559: Kings of Anglia: Our big 25/26 season preview, plus latest sexy stuff and Brum predictions

21:44And he's one of two natural left-backs at the club, Davis the other. So any kind of movement around Davis is going to be quite sensitive at this stage. And Ipswich, naturally, A, given the player that he is, B, given the contract that he got offered and signed back in October last year, four-year deal up until the end of the 2027-28 season and the fact that they're lighter at the back all of these things factored in means they're not going to want to sell and Davis's perspective as well it's going to be key he's spoken before about the Premier League jump coming a little bit too soon from he felt that lock that real knock in confidence I think that deep down he you know the player's never going to turn down the Premier League but he's not the kind to push for a move and I think he probably knows that his career will be better off for coming back to the Championship and hopefully bouncing back and rebuilding himself.

22:36So, yeah, natural to see interest. It's clear that there's been bids and that Ipswich have rejected those bids, but personally don't see this one as kind of springing to any sort of major saga this summer.

22:48Mark Heath:Okay, just by way of drawing the line of this, because I want to get on to the season preview stuff as well, Stewie. So, Akpom, Kjusta, hopefully through the door, so striker midfielder. Connor Townsend likely out for the season. Amari and Broadhead potentially on their way. All things being equal, how much more business do you think Town will need to do? Can you see them wanting to replace Townsend, for example? Even if they get Q, are they still going to want another midfielder, for example?

23:15Stuart Watson:I think they definitely need another midfielder because Matasiwa hasn't really got any kind of real backup in his role. That right-sided, deeper, sitting in front of the back four. Sam Morsi role. Taylor and Humphreys, I think, are both seen as kind of left-sided, more box-to-box types, as is Kuyusta. So somebody that can compete with Matasira. No guarantees, of course, that he hits the ground running in his first season of English football. So I think definitely another midfielder in his mould required. Full-back's an interesting one. let's say that put the Leif Davis stuff to one side and assume that he stays do they need another left back now full back was an error of the squad both sides that we were thinking Ipswich are sorted there they've got sort of two decent options on both sides and then all of a sudden Harry Clark injured significant injury don't know quite the time scale of that but he's not going to be back anytime soon and as Alex just says Connor Townsend ACL and all of a sudden you're looking a little bit thin there Ashley Young is someone that I think has primarily been brought in to play right back, but can play left back as well.

24:29Stuart Watson:Jacob Greaves, we saw, played a bit of left back at the back end of last season in the Premier League and actually did pretty well there. Dara O'Shea can play right back. Kipre is fairly versatile, has played in sort of different roles across a back three. Not sure about an out-and-out fullback. So, well, Ipswich sort of make do and mend there. you have got to take into account that there's this 25-man squad limit to stay within. And do they want to use slots higher up the pitch? We know Kieran McKenna likes to be well stacked in terms of attacking options. If you look back at the championship promotion season, there were sort of seven, eight players vying for those three support roles behind the striker.

25:11Stuart Watson:At the moment, they're not anywhere near those numbers. So, you know, just looking at it, Burns out for the long term. Ben A, I think, is going to take a little bit of time to get up to speed. Major question mark next to Hutchinson, which then leaves you Smoddix, Chaplin, Jack Clark, Philogene, who's got a bit of a knock at the moment. Broadhead, major question mark over him. That's five players that I've just reeled off. So that's not enough. So I think they need maybe a couple of players if Hutchinson and Broadhead goes in that sort of attacking side of things. Certainly someone that can be an out-and-out right winger.

25:52Stuart Watson:I think that's a starter that's required someone to play right wing.

25:56Mark Heath:OK, all right then. September 1st, the window slams shut this year at 7pm. Deadline friendly this year, which is good. Can't wait personally for September 1st at 7pm. Anyway, we will see what happens. Obviously, the boys will keep their ears to the ground. Let us now begin the meat of the podcast, he says, 25 minutes in. Big season preview time. I'm going to start with you, Rossi, because you've been sitting there very patiently while we've been talking about transfers. And out of all of us, I think you got the most right on this show last season. You nailed Liam DeLapp, for example, and even got the amount of goals he was going to score.

26:28Mark Heath:So Ross Tadamas was in the building. So I'm going to start normally, or in the past at least, I've let the hat of fate decide the running order. But this year, for reasons of wanting it to be clean and smooth, I'm going to set the order myself. I'm going to start off with best signing so far this summer. Now, as I said to you before we started rolling, I know they've only signed four players at the moment. I will allow you for this show, not in writing, but for this show to include Akpom and Kiyusta in those signings, if you're feeling brave and bold. So that would make six, four actual, two hopeful.

27:08Mark Heath:Who do you reckon has been the best so far, Rossi?

27:12Ross Halls:Left field choice, David Button.

27:15Mark Heath:I knew someone was going to say that, and I kind of thought it might be you.

27:19Ross Halls:Yeah, that's just, you know, the silly answer. But yeah, Azor Matasiwa. Sam Moore's a replacement destroying that midfield like what I've seen so far I know he's never played in England before I just got something in me just feels he's going to be incredible even some of his passes in the pre-season I was really impressed there was a few moments where I was like oh god where are you going? I was all he lost the ball in really good positions for the opposition but no I think he's going to be incredible so I'm looking forward to of course Tate's the number five replacing Sam Wolsey as well so yeah best signing so far but yeah Azor Matasiwa and I couldn't say his name as well which I was a bit worried about when he first signed Two things

28:08Mark Heath:you've absolutely nailed the pronunciation of his name as I say you're in rare form when it comes to pronunciations already Rossi and secondly we talked about athleticism and town wanting athletes and you know physical players now I know he's not the biggest but having looked at the pictures of him over pre-season He's got the thighs of a power lift of the lad. Huge thighs on him. Very, very powerful young man. He would also be my choice. AJ, how about you?

28:35Yeah, it would be Matasiwa. But I can't say Azul Matasiwa. I'm not going to say Azul Matasiwa because Ross has said it. And now you've kind of hinted that you would say it. So I'm going to go... Yeah, exactly. So I'm going to go Jenski Usta. Yes. because I think that he is clearly a level above the championship and signing players in the championship that are a level above is a really, really difficult thing to do. There are clear caveats. That's the injury, the availability and the fitness record. But there is a reason why so many clubs that are higher ranked than Ipswich wanted to sign him. There's a reason why there were Turkish clubs, Italian clubs, Premier League sides that were all interested in him.

29:20it's because of his ability. And yes, there are going to be question marks around his fitness, but if Towne managed that, and don't forget as well, there were large chunks of the season where he was available in the Premier League kind of consistently. If they can do that, then you're going to have one of, if not the best midfielder in the division in this team. The partnership with Matasiewa should be excellent. And I think that getting him, you miss out on Hackney and you sign Jens Kijusta as kind of almost an alternative. That's kind of the stage that Ipswich are in, and that's really exciting.

29:51So Kiyusta for me probably would be Matasiwa, but we'll go left field and it's going to be Jens as the best signing so far.

30:00Mark Heath:Smooth as silk, Jens Kiyusta. Level above? Are his knees a level above? That's the big question. Stewie, what are you saying? Best signing?

30:10Stuart Watson:Well, the answer to this question has to be one of the two that you've mentioned if Ipswich are to be successful. I've said it quite early in the summer that I think the midfield revamp is make or break for whether Ipswich achieve their target of getting promoted this season. Life After Morty is going to take some adjustment for everybody. Us watching on, the team themselves, Matt Asiwa's role is a really important one because the way Ipswich are going to play, they're going to play out from the back. You can see Alex Palmer rolling little five, six-yard passes into Matasiwa inside his own penalty box that is a high pressure position in the all-action nature of the championship and there might be some teething issues along the way maybe in the early stages and it's going to be important that everybody kind of rolls with that a little bit but you know he comes with a big price tag I cannot tell you if he's going to be any good because I don't watch a lot of any French football so it always makes me laugh when you get these signings from abroad and people have really strong opinions on whether they're any good or not.

