 | Forum
Thread | Our bench is going to be ridiculous on Saturday
at 15:32 12 Sep 2024
Could be:-
Walton
Johnson
O'Shea
Cajuste
Luongo
Burns
Hirst
Chaplin
Clarke
Not even on bench?
Broadhead
Burgess
Townsend
Taylor
Incredible strength in depth |
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Thread | Very optimistic
at 10:56 18 Aug 2024
I thought everybody that played yesterday showed that they have something to offer in the PL either as a starter or as a member of the squad. A testament to McKenna's ability to improve players.
Apparently we're still after a striker and a LW. If you also throw in Phillips, Cajuste and Szmodics after they've had a couple of weeks with McKenna, I think we'll more than hold our own this season. If we'd had all these players available yesterday (not forgetting Hirst and Broadhead) I think we might have sneaked a draw.
It's going to be another great season. |
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Thread | Our reputation for developing young players
at 11:50 25 Jun 2024
might be about to pay dividends. Ben Johnson's motivation for seeking a move is "career development". Footballers know that if they come to Ipswich they'll be brilliantly coached and, if they work hard, they'll get their chances in the first team.
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Thread | Since Ashton arrived..
at 14:34 9 Jun 2024
...we've been astonishingly successful in the transfer market. All of these (from memory- please correct) successful signings/loans have come into the club since Ashton took over in July 2021
Václav Hladký
Christian Walton
Axel Tuanzebe
Harry Clarke
Cameron Burgess
George Edmundson
Leif Davis
Sam Morsy
Massimo Loungo
Jack Taylor
Dominic Ball
Lewis Travis
Marcus Harness
Omari Huthcinson
Jeremy Sarmiento
Nathan Broadhead
Conor Chaplin
George Hirst
Ali Al Hamadi
Kieffer Moore
The common factor- virtually all of them were unexposed or underrated (exceptions Omari, Jack, Ali and Kieffer).
Obviously it's going to be more challenging to pick up unexposed and/or underrated players to play in the Premier League but, based on the above track record, I wouldn't bet against it.
Conclusion: I think it's almost impossible to guess who we might sign and I expect we'll make signings that seem surprising and/or underwhelming but the data suggests that Ashton and McKenna know etc.
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Thread | We might do better in Premier League than some think.
at 18:48 30 May 2024
League One 2022/23- 98 points
Championship 2023/24 - 96 points
We did nearly as well in the Championship as we did in League One with essentially the same squad (although have to concede Omari, a fit Axel and Jeremy made a huge contribution). Is it possible with the help of a few signings we can improve again and have a real go at the Premier League?
Reasons to be optimistic
1. We've got Kieran McKenna
2. Nearly 20% fewer games in the PL than EFL. More time for KM to analyse and coach
3. We tweaked our playing style to deal with the Championship. KM is sure to have a strategy for the PL.
4. Players can improve further. Continuous small improvements are part of our process. Even senior players are improving.
5. Record over the last 2 seasons suggests we will recruit well in terms of players that will make an instant impact and will not upset the team spirit.
6. Our team is remarkably consistent. We only lost 6 times last season and we only lost by more than one goal twice (WBA & Leeds away 2-0 and 4-0).
7. This team never knows when it's beaten- more points from losing positions than any other team in Europe. Bounce back from every defeat.
8. We will attract ambitious young players due to the reputation we've established over the last two seasons.
9. We do better against teams that play good attacking football than teams that play a low block. Most teams in the PL are attacking.
10. The atmosphere at Portman Road (and amongst our travelling fans) will be euphoric and might be worth an extra 10 points in our first season back in the PL |
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Thread | McKenna I think it will be Us or ManU
at 18:12 23 May 2024
His options:
a) Stay- on a MUCH higher (5 times current?) salary. Continue his fantastic relationship with Ashton, owners & supporters. Finish the project.
b) Brighton- Similar club to ITFC but with a fully formed PL squad but is BHAFC close to its ceiling?
c) Chelsea- terribly run club (worst in country?). Would KM tolerate the Chelsea 'culture'? Is KM their first choice?
d) Man Utd. Will new ownership structure at the club make it more stable? Man Utd is KM's first love- will that be the clinching factor? Is KM ManU's first choice?
My gut feel is that KM has loved his time at Ipswich and only a once in a lifetime opportunity will persuade him to abandon the project. I don't think KM would see Brighton or Chelsea as that once in a lifetime opportunity. However, If Man Utd make it clear he's their first choice and that they will give him time and free rein, I suspect KM will be tempted. BUT those are two huge 'IFs'..
Conclusion:- 2/3 chance KM will stay, 1/3 chance the pull of ManU will tempt him away.
