| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 10:02 - Jul 30 with 2554 views | unstableblue |
This was an early pre-season game with a make-shift team, with many players starting who’ll leave the club before the season starts, so you really can’t read much into it, rather than getting the fitness in and avoiding injury - and I have a feeling injury may play a part in how our season starts.
But watching players live and the manager on the touchline and thinking about shape/system - some things came to mind:
1) Players with energy and pace are critical - Morsy, Phillips, Cajuste etc on our last sojourn into the Prem and many players last season, lacked that explosive physicality and drive. I think OShea has it. And I definitely think our new Brazilian does (although he clearly has remove for improvement on individual technical attributes). Seeing Johnson and McAteer join the fray, naturally high battery players, you realise the importance. Wouldn’t surprise me if Johnson is kept on and has a role.
2) Central midfield will define the season - a makeshift Nunez and Humphreys* exposed us last night. Osasuna won the game through there. The injury updates on Matusiwa and Taylor are concerning. But for me we need two £20m + players in there ASAP. They’ll need to try and dominate games and drive the transition while protecting the central 2/3 defenders. * Humphreys had moments last night in a deeper role, he’s a good player at times but can’t seeing him having a major role this season.
3) Shape, system and identify - Gary O’Neil was asked whether he could see his team idea out there on the Col U pitch. He seemed to suggest elements of it. I’m not sure I saw what that was. It was a 4-2-3-1 with limitations due to the central midfield. But I’m not sure what the plan was. Osasuna frankly had a far better shape and plan, sitting between the lines, moving the ball across the pitch quickly, overloading in areas. They were the better organised side.
4) Getting used to a new manager comms style - we have been blessed with McKenna in terms of comms and post match summaries. I’m hoping O’Neil is going to bring something more effective on the pitch. But: “ I thought we were good, I thought we were the better side.” - We weren’t in my view. His take on the game was somewhat skewed. But that’s the different style we’ll need to embrace.
5) Creativity out wide - in this Prem season we ‘ll have limited moments to break and hurt teams. Those wide attacking roles… either hugging the touchine in a 3 behind the striker, or two tucked in… well they need to be efficient and dangerous. Fatawu was excellent, stood out a mile, whether he can beat top full backs I’m not sure, but he’s got great attributes. And he did track back at times. Jack Clarke was less effective, as at times we know he can be. But it’s a pre season friendly - however one might suggest that we need Philogene and Maeda to really hurt teams.
Early days but a lot to work on in the system, transfer market and treatment room. Hoping Diop niggle is minor. [Post edited 30 Jul 10:06]
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:09 - Jul 30 with 2446 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
Pretty much agree with all of this.
Just one observation. O'Neil's comments come from his perspective, not ours. He will have asked each player to show/do certain things, and if he saw that executed as he intended (however the overall unit integrated at this early stage), then in his eyes that's good. It was noticeable how often O'Neil was animated on the touchline, applauding and praising things the players did.
We don't see the game through his eyes. |  | | |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:31 - Jul 30 with 2256 views | RetroBlue |
Thanks for that unstableblue :Could go to game , and accept your report. Agree re midfield and also another striker is needed. Im expecting the Club to succeed in their quest for midfielders very soon. |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:40 - Jul 30 with 2197 views | chicoazul |
I have no evidence for this, it’s purely a feeling based on not much at all, and I’m sure it’s unfair, but I think I am going to find GON very annoying. |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:42 - Jul 30 with 2185 views | unstableblue |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:09 - Jul 30 by SuffolkPunchFC |
Pretty much agree with all of this.
Just one observation. O'Neil's comments come from his perspective, not ours. He will have asked each player to show/do certain things, and if he saw that executed as he intended (however the overall unit integrated at this early stage), then in his eyes that's good. It was noticeable how often O'Neil was animated on the touchline, applauding and praising things the players did.
We don't see the game through his eyes. |
Good points SuffolkPunch
I liked his touchline manner - ex-player like, living the game,
Imaginary kicking of balls, he’s vocal and energetic
My obversation was nothing to do with this comments on elements of the game -
More that we were the better side. Which we plainly weren’t. | |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:53 - Jul 30 with 2130 views | Ewan_Oozami |
Good summary, can't disagree with any of that - also though Compton looked good when he came on, always seemed to want the ball and get things moving, Johnson as well.
But if Davis keeps trying to jump in front of wingers for the ball (a trait which he still hasn't got out of) like he did for their first goal, it's going to be a long season for him! |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:04 - Jul 30 with 2086 views | RIPbobby |
I didn't attend the game. I am interested in how Osasuna played as I was wondering why KM picked them as opposition. Which team in the Premier League are they most like?
You mentioned something(OP) interesting about Cameron Humphreys earlier – that he played well, but might not have much of an impact this season. Why do you think that is?
