Town midfielder Jack Taylor says the Blues will take plenty of lessons from their Premier League journey and use them to attack the Championship next season.

For the second season in a row, the three promoted sides have all been immediately relegated with Town having joined Leicester City and Southampton in falling back to the second tier at the first time of asking.

The Blues will return to the Championship next season off the back of a season of experience at the top level, something which Taylor believes should not be underestimated.

“It’s going to be a completely different year next year,” he said. “We’re coming in from the top league rather than going up into the Premier League. We’re still going to go into every game next year as if we were preparing for a Premier League game this year.

“On a respect basis, we’re going to respect every opposition in the Championship the same we do with Premier League sides. We’re not in a great position now and it’s not the goal we all wanted, but the club is ready for next season and we’re still preparing for that now.

“Definitely looking at the bigger picture, if you take all the lessons we’ve learnt this year competing against the best in the world.

“We all know that the Championship is a really tough league as well, but to take the lessons that we’ve learnt this year into next year would be a massive plus for us. Hopefully we do bounce straight back up.”

Two players who appear unlikely to be with the Blues beyond the end of this season are loanees Jens Cajuste and Kalvin Phillips.

The presence of the pair in midfield has meant Taylor has found game time, particularly starts, limited this season. However, the Republic of Ireland international understands why.

“They’ve brought their own different qualities,” he said. “There’s so much experience between the two of them. They’ve shown day in, day out how they train and how they apply themselves.

“I feel like they’ve learnt from our group as well on what we’ve built over the last couple of seasons. It’s been great to have them and they’ve been great additions to the squad.

“Unfortunately the outcome wasn’t what we wanted but the club is in a great stand and no matter what they choose to do next year, they’ll be in a great position.”

While the season will end in the Blues falling short in their ultimate goal of survival, there are plenty of moments to take from the campaign for each player on a personal level.

For Taylor, he has experienced playing in the top flight for the first time in his career, with the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United a particular highlight.

He said: “That was probably my favourite night, I know the result wasn’t ideal. To come on at my boyhood club who I’ve supported since I was a kid was really surreal.

“There’s so many historical grounds, great players and great teams that we’ve come up against this year, it’s one to learn from.

“Because I came on as a sub, I just had to focus on my job and what I had to do. I came on when we were 3-2 down so I had to come on and try and push for a goal and try and create something.

“It was more when you first got there as a player rather than as a fan. I’ve been there with my dad’s season ticket since I was a kid going to watch United.

“Being on the other side of it as a player, turning up on the pitch and things like that was a more surreal moment before the game. Once the game kicks off and you’re zoning in, a switch gets flipped.”

Taylor also struck his first goal at the level in December against Wolverhampton Wanderers, entering an exclusive list of players to have scored in the top five tiers of English football.

“It was the most perfect way to score your first Premier League goal,” the 26-year-old recalled. “Away from home, in front of a packed away end in the last minute, it was a special moment.”

TWTD

ipswichultra added 10:37 - May 6 Ipswich have a real shot at a top six finish next season — no doubt about it. With Marcus Harness coming back from loan, we’ve got an extra bit of quality and creativity in the squad. Add to that a fully fit Burnsy flying down the wing and Chappers back to his sharp, goal-scoring best, and this team looks dangerous. If we can keep that core fit and firing, there’s no reason we can’t be right in the mix for the playoffs.

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cressi added 11:05 - May 6 Typical Man Utd fan born in Hammersmith London same as those round here supporting Northern sides makes me sick to be honest.
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Tedray added 11:29 - May 6 I believe to get to our u ltimate destination it has been shown this year that tall strong physical players are needed allied of course to an element of skill.The time has probably come to purge ourselves of the "old" lower league players.Iam a bit concerned that we may lose more players than folk think. For instance people like Axel,Dara and Leif could well be targeted. Midfield will have to be completely restructered for what with ageing, loans, one or two others who have yet to be proven there is not a lot there.Again up front we could possibly lose Delap,Omari, and even George and I will not touch on those injured Should all this happen we will be down to bare bones. Certainly a most interesting period coming up.We have tried hard this year and kept our heads held high,so well done - just that certain ingredients were missing.

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Leutard added 12:29 - May 6 There is a chance that being favourites for a lot of matches next year will benefit us. McKenna absolutely demolished teams playing low blocks in league one, and will know how to approach that
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Broadbent23 added 12:36 - May 6 I have spotted one problem we have had playing in the PL. The 25 squad rules allow a minimum of 7 or 8 home grown players (generally at least three years experience in British football). This season we have 23 listed pre Jan 2025. Whereas other teams have between 7 to 15 . Therefore our squad needs boosting with more foreign talent before we return to the PL. The question being how well would a English 1st eleven perform in the PL. Probably top 10. Facts taken from official Prem squads for 24/25. No individual criticism of any player, but our quality has been lacking.

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Tellitasitis added 12:37 - May 6 Look like Colchester are being taken over by US owners that in a roundabout way linked to Ipswich and they Will become our feeder club.
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bobble added 13:06 - May 6 Surely we have been colchesters feeder club ?
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Radlett_blue added 13:07 - May 6 Harness? I am pretty sure he will be moved on in the summer.
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billlm added 13:35 - May 6 Don't like colchester
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Cadiar added 13:46 - May 6 Completely agree with Broadbent23⁸. We have the lowest number of registered overseas players in the Prem the max being 17 which quite a few clubs have. Liverpool have put out teams with no home grown players as I'm sure others have. It seems there is a shortage of Prem quality home grown players and the very best are playing in Europe. The philosophy of having young, hungry home grown players hasn't really worked, perhaps we should be looking in Europe & Africa more become where is the talent in Britain?

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blues1 added 14:28 - May 6 Tellitasitis. If colchester ever become our feeder club, then itxwill mean we are in big trouble.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:16 - May 6 I for one am taking nothing for granted re- next season. There are so many unknowns just at the moment. Of course, I hope we will be a force to be reckoned with, but we shall see... COYB!
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Bert added 17:50 - May 6 I dare say that Taylor will get more game time but not sure what position suits KMcKs playing style. We certainly need more bite and invention in midfield. Whilst KMcKs reputation has been slightly tarnished, I have no doubt that players will want to come here because of him and the positive nature of our club. We used to be compared with clubs like Watford but look where they have been in the past few years and the instability because of firing managers at the drop of a hat. We are in in a far superior position to them in terms of players, manager, owners and attendances.

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TimmyH added 19:01 - May 6 Blimey he's got a lot to say recently...wish he did as much with a football as his talking. Personally I wouldn't start him in the Championship, he has to earn a place and he hasn't done enough.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:13 - May 6 Ipswichultra, I'd say and most certainly hope, we have a real shot at a top one finish! No, im not taking anything for granted, and I'm sure the likes of Birmingham, Wrexham and Southampton might have a thing or two to say about it. But whatever the comings and going over the next few weeks, we are going to start next season in a very strong position. I've been a big supporter of KM and I believe I understand why things have happened the way they've happened this season. However, in my view, promotion back to the " promised land " next season, isn't an option, It's a must, and no excuses will paper over any failure.

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bluebullet29l added 20:22 - May 6 Can't believe people are getting excited about harness coming back...good god. If he was that good he wouldn't have been released for loan in the first place!!! He's part of the dead wood that needs getting rid of. I'm absolutely baffled by some posts on here.
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