will not renew their season tickets. That, in turn, will take hundreds of thousands off the revenue stream, and weaken our hand still further.

As I write, we are just a few days away from the opening of the January transfer window. The supporters I talk to have no expectation of us making any meaningful signings.

To the contrary, we are fearful that we will lose two of our best players - our brilliant keeper Bart, and promising defender Adam Webster.

If both of those do leave without adequate replacements, then surely a relegation battle would be on the cards to avoid our team dropping into the third tier for the first time since 1957, the year I was born.

So, Mr Evans, will you spend significant money next month? Will we see the new, quality players our humdrum squad so desperately needs? Or will we just continue in the current, painful mode, with the team not delivering on the pitch, and growing disenchantment among the incredibly loyal supporters?

We really do deserve so much better than this.

Come on you Blues!

Yours sincerely,

Terry Hunt

hallamblue
Posts: 33296
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:30 pm
Location: Ipswich Town F.C.

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by hallamblue » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:45 am

My thoughts EXACTLY. At last someone at the EADT has written the thoughts and concerns of 99.9% of Town fans. Furthermore Terry Hunt is also correct when he states the Town fans are incredibly loyal and patient.Ive always said this.

User avatar
Shed on tour
Posts: 8672
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:21 pm

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by Shed on tour » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:48 am

Excellent letter and some very valid points.

Unfortunately I doubt if Mr Evans will even read it yet alone reply.

hallamblue
Posts: 33296
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:30 pm
Location: Ipswich Town F.C.

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by hallamblue » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:53 am

People such as Evans, will have a Corporate ear very close to tye ground She'd. His personal pole DO monitor any comments made in the media that involves the words Marcus Evans, Ipswich Town etc. He will know about this letter. If he chooses not to respond, that's his look out because failure to act now will cost him far more next season , ( from April/ March ST renewals time ). I seriously doubt the Club will sell 10k under the current climate. It's really up to Evans to put up or sell up. Time for PR "talk" is over.

verulam
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:28 pm
Location: St Albans

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by verulam » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:39 pm

At long last a letter from the EADT that describes exactly how Town supporters have felt for the last year or so. Like Terry Hunt I have supported Town for over 50 years. I've stood on the riverside stand at Fulham as we shipped 10 goals, watched youth team games in the snow (with a white ball until someone thought an orange one might be a good idea!), been on holiday with the team to Majorca back in 1973, watched the FA cup win from Kuwait (Arabic commentary!), enjoyed every second of the play-off final - apart from when we went one down, loved the day trip to Milan - I could go on. Evans WILL see this letter, if nothing else it will be picked up by his PR people. Let's just hope we get an answer! I'm not expecting miracles - just a recognition that we need to move on and, more than anything else, we want to be entertained.
Right now, I don't even feel inclined to make the 20 mile journey from my house to QPR next week - and that will be a first.

User avatar
herforder
Posts: 2764
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:34 am

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by herforder » Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:30 pm

Applaud Terry Hunt for both raising his head over the parapet, and for setting out exactly what Town supporters, young or old, newbees or seasoned veterans, think and feel. Let's hope it provokes some sort of meaningful response, that treats patient and knowledgeable supporters with a degree of respect. The 'we're all in this together' mantra applies throughout the season, not just as a glossy sound bite at ST renewal time!

Time, too, for those monkeys at Suffolk Radio to grow some!

User avatar
phily bon bon
Posts: 10838
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:08 pm
Location: Denmark

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by phily bon bon » Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:40 pm

Great letter and right on the Money. It was depressing to read Bluemikes post match take on the fulham game,the fact that he too is reluctantly calling for mick to leave speaks volumes. One of his most loyal supporters when people like Bluemick call for change there should be no way back for Mick and TC.

We all love this Club and for a man that no longer lives in England why the hell should it bother me? Its my Club and has been since my childhood years (when all around were Arsenal,Liverpool and United fans) and it will be till my death bed. My children here have all the kits and keep an eye on whats happening at PR as does my partner,its in ones blood.

We fans were here before any player ,manager or chairman and will be long afterwards so take note Evans.

Mick is feeling the resentment but Evans in my book must take a large part of the blame for whats going on. Im still of the belief that we are a delightful tax write off for him and not a lot else. Evans needs to put up serious backing to a younger hungry manager and give them time and financial backing.....not throwing millions down the pan chasing a pipe dream ,but a tangable plan with the funds to match.

Be careful what you wish for said Mick ....well Mick sorry we want you gone but thanks for all the hard Work done and saving us as you did, please give the youth a chance as the established players are´nt doing it so we should not be so cautious in our approach in ALL games home or away regardless of the opposition.

All that said I expect Evans wont do a single thing though an honourable man like Mick may walk after this season.

Tractor-boy for life.

