Transfer window
- Thread starter stretchyboy
- Start date
I think it was the most important position for us to get in. For me our midfield hasn't looked balanced since splitting up Morsy and Luongo. And to be honest it didn't look balanced before that. They were crucial in how the rest of the team worked and I hope bringing Neil in will bring that much needed balance. I wonder whether it will see Matusiwa move to the left of the pivot as cover for Davis and Philogene/Clarke and Neil comes into the Morsy playmaker role.
I'm still of the view we could add another midfielder there. I think if we get a long term injury to Matusiwa we'd be very challenged.
Despite the form of our forward players I'm not quite so bothered about them. I dont think that forward line has had a lot of consistency and we havent got the best out of them. Hirst has looked a shadow of his former self but he's not doing the things he used to because the team is different. Azon for me has shown a lot of potential, he's been extremely unlucky not to score more goals, I think he's probably got a save of the season competition just on his chances (although appreciate he has missed a couple of sitters). Akpom probably is our most natural finisher but hasn't played enough upfront, so for me personally whilst we can probably improve in that area I'm more inclined to say stick with what we've got, improve stuff on the training pitch and let them play themselves into form.
Saying this I probably wouldn't have signed Mehmeti for similar reasons but from his cameo performance he looks another player like Neil who might just start knitting the team together better than what it has been.
Unfortunately I do think it does provide a bit of a question mark about recruitment bringing in players who aren't really suited to the role we want them for. Really we have enough numbers in those positions.
I think we keep Johnson, we're only a couple of injuries away from having some real challenges at the back. Currently we only have Johnson and Greaves with experience at this level or above fit and available to come in. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of defenders come in as we have injuries to Young, Townsend and we never replaced Woolfenden.
I'm still of the view we could add another midfielder there. I think if we get a long term injury to Matusiwa we'd be very challenged.
Despite the form of our forward players I'm not quite so bothered about them. I dont think that forward line has had a lot of consistency and we havent got the best out of them. Hirst has looked a shadow of his former self but he's not doing the things he used to because the team is different. Azon for me has shown a lot of potential, he's been extremely unlucky not to score more goals, I think he's probably got a save of the season competition just on his chances (although appreciate he has missed a couple of sitters). Akpom probably is our most natural finisher but hasn't played enough upfront, so for me personally whilst we can probably improve in that area I'm more inclined to say stick with what we've got, improve stuff on the training pitch and let them play themselves into form.
Saying this I probably wouldn't have signed Mehmeti for similar reasons but from his cameo performance he looks another player like Neil who might just start knitting the team together better than what it has been.
Unfortunately I do think it does provide a bit of a question mark about recruitment bringing in players who aren't really suited to the role we want them for. Really we have enough numbers in those positions.
I think we keep Johnson, we're only a couple of injuries away from having some real challenges at the back. Currently we only have Johnson and Greaves with experience at this level or above fit and available to come in. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of defenders come in as we have injuries to Young, Townsend and we never replaced Woolfenden.
One issue that needs raising is that I saw a stat somewhere that we havent come back from going behind since 2024! Morsy was great at rallying the players, urging them on, and his general leadership which tbh O'Shea lacks.
Maybe Neil with his experience can help with this, especially in our upcoming run of away games. Our poor away form needs dramatic improvement if we are to be in autos.
Maybe Neil with his experience can help with this, especially in our upcoming run of away games. Our poor away form needs dramatic improvement if we are to be in autos.
I would put this down to two things -
Our victories were fleeting in the Premier League.
We started poorly this season but since then we tend to score early goals and keep clean sheets rather than play kamikaze football.
That’s the whole of 2025 in a nutshell.
I think it’s better to win 3-0 rather than scoring 4 goals to win 4-3. Let’s not forget the Elland Road debacle when that team was shocked into submission.
Has been playing for you this season?
Not sure if he set the world on fire for you
Better than Bamford?
He's been frozen out by the new signings, it seems the staff and many fans feel he is excellent in the Championship and not so for the PL although he hasn't had a decent run.
