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Sam Morsy (31) - Turns 32 at start of the season, spent most of his career at top of L1 or bottom end of Champ but is undoubtedly our best midfielder. His game seems to have gone to another level under McKenna, but what role will he find when he isn't the best player on the pitch every week?
Mass Luongo (30) - Turns 31 at start of season, as above really with level he has played at, but also has had serious injury issues.
Those 2 look far and away above the rest of our midfielders, but think at their age and with their careers to date, there must be serious questions asked about stepping up.
Lee Evans (28) - Is 29 before the season starts, for me he lacks the athletic ability in his game to play in the Championship, and when he has found himself at that level previously hasn't impressed.
Dom Ball (27) - Is 28 before season starts, the much maligned on here Andre Dozzell played more minutes in Championship than Ball for QPR in his last season there - his 3 seasons there saw the minute equivalent of 27 games, 24 games and then 14 games.
Pan Camara (26) - Relatively fast rise through non league and then L2, but really it's one good season in L1, which has been followed up by around 15 months of being unfit which is going to be hard to recover from and play a lot without issues.
Youngsters
Idris El Mizouni (22) - 23 at start of the season, of the back of a brilliant loan spell, but a big jump from L2 to the Championship and unless he comes in and blows socks off McK in pre season then he is likely to be elsewhere next season either permanently or on loan
Cameron Humphreys (19) - Fantastic prospect, and one I expect to see kept around the squad next season despite talk of a loan spell but won't be one who can play week in-week out in the midfield
We play a very dominant form of football, and that often relies on having players who are better than their direct competitors - I worry looking at that midfield that Morsy may be the only one who can step up and do that (and that is far from guaranteed) with potential for Camara to do so (but that is no more than hope rather than expectation).
Morsy aside though, I wouldn't be worried if we lost all our other senior midfielders as they all feel like squad options who can be relied on in specific situations and for a dozen or so games.
The step up is going to be huge, and think we need serious investment there and can see us going out and spending big fees on a couple of options there. Wouldn't surprise me if we ended up something like:
1 MEGA SIGNING 2 Morsy 3 Jack Taylor or similar 4 Luongo 5 Humphreys
I see you have said mega signing, do you expect us to spend big in a position we already have a lot of numbers in? What would you class as a mega signing?
I can see us spending money but I don’t know if it will be the amount of money people think we will spend, especially as we now have FFP rules to abide by.
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Central midfield.... on 17:21 - Jun 5 with 3061 views
Last year we had 25 senior pros, plus Harry Clarke, Tyreece John-Jules, Cameron Humphreys who all played a part - we don't have the option to bring in younger loan players to pad out squad and McKenna seems to like a big one.
Humphreys, and maybe even Baggott, may need to stay here so that McKenna has enough players for next season in the main group
On the squad size I'm sure when he first came in he talked about wanting a smaller group of players. Then in the first half of this season we got stung with loads of injuries and ended up with a massive squad after reinforcing in January and some of the 'season ending injuries' making miraculous recoveries.
Without the Pizza Cup and FA Cup Rounds 1 & 2 it's going to much harder to keep a big squad happy and match fit.
Central midfield.... on 17:11 - Jun 5 by NthQldITFC
I think I can see where you're coming from with all of those individual assessments (looking at a potential top four team with those, I would say), but I presume you wouldn't want all of those changes made this summer, for the sake of unity and continuation?
You've got 4 unlikely/no chance and 3 probables (which might equate to 1 out?), so 4/5 changes would be too much I would think.
I'd be happy with LCB, CM and No 9. additions as pretty much nailed on starters, so 3 significant changes, with the potential for another 2 or 3 in the winter. Not to say that other additions now as punts/competition would be a problem.
Having said that, I'm also wondering whether Burns' pace will be enough of a weapon down that side, and maybe we need a Burns/Broadhead hybrid. So basically, I'm now agreeing with you! But cautious of too much change, although suspect that McKenna can handle that unity/continuity thing with aplomb anyway.
