As an Ipswich supporter, I am expecting everyone to say we will go back down, just as people said that we would not be able to compete in the Championship last season. Not least, because that is what normally happens, but we are anything but normal. Last season we loser the fewest games, scored the most goals, had the same number of clean sheets as Leicester, 15, conceded the third fewest goals away from home, got the most points from a losing position, had the player with the most assists in the league, the player who won the ball back the most, the most different scorers, the most goals in the last 15 minutes, the most goals from substitutes, the best home record in the league, the second best away record, and our top scorer only scored 13 goals. We sold 97% of our home tickets, the 3% being away tickets not being sold, and we sold out our away allocation every game. We had the highest average league attendance in our history, and sold more than 60,000 shirts, having sold 50,000 in L1. We sold out of season tickets for next season weeks ago, and have already installed three new pitches at the training ground and a new pitch at Portman Road last summer, and will begin building world class training facilities this summer, as well as upgrading to Academy Category One Status. We have only lost 10 games over the last two seasons, got 194 points from 92 games, scored 193 goals and conceded 92, giving us a goal difference of plus 102. We also managed to be the only club int he Championship without a single red card, we had the highest running stats, we are the fittest team, and had the most shots and the most shots in target, as well as having very few penalties considering all that! So, yes, it is a big challenge, yes it is a bigger jump than from L1 to the Championship, but we are more than capable of staying up, and we will be adding four/five/six players, hopefully including Sarmiento continuing his loan and Hutchinson coming back from Chelsea. People are also overlooking g the fact that Leicester are likely to start on minus ten points, there are whispers of other clubs potentially facing financial penalties, whereas we have been praised for our transparent and strong financial position. We have not got to this point by accident, and the progress we make over the next two seasons will not be by accident either.
Really nicely put! In some ways, I think the momentum from a double promotion can help with confidence. But the key really is McKenna. The stats you've mentioned are all down to his coaching and work ethic. I think Hutchinson and Sarmiento will see the value of staying at Portman Road, in the Premier League, rather than return to sit on the bench. Here's hoping anyway
I agree with much of what you say Also I remember the last time we went up to the top flight Everyone tipped us to go straight back down We won at Leeds Liverpool and Everton amongst others ended up fifth and got into Europe It is Nota given therefore that a team from East Anglia automatically goes straight back down It is just that it has looked that way!
It's a tough ask for any promoted club to stay up. Mistakes are more often punished in the premier league. But several factors should give us Ipswich fans hope: McKenna is an intelligent, thoughtful manager who can actually coach players and has good ideas about how to implement his football. He's not wedded to a specific style and he's into the detail but also good with people. Secondly they have a fierce will not to lose, and they don't lose their heads if they go behind. They fight and keep fighting and neither of their promotions was any sort of procession where they haven't been tested for handling pressure or setbacks. Thirdly, they share the goals around create opportunities in different ways. Fourthly, their recruitment and the overall management team in place alongside McKenna seems really good - we should have some hope that good targets will be identified to strengthen the team and squad. It will be an interesting season for sure. I think they can stay up, but I also think that if they do come down, the future is still bright.
Don't forget the owners, CEO and all the backroom staff are second to none, really financially astute and 100% looking out for the best interest in the club and to move the club forward.
I think there are many reasons to be positive. Let's not forget that McKenna already has experience at Premier league level in a coaching capacity and will have a very good idea of the levels required to stay in the league. He's a clever guy and I think with a couple of tweaks defensively and a few additions in personnel will do wonders for you.
Town fan we done dbl on Southampton Leicester couldn't beat us gave Leeds a run for their money and beat wolves in the cup I think we'll surprise a lot of prem teams this season and we can't stop scoring up the town 💙💙#new follower
Tough one to balance with improving the quality but also keeping the squad unity and culture. Think Ipswich will be an attractive destination for top young loan players as McKenna develops players. If Leif continues as he has will be England looking at him.
Ipswich will be attractive because of the coach and philosophy mainly, definitely. But they're a big club that have been away from the top flight for far too long as well. Profit and sustainability will restrict their investment levels anyway, but that might force them to balance the squad better
One thing for sure we cannot take our league 1 players in the premiership can we We won promotion from league 1 and championship with them We need to tweek the defence for sure Midfield could be good enough
Something we discussed is that it can be difficult to know whether players are capable of making the step up or not until they're actually given the opportunity. I think there are a lot of players in that Ipswich team that deserve a chance. Exciting times.
Morsy and Luongo in their 30's..we will need to plan for giving them a rest at times. Without Morsy our record isnt great, so hes going to need some quality cover.
Adding top notch quality with speed front to backend. Can fill out defensive help cheaper but lets face it we are going to have to score more goals in order to compete and i have no doubt McKenna will find them.
the reality is that the chairman with whatever money he has needs to entice the best players worldwide to join ipswich town to help them stay up otherwise it will be a real struggle to stay up like burnley luton town and sheffield united have experienced this season in the premier league premiership being promoted from championship last year
And Luton have in fairness made a better fist of it under a bright young manager than the other two Team spirit and a good home crowd helped them and will help Ipswich
As an Ipswich supporter, I am expecting everyone to say we will go back down, just as people said that we would not be able to compete in the Championship last season.
Not least, because that is what normally happens, but we are anything but normal.
Last season we loser the fewest games, scored the most goals, had the same number of clean sheets as Leicester, 15, conceded the third fewest goals away from home, got the most points from a losing position, had the player with the most assists in the league, the player who won the ball back the most, the most different scorers, the most goals in the last 15 minutes, the most goals from substitutes, the best home record in the league, the second best away record, and our top scorer only scored 13 goals.
