Run in towards absurdity by Mullet 17 Nov 2023 20:29
With the international break giving us a much-needed rest, I thought I’d look at the upcoming fixtures for us and the rest of the top 4. It’s pretty clear that our season has exceeded all expectations so far. Joint top as it stands, goals aplenty at Portman Rd and a sense that we aren’t even the team hoped to be when the summer gave us a chance to catch out breath this summer.

With the parachute teams sitting comfortably at the top of the table, to see us elbowing our way into their midst has almost been the stuff of Football Manager. Instead, we’ve had the emergence of previously second choice keeper Hladky pulling off the kind of saves every week which has kept all but one side in the division, at arm’s length.

Leicester: 1st place (current form 7th)

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Looking almost as invincible as a bemulleted Ian Marshall in the earliest months of the season. The relatively recent Premier League Champions have taken to the second tier with all the intent and advantage you’d expect of a side harnessing the vast resources found at the King Power.

It might be wholly inaccurate and uncharitable to call their manager and approach Pep-lite, but it’s clearly working. That said, they recently find themselves way off top spot form. What might give their fans hope is that their 2023 run-in sees them facing teams with equivalently stuttering form and fortunes. Ipswich probably standout as their toughest fixture at the minute, with it being one of their 5 away games. They’ll be relieved to see that their game with Plymouth is at home so their journey times are relatively short too.

If Leicester can’t revive their form in this tranche of games, then they never will. Any idea they might drop out of the top two would hinge on an almighty collapse it seems. I’d be amazed if they don’t give themselves a little bit of headroom at the top of the table as 2024 dawns.

Leeds: 3rd (current form 1st)

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You’d be forgiven for thinking Leeds topped any kind of table in existence if you took all of your football insight solely from inference via social media. Their fans can rightly be proud at how good they have been heading into the break, but it still sees them with several points to catch us and Leicester from 3rd. To do so they’d have to be utterly dominant for several games before they host us right before Christmas.

Judging by the cost of tickets we’re likely pay up there, you’d expect Leeds to buy big in January regardless of where they finish the calendar year. The rapidly righting of the now buoyant Boro under Carrick, and the prospect of “new manager bounce” (and local derby of sorts) against Rotherham, look to be two of the more interesting early hurdles as they look to play catch up.

Given that most of the teams they are due to play are currently in better form than their league positions suggest. For the Whites to continue on their rise they’ll be hoping that more of their opponents than not, have finished with their upturns in fortune.

Southampton 4th (current form 3rd)

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Southampton look more like the side the football world expected when they came down, rather than the disorganised embarrassment of riches we beat at St Mary’s earlier in the season. Excellent form has seen the legendary Russy Martin keep his job and his critics at bay.

Coming out of the respite with a trip to Huddersfield, as Town fans will know, it’s not a place to produce great football in bad conditions. Following that they have their first of five home games against Liam Manning’s new club Bristol. The former Town man will be looking to transform the form of a side no longer producing the quality of football expected in the West country.

Watford and Blackburn look to be sterner tests for the Saints given their recent form looks the most impressive out the opponents they’re due to face. Given they are just a point away from Leeds and 2 above PNE, Saints fans surely expect their side to at the very least create a pronounced gap within playoff places for Christmas.


Ipswich 2nd (current form 2nd)

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It’s really hard to be objective about us right now. We seem certain to finish in the playoffs as things stand and that in itself is phenomenal going. We’ve been the unknown quantity all season and just as the rest of the league seem to be taking note, it’s fitting that our run in seems the same.

A real cross-section of the league and one home game more than the away ones makes it really hard to read the future. That isn’t something that seemingly phases our tactical savant. With the big test against his old friend Carrick, an in-form and confident Leeds as well as Leicester you could argue that the prospect of a first derby comes as light relief for McKenna.

I’d fully expect the gap between us and Leeds to close a little as the transfer window opens. However, the idea that they might leapfrog us would need to see us buried in festive misery. Whilst our fortunes and expectations might need time to catch each other up, it will be fascinating to see which places Ashton is shopping in.

Whatever happens it looks like an exciting slugfest at the top of the table is impossible to avoid. You can guarantee that at least one set of fans will be waking up next year shakier and feeling sick at the thought of another game so soon. Football. Bloody hell.

[Post edited 24 Dec 2023 17:33]