634: Kings of Anglia - Fixture analysis, pre-season plans and more manager chat

25:44The international break takes up two weeks of that. But when you come back from the international break, that Easter weekend is going to be FA Cup quarterfinal fixtures. So there's no Premier League football over Easter weekend. It's going to be FA Cup instead. And if Ipswich don't make the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, then they will be without a game from March 20th through until April 10th. So that will be another big old gap. Very similar, actually. I think pretty much identical to the international break you would have at the start of the season, just with international players only off for a fortnight instead.

26:17So yeah, again, more parallels to draw if Ipswich had reached the uh semi-finals of the FA Cup two years ago guess what game would have been postponed Newcastle away so same again this time it's weird how many similarities there are I'm sure it's done on purpose but um yeah some good mileage in there but I like the northeast it's good fun there's lots of Greggs uh nice people and there's lots of Greggs. So, yeah. So far away. Yes, but think of the Greggs for us. It's good stuff. There's Greggs and itchwich, mate. Oh, yeah, but, you know, Newcastle have, like, one every other building. It's great.

26:54It's maybe not the mileage that you want going into the run-in, but to precede what we're going to talk about now, I like the run-in, and I like it a lot.

27:03Ross Halls:Right, then. Let's bring up the run-in, then. I want to know why you like it, because I still think there's tough games in there. Of course, the 1st of May, and funny enough, for the championship season, we're about to play our final game at this period, and we're still going to have a whole month of games, and you mentioned in our group chat, the 30th of May is our last game of the season, so it's like the end of May, we have our last game of the Premier League, and then if, you know, hopefully isn't the case, we are relegated, and it's a very quick turnaround for the championship, but let's talk about that run in them.

27:35Ross Halls:Leeds at home, Fulham away, Man City at home, will they be battling for the title? Nighting Forest away and Everton at home. Last time in the Premier League, we did finish the season off with a home game against West Ham. But of course, we're really relegated at that point. That could be crucial. Why do you like this run-in then, AJ, to finish the campaign? Hopefully, we've got still things to fight for. But those games there, yeah, interesting. Some games we could win, but I still think they're going to be tough. Of course, they will. But these are not teams I see challenging towards the top of the table.

28:08They're not teams that are going to be, and this is Man City aside, obviously, they're not teams that are going to be challenging to win the Premier League or to play in Europe even necessarily. There's always maybe one or two that have that, but I don't think that we're going to be seeing many of these teams in that kind of position. And I'd say that that makes it two things more likely. One, there's the possibility that these are teams that might not have anything to play for, that might be solid in mid-table, know they're not going to get into Europe and feel happy where they are, or they're going to be teams that Ipswich are trying to chase down.

28:40And that's where you want to have those games. So you know, hang on, OK, we're in this spot, but if we beat Leeds, we can leapfrog them and they go into the drop zone. If we beat Fulham, we could leapfrog them and go into the drop zone, hypothetically. And I would say that those four teams have quite a big variance of, if they were solid in the table, I wouldn't be surprised. If they were in the relegation zone at that point, I also really wouldn't be surprised either. so yeah I think it's good to have those games there um I like the fact that you've got Leeds and Everton as the home games um some fun quirks should we go through some of those this is the latest ever that a Premier League season the regular non-COVID Premier League season has finished thank you for the World Cup um and also there are two teams I can't remember if I've done this stat already.

29:30I don't think I have two teams in the Premier League who will be at home on opening day, on boxing day, and on final day, and that is Ipswich and Hull City. There's actually only four in the entire league that are home on opening day and final day, so the fact that Ipswich then had boxing day chucked in as well, yeah, Town and Hull certainly in a fortunate position, like the run-in, and definitely feels like it could be the ladder to escape if they do need something at that point. you are on mute.

