Keogh: I Can Definitely See a Lot of Potential Friday, 14th Oct 2022 19:39 Richard Keogh can see only good times ahead for Town in their pursuit of promotion back to the Championship at the end of what will have been a four-year stay in League One. It all appears to be going according to plan for manager Kieran McKenna and his players as they sit second in the table, 10 points clear of Barnsley in sixth, but with 33 fixtures still to be played there remains a great deal of hard work to be completed before any prizes are handed out. Keogh is a vastly experienced player and having spent more time in the Championship than at any other level, he was asked to compare the current Blues squad with those at any of the second-tier clubs for whom he has played in the past, among them Coventry, Derby, Huddersfield and Blackpool, from whom he arrived at Portman Road in August. The former Republic of Ireland international said: “I think we have a high level of quality in the dressing room here. I think a lot of the players still have a lot of growth in them and can eventually achieve the level they want to reach in the game. “Some of the lads have already played in the Championship, of course, but the biggest and greatest thing for me to see as a player — and probably for the manager as well — is to see if they can get to the next level. “I definitely see a lot of potential for them to do that and the way we play is fantastic too. It’s a style of play that everybody enjoys and from a personal point of view I think it suits me as well. “That definitely helps, as does having an identity in terms of how we press, counter attack, as well as the togetherness within the squad. With our way of playing, we can be tough opponents for any side.” Keogh knew he would not be a regular member of the starting line-up when he joined Town, his signing having much to do with his off-the-field influence at the club’s training ground, with the club’s younger players tapping into his vast knowledge of the game. He added: “I’m probably going to gravitate towards the other defenders, for obvious reasons, and I feel I can probably help them more in certain situations. “But I would like to influence the whole group — that’s the reason I’m here — and after all the experience I have gained in my career I’m looking to put something back and help in any way I can. “It could be a conversation, say, with Cam [Cameron Humphreys], or when I’m playing alongside him in certain situations. We had Albie [Armin] training with us the other day and he was asking me a few questions about this and that, all to do with him looking to learn and improve. “We’ve created an environment at the club where the players want to help and push each other. “That’s obviously about passing on good information but also being demanding of each other and setting the right standards when you train. It’s fantastic what the manager, and the club in general, has created for players to get the best out of themselves and each other. “As senior players it’s our job to do that and I think it’s key. I was around many influential types when I was young and it definitely helped me and now that I’m at this stage of my career I want to help make the younger lads better players. Ultimately, if that happens, it makes the team, the squad, everyone better.” A huge number of Keogh’s games as a player saw him cast in the role of captain and he was asked how Town skipper Sam Morsy’s leadership style compares to his own. He replied: “I think Sam is a bit similar to me. He’s been captain at different clubs and he’s a great guy, someone I’ve connected with very well. “It’s probably good for Sam to have someone like me around because he can bounce things off me that he might not have experienced before and it would be good for us to have that sort of relationship. “He’s been fantastic on the pitch, he really drives the group on in training as well as in games and on Saturday at Morecambe, especially in the second half, he arrived on the end of so many second balls. He’s a very important cog in the team, the way he plays, and he’s a great leader. “I’ve played against Sam a lot but since I’ve been playing and training alongside him, I appreciate more how impactful he can be and how good a player he actually is. “We’ve had some good battles over the years, for sure, and when you knew you were going to be playing against him you knew it was going to be a tough game. It’s nice to have him on the same team now. He’s really enjoying his football at the moment and I think he has improved as a player under the gaffer here.” What about the training at Ipswich compared to what he experienced at his previous clubs? Keogh added: “Training is a lot different now to when I first started out in the game. Everything evolves and I count myself lucky to have worked under some fantastic managers and coaches. “The manager here, and his coaching staff, are all top people and the way we train is fantastic. I’m sure if you asked any of the other players, they would say the same. “Everyone enjoys the training and whether they’re in the team or not they all enjoy coming in every day, helping each other, driving each other on and trying to raise the standard of the training. “It’s not just that, every day we are all learning, irrespective of whether you’re 36 or 18 like Cameron Humphreys. I’m twice Cam’s age but I’m still learning and that says a lot about the skill of the coach, improving people all the time and all in a fantastic environment. “I’ve