I guess if someone said we’d integrate 4 starters into team in Jan window all of us wouldn’t have considered it necessary but it was in the end - and arguably it’s easier to integrate new players in a summer window
I agree they aren't comparable, but Skuse and dynamic in the same sentence made me chuckle.
The insults of Skuse I find weird.
At age 28-32 he was a top Championship player. He played in a very different sort of team, alongside many journeymen midfielders so rarely had quality alongside him, and was excellent at breaking up play, keeping the ball, and highly rated. Of our current team Ball is the nearest comparison, though Skuse was much better.
Then he aged, and in midfield that is exposed.
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Post of the week (on a Monday?!) - some great points on a key topic on 19:18 - Jun 5 with 2867 views
Really agree with your observations, points, and, your conclusion - that it’s a big step up that needs investment.
I also think not only are Morsy and Luongo ageing, but that Ipswich’s game plan relies on them dominating and being better than the opposition.
On the positive I do think that Morsy is in his prime, and this Town set-up he can have his best spell in the championship.
But I think the addition of a BIG (maybe not MEGA) centre midfield is key to our season… is that going to be holding? Or will Morsy revert, I’m not sure. Someone with box to box pace, with tacking feel like key criteria!!
I do think Ball and Evans may move on. They both have great attributes. But we’re playing Leeds, Sunderland, Southampton, Leeds, Luton now!!!
I agree Humphreys could stay.
And like a stick record I do think El Miz could stake a claim - this view is influenced by weekly texts from Orient mates waxing lyrical, and his precious OK form in his brief championship cameos.
Anyway my ramblings added to the OPs original quality musings
At age 28-32 he was a top Championship player. He played in a very different sort of team, alongside many journeymen midfielders so rarely had quality alongside him, and was excellent at breaking up play, keeping the ball, and highly rated. Of our current team Ball is the nearest comparison, though Skuse was much better.
Then he aged, and in midfield that is exposed.
I liked Skuse a lot, decent midfielder and capable of pinging balls around when asked, though the Ipswich teams he played in weren't set up to take advantage of that anyway, maybe.
But "dynamic" isn't a word I'd use to describe him, not in Mick's team for sure.
At age 28-32 he was a top Championship player. He played in a very different sort of team, alongside many journeymen midfielders so rarely had quality alongside him, and was excellent at breaking up play, keeping the ball, and highly rated. Of our current team Ball is the nearest comparison, though Skuse was much better.
Then he aged, and in midfield that is exposed.
Agree with him being very good at breaking up play and intercepting... but keeping the ball? No.... his first instinct was to offload and it was usually backwards and sideways. Top pro who was thought of highly by all the managers.... but God I found him frustrating when we needed to get us the field quickly. Hope he does well at Bury and glad he's broke free from Chambers. Could be a top manager.
Post of the week (on a Monday?!) - some great points on a key topic on 19:18 - Jun 5 by unstableblue
Really agree with your observations, points, and, your conclusion - that it’s a big step up that needs investment.
I also think not only are Morsy and Luongo ageing, but that Ipswich’s game plan relies on them dominating and being better than the opposition.
On the positive I do think that Morsy is in his prime, and this Town set-up he can have his best spell in the championship.
But I think the addition of a BIG (maybe not MEGA) centre midfield is key to our season… is that going to be holding? Or will Morsy revert, I’m not sure. Someone with box to box pace, with tacking feel like key criteria!!
I do think Ball and Evans may move on. They both have great attributes. But we’re playing Leeds, Sunderland, Southampton, Leeds, Luton now!!!
I agree Humphreys could stay.
And like a stick record I do think El Miz could stake a claim - this view is influenced by weekly texts from Orient mates waxing lyrical, and his precious OK form in his brief championship cameos.
Anyway my ramblings added to the OPs original quality musings
Point of order , we’re not playing Luton but I agree with everything else
Of the unlikely lads they are all decent and all did well for us last season and would like to think all play parts next season as squad players.
