![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | Quick thoughts on the Donetsk game and performances at 19:05 20 Jul 2024
It’s clearly been a very hot week in the Alps and the team have been grafting. Hot during the game, and as Chappers it was a relief when it rained for large parts of the match to cool them down and reduce humidity. The surroundings look stunning. Small ground and stand, as will be the other two German friendlies. Pitch was so so, not terrible but could have been better. A familiar side started and the shape wasn’t radically changed. I do think Donetsk started the far stronger, we’re match sharp having played more friendlies, and had some tricky players. But Town we’re able to sit deep soak it up. And slowly grew into the game. By 30mins we were the dominant side and that confinued for most of the remaining game even when we introduced loads of youth. Good to watch Johnson who was involved a lot. I liked much of what he did. He’s technical, assured on the ball and has a bit of pace. He didn’t go forward too much, but did make a couple of runs but wasn’t found. He didn’t seem to get out of position a little. But it’s a pre-season and early doors. Leif stood out as always. Morsy was good, but is on the edge sometimes due to pace. But took the goal well… and linked play. Taylor had some nice moments, and showed a turn of pace. Couple of good balls. Burns was athletic, if a little out of the game. Burgess and Walton were solid. Hirst put himself about and had some shots over. Grieves came on at half time, and made one ill placed pass, but then after that impressed me. His best moment shielding a player and ball into a less dangerous area. Delap wasn’t that involved when he came on, fouled one of their players. He is strong. A few of the youngsters looked comfortable. I think Barbrook could be a player. Donetsk are a good side. So to handle the early pressure and then go into the ascendency and win is good news. With the caveat it was more a training game than a full fledged friendly. [Post edited 20 Jul 19:18]
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![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | Liverpool fans mildly impatient on summer signings at 13:56 20 Jul 2024
I noted on the Liverpool X feed a 4 week countdown to the Premier League start (against us!!) And in the comments a theme was some impatience and disquiet on the fact they have signed no one. I’m sure they’ll be a lot of business done, and their level will mean Euro/Copa players, perhaps why the delay. But certainly we have a slight advantage in that our 5 signings are having he full pre-season. Ipswich transfer business Player Transfer Type Club Kayden Jackson Released - Dominic Ball Released - Sone Aluko Retired - Omari Hutchinson Transfer In Chelsea Ben Johnson Transfer In West Ham Vaclav Hladky Released - Gassan Ahadme Transfer Out Charlton Idris El Mizouni Transfer Out Oxford United Jacob Greaves Transfer In Hull City Liam Delap Transfer In Manchester City Arijanet Muric Transfer In Burnley Liverpool Transfer business Player Transfer Type Club Joel Matip Released - Thiago Alcantara Released - Calvin Ramsay Loan Out Wigan Athletic Anderson Arroyo Transfer Out Burgos Adrian Released - |
![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | I think we have 21 outfield players fit and out in Austria at 09:07 20 Jul 2024
For the two one hour friendlies today, and that includes 4 academy players who’ve made the trip, and Ladapo who will surely not feature this campaign So feels a bit lite at this stage if McKenna wanted to see two senior teams in action. Expected with the injuries and absentees referenced. And still plenty of transfer activity to complete. Johnson Davis Woolfenden Edmundson Burgess Greaves Baggott Morsy Luongo Taylor Burns Hutchinson Chaplin Harness Hirst Ladapo Delap 4 academy players [Post edited 20 Jul 9:37]
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![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | New training ground - magnet for new players? Completion date? Disruption? at 09:34 9 Jul 2024
Surely the new training ground, photos below (including car and player flow) is being showcased as part of potential player club visits such as Delap and Philogene. The current Playford Road is not a selling point, apart from pitch quality. Crystal Palace our often rival for signings have unveiled a significant new facility. If would be good to confirm to potential players and indeed McKenna and opening of the new Playford complex for the 25/26 season… and Ashton intimated this "In an ideal world I’d like to break ground before the summer, then you’ve probably got a 10-12 month build time on it. We’ll move at breakneck speed." But I’ve not heard news on work commencing this summer as yet. Anyone heard anything? As for any disruption and disturbance to critical match prep… the current buildings remain unaffected as the new facility is on a different plot, with the old buildings being kept for the academy. But I believe the new plot is next to the first team training pitches. Training facilities are a big draw for new players, and we are miles behind our rivals - Leicester’s are ridiculous - and I’ve no doubt the photos and plans below are being shown to potential recruits. But it’s a very very busy summer for the club on Portman Road transformations and I wonder if the training ground project has moved to the back burner? Temporarily. Note: the (very) temporary gym building is now in use at the back of the existing Playford Road buildings. https://www.eadt.co.uk/resources/images/17899945.png?type=mds-article-962 https://www.eadt.co.uk/resources/images/17899846.png?type=mds-article-962 https://www.eadt.co.uk/resources/images/17899882.png?type=mds-article-962 |