31:16Stuart Watson:Let's be honest, probably based on watching a few seconds, minutes of YouTube clips and whatnot. But fingers crossed he can live up to the price tag and he can be the player and add that athleticism that we talked. Equally, I'd echo what Alex has said about Jens Kuyusta, hopefully if staying fit, being sort of above the level. Just to give you an alternative then, just to be different, Chuba Akpom, Ipswich for two seasons in a row have left themselves short of strikers going into seasons and it almost cost them or it could have cost them in the championship season. Luckily, they were able to scramble and get Kiefer Moore after George Hurst picked up that injury.

32:00Stuart Watson:An unfair pressure put on Liam De Lapp's shoulders going into last season, not getting an extra striker to sort of compete with him. Luckily, he rose to the challenge, but there were times when he maybe looked a little jaded and Ali Alhamadi wasn't the required backup at that level. So if they can get Akpom over the line, I think that's really important. But, you know, a big part of it, which is success in the championship last time and will be again, will be depth and certainly attacking depth and being able to turn to the bench on 70 minutes and make three, four attacking changes of similar quality that can grind teams down.

32:37Stuart Watson:That's what happened to Ipswich in the Premier League. Hopefully it's what they can do to teams back in the Championship.

32:44Mark Heath:Let's just allow ourselves to think about it as well, friends. You talk about teams being built through the spine. So this spine, if those signings come off, you'd have Alex Palmer, former Golden Glove. You'd have Greaves and O'Shea, tremendous defenders for the level. You'd have Matissiwa and Kajusta in the centre of midfield. Then you'd have two 10s, potentially, both on the Golden Boot. and George Hurst up front, I think we all think is due a massive season. That's pretty exciting, isn't it? When you think about that as a spine of a side going into this season. Anyway, right, leading scorer and how many, Ross?

33:16Mark Heath:You absolutely nailed this last season, literally, to the goal. So who is going to do that this season? And then the rest of us will make lame guesses and you'll tell us actually what's going to happen.

33:29Ross Halls:It's an interesting one, this. I was originally going to go with George Hurst, but I'm going to switch up a little bit. I'm going to go for Sammy Smoddix.

33:39Mark Heath:Sammy bloody Smoddix, yep.

33:42Ross Halls:Because last time he played in this division, he scored 27 goals for a struggling Blackburn team in a way. So he struggled with injuries last season, but still scored a few times in the Premier League, obviously against Man City, which we thought, what the hell was happening? We're winning at Man City and we obviously went on to lose because of Haro Miric, bless him. But yeah, this is a division he knows very well I'm confident he'll score goals Especially if he plays more centrally So 18 For Sammy Smoddix, 18 goals

34:11Mark Heath:18 for Sammy Smoddix, lovely stuff Stewie, what are you saying?

34:16Stuart Watson:George Hurst, 18 You can verify this Because I emailed it over to you last night So I'm on board with Ross And given his History With this prediction I'm quite happy to be in the same boat. I'm really excited to see what George Hurst can do this season. I thought he, even on his lack of minutes last year in the Premier League, I felt like you could see his game develop. You know, he scored quite a few headed goals, didn't he? Which is something he's added to his game. We debated lots of times how Hurst was, maybe the team functioned better with Hurst. I'm not saying Hurst is a better player than Liam De Lappe.

34:56Stuart Watson:They're different types of players. But I think in terms of Ipswich's system and the way he kind of knitted it together, maybe they functioned better with him. So, again, caveat, if he can stay fit, he's missed a lot of football over the last 18 months, two years. But I think this could be his kind of breakthrough year. I've made the sort of Daryl Murphy comparisons about sort of seeing him in pre-season one year and him sort of blossoming a bit later and getting that 27-goal season off the back of it. I'm not going to say 27. That's too many, I think, because Ipswich tend to share the goals around.

35:32Stuart Watson:But, yeah, I'll go with Ross, 18.

35:34Mark Heath:Well, do you know what I'm saying? I'm saying George Hurst. I'm saying 25. I've been swayed by your Daryl Murphy comparisons. Obviously, he's been in form in pre-season as well. He's got the nine. He goes into the season in form. He's got all sorts of things to prove. Obviously, the Scottish thing as well. I've listened to him talking in his lovely northern tones about his added hunger going into this season, a real chance to attack the season and prove himself. I'm saying George Hurst is absolutely on fire this season and gets 25 goals for what we hope will be the best team in the league. So that's what I'm saying.

36:07Mark Heath:AJ, what are you saying? I've almost got an identical prediction to one of you, unfortunately. And again, you can verify this. I emailed you this yesterday afternoon. And thankfully, the person that I've almost copied, not copied because I did do this yesterday, was Ross. and I have written down, I need to get my email up now, Sammy Smoddix19 is what I have written. I know that sounds really bad now that Ross has gone first. But yeah, that was my pick. I think that there are kind of different things that balance out where Smoddix is in a better team, but he's not going to consistently be like, as he was at Blackburn, the star.

36:48The goals are going to be spread out a little bit more. So balance those two things out. I think you're going to have a really strong number from him, but one that's probably a little bit lower than him just being at Blackburn and everyone just passing to Smoddix and hoping for the best, which I think almost got them to the playoffs. So factoring that in, factoring in that in an injury hit season when we did see him in the Premier League, he looked like a proper goal scorer at that level. He's clinical. He knows this level well. He's going to play as a 10. And speaking to him after the Linz game, I just got a feeling from him that this is him back in his comfort zone and ready to really have a strong season.

37:27So Sammy Smoddix to me.

37:29Stuart Watson:I've just realised that I'm talking absolute nonsense. Ross said Smoddix, so I haven't echoed Ross at all, have I? I echoed the number. Sorry. Scratch everything I just said.

37:42Mark Heath:The important thing is, though, we've got two people saying Smoddix. It has surprised me that I've not seen Smoddix's name in the favourites for the Golden Boot this season, given what he did last time. And he's in a much better team this time as well. So two votes for Smoddicks, 18 and 19 goals. Two votes for Hurst, 18 and 25 goals. Typically, he's getting over the top. Right then, who wants to give us a hot take before we move on to the next one, which is a big one. It's the Aaron Drynan Memorial Award. Who wants to give us a hot take? Shall I go? I'll give us a hot take. Right, so all my hot takes, as you know, friends, are built around positions in the table.

38:16Mark Heath:I've got a couple of them. Bob on, in fact, in recent times. And this time, my hot take this season is Ipswich Town, after the first five games, so after the first five games out of the way, the season's probably started, Ipswich Town will not be out of the top six all season. That's my hot take, and I'm sticking with it. And I do have form for getting these sort of things correct. Not a lot, but I have every now and then got these positional things, Bob on. So that's my hot take. After the first five games, Town not outside of the top six. Right then. My favourite award of every pre-season is the Aaron Drinan Memorial Award Surprise Package.

38:56Mark Heath:Famously, my first pick for the first ever season preview we did was Aaron Drinan, who hours before had signed on loan for Sutton. And Stuart Hutchley took great delight in telling me that, had a little giggle. And that's why I've now got Aaron Drinan's shirt on my wall over here. Anyway, signed, of course. Surprise Package, friends. What are we saying? I'm going to start, I think, with AJ on this one. Who's a player, AJ? We're not really talking about it at the moment, but you reckon could have a big impact this season? Jack Taylor. Jack Taylor. Oh, God, you and Jack Taylor. Jesus Christ. I know, I know, which is really awkward, considering that he's former Peterborough, of course, and boo, Peterborough.