Whatever he decides, I won't have a bad word against him and wish him well. |
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Thread | Speculating about which players are going to leave and be recruited...
at 23:56 9 May 2024
...is a bit of fun but who knows better than McKenna and his team:
- What's required in the PL in terms of technique and physicality?
- Which of our players will cope with the PL?
- Which players have the potential to further improve?
- Which players outside the club are likely to be available at the right price, have the talent and stats required and (perhaps most importantly) have the right character?
- What money is likely to be available to meet the fair play rules?
Who foresaw Tuanzebe, Davis, Williams and Hirst?
Rumours and guesses can be fun but until I see interest confirmed by ITFC or TWTD, I'll take any speculation with a huge pinch of salt. |
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Thread | Hull and Coventry both away- Reasons to be cheerful
at 11:34 2 Apr 2024
1. We play-
Hull (away) on Saturday 27th and Coventry (away) on Tuesday 30th
BUT we will be well rested, our previous match on Saturday 13th at home to Middlesbrough. So a clear two weeks of rest to recover from knocks and for McKenna to do his coaching magic. Plus there's a chance that Burns or Hirst might recover.
2. Hull have a tough schedule:
Sat 20th April Watford away
Wed 24th April Coventry away
Sat 27th April Ipswich home
So 2 very tough away games in short order followed by Ipswich (rested for 2 weeks) just 3 days later.
3. Coventry have an even tougher schedule:
Sun 21st April Man Utd (FA cup semi-final)
Wed 24th April Hull City home
Sat 27th April Blackburn away
Tue 30th April Ipswich home
So that's 3 crunch, hard games in 6 days followed by us just 3 days later.
I think we'll take at least 4 points from these two away matches and that might just be enough to seal automatic promotion.
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Thread | If our motto is Running Towards Adversity....
at 00:03 1 Apr 2024
How should ITFC supporters feel about playing Norwich next Saturday and (if we miss out on automatic promotion) facing them in the play-offs.
Surely we should relish the chance to soundly beat them as we know we have the better manager and squad. |
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Thread | Predictor
at 11:22 30 Mar 2024
It's going to be wild
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| Leicester City | 46 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 45 | 14 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 43 | 23 | 102 | 51 |
| Ipswich Town | 46 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 63 | 31 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 23 | 102 | 41 |
| Leeds United | 46 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 22 | 100 | 51 |
| Southampton | 46 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 56 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 31 | 88 | 31 |
| Ipswich Town | 2 | 1 | Southampton |
| Leeds United | 2 | 0 | Hull City |
| Leicester City | 1 | 1 | Norwich City |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 1 | Southampton |
| Coventry City | 2 | 2 | Leeds United |
| Leicester City | 3 | 0 | Birmingham City |
| Norwich City | 1 | 2 | Ipswich Town |
| Leeds United | 2 | 0 | Sunderland |
| Millwall | 0 | 1 | Leicester City |
| Southampton | 3 | 0 | Coventry City |
| Ipswich Town | 2 | 0 | Watford |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2 | 2 | Leicester City |
| Ipswich Town | 3 | 1 | Middlesbrough |
| Leeds United | 2 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers |
| Southampton | 2 | 0 | Watford |
| Southampton | 2 | 0 | Preston North End |
| Cardiff City | 1 | 1 | Southampton |
| Leicester City | 2 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion |
8th April 2025 | | Middlesbrough | 1 | 1 | Leeds United |
3rd May 2025 | | Leicester City | 2 | 0 | Southampton |
| Hull City | 1 | 2 | Ipswich Town |
| Preston North End | 0 | 1 | Leicester City |
| Queens Park Rangers | 1 | 2 | Leeds United |
| Southampton | 3 | 0 | Stoke City |
| Coventry City | 1 | 0 | Ipswich Town |
| Ipswich Town | 3 | 0 | Huddersfield Town |
| Leeds United | 2 | 0 | Southampton |
| Leicester City | 2 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers |
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Thread | Now is the time to support the team.
at 17:46 9 Mar 2024
The whole team (squad, management and staff) have been superb this season. I was surprised and disappointed to see some comments on here criticising out players, the team and even our manager. Unbelievable and unforgivable. We have been spoiled for entertainment and results ever since McKenna walked through the door. We have been exceptional all season- our form, for a team newly promoted from League One, is literally unprecedented.
Negative comments are unhelpful, we need a positive attitude and a united front if we are to stand any chance of overcoming our big money rivals in the race for automatic promotion. The worst that can happen is that we end up in a play-off position and if that happens the team will need our support to get to Wembley and secure the promotion that this great group of committed players so richly deserve. |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 303 | | Comment Votes: | 34 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 337 |
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