I would keep him myself in case of relegation.
19 goals in the championship last season, 46 goals in 91 games for Swansea in the Championship
Last edited:
As ristac says, it feels like Piroe is potentially a top-level Championship player but isn’t quite cut out to be a reliable Premier League quality player for a team looking to avoid relegation. With Neil coming in on loan, that’s five loanees in our team – which is the limit for a matchday squad. Piroe is likely to come at a fairly big price tag - so we’ve got to be confident that a) he can make an immediate impact this season and b) be prepared to potentially step up to the Premier League next season.
I’ve only seen a few Leeds games this season, but I’ve been impressed with the performance levels and think you’ve got a fairly good chance at staying up. One thing I said I thought you got right in the summer was your approach to recruitment – particularly your focus on bringing in tall, physically strong players. This was arguably our main recruitment failing last season where we looked lightweight compared to the rest of the division. Daniel Farke – unlike McKenna – also has a few years of experience managing in the Premier League with Norwich, so I think he had his eyes more open with regards to the type of challenge you were going to come up against.
Finally, and this isn’t to sound bitter or disrespectful, but it feels like an ‘easier’ Premier League season to come into as a newly promoted club. Wolves shot themselves in both feet by selling the few top players they had and failing to replace them. West Ham have been a complacent Premier League side for several years now with general failings in recruitment and choices in managers. Forest’s owner has sabotaged what was a strong set-up and European football is putting pressure on a small squad. Palace also look guilty of the owner being complacent and allowing a slow brain drain of talent (Olise, Eze, Guehi etc.), compounded by additional European football pressure and a manager checked out ahead of walking this summer.
There have been some exceptions. Things are looking up for last season’s strugglers Manchester United. Brentford (a side I thought would struggle in the summer) have been the main outlier in that despite selling three of their highest scorers from last season and replacing a successful manager with a novice – they look in good health. And to be fair to Leeds and Sunderland, both teams seem more willing to attack and create opportunities compared to recently relegated sides. I hope both teams stay up.
Transfer window now closed with no additions in the striking department (although, apparently we did try to sign another right winger from Millwall - can never have enough of those). Think it’s a very brave decision from Kmc as if we either lose tomorrow / fail to get promoted this season, sections of the crowd may start turning. I feel he has plenty of credit in the bank to have both this season and next season at least but don’t think everyone will feel that way
Transfer dealings and management of squad has been quite confusing since we were promoted to the PL. Tonnes of money spent but for little gain at the moment by the look of things.
The positive we just have to work with what we've got, which will hopefully improve our performances as a team.
The scary thing is if we manage to get promoted, this team who have laboured in this division feel like we would require significant upgrades on to stand a chance in the PL.
The positive we just have to work with what we've got, which will hopefully improve our performances as a team.
The scary thing is if we manage to get promoted, this team who have laboured in this division feel like we would require significant upgrades on to stand a chance in the PL.
I’m disappointed that the board and the recruitment team didn’t add to the squad yesterday. We went into the final day of the transfer window with a clear need to upgrade at centre forward. However, we ended the day weaker and send out Szmodics on loan to a promotion rival. I really hope that doesn’t come back to bite us, because that decision screams erratic planning.
It’s a shame because I think the recruitment this summer has generally been positive. The likes of Matusiwa, Furlong, Kipre, and Nunez have been great signings that improve the starting eleven. Neil and Mehmeti hopefully add further quality. I’m starting to believe that if we go up, this squad will be better placed and more experienced to handle the Premier League.
The glaring issue with the recruitment is the mess at centre forward. Azon and Akpom both brought in to address that position in the summer and both are looking duds.
Hopefully Neil and Mehmeti add something we’re missing. We’re creating a load of chances every match, but perhaps they can make some of those chances a bit easier to put away. Still a long way to go this season, but overall in this window, I think we’ve just about improved the squad.
It’s a shame because I think the recruitment this summer has generally been positive. The likes of Matusiwa, Furlong, Kipre, and Nunez have been great signings that improve the starting eleven. Neil and Mehmeti hopefully add further quality. I’m starting to believe that if we go up, this squad will be better placed and more experienced to handle the Premier League.
