x

McKenna: Halfway is a Natural Point to Take Stock - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Kieran McKenna says the league table starts to take on some relevance at the halfway mark, the Blues having made an impressive start to the campaign to sit second in the Championship table, five points behind leaders Leicester and nine in front of third-placed Leeds with a game in hand on the Foxes and the Whites.

McKenna’s men have enjoyed a remarkable opening to the season becoming the first promoted club in any English division to win 10 of their first 12 matches, just one of an ever-growing list of records which are quoted on a seemingly match-by-match basis.

They have maintained last season’s form and how now won 26 of their last 30 matches in all competitions, including the on-penalties Carabao Cup victory over Reading.

McKenna has repeatedly downplayed the Blues’ league position, both this season and last, insisting no targets have been set, but admits that once a campaign reaches the midway point the league is starting to take shape.

"I think realistically, come the halfway point in the season, it's natural,” he said. "I know where we were at the halfway point last season, so I think the halfway point in the season is a natural point to take stock.

"But then, even having said that, there are lots of teams in the history of the Championship who go on to have a storming second half of the season, and there are teams who've been at the top of the Championship who go on to have a very different second half of the season. 

"Every manager's probably different, teams will be looking at it in a different way, but my belief, my experience, is that things can change very, very quickly and it's not too wise to look too much past your next performance.

"And if you can manage to do that for 46 games, which is an awful lot harder than it probably sounds, it’s a lot of concentration, if you can manage to do that, concentrate and try and find a performance in each one, then you know you'll be a pretty good team.”

What to read next:

Young Watches Son as U21s Beat Needham
Former England star and apparent Town target Ashley Young watched his son Tyler feature as a trialist for Town's U21s on Tuesday evening as they beat 10-man Needham Market 2-1 at Bloomfields in a pre-season friendly.
Young Watching Town U21s at Needham
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is watching Town’s U21s in friendly action at Needham Market with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad.
Blues Beaten By Hammers in Behind Closed Doors Friendlies
Town played two 60-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies with West Ham United at their Rush Green training ground this afternoon.
Halajko New Director of Football Operations, Chenery Appointed Academy Manager
Dmitri Halajko, previously Town’s academy director, has been appointed the new director of football operations, TWTD having revealed Gary Probert’s departure for a job at Liverpool a fortnight ago, while Ben Chenery has been named academy manager.
Town Women Sign Striker Dean
Ipswich Town Women have signed striker Rianna Dean following her Southampton exit at the end of last season.
Chaplin: Opener at Birmingham One to Look Forward To
Ipswich Town’s season opener against Birmingham City is a clash that the whole squad are looking forward to, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Fourteen Sign Contracts Ahead of WSL2 Campaign
Town have confirmed that 14 players have signed new contracts with the women’s side for the WSL2 season ahead.
U21s in Action at Needham
Town’s U21s are in friendly action against Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market at Bloomfields this evening (KO 7.45pm).
Town Women to Host Villa U21s in Friendly
Ipswich Town Women will play a friendly against WSL side Aston Villa’s U21s at the Martello Ground in Felixstowe on Sunday 17th August (KO 2pm).
Town Yet to Open Young Talks
TWTD understands Town are yet to open talks with veteran former England international Ashley Young, but there is interest.