Ha ha. I thought about looking it up too, but then thought .... life's too short!!
So, in summary:
- He joined them mid season when they had been falling like a stone
- He turned their form around v quickly (with 10 games unbeaten, a club record run without conceding, etc)
- The next season, his 1st full season in charge, he got them promoted ... albeit with a mini-mid season 'slump' (!!) where they lost the grand total of TWO games in 10, and drew 3 on the trot twice! (I can see the W poking out on the side too). Maybe there was a bit of apprehension for a short while, but come on. Well done Ipswich for sticking with your manager through such an horrendous time. [HASHTAG]#guffaw[/HASHTAG]
Here's a reminder of more facts:
- "With McKenna's first full season in charge, the following season proved more successful.
Following an undefeated streak of 18 league games, and breaking several club records, on 29 April 2023, Ipswich were promoted back to the Championship after defeating
Exeter City 6–0.
[66] Ipswich finished the
2022–23 season in second place, with
98 points and scoring 101 league goals"
The top of the division was competitive with 3 clubs amassing well over 90 points (Plymouth, Ipswich, Wednesday). Ipswich only lost 4 all season. Scored 101, conceded only 35.
As for the budget argument, a lot of that can be legacies he inherited. It didn't work for Lambert and it didn't work for Cook. It did for McKenna.
As if he was really under threat!! Moments of anxiousness of course, but come on.
BTW, I actually know an Ipswich fan who lives close by to me. He moved up here years ago. We often talk football. I remember him saying that he was very happy with the manager who had turned them around and got them playing good football, and with new ownership that seemed to have them heading back in the right direction at last.
Hopefully the utter nonsense about them 'giving him time' to build something and 'sticking with him' is now put to bed.