Keiran McKenna's First year, interview & stats

[AzzurroMark]

Well balanced interview from our manager on the eve of his first year in charge.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23174019.i ... ar-charge/

[number 9]

I just finished reading it, and I was about to post it!

Yep, I still think he's perfect for ITFC at the moment. Nice to read he views Ipswich as home now, with his family all settled in. Maybe that could be the catalyst for keeping him here as long as possible.

Nothing new as far as his demeanor. Calm, cool and collected as usual with his responses...and he seems completely onboard with the club culture Ashton and the Americans are trying to build.

For the doubters I say again, we're lucky to have him.

[Bluemike]

Absolutely we are lucky to have him, we seem to forget just how young and inexperienced he is so to expect him to get it right every week and steamroller every opposition is pretty daft to be honest, it's a learning curve and he is doing pretty damn good, I am convinced the second half of the season is going to be a fair bit better than the first half too.

[shabba]

Also....Just discovered this, not seen it yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=716D3pmrREw

[AzzurroMark]

Also....Just discovered this, not seen it yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=716D3pmrREw

Thanks for posting that further insight. It was good to read the bits the EADT had reported on, but better to see the actual interview. Have only watched the first 10 minutes, but it seems obvious to me that KMc has potentially a huge successful future ahead of him as a manager. Let's enjoy what we can while he is with Ipswich.

[hallamblue]

In Keirrrrran we trust

[arana peligrosa]

Only one year in and right now, on a plateau with say George and Royle. In the simplest terms he can never be - and no matter how long he remains here - in the same company as Ramsey and Robson, truth be said no manager after them at Portman Road can ever really hope to, or can, replicate those heights and achievement, but without question McKenna has breathed life into a club name that was in real danger of falling into oblivion following the misadventures and disaster of just above every name that came after Royle and up until last year's appointment. I.E. 2006 - 2021

With McKenna, and no manager is flawless, is there are one two areas of concern but it's been elaborated upon before, not only that feels like a minority sometimes, but it's a relevant point that needs amendment or further focus. The final analysis here being without Marcus Evans (finally) getting out and had say Lambert or Cook been allowed to continue, hell knows where we'd be at this point in time.

[marko69]

If anyone has given Kieron that 45 minutes of their time watching the YouTube video posted above, then they’re “onboard” with him completely.
In this day & age where people are too impatient to watch a 30 second clip……. If you watched that, you’re a Kieron “fan”.

Very good video …., very switched on young guy and he’s not full of wind & pish like a Paul cliche Cook type.

-ing he’s successful @ PR.

[Mauswara]

I did watch it, a nice little chat whilst walking around the training fields, it was well produced too.

[Frosty]

I did watch it, a nice little chat whilst walking around the training fields, it was well produced too.

Welcome to the forum

[AzzurroMark]

For anyone interested in stats, these certainly make for interesting analysis;

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23176651.i ... -50-games/

I guess when comparing to other ITFC managers who have reached the 50 game milestone, you have to look at the division where they plied their trade. In most cases it would be the top 2 flights I guess!

[Bluemike]

They also had better players and weren't in anywhere near the mess this club was in when KM arrived.

[Ricco]

Part of me wants us to limp in to 2nd position this year, so we stand a better chance of keeping him. Put on a good run and blow the league away by 10-15pts and we might be waving goodbye!

[arana peligrosa]

Part of me wants us to limp in to 2nd position this year, so we stand a better chance of keeping him. Put on a good run and blow the league away by 10-15pts and we might be waving goodbye!

Won't happen or can't happen. Only fantasists (in general, not picking out yourself or any one individual) can envisage such a runaway lead over a nearest challenger if we were to finish first position.

We'll either win the league by two or three points, runners-up or hell forbid third place and short straws of a play-off opportunity. Second option seems most feasible but the season still has a distance to run.

Forgot to mention before in that possibly the very best thing about McKenna is the enthusiasm and belief he has once again put into the club name, the hope something can be achieved again after so many years away. Certain pride in supporting the team once again whereas at one time it were clearly non-existent or the punchline of jokes to rival club names out there.

