Everton boss David Moyes says his Blues counterpart Kieran McKenna has done a great job at “a real football club”, despite Town’s relegation back to the Championship following one season back in the top flight.

The Blues travel to Goodison Park for the Toffees’ home since 1892’s penultimate match on Saturday.

“A great, great young manager, who half the country wanted last year,” Moyes said.

“I could stand corrected here, but I think he’s the only one who’s taken a team from [League One] to the Championship to the Premier League.

“I thought I was going to do it when I was manager Preston, [League One] straight up, Championship, but I lost in the play-off final to Big Sam [Allardyce]’s Bolton.

“Kieran’s been able to take the team all the way, which is an unbelievable achievement.

“We’re all talking a lot about Wrexham at the moment, how well Wrexham are doing, amazing work Phil Parkinson has done, but Kieran has done that into the Premier League, which is so good.

“And let’s just remember, Ipswich is a club, if you’re of a generation, you remember the Ipswich Town teams [of Sir Bobby Robson], they were fantastic, they were challenging for First Division titles.

“He’s done it at a real football club. He’ll be disappointed with this season but in the main I think he’s done a brilliant job there.”

Moyes, one of the many Premier League managers understood to be showing interest in Town frontman Liam Delap, could have Dominic Calvert-Lewin back in his squad, but at best on the bench, after the 11-times-capped England striker returned to training this week following a hamstring injury.

Another attacker, summer Town target Armando Broja, is available having been ineligible for last week’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea, his parent club.

James Tarkowski (hamstring), Jesper Lindstrøm (hernia) and Orel Mangala (knee) remain sidelined.

Photo: REUTERS/Tony O Brien

Woolfenthen added 15:28 - May 2 Knows his onions
6

Bluespeed225 added 15:33 - May 2 Played for Celtic in Big Als testimonial game?
1

Leejames99 added 15:47 - May 2 Got to say that, liked the 'in the main'.
-7

Bert added 16:30 - May 2 "Ipswich are a proper football club"; a term that most supporters of ITFC use themselves. We are a community club but one with ambition. Our owners have proved that their interest is more than the bottom line, our management is here for the long haul and we are a learning club. As supporters we need to be better attuned to the lows. So easy to support a club that is always winning. We have a sense of belonging that other clubs envy.

14

johnwarksshorts added 17:07 - May 2 Top man and manager.
10

darkhorse28 added 17:34 - May 2 I love that level of conviction Bert. Our nanger did though provisionally agree to leave us last summer. Leveraging a monster contract not to leave, that is the reality. And our US owners have been world class in their support; but it is 100% about the money, for ORG at least, we’ve been risk capital with huge potential upside. It will be fascinating how it plays out, but the era of US money flooding to the prem looks in danger. We were a cheap investment, with eye watering upside, with a strong $ and weak £. That’s changed by over 20% in the last few months. We’ve got our ducks in a row, which is fantastic, but if the deal was structured today, it likely wouldn’t happen. US sports franchises got much cheaper, we got significantly more expensive. The timing of the BPSP deal couldn’t have worked any better for us. And probably a good thing the economics will mess up the prem being too US centric …, if it’s going ‘franchise’ we need to be inside that particular tent. That’s why we need huge ambition, it’s very obvious where it ends, and it is about the money.., it’s musical chairs.., if we aren’t in the prem, when the big clubs get their way (and they will) then it’s game over as a potential big club. A reduced size top league is inevitable. And it will be justified by the gulf in quality, and European expansion, the media narrative is well under way. The money gets what the money wants.

3

armchaircritic59 added 18:15 - May 2 So, a hugely experienced Premier League , very well thought of, recent trophy winning manager with West Ham, thinks KM has done, in the main, a brilliant job. KM's critics on here choose to disagree (it's their right of course, it's opinions). Whose opinions would you prefer to believe? Perhaps we should have one of those pie charts on here, where we could vote and see the outcome!