If you look at first XI
Walton Clarke Woolfie New LCB David
Morsy New CM
New RW Chaplin Broadhead
New CF
Bench
Hladky (or new GK) Donacien Luongo Burns New AMC Edwards New CF
Other squad cover
Hayes Edmundson Burgess Leigh Ball Evans Camara Humphreys Jackson Harness Aluko Ladapo
Leaves us looking at quite a few outs as there’s just too many players as can only carry 7 + Humphreys in the other squad cover and that’s excluding the obvious Ndaba, Harper, Pigott and maybe debatable El Miz. I’ve possibly been generous to Edwards but I’ve a soft spot for him!
4 of the 11 other squad players would have to be either not registered or exited in some shape or form.
So by that reckoning it’s 4 starters to sign and 2-3 squad players (depending on Hladky) - might be handy if some are u21’s.
Re the keeper thing - saw Frimley’s thoughts on Walton. Suspect it’s probably ideal if Hladky does another year as 2nd choice keepers are a tough call to sign but if he goes i wouldn’t be totally surprised if we signed someone to put real pressure on Walton/possibly even take his place. Likes of Mike Salmon etc are all well and good until they morph from sub (unused) and then they start to be not funny at all!
Of the unlikely lads they are all decent and all did well for us last season and would like to think all play parts next season as squad players.
If you look at first XI
Walton Clarke Woolfie New LCB David
Morsy New CM
New RW Chaplin Broadhead
New CF
Bench
Hladky (or new GK) Donacien Luongo Burns New AMC Edwards New CF
Other squad cover
Hayes Edmundson Burgess Leigh Ball Evans Camara Humphreys Jackson Harness Aluko Ladapo
Leaves us looking at quite a few outs as there’s just too many players as can only carry 7 + Humphreys in the other squad cover and that’s excluding the obvious Ndaba, Harper, Pigott and maybe debatable El Miz. I’ve possibly been generous to Edwards but I’ve a soft spot for him!
4 of the 11 other squad players would have to be either not registered or exited in some shape or form.
So by that reckoning it’s 4 starters to sign and 2-3 squad players (depending on Hladky) - might be handy if some are u21’s.
Re the keeper thing - saw Frimley’s thoughts on Walton. Suspect it’s probably ideal if Hladky does another year as 2nd choice keepers are a tough call to sign but if he goes i wouldn’t be totally surprised if we signed someone to put real pressure on Walton/possibly even take his place. Likes of Mike Salmon etc are all well and good until they morph from sub (unused) and then they start to be not funny at all!
If ever I make the mistake of thinking I know the likely career trajectory of a player I just think Damien Delaney and give up.
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
I think (maybe it’s more hope) Humphreys could break through next year.
He’ll be 20, easily old enough to play regularly, and will have had a proper 4+ month break as he barely played after February. And he may well have appropriately ‘bulked up’ over the summer, here’s hoping.
He could play half the games, maybe break into England U21s. He has all the quality.
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Central midfield.... on 21:55 - Jun 5 with 2489 views
Central midfield.... on 17:11 - Jun 5 by NthQldITFC
I think I can see where you're coming from with all of those individual assessments (looking at a potential top four team with those, I would say), but I presume you wouldn't want all of those changes made this summer, for the sake of unity and continuation?
You've got 4 unlikely/no chance and 3 probables (which might equate to 1 out?), so 4/5 changes would be too much I would think.
I'd be happy with LCB, CM and No 9. additions as pretty much nailed on starters, so 3 significant changes, with the potential for another 2 or 3 in the winter. Not to say that other additions now as punts/competition would be a problem.
Having said that, I'm also wondering whether Burns' pace will be enough of a weapon down that side, and maybe we need a Burns/Broadhead hybrid. So basically, I'm now agreeing with you! But cautious of too much change, although suspect that McKenna can handle that unity/continuity thing with aplomb anyway.
These are my sentiments too. Balance the changes needed with new players and transition over course of season. I don’t see us buying and funding the potentially 5-6 players needed to go after the title, that kind of team will be created and developed over 1-3 years from here. If they do invest up front I will be very surprised, the cost of failure is very high and number of failures are very numerous.
