I'd prefer 442 or 4231 or 532 I'm not really sure what formation we have played under McKenna, but we've never looked particularly well balanced. Sometimes down the right we have alot of players Burns, Donacien plus one of the 10s but down the left we have 1 player doing it all and that leaves particularly Burgess who isn't the quickest exposed. Also we have 2 10s in the middle and none of them are particularly good at retaining the ball and neither are they particularly creative, Celina used to annoy me but at least he would create something every now and again to justify the sometimes poor ball retention. We've got a lot of players who McKenna has converted their position and not sure they look entirely comfortable, Harness was a wide forward, Chaplin was a striker as was Broadhead. I'm not sure why we haven't recruited specialist players in those positions. I like seeing midfielders take the ball off CBs but particularly recently they haven't needed to, the CBs have had space to run into and don't. Similarly last night on a number of occasions where a Bristol attack had broken down and they weren't actually set up defensively there was space for our players to run into and we didn't we went backwards and passed it around at the back. It's like we want total control, keep the ball and play nice patterns of play, sometimes we should look to cause chaos, we've got a powerful lightening quick right winger and a beast of a centre forward, a no 10 who thrives off balls dropping to him at the edge of the box, let's get it to them quickly and try to play off the second ball, play the football in the right areas.
Never mind the stats we all know what the problems are, McKs obstinacy in not fielding a settled side, not playing the strongest side possible from the outset and making changes from a position of strength, and the belief that having the majority of possession will win you the game. Also not being direct enough in front of goal leading to mindless tippy tappy sideways and backwards football instead of firing in shots at goal, in fairness to McK he probably thought Jackson and Ahadme would fill the central strikers role and both clearly cant do that job in this league, although Ahadme has youth on his side and could still come good in the future which was why Hirst was brought in but so far hasnt performed. This is McKs first full season in management and im sure he recognises areas where he needs to improve and i hope the owners will stick with him for the long run. The owners should be happy with the home gates, the merchandising, and catering receipts, in fact the money must be flooding into P R at every home match, compare that to Sheff Wed who although flying high attracted just over 21000 at their match at Hillsboro this week, thats less than the figure for when we played them away in September i think, so all is not lost although i think the auto places are and if it has to be another season in this lousy division then reluctantly so be it.
I suppose the truth is we can all see the problems. But none of us could have managed and coached the team from what it was to where it is now. I don’t feel sentimental about McKenna though. He needs to turn it around fast now or if he can’t and we miss out on the play offs his job will be on the line. I don’t see him being given another season if we finish in 9th or 10th spot.
The pattern of escape from this division (and our own experience of them ) seems to be,fail in the playoffs and come back stronger next Season.I can see that being our fate and hope the owners keep faith with KMc as I strongly think he has a good future ahead if him.
We’ll see. Footballers who aren’t in the first team when the team is failing don’t tend to take it too well, and McKenna doesn’t have a track record as a professional player or manager to command respect. He obviously had it at the end of last season but he can’t rely on it forever. I think he has to turn it around quickly and the next month against our play off opponents could make or break his career.
Our form needs to change if it doesn't we will fail to make the playoffs and I would imagine a lot of reputations and careers could be on the line. I think a big part of that is how Ashton sold this appointment, we sacked a proven winner in this league and replaced him with a young coach with a good reputation but little first team experience and the message was one of the reasons we sacked Cook was to improve our promotion chances last season and therefore must be striving for it this season. There was no we're getting a young manager in to develop our identity, it was all about getting promotion, so the pressure is on. Saying all this I know it's too early to say but Schumacher managed Plymouths fall from grace last season and look how they've come back this. Pretty good piece in the Anglian which I think summarises our recent struggles: https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23324702.ipswich-town-analysis-blues-slide-fourth-league-one/ It highlights like the OP of this thread highlights our form in our last 15 games is worse than the final 15 games of both Lambert and Cook before they were sacked.
