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McGreal: A Brilliant Appointment
Friday, 17th Dec 2021 14:09

Interim boss John McGreal believes new manager Kieran McKenna is a brilliant appointment by the Blues and revealed that the former Manchester United first-team coach called him last night following the announcement that he would be joining the club.

McKenna, 35, is the 19th Town manager since the club turned professional in 1936, the second-youngest by a couple of weeks behind Sir Alf Ramsey and the second Northern Irishman to sit in the Portman Road hotseat.

“Kieran actually spoke to me last night when I was at the FA Youth Cup game, the U18s game,” McGreal said.

“I’ve briefly had a chat with him when Colchester played Manchester United in a Carabao Cup quarter-final.

“You only have to look at his track record, the players that he’s integrated into the first team, the players that he’s coached, the managers he’s coached under - it’s a quality cv, to be fair.

“I think it’s a big appointment by the football club which shows the direction it’s going in. I think it’s a brilliant appointment and he’ll need our backing as well and we’ll be here to give him that support.

“It was nice to get the call. We were at the game last night and he’s given us a call just to say what’s happening, just after he’d got appointed.

“It was lovely, we just had a brief chat and, as you’ll already know, he’ll be at the game on Saturday. It’s great that the new gaffer will be there in the stands.”

Will McKenna have any input ahead of the Sunderland match? “I’m open to it but he’s literally said he wants us guys to take this game and then he’ll come with a clean slate.

“He’ll be in the stands and I’m sure if he needs to make contact, we’re open to that. There’s not a problem at all, he’s the new gaffer. Whatever he wants, we’ll try and support and supply for him.”


He says McKenna sounded excited at the prospect of his new role: “He did. I congratulated him and he’s really looking forward to it. And why wouldn’t you be? It’s Ipswich Town. Obviously it’s his first managerial job, it’s a great job for him to pick up and to run with.

“He’ll bring his experiences from his past managers and working with high quality players, so it’s a really good appointment. That’s what I think anyway, that’s only my biased opinion, but I do think it’s a really good appointment for the club.”

While some fans view the appointment as a risky one, given McKenna’s lack of experience, the other side of that coin is that the Blues are giving a young coach a chance.

“You need opportunities,” McGreal reflected. “You only have to look at his track record working with the guys at Manchester United with [Jose] Mourinho, [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer, the type of players he’s worked with and produced and have gone into the first team and developed. That ticks boxes for me already.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how he work. As an U23s coach, I’ve still go tons and tons to learn myself, in a way.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for him to come in. I think the club at this moment in time with the new owners coming in, they’ve put their money where their mouth is with the players they’ve gone out and brought in and got a coup of a manager and a well-respected coach, so I think it’s a win-win at the moment.”

Is there enough talent already at the club for him to work with? “I’m sure there is, there are plenty of numbers to choose from. Kieran will have done his background, the new gaffer would have done his background. He’ll know what direction he wants to go with the club.

“He’ll know all these individuals, he’ll be well-prepped, he’ll have done all his homework on them, and they’ll be coming with a fresh idea to get us on that right track to get to where we want to get to.”

McGreal says that McKenna has said he’ll get his view of the players he will inherit at Portman Road.

“Yes, absolutely, I think that’s the norm really with new managers that come in,” the former centre-half said.

“They want a little bit of feedback from myself, Kieron [Dyer] and Reg [Rene Gilmartin, who have been working alongside McGreal] in what’s happened over the last couple of weeks, how players have performed, not only in games but a lot of it in the training time, there’s a lot that goes on in training that can be missed.

“He’ll obviously do his homework in the games prior to when we came in in the caretaker roles.

“He’ll be doing his due diligence, we’ll have our little input, but he’ll be his own man. He’s got his own thoughts to come into the club and we’ll just guide him where he wants to go with the squad that we’ve had for that two weeks.”

McGreal says the players will be lifted by the a decision having been made on the club’s future.

“We had a meeting this morning, obviously touching on Sunderland,” he continued. “I keep saying, training hasn’t been a problem, the boys have been applying themselves really well in training.

