📈 EVERY Ipswich Town manager ranked WORST to BEST | Part 2 | Blue Monday Flagship Show

[@JasonCliftJones]

I commented on the other post putting Bobby first, but... There's a reason they both have statues, stands named after them, etc. You could rightly justify them either way around. Good list.

[@moby6289]

Sir Bobby for me at the top and not just because of the number of seasons that he had Town as one of the best sides in Europe, but because of the class of the man and how his reign led to Town being seen as a good footballing side with proper values on and off the pitch. In short, Sir Bobby because his legacy at Town still resonates around the world today.

[@geoffpoole483]

It's a matter of opinion as to who was our best manager, but there's no disputing that we've been blessed with some excellent managers. The football landscape is very different from the Robson and Ramsey eras. For example Robson signed just 13 players when he was Ipswich manager, partly because the club couldn't afford expensive transfer deals and also because of an excellent youth policy. These days it's common for PL and Championship clubs to sign a dozen players in a couple of transfer windows.

[@MattITFC]

I could listen to Dave all day. Great level of knowledge! The first ITFC manager in my lifetime was George Burley - it’s incredible to think our current manager is right up there with him. Bring on the Premier League! 🔵🏆⚪️

[@ianwallis5022]

Great couple of pods with plenty of debatable opinions! However why only 18 managers and not 19? Mick O’Brien was the clubs first professional manager and guided us to the Southern Championship at his first attempt thus giving a pathway to the national league, Division Three South. Although only in post for 15 months, he still holds the best win percentage (64%) of all the other managers.

[@gregnicolle]

Thanks ☮ Ben and Dave for a great review of our managers over the years. Have to agree with Dave. Alf winning div 2 in 61, the year I was born, and div 1 in 62, is a statistic we may never see again. C.O.Y.B TRACTORS 🚜 FOREVER

[@chriswright5016]

Fascinating guys, thanks so much. I actually agree with Dave's top choice, because I think it is essential to factor in Sir Alf going on to manage England to a World Cup win. Given the agony we're suffering to this very day in terms of winning another international tournament, you cannot ignore what an achievement it was and his incredible feat of winning Division Two and One in consecutive seasons. With that said, timing is key, because Sir Bobby could have easily surpassed Sir Alf at both Ipswich and England level. The fact that he didn't quite get there relegates him a very, very, very close second. But I could easily think the other way around in the morning. Thanks for a great couple of podcasts.

[@davidplowman5210]

Put into ChatGPT and quick as a flash answer was- Ipswich Town Football Club has had several notable managers throughout its history. Here are some of the most significant ones: 1. **Sir Alf Ramsey** (1955-1963) - Led Ipswich to their only First Division (now Premier League) title in 1961-62. - Became England manager and won the 1966 World Cup. 2. **Bobby Robson** (1969-1982) - Guided Ipswich to FA Cup victory in 1978. - Won the UEFA Cup in 1981. - Developed a reputation for nurturing young talent and playing attractive football. 3. **George Burley** (1994-2002) - Managed Ipswich to promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2000. - Achieved a 5th-place finish in the Premier League in the 2000-01 season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup. 4. **John Lyall** (1990-1994) - Guided Ipswich to the Second Division title in the 1991-92 season, securing promotion to the newly formed Premier League. 5. **Roy Keane** (2009-2011) - Though his tenure was mixed, he remains a high-profile manager due to his successful playing career and prior management at Sunderland. 6. **Mick McCarthy** (2012-2018) - Stabilized the club and consistently kept Ipswich competitive in the Championship, achieving a play-off finish in the 2014-15 season. These managers have had a significant impact on the club's history, each contributing to its legacy in different ways.

[@tractorboybotswana5794]

Best pod on town for a long time

[@Poleson]

Ramsey was revolutionary, he changed the way football is played. Teams were still using the 235 formation when Alf was appointed.

[@yippeeki-yay1691]

Lyall pretty much moved upstairs after the 91/92 promotion season, I don't really count his record after that as we were stuck with the boring negative tactics of Mick Mcgiven.

[@blueheaven6258]

I wouldn't argue with those rankings and McKenna still has business to do and could move up 👍

[@StevenCopson]

Great pod. I’m the same age as Dave and think it’s hard to argue those rankings. If we stay up next season perhaps 4th and 3rd might change places?