30:03Ross Halls:I thought I was doing so well. I've still got the rustiness of the off-season. When we get ready for pre-season, which we'll get into very shortly, that's when my hosting is going to come back. But AJ, I'm going to stay up. I'm joking. I'm joking. I'm not going to ask you that. That's too early. It's too early. It's too early, my friend. But just to sum up the fixtures as a whole, going to play each team twice, of course. this probably is, I don't know, as we said before a better sort of start than the last time out but still very tough the running hopefully this time around we've got things to play for yeah, I'm just looking forward to it maybe not as looking forward to it as last time in the Premier League because that was the first time in two decades but it's a new era going to be dawning with a new manager and all that, new players yeah I cannot wait for that first ball to be kicked on the opening day against Sunderland.

31:00Yeah, I know. And it's not that far away either when you think about how pre-season is coming up quickly. So, yeah, I think that the fixture list in general feels kind, to be honest. And that's having felt the other end of the spectrum with how brutal it can be, especially as a newly promoted club. And I'll come back to that point of saying how hard Coventry, for example, but I feel like Coventry have had the Ipswich treatment this year. And Hull have had a different one as well. I'll read you Coventry's first five. Arsenal away, Hull at home, City away, Brighton at home, Forest away. Hull, on the other hand, have United at home, Coventry away, Villa at home, Chelsea away, Newcastle away.

31:40And Towns just feels that there's more opportunities to kind of get that first win in there. Famous last words, isn't it? Maybe those two teams will start really well. But I think that when you can compare it, and all of these games are hard, and you know that they're going to have to work incredibly hard to go and get something off Sunderland, off Palace and off Everton, which are the ones that we're looking at as kind of marking a good start. But that's the level that they need to be at. And it is a case that you play every team twice, but in the key moments, I think that Ipswich have quite nice options, quite nice games there.

32:21When you look at Sunderland on opening day, it could have been Man City. When you look at the festive games, it could have been much worse. Yeah, there's a tough run in there, but the fact they've only really got one and you maybe could have picked out three or four from the last Premier League fixture list, I think we can be quite happy with that. So I like it. Bring it on. I think that, yeah, maybe as well. I kind of hyper-fixate over the start a little bit, and I think that's also fair where two years ago they had the two hardest games you could have got and that just crushes your morale you lose 6-1 on aggregate across those two games it's difficult to pick yourself up and go again and I don't think they're going to have that kind of start again this season and hopefully they can build confidence build momentum and open up a bit of a gap on the teams who I think could find it harder

33:12Ross Halls:Definitely mate and what game out of all of them you're looking forward to most? I think, obviously, we want to go back to Spurs Stadium because it's amazing. Everton, new ground. That's going to be a good experience. But anything else that you've got your eyes on? Pardon me. Yeah, commentary on Hull are the two. No. I think that Everton is one that will complete the Premier League. For me, I've done all the grounds other than that, which is nice. I think that would be the same for you. I think you've done all of them apart from Everton, which will be good. other ones I think you've mentioned Spurs there Liverpool is going to be the weekend of Sophie's birthday I'm not sure I'm going to make it to Anfield we'll see, we'll see I think that might get moving She'll love it It'll be alright We'll have to try and approach that one I think that there are just some grounds I like Villa Park for example, it's a proper traditional ground, it's a good one for example and just getting to go to places like Stamford Bridge again and even Old Trafford places like that.

34:19Yeah, really exciting. If I had to pick out one, I mean, it's got to be Spurs, doesn't it? It's a hell of a stadium. You have some brilliant memories and they'll feed us well, won't they, Russ?

34:31Ross Halls:Yes, they will. Good treatment for photographers. Yes. Looking at you, Man City. Yeah, well, we'll find out because last time in the Premier League, I wasn't allowed to take pictures at Man City. I was able to go and be in the press box. That was a weird feeling, sort of sitting in the press box, watching the game review. And then, yeah, as my doorbell rings again. I'm trying to think who that could be. Luckily, my other half is here. But there we go. Fixtures are in the books. Fixtures are subject to change, as I say. But let's talk about pre-season because that's now been announced. There's potentially another game added to it.