![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | Good rendition of full home and away kits here at 12:21 8 Jul 2024
Again the home kit, and especially the background badge and Umbro red insert look far better here. I’ve note from my poll that a majority love or like the home kit, but with good portion disliking Looking across the various kit X feeds, the authors are fans of both, and most responders (neutral) also like, with a general feeling Umbro are on a roll |
![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | Latest squad list from Watson with in-play transfers added at 12:09 8 Jul 2024
Watson helpfully put out the below - I know there’s been many posted here already - latest squad list. I’ve added in capitals the three players in transfer discussions. And in brackets those expected to leave. A Goalkeeper, Left Back, Centre Mid, Number 10 still needed. Which would be 9 in total incoming if the centre back, left attacking mid and striker slots are also filled, alongside the incoming Johnson and Omari. What squad size does that make considering u21 allowances?! As in does Harness and Edmundson have to leave? Any ideas!?? TOWN SQUAD AS IT STANDS GK: Walton, Slicker (loan expected) RB: Johnson, Clarke CB: Woolfenden, Burgess, Tuanzebe, Edmundson, Baggott (loan expected), Ndaba (to Scottish side), GREAVES LB: Davis CM: Morsy, Luongo, Taylor, Humphreys (loan expected), El Mizouni (transfer, Oxford) RW: Hutchinson, Burns AMC: Chaplin LW: Broadhead, Harness, PHILOGENE ST: Hirst, Al-Hamadi, Ladapo (transfer or contract close), DELAP [Post edited 8 Jul 12:15]
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![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | Surely we can’t be signing Philogene?! Surely we can’t at 19:07 4 Jul 2024
If we do secure him I may actually question whether I’m in some kind of simulation that I have pre-programmed - a la Total Recall - to create a world in which Ipswich become a top six club! I will soon remove the headset and electrodes to find we’ve still got Mick McCarthy and an empty Portman Road. If the deal include Greaves we have officially entered a whole new phase as a club. None of these deals would be in play if McKenna had left. I think the Omari signing makes this an attractive project indeed. |
![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | Quite a plain and simple home shirt design incoming at 13:11 4 Jul 2024
Given the Hearts and West Ham Umbro kits are going for quite a mono and simple design this season.. and given the Omari tease… it does seem a simple design is incoming? Perhaps the badge to be on a crest background. One things for sure the Premier Logo is a must addition. As stated before I just hope the blue is as good as teased and it does not have some busy background design. The League One promotion kit is dating already. |
![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | So the original investors own 50% of a Premiership club for £5m - kerching at 11:23 1 Jul 2024
Consider that Gamechanger and the majority shareholder in the pension fund now own 50% of a Premier League club which this season will have £140m + in TV revenue, and commercial revenues which have grown massively under them and the stewardship of Mark Ashton will rocket further. They have invested £70m to date beyond their original purchase price of £40m - so a £110m investment to date. They have divested down to a 50% share with a sale of £105m to Bright Path. Obviously this season significant further investment will be required, but that is now shared with BrightPath going forward and the incoming revenue is a different level - albeit transfer fees and wages will also go exponential. But that is one hell of an investment from Gamechanger. And as Schwartz states they see further upside with the potential growth in matchday revenue from ground expansion and foreign TV rights. Whether they have the stomach for a £160m new Cobbold project to match Crystal Palace’s new stand.. we shall see! [Post edited 1 Jul 11:27]
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![](/images/avatars/457.gif) | Forum Thread | Siege mentality fully in place in the England camp at 08:56 1 Jul 2024
And maybe something they can use to their advantage. I think the usual England fan and English media frenzy has kicked in and I can’t remember it being so negative. Yes of course we’ve looked disjointed and miles away from the pace and free flowing nature of Spain and Germany. But we are through. And I thought Slovakia came at us with a very good press and game plan, and as in the group games a very low block at times. Clearly the players are feeling hard done by the media and home fans - and they’re creating that siege mentality that has served some teams well. The team can only get better, and I think Mainoo and Rices improved form is something to build on. The Swiss may try and be more adventurous which may suit the team. Maybe one more tweak in the front four needed. The loss of Guehi is a blow, as he’s settled in well, and feels dependable. |
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