| Nice opening in The Athletic… 12:47 - Apr 21 with 5893 views | Chris_ITFC |
“Declan Rice looked over his shoulder; he was wondering what the noise was. It was about a minute after the final whistle, players were milling in the middle of the pitch, Kieran McKenna and Mikel Arteta had been to the officials to shake hands. From there, McKenna moved to the stand named after Sir Bobby Robson and began to salute the many fans still in the stadium.
This had been a sobering 90 minutes for Ipswich Town, a 20th defeat in 33 games, an occasion when the gulf between players bound for a Champions League semi-final and those who rose from League One, and who will soon be back in the Championship, was glaring.
Four-nil did not flatter Arsenal, who, if they needed to score eight, probably could have. Even before Ipswich went down to 10 men in the 32nd minute — Leif Davis shown a straight red card for a feckless foul on Bukayo Saka — Arsenal were 2-0 ahead. Their dominance was complete and almost nonchalant. Ipswich had 25 per cent possession by the end, which was better than the 5 per cent after the first seven minutes.
So it was a long day. And Ipswich’s relegation will surely be confirmed on Saturday away at Newcastle United.
And yet the noise stirring Rice was the sound of Portman Road applauding. The recipients of the applause were McKenna and his players.
Here was a beaten team, all but relegated, with Arsenal fans taunting: “We’ll never play here again,” in the air.
But the collective message was one of unity. Any dissent was inaudible. There are stickers on lampposts in town with McKenna’s name in the shape of certain golden arches, and there seems to be no dilution of Suffolk belief in the 38-year-old Northern Irishman.”
Full article, “What next for Kieran McKenna?”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6291046/2025/04/21/kieran-mckenna-ipswich-releg |  | | |  |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:01 - Apr 21 with 4915 views | Linners |
It's easy to be cynical about this - 'happy clappers' etc. - but I *love* this about us and we have to remember this is our super-power right now. It probably doesn't last much beyond the end of this season because there will be a lot of expectation next season but for now it's so important we hold ourselves together. |  | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:28 - Apr 21 with 4733 views | burnbudgiesburn |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:01 - Apr 21 by Linners |
It's easy to be cynical about this - 'happy clappers' etc. - but I *love* this about us and we have to remember this is our super-power right now. It probably doesn't last much beyond the end of this season because there will be a lot of expectation next season but for now it's so important we hold ourselves together. |
It's also just realism from 95% of fans about where we are, where we've been and the difficulty in competing on an even level with current resources/limitations. Plus it's obvious the players are giving it all they can, they've just been outlclassed in a few games.
I like to think most of us can see the bigger picture as well. |  | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:31 - Apr 21 with 4684 views | textbackup |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:01 - Apr 21 by Linners |
It's easy to be cynical about this - 'happy clappers' etc. - but I *love* this about us and we have to remember this is our super-power right now. It probably doesn't last much beyond the end of this season because there will be a lot of expectation next season but for now it's so important we hold ourselves together. |
Spot on.
My worry is we are slow out the blocks next season, because things would go downhill quickly |  |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:38 - Apr 21 with 4668 views | bsw72 |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:01 - Apr 21 by Linners |
It's easy to be cynical about this - 'happy clappers' etc. - but I *love* this about us and we have to remember this is our super-power right now. It probably doesn't last much beyond the end of this season because there will be a lot of expectation next season but for now it's so important we hold ourselves together. |
Going to be a very different championship season than 23-24, we are having to bounce back from relegation and lacking confidence rather than riding high on the back of an extraordinary League one campaign.
The start in August has got to be fast and confident, and this will be a big measure of McKenna’s ability. [Post edited 21 Apr 13:38]
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:50 - Apr 21 with 4563 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:38 - Apr 21 by bsw72 |
Going to be a very different championship season than 23-24, we are having to bounce back from relegation and lacking confidence rather than riding high on the back of an extraordinary League one campaign.
The start in August has got to be fast and confident, and this will be a big measure of McKenna’s ability. [Post edited 21 Apr 13:38]
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Are we going to be lacking confidence? In reality?
Not sure I would be as a player. Probably disheartened at just how good the premier league players were against me, but, as we proved against Coventry, the championship is, and will seem, a completely different ball game.