Only thing left to wonder is just at what point McKenna accepts it's time for a new challenge and shifts on. Maybe the next team coach here won't be as good or hopeful but at least we're back on the right path after years of neglect and disarray. Can only hope whoever comes in after doesn't set the club name back like once before.

[number 9]

Forgot to mention before in that possibly the very best thing about McKenna is the enthusiasm and belief he has once again put into the club name, the hope something can be achieved again after so many years away. Certain pride in supporting the team once again whereas at one time it were clearly non-existent or the punchline of jokes to rival club names out there.

Exactly!

[Charnwood]

For anyone interested in stats, these certainly make for interesting analysis;

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23176651.i ... -50-games/

I guess when comparing to other ITFC managers who have reached the 50 game milestone, you have to look at the division where they plied their trade. In most cases it would be the top 2 flights I guess!

So where are the likes of Bobby Robson and George Burley on these stats or am I missing something?

[AzzurroMark]

For anyone interested in stats, these certainly make for interesting analysis;

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23176651.i ... -50-games/

I guess when comparing to other ITFC managers who have reached the 50 game milestone, you have to look at the division where they plied their trade. In most cases it would be the top 2 flights I guess!

So where are the likes of Bobby Robson and George Burley on these stats or am I missing something?

If you tap on the spreadsheet shown, it opens the whole chart up. I admit I didn't see Bobby Robson initially as he was quite low down the chart. I believe his first couple of years here were difficult, but we all know how good he went on to be, definitely our best ever manager.

[arana peligrosa]

it's easy to forget and some of the younger generations won't always be aware but Sir Robert did in fact build more than one great team with us. Fans instantly recognize the F.A. Cup win, UEFA Cup and two runners-up places in the top league but between say 1973 - 75 Robson had put together a side capable of challenging for the very top prizes and were good enough to be League Champions. The team very nearly won the league in '75 you can remember, not only that but the F.A. Cup with it. Some kid name of Alan Taylor denied us, things like that stay with you over time.

Robson was - or is - arguably our finest ever team coach but the league title escaped him. Ramsey achieved that particular accolade and winning the old second division league the year before. Does that make him better or more distinguished than the other, you can argue long and hard but best response being in simplest terms, necessarily no.

[Mauswara]

I did watch it, a nice little chat whilst walking around the training fields, it was well produced too.

Welcome to the forum

Thanks, appreciated.

[hallamblue]

For anyone interested in stats, these certainly make for interesting analysis;

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23176651.i ... -50-games/

I guess when comparing to other ITFC managers who have reached the 50 game milestone, you have to look at the division where they plied their trade. In most cases it would be the top 2 flights I guess!

So where are the likes of Bobby Robson and George Burley on these stats or am I missing something?

If you tap on the spreadsheet shown, it opens the whole chart up. I admit I didn't see Bobby Robson initially as he was quite low down the chart. I believe his first couple of years here were difficult, but we all know how good he went on to be, definitely our best ever manager.

Player power (Billy Baxter I believe), was a big factor in Sir Bobby’s first year here. But he was essentially a novice manager, with s few players who were either his age or older so not an easy start for him. But he was made of s special substance ….. McKenna appears to be of a similar mould.

[AzzurroMark]

A further piece from the EADT, one which makes warming reading and makes you realise just how far our wonderful club has come in the last year (or so). There will always be bumps in the road, but we are building some solid foundations throughout the entire football club.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23220428.i ... tman-road/

[marko69]

Great read……… and the guys being too nice towards Cookie!

Got to hope & pray, if the club gain promotion, the “vultures” will be successfully fended off.

[rossi]

A further piece from the EADT, one which makes warming reading and makes you realise just how far our wonderful club has come in the last year (or so). There will always be bumps in the road, but we are building some solid foundations throughout the entire football club.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23220428.i ... tman-road/

Let's keep it real
- we've achieved nothing yet

[marko69]

A further piece from the EADT, one which makes warming reading and makes you realise just how far our wonderful club has come in the last year (or so). There will always be bumps in the road, but we are building some solid foundations throughout the entire football club.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23220428.i ... tman-road/

Let's keep it real
- we've achieved nothing yet

He’s achieved fairly high League One home attendances @ 27-28K? Thats an achievement.
Not in an “honours” sense, but Kieron has achieved that. No?