39:38We don't like Peterborough. We like Cambridge instead, don't we, boys? Yeah, this makes the most sense to me because of two reasons. One, I think that he's been really impressive in pre-season. I think he's built up really well. Some of his performances, I think, have gone a little bit under the radar, but you just look at some of the moments he's had, the cross for Ali Elhamadie's header, where he worked the ball down the left and did really well to get that into a perfect area against Linz. And then his performance against Ozer over the weekend, where I think, I don't know if he played with a point to prove or what.

40:13He's obviously heard noise about Hackney. he'll probably have known that Jens would be potentially on his way back. And this is a season where if he can't play regularly, I don't know what the future is going to hold for Jack Taylor because he hasn't done it at all in his Ipswich career, really. And I thought he was brilliant. I loved the assist that he got for George Hurst, where he literally just picked up the ball from the back line and passed it over the entire Alls' Air team, just cut out every single player and let Hurst score. He then did it again for George Hurst. It was offside in the end, but just this really incredible kind of deep penetrative ball, really good.

40:50I definitely like what I've seen from him. Secondly, I think he should get good minutes because I think that Jens Kijusta will have not time, hopefully injured, but a lot of time rested where they need to manage his minutes. And I think that the cover to Jens Kijusta is going to be Jack Taylor. And I think that will give him the opportunity to have good minutes next season. so there's that as well. People just aren't sold on him. I don't think I've seen a lot of people saying he should be sold this summer and that he's not going to be at the level. I don't really know because we've not seen a lot of him and I think that he's performed fine in the Premier League.

41:26I've liked what I've seen of him at the Championship level as well. Give him the opportunity and a good team with fairly regular-ish minutes, either off the bench or those starting minutes when Keyusta isn't ready and I think this could be a big season for him So he'll be my pick. You fall in love with fringe midfielders, don't you?

41:43Mark Heath:Don Ball, Jack Taylor. I'm not having any slander on this podcast. Yeah. OK, Jack Taylor, predictably from AJ. Stewie, what are you saying? Surprise package.

41:54Stuart Watson:I'm going to say Connor Chaplin. Not someone that anyone's really talking about, Connor Chaplin. It's amazing how he was central figure in both the promotions, top goal scorer in the League One season, joint top goal scorer in the Championship season. I think he'd have played more in the Premier League last year. Obviously, players came in. Hutchinson was kind of repurposed as the number 10 going into the Premier League season. Conor started on the bench and then he got into the team around autumn time, scored against Bournemouth leading up towards Christmas. And a bit like Hurst, I think Ipswich looked more like a team with him in it at times.

42:38Stuart Watson:He's someone that knits it all together. He plays those little first-time passes around the corner. He's just got that intuition of which little pockets to take up. That Davis cut back to him is so well ingrained, isn't it?

42:54Stuart Watson:It was looking for all of pre-season, like Sammy Schmodix is going to be the new number 10. They're going to move him inside to players 10, and then either Jack Clark or Philogene will be on the left, which would look to be blocking Chaplin's pathway. Every chance he could start at Birmingham on Friday night, given the shortage of players, it might have to be Schmodix on the left and Chaplin as the 10 and maybe Jack Clark playing out on the right-hand side. And yeah, I think Connor Chaplin is going to remind everybody of his qualities. He's also got an important role off the pitch as well. I think he's one, when Kieran McKenna talks about others stepping up in terms of leadership post Sam Morsi.

43:35Stuart Watson:Connor Chaplin is someone that can do that as well. So whether it's as a starter, and I could see him getting in and staying in, or whether it is as an impact sub for the last 20, 30 minutes of games, I can see him having some big moments, scoring some important goals along the way. And Ipswich fans falling back in love with Connor Chaplin all over again this season. That's a great shout.

43:57Mark Heath:Connor Chaplin, not someone that anyone's talking about at this point. Rossi, who's your pick for surprise package?

44:04Ross Halls:no i want to do a little bit of a statement here um as you all know i have made comments about people over the age of 30 yeah um and that's their career's finished very dismissive comments yeah yeah yeah wouldn't yeah but because of recent moments with sam morsey and the fact that you're about to turn 30 yourself next year is that maybe revising your no that's just that's just coincidence okay no um but you can just see you know players over the age of 30 now are playing a long a long time but anyway enough of that it's basically my surprise package is Ashley Young oh now he's 40 so old so old he's 40 years of age great age um and he played 32 times in the Premier League last season for Everton, which is incredible.

44:57Ross Halls:I just feel he's just going to add to this team with versatility, experience. This will be the first time he's played in the Championship in two decades, which is mental. I think AJ may not even have been born. No, he would have been like two or three or whatever, how old you are. But yeah, he's got a good bit of set-piece delivery as well. We saw that against Orzea with Jacob Greaves' goal. I just think he's going to play a lot of games. So because of the injuries and other bits and bobs. But yeah, Ashley Young, the 40-year-old, he's my surprise package.

45:34Mark Heath:These are all great shouts, by the way. My pick for surprise package, again, is a player that no one's talking about at the moment. And it's Chio Ogbene. Because as we head into the season, there's question marks around the right wing. We know how important that is in Kieran McKenna's system. And Chio Ogbene last season, I think, would have been massively important. to the Blues with his physical profile, which we've talked about. Obviously got injured. He's come back, got some minutes in pre-season. And I'm basing this entirely on the eye test, the pictures I've seen of him. Looks like he's in absolute tip-top shape, absolute tank.

46:08Mark Heath:And I think he could end up playing a very important role for Richertown this season. And he's also, of course, like quite a few of these players, got a point to prove. So I'm going to say Chia Ogbene comes to the fore at points this season. And he's my pick for surprise package. So we've got Jack Taylor, better not be your MVP pick as well, AJ. We've got Connor Chaplin, we've got Ashley Young, and we've got Chiawag Benet. I feel like that's a good quartet of surprise package picks. Right then, has anyone got a hot take, another hot take before we move on to MVP? Yes, AJ. Go on. If you've got Jack Taylor, I will remove you from the chat.

46:41Right, okay. Who else has got? No. I scribbled down three in the time since you've done your last one. I managed to nail it down. and it's basically copying what I did last year because it worked kind of a little bit. Leif Davis, last time he was in the championship, was the top assister in the entire division, three more than anyone else. He got 18. I said last summer that he would not be the top assisting player in the Nipstow's Premier League campaign. Having him gone to Stu and said that he was aiming for really high numbers. I wasn't that sure about it. Having read that interview, I kind of was worried a little bit, but it didn't pan out that way, obviously.

47:29And I think that we're going to see similar this season. I think that Leif Davis will get a good return on his receipts, on his assists. There we go. However, I don't think he's going to be top assister. And I think the player who finished with the most assists last season will do it again in the championship. So I'm saying that Leif Davis, championship assisting superstar from left back, set piece King, 18 in his last season at the level, will not get as many assists in the championship as Jack Clark next season. Put a number on it.

48:05Mark Heath:Make it the hottest the pot takes. 15. 15 assists from Jack Clark. 15 assists from Jack Clark. Double, double, double figure goals as well, you reckon? Really pushing this. Yeah. I mean, I would like to talk about this a little bit more. Okay. All right, we'll come on to that. Okay, right then. MVP. MVP. That, for those of you who don't understand American terms, most valuable player. Rossi, who's going to be Towns' MVP in this coming year? Previous years, this has been dead easy. We've all just gone Sam Morsey and moved on. This time, it feels like it's a bit more up for grabs. What are you saying?

48:42Ross Halls:David Button. No. Stop it. That's cheap. That's just cheap. I'm sorry. That's ridiculous. George Hurst.

48:48Mark Heath:Yep.

48:50Ross Halls:Because he is going to have a big season. I haven't picked him as leading goal scorer, but he'll still score goals. He's going to score important goals. I am hoping he'll be over those injuries, setbacks, as I mentioned. But I just think he's just going to step up for the big moments. He's going to score some important goals. Still got the memories of Barnsley away. I think that's what he's going to do this year. There's going to be some games where he's just going to step up and just score or be part of a team goal where it leads up to Sammy Sponach scoring his 18th for the season. So, George Hurst, MVP, baby.

49:22Mark Heath:For time reasons, I'm also going to say George Hurst. So, I'll just throw that in there. I think George Hurst is going to have an absolutely gargantuan season for Ipswich Town this season. So, two votes for George Hurst's MVP. Stu, what are you saying?

49:35Stuart Watson:Dara O'Shea taking on the captain's armband from Sam Morsi. Big role to play there. Ipswich conceded too many goals on their way to promotion. last time in the championship. I think they are going to be more solid this time around. I think O'Shea and Greaves are going to be a rock-solid centre-half partnership. I think O'Shea is looking like a real Rolls-Royce of a centre-half in pre-season so far. There's a reason that Premier League clubs wanted him. Ipswich did really well to get him tied down to a new deal. So, yeah, as you say, Mr. Consistent. I think he's robust. Touch wood. I think he's someone that's probably going to play pretty much every game going forwards.

50:18Stuart Watson:I thought he was good in the Premier League and I think he's going to be excellent in the Championship.

50:23Mark Heath:Okay. Two votes for Hurst, one for the new captain, Dara O'Shea. I think, AJ, you may have already shown your hand on this front. Who's going to be your MVP? Yeah, I have shown my hand. It's Jack Taylor. It's going to be Jack Park. Yeah. Last two Championship seasons that he's had, first one in a playoff team, Sunderland, was 11th 11 goals and 13 assists is second one in a really poor Sunderland team that I think finished nearer to the relegation zone than the top six, 15 goals, four assists. Same kind of caveat with Smoddix is that his returns might not be as high given the fact he's not going to be the star man.

51:04It's not always going to be. Pass to Jack Clark and hope for the best, but I just think he's such a good player. I think he's well above the level. I always think back to the Coventry game where he was in kind of quite a low confidence, I think at that point, and he was just a level above and he just took on a really set of strong championship players and looked so far clear of that kind of level. Put him in the Sipswich team in the championship. I think he's going to have an excellent season. So he's going to be my MVP pick.

51:32Mark Heath:I like it. And I also like the amount of times you've used the term above the level in this podcast so far, AJ. There's a lot of players above the level here. Absolutely. Right then. Anyone got another hot take before I ask the big question surrounding our friends down the A11? Well, above the level, we've got players that are above the level in the Championship,

51:52Stuart Watson:but then technically showed that they were maybe below the level in the Premier League. So is there some sort of nether zone in between that these players kind of exist? There is. I mean, how many times have we seen teams like, OK, the one that stands out probably the most in the last decade is a Norwich, who have at times been really good at the championship and had great players and they go up to the Premier League and they fold like a deck of cards. We've seen Fulham do that and we've seen Watford do that. Yeah, there is always the risk of that with Ipswich players, but I've got hope deep down that there's something more with this group.

52:25Mark Heath:Yeah, let's get there first, Stu. Let's enjoy being above the level.

52:29Stuart Watson:Top end of the level would be probably the description I'd use. Hot take time. Completely forgot you asked me to bring some hot takes to this. So in the spirit of hot takes, I've literally just thought of this. Ipswich will end up playing more of a back three at times this season. I'm looking at it. At the moment, shortage of attacking players. Conversely, look well stacked, certainly in terms of centre-half options. I've just talked about O'Shea and Greaves being hopefully excellent for this level. Kipre has been a very good player at this level. Luke Wolfenden, lest we not forget, who prefers playing in a back three.

53:12Stuart Watson:I think Kit Prey's played in a back three quite a lot for West Brom in the past. Shortage of full-back options as well. Do all those things combined mean it's going more of a back three and more of a 3-4-2-1, 3-4-3 at times? I know under Kieran McKenna, there's a lot of flex and nuance to formations, and he talks about it being more about players' roles rather than kind of set formation numbers and things like that. But there were times in the Premier League it certainly looked more back three than back four. And there's a chance that could happen again in the Championship at some point.

53:51Mark Heath:Very nice. Not really a hot take, but just a warning. Cedric Kipe is going to be my favourite town player for this season, I think.

53:57Stuart Watson:Is that based purely on that photo of him playing for Cardiff? Yeah, that's entirely based on how shallow I am, Stu.

54:02Mark Heath:And also the fact he's an absolute tank. the pitch of him, I'm already deeply in love with Cedric Kipre and I'm looking forward to him throwing people around, especially when it comes to Derby Day, which is what I'm coming to now. Rossi, Ipswich Town, haven't beaten Norwich City for 16 bloody years. 16 years! They've got another chance again this season, twice. Is this finally going to be the season? Bear in mind, the last time we're in the Championship, we all said yes, of course. Is this going to be the year, though?

54:35Ross Halls:It's got to be. It's bloody got to be. So yes. And the reason why I've gone yes, especially for the first game at Portman Road, is because it's my niece's birthday that day. So the lads need to win for her. She's already sort of said to me, because she's going to be turning 13. She's never seen it. She's beat Norwich. But yeah, it's going to be her birthday. So Kira McKenna's team, do it for my niece, Alana. And also, McKenna's never lost against Liam Manning. MK Doms and Bristol City I don't think they went up against each other when he was at Oxford not to my head but yeah we're going to win at Portman Road

55:14Mark Heath:Backing up with stats and telling us when it's going to happen like it Stewie have you no have you never reported on a town win over Norwich that's depressing

55:24Stuart Watson:no which is quite something isn't it obviously they've not always been in the same division but yeah was it 2009, the last win. I started covering them in 2011. Are they going to beat Norwich this season? Yes. And I think it will happen in the first game at Portman Road. And predictions have to be fun sometimes. Sometimes we need to stick our neck on the line and not play it safe. It would be easy for me to go, oh, they've always been tight games. They're going to win. They're going to win the first game and they're going to win it comprehensively. There you go. I'm going to... Nice. Balls on the table time.

56:01Stuart Watson:It's been a while since we've done that on this podcast. That's what I'm going to say. I know there's a bit of excitement north of the border amongst Norwich fans about their sexy foreign recruitment this summer. And Liam Manning's obviously just been in charge of a team that's finished in the playoffs. That's a lot of change. And with change comes risk. And I know there's been turnover at Ipswich as well, but I think Ipswich are more stable. There's more... Yeah, I just think it's going to be worth the wait and they're going to win.

56:32Mark Heath:Live on ITV as well, of course. And do you know the last time they were live on ITV playing Norwich? It was the air kick. The famous Brian Gunn. So again, there is history and form there. So right. Ross is saying, yes, it's going to happen October the 5th. She was saying, yes, it's going to happen October 5th. It's going to be huge. Seven nil town. Here's what he said. Exactly what I said. Yeah. AJ, what are you saying? I'm saying yes. I was eight last time. All right. Piss off. Yeah. I just wanted to stress that one. Eight last time. It was such a weird Norwich. If it doesn't happen this coming season, is it ever?

57:08I don't know, given what Ipswich have at their disposal. Players, as we've said before, are above the level. In terms of the feeling around the game as well, going into it last year, there was that real expectation, wasn't there? Norwich are in such a state. They've had a terrible season, Ipswich, gunning for promotion. Has the pendulum swung? Ipswich played better in that game and couldn't get it over the line through some really odd goals from John Rowe. And again, you had the same thing then in the run-in as well with that away game. Norwich being in the position that they're in, where I don't think they're in any sort of great shape, but it's foreign recruitment and spending, you know, seven, eight million on a Swedish striker, or wherever he's from, that kind of stuff, means that they'll probably come quite buoyed.

57:55And I almost think that will suit Ipswich a little bit more, not having the crushing weight of expectations that there was last year, especially in that first derby where it was supposed to be, this is the day it's going to happen. I think there might be a lot of Ipswich fans that will go in thinking that it's going to be a defeat. And all of those things added in, I just think it will suit Ipswich with Kieran McKenna's cool, calm, collected approach. Didn't work in the last set just because of how the two teams, where they were, I think it will work this season. So they'll win the first game.

58:29Mark Heath:Okay, so three yeses there. Unfortunately, friends, I'm going to say no. Sky is blue. Water is wet. Ipswich Town don't beat Norwich. Just get used to it. Let's accept it. Ipswich Town could win every single game this season. They still wouldn't beat Norwich. So, no, it's not going to happen this season. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. And obviously, I very much hope that I'm wrong and you can all rid me for it afterwards. But I'm saying no, unfortunately, it's not going to happen. Anyway, moving on. Who's going to be the dark horse this season, friends, before we get on to where town are going to finish and the other placings.

59:01Mark Heath:Give me a dark horse team for this season, Rossi.

59:07Ross Halls:There's a few candidates, and I'm sort of debating on two really right now. One is Derby, and the other is Swansea City. Cameron Burgess, obviously, still sad about that. And you know what? I'm going to go more with Derby County, because, which some people will be thinking why, but John Eustace, good manager, made some good signings. Kane and Jackson, obviously. But yeah, I think they struggled last year. Obviously, originally were Paul Warren, but John Eustace came in, got good ownership now, a good fan base. I think they're going to be up there this year. They may not challenge for playoffs, but they'll be just a team to look out for.

59:52Ross Halls:So, yeah, Derby County for me.

59:54Mark Heath:The mighty Rams. Ram Pant. AJ, I'm going to ask you because I know already what you're going to say and it links. It links because it's the same. I was going to say Derby County. Yeah, I've done my full 1 to 24 predictions. I think it's quite difficult this because in my mind, the top six is very set about what I think it's going to be next year and the only teams I could see coming into the top six are two sides that have been kind of in and around it already and I don't feel like those could really classify dark horses and I just think that the gap between some of these teams is going to be quite significant so even though I would have Derby for the reasons that Ross has mentioned I do think the I'm not quite that keen on kind of like saying they'll be in the in the playoffs or anything like that but I think that they given how last season went for them and they were so close to relegation I think that they will be nowhere near that next season.

1:00:53I think John Eustace is excellent, and I really like Patrick Azumang from what I've seen of the clips when he was linked to Ipswich as well. Shows that Derby are willing to throw some money around. I'll throw in a quick other one, because I know what Stu's done as well, and it's not this. I know I've gotten quite low, but I think that Portsmouth are a team that could do something this season. The Fratton Park effect, the fact that John Monsigno has been their manager since the dawn of time, and just consistently building so they'll be my other little one I'll mention.

1:01:23Mark Heath:Didn't ask for two but I'll allow it. Stuart what are you saying? Dark horse.

1:01:27Stuart Watson:Struggled with this one because I'm not expecting Wrexham or Birmingham as dark horses. I've seen some people try and throw them in for reasons not to be discussed. There's enough kind of noise around those two albeit as promoted teams. Then you look at the table last year. I mean I think Coventry could do really well this year but I think to qualify them as a dark horse they'd need to kind of go up as a top two side having been in in the top six last year I'm not I don't think I can really go that strong on on Coventry I've put QPR across to you and in a piece that I've done with other reporters just because I like some of their attacking signings Poku amongst them but I'm yeah I struggled with this one an alternative Watford Watford shouldn't work every year.

1:02:18Stuart Watson:SAC manager, change it. Loads of players, mainly from Udinese. And somehow it all comes together sometimes. So there you go, some options.

1:02:29Mark Heath:Wow, we're getting loads of options. So we've got two for Derby, one for Portsmouth, one for QPR, one for Watford. I was originally going to say Derby because I think the Rams are going to be decent this season. Although Ajimang has yet to play in injured. So interesting to see how he comes back. I'm going to say, and this is not going to be popular, I'm going to say Norwich. Because it would be good for us, wouldn't it, if Norwich were half decent this season? It would make it interesting. And I do have a feeling, I really like Liam Manning. Obviously, they've signed lots of potentially sexy foreign players.

1:03:05Mark Heath:I know the boys down the road are feeling pretty positive about things. So I'm going to say Norwich. I don't think they'll make the top six, but I do think they'll be better than people maybe expecting this season. and obviously Town aren't going to beat them. So there we go. Norwich. Right then. Ross, give us a hot take before we all say where Ipswich Town are going to bloody finish.

1:03:26Ross Halls:Goals, goals, goals. I like goals. So Ipswich Town are going to score goals. Last time in the championship they scored 92. Yeah. They're going to score 100 because why bloody not? Yes. Goals are going to be spread about. Don't know about 100 points but they got 96 last time so maybe they will. but 100 goals yeah, defenders are going to score Dara Shea, Jack agrees, maybe 5 each themselves with set pieces so yeah, 100 goals get yourself ready to get those stats out boys because yeah you're going to have to go, okay who scored that one, who scored this one, loads of goals at Porton Road and loads of goals at home away as well so yeah

1:04:07Mark Heath:I love the, that would make a nice little clip that, the way you introduced that Ross goals, goals, goals, I love goals town are going to score loads of goals. This is a nice little bit of audio we could play. Right then, the big question, the key question, the burning question, which everyone wants to know. People are predicting at left, right and centre. Interestingly, Stu, I note in your piece you put online this morning, the championship reporters predicting how things are going to go. Only one, only one out of 24 has said that Ipswich Town aren't going to be promoted. And do you know who that is?

1:04:41Mark Heath:Guess. just down the road, sprinkle a little bit of salt on it, Norwich. It's Norwich. Do you want to break down on that?

1:04:48Stuart Watson:Of the 24 reporters, we've got 16 tipping them for the title, six for second place, one saying they'll win the playoffs, and one, as you say, our colleagues from over the border saying that Ipswich will finish in the playoffs but not get promoted. So that tells you the level of expectation around Ipswich.

1:05:10Mark Heath:So salty. Right, where are TAM going to finish since, Stu?

1:05:16Stuart Watson:I was not among those that predicted them for the title because I just couldn't bring myself to do it. They finished second on both occasions with the promotions. It feels weird to me to say it. Part of me is slightly uncomfortable with the favourites tag and how hotly they're tipped and how Ipswich are going to deal with having a target on their back, not just the players, but the fans as well. there might come sticky moments in the season and it's going to be important how everyone responds to that on and off the pitch. There is, you know, when you boil it down, we talked about at the very start of this, so, you know, if you put it down to sort of bullet points, they've lost their top goal scorer, their influential captain and one of their best defenders.

1:06:01Stuart Watson:You've got two X-factor attackers that want to leave. You've got your two backup full backs, both facing significant injuries and your two sort of left-sided starters potentially adapt major sort of fitness doubts for the start of the season transfer business has been slow there's some major gaps to fill so there are some elements of concern going into this season but then I stop and I take a step back and I look at what Burnley and Sheffield United did as newly relegated sides last year they had a lot of change they had a lot of uncertainty and they both posted big points totals. The step up to the Premier League was huge.

