| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? 21:53 - Oct 21 with 2550 views | Mullet |
We've dropped to 13th from 12th tonight. Over the last six games we are 6th in the form table and so is our home form. Our away form is 23rd.
We've gone from a manager who got career bests out of League One/Championship players not seen here since Mick McCarthy but the context being very different. We were a club on the up not one trying not to drown.
Now he's working with internationals, wunderkind, Prem-hardened players etc. and all through choice largely. It wasn't that long ago we were paying whatever he wanted to stay and fend off Palace and Brighton.
We knew we were getting relegated pretty early on, but somehow the preparations haven't gone right have they? You'll never get all your signings, you'll always have things like your keeper getting injured, but inbetween the last promotion and now I wonder whether any manager has had a more volatile stock and standing?
It'll be really interesting how he approaches WBA now, how he motivates that group because we don't seem to have forged a team this time around. We are very much individuals not units, and the talent alone might get us through the thirds but when we need to dig in it's not there is it?
While the ownership aren't reactionary, they are ruthless. I hope we lose McKenna this summer because the big boys want him, not because we've squandered the easiest chance to go up we'll ever have. |  |
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 08:12 - Oct 22 with 352 views | Mullet |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 23:06 - Oct 21 by cbower |
It's the individuals not being a team, as you say, a unit.
The promotion side was built on partnerships all over the pitch. Chaplin & Burns / Chaplin & Hirst / Morsy & Luongo / Burgess & Woolfenden / Davis & Broadhead and with Hutchinson as the sprinkle of stardust.
There are no effective partnerships in this squad. Not even Davis and Philogene come close. O'Shea and Greaves are a shambles. I know you don't agree but Cajuste in a two is a disaster in my opinion. Our so called No 10s don't link with anyone. No combination on the right side functions at all.
Who is to blame? Who has led this recruitment? Who is failing to develop effective patterns of play? Who is unable to change the flow of the game when we go behind? Who appears wedded to one style and is being tactically naive at times? If you were that way inclined, McKenna could be your answer to each of the above. For me, he has credit in the bank still but his pot is diminishing.
I suggested a formation change after Friday. In my opinion we don’t have the players for two in midfield and I stick by that. On Blue Monday Joe Fairs said we may have to stumble on a line up and a formation. If that's the case, I hope it's soon for as you say, it looks like we might just $punk the best chance to get back up we'll have for some time. |
I think Cajuste is getting pelters this week rather unfairly because it’s collectively going wrong.
We could see how much we miss AM as the focal point and people scrabbling around for Morsy allude to that.
We’ve got two 10s who were championship superstars recently and neither look able to score. Akpom barely gets minutes or the ball and when he does he hits the bar etc. But SS was a big money signing and seems to be way below par in terms of changing games.
The biggest issue is the target on our backs. We’ve gone from teams underestimating us and thinking it won’t last, to treating us like a big scalp and we don’t know how to handle that. Players don’t seem to have the confidence or options to do things on the fly often enough. | |
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 08:21 - Oct 22 with 330 views | vapour_trail |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 08:07 - Oct 22 by Mullet |
Impossible to know. We’d have recruited differently you assume on and off the field. I’m not sure we are at a McKenna out point for anyone credible, but there’s an issue with this being a benchmark now isn’t there?
This is his first bit of adversity you might argue, the prem didn’t really count for most as we had very little chance. |
Don’t agree with this at all.
Last season was an embarrassment. What do you mean very little chance? This season has not gone well at all to date. I’d imagine he’s on pretty thin ice. |  |
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 08:38 - Oct 22 with 296 views | Mullet |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 08:21 - Oct 22 by vapour_trail |
Don’t agree with this at all.
Last season was an embarrassment. What do you mean very little chance? This season has not gone well at all to date. I’d imagine he’s on pretty thin ice. |
It was, but it was clear by like what February? March? that we were down. I don't think we stood much chance of staying up after coming up so soon the gap was just too big, which probably gave him a lot of credit/understanding. | |
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:01 - Oct 22 with 268 views | cbower |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 08:12 - Oct 22 by Mullet |
I think Cajuste is getting pelters this week rather unfairly because it’s collectively going wrong.
