Really confident once again this season, fewer signings but the signings we have made look pretty decent. As for the Bolton game....3-1 town.
I can see us putting a huge marker down on the league, with a resounding 5-0 thrashing of the Trotters. 2 for Freddie, 2 for Chaplin and one for JJ
Need a good start this season. That’s what cost PC (& us) last season, didn’t recover from a really poor start. 3 points on Saturday would be a good beginning
So, we are full of optimism and comparing with last year pre-season and team readiness.We are setting the bar high again and I am sure our owners expect nothing less than auto promotion this time. KM and MA have made some shrewd decisions with much fresh talent with a similar but strengthened squad that should deliver it. Younger players with hunger, fit and athletic, and fast too. Not the old journeymen. We do have abundance in pacy players now especially going forwards - Burns, Edwards, Jackson, JJ, Ladapo, Davis, and Morsy and Aluko surging through the middle. Just hope that Morsy hasnt been overplayed. What I have seen so far in friendlies is a new enthusiasm to get quicker into the box. And tho we all agree it would be great to get Hirst or a genuine 20 goals a season striker, we do have 3-4 that can bang them in. This team will play at full speed from the off, and energised.And critically able to bring on fresh, experienced legs at half time. Most L1 clubs would die for our subs. I can see this team just ripping teams apart with the pace we have. And we know our defence is very tight. And a top keeper with Championship, perhaps Premiership class all over him. Let’s give it a real go against Bolton, we owe them one, and with 25,000 fans roaring them on, it will be a cracking start to another season. My 63rd as a fan! 3-1 Town.
Overall, this summer seems to be a focus on “evolution” rather than “revolution”, which I think we all anticipated after last summer’s squad overhaul. Thankfully there is still time left in the window to bring in a couple of further additions and trim the deadwood a bit. Maybe a statement signing in the pipeline? Regarding the transfer business, it’s encouraging that McKenna and Ashton have identified the need to bring in left backs. Leif Davis looks a positive signing and hopefully Greg Leigh provides better cover than the likes of Matt Penney and Myles Kenlock. Dominic Ball from QPR looks a good addition, adding some of that much-needed bite in central midfield. We only conceded 13 goals in 24 games under McKenna - the best defensive record in the division over that timeframe - so it’s encouraging that we’ve retained Walton, Edmondson, Wolfenden, and Burns (at time of writing). In terms of creativity and goals, we clearly lacked a cutting edge last season - particularly under McKenna, who seemed to have prioritised defensive solidity. Marcus Harness looks a good addition, but I hope we manage to get the Celina deal over the line. He can be frustratingly inconsistent, but has the creativity and guile to unlock defences and is a player I think would adapt easily to Championship football next season - if we get promoted. I was a bit underwhelmed with Lapado’s signing and I don’t know much about Tyreece John-Jules. Norwood’s departure was a tricky one - consistently among the goals, even last season when he didn’t start as much, but he did seem to need five chances to score once. I just hope the incoming strikers, and the likes of Jackson, can step up. I’ve got my ticket for Saturday, although I must be honest - I’m not as enthusiastic for this season, maybe because it’s the fourth one in division three. I can see us getting promoted, although clubs like Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Peterborough, Bolton, and Portsmouth will be strong contenders, as well as a few others. I think the first match of the season against Bolton will be difficult. They had a strong end to the season and seem to have retained all their key players this summer. I’m hoping a packed out Portman Road will be an advantage and this group of players can meet the challenge and levels of expectation better than the last few years. I’ll go for a cautious 2-1 win, but wouldn’t be surprised if it was a score draw. Fingers crossed for a season where we can actually celebrate something!
Very mixed feelings about the start of the Season at present.On the plus side I can’t remember in the last 15 years feeling so positive about the way the Club is being run and the level of entertainment in terms of more attractive football,despite,as Nuggets says,KMc’s priority in firstly making us difficult to beat. The downsides are;short term I tested positive for COVID on Tuesday,so look doubtful to make it to the game on Saturday.Long term my Dad,who I’ve been going to Portman Road with for just over 50 years has taken a bad turn over the Summer.It has been a struggle to get him to matches for the last couple of years but now looks to be nigh on impossible,even if we were to use the disabled section.His condition,advanced Parkinson’s disease, means it’s really difficult just getting him in and out of a car. Despite this here’s hoping for a good Season and finally getting out of this s#/t league! COYB!!!
Very sorry to hear about yr Dad, BigAl. Such a challenge for all concerned. Hopefully you and he can get to join in some celebrations and better cheer!
Unfortunately, due to train drivers strike, will miss the Bolton game. The next strike is when we’ve got an away game so a bit better for me
Quick update to my own post. Another strike has just been announced for 2nd home game of the season.FFS. Will I get to any games this season
Sorry to hear that BigAl, not for the same reasons but my Nan introduced me to ITFC and her mobility issues got worse over the years meaning I struggled with her into the disabled section then in the end it became too much. But I cherish the memories and time I had with her at all those matches and it's a big part of why the club means so much to me and I'm sure many of us feel the same. Let's hope we have a season of success after what seems like a lifetime
As for the weekend I'd like to see us start off with a convincing win, think we need it as whilst on the whole things seem pretty optimistic I do some nagging doubts. I actually feel more uncertain this season about our long term future than last. I thought last season would be a challenge because of the sheer number of players we'd brought in, but we had a manager with character and a proven track record of getting clubs promoted, usually in his second season. What we now have is a young high profile coach who comes across extremely well but is relatively unproven and failed to get the best our of a pretty good forward line last season. For the first time in a long time I'm questioning whether we are a team with style over substance. I think last season all we needed was a 20 goal a season striker was a myth, we weren't consistently creating chances, which was the biggest problem for me. And we've got as much chance as I have making it in professional football as getting a striker who rarely misses chances particularly at this level, even some of the best striker in the world miss alot of chances, but the best strikers don't let their heads drop and keep getting into good positions on the pitch. I think we've actually weakened our forward line over the summer but strengthened other areas although I am concerned we seem to lack a bit of a playmaker. We've again got alot of players who are comfortable running at players but not many who can control a game. Although I haven't been to any of the friendlies I am heartened to see from some of the highlights that we look more willing to put the ball early into the box and also commit more people into the box. Last season we didn't put the ball into dangerous places often or quickly enough and nor did we get enough players in there trying to get on the end of things. We need to have a bit more of the style of a Joe Royle team this season, we have enough quality to hurt teams we just need to make sure we have enough opportunities to do so and in my opinion that comes with being a bit more direct, playing off the second ball and getting the ball forward and in the box quicker.
Footie in the morning! I'll go for a 2-1 win. Can't wait to see Portman Road with new dugouts, big screen and electronic advertising boards finally!
