Premier League - Tottenham Hotspurs vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Bluemike]

It didn't seem to hamper us last season or the one before though. While it would be great to have many tactical approaches to call upon, I'd still rather a one-trick pony than a two-trick donkey!

Say we go another 6 or 7 games without a win, does that start leaning towards a one-trick Donkey at this level ?

[marko69]

I think its the general public that like to label situations. Like “One Trick Pony”
Makes no sense whatsoever because its very negative indeed. No idea what it adds to help ITFC being in the EPL after being League One 24 months ago. Just don’t get it. Everyone knew it’d be difficult and if everyone thinks about it, Ipswich haven’t been THAT bad apart from one game when it was dire.

I would dearly love to know if Mark Ashton is thinking the same as some fans with the one trick pony bullshit. GOT to think he is100% invested in everything KMcK and his crew are doing while negotiating this tough season. Well i sincerely hope so since recently jumping on his bandwagon.

[Ricco]

Say we go another 6 or 7 games without a win, does that start leaning towards a one-trick Donkey at this level ?

Personally I think it's poor team selection, individual errors and woeful officiating which is to blame for the lack of wins, far before our predictable tactical approach is.

We could very easily be in 16th on 10pts rather than in 18th on 5pts and we wouldn't be having the same sorts of reservations.

Look at Man U, they have a different tactical approach to every single game and they're a mess, jack of all trades, master of none. I think their fans would love them to be a one-trick pony at this point!

[marko69]

Look at Man U, they have a different tactical approach to every single game and they're a mess, jack of all trades, master of none. I think their fans would love them to be a one-trick pony at this point!

Man U adopt the Paul Lambert approach.
“Yep, try that. See what happens.”

[Bluemike]

I'm just asking the question, we do play the same formation and tactics every game, we make substitutions at virtually the same time irrespective, whatever we call it it is very predictable but yes we have played well a few times, we just never win.

[Bluemike]

Town’s men’s side will wear their pink third kit for the first time when they face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon, club sponsor Ed Sheeran has announced.

Sheeran was involved in the design of the kit, which is inspired by traditional Suffolk pink and features a silhouette of Framlingham Castle, the castle on the hill in Sheeran’s famed song.

Ipswich’s Wolsey Gate, reflected in the turrets at the top of the Town badge, is also included in the design.

[Ricco]

Well if you've only got one tactic, may as well mix things up with multiple shirts I'll buy one if we win...

[ITFC2024]

Well if we play like Galatasaray did against Spurs today, we’ll win comfortably! Defensively Spurs are loose; they concede goals regularly. Unfortunately, so do we and we don’t score as many goals as Spurs.

So the conundrum is, how does KM approach the game? For me, I think we have to secure the midfield and we’re not gonna do that with two dedicated midfielders. He’s not gonna change his tactics is he? So what will improve our chances of getting a result?

My opinion is I think we should play three in the midfield with two up front (that’s for Marko). If Luongo is fit, play him with Morsy and Cajuste in the midfield. No idea who the front two should be. Your guess is as good as mine, but if we don’t attempt to dominate the midfield we’ll get thumped.

[hallamblue]

Hmmm a change of tactics.

Not a hope, I'm afraid!

[Blue Wilf]

Well if we play like Galatasaray did against Spurs today, we’ll win comfortably! Defensively Spurs are loose; they concede goals regularly. Unfortunately, so do we and we don’t score as many goals as Spurs.

So the conundrum is, how does KM approach the game? For me, I think we have to secure the midfield and we’re not gonna do that with two dedicated midfielders. He’s not gonna change his tactics is he? So what will improve our chances of getting a result?

My opinion is I think we should play three in the midfield with two up front (that’s for Marko). If Luongo is fit, play him with Morsy and Cajuste in the midfield. No idea who the front two should be. Your guess is as good as mine, but if we don’t attempt to dominate the midfield we’ll get thumped.

It is interesting that you ask how we think he will set us up ITFC24. I have been saying for ages (and I think you were one of the 'keep the faith' gang?), that he needs to change stuff but we know he will play 4-2-3-1 and make his subs at 65 minutes cos thats what he always does!

I just hope that this time it works or... heaven forbid... he doe something a bit different perhaps...? We can but hope!

[ITFC2024]

I still believe KM is the best option for manager. But…he’s gonna have to adjust if we’re gonna survive. I really hope he rethinks his strategy cuz it ain’t working.

[Mauswara]

Personally I think it's poor team selection, individual errors and woeful officiating which is to blame for the lack of wins, far before our predictable tactical approach is.

I reckon you're right about the individual errors, the officiating has on balance gone against us too and injuries have been a hindrance. Not so sure on the team selection as an issue though as I have never tried grafting 12 new footballers averaging ten million quid a pop onto a third division team.

[Bluemike]

Nicky Butt 🗣

"I’m telling you now, Kieran McKenna is one of the best coaches I’ve seen on the grass – ever. I’d put him next to anyone that I’ve seen. That’s including Carlos Quieroz, all the great coaches that I’ve worked with. Steve McClaren, he’s as good as any of them."

#ITFC

[rossi]

I think its the general public that like to label situations. Like “One Trick Pony”
Makes no sense whatsoever because its very negative indeed. No idea what it adds to help ITFC being in the EPL after being League One 24 months ago. Just don’t get it. Everyone knew it’d be difficult and if everyone thinks about it, Ipswich haven’t been THAT bad apart from one game when it was dire.

I would dearly love to know if Mark Ashton is thinking the same as some fans with the one trick pony bullshit. GOT to think he is100% invested in everything KMcK and his crew are doing while negotiating this tough season. Well i sincerely hope so since recently jumping on his bandwagon.

Bullshit? Really? What makes it bullshit?

[Ricco]

I reckon you're right about the individual errors, the officiating has on balance gone against us too and injuries have been a hindrance. Not so sure on the team selection as an issue though as I have never tried grafting 12 new footballers averaging ten million quid a pop onto a third division team.

I'm mainly talking about McKenna's implementation of Hutchinson, and to a lesser extent Szmodics, not only that, but sticking to that implementation even though it bore no fruit.

The back 7 have kind of picked themselves through lack of options and injury, but I don't think he's done well with the front 4, even if that's only my opinion. The only posistion you can say that he's selected and done well with is Delap (and Hallam reckons even that's wrong and Hirst should start!!). There's a lot of talent up there and I think better selection could have seen us with 3-5 more goals, that's my gut feeling.

[AzzurroMark]

I have been looking at Spurs and the games which they play following a European cup night. It gives some hope in knowing they have W1 L2 of the following games. In each case only 4 of the starting 11 has started the next league game on the Sunday, so suggests they make wholesale changes.
Of course our game follows only Spurs' second away game in Europe, the previous being an away game in Hungary which was followed by a 3-2 defeat at Brighton. 16 players were included in both those squads. In that game on the South Coast Spurs surrendered a 2-0 lead, could this suggest them tiring a bit?

Spurs incidentally have played a 4-3-3 formation in all bar one of their league games so far, Newcastle away being the only deviation with a 4-2-3-1 (the home side actually mirrored Spurs regular 4-3-3 formation). Hence why I don't get all this 'we need to change formation' malarkey. Yes, change players within that formation, something KM has done for certain, but I'm sure a lot of managers play a certain formation with an occasional tweak.
Before someone says 'yes, but Ange changed his formation for one game' so too did KM at Man City (according to BBC website) with a 5-4-1! Incidentally Marco Silva who sticks to the same formation as KM also reverted to a 5-4-1 at Man City. Strangely Fulham only changed their formation in one other game and that was the game against Ipswich, where they went 4-3-3. If that was to counter our formation, it's just a matter of asking whether an away point was seen as a successful outcome?

[marko69]

I think its the general public that like to label situations. Like “One Trick Pony”
Makes no sense whatsoever because its very negative indeed. No idea what it adds to help ITFC being in the EPL after being League One 24 months ago. Just don’t get it. Everyone knew it’d be difficult and if everyone thinks about it, Ipswich haven’t been THAT bad apart from one game when it was dire.

I would dearly love to know if Mark Ashton is thinking the same as some fans with the one trick pony bullshit. GOT to think he is100% invested in everything KMcK and his crew are doing while negotiating this tough season. Well i sincerely hope so since recently jumping on his bandwagon.

Bullshit? Really? What makes it bullshit?

……, let me ping that right back at you, “Mr Sack McKenna in February 2022” ……. Lets hear it. What……. Change it to your 5-3-2 or 3-4-3 and maybe make a change in the 55th minute instead of the 65th? Jaysus fkn H, man
Its all bullshit, Rossi. You do not gain two promotions on the bounce after the Mevans era without a very good football brain coupled with being able to be a very good man manager.

I do not get any of the “manager chat” this season. I thought this season was a free hit for GameChanger? Allow the club to assess where money is to be spent should they be relegated and bounce back. Cannot believe that there is pressure on McKenna at this particular moment after 10 games. Burnley & the Blades both couldn’t handle it last season, both top end championship. Its a tough league and regardless of what the wannabe managers want, it’ll still be tough. If you all firmly believe that your tactic tweaks (over the full 90+ mins) would’ve brought the points, then can only suggest getting your “badges” and go do it. See what happens.

The irony is…… Ipswich are not playing utter dross football. They look like a Premier League club. Other factors seem to coming into the picture but KMcK being a OTP ain’t one of them.

All opinion based of course. Would hate to see ITFC lose the best thing since SBR (or Burley early 00’s)

[Bluemike]

Marko, I don't believe there is any pressure on KM at all, other than what he no doubt puts on himself. I think it's good to have manager chat, I mean surely he can't be untouchable or unaccountable? Maybe the last Two seasons he was yes.

I also agree in that we all felt this season was a free hit and still is, however if the club can avoid relegation better still, for me I just think a few odd tweaks to things would have us in a better position already, our game management at times has definitely been suspect and costly.

Brentford for me being the classic case in point, that last Five minutes of the first half was criminal.

Only a fool can see that for 8 or 9 games playing Hutchinson centrally wasn't working, bang average in all of them, switched him Right and 10 times better last week.

Szmodics signed as the top goalscorer and played wide left where he puts in a, real shift but still not as effective.

Phillips against Leicester, while it wasn't a Red card for me, many have asked should he have been substituted? Not sure I agree with that one but many have asked it.

The classic substitutes at the same time, surely sometimes a half time change could do the trick ? In all my time watching football you tend to make changes when struggling or needing a tactical switch if chasing a game, seems odd it is always 65 mins where we encounter problems.

We've had an injury crisis and it seems a couple of times we've tried to shoehorn players into positions so we can keep 4-2-3-1 which most of the time is OK, but when O'Shea played right back I just didn't get why we didn't go 3-5-2 as the available players seemed to fit that system.

It's not a case of hounding him, we all know he ain't going anywhere anytime soon and nor should he, I do however think we are lower than maybe we could and indeed should be.

[Ricco]

There would have been criticisms of Ramsey in '61, Robson in '81, Burley in '00, McCarthy in '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17 and '18.

Criticism doesn't mean someone is doing a bad job, no job in any field in the history of man has been done perfectly, or remotely close to it. McKenna was criticised in League 1, he was criticised in the Championship, and yet we all fully support him as having done an incredible job.

If anyone is calling for his head, then ignore them, they have something wrong with their head. Beyond that, criticism is discussion and opinion, it doesn't need to be seen as a strong attack towards someone or a desire to oust them.

[rossi]

I think its the general public that like to label situations. Like “One Trick Pony”
Makes no sense whatsoever because its very negative indeed. No idea what it adds to help ITFC being in the EPL after being League One 24 months ago. Just don’t get it. Everyone knew it’d be difficult and if everyone thinks about it, Ipswich haven’t been THAT bad apart from one game when it was dire.