We could see how much we miss AM as the focal point and people scrabbling around for Morsy allude to that.
We’ve got two 10s who were championship superstars recently and neither look able to score. Akpom barely gets minutes or the ball and when he does he hits the bar etc. But SS was a big money signing and seems to be way below par in terms of changing games.
The biggest issue is the target on our backs. We’ve gone from teams underestimating us and thinking it won’t last, to treating us like a big scalp and we don’t know how to handle that. Players don’t seem to have the confidence or options to do things on the fly often enough. |
As you know, I am one of those critical of Cajuste. Agree, we missed Matusiwa but do you genuinely see Cajuste offering enough in a midfield two? Set aside his obvious high skill level as I'm not questioning that. However, does he have the engine to cover the ground, the positional sense that allows Leif to push on, the lungs to track runners? I'm not seeing it myself. Infact, I'd ask the same of Nunez in a two to be fair. This screams to me of poor, imbalanced recruitment and McKenna knows it. He was desperate to get Hackney, to have that dynamic engine and that hole in our squad is gaping. Had Hackney signed, he and Matusiwa would quite clearly have been the preferred starters with other midfielders rotated in or contributing 20 or 30 from the bench.
Regarding Greaves and O'Shea, they just look shaky as a partnership to me. Greaves jnjury last season aside, McKenna has put his eggs firmly in the Greaves / O'Shea basket since August 2024 and they both look less effective individuals 15 months later, let alone a solid defensive partnership. What does that say? Is that also due to the system infront of them offering insufficient protection? Is it Leif operating so advanced that they're pulled out of shape? Is it that they're uncomfortable receiving the ball from the goalkeeper as they do squander possession far too much? If you answer any of these in the affirmative, then who is that down to? Who signed them? Who dictates the tactics and set up of the team?
Ten games in and yes, we've battered an at the time pointless and blunt Sheffield United. Yes, we've well beaten a now relegation zone out of form Norwich City - rightly enjoyed by all. We've played decently against Portsmouth. Against Southampton we were the better team and were content with a point I guess at that stage of the season. However, we were poor at Birmingham, dire at Deepdale, desperate against Derby, limped to a point at Brizzle City, shambolic for periods down by the Riverside and then last night was a real shocker. Oh, and we've dropped lucky that mother nature has saved us at Blackburn. Add to that another ignominious exit from the EFL Cup and I'm really struggling to even see the green shoots of this squad becoming at team.
I've been on TWTD the best part of 20 years. You and I have broadly been singing from the same hymn sheet in that time. I have, even during the dross of the Evans era, tried to find the positives. Yet, with the club probably in the best health it's been in since the days of Sir Bob, it feels perverse that I'm so critical about the current squad. It is, as you say, the weight of expectation. However, the players and McKenna are highly paid professionals. They need to be better. Nobody is immune from criticism. We know that from teaching! [Post edited 22 Oct 9:49]
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:12 - Oct 22 with 247 views | Mullet |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:01 - Oct 22 by cbower |
As you know, I am one of those critical of Cajuste. Agree, we missed Matusiwa but do you genuinely see Cajuste offering enough in a midfield two? Set aside his obvious high skill level as I'm not questioning that. However, does he have the engine to cover the ground, the positional sense that allows Leif to push on, the lungs to track runners? I'm not seeing it myself. Infact, I'd ask the same of Nunez in a two to be fair. This screams to me of poor, imbalanced recruitment and McKenna knows it. He was desperate to get Hackney, to have that dynamic engine and that hole in our squad is gaping. Had Hackney signed, he and Matusiwa would quite clearly have been the preferred starters with other midfielders rotated in or contributing 20 or 30 from the bench.