The glaring issue with the recruitment is the mess at centre forward. Azon and Akpom both brought in to address that position in the summer and both are looking duds.
Hopefully Neil and Mehmeti add something we’re missing. We’re creating a load of chances every match, but perhaps they can make some of those chances a bit easier to put away. Still a long way to go this season, but overall in this window, I think we’ve just about improved the squad.
Last edited:
While we all would like to see a strong striker in they are as rare as pulling hens teeth.
Lets hope with Philo and Nunez back soon, we can start banging them in.
I read somewhere that the top Championship no 9 has scored 8 goals all season. So, KM strategy is hoping for more from other players.
Lets hope with Philo and Nunez back soon, we can start banging them in.
I read somewhere that the top Championship no 9 has scored 8 goals all season. So, KM strategy is hoping for more from other players.
I think the signings of Mehmeti and Neil look great signings and I hope will start to knit things together in the centre of the park which will improve performances.
But I also think the signings show a failure of recruitment in the last 3 transfer windows. I'm willing to give this squad and manager a chance but we've spent £200 million based on consistently underwhelming performances over the past year to go backwards.
Hopefully this squad will bear fruit but for me they're not passing the eye test at the moment.
We've brought in loads of players and very few feel like they have improved us as a team. I think unless things click into place serious questions need asking of our recruitment.
We've spent a load of money in the GK position and yet Walton over the past few seasons has proven to be the most consistent and is currently deserved in the no.1 position. We are being opened up far more in the middle of the pitch than I've seen in previous seasons, athleticism wise we are stronger there but positionally we get caught out too much.
We've recruited several high profile players who were meant to play in the double pivot but only Matusiwa who struggles with his back to goal and pretty sure wasn't brought in for that role has nailed down that position. The person who has started most alongside him is Taylor who wasn't consistently good enough to start in that position 2 years ago and I haven't seen any real difference in his performance or consistency level since then.
We've spent absolutely 10s of millions on the 3 positions behind the main striker. We've recruited 2 very in demand players in Clarke and Philogene who play in the same position on the left and both scoring goals...I'd imagine that will come to a head at some point with one of them leaving. Both also by how they play limit the player who gave us most assists last time in the Championship.
Our most effective player in the 10 currently is a player we brought in the play in the double pivot.
The player who looks best on the right currently again after spending over £40 million on players in that position is 60k Wes Burns who's biggest strength is his explosive pace yet he's been injured for a year and over 30.
Over the past 6 months or so we have also seen a number of players who McKenna said he wanted to keep asking to leave. Burgess, Woolfenden, Morsy, Chaplin, Broadhead, Hutchinson and Szmodics.
You also mention Furlong who looks a very solid player at this level but that's all he looks, he's certainly not the level of Tuanzebe who we let go on a free.
Perhaps it will all come good and we if we are fortunate enough to get to the PL again we won't need as much upheaval but to my eye in regards to performances and player fit to the system we have its looked abit like a kid in a candy shop.
This transfer window has felt far more solid and strategic but we shouldn't really have needed those players if we'd got the recruitment right over the summer.
But I also think the signings show a failure of recruitment in the last 3 transfer windows. I'm willing to give this squad and manager a chance but we've spent £200 million based on consistently underwhelming performances over the past year to go backwards.
Hopefully this squad will bear fruit but for me they're not passing the eye test at the moment.
We've brought in loads of players and very few feel like they have improved us as a team. I think unless things click into place serious questions need asking of our recruitment.
We've spent a load of money in the GK position and yet Walton over the past few seasons has proven to be the most consistent and is currently deserved in the no.1 position. We are being opened up far more in the middle of the pitch than I've seen in previous seasons, athleticism wise we are stronger there but positionally we get caught out too much.
We've recruited several high profile players who were meant to play in the double pivot but only Matusiwa who struggles with his back to goal and pretty sure wasn't brought in for that role has nailed down that position. The person who has started most alongside him is Taylor who wasn't consistently good enough to start in that position 2 years ago and I haven't seen any real difference in his performance or consistency level since then.
