564: Kings of Anglia: Poor at Preston, some group therapy - and is McKenna really building a new team?

27:16Ross Halls:Yeah, it does take time, but what a load of rubbish. I'm joking, I'm joking. Because there will be people out there saying there's other teams in the league, like Birmingham. They're rebuilding their team after unbelievable success in League One. But, yeah, it's interesting, because, yeah, you look at the team, and most of them did play last year in the Premier League, but a lot of them lost a lot of games. This team needs that confidence and, yeah, build those partnerships up because I think McKenna was trying to make them partnerships up, but then we had injuries. As AJ mentioned, Sammy Smollett got injured, Jadon Filagin got injured, and we have lost some key players in this team.

27:52Ross Halls:And they had a good pre-season. They were able to play some games and there was a lot of confidence there. It was nice to split some pre-season games and then just going into these first three league games, it's just, I don't know, I feel like their confidence has been just taken away from them. So not obviously creating those chances and not, you know, showing that confidence there. So there's two different elements to this. I'm sure there's fans not happy with what Ashton McKenna are sort of saying about rebuilding the team. But yeah, the reality is, as you said, it's going to take time and it's only three games.

28:28Ross Halls:So do not panic, ladies gentlemen. It's only three games. A lot can happen. And we've still got the transfer window open as well. So, yeah, let's just be patient and let's see what McKenna can do. I enjoyed that. Actually, you posted something on Instagram, didn't you, Rossi, which was basically it's only three games, everyone calmed down, which I think is probably how I feel about things. That said, I can understand people taking that comment a new team and saying, well, hold on, that's not right. And clearly, obviously, I can also understand frustration because this is not what any of us thought is how the season would start.

28:58So there's going to be frustration around it. But I do think with time, all things pass and that kind of stuff.

29:05Mark Heath:I do think this too shall pass and Town will eventually get to where they need to be. The question, of course, given they're expected to be at the top of the table, is how much of a head start they can afford to give the other teams. Unfortunately, look at Southampton. They lost this weekend. Sheffield United have lost every game. Leicester, I know they won at the weekend. So there are other teams that are struggling and are expected to be up there. It is interesting, though. Lack of goals is something I want to talk about, AJ. We touched briefly on it. This was something that none of us expected at the start of the season, was this team struggling to score and create chances.

29:41Mark Heath:Because, you know, they scored quite a few goals in pre-season. We all expected George Hurst to have a massive season. But now we sit here three games in. George Hurst is the only Ipswich Town player who scored this season, and that's from a penalty spot. The only goal they've got from open play was an own goal. And obviously they've just drawn a blanket at Pleistain. what do you make of the we saw it a bit last season actually with Ferda Jean and Jack Clark on the wings and I think I remember using the term they kind of have a tendency to go into business for themselves trying to do too much over play it's all a little bit too individual what do you make of Town's struggles in that regard so far and what do you think is causing it to be honest it goes back to the same point again and it's kind of the lack of relationships in the final third.

30:33And it's... Kieran McKenna described it as an unbalanced attack and you can kind of see that a little bit there as well where it's partially the relationships, it's partially Jack Clark on the right, I think, and not having the right players in the right positions for what a Kieran McKenna system is. going back to the goal scoring thing I think Sammy Smoddix is very unlucky not to have probably two this season so I think from his position there's not a lot more I could ask from him I think that George Hurst is getting too cut off at the moment in games that being said he missed an absolute honking sitter in this game right before the half time interval where Clark does really well beats a man down the right, crosses in and it comes to George Hurst.

31:28I've seen Hurst score this so many times and he blazes it. I don't know quite what was going through his head at that point. Someone who is so confident and so reliable in those situations. And then from there, it's just kind of, yeah, as I said, it's the wrong profile. I think you need the direct runner on the right. Chio O 'Pané isn't up at 100 % fitness. Wes Burns obviously sidelined for a while. Casey McIntyre had only played a handful of games. we've had this kind of experiment with Jack Clark on the right, and I don't think it's worked. Unfortunately to say, trying to find a way to fit Jack Clark into this team, into a Kieran McKenna team, I don't know how it works either.

