I personally think it's a disgrace, we haven't been good at all this season. We've spent a fortune on absolute dross, the rotation is insane, questions have to be asked!! McKenna is becoming a stubborn git, he needs to wake up and realise you don't have to make all the changes he does. Also, I don't like McKennas transfer business, something has to change!!
We’re just not balanced. I said it weeks ago that last time at this level, Leif broke the record for assists by bombing up and down the wing. He is now playing in an inverted role which clearly isn’t working as well but KMc appears to be too stubborn to revert. No ideas why he keeps changing the back 4, barring injuries it should be the same 4 (unless we are playing a team with a particular player - Edmundson rotated in for probably 1/2 a dozen games last time in the championship). Neither Hirst or Azon are good enough as the 9 and as for the 10, with the players available, I would try Egeli even though it’s early in his career with us
I called a 1-1 but didn't think it would be as ****in' boring as that! What's happened to Leif getting crosses in? He gets level with the penalty box, ball goes back to Kipre. McK is ruining the attacking play of Davis because he's adjusted his position to try and benefit Clarke or Jaden, who like to start out wide and drift in. When Broady played, he occupied an inside left position and their full back, which allowed Davis the space to bomb forward and cross. That space is still there sometimes, but even if Leif makes the run, Jaden or Clarke are just not passing it. Akpom and Azon have been pretty useless so far, Hirst not much better, some of his first touches today bounced miles away. Do they not do first touch drills? For so long it seems like we don't have players that can trap a ball. I think Kipre could be our best striker on the books, he said he played up front when younger! Matusiwa did equally good as bad, some great ball steals, some dreadful passes. Young played some really nice crosses early in the game, didn't see many after that. Said it after the last match, Nunez isn't the answer in the 10 role. Unless we're playing a team that will actually full on attack and leave spaces, he'll be more effective starting from deeper. The attacking parts of our team look like they feel like they need to do it all themselves, taking too many touches, going for glory and invariably losing the ball. The successful back to back team were not like that. It was one and two touch play, everyone knowing where to play the ball because the next lad will be there, and we'd breeze through the pitch. Now it's all so ****in' slow. There's a counter on, we move the ball, move the ball, stop, play it back, opposition are now in shape, chance gone. McK has said many times he wants Ipswich to be a team to enjoy watching, well at the moment, this isn't it!
It's like we only have 20 minutes of good play in us. Start quick for 10 minutes and look decent, move into a 'wear the opposition down' mode for the next 80 and then pick it up for the last 10, hoping to score a goal. If that's the tactic, we won't win may.
A really dire watch. That first half was terrible - to the point where I welcomed my stream frequently cutting out. After praising this team for a six-match unbeaten run, I think it’s only fair to look at the last few results and really question the promotion credentials of this team. Agreed with the comments above regarding the performance and the issues with recruitment and coaching. McKenna does not seem to have a plan B. We look predictable to defend against and having better players (on paper) isn’t passing the eye test against teams that are set up better. The wider issue is that Plan A doesn’t seem to be working either. There must’ve been a ten minute period last night where both teams couldn’t string together more than three passes. Adding to the above, the right hand side of our formation just looks unbalanced and often slows down attacking moves. Expensive squad options from the bench aren’t stepping up and making a first team claim? Maybe the return of Burns down the right will give us a different look. Maybe giving Akpom a sustained run in the team at the centre forward position - his best position - will lead to more goals. But after the last few years, perhaps the most damning indictment of this year’s Town is that it’s a boring and tedious side to watch.
So, a pretty gloomy outlook from all on here and we only have Coventry up next! So many issues that need sorting, and if us amateurs can see them then so can KM. I am in favour of bringing Morsy back, inspired leadership on and off the pitch, midfield urgency and encouragement. And perhaps Chappers too in January. We miss him. Roll on Saturday.
That was an exercise in pointlessness. (Albeit strictly speaking a point gained that we looked unlikely to achieve first time around). Game panned out almost identically. Same old story behind the disappointing results. Not going to type them again, just hope the management heed the lessons at some point. Egelis first goal is maybe only positive, hope that's first of many.