I guess if someone said we’d integrate 4 starters into team in Jan window all of us wouldn’t have considered it necessary but it was in the end - and arguably it’s easier to integrate new players in a summer window
In theory, integrating new players should be easier before the season starts. Doesn’t always work out like that. The danger is that a team moving up a division, integrating a few new players and perhaps a tweaked approach/systems has some early defeats and setbacks that limit the season.
Agree with the OP that midfield is key and that we need a couple of significant signings to increase the athleticism and options within the team. Will we retain playing with two 10s or use more of an 8 — the role that McK mentioned for Camara and that Jack Taylor has played? The use of Burns and Clarke will also change I imagine.
I hope the club has looked at lessons learned from last summer. We ended up short of a striker and midfielder partly because of the long running chase for Hirst and (I assume) Taylor. The Jan signings were needed urgently and worked and well. Unlikely it can be repeated again with that success.
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Central midfield.... on 23:21 - Jun 5 with 2359 views
Always interesting to read your thoughts Joe. Where I'm less sure is the separation you make between Morsy and Luongo. If injury background and squad hierarchy are shelved for a bit, do you see one player as being clearly better than the other?
Luongo was regarded in the highest terms by Holloway at QPR before promotion-chasing Wednesday bought him. Multiple injuries later and he's never proven himself a top Championship midfielder, but his back catalogue was impressive enough for Middlesbrough to sign him when injured.
Morsy impressed in the bottom third for Wigan before promotion-chasing Middlesbrough bought him. They ultimately decided he wasn't starting choice and he moved to a level beneath him. He's also never proven himself a top Championship midfielder, but both have at least delivered performances at this level that got them noticed.
Fast-forward to present day and I'm not sure I've seen one significantly outshine the other. If splitting hairs I'd nudge Luongo ahead for progressive passing and attacking threat, then Morsy a smidge for tempo and mobility (despite the song).
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Central midfield.... on 06:27 - Jun 6 with 2237 views
Depressing stuff. The franchise has just been promoted at a canter, being head and shoulders above everybody for the last quarter of the season - and suddenly one of the strongest parts of the team may not be good enough. You couldn’t make it up - only you just did
Trouble is Evans has proven not to be able to play a full season because of injuries and camera never fit,
Until he came to us Camara had a good injury record. It looks like they tried to take a short term fix to his injury which didn't work and they might have done better doing the more invasive surgery earlier on.
No reason he can't have an injury free season now. Evans seems to be a different case as he has a longer term track record of similiar injuries.
Central midfield.... on 07:58 - Jun 6 by SheffordBlue
Until he came to us Camara had a good injury record. It looks like they tried to take a short term fix to his injury which didn't work and they might have done better doing the more invasive surgery earlier on.
No reason he can't have an injury free season now. Evans seems to be a different case as he has a longer term track record of similiar injuries.
I'm hoping this guy is a "surprise" this season - he seems to breaks the lines with ease and has a good finish ...for the most
Central midfield.... on 07:58 - Jun 6 by SheffordBlue
Until he came to us Camara had a good injury record. It looks like they tried to take a short term fix to his injury which didn't work and they might have done better doing the more invasive surgery earlier on.
No reason he can't have an injury free season now. Evans seems to be a different case as he has a longer term track record of similiar injuries.
This is all true but he's now missed over a year of football because of injury and that can be very tough to come back from. Players with previously unblemished injury records often become much more prone to injuries after a first major injury of this nature and some don't ever make it fully back to their previous level at all. Of course there are also plenty of success stories and we all hope Camara will be one of them, just very hard to know at this stage where he will be at given the length of his lay off.
I think (maybe it’s more hope) Humphreys could break through next year.
He’ll be 20, easily old enough to play regularly, and will have had a proper 4+ month break as he barely played after February. And he may well have appropriately ‘bulked up’ over the summer, here’s hoping.
He could play half the games, maybe break into England U21s. He has all the quality.
But is Cam really a central midfielder? My uneducated view is that his best work has been further up the pitch and I would not be astonished to see him more in the Chaplin role going forwards (when he gets on).
The beauty is that no-one needs to make a choice about him because of his age and therefore position in the squad, but would be interested in others' views on this.
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