32:11And he has to be such an important kind of crucial cog into what this side is, if he's going to be starting games of football. When I watch them play, it's just this kind of final touch, the killer pass, the killer shot, the decision-making that seems to be letting them down. There were times, I mean, the first half was really poor, but the second half, there were moments where you could see all of the work they've been doing on the training ground, kind of playing back to front, carving through Preston, getting into these good areas. And then it would just be one or two passes that would let them down.

32:47And it's different from my position. I'm set up in a press box. I'm looking down. You see what the decision had to be. and whoever had the ball would just make the wrong one at the crucial moment and it would lead to Preston being able to get back in and defend really well. And we've seen that in some of the games as well so far. We've seen it against Southampton as well, where it was just the final ball that let them down. That seems to be the thing. I guess that's easier to fix, isn't it, when it's not kind of fundamental issues with the group. But yeah, for me, the biggest thing is the connection.

33:21So there's a reason why the back line that is the most consistent part of this team, the back four with the goalkeeper that played to the other, the longest and throughout most of the, in the Premier League and over the summer and the start of the season looks quite comfortably in my eyes, the strongest part of this team at the moment. Rossi, Connor Chaplin. I was surprised that we didn't see him start at the weekend, given that we knew that Sammy had hurt his arm and he'd always look pretty decent when he's come on. We've spoken before about him knitting things together and certainly he's one of those players from the successful sides that kind of used to have a really good connection with the players around him.

33:55I know, obviously, Wes Burns, his best mate, is injured, etc. Are you surprised we've not seen more of Chaplin, particularly starting?

34:04Ross Halls:Yeah, to be fair, surprised. It was an unchanged XI from the Southampton game. I know, obviously, there was a better performance and as AJ mentioned earlier in the pod, we probably deserved the three points in that game. But I was surprised McKenna went down that route of doing unchanged. I thought there was going to be maybe one or two little tweaks. And Chaplin was the one we were discussing, weren't we, about potentially starting. I know Sammy has just done his arm. You know, he's a footballer, you know, he uses his feet. He's not the goalkeeper. But I have been surprised because obviously he knows his level very well.

34:36Ross Halls:And when he has come on, he has made an impact. So in a way, I'm sure he's at a point where will he be knocking on the door and go, all right, K-Dog, you've got to be starting here. I don't think you'll call him K-Dog No I don't think so

34:52Ross Halls:But yeah Do you know what I would Because once again you want those connections And Chaplin somewhat knows his team I know there's obviously new signings and stuff But he yeah Knits it all together and he obviously has that relationship With George Hurst So you know what you want that sort of spine don't you So Yeah Derby County up next chappers should start i don't know if you can hear this by the way the uh basically my sister's got a machine where you know the cats they do their business and it's like it cleans so i can hear it in the background so that seems quite apt for today's pod doesn't it yeah pretty much what a load of shit um but yeah interesting to see if uh chaplain but then And, you know, True Backpom, Casey McIntyre, their new signings, will they get an opportunity to start?

35:46Ross Halls:Yeah, it's going to be interesting. Options are there, but he obviously needs to have his connections and it needs to happen sooner rather than later. Let me ask you this, AJ, again on the kind of goals front. Jack Clark has been a bit of an enigma since he's arrived. Led the team in assists in the Premier League, but, you know, largely flattered to deceive.

36:07Mark Heath:And he's come to town, he's been asked to play a different role, which he's talked about. and now he's on the right wing, which is, you know, not where he'd ideally want to be. Is there an argument for saying, right, Jack Clark, you were brilliant at Sunderland and you were brilliant at Sunderland when you were a paint on the boots, kind of give it to Jack Clark on the wing and go to work? Because they're asking Leif Davis now to be more of inverted, aren't they, behind Philogene. Leif is used to bombing up the wing with Nathan Broadhead cutting inside. That's changed. It seems to have changed anyway.

