Blog written by DanLyles
Published: 2nd October 2026 10:52
When 11 fresh signings accompany a new manager through the door in a single summer, most clubs would anticipate a period of adjustment. So before a ball was kicked in anger, the vast majority of our fanbase would have snatched at six points from the opening five league fixtures, which included three of last season's top-seven sides.
Gary O’Neil entered the fray with a reputation for pragmatism and flexibility. Thus far he seems more akin to Joe Royle than Mick McCarthy, throwing caution to the wind in search of three points.
Just as O’Neil has looked to roll the dice, his expensively assembled squad has shown at least six different sides to its evolving personality.
Re-establishing a lead against Sunderland was followed by squandering an advantage and outright capitulation at Old Trafford. Being put to bed in nine minutes by Liverpool preceded two comebacks at Crystal Palace.
Town stayed in the game away at Everton but drew a blank, despite courageously playing two up front when reduced to 10 men on the banks of the Mersey.
Forming bonds and molecular structures within a side and the wider squad can take time. However, the new manager can draw upon some constants from the previous regime.
Christian Walton is back in goal. Club captain Dara O’Shea continues to bring leadership to the backline. Leif Davis looks far more proficient at Premier League level this time around. Ditto Jack Clarke, who has already notched a goal and two assists in all competitions.
The anticipated mid-to-low block and rapid counter-attacks, which have proved so successful for Hull City, are yet to feature quite as heavily for Ipswich as some might have expected.
Kieran McKenna transitioned towards a more controlled and cautious approach last season, presumably in preparation for the Premier League. However, O’Neil cited a more expansive style during his time at Strasbourg and a lavish transfer window spend seems to have emboldened him in Suffolk.
The club have imported a significant Latin American influence and the Mexican stand-off mentality has thus far seen Town accumulate the desired 1.2 points per game. High pressing and taking the game to the opposition have been hallmarks of a cavalier 4-2-3-1 formation, not too dissimilar to McKenna’s hybrid tactics of old. Indeed, as Davis joins the attack, Town menacingly morph into more of a 3-2-4-1.
The excessively long international break will give O’Neil an opportunity to take stock and reflect upon his start as Ipswich Town manager. Will he perceive going ‘life and death’ against Premier League opponents, with Davis joined by three ball carriers behind the main striker, a sustainable strategy for an entire season?
Are Town perhaps better suited to counter-attacking? Remaining in a tighter block to avoid going behind so early could prevent the team from having a proverbial mountain to climb. Blunting the attack would be considered borderline blasphemy to some, but conceding goals at a rate of more than two per-game is not conducive to survival either.
This average is skewed somewhat by the five conceded at Old Trafford, where Michael Carrick’s side were helped by Harry Maguire’s hands and a slippery surface. However, a far from vintage Manchester United XI picked off a naive Ipswich high line at times. Davis rescued Town from a similar situation on the opening day.
Against Liverpool, the midfield and defence looked all at sea for the two goals. Blame can also be attributed to Kjell Scherpen’s poor performance between the sticks. Equally, credit should be given to the sublimely synchronised Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo.
At Selhurst Park, Davis scored, assisted and played an integral part in Town’s third. Yet both of Crystal Palace’s goals came from shots more to the left side of our defence.
O’Neil is still experimenting but has already shown his teeth by introducing Walton after just four games. In successive Premier League seasons now, Town have seemingly gambled on signing goalkeepers with potentially huge upsides but no guarantees of fulfilling the fundamentals of the role.
Ivorian Abdoul Ouattara has a high ceiling himself, especially as a right-back. The athletic summer signing from Strasbourg, who replaced a shoe-horned O’Shea at Everton, dealt admirably with the enigmatic Jack Grealish and enhanced the team’s ability to play progressively out of defence.
With Premier League-proven Issa Diop traditionally performing better on the right side of a centre-back pairing, Ireland captain O’Shea adapted admirably to an unfamiliar role to the left of the Morocco international.