On the eve of another must win game, this much I know: We are in a run of bad form Which will almost certainly lead to the Play-offs, if we are lucky From enjoying our style of play and decent results, 'the best team in this league' many managers have said To a lack of confidence, too many rotational changes, never the same 11 starting (tb fair some because of injuries like Broadhead), frequent change of CMs, too many silly goals gifted, a lack of pace & direction Players looking tired and jaded Key players often injured KM lack of experience showing, plus a certain naivety It is reasonable to question his decisions and tactics Equally, its not all down to the manager. Its players who underperform, dont use all our dominant possession and with 20 plus shots, are not scoring goals We have become too predictable Oppo teams know how we play and sit deep & settle for a draw It is acceptable for us to have high expectations of the management team, considering the level of investment Most of us, if not all, still keep the faith in KM, knowing where we are this season compared to the 13 years under Evans And record numbers of fans have shown great support all season so far. Some are restless. Finally, Harness should be kept in his nappies!
This,just this…….. https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/23333279.ipswich-town-kieran-mckenna-compares-sir-bobby-robson/
Absolute load of old bollocks. For a start, Robson was an international footballer. McKenna was barely a footballer.
Hampy, he is not comparing their football career, simply their early managerial records. We gave Robson time, we look for instant success these days.
I think this is just a way to fill column inches, as the situations are quite different however the principle of giving managers time is an important one and one which I am pleased the club have even maintained under the Evans era to an extent. The one sacking in my time (possibly bar Magilton) that I believe was too early was Cook. Which is why the current situation is uncertain because the club were fairly ruthless on that sacking and you wonder whether the same standards will be applied to McKenna, the thing McKenna has in his favour is he is Ashtons man. I hope we do give McKenna time (ive always said at least to about this time next season) but I'm still not 100% convinced he's the real deal and certainly a very different manager to Robson although I can only go on what I've read with Robson. My understanding is Robson wasn't a particularly great coach but his man management was superb and he empowered his teams and players. McKenna has the reputation as a top class coach and I think how he is has earnt respect from the players but does he empower our players..I'm not sure. He commented the other day after the match saying its hard to come into this team and hit the ground straight away because we're not an unscripted team. I would agree and that comes with some positives that you can really see things have been worked on on the training ground but from a negative point of view I think it does mean we don't empower our players to do things off the cuff or perhaps have their own minds to change a game.
We can plonk any Tom, Dick or Harry in the dugout and say they need time (in Division 3) because Robson had it (against top flight opponents). This one gets wheeled out over and over again. It has no merit. If we make the play offs then give McKenna next season. If we don’t then he’s been an abject failure.
By contrast Robson had very little coaching experience/qualification but was given time by the Cobbolds to demonstrate he was up to the job.I just hope McKenna is given similar leeway.
He isn’t just any Tom,Dick or Harry though,is he?He came to us as a very respected young coach having worked at several good Clubs and his appointment was a natural progression of his career.
I was lucky to have known the Cobbolds and went out with Penny Cobbold. I remember at a dinner, 'Mr John' was praising their new young manager, one Bobby Robson, and to summarise a long chat, he will learn his craft, he has talent, we will give him time. His brother Patrick followed his chairmanship footsteps. I went to every home game in those days, such great times, as our beloved small club, outshone its illustrious rivals. Will we one day compete for the Eufa cup & FA cup finals again? Who knows, but there has been the same, tangible excitement around the club.
He comes as a respected young coach with zero experience as the man in the hot seat. By the way, if it’s true that Gareth Ainsworth is off to QPR then our play off chances are about to get a big boost.
Do you think they would have taken the same decisions if the club was losing the equivalent of £5m per season? Presumably in those days with players drawing a good working man’s wage, no transfer or agents fees, a simpler stadium to maintain and all the other ways the game has gone backwards, there was a lot less financial pressure for success.
Yes agreed, money and big business dictates all professional sports sadly, and the days of family community owned clubs are gone, except of course at local level where dedicated amateur coaches train and encourage cricket, tennis, athletics, hockey and football, and communities can thrive at keeping fit and enjoying their local team.
so when does the criteria of being an international footballer make you a great manager ? gerrard, Lampard etc.Do you just look to wind people up ?