Regarding Greaves and O'Shea, they just look shaky as a partnership to me. Greaves jnjury last season aside, McKenna has put his eggs firmly in the Greaves / O'Shea basket since August 2024 and they both look less effective individuals 15 months later, let alone a solid defensive partnership. What does that say? Is that also due to the system infront of them offering insufficient protection? Is it Leif operating so advanced that they're pulled out of shape? Is it that they're uncomfortable receiving the ball from the goalkeeper as they do squander possession far too much? If you answer any of these in the affirmative, then who is that down to? Who signed them? Who dictates the tactics and set up of the team?
Ten games in and yes, we've battered an at the time pointless and blunt Sheffield United. Yes, we've well beaten a now relegation zone out of form Norwich City - rightly enjoyed by all. We've played decently against Portsmouth. Against Southampton we were the better team and were content with a point I guess at that stage of the season. However, we were poor at Birmingham, dire at Deepdale, desperate against Derby, limped to a point at Brizzle City, shambolic for periods down by the Riverside and then last night was a real shocker. Oh, and we've dropped lucky that mother nature has saved us at Blackburn. Add to that another ignominious exit from the EFL Cup and I'm really struggling to even see the green shoots of this squad becoming at team.
I've been on TWTD the best part of 20 years. You and I have broadly been singing from the same hymn sheet in that time. I have, even during the dross of the Evans era, tried to find the positives. Yet, with the club probably in the best health it's been in since the days of Sir Bob, it feels perverse that I'm so critical about the current squad. It is, as you say, the weight of expectation. However, the players and McKenna are highly paid professionals. They need to be better. Nobody is immune from criticism. We know that from teaching! [Post edited 22 Oct 9:49]
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I do, but the question is why does he need to do that, is it the system? Is it the failure of those around him? He breaks the press and lines really well and we can't hold the ball at all up top across the four.
If we want two runners in midfield instead that's fine, but seems an utter waste of him being here. It does feel like McKenna isn't adjusting his system to the players and asking them to play outside their natural ranges, rather than meeting them halfway.
I think you could replace Cajuste with half a dozen in our squad, but he's the one in focus because Hirst was dropped last night etc. | |
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:22 - Oct 22 with 217 views | grow_our_own |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 23:06 - Oct 21 by cbower |
It's the individuals not being a team, as you say, a unit.
The promotion side was built on partnerships all over the pitch. Chaplin & Burns / Chaplin & Hirst / Morsy & Luongo / Burgess & Woolfenden / Davis & Broadhead and with Hutchinson as the sprinkle of stardust.
There are no effective partnerships in this squad. Not even Davis and Philogene come close. O'Shea and Greaves are a shambles. I know you don't agree but Cajuste in a two is a disaster in my opinion. Our so called No 10s don't link with anyone. No combination on the right side functions at all.
Who is to blame? Who has led this recruitment? Who is failing to develop effective patterns of play? Who is unable to change the flow of the game when we go behind? Who appears wedded to one style and is being tactically naive at times? If you were that way inclined, McKenna could be your answer to each of the above. For me, he has credit in the bank still but his pot is diminishing.
I suggested a formation change after Friday. In my opinion we don’t have the players for two in midfield and I stick by that. On Blue Monday Joe Fairs said we may have to stumble on a line up and a formation. If that's the case, I hope it's soon for as you say, it looks like we might just $punk the best chance to get back up we'll have for some time. |
Agree with most of that. Think Davis & Philogene combine well tho. "Joe Fairs said we may have to stumble on a line up and a formation" - think we already did vs Pompey & Norwich. Good performances and comfortable wins. It's a good team in this league. Not great, but good enough for the playoffs. Problem is, with the money we've spent and the hype around the squad, KM tinkers with it, and tries to turn metal into gold. Many in the rest of the squad he's assembled are bang average, and we'll finish mid-table if KM continues to select them. He needs to accept this.