We could be playing Wycombe, Stockport, Preston, Oxford, Hull, Millwall, to name a few. That's not to disrespect them or underestimate them, but I don't think losing to England internationals, champions league regulars, and players bought for tens of millions of pounds shouldn't knock your confidence against clubs like them. |  | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 14:08 - Apr 21 with 4438 views | bsw72 |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:50 - Apr 21 by Axeldalai_lama |
Are we going to be lacking confidence? In reality?
Not sure I would be as a player. Probably disheartened at just how good the premier league players were against me, but, as we proved against Coventry, the championship is, and will seem, a completely different ball game.
We could be playing Wycombe, Stockport, Preston, Oxford, Hull, Millwall, to name a few. That's not to disrespect them or underestimate them, but I don't think losing to England internationals, champions league regulars, and players bought for tens of millions of pounds shouldn't knock your confidence against clubs like them. |
Don’t underestimate the mental damage a relegation can cause.
A team dropping from the Premier League often starts the season low on confidence, dealing with pressure and changes to their squad. Meanwhile, a team coming up from League One usually feels confident and united after a promotion season. That can mean the relegated team might take time to settle. | | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 14:30 - Apr 21 with 4279 views | TractorWood |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:31 - Apr 21 by textbackup |
Spot on.
My worry is we are slow out the blocks next season, because things would go downhill quickly |
Agree. If we are mid table after a dozen games, the real challenge will dawn on us. We made a meal of getting out of league one. This task is harder imo.
If we get some legs in midfield amd keep McK it should be achievable. |  |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 14:33 - Apr 21 with 4255 views | billlm |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:31 - Apr 21 by textbackup |
Spot on.
My worry is we are slow out the blocks next season, because things would go downhill quickly |
We have to be on it wherever our first game is, momentum and confidence is everything, |  | | |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 14:34 - Apr 21 with 4252 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 14:08 - Apr 21 by bsw72 |
Don’t underestimate the mental damage a relegation can cause.
A team dropping from the Premier League often starts the season low on confidence, dealing with pressure and changes to their squad. Meanwhile, a team coming up from League One usually feels confident and united after a promotion season. That can mean the relegated team might take time to settle. |
Point taken, but the article this post is talking about shows that we're not necessarily a traditional relegation case, absolutely devastated to be dropping down, fans livid and screaming for heads. But it will undoubtedly be a blow and will need us to get off to a decent start and remember how good we can be. | | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 15:33 - Apr 21 with 4032 views | Pinewoodblue |
Fans stayed to the end, not something you see at most grounds when your team has lost 7 home league games in a row. |  |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 16:13 - Apr 21 with 3858 views | RegencyBlue |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:01 - Apr 21 by Linners |
It's easy to be cynical about this - 'happy clappers' etc. - but I *love* this about us and we have to remember this is our super-power right now. It probably doesn't last much beyond the end of this season because there will be a lot of expectation next season but for now it's so important we hold ourselves together. |
Agreed!
Many are talking about promotion next season as a done deal which is indicative of the level of expectation out there already. We should be in position to have a good go at it but there are obviously no guarantees.
If we can get away to a good start next season the crowd will stay on board. If not some may begin to waiver a bit I guess but that’s football. |  | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 17:32 - Apr 21 with 3592 views | ReusersTown |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:38 - Apr 21 by bsw72 |
Going to be a very different championship season than 23-24, we are having to bounce back from relegation and lacking confidence rather than riding high on the back of an extraordinary League one campaign.
