Ipswich Town: James Wall offers reasons to be optimistic this season

First off, let's address the elephant in the room. I'm tired, nay, exhausted with the endless stream of 'expert' and social media opinions consigning Ipswich Town to immediate relegation (with many having us finishing dead last).

It's the go-to narrative, the lazy prediction that requires minimal thought. And quite frankly, it's getting old.

Moving on, this summer has been a joy as an overseas Ipswich fan – both basking in the hot USA’s summer sun (the New Jersey Shore proved once again to be a holiday winner) and in the glory of a smashing promotion season last year.

At the end of last season, I snagged two Ipswich Town cycling shirts from the online shop – the classic, tight-fitting Lycra kind – for my partner and me, perfect for our summer rides along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail here in Northern Virginia.

Flying the flag overseas - James and his partner with their new Town cycling tops (Image: James Wall)
They're based on the retro Greene King sponsored kits from the Burley era, a real blast from the past. It's been amazing how many times fellow bike-riding football fans have stopped us to chat about the club and wish us luck for the new season.

Americans now actually know who we are! It's a far cry from two seasons ago when I might as well have been wearing a jersey from Mars.

But then came the reality check on Saturday. A 0-2 loss to Liverpool. Expected? Absolutely. Disheartening? Not in the slightest.

My Liverpool-supporting friend from Charlotte, North Carolina even reckons we've got a fighting chance of survival.

And my Man United mate back in England, not one to mince words, was surprisingly complimentary.

What did they expect – that we’d simply roll over and take relegation on the chin from the first game?  That’s the impression I get from some of the pundits. 

Super skipper Sam Morsy is one of James' reasons to be positive (Image: PA Images)
Reasons for optimism

We all know Kieran McKenna is the real deal. He's a tactical maestro, constantly tweaking and refining. Every game is a learning experience, and with a few more shrewd signings before the transfer window closes, I’m guessing we'll be a force to be reckoned with. There’s no doubt we’ll surprise a few teams.

Now, let's not get carried away. Mark Murphy's top 10 prediction? Bless his optimistic soul.

It's a bit of a stretch, but it's that kind of infectious enthusiasm that makes following this club so special.

There were plenty of positives to take from the Liverpool game. Jacob Greaves looked like he'd been playing in the Premier League his whole life. Composed, assured, and a rock at the back.

And Christian Walton, making his Premier League debut, didn't put a foot wrong. He commanded his area, made some crucial saves, and looked every bit the part. And he isn’t even our starter.

None of our players looked out of place.  Liam Delap was a handful in the first half.  Sam Morsy sprayed around some lovely passes, as has been his forte these past two seasons.  And Omari’s going to pose problems for many a Premier League defence this year. 

Jacob Greaves was superb in his Premier League debut (Image: PA Images)
The road ahead

I’m not going to lie, even amongst the optimism, the league opener proved it's going to be a tough season. There will be setbacks, there will be heartbreaks. But there will also be moments of pure joy, moments that remind us why we love this game, this club.

We're not just a collection of football players at Ipswich; we're a community, a family – from those who live within a stone’s throw of Portman Road, to those of us who are ensconced thousands of miles away.

From the die-hards in the stands to the ex-pats cheering The Town on from afar, we're all in this together!

Ipswich Town fans enjoying the day on Saturday (Image: PA Images)
A word to the doubters

So, to all the naysayers and relegation prophets, we have a message: Don't underestimate us.

We're Ipswich Town, and we're back. We might be the underdogs, but we've got heart, we've got spirit, and we've got a manager who knows how to get the best out of his players.  We also have a CEO who doesn’t know what the word “holiday” means. 

We’ve also got a league championship, an FA Cup and a UEFA cup in our trophy cabinet. Oh, and we have American owners with plenty of sports business know-how and billions of dollars behind them. 

This season is about more than just survival. It's about proving the doubters wrong, it's about making our fans proud, and it's about showing the world that Ipswich Town is a club with a bright past, present and future.

We won’t win every game, but we'll fight for every point. We'll play with passion, we'll play with pride, and we'll give it our all.

And who knows, maybe, just maybe, we'll finish in 17th place or higher.  As McKenna said, success will have been achieved if we’re still in this division this time next year.

So, buckle up, folks. It's going to be a wild ride. But one thing's for sure: Ipswich Town are back, and we're going to do our best to stay here.