The transfer window is closed and there are 17 games left for Ipswich Town to fight for promotion. Here are our predictions for the rest of the season...
STUART WATSON
MVP
I'll stick with the same man I said back in the summer - SAM MORSY. When he's at it, Town are at it. The standard-setting skipper plays a crucial role in the heart of the team and at the heart of the dressing room. I was sorely tempted to go with Kieffer Moore though. His physical profile changes the whole dynamic of the attack.
Surprise package
Struggled with this one because I think we all know what the vast majority of these players are capable of. Will you therefore allow me NATHAN BROADHEAD in this category? Since spurning some glorious chances in the East Anglian derby back in mid-February, the silky Welshman hasn't been himself, so much so that he's been on the bench for two of the last three games. As the old saying goes though, form is temporary and class is permanent. I expect him to deliver some clutch moments.
Top scorer
I think most will be predicting Kieffer Moore to be Town's top scorer over the run-in following his impressive two-goal debut at Preston last weekend. I've just got a feeling that while he proves to be a magnet for defenders, that's going to create space for CONOR CHAPLIN to ghost into. Can't wait to see this classic big-man, little-man partnership in action.
Hot take
The wins dried up for Town either side of Christmas last season. They then kicked on in style once the January recruits were bedded in. Can history repeat? Maybe not to the same degree given how competitive the Championship is, but I do think things are about to take a turn for the better. My hot take is that the Blues are about to start a 10-game unbeaten run leading into the Easter Monday visit of Southampton.
Top-two: Leicester and Leeds
Play-offs: Southampton, Ipswich, West Brom, Hull
Relegated: Stoke City, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United
ALEX JONES
MVP
LEIF DAVIS. Kieffer Moore feels like the man who’s going to be in the middle of the action, but someone needs to pull the strings behind him. The left-back is going to have a lot of fun pinging crosses into the box knowing that he’s got a gargantuan striker to aim at. He already has 11 assists to his name and he’s chasing the record total for a full-back in a single Championship season, which is currently held by Barry Douglas (14). There’s no reason why he can’t smash that total and help Town rekindle their attacking spark.
Surprise package
AXEL TUANZEBE. I think the former Manchester United defender will finish the season in a first-choice centre-back pairing with George Edmundson. Tuanzebe boasts more experience than Luke Woolfenden, for example, and I think that could be vital for Ipswich in the run-in. We can’t forget that he’s won promotion out of the Championship before (winning the play-offs with Aston Villa in 2019). He’s had some tough games this season, but this little spell out of the team could do him the world of good. A chance to reset and go again, with eyes on nailing down a spot in the starting lineup.
Top scorer
KIEFFER MOORE. The striker bagged 20 goals in a Cardiff City side that finished eighth back in 2021. In this Ipswich team, where he’s surrounded by attacking quality, I think he can really thrive. As mentioned, Davis’ deliveries will give him a lot to work with. Even if defenders can get to grips with his physicality, someone like Conor Chaplin will be there to pick up the pieces. I don’t think many defenders will be able to keep the Wales international quiet, however.
Hot take
Ipswich to score the most own-goals in a single season of any side since the Football League was rebranded in 2004/05. According to Transfermarkt, the current record is six, which numerous sides from the Championship down to League Two have achieved over the years. The Blues have already hit that number through Harry Clarke, Cameron Burgess, Brandon Williams and George Edmundson, while Davis has two. I reckon we’ll see another one between now and the end of the campaign.
Top two: Southampton and Leicester City
Play-offs: Leeds United, Ipswich Town, West Brom, Hull City
Relegated: Stoke City, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United
ROSS HALLS
MVP
SAM MORSY. The Town skipper is such an important player in this side, which was highlighted when he was suspended for the two games in January. He is the glue that holds it all together on and off the pitch. Morsy has stepped up when it’s mattered this season and drives standards, which will be needed for this next run of fixtures.
Surprise package
ALI AL-HAMADI. The January signing really impressed me in his cameo off the bench at Preston, he's still a little raw but I think he will add something different to the team. He'll cause havoc off the bench for Kieran McKenna’s side against tiring defences with his pace, and is hungry to make the step up from League Two.
Top scorer
NATHAN BROADHEAD. The attacker has been out of form of late, but I can see him finding it again, especially at Portman Road. Broadhead knows where the goal is and I can see him scoring some when it matters.
Hot take
Town have scored 53 goals so far this season in the league and have a team full of scorers so I can see them scoring in every single one of their final 17 games. They create enough chances so I can't see why they won't hit the net at least once per game - but they but need to make sure they’re more clinical than we've seen recently.
Top two: Leicester City and Southampton
Play-offs: Leeds United, Ipswich, West Brom and Hull City
Relegated: Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham
MARK HEATH
MVP
While I think the likes of Morsy and Moore will be key for the rest of the campaign, I'm going with LEIF DAVIS here. He's already got 11 assists and with 6ft 5ins unit Moore now added to the attack, he's going to have great fun choosing on whose head he lands his crosses, free-kicks and corners. It's no good having the weapons if you can't provide the ammo, and in Davis Town have the man to get all their heavy artillery firing. I also fancy him to score from a free-kick at a crucial time in the run-in.
Surprise package
A man we've not been talking about for a while, but I fancy BRANDON WILLIAMS may have a part to play between now and the end of the season. His problems with injury and illness have overshadowed just how good he was when he first arrived at the club and, with Harry Clarke still battling his Achilles problems, there's a good chance Williams will get the chance to prove himself all over again at some point.
Top scorer
He's the obvious choice given what he's just done in 45 minutes of action, but KIEFFER MOORE gets my vote here. Preston boss Ryan Lowe called him a 'Premier League player' and stressed how difficult he made things when he came on last weekend. With the service from Davis and Town's pretty patterns of play, he'll get plenty of chances - and he'll take a goodly number of them.
Hot take
My colleagues have referenced elsewhere that Conor Chaplin will likely benefit from Moore's presence as an added distraction while he bids to find his trademark space in the box. I agree, and coupled with he fact that he's a purple patch scorer, I'm saying Chaplin will score a hat-trick before the end of the season.
Top two: Leicester City and Leeds United
Play-offs: Southampton, Ipswich, West Brom and Norwich
Relegated: QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham
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