36:36Mark Heath:So if they have changed the system to accommodate Jadon Philogene, should they or could they consider saying to Jack Clark right you go back to what you were brilliant at Sunderland and Leif Davis can can do this inverted role yeah absolutely um I mean yeah arguments either side of this one in terms of the positives of it I don't think it will be kind of a overly difficult change to make if you're then having Leif Davis do this new role we spoke to him about that after the Southampton game and he spoke about enjoying it more because he gets more time on the ball and it suits having jayden phillagee in front of him um ultimately you need to do kind of what's best for the players that you've got you don't sign or you don't have players and then say you know you're all going to play my way now the difference is it has to be a balance i'm not saying that kieran mckenna's coming in and saying you know you're all going to play my way but he has a way that has been successful um and you can tweak that and we have seen tweaks that we've seen tweaks right back and right wing and the number 10 role and the two midfielders there's a lot of kind of i guess versatility within the squad into how you want to play um the question is going to be is is that tweak on the left to go to what you would want what you'd see as jack clark's strongest role is that then going to skew the balance that you've been working so hard to create in other areas um that that's the big one for me if you then create a system that gets the best out of Jack Clark, is it also going to get the best out of George Hurst?

38:08Are we going to be able to create chances for him? Is it going to get the best out of whoever the left side of the fielder is, Jenski Uster, in the spaces that he wants to occupy? Is it going to work with Davis? We still haven't really seen this, even though in theory it kind of sounds quite nice, the idea of him coming inside and then being able to kind of create almost an attacking four or five, depending on how many players you have in that position. But with Davis coming in narrow and Clark on the wide areas, it sounds good in theory, but does it work? Does it work when Jack Clark's best seasons at Sunderland have been Sunderland players saying, get the ball and pass to Jack Clark and hope for him to do the best because he was the best player in the team.

38:49He's the superstar. Jack Clark isn't the superstar in this team. And I'm not saying it's like a mentality thing or it's not like him wanting to always be the star man, but that seems to be the system that he's thrived in the most. That's where all his goals and assists have been coming from in previous seasons. So there is a way to do it, absolutely. There is a way to replicate that. But it also has to be something that then means that there is a proper balance in your attack. There isn't one really at the moment. So maybe it is something worth looking at and trying. But I think unanimously we can all agree Jack Clark on the right is not working.

39:30Agreed. Absolutely. I'm pleased it's not us that has to sort all this out because that's not what we're paid for. And frankly, we're not going to do it as well as Kieran McKenna and his team. The other thing I wanted to ask about, which got brought up over the weekend in the chats I was having with people on social media,

39:44Mark Heath:was set pieces, which I'm interested to get your take on, Rossi, because they've got I think they've got two set piece coaches now. and the suggestion to me on social media was that you wouldn't know that. The set pieces have not been great. Is that something you'd agree with?

40:02Ross Halls:Yeah, and now in the warm-ups, that's something they do at the end. They obviously do the other bits and bobs stretching and all that when you have to get ready for the game, but they basically set it up as they are in a real-time set piece situation because, yeah, you've got all the players and sort of defenders slash attackers going for it. I mean, even in that drill, I was like, oh, that doesn't look great. And then obviously in real time, in real game, yeah, we haven't really done great. There's not been that many threatening set pieces, even like free kicks. I felt like we haven't really seen a really good free kick we played.

40:40Ross Halls:You know, Leif Davis, he has really struggled with some of his set pieces this season so far. so yeah it is a bit of a concern because we've although we've always been in this sort of team under McKellen we haven't scored that many set piece goals if you really look at it that would be an interesting sort of piece we could look at maybe like how many set pieces over the last few seasons have we scored because we do obviously have some big boys when you see Jacob Greaves and Daro Sheikharp there you think they're going to give it surely they're going to score if the right delivery comes in so yeah once Gennady's another work in progress but they need to do better.

41:15Ross Halls:And especially now, as you mentioned, they've got two new set-piece coaches. Last year wasn't great and so far it's not been good. You agree with that, AJ? I mean, the theme of this pod in terms of things we're talking about and McKenna's own words is we need to be better. Yeah, I think that there are improvements on some bits that I've seen, both offensively and defensively. I mean, from a defensive point of view, everything seemed to go horribly wrong at old trafford basically wasn't it where we saw town concede um goals i think that kind of emanated from three corners or at least three set pieces it would have been two of those i think were direct and that was after having a really strong run of them in the premier league and from then on they just went to pot in terms of defending set pieces and there were so many times we saw uh opponents in the premier league capitalize and take advantage on town being weak at set pieces i think defensively i've been quite impressed with what they've done they look quite good and it's hard in the championship as well especially when you go to preston and kieran mckenna's highlighted them as i think the tallest team that they'll face you look at the height in that squad and um they limited them quite well from that sense uh when you look at it in the attacking sides i can't really think of a time to be honest i've seen Town score a set piece in the last since promotion, really, apart from in a competitive match.

