One of the best Ipswich performances I have seen in 60 years, ok, against a poor team, but you can only play whats in front of you. Bring on the next game. Who says play-offs are out of reach? A decent run now and we wont be far off the mix. Safe trip back Bucky!
Well I enjoyed that very much. The 3 at the back has given the defenders freedom to run forward with the ball whilst leaving 2 at the back at all times. Morsy and Evans bossed midfield today and Burns and Penney were great out wide. Aluko was very good and the two up front did their work well. The system is working well and it looked like a real team performance today. The postponed games over Christmas have benefited us as McKenna has had valuable time to work with the players on the training ground. There will be tougher tests to come but so far I'm liking what I have seen from the team.
Those of you that didn't see the game....you missed a cracking performance, passed them off the park.... brilliant!!
15 points to 2nd place still feels like a stretch, but if we can be in the play off zone by the end of February maybe there is just about enough of the season left for a surge into the autos.
I'm sure people will talk about Gillingham being poor - but we've been beaten by sides playing as badly as that. This massive victory will help the players have confidence in what the new manager is trying to do.
I don’t know how it looked in tv but Lee evans was outstanding. His role sat deeper than Morsy made him look like Pirlo; never needed to tackle, scooped up everything and sprayed passes around. I think he’s a real asset we’ve under used.
Agreed. The system just suits so many of our players and it shows in the confidence of play. Players knew where the others would be and they all supported each other by making themselves available for passes. The defenders can help create an overload by bringing the ball forwards and then there's always cover at the back with Evans or Morsy dropping in to assist. All the defenders are quite capable of short and long range passes and the overlaps by Donacien were done at the right time. Aluko came short to receive the ball sometimes and Burns and Penney stayed wide to get down the flanks. The build up play was measured at times but also done at fast pace on the break. Aluko's ball to Penney was excellent.
Started watching on catch-up from half time so just finished.Have to say that was a near perfect performance.What a difference it makes having a properly coached and motivated team.Early days but I think KM is going to bring out the best in this squad and with a few additions we’ll be able to make a proper push for promotion,if not by the playoffs this Season,automatically next. COYB!!!!!
Hopefully the difference is McK, with us now having a young progressive coach / manager instead of washed up has beens and con men, and not forgetting Evans strangling the life out of our Club from the inside, i know its early days and we cant win them all but for the first time in years i feel encouraged for our future.
Huge game next week. Win that and it's be unbeaten in 5, with 3 wins on the spin. And with the 6 teams directly above us all playing each, will be chance to make points on at least three of them
Wow what a performance, perhaps without going overboard given how poor Gillingham were that's the best performance I've seen in years, I'd hazard to say since the Magilton days. It honestly took me back to the Burley days with the formation and how the players drove into space, covered one another when one goes forwards and the movement off the ball and then pressing was superb. In comparison to other performances this season even the big wins, we attacked as a whole team, players interchanged with ease, there was no distance between the lines they merged, we dictated the pace of the game (rather than playing 100 miles an hour). That's the most balanced team display I've seen from us in years probably since the Burley days. Bucky I'm think I'm going to agree with you...McKenna is going to be good
In terms of players, what really struck me was the fact we didn't seem to need to rely on players to do pieces of individual brilliance, it felt like the players fitted the system and actually if another player came into the team it wouldn't make too much difference. Players do not seem as under pressure both defensively and offensively because of the shape, movement and covering of their team mates, it was seamless today. Its made me reflect on this transfer window and think actually apart from maybe the left hand side and trying to get some of the loan players on a permanent contract do we need to sign anyone. Walton - wasn't really tested but did what he needed to Donacien - very good game, suits the back 3 and gives Burns license to go forwards Wolfenden - looks like a different player and really suits the system, great to see him back in the team and flourishing after being such a good prospect a few years ago Edmunson - this guy was superb, some great forward runs, reminded me of the Burley era with CBs going on runs forward. He's playing below his level Burns - I'd be very surprised if we don't see clubs in the Championship interest in him, his consistency for someone who attacks the full back regularly is remarkable and he really suits the wing back position. If we can get someone similar on the left we're made. Boy did we miss him when his was injured...I'd wager if he didn't get injured Cook would still be in charge. Penney- not a weak link but perhaps one player who strikes me as someone who's in a team where every player could comfortably play at a higher level but he couldn't. Decent performance but doesn't possess the quality of his team mates Evans - looked a different player today, was superb. So often this season has looked a weak link but not today. For some reason him being the more defensively minded midfielder over Morsey suits him, which i really wouldn't have thought Morsey - what a performance, his tenacity really suits the box to box midfield role. Him and Evans interchanged extremely well and there was always cover when they went forwards Aluko - very good game, comes across as a great professional Nogood - sell him Bonne - always felt despite his lack of goals in recent times, once we started creating chances again he would score because he was still getting in good positions. What a formidable front 2 him and Norwood are together, great movement great strength and both take up great positions in the box, Norwood adds something which isn't one of Bonnes strengths and that's holding the ball up. We didn't have any flair players in the team today and had a striker who could hold the ball up which means we were able to hold on to the ball far better and sustain pressure. Both Jackson and Pigott looked a little rusty when they came on though its hard to tell whether this is just due to Jackons lack of quality though it feels like in Pigotts case it's more about confidence. They still fitted in well and it didn't upset the momentum of the team when they came on
The biggest improvement for me yesterday was the way we moved the ball with real purpose rather than the faffy sideways,sideways,backwards …… err where next?If I have a slight criticism it was that we could still do a bit more in the final quarter of the pitch (even though we scored 4!)but I have no doubt that will come.
We’ll come up against much stronger sides in this division and we eventually need to compete in the Championship. Bonne is not ours and neither is Walton. Where are we if Norwood or Morsy get injured? We can always improve. We will always need to strengthen.
Who said this only last week: "The squad is too big as it is. We could in theory strengthen the squad without making a single signing."