trained similarly at other stages of my career with different clubs but I can assure you the quality of what we do here is right at the very top.” Asked how he was settling into life in Suffolk, he responded; “I’m out of the hotel I was staying in when I arrived and I wanted to do that quite quickly. I’m really enjoying it. Like I’ve said before, I was always going to have an affiliation with Ipswich Town because I spent a lot of years here when I was growing up and because of that the connection was always strong. “To actually be back here, pulling on the shirt and playing for the club, means I am finally experiencing what I always wanted as a youngster. It's a great feeling and I have settled in quickly as well. Hopefully, there are going to many more happy memories created between now and the end of the season. “I spoke briefly with Pablo [Couñago] at the training ground, just to introduce myself, and I’m sure I will be chatting to Matt Holland pretty soon. “I also bumped into John Wark at one of the games recently and that was nice. He said he was pleased with my performances against both Northampton and the Arsenal U21s, which was good to hear because he was a fantastic player and he knows what he’s talking about. “I remember these guys from my time in the academy and when I was a ballboy at home games. It was back in the days of the Championship and then, obviously, they got promoted when we beat Barnsley in the play-off final at Wembley. “It’s crazy, really, how football can take you on these journeys and allow you to experience so much different stuff along the way. “If you had said to me when I was a young kid that I would end up coming back to the club where it all started for me, I probably wouldn’t have believed it could be like that. “It’s just funny how football seems to have a way of making things happen. It has been a great journey and I’m loving it as much now as I ever did. “I saw some great games back then but to be honest, not that many have stuck in my mind. I was young and a bit in awe of it all back then. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t mess up and when I was watching the game it seemed to flash by quite quickly. “I maybe didn’t appreciate it for what it was. I just used to think ‘Wow!’ when I saw certain players and I was always thinking how much I wanted to be a part of it all in the future. That was the dream, that was the goal, for me and many others. My dream was always to play for Ipswich, I just didn’t see it happening the way it has.” Town could return to the top of the League One table tomorrow with a home win over Lincoln City and if leaders Plymouth fail to win at struggling MK Dons, but Keogh warned: “When you’re fighting for a big prize, like getting out of the league by being promoted, everyone is potentially going to step up their game a little bit more when they play against you. “That just comes with the territory of being a big team and it can add to the pressure, but I don’t see that within the group. I see a team that’s really focused on trying to achieve something. “Will there be bumps in the road? Of course, just like any other team aiming for the top, and it’s about how you deal with them. “So far, I think we’re really improving, not just as a team but also as a squad, and I think there’s still a lot of growth in us from what I’ve seen. “They are all massive games but it’s about the process and falling in love with the process, and if we do that I think we’ll be okay.” Keogh was asked about defenders getting among the goals, with George Edmundson claiming his first league goal of the current campaign when he levelled at Morecambe last week to launch a second-half recovery that saw Town go on to earn all three points after Lee Evans converted from the spot. He laughed: “I think I might be more pleased than he was with the goal — I was head-locking him on the way down. It’s something we spoke about as a group; set plays are big and can decide games. “You can have the majority of the possession box to box but a lot of games are decided on set plays, not just at this level but at the very top level. “We work hard on them, we have good delivery on them and with the timing of the runs I would say we are hitting the right areas. “It was a great run from George and a great finish, and I was just arriving behind him, so we had bodies in that area to attack the ball. “George had another opportunity later on and as defenders we all know we need to chip in with some goals, so it was nice that he got off the mark on Saturday.” Last week Edmundson complained about his ratings in the latest version of the FIFA 23 video game, especially the fact that he achieved lower marks than teammate Luke Woolfenden in the pace category, which led to him suggesting the pair should face off in a sprint at the training ground to settle the argument once and for all. Keogh was asked for his view and said: “You know what, it would be a good race between those two. With his actions, George looks as if he is running really quickly, whereas with Woolfy I’d like to see him at full pace because I’m not sure I’ve seen that yet. “As to who would win a race between them, I really don’t know. I’d say let’s just keep it as it is and see how Fridge reacts to it. Sorry, Fridge!”
Photo: Pagepix Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
You need to login in order to post your comments |
   Blogs 298 bloggersIpswich Town Polls[ Vote here ] |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