The start in August has got to be fast and confident, and this will be a big measure of McKenna’s ability. [Post edited 21 Apr 13:38]
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You can say the same for any of the relegated teams, they seem to get over it quickly enough. The exception being Luton, but I would not put them in the same category of club as us and the others. | | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 17:35 - Apr 21 with 3577 views | ReusersTown |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 14:34 - Apr 21 by Axeldalai_lama |
Point taken, but the article this post is talking about shows that we're not necessarily a traditional relegation case, absolutely devastated to be dropping down, fans livid and screaming for heads. But it will undoubtedly be a blow and will need us to get off to a decent start and remember how good we can be. |
It doesn't matter if we were tbh. Just look at Leeds, Sheffield Utd, Burnley.The gap is that vast these days in terms of resources. I do hope some of this overly negative stuff eases up in the office season. | | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 20:57 - Apr 21 with 3277 views | TexacoCup |
Our last two home games may well have a bearing on next year - I really hope we win one of them |  | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:51 - Apr 22 with 2666 views | blueasfook |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 13:01 - Apr 21 by Linners |
It's easy to be cynical about this - 'happy clappers' etc. - but I *love* this about us and we have to remember this is our super-power right now. It probably doesn't last much beyond the end of this season because there will be a lot of expectation next season but for now it's so important we hold ourselves together. |
Many sections of the PR crowd applauded relegation to League One. Stalwart fans or happy to accept any old crap served up? You decide. |  |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:52 - Apr 22 with 2631 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:51 - Apr 22 by blueasfook |
Many sections of the PR crowd applauded relegation to League One. Stalwart fans or happy to accept any old crap served up? You decide. |
The two situations are complete chalk and cheese. | | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:56 - Apr 22 with 2589 views | blueasfook |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:52 - Apr 22 by tractorboy1978 |
The two situations are complete chalk and cheese. |
Yes they are. Relegation to L1 was the culmination of years of underinvestment in the club. Relegation from the premier league is purely down to the manager, one of the best paid in the league, and one we threw a load of money at to retain. | |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:57 - Apr 22 with 2576 views | artsbossbeard |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:51 - Apr 22 by blueasfook |
Many sections of the PR crowd applauded relegation to League One. Stalwart fans or happy to accept any old crap served up? You decide. |
If you pussied out of watching Town when they got relegated to Div 3 then you can't really call yourself a fan. |  |
| Please note: prior to hitting the post button, I've double checked for anything that could be construed as "Anti Semitic" and to the best of my knowledge it isn't. Anything deemed to be of a Xenophobic nature is therefore purely accidental or down to your own misconstruing. | | Poll: | Raining in IP8 - shall I get the washing in? |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:58 - Apr 22 with 2552 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:56 - Apr 22 by blueasfook |
Yes they are. Relegation to L1 was the culmination of years of underinvestment in the club. Relegation from the premier league is purely down to the manager, one of the best paid in the league, and one we threw a load of money at to retain. |
Nothing to do with the difference in quality of the players then? | | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:08 - Apr 22 with 2468 views | blueasfook |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:58 - Apr 22 by tractorboy1978 |
Nothing to do with the difference in quality of the players then? |
I dont care about that. We paid Rolls Royce money to KM and got Austin Rover returns!
*For our younger readers, Austin Rovers were terrible cars made in the 1970s! | |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:17 - Apr 22 with 2409 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 08:56 - Apr 22 by blueasfook |
Yes they are. Relegation to L1 was the culmination of years of underinvestment in the club. Relegation from the premier league is purely down to the manager, one of the best paid in the league, and one we threw a load of money at to retain. |
"Relegation from the premier league is purely down to the manager"
Or down to the fact that every other team in the league has vastly better players than us ? Just a thought. |  |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:30 - Apr 22 with 2318 views | blueasfook |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:17 - Apr 22 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
"Relegation from the premier league is purely down to the manager"
Or down to the fact that every other team in the league has vastly better players than us ? Just a thought. |
We spent £130m. Other than Delap, who has stood out among those signings? Mostly average and some a downright waste of money. Muric for example. | |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:38 - Apr 22 with 2254 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:30 - Apr 22 by blueasfook |
We spent £130m. Other than Delap, who has stood out among those signings? Mostly average and some a downright waste of money. Muric for example. |
130m from a base remarkably lower than every single team in the league. 130m doesn't get you anywhere in this iteration of the premier league. West Ham are the 4th worst team in the league. Add up the value of Paqueta, Kudus and Bowen alone and you end up with about double that. Let alone the rest of their squad.
Not to mention the teams who will end up being the 5th/6th worst teams in the league could be playing each other in the Europa League final. Lets have a bit of realism. | |
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| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:52 - Apr 22 with 2188 views | Leaky |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:30 - Apr 22 by blueasfook |
We spent £130m. Other than Delap, who has stood out among those signings? Mostly average and some a downright waste of money. Muric for example. |
Yes we paid out £130m on transfers, Arsenal paid £105m for Declan Rice, puts a bit of perspective on things |  | | |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:55 - Apr 22 with 2162 views | portmanking |
| Nice opening in The Athletic… on 09:30 - Apr 22 by blueasfook |
We spent £130m. Other than Delap, who has stood out among those signings? Mostly average and some a downright waste of money. Muric for example. |
Now show me a club that's got a 100% positive strike rate with its new recruits... | | | |
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