35:09Ross Halls:But let's talk about our schedule for pre-season, AJ. And there's a particular sort of schedule that I'm not happy with. They did it last time a few years back, which was the sort of doubleheader. That was Cambridge-Stevenage last time out. This time it's Wickham and Buddy Oxford. Of course, just whoever thinks this is a good idea needs to be shot. I'm sorry to say. I know you want to split the team up and all the players can get games, but just not for me. But AJ, I let you run through all of them as a whole because they're playing some sexy teams as well. They're playing two Spanish teams at a French club.

35:51Can I just say, by the way, that the last time Ipswich did double header, they went on to win promotion in pretty extraordinary fashion. So maybe you shouldn't poo-poo it in quite that way. Maybe it's the recipe to success. Yeah, let's run through it then. first week of pre-season, I mean, the players we expect will be due back early July. They're going off for a training camp in Spain, which will end with a behind-closed-doors friendly. Bit of a shame that the fans can't go and attend that one. But yeah, that's going to be their Spain trip in July. I think that's still the 24th. And then the fixtures begin, the ones that the fans can go to.

36:33And speaking of Spain, Osasuna are coming down to Essex because they're playing at Colchester against Ipswich at the Colchester Community Stadium. I think that will allow some works to be done at Portman Road. So also sooner at the Colchester Community Stadium. That's Wednesday, July 29th at 7.45 p.m. Then the following Saturday, Ross, you and I will be speeding over, not literally speeding, but whizzing down the motorway to go from the Kassam Stadium, a 12 o 'clock kick-off to a 4 o 'clock kick-off for Adams Park. I've never been to Adams Park. It wasn't really on my bucket list. But yes, cannot wait for that doubleheader.

37:12The squad will be split for those two games. Yeah, that's 12 o 'clock at Oxford and 4 o 'clock at Wickham. Then a Tuesday night game, August 4th, Le Havre. Oh, love doing the accent for that. We'll be coming to Portman Road. The Ligue 1 team, who've now been able to kind of consolidate in the French top flight following promotion. I think it was a couple of seasons ago. Done really well. They will be coming to Portman Road. And then we've got a game on the Saturday, which will be against Rayo Vallecano. That is a five o 'clock kickoff on August 8th against the Conference League beaten finalists and everyone's favourite hipster club.

37:52We're expecting there will be another friendly then the following weekend. Nothing's been announced then. I think that will be an opportunity for fans to go abroad who may be a little bit upset that they couldn't go to Spain. keep your eyes peeled on what happens there but those are the games that are penciled in that will be the week in Spain which will be until the 24th of July July 29th Osasuna at Colchester August 1st is the split game Oxford at 12 o 'clock away at the Cassam and Wickham away at 4 o 'clock at Adams Park and then we'll have La Havre at Portman Road on August 4th quarter to 8 and 5 o 'clock at Rayo Vallecano at Portman Road fun.

38:33Ross Halls:I'm liking that we've got Portman Road games because of course last time in the Premier League there was a lot to be sorted off the pitch and the stadium as a whole but it's nice that there'll be a few Portman Road games in pre-season. I think we've got two so technically it will be the same in terms of Portman Road games but when we went last time it wasn't ready. I remember covering the game against Fortuna Dusseldorf and we got put in the executive boxes because everything else was being just demolished basically so So, yeah, not the same work's being done to Portman Road this time. And that should be nice.

39:06And I think there'll be some fans that will travel there. I think you'll get some Rio fans coming for sure, and Osasuna and probably Le Havre as well. Although Osasuna are also going to Norwich a few days after they play town at Colchester. Boo! Boo! So, yeah, there's the pre-season list. Probably looking at one more to come, but a good array of matches there.