[AzzurroMark]

A further piece from the EADT, one which makes warming reading and makes you realise just how far our wonderful club has come in the last year (or so). There will always be bumps in the road, but we are building some solid foundations throughout the entire football club.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23220428.i ... tman-road/

Let's keep it real
- we've achieved nothing yet

Indeed, but surely you'd agree our club has come a long way in the last year (or so)? Those clubs who are fortunate enough (or aspire) to achieve good things need solid foundations and infrastructure.
Look back at Marcus Evans time at the helm, I will always be grateful for the positive things, but under him, the background staff were filled with people who appeared to have little calibre in footballing terms (based purely on things I have read, as I have no actual knowledge to judge how good or bad any of his internal appointments were), our stadium was woefully neglected, and despite Paul Lambert's earlier attempts to unite the whole fabric of the club, by reaching out to some of our stars of the past and buying drinks, the fanbase was becoming evermore disenfranchised.
You and I are very often poles apart in our views, and believe me, I do still find myself nodding in agreement to some of your points, whether or not I agree with them. However, unless you are commenting on something in the article, I believe I kept it real. To me it was a warming article, we have got a wonderful football club, and yes there are signs that this is becoming an astute and well run club. Quite rightly, we are still in L1, there is no silverware under this current regime, but we do appear to be heading in the right direction.

[rossi]

A further piece from the EADT, one which makes warming reading and makes you realise just how far our wonderful club has come in the last year (or so). There will always be bumps in the road, but we are building some solid foundations throughout the entire football club.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23220428.i ... tman-road/

Let's keep it real
- we've achieved nothing yet

Indeed, but surely you'd agree our club has come a long way in the last year (or so)? Those clubs who are fortunate enough (or aspire) to achieve good things need solid foundations and infrastructure.
Look back at Marcus Evans time at the helm, I will always be grateful for the positive things, but under him, the background staff were filled with people who appeared to have little calibre in footballing terms (based purely on things I have read, as I have no actual knowledge to judge how good or bad any of his internal appointments were), our stadium was woefully neglected, and despite Paul Lambert's earlier attempts to unite the whole fabric of the club, by reaching out to some of our stars of the past and buying drinks, the fanbase was becoming evermore disenfranchised.
You and I are very often poles apart in our views, and believe me, I do still find myself nodding in agreement to some of your points, whether or not I agree with them. However, unless you are commenting on something in the article, I believe I kept it real. To me it was a warming article, we have got a wonderful football club, and yes there are signs that this is becoming an astute and well run club. Quite rightly, we are still in L1, there is no silverware under this current regime, but we do appear to be heading in the right direction.

heading in the right direction? - definitely
Are we close? - IMO, no

[marko69]

Ipswich are 2nd. Season objective was promotion. Thats close.

[Bluemike]

He's took us backwards recently, sack him

[rossi]

Let's keep it real
- we've achieved nothing yet

Indeed, but surely you'd agree our club has come a long way in the last year (or so)? Those clubs who are fortunate enough (or aspire) to achieve good things need solid foundations and infrastructure.
Look back at Marcus Evans time at the helm, I will always be grateful for the positive things, but under him, the background staff were filled with people who appeared to have little calibre in footballing terms (based purely on things I have read, as I have no actual knowledge to judge how good or bad any of his internal appointments were), our stadium was woefully neglected, and despite Paul Lambert's earlier attempts to unite the whole fabric of the club, by reaching out to some of our stars of the past and buying drinks, the fanbase was becoming evermore disenfranchised.
You and I are very often poles apart in our views, and believe me, I do still find myself nodding in agreement to some of your points, whether or not I agree with them. However, unless you are commenting on something in the article, I believe I kept it real. To me it was a warming article, we have got a wonderful football club, and yes there are signs that this is becoming an astute and well run club. Quite rightly, we are still in L1, there is no silverware under this current regime, but we do appear to be heading in the right direction.

heading in the right direction? - definitely
Are we close? - IMO, no

The 'keep it real' remark was aimed at the newspaper article, not at what you had written

[rossi]

Ipswich are 2nd. Season objective was promotion. Thats close.

not at only halfway through the season it's not