42:48There probably are some that come to mind, but that's just an example of how few there have been in terms of first stage set pieces. I'd hoped there would have been an improvement on an attacking front when I saw the Ashley Young free kick to Jacob Greaves. I mean Jacob Greaves who's probably been the one who's had the most opportunities he did score one up at Liverpool but there's just so few and the threat that they have as well when you've got someone like Leif Davis in the team and you've got other players that can deliver really good dead balls into the box, it feels quite low and it feels like an area that they need to be they need to be stronger at because this is where when you have games like against Preston where they put everyone behind the ball and you get corners those are one of your handful of opportunities so um yeah for me it is definitely an area they need to do better with it's need to an area they need to be stronger at and that has been a conversation that's gone on at Ipswich for a while I had a lot of talks last summer with players and with Kieran McKenna saying how important a set piece is going to be to for you in the Premier League where you're not going to have lots of opportunities to score from open play and everyone says it's vital it's vital and uh yeah since that point the numbers have been pretty low i'd say they need to be the best versions of themselves how many times has mark ashton got to say it before they start listening um right let's move on shall we transfer stuff sexy stuff um seven new faces in the door window closes uh a week yesterday so less than a week to go monday september the 1st 7 p.m is when that window closes i asked mckenna last week how important it's going to be in terms of the context of the

44:30Mark Heath:season what they can do in this final few days he said yes it is important obviously that's the reality but there are more important things like our culture and our our work ethic and our growth mindset uh all that kind of stuff which of course is is true um but in his final few days of the window rossi how how important do you feel it is that they get more new faces in and where would you like to see them make these signings or if there are obvious spots that need filling it does still feel a little bit messy though doesn't it the whole kind of transfer approach yeah because

45:02Ross Halls:we've got a big squad as it is really if you really look at it um there is gaps that we need to improve in um obviously that Norwegian lad is still sort of circulating uh obviously that's the position we need to sort of strengthen just another sort of attacking plot I think we even though Chubacom is there as well as that backup striker if needed I do feel we need maybe another number nine um but maybe a youngster because obviously got i think of the the squad you know limit as well um obviously the norwegian if he does sign he's obviously 19 so he doesn't count to that um cdm you know as a sort of backup i think taylor matasiwa and who is yeah sorry yeah it's bloody hell mate um obviously they're the three there and obviously got cameron humphries there as well, but I think we need just another one in that position.

45:54Ross Halls:And left back as well with Townsend's injury. So we probably need three or four going into these final days. But will that happen? Yeah, it will be interesting. But I think there could be some departures as well because we've got such a big squad. Yeah, we're getting into sort of squeaky bum territory on the transfer front, AJ, aren't we? Less than a week to go. some clear gaps that need filling, particularly midfield and striker, but also with the complication of players wanting to leave. Luke Wolfendon, for example. And if he goes, then what do they do there? We've talked about Caceres and their interest in him.

46:32But then if he comes in, what does that mean for, you know, Jacob Greaves or, you know, there's multiple kind of knock-on butterfly effects, isn't there? Yeah. Again, something that Kieran McKenna mentioned is you want a squad that has loads of depth and loads of quality, but you can't alienate people from being involved in the project. And it was quite good where in the last championship season, it was probably quite a, I can't really think back to it that well, to be honest, but it felt like quite a small squad and it felt like a close tight end squad where with rotation, people had opportunities and you talk about super subs and all those kinds of things.

47:09And it feels a little bit different in this group and for whatever reason that is. and that's something that Kieran McKenna has to, A, bring back and B, then maintain with trying to balance this with loads of different signings. I think in terms of what you look at numbers-wise, if it was up to me, I'd have probably two midfielders, a left-back, a winger and a striker. That's a hell of a lot to get done before next Monday. And it means that you're then looking at bodies coming out and that also becomes difficult. What do you do with a Jack Taylor? if he's been starting regularly, but if you want another midfielder to come in along with kind of cover for Matasiewa, does that work?

