Ipswich Town, the first of many....

Now, Ipswich are a club that many would call a 'yo-yo' side, one that refuses to remain in one division or another. Having last flirted with the Premier League in 2001/02, isn't it about time that the Tractor Boys started living up to their reputation?

When Irish stalwart Roy Keane emerged as the clubs new manager 18 months ago, many Ipswich fans embraced a new era that looked rosy on all fronts. Yet, mid-table mediocrity is what fans have had to suffer with.

So when will the club's fortunes turn? Last season it took until the 15th game of the season for Ipswich to prove that they were the better team on the field. A scraped 1-0 win over Derby was greeted to rapturous applause from the fans, they were the last team in any professional league to achieve a win.

The Rams have just beaten Town on their own patch last Tuesday, sparking fresh resignation claims from the fans. It comes as no surprise as indifferent form has plagued the side in recent weeks, a run of three successive defeats followed by back-to-back wins states that this teams mentailty is not in the right place.

Yet it is not all doom and gloom, sitting just outside the play-offs with several teams around them struggling to string wins together is a position that many managers would enjoy. The signing of Jason Scotland combined with Tamas Priskin finding his poaching boots has given the Blues a strikeforce that they have not enjoyed since the likes of Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi.

The promise of Connor Wickham has allowed many to believe that a future England star has been born, and with the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal sniffing around, who can blame them. Keane has slapped a £10 million price tag on him that should keep the poachers' at bay, but it may well come down to participation at the highest level, if Ipswich are not there, what would keep him?

So, with a Barnsley side that haven't won away in the league this year visiting on Saturday, Ipswich can hope to begin the rectification of the indifferent form.