We've spent absolutely 10s of millions on the 3 positions behind the main striker. We've recruited 2 very in demand players in Clarke and Philogene who play in the same position on the left and both scoring goals...I'd imagine that will come to a head at some point with one of them leaving. Both also by how they play limit the player who gave us most assists last time in the Championship.
Our most effective player in the 10 currently is a player we brought in the play in the double pivot.
The player who looks best on the right currently again after spending over £40 million on players in that position is 60k Wes Burns who's biggest strength is his explosive pace yet he's been injured for a year and over 30.
Over the past 6 months or so we have also seen a number of players who McKenna said he wanted to keep asking to leave. Burgess, Woolfenden, Morsy, Chaplin, Broadhead, Hutchinson and Szmodics.
You also mention Furlong who looks a very solid player at this level but that's all he looks, he's certainly not the level of Tuanzebe who we let go on a free.
Perhaps it will all come good and we if we are fortunate enough to get to the PL again we won't need as much upheaval but to my eye in regards to performances and player fit to the system we have its looked abit like a kid in a candy shop.
This transfer window has felt far more solid and strategic but we shouldn't really have needed those players if we'd got the recruitment right over the summer.
Last edited:
A lot of differing, and of course valid, opinions on the January window. I would definitely have liked to have seen a striker come in, but McKenna clearly not impressed with options available so we stick with what we have (minus Szmodics). It’s a bold call from the club, banking on other area reinforcements and Hirst, Azon and Akpom finding some form. I guess there will be questions if our lack of taking chances costs us promotion, but for the moment we support what we have. Shame Portsmouth is off tonight (again!!).
But after all my moaning, I tend to actually feel relatively comfortable that we didn't recruit a striker.
We have Hirst who has proven he has what it takes at this level. People talk about bringing someone like Moore in but we brought him in before because Hirst got injured as soon as Hirst came back from injury he was straight back in the team and looked the better player. He's looked miles off it this season but we're not playing to his strengths.
We have Akpom who's barely played upfront but we are told is the best finisher at the club.
We have Azon who I think looks a decent player, he's missed some sitters but hes also come up against some inspired goalkeeping.
For me its up to McKenna to get the best out of a decent forward line, we need to either use Hirst differently or we need to give Azon and Akpom more of a run in the team.
Our forward line hasn't really developed any meaningful partnerships either which certainly doesn't help. Even players like Clarke and Philogene who have scored all the goals I dont feel bring out the best in others around them. Added to which we used to be outstanding as a forward line pressing the opposition, we don't seem to do that anymore.
Goes a bit back to my earlier point with the recruitment, we saw how McKenna likes to play but we've recruited a bunch of players who don't have the attributes to fit that system but we've continued to try to play in the same way with them.
We have Hirst who has proven he has what it takes at this level. People talk about bringing someone like Moore in but we brought him in before because Hirst got injured as soon as Hirst came back from injury he was straight back in the team and looked the better player. He's looked miles off it this season but we're not playing to his strengths.
We have Akpom who's barely played upfront but we are told is the best finisher at the club.
We have Azon who I think looks a decent player, he's missed some sitters but hes also come up against some inspired goalkeeping.
For me its up to McKenna to get the best out of a decent forward line, we need to either use Hirst differently or we need to give Azon and Akpom more of a run in the team.
Our forward line hasn't really developed any meaningful partnerships either which certainly doesn't help. Even players like Clarke and Philogene who have scored all the goals I dont feel bring out the best in others around them. Added to which we used to be outstanding as a forward line pressing the opposition, we don't seem to do that anymore.
Goes a bit back to my earlier point with the recruitment, we saw how McKenna likes to play but we've recruited a bunch of players who don't have the attributes to fit that system but we've continued to try to play in the same way with them.