5

Leejames99 added 18:26 - May 2 @armchaircritic59 Who do we believe? It's not a fact its Moyes opinion and he us right in the main he has been a great manager just not in the Premier League as all the shocking stats and unwanted records show.
-3

darkhorse28 added 18:28 - May 2 Everyone should support KM, he worked the oracle, did the impossible and did it out of thin air. Also true he spent £150 million and btw is paid MORE than Moyes who has you say is truly elite. Both things can be and are indeed true. Record home defeats, and one of the worst seasons ever, and getting worse by the day…, but he’s young and maybe is learning his trade still, and could come back much stronger. It’s all true. Let’s see if momentum is more instructive of what comes next, or it’s a step back…, on Ashton though, he isn’t getting better, that’s what all his experience at this level suggests, and he is way short of the required standard. Our talent ID was so far off this year as to be criminal.

3

Leejames99 added 18:56 - May 2 I like Ashton and the new owners, Ashton doesn't hold any punches I don't think and has backed Mckenna for the 2 great promotions but I'm not sure he will be happy with these worst records of all time and having to give the owners the same drivel every week of fine margins and no doubt about that's. We know Kmk can produce in League 1, we are not sure re Championship whether that was the insane form of Hutchinson and team momentum so the jury is out, and we know he isnt Prem ready so this is a defining season, his recruitment, his tactics, his ability to get a squad ready who can start off and stay at top of Prem, can he make tough choices on his favourites and move on with new recruits and get the same from them as he did the league 1 lads. I'm not sure he can but happy to find out, will be no hiding this season, he has bought the best in Championship, his first job is can he convince signings that Ipswich is the club to be at, its only a year to get back, will they stay and grow as a team and go back up stronger but with a winning mentality. If he can convince Delap, Cajuste, Tunazabe, Burgess, Hutchinson all to stay he is on to a winner with some new additions, I really think Muric needs fans to give him a chance his stats in Championship are much better than Palmer but either would be good next season I think Slicker will be number 2 and pivotal in Delap staying. Imagine this team starting in July Palmer Tunazabe Greaves O'Shea Townsend Cajuste Humphries Szmodics Hutchinson Phillogene J Clarke Delap Subs Slicker Phillogene Hirst Ogbene Johnson Woolfenden Broadhead Chaplin J Taylor Morsy H Clarke Burgess That's with no signings! Pop a Finn Azaz or similar in be golden. That's signing nobody

-4

Bert added 19:05 - May 2 I agree darkhorse28 that the American investment probably would not be made today given what has happened since Trump upended the rules of fair trade etc. I said as much last month. That said what Moyes has said is spot on about our club.
2

papashango87 added 19:42 - May 2 Lee James your not a manager and never will be, do we really have to see who you would have as your lineup under every single post, move on mate stick to championship manager. McKenna and his team do the work every single day, training and coaching. You’re just some chump who watches and criticises. Get grumpy all you like but the club would be better off without you armchair managers

0

Leejames99 added 20:06 - May 2 @papashango87 No 'we' don't have to see, it's just oponion feel free to block, your boring me, come back and say hi to me when we we are reset. I dont want to be Manager. If you happy to applaud failure that's fine.
-3

Leejames99 added 20:10 - May 2 To @papahanjo87 I think the club don't need people accepting Kmk cult status and arrogance in failure! If he said a football pitch is green but it could be blue if not for fine margins you would believe him.
-6

MartynBullard added 20:18 - May 2 Moyes is doing what the great Bob Paisley used to do to visiting managers, in the run-up to the game. He referred to it as "giving them a little bit of toffee" i.e. softening the opposition team up.
2

papashango87 added 20:24 - May 2 Have i hit a nerve buddy? I don’t think McKenna is a cult hero but I appreciate hard work and where what we have achieved. Like most people with half a brain do. Who do you think would do better at the moment who is actually available? Other than yourself obviously? If you can’t take the criticism don’t dish it out
5

ringwoodblue added 21:12 - May 2 Another PL manager blows smoke up McKenna’s arse before their teams beat us. It’s getting boring now.
1