We sold 97% of our home tickets, the 3% being away tickets not being sold, and we sold out our away allocation every game.
We had the highest average league attendance in our history, and sold more than 60,000 shirts, having sold 50,000 in L1.
We sold out of season tickets for next season weeks ago, and have already installed three new pitches at the training ground and a new pitch at Portman Road last summer, and will begin building world class training facilities this summer, as well as upgrading to Academy Category One Status.
We have only lost 10 games over the last two seasons, got 194 points from 92 games, scored 193 goals and conceded 92, giving us a goal difference of plus 102.
We also managed to be the only club int he Championship without a single red card, we had the highest running stats, we are the fittest team, and had the most shots and the most shots in target, as well as having very few penalties considering all that!
So, yes, it is a big challenge, yes it is a bigger jump than from L1 to the Championship, but we are more than capable of staying up, and we will be adding four/five/six players, hopefully including Sarmiento continuing his loan and Hutchinson coming back from Chelsea.
People are also overlooking g the fact that Leicester are likely to start on minus ten points, there are whispers of other clubs potentially facing financial penalties, whereas we have been praised for our transparent and strong financial position.
We have not got to this point by accident, and the progress we make over the next two seasons will not be by accident either.
Really nicely put! In some ways, I think the momentum from a double promotion can help with confidence. But the key really is McKenna. The stats you've mentioned are all down to his coaching and work ethic.
I think Hutchinson and Sarmiento will see the value of staying at Portman Road, in the Premier League, rather than return to sit on the bench. Here's hoping anyway
Blue army have got this in mckenna we trust 💙
I agree with much of what you say Also I remember the last time we went up to the top flight Everyone tipped us to go straight back down We won at Leeds Liverpool and Everton amongst others ended up fifth and got into Europe It is Nota given therefore that a team from East Anglia automatically goes straight back down It is just that it has looked that way!
It's a tough ask for any promoted club to stay up. Mistakes are more often punished in the premier league. But several factors should give us Ipswich fans hope: McKenna is an intelligent, thoughtful manager who can actually coach players and has good ideas about how to implement his football. He's not wedded to a specific style and he's into the detail but also good with people. Secondly they have a fierce will not to lose, and they don't lose their heads if they go behind. They fight and keep fighting and neither of their promotions was any sort of procession where they haven't been tested for handling pressure or setbacks. Thirdly, they share the goals around create opportunities in different ways. Fourthly, their recruitment and the overall management team in place alongside McKenna seems really good - we should have some hope that good targets will be identified to strengthen the team and squad. It will be an interesting season for sure. I think they can stay up, but I also think that if they do come down, the future is still bright.
Don't forget the owners, CEO and all the backroom staff are second to none, really financially astute and 100% looking out for the best interest in the club and to move the club forward.
I think there are many reasons to be positive. Let's not forget that McKenna already has experience at Premier league level in a coaching capacity and will have a very good idea of the levels required to stay in the league. He's a clever guy and I think with a couple of tweaks defensively and a few additions in personnel will do wonders for you.
Town fan we done dbl on Southampton Leicester couldn't beat us gave Leeds a run for their money and beat wolves in the cup I think we'll surprise a lot of prem teams this season and we can't stop scoring up the town 💙💙#new follower
Yeah not short on goals! Hopefully that can be carried into the Premier League, but the defence will need reinforcing for sure
Tough one to balance with improving the quality but also keeping the squad unity and culture. Think Ipswich will be an attractive destination for top young loan players as McKenna develops players.
If Leif continues as he has will be England looking at him.
Ipswich will be attractive because of the coach and philosophy mainly, definitely. But they're a big club that have been away from the top flight for far too long as well. Profit and sustainability will restrict their investment levels anyway, but that might force them to balance the squad better
One thing for sure we cannot take our league 1 players in the premiership can we
We won promotion from league 1 and championship with them
We need to tweek the defence for sure
Midfield could be good enough
Something we discussed is that it can be difficult to know whether players are capable of making the step up or not until they're actually given the opportunity. I think there are a lot of players in that Ipswich team that deserve a chance. Exciting times.
Morsy and Luongo in their 30's..we will need to plan for giving them a rest at times. Without Morsy our record isnt great, so hes going to need some quality cover.
Agree about the defense, we leak far too many goals, not what you want to do in the Premiership.
He’ll coach them ready for the season
Adding top notch quality with speed front to backend. Can fill out defensive help cheaper but lets face it we are going to have to score more goals in order to compete and i have no doubt McKenna will find them.
What a team , what a manager , what fans !
We will stay up
Liking the confidence!
the reality is that the chairman with whatever money he has needs to entice the best players worldwide to join ipswich town to help them stay up otherwise it will be a real struggle to stay up like burnley luton town and sheffield united have experienced this season in the premier league premiership being promoted from championship last year
Might be more smart loan signings as well, but I think Ipswich are an attractive prospect now.
@@FootballDiaryPodcast Only allowed two loanees in the Prem.
We have super kieran mckenna Ipswich Town are premiership great team spirit we will do are best 👌 👍
Amazing culture and spirit that McKenna has instilled. Not bad for just 2 seasons' work!
Think we will finish 10-14th. Will surprise a few! Much better than Luton
Bold prediction! Momentum from a double promotion can go a long way.
And Luton have in fairness made a better fist of it under a bright young manager than the other two Team spirit and a good home crowd helped them and will help Ipswich
Ipswich v Manchester United LOADING....
If they played now, McKenna would be laughing