1:06:40Stuart Watson:The step back down is equally sizable as well. And this squad, albeit a little thin on the ground at the moment, is packed with championship quality. We've gone through so many of them on this podcast, haven't we? So objectively, Ipswich have to be in the mix for the top two this season. I'll go with second.

1:07:02Mark Heath:Second. Okay. I wonder where you're going with that. It's a little bit depressing there, Stuart, as you started that little piece. It's important to point out the balance, yeah. Exactly. Insight balance. That's what we're all about. Rossi, where is it going to finish?

1:07:18Ross Halls:Champions, baby. It's going to win the bloody league. Goals, goals, goals. Best manager in the league. Goals, goals, goals. Best players. Favourites for a reason. Yeah, and we need to bounce back after last season. So, and if they don't, then it's a failure. Yeah.

1:07:34Mark Heath:Oh, lovely. See what that is. We just talked about balance. That is balance in action there. Stu being sensible. Ross just going, yep, champions. Goals, goals, goals. Easy. AJ, what are you saying? I agree with Ross. I'm picking them for champions. I think they're going to win the league. Is it as much about Ipswich as it is about the other teams? Because if not Ipswich, who? Is it going to be Leicester? Well, they're facing a massive points deduction. Is it going to be Southampton? New manager, wholesale changes. Is it going to be Birmingham up from League One? There's a huge amount of uncertainty still despite the spending and some of the players they've brought in and the general buzz around that football club.

1:08:13And what you look at, I mean, then you're going down to kind of fifth and sixth teams there. The gap between Leeds, Leeds got 100 points last year. Burnley in second got 100 points. You go down to fifth and sixth, Coventry got 69. Bristol City got 68. There is a sizable gap between the teams at the top of this division and the playoff sides. Ross, that's really poor. Not today. So, yeah, given that kind of gap and given the question marks over the other teams, and then, yeah, are there question marks over it? Of course, as Shua said, sat there giggling. Of course there are, but I think that there are far more question marks over the other teams than there are over Ipswich.

1:08:59And that means that you've kind of taken out the risk by putting Ipswich top. I think they'll win the league.

1:09:04Mark Heath:Excellent. I too think they're going to win the league. Let's not mess around. Originally, I was thinking, I was toying with the idea of third. For some reason, that's been in my head because I'm slightly worried about the start to the season and if they'll have a bit of a hangover. But when you look at it and compare Tarn with pretty much everyone else in the league, it's hard to see how they're not going to win the league if they play as they're capable of doing. We've talked about the spine. We've talked about the previous achievements of players in this league that Town have got. I think everything points to them winning the league.

1:09:38Mark Heath:Goals, goals, goals. 150 points. Is that even possible? But, yeah, I really feel like it, looking at it.

1:09:46Stuart Watson:This is making my bottom twitch, gentlemen, hearing all of this. The logic behind it all is really sound, and there's a reason, as we've discussed. but it does make me slightly uncomfortable. And I know Kieran McKenna's right. He was asked yesterday about how he feels about this promotion favourites tag and he pointed out, well, yes, they may have been sort of underdogs the last time they got promoted and relished that and embraced it and it drove them on. But they were also sort of heavy expectations on them to get out of League One. He says that's the biggest pressure he's felt because, you know, that was you've got to get this club out of League One.

1:10:23Stuart Watson:I guess the difference is there and maybe there's the same argument again we've used the term above the level Ipswich certainly had players above the level when they were in League 1 they signed good championship players in League 1 didn't they hopefully that's the case again there might be some teething issues along the way it's the start the fixtures probably haven't been ideal a bit like the Premier League last season with Liverpool Man City to start baptism of fire Birmingham away Southampton at home Sheffield United all early on while the squad is still being built while there's some injury issues let's manage early expectations which don't have to start like a steam train it's a marathon not a sprint I do think the manager Kieran McKenna will be their super strength having him still there consistency will be key and hopefully

1:11:19Mark Heath:it carries them through I know what you're saying year obviously we had the back in league one didn't we had hms pistol league which uh bit us right in the old bottom and this is not so much hms pistol league it's more hms should win the league um i guess on paper uh anyway so uh we're all saying town are gonna get promoted that's the bottom line um and now i i'm gonna put a limit on this because we i'm gonna say 90 minutes is max for a podcast it's the length of a football game that's that's about maybe a bit too long anyway we've still got Birmingham to talk about so for these next ones all I want are team names I don't want long explanations about why you think it I just want the names alright so top two Rossi who's going to finish top two we know you think Town are going to win the league who's going to be second

1:12:04Ross Halls:Southampton

1:12:06Mark Heath:Southampton okay I think a lot of people are saying Southampton I'm saying Shiffles United going to be second

1:12:13Stuart Watson:Southampton Ipswich

1:12:17Mark Heath:Southampton Ooh, Southampton. OK, right, playoffs. So the team's below the top two, fourth through sixth. Siri, who's going to finish the playoffs?

1:12:35Stuart Watson:Come back to me. I'm just trying to find what I've written down.

1:12:38Mark Heath:OK, I'll give you mine. Southampton, Leicester, Coventry and Birmingham. I think Southampton will win playoffs. Sheffield United

1:12:45Ross Halls:Birmingham Coventry and Millwall and oh interesting Sheffield United win the playoffs okay

1:12:54Mark Heath:AJ Leicester City Sheffield United Birmingham City and Coventry City Leicester City to win the playoffs and have another set of yo-yo teams go straight okay Siri have you have you remembered what you said

1:13:09Stuart Watson:yeah exactly the same as Alex but in a slightly different order but Sheffield United Leicester, Coventry, Birmingham with Leicester to win them.

1:13:17Mark Heath:It feels like there's a lot of teams that have been consistently linked with that top six position. A lot of the same teams. Interesting, isn't it? Right, relegated. I'm going to go straight off the bat. Sheffield Wednesday. It'd be a miracle if they stay up. It looks like they might be able to play the game this weekend. But good lord, they're in all sorts of trouble. Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford and Charlton. Am I three? Same. Rossi?

1:13:42Ross Halls:Sheffield Wednesday. Preston and this is a out of nowhere one Watford oh yeah interesting mixed mash of all of yours for Wednesday Preston and Charlton

1:13:55Mark Heath:okay here endeth the big season preview hope you enjoyed it we have still of course got to talk about the game tomorrow night which is what we're going to finish with and in terms of games and narratives and something to get you excited about to kick off a season I don't think you could you could maybe have had a better game than this. It's the marquee season opening fixture for the championship. It's going to be on Sky Sports. Town are going to Birmingham. So you've got Ipswich Town favourites to win the title, just relegated from the Premier League, up against a side that have just completely ripped League One apart.

1:14:28Mark Heath:And they've got all sorts of momentum behind them. A lot of similarities between what's happened at Birmingham and Ipswich Town with the American ownership, the whole kind of feeling of building something for the community. It's going to be tremendous, I think. We're looking forward to it. So how are you feeling about this one? Excited, yeah.

1:14:46Stuart Watson:What a surprise that this one got sort of plucked out by the fixed-up computer for the randomly generated opening day. I know there's certain things that go into there where clubs can't both play at home on certain days, and there are some things that get fed into it. But still, for this one to get plucked out is a real touch for Sky Sports, isn't it? And I'm all for it. It's great. Birmingham have got serious momentum. Kieran McKenna says momentum is overplayed when he was talking at the press conference yesterday about how you kind of have to re-earn it when you move up a level. And people forget that it wasn't, you know, it did take a little while to adjust to the Championship there to really fight to get some results over the line.