Same old story, slow build up which gives opposition time to pack their defence so we play tippy tappy till we lose the ball, why do we persist with tactics that clearly don't work ? Hirst, Akpom, and Azon are just passengers waiting for a ball that rarely comes their way, Nunez, Philogene, Clark and Mcateer contributing very little between them, where has the flair gone ? Where is the pace down the flanks and fast ball into the box to the waiting front players amongst a disorganised defence ? This pedestrian paced football doesn't work coupled to nearly being caught out several times playing out from the back, we don't carry a goal threat and something has to change and fast.
We gained a point we didn’t really deserve. I’m so glad we managed to get the goal. The players would have been seriously dejected if we’d lost both those two. The message for McKenna is really simple. Start your strongest XI. Rest / rotate a couple if really needed. Walton Furlong / O’Shea / Kipre / Davis Cajuste / Nunez Egeli / Clarke / Philogene Hirst
Good point Yorkie. It's made me reflect on Tuesday's dire performance and wearing my glass half full specs I'd comment further. Egeli's first goal meant we at least got a point and well and truly pi$$ed on Rovers' chips (I imagine the doors in the Home changing room took a right kicking!!) We are still only five points off automatic promotion.The Season is reminding me of our escape from the Third Division: fragmented until the reinforcements came in after Xmas and the great run following Morsy's altercation with our fans at Bristol. We can only get better in terms of performances otherwise KMc will have serious questions to answer.
Agree Yorkie & Bigal. If we start strongest team, get the crowd behind us, and surprise, get that 1st goal, then anything could happen. Omg, if we do pull off a famous home win then our season kicks off. All the doubters and idiot fan rants at players from supporters fade away. Is the gaffer being absurdly optimistic?
Yes the positive, we haven't played well for about a year and yet we're only 5 points off 2nd. Surely given the talent we have it's going to get better and since the end of August we've pretty much got 2 points per game. The negative, I cannot remember a good consistent attacking performance since the 4th of May 2024 (maybe there were a few in the PL). All of the great passing and movement, breaking the lines has disappeared. Also McKenna's comments were probably the most negative he has given in the role since he's been here and quite rightly a lot of the players in this team cost more than the entirety of a lot of the teams we are playing. We were playing some of the best (and effective) football we've ever seen at PR and yet those players were dropped and new ones brought in and didn't get into the team on merit, hence why those band of brothers left in their droves over the summer. McKenna went away from the basic principles of what made that previous team so successful. Some of you quite rightly point out the first part of our league 1 promotion season wasn't particularly brilliant with some similar themes to this season. That changed but that was due to bringing in 3 players who fitted the system McKenna wanted to play, are we saying we need to buy more players when we already have very expensive players in most positions. We lack balance all over the pitch and are trying to play how the old McKenna team used to without the same players. Despite the cost the back line, we appear to be worse on the ball. We've got 1 defensive midfielder, all the rest are attack minded and Matusiwa who has a lot of qualities isn't as comfortable clearly on the ball as a play maker getting the ball off the back line. Again an area we've gone backwards. We are constantly being broken on in the transitions, its always been a weakness but players like Burns and Luongo really helped that due to their defensive abilities and willingness to cover others. The forward line which we've spent the most on and got a wealth of players is the area which really confuses me though. I honestly couldn't tell you my preferred players because the balance looks completely off and we're not getting the best out of any of that forward line. I feel sorry for Hirst and Azon who really are having a tough time, I actually really like the look of Azon and feel he's been really unlucky not to score more. As for Hirst how we are playing at the moment is highlighting all of his weakness which have always been there, poor touch with back to goal, not a great goalscorer and not the best at getting across his marker in the box. He's at his best creating space for others with his runs and occupying CBs, players aren't finding that space. Then for the 3 behind the striker it's painful at the moment. Clarke and Philogene are clearly talented but hold onto the ball too long especially when we break the lines, they constantly check back and alow the defence to get set. They also are taking the room away from Davis. Broadhead found those pockets of space creating space for Davis but also dropping into pockets where people didn't know whether to step out or leave them. Clarke and Philogene appear to not like space, they seek crowded areas. No one looks comfortable in the 10 position despite having many players who could play there. Then on the right, Egeli cuts in again alot allowing the defence to get set. McAteer actually takes up some really good positions and makes really good runs but his quality on the ball seems worse than Kayden Jackson. We just look unbalanced all over the pitch and not getting the best out of the players we have. And there doesn't appear to be any obvious answers at the moment.
