[Season's End](news_archive.php)
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Well that’s all over for another few months. A more than pleasant way to end the campaign. The sun was shining, the opposition battered, bruised and weary after their return to the top flight. We were professional enough, proactive enough and good value for our 3-1 victory.
We’ve seen a range of emotions again this campaign. Sadly joy, happiness and the more positive ones were in shortage. Portman Road gave us a brief reminder of what good times felt like, but also saw tears shed in honour of some of our departing, modern day heroes. I mentioned in my last piece that Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell in particular, have been under appreciated by many, given their contributions. It was heartening to see our away support give them the adulation, long overdue, thoroughly deserved, in the Suffolk sunshine. The farewell videos supplied by all three in the build up to their departures, a true heartfelt and gut wrenching footnote, to sign off their service. Emotional was an understatement. Looking at the current squad, some of the body language on show, it seems that these three - not forgetting Danny Ings, a good player at the wrong club - will not be the only departures we see. The future of Lucas Paqueta is still up in the air; Mohammed Kudus, signing off with a cracking strike, barely smiled. Our StarBoy hasn’t in truth looked happy for a year. We all know he’s capable of so much better performances than we’ve seen. An unhappy, yet talented young asset, could be on the move to recapture his smile and command a large enough fee, to fund another major rebuild. That’s before we look elsewhere. We’ve got a talented bunch, but clearly lacking the attributes required by Lopetegui and Potter really needed to further their philosophies. With Fabianski departing, Alphonse Areola, despite providing some excellent shot stopping ability, being vulnerable, a new keeper seems likely. One, as is the fashion, comfortable playing with the ball at his feet. Rumours have circulated about Aaron Ramsdale, but he is not the answer. Unless the question is ‘Who the hell shouldn’t we sign to play in goal?’ With two experienced full backs departing, we urgently need cover in that department. Emerson’s increasing absences from squads suggest his days are numbered. Kyle Walker-Peters, has again been touted highly, but he’s nothing but a squad filler for me. Centrally Jean-Clair Todibo, clearly talented, worryingly barely fully fit all season has played enough to trigger a clause enabling a permanent move. Max Killman after a promising start, seemed shell shocked following a complete lack of protection pre January. Konstantinos Mavropanos, an unfair scapegoat, would be well within his rights to want out. A commanding, vocal, leader at the heart of our backline appears crucial to instill belief and discipline. In midfield I expect further departures. Will we see Edson Alvarez again? He seemed, in season one, to be just what we needed. Dominant, good on the ball, hard in the challenge, a commander in the dressing room. Season two, has seen a significant drop off. James Ward-Prowse, great on the ball. Tomas Soucek, a man with a knack for being in the right place. Guido Rodriguez, a tidy player. All possess qualities we need and could utilise. Sadly all lack pace. Using one week in, week out is fine. But in truth we need, pacy, robust and bulky units to augment the ball ability. Soucek in particular would be missed, national captain, a goalscoring threat. But I wouldn’t be surprised if any departed. Fact is the lack of dynamism in the centre has been something that’s needed addressing for years. We’re again paying the penalty for not doing so earlier. Our forward line is where, I hope at least, we see fewest exits. Niclas Fullkrug has had a disjointed start to his life in east London. His rants, haven’t endeared him to those in power, but he was right. Things clearly have been awry on and off the pitch. He just stood up and said what we’re all thinking. Experienced, hard-working with ability. He seems exactly what we need to help usher in new recruits, now that we’ve lost some of our senior figures in the dressing room. Michail Antonio, out of contract, out of action. It looks in light of his fight back to wellness he may be offered a short term deal. Through hope? Through necessity? Through not wanting to appear heartless? It’s a hard one to gauge. In truth there’s no real definitive answer to the conundrum. As it stands, our last playing link to the Boleyn. A figure who a big heart, a big personality and more importantly a big contribution to the club's recent history. Whatever happens we just want to see Michail fit, healthy and happy. That really leaves Jarrod Bowen. A long term deal. A modern day legend. In an awful period at the club, his ability, drive and determination has been a class above. There were signs of frustration creeping in, these won’t have been helped by his omission from the latest England squad, but Sunday's display, a fourth goal in successive games, a trademark cut in and stunning finish, means we really need to keep a player of his calibre here. Even though he would be a name converted by many clubs. We’re going to see a second season of summer upheaval. Last season, huge turnover in terms of players and staff led to confusion and calamity. This year, with heavy financial pressures meaning limited funds, we need the turnover to implement change, reinvigorate hope and provide the building blocks for the future. With some great young potential at the club to augment the forthcoming changes, just pray to the God of your choice we can make this phase of our history work.
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