Premier League - Ipswich Town vs Arsenal Preview & Matchday Thread

[EveryoneKnowsaDave]

and losing Davis to a straight red (so that's him out for practically the rest of the season).

Thank God for that. What a sh*t player.

[ashfordblue]

I don’t think so Ash. I think Arteta will play his big guns to try to secure second place in the EPL and guarantee Champions League football next season.

You were correct there Charners total embarrassment against a classy Arsenal team, you cant play kick and rush hoof ball against that team, and Sala had a field day with Davis giving him acres of space to work in would have preferred the injured Townsend at LB and Burgess rather than Greaves, I thought Jack Clarke was ok today as was Axel, Cajuste, Johnson, Encisco. It was a waste having Hirst as the lone striker he needs support up front, and us playing the 4-2-3-1 played right into Arsenals 4-4-3 trap far too much space in midfield we are going down for sure and I would like to see us retain the nucleious of a solid squad but Davis, Delap, Phillips, Morsy, Muric, Luongo, Godfrey, Burgess, Greaves, Encisco, O'Shea, plus others will all be either sold or moved back to their loan clubs, If we are to rebuild a strong squad to bounce back up we will have to bring in some top quality players that will survive in the premiership and that means spending big money and good wages to tempt the players we need like Cajuste, Palmer, Axel, to stay, it will be an exciting summer rebuilding but will McKenna stay ??? says he will BUT

[hallamblue]

and losing Davis to a straight red (so that's him out for practically the rest of the season).

Thank God for that. What a sh*t player.

He's certainly weaker in his defensive role. I much prefer Townsend but shock, amazement, he's out injured ( hamstring injury)

[marko69]

Bit of an observation after todays game and the subsequent post match Messiah interview......, (watch them all) --->> he seemed different. Call it dejected or exasperated, but certainly a resigned tone, not just about relegation but for the club itself. Got a feeling he may be considering a move away. Certainly wouldn't be surprised in the summer if news came through that he was off.
All clubs have the "boo boys" but maybe too many were near the dugout today and that's why he looked and sounded more despondent.

[AzzurroMark]

I know it's a massive step up. The huge number of injuries we've had and minimal experience in a squad that's had to be luterally assembled over the summer ( but rarely has the promotion winning players hor a look in either), its hard to be positive about anything right now.

Ogbene, Burns, Hutchinson, Philogene (all players who would make a difference on our right hand side attack), Szmodics, Chaplin only just returning, Broadhead absent today! That's a lot of attacking players unavailable and while it's easy to "blame injuries", it has left a very unbalanced side with little chance of changing it up! I believe we'd have struggled in the Championship with that casualty list! The fact that Godfrey and an untried Boniface were on the subs bench (as well that KM tends to only name 1 defensive outfield player at home, I believe) speaks volumes.

I felt our only chance (and on that basis alone predicted a home win ) was that Arsenal may do a Spurs, following their fantastic victory in Europe! They're far too good for that, perhaps only lacking a fit top striker, I think they the best all round team in the PL, with Liverpool only really bettering them in the speed with which they break! They toyed with us, rarely do they get caught offside (mind you we were playing rather deep for that ), but when we gained possession they seemed to have 15 outfield players closing down in numbers. Of course it was a very disappointing watch, but I was resigned to the fact we're not anywhere near good enough so couldn't get particularly upset about it.

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

All this talk about Arsenal being miles ahead of us. Have a look at first goal as it's nothing to do with the quality of opposition.

The first goal for them. Nice, little Ipswich. Very nice Ipswich offering Odegaard a freedom of Portman Road, the centre backs being like bollards in the box. This is inexcusable.

I've reached the point that I don't care McKenna goes or stays. If we get promoted next season will anything be any different with him? He's shown no indication at all that he is able to adapt to the top level. 5m a year for a horrific number of defeats at Portman Road. Firmly stuck in his principals.

[marko69]

You may be correct. But not sure anyone else that gamechanger or Mash could've enticed to PR would've kept ITFC in the EPL. No one will ever know. The things that Kieron Mckenna "SHOULD'VE" done differently would've been like a massive Fart in the thunder that is a premature EPL season.

I'm certainly hoping the despondency is NOT due to any fans that may have been vocal near the PR dugout. Because if so --->> he'll need to grow a bit of a backbone. Need a strong manager who's able to show the middle finger to the fans while carrying out a mammoth task.

[hallamblue]

Bit of an observation after todays game and the subsequent post match Messiah interview......, (watch them all) --->> he seemed different. Call it dejected or exasperated, but certainly a resigned tone, not just about relegation but for the club itself. Got a feeling he may be considering a move away. Certainly wouldn't be surprised in the summer if news came through that he was off.
All clubs have the "boo boys" but maybe too many were near the dugout today and that's why he looked and sounded more despondent.

I think he genuinely felt he could keep us up matko!

