Ipswich are back in the top flight after 22 year’s absence. Their stadium were packed and full of joy after the last game of the season. They played Huddersfield and goals from Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson settled a 2-0 win and a direct promotion to Premier League.
No one can say it was not well deserved being up there in the top with Leicester all season long. Leeds had to see the two front runners for most of the season, finishing in the two top spots with them going into the play-off’s to try to win that third and final spot in next years Premier League.
So how was this achievement possible, just a season after they had gone up from League One. Kieran McKenna (37) took over as manager in December 2021 and has not look back since. McKenna’s first game in charge saw a 1–0 win against Wycombe Wanderers at Portman Road. McKenna’s first away game in charge was a 4–0 win against Gillingham. Despite that top start, he was not able to climb into the play-off’s but finished 11th.
Things changed to the better in his next season, winning promotion ending 2nd behind Plymouth Argyle and from there no one looked back. Strangely enough they kept the backbone of their team with a few interesting signings made, but still had much of the structure in place going into the season.
One major change of course was the introduction of Omar Hutchinson. The 20 year old Jamaican international has been in sensational from this season, and of course one that has contributed to these fantastic results. The major question is, will he be given a chance for another loan spell or will he go back to Chelsea and push for a place in the first team. Another signing was George Hirst who has never made it at Leicester, as well as having problems during a loan spell at Blackburn last season, moving to Portsmouth in League One to adapt. Ipswich also signed Axel Tuanzebe and Kiefer Moore, but they have not played as much as expected.
A total of 96 points in the end, scoring 92 goals, letting in 57. They finished 6 points in front of Leeds and 1 behind Leicester. They have kept a core group of players who have been used regularly in the first team starting 11.
Goalkeeper, 33 year old Vaclav Hladky has played al 46 games. Harry Clark (35), Leif Davis (43), Luke Woolfenden (41) and Cameron Burgess (39) have been the players mostly used in defence. A bit more changes in midfield were you have had Massimo Luongo and Wes Burns played the most, followed by Omari Hutchinson. Conor Chaplin, George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead has been the most used attacking options.
Good to see this club back in the top, they have such a grand history, winning the league in 1961/62, direct from being promoted the season before. A certain Alf Ramsey in charge doing the grand act and four years later winning The World Cup with England. Ipswich never managed to build on their title win and was relegated the season after.
A new grand era came around when Bobby Robson became manager late in the 60’s and building his squad stronger and stronger with a special blend of young talent. long term servants and special and clever moves in the transfer market, bying smart.
Bobby Robson was a clever man, getting gifted players in either from lower league clubs or taking the earlier as they were nursed forward in the academy teams at the club. Paul Mariner is an example of the first type of player, joining from Plymout Argyle for a fee of £220.000, Eric Gates and Kevin Beattie are examples of the other, moving down from Durham and Carlisle as teenagers, snatch before they were spotted by other clubs. All three of them played for England and was influential and steady peformers at Ipswich for several seasons.
We are happy to see Ipswich back in the best party and with Kieran McKenna as manager you will never now what the former Man Utd assistant can do, if he gets a chance to continue with a squad of players capable of taking steps and challenge at every level.
Leave a Reply