1:15:35Stuart Watson:The opening day at Sunderland, they were under the cosh for quite a bit of that before getting that result over the line. but Birmingham have assembled what's looking like a pretty good squad for this level and I think as we've all agreed we'll be in the kind of promotion mix certainly in that top six mix this season so the atmosphere will be full Andrew at was it Knights Head Park was it the full title? Yeah, thank you yeah lots of similarities as you say young sort of career coach in Chris Davis very similar Maritain, Stikira McKenna. Yeah, a mixture of nerves and excitement, as should be the case, going into any season opener.

1:16:19Mark Heath:Before we get on as to who might play and what we think the score might be, have any of you watched the Amazon Prime documentary Brady and the Blues? Because I'd warn you, Stu, against it, knowing how much you hate American things. They've clearly tried to replicate the Wrexham thing, But with Wrexham, you've got Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney who are quite self-aware and quite willing to take the piss out of themselves. Whereas with the Birmingham one, they've built it around Tom Brady, who, for reasons of him generally being one of the greatest athletes of all time, thinks quite a lot of himself, takes himself quite seriously.

1:16:55And it doesn't quite have that same fun feeling.

1:17:01Mark Heath:You get Brady giving talks to the players, for example, which is very American. Just got to kick some fucking ass. that kind of stuff and you think I'm not sure about this there is one incredible scene with Brady and Rooney though and Tom Brady as I say genuinely probably top 10 greatest talento Pelé Usain Bolt Serena Williams elite winner elite winning mentality um suddenly again I used to treat every practice like it was the Super Bowl I wanted to win every single practice I took it incredibly seriously and Rooney sort of looking at him like what it's just practice like just kicking a ball around, mate.

1:17:36Mark Heath:And then literally from that meeting, Brady then says, guys, I think I've got some reservations about our head coach's work ethic. So, yeah, pretty interesting. Ross, you've watched it as well, haven't you? Have you enjoyed it?

1:17:47Ross Halls:Yeah, I have actually. It's just a football documentary, isn't it? It's always good to get insight. Birmingham, I like them. They get fans involved as well to share their story. Yeah, I know a lot of people have been saying about they're not really like Tom Brady because of his character. But football fans, I'm sure they'll like it because it's just insight on a team that have obviously got the same story as Town a little bit. A big club who had really bad owners previously and then obviously got invested by Americans, went down to League One and won the league. So yeah, definitely worth a watch.

1:18:24Mark Heath:It's definitely worth a watch. I say it's interesting, that kind of rebirth angle and certainly the guy who's driving the ownership, Wagner. You see a lot of comparisons there with the Town ownership. and Brady, as I say, as a person, he is literally one of the greatest athletes of all time. One more Super Bowl on his own than any other team, which is incredible, isn't it? So to have him involved, I hope he's there on Friday. I'm sure he will be. That would be great. AJ, who's going to play, do you reckon, for town when they face Tom Brady's Blues? Oh, well, this is going to hinge on a couple of injury bits, isn't it?

1:18:55We need to see what Dave's situation is more than anything. I think that's the biggest question, Mark. Do you like to rattle off just quickly what I think? Team Mike, go for a starting line-up. Right. Palmer's going to be your goalkeeper. I'm going to work to the assumption that Leif Davies isn't going to play, but I really hope he does, in which case I think it'll be Johnson right and Young left. Your centre-backs are nailed on. Let's be honest. It'll be Dara O'Shea, Jake Greaves. We have 15 minutes to register Jenski Euster. I don't think it's going to happen. So I'm going to go to Taylor and Max Asiwa as the pairing at Hurst to lead the line.

1:19:36And then it's just the three behind him that become a little bit trickier trying to piece together who's going to go where. Amari, I think, isn't going to be involved in this one, given everything going on around him. So I think Jack Clark probably makes the most logical sense, knowing that Chio Gbeno, for me, still has a way to go before he starts in games of football. so we've seen Jack Clark on the right and obviously I don't think Jadon Pillaging will be involved in this one either best balance for the other two positions, I think B Smodek's on the left and Chaplin through the middle leaves you a little bit light in those players to bring on your game change as you're looking at Ali Elhamadie and Nathan Broadhead, there's not too many there to choose from but the actual quality on the pitch and one or two of the lads being able to come on should be a good group to have.

1:20:25Mark Heath:Stu, you're thinking along the same lines in terms of lining up. And what kind of game are you expecting? Because obviously there's going to be a lot of, what would be the word, pent-up energy going into this one. You'd imagine the players are going to be pretty fired up. Certainly the home crowd are going to be a little avid, you'd imagine. So you expect it to be a super high tempo, tackles flying in, all that kind of blood and guts and thunder.

1:20:52Stuart Watson:Yes, I agree with Alex on that starting line-up. where Nathan Broadhead is at at the moment with the Wrexham situation of Benet not being kind of fully fit at the moment. I think that three in behind the striker makes sense. Obviously, Hope Davis is fit. Chance is not. In terms of the game, yeah, you would imagine that it's got all the ingredients for a sort of high-tempo, all-action. The managers can say all they like about sort of trying to take the energy out of it and play your game and be eyeing it, that it doesn't. I hope they lean into that. I hope they embrace it. I hope we get a couple of big early tackles and we get that sort of, you know, a real sort of proper ding-dong football match is what I'm hoping for.

1:21:41Stuart Watson:Yeah, as I say, I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't quite got the depth there that they want at the moment, but there's still more than enough, as Alex says, in that squad. to go there and have to go there looking for the win.

1:21:58Mark Heath:In terms of the way Birmingham are probably going to play, from watching the documentary, all the training footage is basically Chris Davis screaming maniacally, press, press, more, press. So I imagine it's going to be that kind of approach from Birmingham. Rossi, what do you think the score is going to be? Goals, goals, goals.

1:22:22Ross Halls:I love goals. I do think there is going to be goals Sky will love that as well because yeah, what a way to start the season, there was a goal or a straw just both teams, tactical

1:22:33Mark Heath:you know, just cancel each other out

1:22:35Ross Halls:McKenna and Davis, yeah, cancel it I hope that isn't the case so I'm going to go

1:22:42Mark Heath:3-2 Nitchwich Are we doing a prediction league this season? Can we make a decision on that now? because it kind of fell apart we're not doing obviously FPL this season so you haven't got that to worry about Let's do a prediction, Lee. So you're saying, first goal scorer then?

1:22:59Ross Halls:Sammy Smoddix to get his first of his 18. Sammy Smoddix.

1:23:02Mark Heath:Right then. AJ, score prediction, please. I think you would be the prohibitive favourite to win the prediction, Lee, being as you've won every single one we've played so far, even last season. God, did I win last season? That's depressing. I think you were miles ahead. You were miles ahead when Ross couldn't be asked to do it anymore. Yeah, that's fair. first goal. I know it's a bit of a cliche because the first goal is always important in a game like this. I think it's absolutely crucial where you can either silence the crowd or you're going to have the crowd kind of suffocate you if it goes against you.

1:23:36So first goal, crucial. I'm going to go for a draw. I think it's going to be

1:23:48George Hurst to be Towns first goal scorer.

1:23:50Mark Heath:2-2. Ross is saying 3-2 Sammy Smaldics, 2-2 George Hurst Stewie

1:23:57Stuart Watson:Between a draw and a narrow Ipswich win and I'm going to err on the side of positivity I'm going to say 2-1 to Ipswich Town I actually think Birmingham might score first, we've talked about the Birmingham high press, we've talked about on here Azor Matosi were playing in this high pressure, I worry that Ipswich might concede a bit of a a poor goal where they shoot themselves in the foot, go behind. We're all a bit nervous, but I think Ipswich's character and experience and quality will shine through. And hopefully, whether I was considering a 1-1 comeback draw, but I'm going to put that one further onwards and say a 2-1 comeback win for Ipswich Town.