Leejames99 added 21:19 - May 2 @pappashandjo87 No nerve touched here, just reads yawn, I never said ever I didn't appreciate what Mckenna has done for the club and I've also said I'm happy to see what he can do but I certainly don't think he is the best thing since sliced bread and don't applaud his failure this season but we heard every excuse so let's see if he can deliver, I personally think he is too young and inexperienced in management for the Prem but also has become arrogant and I don't think he will change much at all, and he just says same things now. Blames everything on anything but himself! I can take critique but it's not about criticism it's opinions. That doesn't warrant foul names and childish anagrams. Available managers with Prrem experience and available with passion, experience etc There is a few Gerrard will come good again, Dyche,Southgate,Carsley, Benitez. Ryan Mason. This is the Mckenna fanclub I know and if I didn't post any different opinion to yours it would be pretty boring. My first choice if Mckenna goes would be Dyche, I'd rather watch 1-1 draws or 1-0 wins and stay in Prem than 3 or 4 goal losses every week, but usually a manager can not do well at one club but do great at another which puts Gerrard in good spot. Let's see how Mckenna does of if as predicted he jumps ship with hero status intact. Not sure where you popped up from chew on this how marny 9's between 0 and 100 If you want to talk football or Ipswich no problem but I'm not entertaining bad language

-4

Wooly74 added 21:26 - May 2 We’ve got some right lemons on here believing they can take their PS5 Football Manager form into the real World. McKenna is the best we’ve had for a very long time and trust me over the 38 years of watching this beloved club home and away I’ve seen a few.
2

Leejames99 added 21:40 - May 2 @wooly74 Why when people disagree with opinions they have to insult and revert to this Football Manager nonsense. Kmk is not the best we have had for years, yes he got 2 promotions, now he has a relegation but not only that has the worst records in the football clubs history, the worst ever, worse than Paul Hirst even. You don't see other clubs crying over managers going like this, Russell Martin took Saints up, O'Neil kept Wolves up, Dyche kept Everton up, managers are based on results and yes Mckenna had success in League 1 and the rub of the green in Chsmpionship and good form of Omari, Sarimento, Halkdy and Moore. He failed the real test so far, Premier League not good enough.

-4

Leejames99 added 21:46 - May 2 How would Mckenna done under Marcus Evans. How do we know Paul Cook wouldn't of taken us up, he signed all the players who did. This Mckenna fan club is getting silly, we are relegated, the Prem going to be no easier if we did get back and we got fans on here saying give Luongo another year, let Morsy stay, J Taylor, be good with Burns back but to get rid of Muric pronto who was keeper of the season in Championship with stats double better to Palmer. I really don't know any club like it. J Taylor wanting to be a regular, Morsy saying we go again, it's all very disillusioned and it's going to get worse if Leicester turn us over that will say it all.

-5

armchaircritic59 added 23:28 - May 2 It's all just opinions guys and girls. Yours is no more important than mine and vice versa. For what it's worth, yes KM has found it difficult this season, and yes it's a virtual certainty he's made mistakes over the past 8 months or so, like all of us I expect, including me. Just as I would have expected from one of the youngest managers around with no previous experience of managing in a top league anywhere. Coaching yes, managing no, different kettle of fish. I will however just add this. Promotion again next season is an absolute must, no excuses not to. We are virtually certain to have a much stronger squad then the one that went up last time. If that doesn't happen and of course it is still KM in charge, then I might just start to join the dissenting voices.

2

Bluewhiteboy added 05:49 - May 3 Dark horse, best post seen in years. Great read
1

Leejames99 added 06:36 - May 3 @juggsy (I can only imagine) If you look properly I put Phillogene and Hutchinson for same position either or but also put Phillogene in subs. What a pointless post not relevant to football, verbal diarrhea or not you still read my posts and give me a daily down mark, that comment alone tells me all I need to know! Next
-2

SpiritOfJohn added 07:14 - May 3 Talking about setting unwanted records. Someone has already posted nine comments on this one story, and in one of them he has the gall to complain about our manager coming out with "the same drivel every week".
2

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls