Swift action to replace those off to pastures new was essential, Darren Bent was always going and Shefki Kuqi was always going to take the first chance of Premiership football with or without us.
Whilst Shefki has perhaps let us down more than most, perhaps it will be the end of relying on one player running around and doing the job that the rest of the players out there are paid to do, far too often last season we relied too heavily on Kuqi and it was highlighted embarrassingly when he was out injured.
However, the gap up front has now been filled by on the face of it, two quality signings, who with the right service could be prolific next term.
I would usually rant knowing that Royle had been in the market for a striker in their thirties, but I believe that Nicky Forster will be a decent addition to the squad.
He’s always impressed me when playing for Reading, and seems hungrier than ever to start playing in a team and scoring goals again.
Having seen a dry run for buying players over the last few years, any purchase seems to drum up excitement these days, but I think that maybe the waiting will pay off with our other signing. At 24, Sam Parkin has got the best years ahead of him and deserves this chance at a higher level of football.
Although he is unproven at this level, I feel that Joe will probably be able to get the best out of him hopefully without having to resort to long ball tactics. Parkin himself, is a self confessed “old-fashioned centre forward” and Joe’s comments about him having good heading skills reminds me of long ball tactics that do not fill me with confidence, but maybe we should swallow our pride and do whatever it takes to get promoted from this division!
It was never going to be easy to replace what we’ve lost, and when you consider what’s available and then add on the number of clubs that will also be interested in just one player, then I think we have done very well with these two acquisitions.
I am backing Joe to further invest wisely and even if we have used the majority of the transfer kitty; it will at least limit the chances of bringing in players unnecessarily and the youth will surely also get a chance.
A quick point about the midfield; which was probably our strongest point last season. It looks as though this will undergo a couple of changes; Tommy Miller has gone but we have potentially the emergence of players such as Peters and Juan. Also, with Magilton still undecided about his future (possibly holding out for a better offer elsewhere), I feel that this would be the right time to work the team around someonelse, preferably defensively minded!
Jim is a player I have always enjoyed watching and he has been a smashing servant for the club, but if he really needs this long to think about it then I’m not sure if his heart will be in it again next season and would rather he left on a high note now, than half way through next season because of injury or a coaching role elsewhere.
The case for a defence now needs to be raised, with so far only a left back who can play in the centre as well seemingly being preferable to Royle, but I think we all know that the whole line needs reorganising.
One positive for me is that Naylor continues to get better and better as a centre half and has the potential to be a future captain, but he needs composed players around him, and as much as I appreciate the commitment shown by the likes of Wilnis and DeVos, I would rather have the youngsters coming through the ranks to learn from more assured defenders.
I’m pleased to hear that Joe will give Lewis Price the chance to be first choice keeper, but maybe an experienced ‘keeper as back up wouldn’t hurt, maybe on loan although the whole loan system for players next season isn’t quite clear as yet.
With a few more deals likely to be done in the next month or so, the friendly with Rangers should provide us with a decent benchmark as to how good the new look Tractor Boys will be, so far I am encouraged if cautiously optimistic.
At least it now looks as though we will be able to field 11 players against Cardiff on the 6th August so I wont be taking my boots to Portman Road, instead I’ll watch Parkin and Forster get debut goals and hope a more resilient defence will cement some opening day points.