Five weeks ago, this Ipswich Town side was coming off consecutive defeats, capped by a shock 3-0 home defeat to Charlton. Social media and internet forums were swamped with negativity and fans questioning whether this team was - despite the money spent - actually any good. Fast forward to now, and we’re coming off an impressive run of form. Four wins and two draws in the last six games, with 12 goals scored and only three goals conceded. As a parachute payment club, expectations are rightly high. All season, we’ve been naturally comparing this squad to the legendary side that achieved back-to-back promotions only two years ago. Although a lot has changed, some things have stayed the same. Walton has been impressive and deserves the number 1 spot even when Palmer is back fit. While Davis is nowhere near as explosive as he was a couple of years ago, he has considerably improved defensively. Jack Taylor, the midfielder who came in from the cold, has impressed ahead of more expensive, arguably more talented alternatives in midfield. Hirst, slightly maligned this season, is still the first choice centre forward. What’s most surprising is two of those four names were not first team regulars the last time we got promoted. And some things have changed. This is a squad with incredible depth and talent on paper. It feels like a team that maybe could make more of an impression in the Premier League. A side less green and perhaps less daunted by what the top flight contains. O’Shea has been impressive as centre back and captain, reflecting a more solid defence over the past five weeks. Matusiwa has been our best midfielder and, whisper it, arguably looks like an upgrade on Morsy. Philogene and Jack Clarke, the flying wingers, have been in excellent form with goals and assists - whether by starting or coming off the bench. Even Egeli, a big money signing, looks like he’s starting to adapt to life in England and improving week by week. Unlike last time, this isn’t a team that wins end-to-end contests with an innate sense of inevitability, it’s not a team that has yet to fully endear itself to Ipswich supporters, and it isn’t a team where we keep the pressure on with a treble attacking change. But is that completely true? While few games this season have been entertaining, end-to-end contests - perhaps there is a sense of inevitability about this Ipswich team? More defensively solid - especially so this month - we have showed a lot more control and dominance in this division. Second half goals, often after bringing on some attacking substitutions as against Hull, are changing games. While Portman Road is a more muted crowd this season - nervous with the unusual sense of expectation and quicker to show its frustration - is still behind the team with sell out crowds, both home and away. We’re experiencing a culture change from Burley, Royle, and earlier McKenna sides - which were all successful sides (Royle aside) that were more fun to watch. It’s a massive change from the not-so-distant McCarthy, Hurst, and Lambert years, where we set up as the scrappy underdogs railing against a shifting Championship where sides with recent Premier League experience had the talent and the money. Friday night’s opposition, Oxford United, are in a similar bind to those Ipswich teams of the 2010s. Not wealthy enough to compete with the big boys and, under Gary Rowett, they are primarily set up to be difficult to beat. Sometimes it works. Recent draws to Norwich, Middlesbrough, and Millwall - all Championship regulars - are good results. But one home win all season makes for poor reading and this week, they have finally slipped into the relegation zone. With Sheffield United, Portsmouth, and Swansea directly above them, is it a matter of time before those sides start pulling away from the bottom three? This is a must win game, for me, if we realistically want automatic promotion. One we’re more than capable of doing, even if we see a bit more match day rotation. 2-0 Ipswich win.
Thanks Gaffer. Spanish will be thrilled I can still write several big paragraphs on the phone, even without my work laptop
Good assessment Nuggets,I think there are also comparisons with KMc's early days here when his initial priority was to make us difficult to beat.When that stability was established he then developed the more gung-ho aggressive side we all so enjoyed.Fingers crossed for some more good wins,home and away! 3-1 Town. COYB!!!