47:49If you bring in Igelli, the wide man, then you've got kind of five wingers to fill two spots. How do they all fit in? With, say, signing cover for George Hurst, that's good, but then what does that mean for two Brackpom's minutes? Is he going to play most of them as a 10? If he plays most of them as a 10, then are you stifling what Connor Chaplin's able to do? Because he's the backup 10. it's so, so difficult to try and find the balance with all of these things. Then also remembering that you've got to stick to a 25-man limit as well. So that is the hard thing. I think there's got to be a happy medium somewhere in the middle where Ipswich are going to have to bite the bullet and say, look, we can't have a player in this position and this position signed by the end of the window because it's not practical.

48:34We don't have the numbers or the finances or whatever. But there's definitely key areas. They need another midfielder, 100%. and they need someone in the forward lines as well. Those are definitely the two key areas looking at the squad. But it is really hard, isn't it? I just wanted to think about it now. The strength of Town in that surge to double promotions was that everyone was so together as a squad and they were all bought into the direction and they all felt like they had roles to play, even if they weren't starting. And then I wonder if then you get to the Premier League and you start spending multi-millions of pounds on players

49:13Mark Heath:who come in and expect them to be starting because they're big money signings. And then suddenly you've got a team where everyone wants to start. I mean, clear, I know every player always wants to start, but there are certain players who probably expect to start and aren't really happy to be backups or aren't happy to be backups anymore. And then you've got this whole kind of shift in culture almost around town. Do you reckon there's anything in that, AJ? yeah i think there is this was always going to be the problem with ipswich wasn't it where i remember talking about the water levels rising yeah and that feels like a big thing where you have these guys who were the guys at ipswich town luke waltham and conor chaplin sam orsey nathan broadhead really good example um and harry clark for example and it always felt like they would get to a point and we spoke about this a bit in the running pardon me in in the um the championships season where you know they go up and you're looking at all these guys who are kind of the promotion heroes but if you're going to go up you then need to kind of have squads where they become your backups they're the guys you turn to you don't turn to players like i mean who were the ones who would attack caden jackson for example marcus harness um jeremy sarmiento they were the ones the super subs in that team that's when you were then looking at saying well ipswich have got a front line worth£80 million.

50:40Now they're going to bring on Connor Chaplin, scored XMAC goals in the championship. Nathan Broadhead scored XMAC goals in the championship. The problem is that Connor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead want to be starting, and they have done for their entire times at Ipswich. And then you get situations like Broadhead's where he gets an opportunity to go, sentimental reasons and all, but also because he's going to be the main guy in another club. and you've seen this with other teams as well and other players and maybe that's what we're looking at with Luke Wolfenden. He was the guy when Ipswich came out.

51:14He was the obvious player to play right side and centre-back. Now he's had a season out of the team in the Premier League, they're back in the Championship. And with Dara O'Shea playing as he is and the captain of the group, where do his minutes come from? And that's why you're then kind of having this difficult balance with other players. So it is really hard not to cut players off from the projects because, let's say, Luke Wolfenden, how many championship games is he going to start between now and Christmas? Two, three, if he stays. Let's say Ndara O'Shea stays fit as the captain. That's not going to be enough for Luke Wolfenden.

51:53So, yeah, it's not really going to work in that sense. It's a hard old balance. And you do wonder, especially with Broadhead, if they've actually ended up selling the play, might actually be their best option on the left. But clearly, you know, there's some big money signings ahead of him now.

52:08Mark Heath:Rossi, all this being said, group therapy being had, lots of concerns, fair concerns, I would say, around the start of the season and various talking points we've had there. I'll bring you back to your words. Only three games in, calm down, everyone. Do you ultimately feel like this ship, this town tanker, is going to end up going in the right direction. You've still got faith.

52:35Ross Halls:Yeah, because at the end of the day, we did the big preview pod. Most of us, I think everybody pretty much went, yeah, league title, top two, promotion. And I know things can change very quickly in football, which has proven the point because after three games, people have gone, yeah, we're doomed. We're going to be in Luton. We're going to get relegated or we're not going to get to where we want to be. I've still got the faith. I still think this team are going to be able to turn it around because at least we're not Sheffield United at the moment. Teams like that, because they've lost all three of their games.