I have heard a few people say something similar, so I am just curious to get your perspective. Surely he is one of the best players in our squad at keeping possession and not wasting the ball. Keeping the ball is usually far better than chasing it, so it feels as though we ought to find a position for him in the side somehow.
This is not a criticism of your point at all, just wanted to pick your brain on it. |  | | |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:05 - Jul 30 with 2075 views | SitfcB |
We won’t ever have a manager again that spoke like McKenna 
Still getting used to the change. |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:08 - Jul 30 with 2056 views | Bobbychase |
Watched it on the Col U live stream. Camerawork wasn't the best but I thought we were the better side overall. Their goals came down Davis' side and from a corner so harsh to say the midfield cost us the game, even if it was very very makeshift towards the end.
Nunez and Humphreys looked OK but you could tell which team was further ahead in their pre season prep as they were a bit slow in picking passes/releasing the ball and Osasuna players nipped in.
As you say though, a lot of the team who started last night will be gone by the time Sunderland come to Portman Road. |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:12 - Jul 30 with 1978 views | ThatMuhrenCross |
I actually did think we were the better side, and their goals were a mistake from Leif Davis and essentially a wonder strike.
Agree we need a new midfield. No one currently at the club should be starting in the Prem. As it stands, our central midfield options are Matusiwa, Humphreys, Taylor, Nunez. At least one of those would leave, and for me it has to be Taylor. I saw something in Humphreys last night that indicated he could still be a player. He certainly has a higher ceiling than Taylor.
Personally I don't think Matuswia or Nunez are Premier League level, but we're a newly promoted team and are going to have to make do with less than adequate players in some areas. They'll have to do as back-up this season, but honestly, I think we now need to sell Philogene for decent money, sign Enciso as hoped, and then splash £60-70m on a whole new central midfield. |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:33 - Jul 30 with 1828 views | unstableblue |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:12 - Jul 30 by ThatMuhrenCross |
I actually did think we were the better side, and their goals were a mistake from Leif Davis and essentially a wonder strike.
Agree we need a new midfield. No one currently at the club should be starting in the Prem. As it stands, our central midfield options are Matusiwa, Humphreys, Taylor, Nunez. At least one of those would leave, and for me it has to be Taylor. I saw something in Humphreys last night that indicated he could still be a player. He certainly has a higher ceiling than Taylor.
Personally I don't think Matuswia or Nunez are Premier League level, but we're a newly promoted team and are going to have to make do with less than adequate players in some areas. They'll have to do as back-up this season, but honestly, I think we now need to sell Philogene for decent money, sign Enciso as hoped, and then splash £60-70m on a whole new central midfield. |
Game of opinions, but in terms of individual control, off ball movements, shape of the team, chances crafted (they should have had a pen, and Palmer should have been punished for an error) I thought the Spaniards looked better, not hugely, but better. We lack some shape and cohesion, but that will come. Of course as I said the reason they were owning action between the lines was our makeshift midfield.
Agree on Humphreys in part, once he grew into the game and worked out the relationship with Nunez better, he did some intelligent things with the ball, which is his strength. | |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:44 - Jul 30 with 1793 views | unstableblue |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:05 - Jul 30 by SitfcB |
We won’t ever have a manager again that spoke like McKenna
Still getting used to the change. |
Give into it Sitters, change is the only constant.
O'Neil's going to be OK, and perhaps more effective, just need to give into it. | |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:50 - Jul 30 with 1751 views | Guthrum |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:04 - Jul 30 by RIPbobby |
I didn't attend the game. I am interested in how Osasuna played as I was wondering why KM picked them as opposition. Which team in the Premier League are they most like?
You mentioned something(OP) interesting about Cameron Humphreys earlier – that he played well, but might not have much of an impact this season. Why do you think that is?
I have heard a few people say something similar, so I am just curious to get your perspective. Surely he is one of the best players in our squad at keeping possession and not wasting the ball. Keeping the ball is usually far better than chasing it, so it feels as though we ought to find a position for him in the side somehow.
This is not a criticism of your point at all, just wanted to pick your brain on it. |
It's that Catch22 for Humphreys. He is inexperienced at higher levels, so doesn't get into teams in order to gain that experience. The risk gets higher as you move into the Champ and then the Prem, so the opportunities get fewer. |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:57 - Jul 30 with 1708 views | FrimleyBlue |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:40 - Jul 30 by chicoazul |
I have no evidence for this, it’s purely a feeling based on not much at all, and I’m sure it’s unfair, but I think I am going to find GON very annoying. |
I dunno, i quite like the fact he talks with confidence, as long as it works of course, but id much rather here us facing hull and saying things like confident, we will do what we can to win the 3 points etc over it's going to be difficult, a different game, they are a tough side. |  |
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| I like this statement (principle, objective) from O’Neil on 12:13 - Jul 30 with 1660 views | unstableblue |
“There’s different challenges in the Premier League, but the principles will remain - we work hard as a team, we defend as a team, we attack as quickly as we can, we show a good understanding tactically.”