The only change I'd like to explore is J Clarke in the #10 role. He's got an eye for a goal, can pass and dribble. We've got very little competition wide right, show a bit of patience and trust with Egeli, give him a run of games, and he'll improve. |  | | |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:25 - Oct 22 with 206 views | ITFCSG |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:12 - Oct 22 by Mullet |
I do, but the question is why does he need to do that, is it the system? Is it the failure of those around him? He breaks the press and lines really well and we can't hold the ball at all up top across the four.
If we want two runners in midfield instead that's fine, but seems an utter waste of him being here. It does feel like McKenna isn't adjusting his system to the players and asking them to play outside their natural ranges, rather than meeting them halfway.
I think you could replace Cajuste with half a dozen in our squad, but he's the one in focus because Hirst was dropped last night etc. |
McK is doing himself no favours by refusing to adapt to the situation during matches. I am not even talking about a Plan B, it is purely common sense. Even when trailing 0-3 we were still content passing sideways and backwards all the way to the Charlton half instead of launching more direct balls over the top and trying to win fouls in their box. This is 100% down to McK's coaching drilled into them and nothing else
And why. when we were 0-3 down did we not go 2 up front to try salvage the situation? And other manager would have taken off a defender and threw on another striker or forward. Not much difference in losing 0-3 or 0-5 anyway.
McK may talk a good story, but his stubbornness is making him the new Russell Martin. | | | |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:40 - Oct 22 with 157 views | cbower |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:12 - Oct 22 by Mullet |
I do, but the question is why does he need to do that, is it the system? Is it the failure of those around him? He breaks the press and lines really well and we can't hold the ball at all up top across the four.
If we want two runners in midfield instead that's fine, but seems an utter waste of him being here. It does feel like McKenna isn't adjusting his system to the players and asking them to play outside their natural ranges, rather than meeting them halfway.
I think you could replace Cajuste with half a dozen in our squad, but he's the one in focus because Hirst was dropped last night etc. |
I think if you play two in midfield, they have to be runners but hopefully like Massimo, Morsy, Matusiwa and dare I say it, Hayden Hackney, they can play a bit too.
Agreed, to not play Cajuste (and Nunez) is a massive waste of talent but neither suit a two, so change the system Kieran!
What's going on in the front four is incoherent and having no genuine no10 makes it all disjointed. The signing of McAteer when Ogbene was in the building, getting fitter and we were chasing Walle-Egeli to boot, just seems knee-jerk. Fairly soon Wes will be in that equation and if he is anything like, I can't see McAteer getting much game time myself. | |
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:54 - Oct 22 with 140 views | cbower |
| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 09:22 - Oct 22 by grow_our_own |
Agree with most of that. Think Davis & Philogene combine well tho. "Joe Fairs said we may have to stumble on a line up and a formation" - think we already did vs Pompey & Norwich. Good performances and comfortable wins. It's a good team in this league. Not great, but good enough for the playoffs. Problem is, with the money we've spent and the hype around the squad, KM tinkers with it, and tries to turn metal into gold. Many in the rest of the squad he's assembled are bang average, and we'll finish mid-table if KM continues to select them. He needs to accept this.
The only change I'd like to explore is J Clarke in the #10 role. He's got an eye for a goal, can pass and dribble. We've got very little competition wide right, show a bit of patience and trust with Egeli, give him a run of games, and he'll improve. |
Yep, I too think Clarke as a no10 a la Grealish might be something . He has the quality, the eye for a pass and the workrate too. Will McKenna see it as Akpom (who was better last night to be fair) and Szmodics are not the right fit in that position. | |
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| I wonder how those outside the ITFC bubble are viewing McKenna now? on 10:05 - Oct 22 with 104 views | chicoazul |
Looks like Ipswich are finding what a lot of relegated clubs find, it’s a struggle to bounce right back after relegation. But they have spent loads and have lots of good players and a manager with a track record of success so I’m sure they’ll be fine and end up challenging. They will put a great run together once the players are familiar with each other and the team settles.
Type thing. |  |
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