I would dearly love to know if Mark Ashton is thinking the same as some fans with the one trick pony bullshit. GOT to think he is100% invested in everything KMcK and his crew are doing while negotiating this tough season. Well i sincerely hope so since recently jumping on his bandwagon.

Bullshit? Really? What makes it bullshit?

……, let me ping that right back at you, “Mr Sack McKenna in February 2022” ……. Lets hear it. What……. Change it to your 5-3-2 or 3-4-3 and maybe make a change in the 55th minute instead of the 65th? Jaysus fkn H, man
Its all bullshit, Rossi. You do not gain two promotions on the bounce after the Mevans era without a very good football brain coupled with being able to be a very good man manager.

I do not get any of the “manager chat” this season. I thought this season was a free hit for GameChanger? Allow the club to assess where money is to be spent should they be relegated and bounce back. Cannot believe that there is pressure on McKenna at this particular moment after 10 games. Burnley & the Blades both couldn’t handle it last season, both top end championship. Its a tough league and regardless of what the wannabe managers want, it’ll still be tough. If you all firmly believe that your tactic tweaks (over the full 90+ mins) would’ve brought the points, then can only suggest getting your “badges” and go do it. See what happens.

The irony is…… Ipswich are not playing utter dross football. They look like a Premier League club. Other factors seem to coming into the picture but KMcK being a OTP ain’t one of them.

All opinion based of course. Would hate to see ITFC lose the best thing since SBR (or Burley early 00’s)

Precisely. So maybe you ought to respect opinions that differ to yours, rather than refer to them as bullshit?

[Ricco]

Precisely. So maybe you ought to respect opinions that differ to yours, rather than refer to them as bullshit?

Then isn't Marko's opinion that it is bullshit as valid as your opinion that it isn't? You pulled him up on it first!!

[valleyroad]

I think its the general public that like to label situations. Like “One Trick Pony”
Makes no sense whatsoever because its very negative indeed. No idea what it adds to help ITFC being in the EPL after being League One 24 months ago. Just don’t get it. Everyone knew it’d be difficult and if everyone thinks about it, Ipswich haven’t been THAT bad apart from one game when it was dire.

I would dearly love to know if Mark Ashton is thinking the same as some fans with the one trick pony bullshit. GOT to think he is100% invested in everything KMcK and his crew are doing while negotiating this tough season. Well i sincerely hope so since recently jumping on his bandwagon.

Bullshit? Really? What makes it bullshit?

……, let me ping that right back at you, “Mr Sack McKenna in February 2022” ……. Lets hear it. What……. Change it to your 5-3-2 or 3-4-3 and maybe make a change in the 55th minute instead of the 65th? Jaysus fkn H, man
Its all bullshit, Rossi. You do not gain two promotions on the bounce after the Mevans era without a very good football brain coupled with being able to be a very good man manager.

I do not get any of the “manager chat” this season. I thought this season was a free hit for GameChanger? Allow the club to assess where money is to be spent should they be relegated and bounce back. Cannot believe that there is pressure on McKenna at this particular moment after 10 games. Burnley & the Blades both couldn’t handle it last season, both top end championship. Its a tough league and regardless of what the wannabe managers want, it’ll still be tough. If you all firmly believe that your tactic tweaks (over the full 90+ mins) would’ve brought the points, then can only suggest getting your “badges” and go do it. See what happens.

The irony is…… Ipswich are not playing utter dross football. They look like a Premier League club. Other factors seem to coming into the picture but KMcK being a OTP ain’t one of them.

All opinion based of course. Would hate to see ITFC lose the best thing since SBR (or Burley early 00’s)

Spot on Marko.
The comments on KM over the last while, the stuff on referees, corruption, VAR blah blah blah. All Bullshit !
Town are very close and competing in this league, better defending and a few breaks and they have a chance.
They look decent at PR and a good few wins are not beyond them. Key for me in staying up is what they pick up away from home.

