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by hallamblue » Sun Jan 16, 2022 10:42 am
I’ve just made a similar comment to that Mike on twtd. He’s indeed very level headed , and unflappable.
I made the observation that his team played yesterday very much in his mold, in that we appeared very laid back through most of the game .
Not sure I’m picking the right words to describe what I mean but, for me we looked like we didn’t have a care in the world (with our measured passing back and forth ) despite being a goal behind at that point. We lacked urgency IMO. Likewise, McKenna doesn’t show his true feelings I’m sure …. Even his comment that he was pleased with the performance ( I hope he’s not !) but being a professional he’s not hanging any player out to dry in public.
I would expect ( hope) that McKenna’s serene appearance belies his paddling like mad under the surface. Our team also presented like a swan , stroking the ball about calmly, when I’d have expected ( hoped) we’d be looking to play the ball more in and around Bolton’s box , than ours , and building up a real head of steam / pressure. The team appeared to take their managers calm , un and flustered approach to another level .
Anyway it’s a game we’ve lost and we move on . But we are fast approaching that Groundhog Day of , “ oh well , there’s always next season “!
Edit: If anyone should interested guys…. this is someone’s view of the game who was actually there yesterday.
“ Bolton dictated that game from about the 20 minute mark onwards. Both sides played pretty similar styles but Evatt has had 18 months to get his Bolton side working and McKenna’s had a month. The difference today was the intensity of Bolton’s play. Apart from that flurry of corners midway through the second half, we never looked like wresting control of the match from them. No-one played particularly badly, but only Woolfenden and Walton played to their A-game. Everyone else ranged from OK to anonymous. Even the fans were subdued, as though we were taken aback that Bolton’s ultras were next to us and unable to try and lift the team as a result.
The goal was coming, but like many I was looking to see how McKenna’s Ipswich would respond to adversity. What a shame Edmundson, who otherwise played well, had an immediate brain fart which effectively settled the match.
McKenna can be as experimental as he likes over these next 20 matches, because we won’t be making the top 6 (again). The moment there’s any sense of optimism or expectancy, this squad goes to pieces at the earliest possible opportunity.”