x

McKenna: That We've Been Ahead in So Many Games is a Big Positive - Ipswich Town News

Manager Kieran McKenna has been reflecting on the Blues dropping 27 points from winning positions over the course of the Premier League season, more than any other side.

Twelve of those points were dropped in home games and a further 15 on their travels, while Town would be 15th in a table based on first halves alone on 37 points.

"It's both a stat that you can take, not pride in because we're not in a situation to take pride in it, but I think it's a reflection of a lot of good work.

"The fact that the way we've started games, our first-half performances, our first-half results very often have been at a really high level. In terms of a half-time league table I know where we're at on that and we're in a position that we'd be delighted with. I think that reflects a lot of good work.

"The fact that we haven't been able to win as many games as we would have liked and a lot of times in the games that we've had the lead and we haven't been able to hold on to the lead, is one area where the gap shows up the most.

"Every challenge you have is multifaceted, but a lot of them come down to the financial gap in the Premier League, to the jump that we've had and if other teams have a bench full of international calibre players, that certainly makes it a challenge. 

"If the physicality needed from us to compete in the game, to get a lead, to be in a good position in the game is of the level that it is, then you're going to likely be more tired than teams and players who aren't working as hard as you in that part of the game, or have played at the level for a lot longer.

"And then, the fact that you've got a team that haven't played together pretty much every week is a team that is still growing and learning into each other.

"If you make a jump like we did, then there's a necessity, in my opinion, in order to be successful, you're going to have to make a lot of changes to the squad, which means that you don't have the familiarity of Arsenal last week and you've got [Martin] Odegaard, Ben White, [Bukayo] Saka, who are four or five seasons down the right wing together, playing against a left wing that's probably never played together or won't have played together more than a handful of times.

"So there's the experience of playing together and then, of course, there's the experience of the Premier League, which is the challenge of playing at the level and all those things. But I think that is more tied to a lot of other challenges that you have.

"As I've said, there's no quick or easy answer to any problem that you'll have as a team in our position or we already would have found it. The fact that we've been ahead very, very often and competed in so many games is a big, big positive or a reflection of a lot of positive work.

"The fact that we haven't held on to enough of those results is, of course, a big disappointment and in certain areas I'm sure we could do better as a club. I think there's certain areas of that are just the inevitability of the challenge that we faced.”

What to read next:

Town Quintet Win Caps as Ireland Stage Second-Half Comeback
Dara O’Shea and Sammie Szmodics started and Jack Taylor, Chieo Ogbene and Kasey McAteer came off the bench as the Republic of Ireland came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with 10-man Hungary in their opening World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium this evening.
Town Women Defeated By Saints in WSL2 Opener
Ipswich Town Women had a chastening first experience of life in the Barclays WSL2, losing 4-0 to Southampton Women in front of a near-4,000 crowd at St Mary’s Stadium on the south coast.
Five Could Win Ireland Caps
Blues quintet Dara O’Shea, Jack Taylor, Sammie Szmodics, Kasey McAteer and Chieo Ogbene could all add to the international caps when the Republic of Ireland face Hungary in their opening World Cup qualifier against Hungary at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin this evening (Amazon Prime, KO 7.45pm).
Hirst On as Sub to Add to Scotland Caps
Striker George Hirst won his fifth full cap from the bench as Scotland drew 0-0 with Denmark in Copenhagen in their opening World Cup qualifier.
McKenna: International Recruitment Was an Area We Knew We Needed to Improve
Blues boss Kieran McKenna has spoken about the club setting its sights further afield when it came to recruitment this summer having previously concentrated on the domestic market.
McKenna: Busy and Emotional Last Week
Manager Kieran McKenna says it was a busy and emotional last week of the transfer window with the Blues signing four players and seeing key men from the back-to-back promotion side, Luke Woolfenden and Conor Chaplin, moving on.
Ashton: Window Was Tough
Blues CEO and chairman Mark Ashton admits it’s been a tough transfer window and he’s glad that it’s now shut.
Boswell: It's About Establishing Ourselves and Being Really Competitive
Ipswich Town Women will aim to be competitive and exciting to watch ahead of their maiden season in WSL 2, according to captain Maria Boswell.
Youngster Bonwick Signs First Pro Deal
Ipswich Town Women’s youngster Kaci-Jai Bonwick has signed her first professional deal with the club.
Ogbene: Nine Months Out Injured Was Life-Changing
Blues on-loan winger Chieo Ogbene says his outlook on life has been change for the better by his nine months on the sidelines having ruptured his achilles.