[@horsehollerer]

Superb part 2, cheers. Agree with DD that McKenna would already be above Burley if Burley hadn't finished so high in the Prem. That said, given the present-day financial landscape, if McK finishes 17th or higher this season, he leapfrogs Burley into 3rd imho. How lucky are we?

[@charliemilroy6497]

He would need to finish at least 10th. If he wins the league he'd be arguably our best ever manager.

[@horsehollerer]

@@charliemilroy6497 in your opinion

[@charliemilroy6497]

In your opinion

[@stevesmith2657]

Totally agree with Dave. I started supporting Town the season before Bill McGarry got us promoted in 1968. So never saw Ramsey's team play although I saw Crawford and Baxter in the team. What Sir Alf did in bringing a small town club into the top flight for their first season and winning it was sensational at the time and has never been repeated. Bear in mind the season before Tottenham did the double with an outstanding team full of internationals. Ipswich did the double over Spurs including a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane in front of over 51,000 fans.

[@andymcevoy2080]

Loved these episodes superb content. !!

[@chezlesvincakes]

Great pods - the highlight of my Sunday and Monday evenings. Let's hope we stay up so McKenna can mive to number three.

[@paulwhitmore7878]

In the space of seven years Ramsey got us out of Div 3 South, won Div2 won the First Division and the World Cup.Incredible. Robson had an incredible run of six top six finishes in seven years,and the year he didn't, won the FA Cup. But we were in a great position to win the league four times and we never got over the line😢.Both great managers but Ramsey edges it.

[@healinghorse]

Ramsey all the way Dave! - Winning Div2/Div 1 back-to-back is possibly the greatest single achievement by any manager in English football history - it’s a stat that the footballing world gives far too little attention too. In Pink Floyd terms, Ramsey was the ‘Sid Barrett launch mechanism’ while Robson more the ‘Gilmore’ slow, safe burn’ 😉

[@bangbang4142]

Top show , great facts I so enjoyed watching! I hate to agree ever😊 but your top 5 was for me SPOT ON👍

[@iansharp6593]

Just two other clubs have won the title the season after promotion, Spurs in 1950/51 (with Alf at right back) and Forest in 1977/78.

[@philmarshall5953]

Think Dave’s got most of that spot on! Feel sorry for Paul Hurst as feels like the damage Roy Keane did to the club and having an ex-Norwich manager in Lambert take us down to League One deserves those to battle out bottom place, but 1 win in 15 for Hurst probably means he has to be there. Agree Burley above McKenna for what he did in first Premier League season. But I’d go Robson over Ramsey. Both legends that will never be forgotten with deserved statues at the club, but the longevity of success at the top end of English and European football for Robson, building the club and put us on map for the stature we still have today despite the length of time we’ve been away from the top flight for so long.

[@Jules551]

Brilliant 2 part Ben and DD ,As you I've been there for it all , Burley is definitely 3rd ahead of Keiran at this present time , this is only my point of view and not meant to be controversial but I'd swap Sir Bobby and Sir Alf ... Fantastic show , brilliant knowledge as always , and blue Monday will always be the best as far as I'm concerned 🔵⚪👍

[@charliemilroy6497]

If someone tries to tell me that Southgate is a better England manager than Robson, I'll try not to laugh to hard.

[@RodneyMarshall-z6m]

Ramsey has to be first, IMO, and Preston did not do the same thing before. PNE were founder members of the FL, ITFC winning the top flight after promotion to the top tier for the first time puts them in a different category. Long-term, Bobby Robson was the more successful, but the Holy Grail eluded him.

[@charliemilroy6497]

I think some people are a little too excited about McKenna if they think he's achieved more than George Burley. It's not a knock on McKenna, he's done almoat as well as he humanly could in his time here. McKenna could well move up to number 3 in short order.

[@BlueMondayITFC]

A solid season of consolidation in the Premier League could move him up the list?

[@charliemilroy6497]

@@BlueMondayITFC 5th or higher this coming season, or staying up this coming season and bettering that position the next season.

[@94streaky]

Fair enough. Ramsey won div 1.

[@matthewedwards1089]

Agree with Dave. Simple

[@iansharp6593]

Forest didn't win Div 2 in 1976/78, they finished 3rd.

[@ancienttractorbuoy]

Ramsey 2 great seasons. 1 Trophy. Robson 10 with 2 trophies. Has to be Robson No.1. Whatsmore I was watching from 1975 so experienced 7 of them

[@Crinkle59]

Ramsry greatest coach NOT Manager left Milburn eith a mess , Milburn started our youth policy ,I saw it all!