After covering his first Ipswich Town game for the EADT and Ipswich Star, sports reporter Alex Jones shares his thoughts on the club ahead of their return to the Championship.
The promotion buzz
There’s no denying that Ipswich has often been a club devoid of joy in recent years. My main memories of watching Town came when they were struggling towards the lower end of the Championship or failing to break into the top six in League One. Last season was obviously the turning point.
When covering my first game for the EADT/Star – last week’s pre-season friendly against Maidenhead United – I could feel a real buzz and a sense of excitement from both the players and the fans.
There is a genuine feeling of unity that I never really associated with the club in the past, as well as a confidence that they can go on to compete at the top end of the division following promotion from League One.
The Blues are finally back where they belong, and like many others, I believe that they could have a hugely successful campaign.
McKenna is the main man
Football clubs tend to have a player who steps up to become the ‘face’ of the team, be that Harry Kane at Spurs, Erling Haaland at Manchester City or Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. However, it’s clear that Kieran McKenna is the face of Ipswich.
The Northern Irishman comes across as quite quiet, but he also carries a certain aura in the way he presents himself on the touchline and in interviews. His knowledge of the game is vast and his relationship with both the players and the fans has been key to Town’s success.
He is undoubtedly their most valuable asset at the moment.
Tactical tweaks for the Championship
Ipswich’s formation can loosely be described as a 4-2-3-1, but I didn’t really grasp how flexible the system is until I saw them in the flesh at Bloomfields.
McKenna’s style is unique and tightly fitted around the strengths and weaknesses of his squad, particularly in wide areas.
On the left side, the full-back covers the entire flank and allows the winger to cut inside and add an extra threat through the middle.
This is why Leif Davis will be such an important player in the Championship, especially given how many assists he has provided from left-back.
On the other hand, the right winger often drops deeper to support the defensive line out of possession, allowing the right-back to become a centre-back and create a back five.
Once again, the combination of Wes Burns and Harry Clarke will make this a perfect system in the second tier should McKenna decide it’s the best way forward.
The striker saga
Ipswich will be keen to strengthen in a variety of different positions this summer, but the attention will be on who they decide to sign up front.
Town have missed out on Everton’s Ellis Simms, who joined Coventry City, while a move for former star loanee George Hirst will likely hinge on whether Leicester City decide to keep him in their squad following relegation from the Premier League.
However, I believe that Freddie Ladapo has been overlooked far too often in the last few weeks.
His pre-season form indicates that he’s hungry to show that he can contribute in the Championship, having performed well in the league for a poor Rotherham United side.
Whether or not he is chosen to lead the line for the Tractor Boys next season remains to be seen, but he will certainly be a valuable member of the squad.
Fans will be key
I have always known Ipswich fans for their unwavering support. Even in dark times, supporters turned up in their numbers and made a lot of noise.
They deserved to witness the incredible success of last season, and the club will boast fantastic attendances as a result.
In Friday’s win at Needham Market, I expected quite a tepid atmosphere due to the lethargic nature of pre-season fixtures.
Instead, a large number of fans packed themselves in behind the goal and cheered on the players for the full 90 minutes. You don’t often see that before the start of the season.
In a way, it’s a shame that the Blues are starting the season away from home, especially at the Stadium of Light where the away end is situated so far from the pitch.
The first home game against Stoke City on August 12th will be a fantastic occasion. I can't wait!
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