1:24:41Stuart Watson:My one area of concern slash interest is Birmingham's right side with them, right, Asahi Samuel at right back and Damari Gray at right wing against Ipswich is potentially sort of patched up we know he likes that he can leave a little bit of a gap in behind that could be an area of concern for Ipswich but yeah, I'm still backing the boys I think they can do this.

1:25:08Mark Heath:2-1 first scorer?

1:25:10Stuart Watson:First goal scorer I'll go with George Hurst, play it safe

1:25:17Mark Heath:So we've got 3-2 Sammy Spoddicks We've got 2-2 George Hurst We've got 2-1 George Hurst And as you may have gathered From my expletive When AJ shared his prediction I'm going to say 2-2 I can see Birmingham scoring First basically Like Stu said I think there's going to be A febrile atmosphere For which Towns will be playing in But I think they'll show Hopefully the resilience That we hope that they've built And I think George Hurst Is going to score The first of his 25 goals this season. I think at a point it would be a good return at Birmingham on opening night with everything they've got behind them.

1:25:52Mark Heath:I really hope Tom Brady's there. I'd imagine maybe Ed Sheeran will be there. David Becker maybe. He rocks up at Birmingham quite a lot by the look of it. So you could be rubbing shoulders with some stars. Some details to add before we finish the pod today. We have, as I mentioned earlier, we obviously already know about Stardust Spirits, our sponsor. We're coming to the end of our tenure with Stardust for it. But much like Ed Sheeran wanting to have a Suffolk company to hand on to, we've done the same here with the KOA podcast partnership. So just a reminder, for the final time, you can use the KOA code KOA at stardustspirits.co.uk to get 20 % off all that excellent stuff.

1:26:31Mark Heath:As I said repeatedly, I'd highly recommend the cask aged rum and the single malt. AJ's a huge fan of the Biscoff biscuit. Void that code and get 20 % off and really try some of those excellent concoctions. And we have a new sponsor friend that's very exciting. And they're coming on board. There's another software company called Molecular, who are based, I believe, out in Laiceston. Molecular UK manufacture cleaning products for the automotive, agricultural and commercial industries. We are a family-run business that have been on operation for over 40 years manufacturing our products to the highest standard.

1:27:09Mark Heath:We work closely with our customers to ensure that they are not only receiving the best products, but a service that they can rely on visit our website at www.molecular-uk.com we can purchase products online or find out more about us and also friends as you'd expect if you use the code koa10 at the coupon section of the checkout you'll get 10 % off all their products if you are car proud and i know a lot of you probably listen to this podcast in your car obviously whilst i see you were looking sheepish there because you will never be car proud um if you are car proud though literally they've got everything you could ever want to make your car look as clean as it could possibly be both inside and outside really good price building through the season um so there we go use that code koa10 at their other checkout molecular forward slash uk sorry molecular dash uk.com um welcome on board right then friends um other things to mention offers as she was just sent me a message thank you Stu we have all sorts of stuff going on as you're expecting the build up is a big kick off chief amongst them as you're probably bloody bored of us telling you we are going to keep on doing it because it's a really good offer our best offer of the year on digital subscriptions at the moment you can get £6 six months coverage for£6 so basically less than the price of a pint gets you all the way into January so not a whole year £29 will get you the whole year the whole season so up until this time next season hopefully we're building up for another crack at the Premier League links are all over our social media, they're online if you do feel able to support us we've said many, many times it is very important to the future direction of travel in this industry that people part with a little bit of money to get rid of those bloody adverts and enjoy our excellent content I hope you'd agree and hopefully you'd say that's not too much money to be asking for what we provide also there's a new magazine on the way called A Blue Era which is basically the story that has been told but not really been told all in one place before which is essentially the story of the rebirth of Ipswich Town four or five years ago I was sitting here having this conversation would have been laughable talking about Ipswich Town potentially hopefully getting their third promotion in four seasons that obviously all came about with the American takeover, the arrival of Marcus Ashton, the arrival of Kieran McKenna.

1:29:40Mark Heath:And this magazine basically tells that story. It's used to be an interview with Marcus Evans all the way through the takeover, the first interviews with the owners, Demolition Man Summer, and basically everything going forward from that point all the way through to the present day. It's the first time we've kind of gathered all our stories from that journey together. That is also available now for£7.99, and get£2 off your audit now. You can also get your name in the back of the book as well. An excellent companion, if you don't mind me saying, to Mission Impossible from last season. Very good on your It's Rich Town themed bookshelf.

1:30:15Mark Heath:And also, friends, you can also, if you are a subscriber, win an It's Rich Town home shirt at the moment. That competition is available for you online. You can sign up and then enter. So lots of opportunities to win. Lots of opportunities to get some excellent content down you as we head towards Birmingham tomorrow night. boys. It's been an epic podcast. We're coming up to 90 minutes. We're going to add time shortly. My voice is starting to go. Anything else to mention? Anything you want to put out there before we... Can I quickly tie something in with the mag, funnily enough? I've had a message from one of our columnists this morning, Carl Fuller, who gave me a fun fact.

1:30:56Since the Game Changer 20 era started at Ipswich Town, the first chance of women there was a in the summer of 2021. There are only four dates of any given month that a signing has not been announced. The 2nd, the 7th, the 18th and the 21st. With Clousta and Akpom supposedly close, maybe one of those dates could be chalked off today.

1:31:17Mark Heath:The 7th. Well, fingers crossed. I don't think it's going to be in time to play tomorrow night, but it'd be nice to have them through the door, wouldn't it? So at least we know we have them. Good stat. Thank you, Carl. Rossi, have you got anything to mention?

1:31:29Ross Halls:No other business, because I need a wee.

1:31:33Mark Heath:Okay, yeah. It has been very exciting. She will almost definitely need a wee. Anything else from you, Stu? Oh, you're on mute again, mate. Come on.

1:31:43Stuart Watson:What a joke of a person I am. We're going into added time of this podcast. And we're going to go into added time at Birmingham. The latest hot take, the hottest of hot takes. I've said it, which will get a comeback win. The winner will come in stoppage time.

1:32:00Mark Heath:Oh, my God. There you go. Thanks for listening. still my beating heart if that comes to fruition how exciting would that be to start the season well and friends this is normally we reach the end of this podcast uh the season preview podcast this would normally be where i start um keep my shirt off thumping my chest and going about stick it up and up the blues and that kind of stuff but i thought this time around i'll be slightly more reflective of wednesday and walk them um sobering thoughts aren't they so i thought learn today's podcast by just reminding you above all else what is important and that's the saying from a man i had the pleasure of meeting interviewing before i don't know if i mentioned it sir bobby robson of course famously said this what is a club in any case not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it it's not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments, or executive boxes.

1:32:57Mark Heath:It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It's a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father's hand, gawping at the hallowed stretch of turf beneath him, and without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love. And that's going to make me cry to them in the podcast. But friends, just a reminder, it's lovely that we're sitting here saying that Ipswich Town are going for a third promotion in fourth season. It's brilliant. But clearly, above and beyond, there are more important things around football. And number one is Ipswich Town are a bloody good football club.

1:33:32Mark Heath:We can enjoy that this season. Enjoy it, friends. Have a great time. If you're going to the game tomorrow, enjoy it. If you're not, follow it with us. Hopefully, friends, this is going to be a really fun season. Ipswich Town, go well. We'll be back next week.

1:33:52Thank you.

1:34:22Thank you.

1:34:52Thank you.

1:35:19Thank you.