53:10Ross Halls:Birmingham, once you look at the games on paper, it's been a tough start. People probably won't like to hear this, but Birmingham had that momentum. Obviously, a great night under the likes of St Andrews. We got very lucky. Put a hand up to say that. We got very lucky to get a point there because of that late penalty. Southampton, as we mentioned already, a team we battled last year in the Premier League, obviously had a really worse season than us, which is hard to beat. And they're obviously still building under Will Steele. We should have got maybe three points than that. And then Preston, a team we should be beaten on paper because of the squad, but they're a tough...

53:48Ross Halls:We didn't beat them last time we were in the Championship. We went there and we lost 3-2. And then obviously they just beat Leicester a week prior and they're defended for their lives. Fair play to Preston. So, it's been a tough three games. And now Derby up next. Now, that's a game, I won't say a must win. That's a game you've got to think you need to get something out of, especially at home. And we need to get home form back because we know Porton Road has not been a fortress as of late because we have not won there, as we all know, in a league game since the end of 2024. So, a good result there would be nice.

54:21I'll let you have the final say on this, AJ. My personal take is, yes, there are obviously some things to be concerned about and there's lots to be sorted out in the last week of the window and I feel like from September 2nd onwards then McKenna can really start to work with the group and plan and know exactly what he's got but for me I think it's just so important they get a win

54:41Mark Heath:like winning winning cures everything doesn't it and I remember back in the old days at the the fight team one of my coaches would say to me sometimes you just need to beat someone up and get the confidence from that and and Derby at home this weekend they've not started very well it just feels like a good opportunity to for want of a better word beat somebody up get a win and then start that ball rolling what is that Roy Keane line he did it in um it was a Sky Sports punditry bit he did where he said something like um sometimes you just gotta smash into someone um I can't remember exactly what do you remember this one I do I remember I don't remember the exact quote I'm hoping that most people do and I can't remember the exact quote either, but that basically that, sometimes you just have to smash in someone and make yourself feel good yeah, I think there is that kind of element of it, and I think that there will be a bit of a reaction going into this game, I think that Derby have obviously not had the best of starts with a lot of people including me tipping them to be the Dark Horses where they've I think picked up their first point at home to Bristol City on Friday night.

55:53For me, I think I've said this before on the pod, the biggest thing for me in football, I think, is confidence and kind of building on things and the reason why Ipswich were able to get where they are and the reason why you see so many teams that get promoted into leagues kick on and do well is because they're teams that in previous seasons and previous months have had groups of players that played together and won games of football. Ipswich Town won how many games did they win in the Premier League? Can anyone remind me of the four? Four games in the Premier League. They've won one at Portman Road in the Premier League.

56:28It was not this calendar year. Every other team in the top at least, I think, it might have changed now with the relegations and promotions, definitely the top five tiers of English football won a league game at home. It's demoralising. It's horrible when you're getting into this position and you're coming to to your home stadium every week and you're losing and you're losing to good teams and then having a game like Southampton where you're still not able to win and you can't find a way through and then you go to Preston and you lose it just feels like you're kind of you're being kicked while you're down and as you say it's one result that can change all that they go and they play Derby a Derby side that are struggling at home you can beat them and then all of a sudden you've ended that run of around half a year more than half a year to get a win at Portman Road and then everything changes.

57:17I mean, when we all went to Preston, going up there, I think we were all quite confident and quite happy, weren't we? We all felt quite good about the state because we'd seen that Southampton game and they played well. And then you come back from Preston and you think, well, if we can avoid a bottom three finish, it's a good season, lads, isn't it? You can't get too high or too low in the end of it, especially when the transfer window's open, especially when they've got an international break coming up to work with a core group of players. but no hiding from the fact that this weekend feels significant and feels pretty big.

57:50A fast start isn't... Why are you laughing? It's just the slightly farcical nature of football and the kind of narrative.

