Quick match thoughts - Ipswich 1 Hoffenheim 0 by unstableblue 3 Aug 2024 14:46
Really enjoyed that, quick bulleted thoughts

- beautiful little ground, but earlier downpour meant it was cutting up badly, and we are lucky to have got through that with no injuries
- they start their season next weekend, and recently drew away at Norwich, so it’s positive to win and keep a clean sheet and put in a performance that was positive, promising, and was superior to a Bundesliga side
- we were quite physical none more so than Delap who was in complete powerup mode. I thought Delap was initially all physicality and no shortage of pace, but he grew into the game and showed some more finesse carving some shots. We need Hirst back though and another quality striker. Delap still a bit green.
- harness was MOTM for me, composed, worked well in tight areas, looked top level. I thought Hutchison, Taylor, Morsy, and Davis stood out
- I like the new keeper, commands his box well, larger presence. And some of his passes into midfield to break the lines were superb. BUT, sometimes the short balls were too risky, and we can’t afford that in the Premier League
- Johnson looks a good level, one piece of control was excellent, but I actually preferred what I saw from Axel when he came on… pacey, good defending
- Wolfenden looked in good shape and purred at times… but I have to say Edmundson also looked a good level when he came on
- we carved out numerous chances, hitting the woodwork twice, and Taylor took our goal well, albeit it was a move that missed the intended man. Other chances came with two good ones for Chappers who played the longest with Harness. The highlight were two or three flowing moves where we saw McKenna ball in full flow - including one starting with a great nutmeg from Burns who looked fit
- Clearly Luongo is not going to be a starter and I thought Taylor gave a really good account of himself a couple of unforced errors which even Town TV’s Westlake called out, but I think Taylor needs to believe in his ability and go up a gear now, fight for the right to start
- Carr was Ok when he came in, tidy, the other two youngsters looked exactly that when they joined
- Freddie pressed pretty well, but nothing more, needs shipping out

Overall a good performance, focussed fans back on the games coming up against OGC Nice and the BIG ONE against Liverpool. I think the Liverpool scout in attendance will write up: “a well organised team with a very well structured press and some danger in transition. Hutchison is the danger man”