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Thread | Changing the subject
by LA_Tractor_Boy at 16:45 15 May 2024
Sounds like there is a fair bit of work to do at Portman Road this summer.
Does anyone know if the builders have arrived yet? |
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Thread | Clarke-Harris
by yorkshireblue at 16:15 15 May 2024
Signed at Rotherham -
I know he’s played there before, but a bit surprised if I’m honest. Feel he would have wanted to test himself at a higher level - saw him as a good fit at someone like Derby. |
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Thread | I have a new theory ......
by Keno at 15:44 15 May 2024
Phil in a attempt to make sure loads of people keeping posting on TWTD now our season as ended got a bloke who looks like Kieran to go to Villa Park the other night and has now started a rumour he's talking to Man U.
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Thread | Telegraph: Six things Ipswich need to do..
by baxterbasics 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.” |
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Thread | Mckenna- man utd link
by Stu_boy at 14:52 15 May 2024
Perhaps i'm reading too much into this, seems a bit of a coincidence that he was spotted with southgate (also linked to man utd) at villa, then days later is linked to the utd job. Could it be, that southgate just wanted to provide a gentle warning to Mr Mckenna not to go for the utd job otherwise he would set hollywood hardman tom hanks onto him and get utd legend keane to knock on his door when he least expects it |
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Thread | I just want to check
by Cheltenham_Blue at 14:40 15 May 2024
Everyone understands that people in football, especially managers, all tend to know each other and sit next to each other because of that, don't they?
Because on here you'd think there was a wide ranging conspiracy to get McKenna out of here. |
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Thread | What If?
by Jrm_72 at 12:36 15 May 2024
This KmC to Man Utd talk is 2 +2 =5?
What if McKenna met with Southgate on Monday along the lines of 'Im taking over at Man U after the Euros, do you fancy the England job?'
Whats more perfect for that job than a master tactician and man manager adept at bringing on young talent?
Plausible?! |
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Thread | Squad we finished the season with & a prediction beyond 30th June...
by IPSWICHFANITFC at 10:19 15 May 2024
Squad we finished the season with:
Walton Slicker Hladky
Clarke Davis Ball Tuanzebe Humphreys Williams*
Edmundson Woolfenden Burgess
Morsy Taylor Luongo Travis
Burns Chaplin Harness Jackson Omari Sarmiento Broadhead
Al-Hamadi Moore Hirst
*Unsure if Williams was actually registered for the second half of the season.
Contracted beyond the 30th June:
Walton* Slicker
Clarke Davis Tuanzebe*
Edmundson Woolfenden Burgess* Baggott
Morsy Taylor Luongo Humphreys
Burns Chaplin Harness Broadhead
Ladapo, Al-Hamadi Hirst
*Club hold the option to trigger an extra year which I expect them to do so.
With options taken up, leaves a squad number of 20 (or 21 if Hladky signs a new deal).
And a little prediction for the retained list and movements in the summer...
Released: Ball, Donacien, Aluko, Jackson, Camara, Aluko (retired)
Back to parent club: Williams (Man Utd), Travis (Blackburn), Omari (Chelsea – but we will try to re-sign either permanently or on loan), Sarmiento (Brighton), Moore (Bournemouth)
Available for loan: Slicker (unless he needs to be registered?), Baggott, Humphreys, Al-Hamadi (be really good for him to get regular football again) and El Mizouni
Available for transfer: Walton, Ladapo, Harness, Ahadme and I think Edmundson will have strong Championship interest and could look for regular game time.
So possibly 6 let go and 8-10 loaned out or moved on permanently leaving us looking at needing a minimum of 10 new signings for me. |
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Thread | Good thread on MUFCs redcafe forum
by textbackup at 10:00 15 May 2024
RE McKenna.
(Actual fans as opposed to the drips on Twitter or Facebook pages)
Cut to the point, from the posts I’d say 50% would take him now, 50% saying see how he goes over next year or two. Didn’t see anyone saying no.
I really hope we have him for atleast the coming season, If he gets us anywhere from 10th - 16th I’d say he’s more than proved his worth in the PL, given us some amazing memories, and wave him off with a tear.
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Thread | This....
by Ansty at 09:41 15 May 2024
ttps://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/04/ipswich-huddersfield-championship-premier-league-match-report |
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