“But now with that added bonus of the new gaffer coming in, they know the new gaffer’s going to be in the stands, that’s just brought an extra step and extra enthusiasm to it, which it always does. It always has that little bounce feeling when you know the new gaffer’s in.

“It’s all to play for. The guys know as well, the starting XI know that they’ve got an opportunity to showcase themselves while the manager’s here.”

McGreal anticipates the club being able to link-up with Manchester United when it comes to loan signings.

“You would think so,” he added. “You’d have to ask the new gaffer those questions. Obviously he’s got his Tottenham connections as well before Manchester United, which is only down the road.

“He’ll be well-connected throughout the footballing world, there’s no doubt about that, just because of the prestige of the job that he’s had.

“He’s Man United’s assistant manager, by the way, let’s not forget about that. Now he’s coming to another big club down in Suffolk with Ipswich, so I’m sure he’ll delighted to get this opportunity and it’s a great start for him in his managerial career.”

Regarding assistant boss Martyn Pert, McGreal says he’s not someone he’s crossed paths with, but Gilmartin was briefly at Watford at the same time the one-time Norwich City youngster was conditioning coach at Vicarage Road.

“I haven’t, to be honest,” he said. “I think Reg has, I think Reg knows him, so there’s a connection there.”


Photo: Action Images



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ButchersBrokenNose added 14:27 - Dec 17
Classy from McGreal. This is exactly what the new boss will need.

I was dreading Saturday, but as McGreal says here, the players will know the new boss will be in the stands, so maybe that gives them the added incentive to actually do their jobs. Hopefully, they'll play like they did at Wigan and not at Barrow.
14

rfretwell added 14:39 - Dec 17
despite the new manager i'm fully expecting another poor home defeat without Burns and Celina available.
-7

rfretwell added 14:39 - Dec 17
despite the new manager i'm fully expecting another poor home defeat without Burns and Celina available.
-6

rfretwell added 14:39 - Dec 17
despite the new manager i'm fully expecting another poor home defeat without Burns and Celina available.
-7

BurleysGloryDays added 14:52 - Dec 17
Buckle up, it starts (again) now!
1

bluerico added 14:58 - Dec 17
Well its over to the players now to impress the new manager. Be interesting to see the performance as they will be playing for their future at ITFC. Hopefully KMc will learn a lot about them from the stand.
5

barryblue added 15:16 - Dec 17
I expect to see plenty of ipads coming out now with all the stats for who done the most running etc, but I recon he be mortified at looking at the stats for who put most tackles in especially in the Barrow game, it'll be more like who got close enough to make a tackle. One of his first jobs will be to sort out half the shower cook got in and get rid, the squad is to big and seriously lacking in quality, also need to have a look at maybe getting Simpson and Dobra back from loan because on current form they would go straight into the team. Its a hell of a gamble but good luck Kieran. 3 and half year contract is along one, so makes you wonder if cook was not there man unless they saw things that made them think he is never going to make it happen. So it looks like this is more of a long term appointment but lets hope he gets longer than our last one, Hirst. who wasnt given any time
-5

bringmeaKuqi added 15:17 - Dec 17
I would reiterate that; McGreal comes across as a class act.
7

Bert added 15:40 - Dec 17
Man U rate him, others rate him and McGreal rates him so let us hope and pray they are all right. Looks like an appointment to fit the ambitions of the owners and us as fans. Let's give the new man and the new owners a rousing welcome on Saturday and perhaps the team will do what is required on the pitch. Well done McG for holding the fort and being a brilliant ambassador for the club.
15

Paulc added 15:48 - Dec 17
rfretwell - You ever seen that Graham Taylor doc "an impossible job"? The bit where Graham has a go a Rob shepherd (journo) for being miserable and downbeat. He tells him to "go do it on your own and don't bring the rest of us down". Good advice that!
6