Yes just words; but if these 4 objectives can be properly embedded and drilled into the team, and we get some quality in we might have a chance.
“We attack as quickly as we can” is something McKenna failed to truly deliver in the Prem. [Post edited 30 Jul 12:15]
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| I like this statement (principle, objective) from O’Neil on 12:20 - Jul 30 with 1615 views | Guthrum |
| I like this statement (principle, objective) from O’Neil on 12:13 - Jul 30 by unstableblue |
“There’s different challenges in the Premier League, but the principles will remain - we work hard as a team, we defend as a team, we attack as quickly as we can, we show a good understanding tactically.”
Yes just words; but if these 4 objectives can be properly embedded and drilled into the team, and we get some quality in we might have a chance.
“We attack as quickly as we can” is something McKenna failed to truly deliver in the Prem. [Post edited 30 Jul 12:15]
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I'd have said it was our working together as a team (sharpness of passing) and defending which cost us most heavily in 2024-25. We could attck quite fast when able to keep control of the ball through the middle of the pitch. | |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 13:41 - Jul 30 with 1394 views | SitfcB |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:44 - Jul 30 by unstableblue |
Give into it Sitters, change is the only constant.
O'Neil's going to be OK, and perhaps more effective, just need to give into it. |
Yeah I am trying, a nice win against Sunderland will be a good starting point!
Going to be tough though.
COYFB! | |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 19:50 - Jul 30 with 1051 views | armchaircritic59 |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:05 - Jul 30 by SitfcB |
We won’t ever have a manager again that spoke like McKenna
Still getting used to the change. |
Though I think proper communication with supporters is most definitely very important, I think what actually happens on the pitch is far more so. I'm very happy with G O'N's communication so far. We await to see what happens on the pitch in the PL. |  | | |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 23:42 - Jul 30 with 761 views | gosblue |
With Ososuna's 2nd goal, we failed to learn from England's failings in the World Cup. Against Mexico and Argentina, England packed their own six yard box at corners ignoring the opponents around the edge of the box. This resulted in a goal against in each of those games. We did the same last night resulting in an unchallenged strike from the edge of the box. A wonder goal, or poor defending? | | | |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 07:25 - Jul 31 with 477 views | tiptreeblue |
I may have missed it but I can't see where anyone has mentioned Maeda, I have a feeling that he could be out Granite Xhaka hopefully | | | |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 07:35 - Jul 31 with 437 views | Gary_Knows |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 11:05 - Jul 30 by SitfcB |
We won’t ever have a manager again that spoke like McKenna
Still getting used to the change. |
Yeah, there’ll never be another who spoke with the clarity that McKenna did … that said, he was an anomaly. Even the best managers, Pep, Arteta et al are spiky in their press conferences before and after games.
I suppose it’s okay when things are going well and when the team is winning, but it’ll grate on fans if you’re on a losing streak.
As I say, better get used to it because we’ll never have another like McKenna again regardless of who we appoint. |  |
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| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 07:56 - Jul 31 with 359 views | Waig |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 10:40 - Jul 30 by chicoazul |
I have no evidence for this, it’s purely a feeling based on not much at all, and I’m sure it’s unfair, but I think I am going to find GON very annoying. |
Not for long you won’t, he will be GON soon enough. | | | |
| 5 Key Thoughts from Ipswich 1 - Osasuna 2 on 08:36 - Jul 31 with 229 views | PioneerBlue |
In regards to the manager point - a manager will live and die by their ability to communicate their vision for the team, there pre/in game/ post game instructions to players as a group and individually, and there commitment to developing and improving players.
Communication is key. Each player will interpret and execute in their own way. Coaches will play a part in implementing the vision and instructions with the players.
I like the honesty GON brings. I did see subtle changes but i also dont believe we are working with the quality of player that can take complex instructions at PL level not because they are stupid, it is because they dont have the capability to execute at the same level as top 6 team players. Therefore, we need a slightly more straightforward perhaps structured way of coaching and playing. Let us see whether GON can get these ideas across and get the players running in the way we need.
Noted from game at ColU
Elements of attempts to play out from back
High defensive line at times
He instructed HC to join the front 5 in possession once we went behind
He wanted less nonsense defending and possession around our box, BenJ was instructed to get rid rather than over play after being dispossessed
Fatawu encouraged to offer multiple balls into the box
Happy to try some players in slightly unexpected positions, perhaps needs must
Set pieces still need work
Attacking phase needs lots of work
Midfield doesnt currently exist! | |
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