39:29Ross Halls:Yeah, and hopefully we've got a KOA tour. to get ready for because pre-season needs a Calaway tour. So hopefully we'll get that news very shortly, AJ. But that is pre-season. Obviously, the elephant in the room is will Towne appoint a new manager sooner rather than later? There's, of course, two candidates that are very favourites, and that is Gary O 'Neill and Oli Gona Solskjaer. I think we've recorded so many different podcasts and videos about them. but let's just discuss it in this platform in terms of the flagship show um yeah mark hashton we've got some audio actually to play very shortly stew speaking to mark hashton about the manager search and his message to fans because there is a lot of noise a lot of fans very 50 50 on both the potential appointment but um yeah just keep us up to date aj from what you know at the moment yeah because there is a lot of noise and we've seen a lot of different rumors and reports coming around the last one i saw today was sean dyche got rumored um and we've uh had german managers linked um we've had a lot of different bits but i think it's been quite clear uh despite the late night link to i need to get his name because i've just totally forgotten it uh the late night link to Sandro Wagner last night.

40:51It's a two-horse race to be the next Ipswich Town manager, and that is, as you mentioned, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Gary O 'Neill, who I really, pardon me, keep wanting to call Liam O 'Neill from next Cambridge player. I've just got it stuck in my head now. But yeah, those are the candidates really for the job, and I'd expect a decision to be made in the next few days, and you'll hear from Mark Ashton talking about the process. it doesn't feel like it's going to be an appointment that regardless of who it is will appeal 100 % to the fan base and will sell everyone but that's never going to happen you're never going to get in this position that Ipswich are in a manager that convinces everyone you're either going to have someone who is unproven or who has had a failure somewhere on their CV or something like that.

41:40But these are the options that have been picked out, and you can see why. With O 'Neill's record of keeping teams in the division, he's done it with Bournemouth and done it with Wolves, was sacked by both, but one was certainly harshly, and the other one was a bit of a basket case. And he's a very sharp tactical mind. He's really good on the training ground from people that I've spoken to. He's really involved on a day-to-day basis. that might be the area that Solskjaer kind of lacks in a little bit and I've seen some people say that maybe tactically he's not as sharp maybe a bit of a harsh criticism I feel where you look at some of the really nice counter-attacking play low possession but really nice attacking style that Solskjaer's had yeah that might be a harsh criticism also as I've mentioned before he's the continuity candidate he's the one who's worked with Martin Perk before He's the one who's worked with head of recruitment, Mick Court, before.

42:35And maybe that will be a more kind of seamless approach where Ipswich don't need to tear things up because of what they've been able to build under Kieran McKenna. So those seem to be the two options. And I know you've got the audio from Mark Ashton discussing those that we can listen to and then see what he says about the impending appointment.

42:53Ross Halls:Yes, we've got this clip first. It's just on the search as a whole, and then we're going to plan to have a clip very shortly on him. His message to the fans, people who are listening right now, Of course, he's very much blocking out the noise, but here's Ashton on the search.

43:31Ross Halls:that so we've run a process there's you know we've been looking at this market for quite a period because you've always got to be half prepared in case Kieran was to go but that market moves and changes all the time so what's this has given us an opportunity to do is to meet a lot of people and there's been a lot of interest in the job we're clear on what type person we're looking for on an individual cultural basis and on a performance basis and I think it's fair to say that imminently we'll be through that process with a manager in place Can you say how many people you've met?

44:14Ross Halls:Between Zoom calls and in person, numerous and I mean numerous as many as I possibly could to be honest with you And your decision is made by the sounds of things? I think there's a direction to travel. And, you know, part of the challenge in my job is I have to try and block out the noise. Because I have to focus. Only when you are in these interviews, only when you're meeting these people, do you know the nuances, the details. And, you know, some of my team will tell me, oh God, people are talking about so-and-so has been seen in Ipswich. so and so. It's utter rubbish. It's fantasy. It doesn't work like that.

