Ipswich over the next season will be run in a hugely different way to Leeds United and we have all the experience of the Sheepshanks era to keep us in check. We will not throw money about blindly and McKenna has the capability to become an elite manager. We will be fine and it will be joyous.
I think McKenna leading the team will be an attraction for some players. His reputation is rising rapidly and no doubt there will be good words said about him from any player that has worked under him if asked by somebody thinking of joining us. Our recruitment will be the same as it has been over the last couple of years. Main criteria will be character and willingness to work hard because our culture is everything. Kieran is excellent at improving players so we won't necessarily be looking for the finished product type players that have a high price tag but those with potential and hopefully some Premier League experience already.
Yeah, that’s fair enough. There’s probably an England tax on those two players too. I’m not adverse to us signing a player for £30 million, but if we are - I’m hoping they’d be more proven and better than those two Arsenal lads. I’m sure we’ve got some plans in the market.
Ultimately, with the record of McKenna, Ashton, and our recruitment team - I've got faith that we have identified targets and we will strengthen and improve the areas of the squad which need it. If we're able to bring in a few players with proven Premier League experience, that will also be of massive benefit to us. We tend to sign committed, good characters for excellent value (the Williams loan aside), so hopefully that means no Mason Greenwood! I do think we’ll have our work cut out next season. The jump from the Championship to the Premier League seems to widen every year. We can look at a few notable examples - Fulham, Brentford, and Brighton - who have bucked the trend of financially smaller clubs struggling in the top flight. They have stayed up for multiple seasons. All three of those clubs have or had very good managers and a forward-thinking board willing to invest. I think those are two key ingredients to compete in the Premier League - of which we've got both. Make no mistake though, it'll be tougher than we're anticipating. All three promoted clubs from last season are struggling massively and, even with both Everton and Nottingham Forest being deducted points, look set to go straight back down. Burnley (101 points last season) and Sheffield United (91 points last season) have been made to look less-than-ordinary. They should serve as a cautionary tale. One bright spot is that relegation from the Premier League is no longer the potential disaster it was when we last went down in 2002. Parachute payments, relegation wage clauses etc. all cushion the blow.
Make no mistake though, it'll be tougher than we're anticipating. All three promoted clubs from last season are struggling massively and, even with both Everton and Nottingham Forest being deducted points, look set to go straight back down. Burnley (101 points last season) and Sheffield United (91 points last season) have been made to look less-than-ordinary. They should serve as a cautionary tale. One bright spot is that relegation from the Premier League is no longer the potential disaster it was when we last went down in 2002. Parachute payments, relegation wage clauses etc. all cushion the blow.[/QUOTE] Sheff Utd have leaked 100 goals already with 2 games still to go
Somewhat worryingly, they only conceded 39 goals in 46 matches when they went up last season! Probably serves them right for selling their best defender and not bringing in any good players.
Those that buck the trend usually have a striker who can net them 20 goals a season. This is the huge problem of a team getting promoted without one. Get a decent striker at Championship level who is able and ready to step up to the PL then great. Get promoted without one and then be in the market for one, it’s just a gamble that’s going to cost a lot. If Leeds go up, we have Rutter, Bamford and Piroe, they are simply not good enough for the PL
Felt so at the time at this level and if we miss out, I’m hoping he comes good next season. He is being kept out the team by Bamford who most fans wanted shipped out two seasons ago They spent £67m on new players excluding loans like Diaz
Yeah, agreed that can also be a big factor. Glen Murray for those early few Brighton seasons - although I'd argue they don't rely on a high goalscorer over the last few years (I think McAllister last season was the only player who has scored over 10 goals in the previous five seasons) but I guess that was when they were more settled. Ivan Toney obviously for Brentford. Mitrovic for Fulham last season, although - like Brighton - they've not relied on an out-and-out goalscorer this season. I'd argue we don't have somebody in the current squad who looks ready to score 15+ goals in the Premier League next season. I think our top scorers this season was both Chaplin and Broadhead on 13. The counterpoint as an Ipswich fan is that McKenna's style of football doesn't really allow for a prolific centre-forward - they're expected to hold the ball up more and play in the attacking three players behind him.
Just remember him scoring against us when you won 4-3 earlier in the season, seemed like he was going to go great guns in the championship.
Bit inflated there Ristac mate,it was £24m, plus add ons would make it up to £34m if achieved. So £24m it is
I remember 40m being quoted, it was 40m Euro https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footbal...ave completed the,joining from Rennes in 2021. but yes with add ons
Royston the club have announced a 'feature length celebration packed with behind the scenes footage' will be dropping Friday evening.
Thanks - how many times can I watch it this weekend? the amount of youtube videos I've watched since Saturday has been a little excessive
I think we are all a bit obsessive this week. I’ve even gone back and watched McKenna’s coaching Q&A video from Man United days this week!
I honestly think we will be fine, we have such a good setup here. Everyone level headed, we will do what is needed to be competitive