Jacob Greaves provides more balance as a left-footed ball playing centre-back, but has frustratingly been just a fraction too slow when reacting to danger at times. Could they all play together in a back three at some point, unleashing Ouattara and Davis as bona fide wing-backs?
A simple tweak would be the introduction of a more natural number six in midfield. Florentino Luis swapped Benfica for Burnley last summer and has had a season to acclimatise to the Premier League. He was dubbed ‘the octopus’ in Lisbon due to his ability to wrap his legs around opponents when making seemingly impossible tackles.
The Portuguese is back to full fitness and regularly ranked in the top percentiles for both defensive duties and long range passing metrics, not only in the Premier League but when representing Benfica against Europe’s elite.
Sasa Lukic and Exequiel Palacios profile somewhere between a number six and a number eight. Both are physical, defensively diligent but would benefit from partnering an athletic destroyer, capable of covering more ground.
Addressing the balance of the midfield and emulating the crucial role traditionally undertaken by Massimo Luongo (covering the space vacated by Davis when he joins the attack), would go some way to underpinning the teams defensive foundations, without compromising its cutting edge.
The team could be fortified further by fielding feisty trio Florentino, Lukic and Palacios in central midfield together. This would most likely be utilised against the strongest of opponents and see Julio Enciso re-deployed at the expense of Clarke, Jaden Philogene or Daizen Maeda. Which is problematic, given the surplus of talent in this department. That said, Maeda’s raw pace and energy could be put to the test in a right-sided role as early as Fulham at home.
Asking Enciso to enhance a nuanced Nathan Broadhead role (drifting from the left inside of the overlapping Davis) could afford the Paraguayan more time and space to flourish, juxtaposed with his central starting berth. Palacios would be liberated to roam from deep, coordinating the attack and joining Davis, Enciso and Abdul Fatawu as a four-dimensional threat behind the central striker.
The Argentinian played alongside a more defensive-minded player in a double pivot when Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title. However, Xabi Alonso started to encourage the World Cup winner to influence the game further forward the following season. His ability to play line-breaking passes could be devastating in more advanced areas of the pitch.
A position that is unlikely to be altered, other than through suspension, is that of Fatawu’s on the right side of the attack. The Ghana international is inconsistent like most wingers, but has used his extraordinary acceleration alongside some trickery to good effect when cutting in from the right.
The signing from Leicester City ranks highly amongst his Premier League peers for chances created, successful crosses, dribbles and defensive contributions. You sense he will learn from his booking for simulation and start finishing some fantastic approach play with a more potent end-product.
Getting amongst the goals has not been an issue for our two new strikers. Zian Flemming scored 11 Premier League goals in 29 appearances playing for a relegated side last season and was quick to open his account for Ipswich. The Dutchman scored the winner against Crystal Palace in only his second cameo appearance and then exhibited some exceptional hold-up play against Arsenal in the cup a few days later.
Flemming is dovetailing 90 minutes with Ipswich’s record signing, Emersonn. The Brazilian was signed from Toulouse for £24m plus add-ons, despite a limited CV in terms of goalscoring during his spells in Turkey and France.
However, his two goals and an assist have almost been sideshows to displays in which he has showcased physicality, mobility and at times, a deft touch. It is still early days, but kudos to the recruitment team for looking past the obvious statistics.
A collection of largely astute signings are attacking this league without fear or compromise. Indeed, when a manager possesses the ammunition to hurt most teams at this level then it must be tempting to target all three points, even when it potentially leaves their side vulnerable to a humbling.
Let us not forget how those early draws, accompanied by inevitable defeats, were almost gravitational in preventing us moving up the Premier League table two years ago. Many of those single points could have been translated to three by stronger ‘finishers’, which O’Neil now has at his disposal.
Florentino might help sheriff the defence but there is no sign of tumbleweed in this version of Town, where I envisage O’Neil’s rabble of entertainers being embroiled in Spaghetti Western-style shootouts for the foreseeable future.