[rossi]

Precisely. So maybe you ought to respect opinions that differ to yours, rather than refer to them as bullshit?

Then isn't Marko's opinion that it is bullshit as valid as your opinion that it isn't? You pulled him up on it first!!

It is, but it's hardly respectful of somebody's opinion to call it bullshit. There are plenty of more polite and respectful ways of disagreeing with somebody - well, down here there are, anyway.

[Blue Wilf]

No-one wants McKenna gone!! I just want him to ADAPT and right now, he isn't!! Thats all. So no-one is 'hounding' anyone.

[rossi]

Spot on Marko.
The comments on KM over the last while, the stuff on referees, corruption, VAR blah blah blah. All Bullshit !
Town are very close and competing in this league, better defending and a few breaks and they have a chance.
They look decent at PR and a good few wins are not beyond them. Key for me in staying up is what they pick up away from home.

Yeah right. No comments on here for a couple of months, then you come back and refer to comments made "over the last while" as bullshit .

I sometimes wonder just how much some people have watched of us this season. .

There might be something in what you say re a good few wins are not beyond us at PR - trouble is that so far we havn't won any, so don't be surprised by some fans wanting a few tweaks to be made.

[ITFC2024]

I believe Wolves are the only team with more conceded goals, than us. We've played 10 games now, so tactics should have been addressed already.

I'm a super fan of KM. I think he's brilliant! This is his first attempt at managing in the Prem, so there is a learning curve he must overcome. By never changing tactics, KM may be perceived as naive due to his inexperience alone.

[Bluemike]

Kieran McKenna on Ipswich Town Injuries

- Axel Tuanzebe had a cast fitted on hand, started some contact training and will 'definitely be fine' after the international break

- Jacob Greaves 'almost back in full training'

- Jack Taylor also hopefully be available again after international break

- Dara O'Shea continues to manage a back issue suffered at West Ham

[Ricco]

I believe Wolves are the only team with more conceded goals, than us.

And steering it slightly back towards the topic of the game... Spurs are the league's top scorers and have the second best goal difference. This is another game I'm struggling to look forward to!

[valleyroad]

Spot on Marko.
The comments on KM over the last while, the stuff on referees, corruption, VAR blah blah blah. All Bullshit !
Town are very close and competing in this league, better defending and a few breaks and they have a chance.
They look decent at PR and a good few wins are not beyond them. Key for me in staying up is what they pick up away from home.

Yeah right. No comments on here for a couple of months, then you come back and refer to comments made "over the last while" as bullshit .

I sometimes wonder just how much some people have watched of us this season. .

There might be something in what you say re a good few wins are not beyond us at PR - trouble is that so far we havn't won any, so don't be surprised by some fans wanting a few tweaks to be made.

Watched a quite a bit of Town this season. There are ways and means !
Don't need to make comments on here to be aware of what is being posted.

On topic really can't see Town getting anything from this game but they have defended well at Brighton so its not beyond them.

[marko69]

To be perfectly honest, I only ever comment for the good of the club…… not for opinions to be judged or anything.
I fear , (more at Easter Road granted) that a negative “stir” can have detrimental effect on the dugout.
I mean, YES, no manager can go without criticism. ….. But im baffled it may be happening after 10 games into a historical season whereby the league itself is infinitely so far away in terms of quality than 2001/02, (aside from maybe 4 clubs…….. ManCity were proper sh*t back then)

While I KNOW, no one is calling for his head, the under lying brewing of “no wins frustration” could in reality play into the players / managers heads.

A sort of, “Aw man FUUUUUCK, we shouldve beaten Villa in that game”
“Yeah, well, at least it’s not Forest Green Rovers eh?!”

And disrespect “up there” Rossi? I think “up here” we’re a tad more gentle! The WC’s & Euros prove that ya daftie. ——Better add a wink ——>>