Last edited:
The recruitment has looked a lot better this season compared to last season, mainly because we’re fishing in a market where we’re a bigger player. I think the criticism of this team being ‘a bad side’ is massively overblown. We’ve got the joint best defensive record in the league. We’re the second highest scorers in the league. Yes, the team does have its issues, but I think it’s looking better prepared to step up to the Premier League next season – assuming we manage to get promoted.
Defensively, this season we look a step above any McKenna team. I agree Tuanzebe is a better player than Furlong, but Furlong is a lot more reliable and available. Can he step up to the Premier League? I have my doubts, but he’ll play a part in the squad for sure. Kipre is a more solid and composed defender than either Greaves or Burgess. He has been a key part of how much more solid we’ve looked this season. On a wider note, O’Shea looks more confident and comfortable. Davis has also significantly improved defensively this year.
In midfield, I am more confident in Matusiwa (an outstanding signing), Neil (if he lives up to expectation), Taylor, and Nunez (as he can play there) than Morsy, Luongo, Taylor and Kalvin Phillips starting in a Premier League season. I feel this current batch of midfielders are in a better profile (both technical ability and age) to make that step up. I think they come in for unfair criticism at times, because a majority of games this season we have controlled for almost the entire 90 minutes. Matusiwa would benefit from having a regular week-in, week-out midfield partner to really build in a relationship. Maybe Neil is that player?
Attacking-wise, I agree our recruitment has been a lot more questionable this season. Nunez has been a bright exception and has linked play and been brilliant in the number 10 position. Egeli and McAteer – at a combined £30 million odd fee – have underwhelmed. Egeli is a talented, physical player – but he has struggled to adapt and deliver consistent performances, which you need to see in a promotion-competing side. Whether it’s a question of time, a question of poor coaching, or just an issue that he isn’t cut out for English football remains to be seen. The signing of McAteer is looking misguided at best, pointless at worst. Azon and Akpom have also failed to impress, despite some recent encouraging performances by Azon. I’ve been beating the drum a fair bit this week, but I honestly feel if we don’t go up this season – it’s because we haven’t got a decent, in-form centre-forward. Hopefully Hirst can get back to some level of consistency, because I think the recognition in the summer was he’d be our main man. The rather spiteful criticism and abuse of him on social media is completely unjustified.
On a wider note about our attack, we create a lot of chances. I don’t think it’s a poor attack, supported by being second highest scorers in the league. Jack Clarke and Philogene – widely panned last season as poor signings – have more than delivered this season. Clarke is already only a goal behind both Chaplin and Broadhead, joint top scorers in our 2023/24 promotion season. Losing Delap and Hutchinson – for me, our best attacking players last season by some distance – has had an impact. Particularly as those are the two positions where we’re struggling for a stand-out, consistent player.
I agree the goalkeeper position has been a recruitment issue. It has been since Hladky left. The signings of Muric and Palmer, to an extent, have underwhelmed. I don’t think Palmer was playing poorly, but Walton has come in and made the number 1 shirt his on merit. Is Walton going to be the answer if we get back to the Premier League? I’d say no. Maybe with confidence as a starter in a promotion season, playing behind a more solid defence, he would be. It speaks volumes that Muric was statistically our best Premier League goalkeeper last season. A separate debate could be had that we were hasty offloading him, especially considering how well he’s been playing in Serie A, but maybe a different league and country was what he needed.
I think the good things this team does is often taken for granted. You see it on this forum a fair bit (and I’m guilty of it too) in that we’ll barely comment after yet another 3-0 dominant win. However, when we slip up, or in the rare instance lately that we lose, then most of us are on here looking for scapegoats. McKenna has to develop and implement a system that gets these undoubtedly talented players playing above and beyond their natural ability. Like he did two years ago. It currently feels a bit like McKenna Year 1 in the third division, when we got through games mainly due to having a better and deeper squad than most opponents. We’ve been quite a ‘cold’ team this year in how we’ve dispatched teams, but did it by muddling through in second gear. Always tempting people with a ‘look how much better we’ll be when this all clicks’. Compare and contrast with two years ago, when we were riding the wave of a first Premier League promotion in 22 years, by winning end-to-end, scrappy encounters - and thumbing the noses of some parachute payment clubs in the process. On a wider point, if anyone’s been to Portman Road this season, like me you’ve probably noticed the raised expectations, the underlying entitlement by sections of the stadium, and the constant huffs when a pass gets misplaced. We’re not used to being a club with big expectation. And I don’t think, as a fanbase, we wear it well.