44:57Ross Halls:And I think we've run again a professional process and we've come to the right conclusion for the club. My board have been really supportive and given me the oxygen just to get on with it. But time is key now and we need to come out with the side pretty quickly. Yeah, AJ, because pre-season is not that far away now, but I think we're hopefully going to get a new manager at the start of next week being announced. Numerous candidates in AJ. Do you think it's potentially in the double figures, Mark? Yeah, I'd say so. I mean, when you look at some of the names that have been linked, and I'd say that even though, take the Sandro Wagner one, he feels like the kind of person they easily could have spoken to and maybe decided not to progress with, and I'm sure there are plenty of others, and there's lots of appealing options out there.

45:47You look at, I meant and Steve Cooper and Rob Edwards before, I'm sure, would have put their hat in the ring and would have liked the job. And they've settled on the two that they've had, which you've got to buy into the fact that it's been a thorough process in a short period of time. I think that I've seen some comments say, you know, we're wasting time, it's taking too long. It's been just over a week since Kieran McKenna left. And I know that a lot of the work in terms of shortlisting managers and having an idea of who you want to talk to, that has been done before that was announced and there was a feeling that this could happen but it's a short turnaround still to do it most managerial appointments i think take about two weeks and if they were able to get a new manager in by next wednesday i think there'll be a strong turnaround coming into now a period of time to focus on recruitment plenty of links coming out and mark ashton said negotiations are moving quite fast to get some targets in that will need to be signed off by whoever the next manager is.

46:46And this is now very much a case of Mark Ashton being the man to make the decision. This decision lies on him, and the success of it or potential failure of it will come down to him. This might precede some of the bits that you're about to play. But yeah, that's going to be the main thing. This is going to be his man. He's blocked out noise, external noise, and he's focusing on who he thinks is best. He did it with Kieran McKenna. And jumping to conclusions on what you think about either of the two managerial candidates at this point, I think it's kind of futile until we know what they can deliver.

47:27So, yeah, I'm interested to see who it is. And I know we've got that next clip from Mark Ashton to play.

47:33Ross Halls:Yes, indeed. And me and you, AJ, we've got a bit of one of the same wavelength, aren't we? We've got a synergy. We put the sort of same message in our chat when we saw that quote and were like, hmm, it screams on a certain man. So I let people use their imaginations. But let's hear from Mark Ashton. His message to the fans, you listeners, let's see what he had to say to Stuart Watson. What's your message to supporters, whoever the new manager is? It will split opinion. Wouldn't matter who I brought in. People, same as with Kieran, as I said to you, I've got the emails and the letters. No, no, no to Kieran.

48:07Ross Halls:no, no, no to Sam Morsi, no, no, no to Conor Chaplin. And they're a good grounding point for me. What I would say is, you've got to trust us. I think we wait. Have you tried to stay away from that this time? You've said sort of because of that, because that could cloud your judgment in terms of sort of maybe trying to pick a populist choice. You've tried to really back your own judgment on that. Yeah, and I've asked all my staff not, unless I need to know something don't come in telling me what people are saying because you can't let that into your mind because you know when you're running an organisation what's right for the organisation, you've got to do your work and probably on this appointment it's more challenging because you're going into the biggest league in the world, when you are bringing a manager in in mid-table league one it's more under the radar so you've got time to build and develop as we did in those first six months with Kieran.

49:09Ross Halls:You haven't got this now. So on this appointment, or as we've reduced the shortlist down, we've referenced people more than we've ever done to really try and get under the skin of the candidates. And they're going to have to lead us into the biggest league in the world. Yes, indeed. AJ, one takeaway I always get from things that are filmed at Porton Road is the Seagulls. They just take over the stadium when there's no one there or there's only a few people there. I remember when I finished doing my interviews with game day, when I come back on the Porton Road pitch, Seagulls just take over. You've got the groundsman sorting the pitch out and then you've just got loads of Seagulls flying about and landing and getting all the rubbish from the fans who left them in their seats.

