With an expensively assembled squad, a parachute payment-charged bank balance, and a highly regarded manager – Ipswich return to the Championship in a position of strength. Transfer business so far has been largely positive, as our scouting department finally casts its net wider than England, in an attempt to bring in players better-equipped to step up to Premier League football, should we achieve an immediate return. However, this summer has been far from seamless. Morsy, our club captain, departs to the Middle East. Delap, last season's top scorer, made his anticipated returned to the Premier League with Chelsea. Our first choice right-back, Tuanzebe, leaves on a free to also return to the Premier League with Burnley. Burgess moves to Swansea to get first team football in a World Cup year, Luongo joins Millwall, and Harness drops down a division to reunite with Lee Grant at Huddersfield. Hutchinson has been strongly linked to Brentford and several Bundesliga clubs, but so far, he remains a Town player. As for incomings, we’ve been moving relatively slowly. Azor Matusiwa – raised in the prestigious Ajax academy – comes in at centre midfield. Cedric Kipre joins from Reims to add some more Championship experience and physicality at centre back. Ashley Young joins for a season from Everton, where he played over 30 games last season (despite being 40, Young may find the 46-game Championship stretch a relative walk in the park compared to the high intensity Premier League). David Button also joins the goalkeeping ranks. Further incomings are expected – and required – to provide quality and depth at the centre midfield and the striker positions in particular. The potential £20 million Hayden Hackney signing from Middlesbrough would be both a statement and significant upgrade for our centre midfield. The transfer model from our Premier League season saw positives and negatives, but it largely failed to inject enough quality and experience in a side already tipped to struggle. However, by signing proven top level Championship quality - on paper – the long term aim surely had half an eye on a likely relegation and giving the squad a stronger chance of an instant return. On top of the new signings, add proven Championship performers like Palmer, Davis, Greaves, O’Shea, Chaplin, Szmodics, Philogene, Broadhead, Jack Clarke, and Hirst to the mix, as we should have a strong more than capable of achieving a top six finish. The question will be if last season's gruelling experience has eroded the confidence and morale in this team - not to mention the strength of this division, with promoted Birmingham and Wrexham able to flex their muscles in the transfer market. Without further ado, to the predictions! 1. Where will we finish in the table (if 3rd to 6th, say if we will win the play offs)? 2nd 2. Who will be our top goalscorer and how many goals will he score? George Hirst (21 goals) 3. Who will be our player of the season? Sammie Szmodics 4. What player will underperform/flop this season? Ben Johnson 5. Will McKenna still be our manager at the end of the season? Yes 6. Which three teams will be promoted this season? Southampton, Ipswich, and Sheffield United 7. Will we finally beat Norwich this season? Yes, win at home.
Going to be a bit tricky to predict our seasonatthe moment, as the current squad i think will struggle to get top 2. That being said, a couple more (at minimum) additions could completely change everything. A #9 is an absolute must, as Hirst will struggle to play more than 20 games this season. I also think that Szmodics will play a lot more as a #9, especially when Hirst has his annual sabbatical. I'll wait closer to the season before making my predictions
I did question whether I'm doing this too early. I had a look at when I did these beforehand and it turns out I'm a bit later than normal for a Championship/League One season! I'll caveat my second place prediction on the assumption we're bringing in at least one central midfielder (although I think we ideally need two) and a decent back up striker to compete/fill in for Hirst. Needless to say, the best entertainment (and for valid predictions to be counted) is when we post them before the first match of the season
Fortune favours the brave, and I will follow the lead of our sporting journo, and assume we bring in a couple more at least. 1. Where will we finish in the table (if 3rd to 6th, say if we will win the play offs)? 2nd 2. Who will be our top goalscorer and how many goals will he score? Sammie Szmodics (15) 3. Who will be our player of the season? Azor Matasui 4. What player will underperform/flop this season? Greaves 5. Will McKenna still be our manager at the end of the season? Yes 6. Which three teams will be promoted this season? Birmingham, Ipswich, and Middlesborough 7. Will we finally beat Norwich this season? Yes, at home. Not long now, and the PR faithful will soon be buzzing. An air of optimism is blowing from the South coast to East!
1. Where will we finish in the table (if 3rd to 6th, say if we will win the play offs)? 5th. No promotion. 2. Who will be our top goalscorer and how many goals will he score? Sammie Szmodics (12) 3. Who will be our player of the season? Davis 4. What player will underperform/flop this season? Philogene 5. Will McKenna still be our manager at the end of the season? Yes. But not the beginning of next. 6. Which three teams will be promoted this season? Leicester, Coventry, Southampton 7. Will we finally beat Norwich this season? Yes.
1. Where will we finish in the table (if 3rd to 6th, say if we will win the play offs)? Top baby 2. Who will be our top goalscorer and how many goals will he score? Hirst 28 3. Who will be our player of the season? Hackney or Brownhill 4. What player will underperform/flop this season? Ben Johnson, Alan Judge 5. Will McKenna still be our manager at the end of the season? Yes 6. Which three teams will be promoted this season? Ipswich, Sheffield It'd, Leicester 7. Will we finally beat Norwich this season? Double them, 5-0 and 6-1
1. Where will we finish in the table (if 3rd to 6th, say if we will win the play offs)? 3rd and fail (hate the playoffs!) 2. Who will be our top goalscorer and how many goals will he score? George Hirst (23 goals) 3. Who will be our player of the season? O'Shea 4. What player will underperform/flop this season? Jack Taylor 5. Will McKenna still be our manager at the end of the season? Yes 6. Which three teams will be promoted this season? Leicester,Southampton and Sheffield United 7. Will we finally beat Norwich this season? Yes, home and away.
A bit cowardly of me but I’m waiting to see who we sign as the other CM (or 2) and striker before I make my predictions
