 | Forum
Thread | Just a happy reminder
at 22:47 25 May 2024
That after 2 years and 161 days, Kieran McKenna is still ITFC manager |
| Forum
Thread | Employment opportunities and KM
at 23:01 23 May 2024
I regularly get messages from recruiters on LinkedIn regarding vacancies that might be of interest.
I usually ask for details to see if the role is worth looking at.
I'm quite comfortable where I am and feel no urge to leave. But if something that would be a step up for me and works for my circumstances, of course I will consider taking it.
Does this make me a less committed employee for my current employer? Does it show a lack of class on my part? Or am I just doing what normal people do in business?
What KM is doing is no different - only in his case you have the press reporting on every rumour, and fans of all clubs involved tearing their hair out with impatience. My current employers are unlikely to ever find out I had a little look and considered it.
For what it's worth I am feeling slightly more positive tonight. I'm reading that both Man U and Chelsea have four man shortlists, and KM is not necessarily at the top of either. They've sounded out KM's reps for interest, established there is some, (which is no surprise), but no word yet of a formal offer. It may never come.
Brighton still an uncertainty of course.
But the outcome of all this is still way up in the air - and if KM is still our manager come the new season, I will only be grateful, no respect lost, because I know he was just doing what any person would do in that situation. I also know he will keep giving us his all because that is what a good manager does. |
| Forum
Thread | Telegraph: Six things Ipswich need to do..
at 15:13 15 May 2024
..to stay in the Premier League
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/05/05/six-things-promoted-ipswich-need
(Just remembered I have a Telegraph 'free trial' currently, here is the text...)
After ending their 22-year absence from the top flight, Ipswich will focus on key areas to ensure their return becomes an extended stay.
After more than two decades, Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League, confirming their promotion with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield. But what do they need to target to extend their stay in the top flight beyond next season?
Keep McKenna
Kieran McKenna has underlined his loyalty to Ipswich after back-to-back promotions, although that is unlikely to stop bigger clubs circling given his achievements in the last two-and-a-half years.
Crystal Palace looked at him before landing Oliver Glasner, while his style of football and the data-driven side of coaching is suited to Brighton, should there be a change of manager. It would be easy to see McKenna’s name discussed in the boardrooms of the clubs at the top of the Premier League.
“That sort of speculation has been around for the last two years, to be honest,” said McKenna. “I’ve shown loyalty to the club through that and I’m really pleased I’ve stuck with it and achieved what we have.
“And there’s still some big, exciting stuff to come for the football club. I’m enjoying the job and focused on this journey so much.”
Loan players
McKenna is set to ask for his loan players to stay at Portman Road after they helped them reach the top flight. Chelsea midfielder Omari Hutchinson has been a standout success in the Championship and looks ready for the Premier League. He has a season left on his deal at Stamford Bridge so a decision will be made on his long-term future this summer.
Kieffer Moore, on loan from Bournemouth, suits the way McKenna plays, while Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton is an exciting prospect. There are hopes that some could become permanent deals in the same way George Hirst turned his loan from Leicester City into a transfer last summer.
“For sure, it is a special group and [we] had success with that last year keeping the group together and bringing in someone like George after he was on loan and the way he escalated,” said McKenna. “We’ll look at all possibilities to build the squad as strong as we can. The players on loan this season have been an absolute credit to themselves and a really big part of the group.”
Shrewd transfers
McKenna has kept largely the same squad together from League One to the Premier League and it will be a huge step up for some of the players. Sweeping changes to a squad rarely leads to success, while not investing in the right players and letting others go was disastrous for Sheffield United a year ago.
Finding one or two players with Premier League experience will be important in a competitive market for those going up from the Championship.
Fitness
Ipswich players talk about the demands of McKenna in their training, with the foundations of their success built on the training pitches. They will look to match their Premier League opponents for work-rate and then allow their creative players to seize their chances.
“How demanding is he? I’ll tell you one example, we’ve just got promoted and we’re in on Tuesday!” said centre-back Luke Woolfenden.
“But put it this way, we get body-fat tested more than I’ve ever done in the entirety of my career, we run more, we work hard in the gym. Recovery is massive for us and as a group it’s probably the most professional bunch I’ve been around and it’s really helped.
“And like I said, when you work that hard it takes away the nerves and you’re not leaving things to chance.”
Home form
Portman Road created a frenzied atmosphere on Saturday when McKenna’s team sealed automatic promotion. The party will continue next season when clubs turn up in Suffolk, with every match a cup final for fans after a 22-year absence from the Premier League. Making it an intimidating place to travel will be important for survival.
“I know it’s a humongous step up for every department of the football club and will be a massive challenge to be competitive in the Premier League but they are challenges to embrace,” McKenna said.
Share the goals
McKenna has not relied on one striker to get all the goals this season, unlike other clubs such as Leicester (Jamie Vardy, 18 goals), Leeds (Crysencio Summerville, 19 goals) or Southampton (Adam Armstrong, 21 goals). In fact, not a single Ipswich player is in the top 10 list of Championship goal-scorers this season.
“Certainly if someone wants to score 25-plus we’re not going to stop them,” said McKenna. “And the boys have all done terrific to chip in with the goals but, yes, part of our culture is to be a team, as that’s what was going to help us be successful.
“It was to have different ways to score goals and to have different threats in the team. Anyone who has watched us regularly will know part of our strategy is to rotate our forwards throughout the season and through the game. So there aren’t many who play 90 minutes every week.
“But we feel like we have developed our threats and lots of different ways to score goals and that’s been reflected.” |
| Forum
Thread | Nevermind speculation on who we sign..
at 08:57 10 May 2024
Which members of the current team do you expect to be in the starting 11 come first game?
I am not considering either Hutch or Sarmiento members of the current team.
Assumes we stick with he same formation
(New Keeper)
Leif
Burgess
Axel
(New RB)
Morsy
(New DCM)
(New ATM)
(New ATM/10)
Burns
Hirst
Bench:
Either Walton or Hladky
Clarke
Woolf
Luongo
Broadhead
Chaplin
Taylor
+2 Newbies
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| Prediction | Prediction Logged by at 13:32:04
Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town prediction logged |
| Forum
Thread | The moment that won (or lost) it for us..
at 09:06 2 May 2024
Obviously we know that the result is an accumulation of performances over 46 games, but psychologically it is natural to attach significance to one moment. Once we know where we are at come Saturday afternoon, good or bad, what is the defining moment that got us there for you?
For me the winning moment would be the late goal vs Southampton.
If it all goes t!ts up, I'm blaming the reverse at Cardiff. We'd already be up if not for that extra minute. |
| Prediction | Prediction Logged by at 15:33:22
Coventry City v Ipswich Town prediction logged |
| Forum
Thread | Top pubs for watching the 'Udders game?
at 17:45 29 Apr 2024
Ipswich to Woodbridge radius ideally.
Be nice to have some atmos and avoid the lag/buffering I enjoy when viewing from home via unconventional technologies.
(Did try getting an actual ticket, alas...)
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| Forum
Thread | Another thread on our 'keeper situaiton
at 15:56 29 Apr 2024
Now in the event of promotion, do we look to upgrade out sitcks-man? Vlad is out of contract if I recall.
Who might we look at? I'm thinking someone in the same vein, assuming KM wants to stick to the same style, but better. If such does exist.
Not saying we can't stick with the two we've got exactly, it may be there are other pressing priorities, just wondering about realistic targets if we did look to upgrade. |
| | baxterbasics
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