Essay over
For anyone who understandably won’t like to read my attempt at War and Peace above, I think your final paragraph does hit the nail on the head with regards to our attack.
We’re a good attacking team, but we’re not an overly clinical attacking team. We can create a load of chances in a match, but we lack … something … to really put the tricky games to bed.
I agree that there’s a disconnect between McKenna’s current system and the attacking players we’ve got. I know it sounds or reads like I disagree with everything you say ptc - honestly I don’t! - but we are definitely on the same page there. Either McKenna needs to be more involved in recruiting the players he wants for this system (which I think is the case anyway) or he and his coaches need to start sharpening this attack better in training and on match days.
I know you go to alot of games, so cant lay the criticism that you don't watch them on this but it feels as if a lot of your comments you have looked at our stats and on paper come to some of those conclusions. Look at the stats for Hull and you'd wonder how the hell they are where they are but their fans seem to be happy with how they are playing. Stats are important but I think there is also the eye test and our performances have been laboured this team hasn't got out of 2nd gear.The recruitment has looked a lot better this season compared to last season, mainly because we’re fishing in a market where we’re a bigger player. I think the criticism of this team being ‘a bad side’ is massively overblown. We’ve got the joint best defensive record in the league. We’re the second highest scorers in the league. Yes, the team does have its issues, but I think it’s looking better prepared to step up to the Premier League next season – assuming we manage to get promoted.
Defensively, this season we look a step above any McKenna team. I agree Tuanzebe is a better player than Furlong, but Furlong is a lot more reliable and available. Can he step up to the Premier League? I have my doubts, but he’ll play a part in the squad for sure. Kipre is a more solid and composed defender than either Greaves or Burgess. He has been a key part of how much more solid we’ve looked this season. On a wider note, O’Shea looks more confident and comfortable. Davis has also significantly improved defensively this year.
In midfield, I am more confident in Matusiwa (an outstanding signing), Neil (if he lives up to expectation), Taylor, and Nunez (as he can play there) than Morsy, Luongo, Taylor and Kalvin Phillips starting in a Premier League season. I feel this current batch of midfielders are in a better profile (both technical ability and age) to make that step up. I think they come in for unfair criticism at times, because a majority of games this season we have controlled for almost the entire 90 minutes. Matusiwa would benefit from having a regular week-in, week-out midfield partner to really build in a relationship. Maybe Neil is that player?
Attacking-wise, I agree our recruitment has been a lot more questionable this season. Nunez has been a bright exception and has linked play and been brilliant in the number 10 position. Egeli and McAteer – at a combined £30 million odd fee – have underwhelmed. Egeli is a talented, physical player – but he has struggled to adapt and deliver consistent performances, which you need to see in a promotion-competing side. Whether it’s a question of time, a question of poor coaching, or just an issue that he isn’t cut out for English football remains to be seen. The signing of McAteer is looking misguided at best, pointless at worst. Azon and Akpom have also failed to impress, despite some recent encouraging performances by Azon. I’ve been beating the drum a fair bit this week, but I honestly feel if we don’t go up this season – it’s because we haven’t got a decent, in-form centre-forward. Hopefully Hirst can get back to some level of consistency, because I think the recognition in the summer was he’d be our main man. The rather spiteful criticism and abuse of him on social media is completely unjustified.
On a wider note about our attack, we create a lot of chances. I don’t think it’s a poor attack, supported by being second highest scorers in the league. Jack Clarke and Philogene – widely panned last season as poor signings – have more than delivered this season. Clarke is already only a goal behind both Chaplin and Broadhead, joint top scorers in our 2023/24 promotion season. Losing Delap and Hutchinson – for me, our best attacking players last season by some distance – has had an impact. Particularly as those are the two positions where we’re struggling for a stand-out, consistent player.
