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Reply | Ben Johnson and Harry Clarke - enough for the right hand side?
at 09:22 27 Jun 2025
I still like Harry Clarke and think he'll mature and continue to improve.
His numbers actually stack up well for the time he was on the pitch, obviously just a shame about his injuries.
Sort of player you know will always give a little bit more on the pitch with the connection. |
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Reply | Ambitous summer plans
at 14:25 25 Jun 2025
Johnson has been known to play in the middle. Not saying that's where he'll be, but that little bit of versatility may be why he's more likely to stay than go when we're already short in the middle of the park.
Not sure how I feel about Downes, assuming Morsy starts the season (and I think he will...) there's a need for that athletic partnership, but also someone with that Luongo type ability. I still think that player is Cajuste, but that's looking more and more unlikely each passing day. |
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Reply | Patrick Agyemang - Charlotte FC striker….
at 09:02 25 Jun 2025
Very much in the Kieffer Moore mould but with added step overs.
Not fast, but probably quicker than he looks (if that makes sense?) clearly a big strong lad. Clearly has composure in front of goal which is something you either have or don't imo.
Happy for a link like this, but is Fab is reporting Derby closing in, then that's probably right. |
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Reply | Qatar has officially closed its airspace
at 17:00 23 Jun 2025
Probably the Americans suggesting it as a precaution.
Want to be able to more easily identify shizzle flying in that direction towards their base if needs be. |
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Reply | And now, the glass half empty
at 11:17 19 Jun 2025
As I see it.
Keep this squad and add one quality midfielder to replace Luongo (or Cajuste from season gone) and one quality striker to replace Kieffer Moore (or Delap from season gone) and we're doing pretty darn well IMO.
Obviously keeping who we have is key, losing Tuanzebe would be my biggest concern. |
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Reply | Quiz ⚽⚽
at 16:39 18 Jun 2025
16/24 in a couple of mins on a phone call, before hitting give up.
Although a bit upset about a few that I missed.
Doubt i'd have got 20 though. |
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Reply | Three PL clubs monitoring O’Shea
at 09:16 6 Jun 2025
Tend to agree, both Greaves and O'Shea tend to want to attack the ball, which is fine, but one needs to think about the other a bit more.
Wonder if Tuanzebe will get the centre back role if we keep him and O'Shea leaves? |
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Reply | Who else to go? If we manage retain Axel and Johnson
at 09:13 6 Jun 2025
I wouldn't be surprised to see Muric and Slicker out on loan.
Taylor I think McKenna likes, but as many of us seems to agree, he doesn't quite fit how we play, I think he does very well in a team more suited.
Al-Hamadi will be on loan, we'll be giving him another year to create some value.
O'Shea I think stays. No basis other than at what point do you think a relegation with WB, then with Burnley and then with Ipswich isn't a great deal of fun and perhaps working back up would be more beneficial long term than keep jumping ship rather than staying to bail out with everyone else.
Walton I understand, he either needs #1 shirt or goes and gets it elsewhere and is thoroughly deserving of it.
Humphrey is in the squad imo. He'll get minutes and can be relied on which will be important when we've got turnover in squad elsewhere, brings back a bit of continuity.
Broadhead I can understand wanting to leave unless Jack Clarke goes, then it's imperative we keep him. Would love those two on the left though throughout the campaign.
Tuanzebe I suspect might leave, but I think we'll be trying very hard on this one, especially knowing the cost it might be to replace.
Burgess? Not sure on this. Head says he'll go, it's clear Greaves was bought as a longer term option which makes sense, but I think we need him in the building, unless it's viewed an injury free Baggott can step in if we really need him? (Not sure, hard to judge based on his season with those injuries and disruptions, there's definitely a player there).
The comments on Harry Clarke surprise me, the way we played with him in the team meant we had a huge amount of space behind, we obviously valued attack more than defence and that perhaps made him look more exposed than he would ordinarily have been. He's 24, had some very serious injuries and a major (in footballing terms) operation. Passion, physical attributes are there, defenders tend to mature a little later too, so I wouldn't write him off yet at all. Plus there's the extra 5% being a blue brings to the party. His numbers in our champ season were good too.
Anyone have thoughts on Ben Johnson? Very quiet regarding him which surprises me. Where does he fit if Tuanzebe stays? |
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Reply | Demolition Man 2
at 14:24 3 Jun 2025
McKenna and Ashton want to keep as much of squad together as possible, knows that continuity within the core is important and have said so.
Sure, we'll see changes, but clearly wants to keep Burgess and Tuanzebe, so we'll see plenty of the current squad in the team photo i'm sure.
Obvious that Cajuste, Phillips and Luongo need replacing, so there are some very key people going to come in, but much of that will depend on who we can and can't keep (or don't want to). |
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Reply | PSG, very impressive
at 14:42 1 Jun 2025
Structure to their game but also seems they could play with freedom in that final third and they looked like they were enjoying every moment, a few unconventional moves, allowed to use skill and creativity, not robots!
Was a joy to watch |
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Reply | (No subject) (n/t)
at 07:21 30 May 2025
Let’s just hope we have a similar sell on clause as is common.