50:01You're a big fan of those Brighton supporters then? I'm so sorry so sorry that was really bad sorry

50:09Ross Halls:continue Ross no Seagull once Spunny Seagull nicked my fish and chips once when I was on a Felix Dove you know just sitting there and out of nowhere boom brutal yeah not nice not nice the Seagulls are my bad my bad books but yeah interesting thoughts there from Mark Haston and it's going to be it's been a very interesting process I'm sure for him and yeah I think we're still very much in shock with Kieran McKenna, but in football, things moves fast. And, you know, we pretty much after we did that live reaction, didn't we? We're like, okay, who's next then? Thanks, Kieran. Thanks for everything you've done.

50:46Ross Halls:But it's like, who's next? And I'm sure next week, AJ will be getting ready to get stuck into the new Itch Town Manager, the 20th permanent manager in the town's history, which is just still blows my mind that that club have got that fantastic history of only having 20 permanent managers. AJ, another KOA podcast in the books. Fixtures are out. New manager is fast approaching. Any other business you want to mention? You enjoying your weekends without football? No, the World Cup. You've been enjoying the World Cup. Of course, England. Is it coming home? Big win for them? Is it coming home? It's more likely than I thought it might have been initially.

51:24Yes, it's hot. It's getting really hot again. I was at Harry Styles at Wembley last weekend, which was interesting. good bit of Shania Twain beforehand which is good didn't know many Shania Twain songs, didn't know many Harry Styles songs but it was good fun I'm at Gorillaz at Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow so that'll be my second ever trip to the Spurs grounds, my third this year which will be good fun they are my favourite band so I can't wait for that and if you're going I can tell you where you'll find me which will be in the merch stand buying all the stuff so yeah that'll be good and plenty to get stuck into Next week we'll have a clearer idea on who the manager will be.

52:06It's interesting listening to Mark Ashton. I think the way that he phrases it, as kind of alluded to, I feel it's pointing towards a Gary O 'Neill direction of travel, to use a Mark Ashtonism. But, yeah, we'll wait and see, and we'll have plenty of tactical breakdowns and profiles and all of those different things to come when we do know for sure who it is. but we can confidently say it will either be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Gary O 'Neill.

52:34Ross Halls:Okay, then. Watch this space then, ladies and gentlemen. But thank you very much for tuning in. As I said earlier in the chat, we've got loads of podcast specials that are available to listen to. AJ's chat with Kieran Maguire talking about all the finance, new rules, how town will approach the Premier League this time around with recruitment and all that sort of stuff. My KOA podcast specials, the recent one was out with Frank Neubel, good old clack uh this weekend is david low a bit of a cult hero from the 80s and 90s a really good chat with him uh it's great to see tony mowbray back in the manager's job he's now at blackbird of course i that was my first pod special of the summer so check that out if you haven't already and of course as i said loads of transfer talk videos we've done already me and aj has said we're going to try our best to keep that to a weekly series um and also aj i want to actually ask people now reach out to us we are potentially going to be doing a fpl podcast and we just want to get some early feelers out there is that something you guys like to see and hear let us know if you'd like to see an fpl podcast return we'll most likely do it as a maybe a monthly thing but i'd be interested to see if there's in any interest early doors in that so let us know uh but yes aj thanks joining me enjoy the gorillas i love them as a band as well i'm a bit actually very envious actually I've never been able to see them live so it's definitely a band is on my list to see live so let me know share me footage and stuff share me footage and let me know maybe get me some merch yeah KOA merch you can actually get ladies and gentlemen so get yourself some KOA merch and of course support our sponsors Molecular UK get 10 % off using the code KOA10 for all your car cleaning business and all that sort of stuff follow us on all the socials on Kings of Anglia thanks again for listening and we'll speak to you next time bye for now

54:51Thank you.

55:18Thank you.

55:47Thank you.