Obviously us fans will always see.tnings from a different perspective to those involved in the professional side of the game.

I think if Spurs sack their manager , and they came in for McKenna ( whatever we feel about him, within the game he is highly thought of still), I think he would leave. But personally now, I'm past caring. This season has been a massive disappointment, more mckennas unwillingness to change his approach, or was it an inability? Im honestly not sure.

I feel so sorry for so many of our promotion winning squad who have effectively been benched or sidelined by McKenna for most of the season ( when they were fit to play), as he focused solely on the bed youngsters he's brought to the club. Yes, they'll have benefitted from the exposure and we may reap thr benefit next season, assuming they stay. But if i was the likes of Szmodics, Chaplin, Hirst, Burgess I'd been considering my options this summer.

[Blue Wilf]

Well you know I have been saying this stuff about McKenna for months. I don't think it is anything to do with boo boys or negativity. I just feel he has been found out at this level. £130m spent and £5m a year to him yet he has not found a formula to win. That for mw is forgivable at this level but to not even have tried different approaches is not. THAT is McKenna's weakness in my opinion and - as in industry, if you get paid the big bucks, you take the responsibility. Yea there have been injuries blah blah but there have also been mistakes - many of them of his own making.

We couldn't lay a glove on them today and as Mach said, they were not head a shoulders above us for the first goal - it was just p*ss poor defending! The game then got away from us when Davis was stupidly (but deservedly) sent off and we then effectively went to having a back 9 plus hirst up front for 2/3 of the game.

Today was the epitome of why I have hated the Premier League. sh*t kick-off time on easter sunday, cheats rolling around and falling over all game, a ref who clearly was never going to give anything against the 'mighty' arsenal, getting humped by a team I despise whilst we never look like getting any flow or chances. This arsenal team remember probably won't win ANYTHING this season, yet they are still miles ahead of us. What a boring league - diving cheats and a one horse title race with the 3 promoted teams down effectively by february. Well done the PL... congratulations... you have created the most wonderful 'product' that bores the pants off real footy fans. They are welcome to it - let it end (as there are almost no games of any consequence at either end of the table now until the end of May) and bring back the cut and thrust of the championship.

I still say McKenna will go - am surprised you think so too now, Marko but the writing really has been on the wall for months. I havn't watched the post match interviews and I can't be bothered to hear the same old crap spouted. He is a big boy and if he can't stand the heat, he needs to get our of the kitchen.

[marko69]

I still say McKenna will go - am surprised you think so too now, Marko……

Based purely on the Gunners post match interview, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did leave. He had a “cannot be arsed with this club anymore” feel about his approach to the questions.

[ITFC2024]

If Kieran sounds dejected, he should. After two years of elation and media attention, he’s probably feeling the effects of…not being the Messiah after all.

I never thought we’d compete against Arsenal today, especially after they’ve just knocked out one of the best teams in Europe in the forever Champions League. But…how did the young Irish man approach the game?…he chooses exactly the same formation that has been failing almost all season even though we’ve been affectionately relegated since the Southampton loss!

I said before, I hope KM experiments a bit for the remainder of the season, but it isn’t happening! Try a different formation FFS! We now have another infamous club record of the most home games without a win! Thanks for the memories!

Please try something different! You’re beginning to look incompetent beyond the PL. If you can’t handle the pressure then go!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Bit of an observation after todays game and the subsequent post match Messiah interview......, (watch them all) --->> he seemed different. Call it dejected or exasperated, but certainly a resigned tone, not just about relegation but for the club itself. Got a feeling he may be considering a move away. Certainly wouldn't be surprised in the summer if news came through that he was off.
All clubs have the "boo boys" but maybe too many were near the dugout today and that's why he looked and sounded more despondent.

or, it could just be that he finally realized that he's done a crap job this season

[Frosty]

I actually hope he has another chance this take us back up. He’s a known quantity and I couldn’t face a string of sh*t managers like we have had in the past.

[marko69]

or, it could just be that he finally realized that he's done a crap job this season

[hallamblue]

Well you know I have been saying this stuff about McKenna for months. I don't think it is anything to do with boo boys or negativity. I just feel he has been found out at this level. £130m spent and £5m a year to him yet he has not found a formula to win. That for mw is forgivable at this level but to not even have tried different approaches is not. THAT is McKenna's weakness in my opinion and - as in industry, if you get paid the big bucks, you take the responsibility. Yea there have been injuries blah blah but there have also been mistakes - many of them of his own making.

We couldn't lay a glove on them today and as Mach said, they were not head a shoulders above us for the first goal - it was just p*ss poor defending! The game then got away from us when Davis was stupidly (but deservedly) sent off and we then effectively went to having a back 9 plus hirst up front for 2/3 of the game.