Chelsea sell to RM in 2 years for £100m, they make £70m and we pocket £10-£15m again?
That’s pretty well protected imo but we won’t know will we? |
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Reply | Biggest threats/suprrises next season?
at 11:54 28 May 2025
I'm sure Leicester, Southampton and Leeds has similar comments made when we gatecrashed the perceived dominance they thought they'd have.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. |
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Reply | Biggest threats/suprrises next season?
at 10:37 28 May 2025
Coventry and Wrexham will undoubtedly have been looking at us and using that (rightly so) as a marker of what can be achieved with a good squad and unity coming up.
Birmingham do have a strong squad, probably shouldn't have gone down either, so I wouldn't write them off at all.
Wrexham will likely need a little bit of an overhaul, but they have 'momentum' and I'm not discounting them, just think they'll probably find this step quite a jump with the players they currently have. That's not to say the Hollywood influence won't allow them to recruit well.
Southampton will be strong, as will Sheffield United.
No idea what Leicester will be like, if they escape a deduction, you'd have to expect them to be challenging.
Of the others...
Coventry with Lampard seems to suit each other, their form over the second half of the season was impressive, can Frank kick that on over the summer? We know they have good players.
Millwall were a bit of a surprise too, they'll be confident of punching upwards, but I do think they'll lose Ivanovic (maybe one we'd look at), he looks decent.
Brizzle will depend on if Manning stays and whether they give him some pennies to spend. Norwich seems an odd choice for him, but maybe they have the cash now, hard to know.
Looks like the league will be tough though. Birmingham, Wrexham and Chalrton are decent sized clubs with a bit of clout coming up and may mix it a little.
Us, Leicester, Southampton, SU all have a fair bit of money and you'd think we'd be fighting towards the top, but as we know because we did it...the top 2 can be gatecrashed without the money in this league. |
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Reply | Hmmm…
at 17:03 23 May 2025
When we were confirmed relegated, he probably had it in his clause he could speak then, so it's fair enough.
If not, it's nice that the club haven't looked to stand in his way or played hard ball, means players are respected by the club, makes us a more attractive destination.
Get the money in asap, before June as mentioned and gives more FFP headroom which is going to be vital.
Delap gets with new team asap which benefits him which is a good thing, they're still people, even though viewed mostly as assets.
Nice to make a profit on a player which doesn't feel like it has happened for a long time and no need to bring up the value, nothing we can do about it, other than hope he scores loads for his next club and then goes to Real Madrid next year for £120m and we get a sell on lol! |
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Reply | So what happens at 5.50pm on Sunday….?
at 09:20 23 May 2025
Here's my take on this, for what it's worth....
Did the team, down tools and quit at any point this season, even when being summarily outclassed? No.
I use the term carefully, because few of our games have involved being totally beaten, we've been very close a number of times and any other day, we could have had 9 - 12 points more this season and it'd be a close but not close enough type scenario.
On paper, it looks pretty terrible, but one thing a majority of Ipswich fans have is perspective and ability to look at context of what's happened.
Have there been mistakes? Absolutely and I suspect behind closed doors, even McKenna will know that, but he's young, studious and ambitious, he'll reflect and learn.
The ground has been pragmatic, sometimes a little self deprecating, but that's not been too bad either, we are where we are and I appreciate the team effort, regardless of falling short.
Think of your kid playing sport, if they fail, you don't moan at them and tell them they're s**t ? (if you do, you suck as a parent - big difference between that and an honest conversation btw)
No, you tell them to keep working hard and do their best and if they lose doing their best, which I think has happened this season, then there's actually nothing wrong with that.
This team is a long way from the downed tools era of Roy Keane where the team had nothing about them, no desire (perhaps disingenuous to a few players....but it's a team sport).
I'll clap, happy with their efforts, disappointed with the outcome, as is the same for the players.
We go again.
Winners never quit and quitters never win. |
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Reply | Watching wolves vs palace
at 10:05 21 May 2025
I even thought Arsenal would be small technical players, but even Saka isn't small and much belies the fotbmob stats of his height of 5'10, he was 100% taller than me and would have said closer to 6', same for Martinelli, would have guessed a 5'6 lol, but no, he's probably 5'10.
The whole team just looked 'big' which really surprised me.
Then add in the fact they can all play too lol |
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Reply | Palace dressing room after cup final win
at 09:08 21 May 2025
Another good club, with seemingly good people.
OG seems a great manager, sincere, much like McKenna is and I like that a lot.
Really pleased for Palace and that was a nice listen. |
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Reply | Wardley fight off
at 13:42 30 Apr 2025
I've heard Miller's signed up for the Gorilla v 100 men blockbuster instead |
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Reply | So, season tickets up 10%
at 12:51 24 Apr 2025
Let's not forget R Reeves wonderful employer NI hike which undoubtedly will cost the club a huge sum of money. Wouldn't be surprised, with our much larger staff costs if that's not £1m extra. |
| | dirtyboy
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 871 | | Comment Votes: | 545 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 1416 |
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