The Ipswich

Peterborough. Although transfer-embargoed Oxford is embarrassing enough. Even in East Anglia, Peterborough are barely recognised. Even Cambridge United, who play next to allotments, are better regarded. Obviously, Norwich are the lowest point.......

I get the feeling. Years ago, when we were 'owned' by Marcus Evans, I fell out of love with Ipswich and started watching my local non-league team in the then Jewson League Eastern Counties Premier. And although the fan base was about 100 hardy regulars, they actually appreciated my support and it felt just like what I'd wanted from Ipswich. OK, the standard wasn't the greatest but you could watch with a cold pint glass in your hand, and a proper sausage hot dog from the catering truck, and have change from a tenner. My team won a few and won the local league cup one season, and we all went to the final on a hired coach. We set up a local pool league in the clubhouse and darts league, and other people started joining us regularly as well. It was a fiver entry to the ground, £2.50 a pint (this was down south, bear in mind, where we always get fleeced for drinks) and we had a laugh. I still love non-league today. Harborough Town are doing well locally in Leicester. If you feel disenfranchised by the current City side, try that?

We rate Wes highly because he's been one of our best players since League One. He's been almost legendary for us under McKenna. BUT he needs to be played properly, given space to run into on the right and with solid players around him to tuck away the chances he creates. His injury last season hampered his appearances for us and, when McKenna went, he clearly wouldn't have been a regular in our PL campaign. That said, rather him than the consistently inconsistent Kasey Mac, but not rather him than Fatawu. He's clearly not enjoying Russball (but then who is?) and I'd be worried if your fans start to unfairly get on his back because he's a solid pro and will do a job for any manager who, like McKenna, is more attack-minded. Your board have just blindly gone for the arsehole option as coach. You need a Nige Pearson or a Warnock-type to reset and redeem after a tumultuous few seasons. That won't happen til after a takeover now.

That's Martin finished in the professional game as a manager, surely?

David Lowe looked like a scowling little kid but scored some good goals when we made the fatal mistake of hiring John Duncan back in 1987-88. He was injured a lot with us and suffered from not being Kevin Wilson, another striker from the mid-80's who Ipswich relied upon for goals. That mid-late 80's team was an anachronism - nothing could compare to the earlier Robson years of Muhren and Thijssen and Mariner and Gates. It was briefly helped by John Wark returning, yet relied on the sort of players many Town fans still shudder to recall. The likes of Graham Harbey and John Hallworth and Nigel Gleghorn. True, we signed the Russian international sweeper Sergei Baltacha (then promptly never played him in his best position) and were supplemented by the Dozzells and Kiwomyas and Dave Linighans who would form the basis of the much, much better John Lyall sides into the early 1990's. But David Lowe remains, a little narrow-eyed, big-haired shrimp of a striker, who went to Leicester before our promotion and who only fans in their fifties like me can truly recall with any residual fondness.

I'll buy all five of you a pint if you're in The Cricketers?

Ooh I tell you what - Notts County are dogshit yet they don't really deserve a point. You've looked better playing it. You get these in League One, odd stupid draws away. Keep the faith. You do need a decent striker and Souttar looks like he wants Wrexham. Weird looking ****er innee?

Yep. He's one of those players you get from time to time who isn't a star. Yet he performs consistently, to the extent that he can show up more expensively purchased players. Wes seems like a bum deal on the face of it. We definitely noticed when he was out injured though. Amid the Crufts pedigrees, he's the mongrel with the broken ear. But he never gives up and he's loved for it. Good luck to him. He played his part in our resurgence from League One. I wouldn't mind betting he'll do the same for you.

Both played their part. Kasey M started slowly but was coming on in leaps and bounds. He'll be one who I hope will flourish under GON, probably more than he did under McKenna. George Hirst needs confidence in his ability. Trouble is, you went down the "paying £90k a week for Winks" route and probably disregarded the most important bit. It's about building a team. The sum of the parts individually may be a lot less, but if they play as a team, they're decent. You'll find this out in League One. I think you'll be top two, but playing a more team-oriented game than you maybe have for a season or two.

He played really well last night. Linked up with the midfield well, played the simple ball when it was on and took their left-back to the cleaners. Looking forward to watching him as the season unfolds.

Tough I reckon. Still, I was one of the few Ipswich fans secretly not displeased that McKenna chose to leave. We were way too open at times under KM. That isn't to say he won't make a great manager elsewhere, but I liked what O'Neil did at Bournemouth. And Wolves are a basket-case. Still, he kept them up.

He's pacey but he's not THAT pacey. His game is finding space on the right and providing killer passes. Scores a few as well, has that John Wark-like innate ability of arriving late in the box, without actually being anything like John Wark. He's not a Vardy. He's too good for League One though.

15% wasn't it? Fatawu looked brilliant last night by the way. Just in case you're interested?

Surely we wouldn't expect a fee? He's only just signed his year extension. We'd let him go on a free surely?

You've got a good couple in Wesley and Chappers - both know each other's game inside out and had this esoteric awareness of where the other was. We scored loads from Burns' cut-backs and Chaplin's acute ability to know where they'd land. I don't suppose you fancy a Scottish international striker for £10 million.........?