Today was the epitome of why I have hated the Premier League. sh*t kick-off time on easter sunday, cheats rolling around and falling over all game, a ref who clearly was never going to give anything against the 'mighty' arsenal, getting humped by a team I despise whilst we never look like getting any flow or chances. This arsenal team remember probably won't win ANYTHING this season, yet they are still miles ahead of us. What a boring league - diving cheats and a one horse title race with the 3 promoted teams down effectively by february. Well done the PL... congratulations... you have created the most wonderful 'product' that bores the pants off real footy fans. They are welcome to it - let it end (as there are almost no games of any consequence at either end of the table now until the end of May) and bring back the cut and thrust of the championship.

I still say McKenna will go - am surprised you think so too now, Marko but the writing really has been on the wall for months. I havn't watched the post match interviews and I can't be bothered to hear the same old crap spouted. He is a big boy and if he can't stand the heat, he needs to get our of the kitchen.

WORD ^^^^^^^

[ITFC2024]

Here’s an idea just for conjecture, why not mix things up a bit for the Newcastle match? I know KM reads the forum regularly haha! Why don’t we go with 3 in the back, 5 in midfield and 2 up front? You know, just for a change Kieran?

If you know anything about football our midfield has been the Achilles heel this season. I’ve said it numerous times; we have NO midfield. So, let’s try something different ok? A loss will get us relegated anyway. So let’s experiment.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

or, it could just be that he finally realized that he's done a crap job this season

so are you really saying that you think he's done a good job this season, that he's earned his £5m?

[marko69]

That "really" gif was in response to your post responding to my post about possible jibes at PR. Nothing to do with how he has faired over the season as a whole simply because most pressers haven't been as despondent as that one.

Bear with me on this.
1. You think Kieron is crap.
2. Kieron may possibly be more knowledgeable than you. (I did say possibly; keep your wig on)
3. So if more knowledgeable, he'd have been more despondent weeks or months ago.
4. So no, I do not think he has....."finally realised" ....., he's crap.
5 Hence the Really Gif.

Difficult to debate how good, average or crap he's been. There is nothing to compare. Certainly nothing to compare in the last 23 seasons of Ipswich Towns history , other than the previous two seasons which have been fairly decent. Looking at other "big guns" with big named managers....., there are numerous struggling.

Who could do better? No doubt a host of people but maybe they're out of GameChangers business plan figures though.
One thing is for sure, it can't be debated on what "could've" happened had he done x y or z, because what is the point? We'll never know. His one glaring fault is being too loyal. Arno Muric, Leif Davis etc etc. Needs to be more ruthless in that area. Like in his desire to win. Yes, that hasn't worked out due to finding out the quality is night & day better......, but certainly having the balls to have a go is better than defending for 90 minutes Mick McCarthy style.

Of course, being more ruthless in selection when players are out of their depth can also be seen as "tinkering" by sections of the support. So, fruitless task.

Re £5M. Not one single person in the sport of football / soccer is worth that sort of annual money. Not even Lionel Messi, and he'll no doubt be close to that for one game.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

That "really" gif was in response to your post responding to my post about possible jibes at PR. Nothing to do with how he has faired over the season as a whole simply because most pressers haven't been as despondent as that one.

Bear with me on this.
1. You think Kieron is crap.
2. Kieron may possibly be more knowledgeable than you. (I did say possibly; keep your wig on)
3. So if more knowledgeable, he'd have been more despondent weeks or months ago.
4. So no, I do not think he has....."finally realised" ....., he's crap.
5 Hence the Really Gif.

Difficult to debate how good, average or crap he's been. There is nothing to compare. Certainly nothing to compare in the last 23 seasons of Ipswich Towns history , other than the previous two seasons which have been fairly decent. Looking at other "big guns" with big named managers....., there are numerous struggling.

Who could do better? No doubt a host of people but maybe they're out of GameChangers business plan figures though.
One thing is for sure, it can't be debated on what "could've" happened had he done x y or z, because what is the point? We'll never know. His one glaring fault is being too loyal. Arno Muric, Leif Davis etc etc. Needs to be more ruthless in that area. Like in his desire to win. Yes, that hasn't worked out due to finding out the quality is night & day better......, but certainly having the balls to have a go is better than defending for 90 minutes Mick McCarthy style.

Of course, being more ruthless in selection when players are out of their depth can also be seen as "tinkering" by sections of the support. So, fruitless task.

Re £5M. Not one single person in the sport of football / soccer is worth that sort of annual money. Not even Lionel Messi, and he'll no doubt be close to that for one game.

No, I never said he was a crap manager - I said he's done a crap job this season. Which he has - he clearly isn't up to PL level.
What he can achieve at Championship level next season remains to be seen - he WILL still be here as no PL team would take a punt on him given his PL record and GC will not have the balls to take the proper action required after a season of failure.

[marko69]

No, I never said he was a crap manager - I said he's done a crap job this season.

----------------------------------

"GC will not have the balls"

Do you know something about GC that some may don't?