December is almost over, and so is 2023.
Ipswich Town have had an incredible year but this was a really tough month. The Blues won three, drew three and lost one of their seven games, battling hard in some colossal matches either side of Christmas.
Alex Jones has chosen his award winners for the last month of the calendar year.
Player of the Month
December was a month where Ipswich had to stick together. They had three really big games - huge ones, in fact. However, they also needed to focus on the other matches sandwiched either side of them. I think Sam Morsy played a big part in that, and for that reason, he’s my Player of the Month for the second time in a row.
In truth, the pool was quite slim. There weren’t too many individual standouts, but Morsy has almost always been a real presence in midfield. He sets the bar at 7/10 for a standard performance, but when he steps up a gear, he really shines.
There’s one game in particular that stood out to me, and we’ll get onto that later, but he’s played an important role at both ends of the pitch. Whether he’s scoring against Watford or sitting deep against Leicester, he’s a real presence.
Although he was suspended for the 0-0 draw against QPR following an FA charge, Morsy did incredibly well to avoid picking up a 10th yellow card of the season. Yes, there were some moments of apprehension, but he never really let the situation impact his game.
I’ve also been really impressed by the way he’s acted on and off the pitch. He was put up to speak to the media ahead of the draw against Norwich and after the defeat to Leeds. Neither of those games went to plan, but he showed a real level-headed mentality that seemed to spread around the squad, even when things were tough.
December felt like a month where we all saw just how important he is to this team and this club, although most people knew that already.
Surprise package
I’ve been quite critical of Harry Clarke at the best of times, which is probably quite harsh. He struggled at the start of the season as he worked his way back from an Achilles injury.
Then, when Brandon Williams got into the team and started performing well, it looked like he’d struggle to get out of the Manchester United loanee’s shadow. However, he managed to do that and more.
We can’t brush his poor performances under the carpet. Crysencio Summerville had him on toast at Elland Road, but that was partially due to the fact that his role in the team sees him press high up the pitch and leave space. Similarly, he received some blame for Leicester’s goal at Portman Road, but he clearly tucked in narrow to prevent the overload through the middle.
He’s sometimes in an impossible position, but he clearly follows instructions closely while putting his absolute heart and soul into everything he does on the pitch.
He did incredibly well to nullify the likes of Ken Sema and Borja Sainz, for example, and he deserves a lot of credit for what he offers at both ends. We’ve seen that shine through a lot more this month.
Goal of the Month
I don’t think there’s a great deal to discuss with this one. It’s obviously Wes Burns’ trivela against Coventry City.
This month’s candidates weren’t overly strong, so Burns’ strike is a hands-down winner. It was simply sensational from start to finish.
It’s not just the shot, it’s the build-up play. It’s Harry Clarke’s fake run that deceives the full-back. It’s the way that Burns brings the ball inside and finds space to shoot with his right foot. Of course, it’s the finish too.
The curl, the celebration, everything. Easy winner. It's a clear candidate for Goal of the Season, not just for Town, but in the Championship too.
Best individual performance
I’ve gone with Morsy’s performance against Watford here, which was superb for a couple of reasons.
Granted, like the Goal of the Month, there weren’t too many candidates for this one. Morsy came into the game against the Hornets with all the attention on him, however, knowing that a yellow card would see him suspended for the East Anglian derby against Norwich City.
He didn’t change his game at all. Perhaps he wasn’t as quick to lunge in with strong tackles or barges, but he maintained his aggression in midfield and really ran the show. He did it against a top side away from home, preventing his side from being overrun.
Then, of course, he popped up with the winning goal. A rare foray forward that saw him pounce on a mistake and confidently slide the ball into the net, capping off a fantastic showing in Hertfordshire.
Standout moment
There were two main candidates here. Nathan Broadhead’s opening goal against Norwich was a really special moment, but it was quickly forgotten because Town didn’t win the game that meant the most to the fans.
Boxing Day wasn’t as important, but the stoppage-time own-goal in Ipswich’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City just about edges it for me. It didn’t just change the complexion of the game, but of the entire festive period.
Ipswich wouldn’t have been disgraced if they lost to the Foxes, but one point from those three big games would’ve really hurt them. They were the better side against Enzo Maresca’s men for much of the game, but they didn’t have anything to show for it going into the 93rd minute.
That’s when Morsy took aim, firing a powerful effort off Ricardo Pereira and Janoi Vestergaard. It wrong-footed Mads Hermansen and hit the back of the net, lifting the roof off Portman Road after a frustrating period of dominance where they just couldn’t find a way through.
Good teams find a way to get results from tough situations. The Blues did it against the best that night, and it’ll surely go down as one of the most memorable moments of the season as a result.
Best opposition player
When I wrote my first awards piece back in August, I stressed that any member of the Leeds team that featured in the clash at Portman Road could’ve been chosen. The same counts for those that started in the 4-0 battering at Elland Road.
Leicester’s Stephy Mavididi and Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe could certainly be in contention here, but I’ve got to go with Summerville, who gave Ipswich nightmares for 90 minutes in West Yorkshire.
He won a penalty, scored a goal and exploited every inch of space left by Clarke. He showed his incredible pace, dribbling and precision while also winning duels and drawing fouls. It was an immense performance.
Thankfully, Town won’t have to face him or his Leeds side in the Championship again this season.
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