User avatar
Shed on tour
Posts: 8672
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:21 pm

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by Shed on tour » Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:53 pm

hallamblue wrote:People such as Evans, will have a Corporate ear very close to tye ground She'd. His personal pole DO monitor any comments made in the media that involves the words Marcus Evans, Ipswich Town etc. He will know about this letter. If he chooses not to respond, that's his look out because failure to act now will cost him far more next season , ( from April/ March ST renewals time ). I seriously doubt the Club will sell 10k under the current climate. It's really up to Evans to put up or sell up. Time for PR "talk" is over.
hallam
I have no doubt that it has already been picked up by Evan's PR team.
However, I still have a feeling that the man himself won't bother to read it and more importantly take on board the comments or answer them.
I suppose there is a chance we might get a message in the final matchday programme of the season telling us once again how the so-called long term plan is going to work. :wink:

User avatar
number 9
Posts: 6747
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:35 pm

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by number 9 » Wed Dec 28, 2016 3:57 pm

Good letter, but it's nothing new...is it? Many of us fans have been singing the same song for quite some time. Regardless if ME reads the letter, he needs to address the fans. What a p*ss poor owner he has turned out to be...and he doesn't even have the balls to inform the fan base of what his vision for the club is. Marcus Evans seems like a shady character to me as evident in the Brazil Olympic ticket scandal and his evasive nature. Either he will change, which I seriously doubt...or he'll bugger off and sell the club which is also doubtful. Even Mike Ashley has addressed the Geordie fans FFS! I just hope there's a brighter tomorrow for ITFC because our current plight has had an effect on me; I'm beginning to lose interest in football all together.

User avatar
Mach_Polish_Blue
Posts: 1208
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:07 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by Mach_Polish_Blue » Wed Dec 28, 2016 4:04 pm

I've been saying for a long while that current ownership is utterly disastrous and we aren't going to make any progress on and off the pitch.

It'll be very quiet January transfer window because it's an expensive one. So it's hard to imagine that Evans will become a Santa and get us 2-3 quality players.

2 years ago we had a unique chance to get out of this poxy league after many years. What did Evans do? Spent 100k in January transfer window plus we brought a couple of loanees in Chaplow and Varney who were unwanted in their parent clubs. So what do people expect? He doesn't care.

We're on the long term decline which ultimately will get us relegated. Evans' policy is a simple reason.

jeremy rusher
Posts: 897
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:08 pm
Location: Lowestoft

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by jeremy rusher » Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:05 pm

We see many managers given little time to get it right and are quickly disposed of. McCarthy has been here 4 years and look where we are. A team built on the cheap just to keep Evans happy and to keep his own job safe. The fans do not come into the equation and are just expected to throwing money on a poor experience. This is your poor team MM and you still do not recognize the dross being served up. No attempt to explain our failures or try something else to put things right. Much of your sultry post match radio comments, excuses, abrupt media answers and demeanour signifies you do not possess the spirit to drive these players. A football team that struggles to play attacking football and no cohesion what so ever because of constant team changes. Maybe Mr Sheepshanks should come back and put things right ? We need someone committed to saving this club ?

Tangfastic
Posts: 4935
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:52 am

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by Tangfastic » Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:21 am

We could have invested two years for the big promotion push - but we could also have invested a year ago for last year's Jan window.

We weren't too far of the top six a year ago. If investment is a risk - then it's a calculated risk when you only have half a season to go and you could very conceivably make that top six. No relegation worries at all as well. What did we get .... Pringle and Foley... and Deeney later on. He wasn't even prepared to give Foley a run who showed he could pass the ball.... and he was only brought in to replace Parr (who was never given a run also).

Then at the start of the year - did we go for it? Try and get those 3 points you need to make the top six. Even at home, you get an overly-defensive formation, culminating with the famous Rotherham midfield trio of Skuse, Douglas and Hyam. That was more MM sticking two fingers up at the supporters than trying to win football matches.

ME is to blame, but he's not interested and got MM in here to completely run the show on a good salary and take any flak coming his way. This club is too much MM and Mick's got his undroppable favourites in to cover his back and protect himself. Chambers position here must be to run the changing room and keep things all " Mick McCarthy-friendly" . F*ck the football . Too cosy for some .. and the fans are expected to have complete devoted loyalty and keep on turning up.

I'm hopeful that now MM is taking more and more flak and his reputation / ego is on the line, he'll make this ME's problems. Some harsh words between the two of them would not go amiss.

hallamblue
Posts: 33296
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:30 pm
Location: Ipswich Town F.C.

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by hallamblue » Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:42 pm

ME is supposed to have written a letter which will be in Fridays programme

Tangfastic
Posts: 4935
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:52 am

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by Tangfastic » Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:08 pm

hallamblue wrote:ME is supposed to have written a letter which will be in Fridays programme
Can't he put it out there without fan's having to buy a programme :)

User avatar
Shed on tour
Posts: 8672
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:21 pm

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by Shed on tour » Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:34 pm

hallamblue wrote:ME is supposed to have written a letter which will be in Fridays programme
Will it be under the BS section in the programme?

User avatar
arana peligrosa
Posts: 10875
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:41 pm

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by arana peligrosa » Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:55 am

Knowing Evans it'll probably be written in invisible ink

Say there's any truth in it, what could he feasibly say ?

"I'm sorry I haven't focused enough on this area of my business interests. I was aware that the club have been on an evident decline ever since I took ownership and the need for change may seem imperative, but if I kept a low profile the entire time, my name wouldn't come to the fore and any blame for deficiencies or lack of progress could be addressed to someone else"

User avatar
bluejacko
Posts: 809
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 3:48 pm

Re: An open letter to Marcus Evans.

Post by bluejacko » Fri Dec 30, 2016 10:03 am

hallamblue wrote:ME is supposed to have written a letter which will be in Fridays programme
Does anyone waste their money on a program?

Post Reply