I agree the goalkeeper position has been a recruitment issue. It has been since Hladky left. The signings of Muric and Palmer, to an extent, have underwhelmed. I don’t think Palmer was playing poorly, but Walton has come in and made the number 1 shirt his on merit. Is Walton going to be the answer if we get back to the Premier League? I’d say no. Maybe with confidence as a starter in a promotion season, playing behind a more solid defence, he would be. It speaks volumes that Muric was statistically our best Premier League goalkeeper last season. A separate debate could be had that we were hasty offloading him, especially considering how well he’s been playing in Serie A, but maybe a different league and country was what he needed.
I think the good things this team does is often taken for granted. You see it on this forum a fair bit (and I’m guilty of it too) in that we’ll barely comment after yet another 3-0 dominant win. However, when we slip up, or in the rare instance lately that we lose, then most of us are on here looking for scapegoats. McKenna has to develop and implement a system that gets these undoubtedly talented players playing above and beyond their natural ability. Like he did two years ago. It currently feels a bit like McKenna Year 1 in the third division, when we got through games mainly due to having a better and deeper squad than most opponents. We’ve been quite a ‘cold’ team this year in how we’ve dispatched teams, but did it by muddling through in second gear. Always tempting people with a ‘look how much better we’ll be when this all clicks’. Compare and contrast with two years ago, when we were riding the wave of a first Premier League promotion in 22 years, by winning end-to-end, scrappy encounters - and thumbing the noses of some parachute payment clubs in the process. On a wider point, if anyone’s been to Portman Road this season, like me you’ve probably noticed the raised expectations, the underlying entitlement by sections of the stadium, and the constant huffs when a pass gets misplaced. We’re not used to being a club with big expectation. And I don’t think, as a fanbase, we wear it well.
Essay over
I don't think I've seen a decent progressive 90 minutes from this team in 2 seasons maybe with the exception of Coventry but look what has happened to their form since.
Kipres 90% of the time looks an outstanding player and is supremely talented on the ball but he has a rick in him most matches. He also has a tendancy to get caught out positionally sometimes due to lunging in. It looks like to me because O'Shea, Greaves and Kipre are more athletic they rely on these more than their positioning which is why they get caught out. Despite their limitations Woolfenden and Burgess barely put a foot wrong for 2/3 seasons. I think we've made far more mistakes this season centrally than we have done for a while...our weakness used to be down the flanks.
This isn't entirely down to our CBs by any means, the forward line isn't pressing as effectively as previous seasons and we lack anyone to control our midfield. For however good Matusiwa is he's not a playmaker and the double pivot is hard to control the midfield anyway let alone when your partner is more of an 8 or 10 who floats in and out of games. If you're going to play the double pivot how we play you need 2 consistent players in there who are going to show up every game. Which is why I think Neil could well be the perfect signing.
Then Clarke and Philogene, maybe sounds a stupid thing to say but if they hadn't scored all those incredible goals I find their overall gameplay extremely frustrating. It feels like they are definitely moments players and the rest of the time they frustrate and actually inhibit our general play.
I agree we're not that bad, I mean forgetting about the last 4 seasons the 10 or 15 before that were far worse but context or expectations have certainly fed into that. Our performances this season feel more like Paul Lambert in league 1 rather than McKenna very inconsistent with bits of quality probably above the level we're at. But the context is important McKenna pulled together a team that gave us an amazing 2 seasons, with brilliant football. We pretty much ripped that team up with many losing their places in the team based on how much they cost rather than performances and spent over £200 million to replace them. Nearly every player in our team in many cases cost more than a lot of championship teams entire squads (our championships promotion winning team cost £9 million) based on that should we be expecting to see better performances? I think so, is some of this inconsistency in our performances our own fault..definitely. Too much chopping and changing in terms of recruitment and player selection. And recruitment which may come off long term but in the short term buying players who dont fit with how we want them to play.