58:01Mark Heath:We said the second game against Southampton, that felt big. And then now this one feels... Every home game will until they get over it. But it's an opportunity. though isn't it and absolutely yeah it's big for different reasons southampton felt big because it's a side that's come down with them and if you can beat them at home then you're putting out a marker for what you want to do derby at home feels big because if you can't beat them then the concern that comes from the preston game goes up two three four notches there's no kind of real there's no excuse is there there there's they are a good enough group of players regardless of the connections regardless of everything else to take on a Derby side at home and win.

58:46Yeah. That's what the expectations have to be.

58:50Mark Heath:Conceded a lot of goals already, Derby. I mean, best case scenario, beat Derby, then as you say, AJ, international break, McKenna gets time to work with these players, these new players, build partnerships and that kind of stuff and then obviously they come back with another big game against Sheffield United who are having a terrible start. They're all big games. They're all big games Of course they are. But that is the ideal scenario. Friends, anything else to mention? Obviously, I need to push our sponsors. Have either of you got anything you want to say before I do that? I'll go quickly with a couple of bits.

59:23Firstly, five Ipswich players in the Republic of Ireland squad. Just been announced a few minutes ago. Really like that. Boring. Secondly, yeah, I know, I know. International do too. Secondly, we didn't really get to talk about players during the Preston bit, but I do want to give a mention to Azul Matasiwa, because I thought he was really good. I didn't have him as my man of the match. I'm kind of reflecting on it. I actually think I possibly should have done because I thought he was really impressive. It was his best performance so far in that defeat. And if he continues his trajectory, given how concerned some of us were after Birmingham, big improvement in Southampton, big improvement in Preston, then yeah, he's really heading in the right direction, right trajectory.

1:00:06Yeah, happy for him.

1:00:07Mark Heath:Yeah, good stuff. Ross anything from you?

1:00:11Ross Halls:No, do you know what actually as I wear this new Itrish Town kit it's grown on me when it first got released I was like a bit you know it's fine but you know what it's grown on me nice fit as well, very nice fit so yeah weirdly when I look through my kits I actually haven't got many home kits I'm more of an away kit man so I think obviously blue kit you can't really do different really can you but away kits so obviously when we play five aside and seven aside we do like blues versus mixed colours and I was like going I'd go through my order and go obviously I pick the teams and I always like I want to go on blues team sometimes because I want to mix it up but I then realised even though I'm an Itchwich fan I don't actually have many Itchwich home kits I have a lot of away kits I don't have any blues so but yeah it's growing on me how are you feeling about it boys we've obviously seen the red kit a lot I don't like the red kit at all I've said that um i think i think you're right i think the home kit is starting to go on me a little bit um yeah i just uh just uh i just wanted i just wanted more exciting stuff i'll be honest

1:01:17Mark Heath:the the way kit is is is a mess um i still believe that i don't like it at all anyway um friends just to remind us about our sponsors you can use the code koa at stardustspirits.co.uk to get 20 % off all their excellent alcoholic concoctions. Gary and the team there, a local company doing good things, winning awards on the global scene for their Biscoff vodka. That's right, isn't it? Yeah, which AJ is absolutely a huge fan of. So get yourself some of that. They've got little sampler packs as well. You can try all sorts of things. Gary's coming up with some brilliant flavour combinations. And our new sponsor, of course, is Molecular UK.

1:01:58Mark Heath:Just a reminder, a Layston-based company. again a suffolk company to get behind they manufacture cleaning products for the automotive agricultural and commercial industries they're a family-run business in operation for more than 40 years making products to the highest possible standards and they work closely with customers to ensure that you're receiving the best products and also the best service you can rely on their website is www.molecular-uk.com where you can buy stuff and you can use the code KOA10 at the coupon section to get 10 % off all their excellent products, which I'm hoping to get my hands on soon and give the old Heath ride a bit of a spick and span cleanup, a glow up, as they say these days.

1:02:42Mark Heath:Anything else from you boys? Good. All right, friends. It's not started very well. It's fair to say it is which town. Hopefully you've enjoyed a bit of group therapy today. I think my final message to you as we, as we head towards the weekend would be, as I said, during the Kieran McKenna saga. Everybody calm down. It's going to be all right. This too will pass. Everything's going to be fine. Have a great start to your week. And we'll be back later on this week to build up to a massive game against Derby. Bye.

1:03:35Thank you.

1:04:01Thank you.

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