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Excellent in All Aspects
Written by Dedan kimathi on friday, 14th Jun 2024 09:21
Living over an hour away from Portman Road, I find myself very much in the minority as an Ipswich supporter. It has always felt like fans of more established Premier League clubs would casually enquire about Town out of courtesy rather than curiosity.
Two successive promotions, interest in Kieran McKenna from the likes of Manchester United and intense national media coverage have shifted the tone of these conversations.
“It’s not just about playing out from the back or pressing high. I want my team to be excellent in all aspects,” said McKenna, when offering a succinct insight into his own principles.
The variety and quality that he strives for is laid bare when watching back through all 92 league goals from last season. There was still a bias towards cut-backs or squared balls, but unlike in the lop-sided days of Dominic Thompson, they originated from both sides of the pitch.
McKenna will look to nullify certain individual opponents and exploit others. For example, George Edmundson’s pace was considered necessary against Liam Delap in the home fixture against Hull City.
There are not many more powerful runners than George so we thought we’d put him up against one of the more powerful runners in the league.
Any inclination to replace the entire team will be tempered by FFP regulations and Mark Ashton’s recollections of the gelling issues faced by Paul Cook in the aftermath of his summer squad demolition.
The former Manchester United assistant may already have a road map of sorts drawn up to navigate some of the world’s elite teams. He was thought to have been influential during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s respectable second and third-place Premier League finishes.
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