Suffolkboy added 15:52 - Dec 17
To Bert , I think you've encapsulated what surely most of us think of JMcG who superbly represents ITFC ,did so as a player , demonstrates pride and standards and in the calmest and sincerest of ways clearly articulates his thoughts - no unnecessary embellishment ,nothing avoided - how lucky we are to have his calibre on the staff and amongst us !
COYB
12

dirtydingusmagee added 16:00 - Dec 17
he Man U's assistant manager now he is coming to another big club .
1

gorse added 16:04 - Dec 17
All well and good, but how he might manage games against teams like Accrington I can't help but wonder :)
0

chepstowblue added 16:11 - Dec 17
I think it's the team that have brought people down, thus the downbeat but honest posts by people on here. I still think we have an incredible but lopsided squad for this level, we just need somebody to bring the best out of them. Whether it just needs a change of system/ formation who knows. This season is done. What we have to guard against, are similar performances to those we've seen over the last month(even Wigan was average). That could bring about issues at the wrong end of the table.
3

Saxonblue74 added 16:36 - Dec 17
Hopefully we can build some momentum with a bit of new manager "bounce". I really do hope that covid doesn't throw a spanner in the works as I can see football being called to a halt again the way things are going.
1

Bazza8564 added 16:41 - Dec 17
Chepstowblue yes indeed, although with three or four wins on the bounce I think a second half run is possible, however unlikely it feels. Incredible but lopsided is a brilliant statement, lets see what the new gaffer does in January because Im very certain the US investors will still have an eye on promotion.
On Wigan, I think you are being polite by calling it average. Certainly we battled a bit harder, but the quality of our football was poor and im really looking forward to seeing what shape Kieran wants to play.
There is no doubt JM is a class act, and i absolutely agree that KM is a brilliant appointment. The willingness to take a guys from one of the worlds top coaching set ups is a massive statement of intent, and our ability to attract them should make everybody sit up and take notice. The fact that people are comparing them to Hurst sadly speaks volumes for the lack of breadth some fans demonstrate, and quite insulting to the guys. I cant wait to see the blues play tomorrow, a chance at the levry least to put the last ten days firmly behind us
2

Kirbmeister added 17:20 - Dec 17
Some are still talking of promotion this season. Deluded. We would need to average over 2 points a game to stand a chance. Even the top side isn't doing that. This squad isn't suddenly going to start ripping it up. There's a long road ahead.
5

BurleysGloryDays added 17:30 - Dec 17
I hope EVERYONE can breathe confidence back into the players.

We were playing the best football at the club for a decade and thrashing some teams, other teams were getting off lightly (and being rewarded for clanging individual errors).

That has all dissipated - so two things need to happen:

1) Players need us fans to get behind them, free them of fear, NOT GET ON THEIR BACKS.
2) Manager needs to get them cooking, believing in themselves again, and fighting for each other, the badge, and the fans that are SUPPORTING them.

A Bonne brace at the weekend and the fire will return. Come on Macauley, write yourself into our history.
5

therein61 added 17:56 - Dec 17
John is a blue and stepped into the breach to help out while on a hiding to nothing he can now revert to the job he came in to do and with his whole hearted attitude and calm but firm manner can only be an asset to the under 23's and to the new managerial duo.
5

chopra777 added 18:08 - Dec 17
I hope he was not responsible for tactics during the Man Utd v Liverpool match. He needs to get his philosophy to the players quicker than PC did. It is good to see he has an assistant. Good luck Kieran
0

nix290 added 18:12 - Dec 17
Another positive point that he may bring; access to Man U loan players with his contacts at the club.
2

ArnieM added 18:36 - Dec 17
COYBs….
0

PhilR added 19:01 - Dec 17
It is an interesting and maybe ballsy appointment by the club. I am very pleased to see he will have an experienced guy next to him who by all accounts has a good reputation. I hope these two together will bring some top quality man management skills, which are badly needed in the short term. Good luck McKenna, if you can sort that squad out to perform properly it will have been a very good Christmas present.
1

bluesman added 23:20 - Dec 17
This whole thing is totally mystifying. We were three or four players short of being a good squad at the end of October playing some good stuff at times and scoring for fun. Not sure where we are now, or why.
0


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