637: Kings of Anglia: Keep, sell, loan - our big squad audit ahead of 2026/27

22:41Ross Halls:Anybody want to shout? Two and a half years since Harry Clark has been a regular in this Ipswich Town team now, which is quite incredible. Halfway through, played such a big, had such a big impact after arriving in January with the League One promotion, was part of that sort of swashbuckling start to life in the Championship. Remember the goal against Blackburn in the 4-3 and he celebrated that so wildly. And then Axel took his place at right back halfway through that campaign. And it was bits and pieces from there onwards, really, wasn't it? So, yeah, Ipswich have clearly taken up his 12-month option in order to get back a bit of money for the, was it around a million pounds that they paid for him.

23:24So it will be sad to see him go because he's such a big character. He's an Ipswich boy. But, yeah, the writing looks on the wall there.

23:32Ross Halls:Yeah. AJ, how many right backs do you reckon Tam will sign then? or right wing backs?

23:41If they're going to go down the back five route, as I said, they need the kind of versatile players who can do the hybrid role. Although Daro Shea could probably do that as well. Something to look at. And if they're going to go down the wing back route with that, I think just one wing back and there's good cover there with Furlong. And especially if they're doing what we're saying and keeping Ben Johnson, you don't need to go overboard. But, yeah, getting a starter into that role, I think, will be important. So, I'll go, yeah, one kind of wing-back position on that right side. Okay, then.

24:11Ross Halls:So, right-back's done. Centre-backs now. Daro Shea, let's start off with the skipper. And I think we would be crazy if we decided to go the other two. Yeah, keep just straight away, boys. He's won Stuart Watson, AJ. Yeah, he's the skipper going into the season. Gary O 'Neill tried to sign him when he was at Wolves. and he's going to be the leading man on our people and all that stuff. So, yeah, easy one. Shall we just move on? Yeah, I think he's as close to the top of the list of kind of nailed on starters at the moment, of which I don't think there's too many. Yeah, you've said it there, haven't you?

24:49You've played every minute of every league game last season. He's the captain. And he'll come into this season with a bit of a point to prove because he's had three relegations from the Premier League with three different clubs now. And they'll be looking to break that cycle. But Gary O 'Neill clearly likes him because he tried to bring him, as you say, to Wolves before. Yeah, simple as that.

25:13Ross Halls:Simple. And I think this guy is also going to be a simple decision as well. And that is Jacob Greaves, who maybe struggled in his first Premier League season, but had a solid campaign in the Championship, showed his quality. I'm looking forward to seeing how he will do in the Premier League, because I'm going straight away. Keep, AJ Stu, keep, keep as well. I'll go to you, AJ, on this one. Jake Greaves, big opportunity for him to have another point approved as well. Big opportunity for a big man. He's really tall and Gary O 'Neill likes tall centre-backs and what you see with the Wolves team, and I think the Wolves at their best could be quite similar to what O 'Neill wants at Ipswich, which was low possession, force the opponents out wide, cross into the box, and in the box, You'd then have three big, beefy, meaty, tall centre-backs to head it away, and then you'd try and launch the counter there.

26:04And, yeah, Greaves ticks that box. He's head it, kick it. He can play as well. He can do all right with the ball at his feet, threat from set pieces, et cetera, et cetera. Interesting to see what his position will be for starting. He's someone who has still got a really high ceiling. He's still young. What is he, 25, I think. There aren't many strong left-footed English centre-backs in that kind of age bracket. So, yeah, he's one who I think will stay, but it'll be interesting to see what his minutes are going to be with Ipswich linked with Alexandro, the left-footed, although he can play really well with both Brazilian centre-back at Lille and also Stu's exclusive Lloyd Kelly, who used to work with O 'Neill.

26:49He's another left-sided centre-back playing at Juventus. So interesting to see what that would mean if either of those came in for minutes for Jacob Griggs next season.

26:58Ross Halls:Definitely. What a world. Town potentially signing a Brazilian and a player from Juventus. This club has come so far. I know we were in the Premier League two seasons ago and we were linked to other players like that. But we've never had a Brazilian. That would be sexy. I like that. Let's move on to another big boy. and that is Cedric Kipre who of course signed permanently after the promotion from his French club and I think there's another one that could be an easy decision as well boys. Cedric Kipre keep keep keep from us all Stuart Watson how is Cedric Kipre going to be in the Premier League do you think?

27:39Great question. I think everyone is delighted that he has stayed and they feel what we're saying, the price is just over 2 million, 2.2 million, which was part of the loan deal, which feels like an absolute bargain. The lesson learned from the Premier League last time was need more physicality. Cedric Kipre is a sizable human being and will certainly be able to handle that side of things. there is an argument that the way he plays on the ball is suited to the Premier League. I'm not sure I always buy into that argument that certain players are better suited to higher levels of football because there are levels to this game.

28:21But an argument that it's less frenetic in the Premier League than perhaps it is in the Championship and that suits Kipre who, if you remember, Kieran McKenna kind of talked about picking him for the Norwich game because he felt he had a bit more ice in his veins to deal with that situation. He's just got that mistake in him, hasn't he? And in the Premier League, if you make not even a full mistake, you make a quarter of a mistake in the Premier League, it tends to get punished. That's the bit that worries me about Cedric Kitbrake. But he has played in all different configurations of defences.

28:58He's played in the middle of a back three. He's played on the sides of back threes. He's played in back fours. He's going to be a very useful defender to have in the building. Don't see him being a starter, though.

29:11Ross Halls:No, but a good option to have. Next up then, boys, is Elkin Baggett, the Indonesian megastar. The amount of followers he's got, he's got more followers than the club. Yeah, bigger than the club, in a way. But, of course, he stayed with Kieran McKenna's side for all the promotion campaign, although he only played, I think, a couple of cup games, didn't he? unfortunately but um did go out on loan in the end what are we going to do with him this season keep loan or sell let's chuck it all up loan loan sell aj i was thinking the same um he's got two years left on his contract of course he signed a new deal last summer um but yeah it's he's such it's a bit of a limbo in his career at the moment because he needs to go and play football and have an injury-free season.

30:01Ross Halls:Do you think it would be best for him just to go somewhere permanently and sort of kick on with his career? Yeah, he's 23. He's going to be 24 in October. He's not that much younger than, say, Jacob Greaves, but it feels like they're worlds apart, for example, at the moment. And that's understandable, but I think it's becoming increasingly clear that Elkhorn Baggett is not going to work his way into Ipswich's team. I don't think that's going to happen, and I think that his next step will probably be League One on a permanent deal, be that after a loan spell next season, of course, with two years left on his deal, they could look at loaning him out and then reassessing next summer.

30:39But when you get to a point that you know that a player isn't going to have that breakthrough, isn't going to be kind of working their way and start every single week or even kind of make into squads at the moment, I think you need to do what's best for them and what's best for Elkhorn Bagger. and it hurts because I love the Indonesia story. He's obviously a proper local lad as well. He's got some really good traits, but I think the best thing for him is going to be to go and play football. So I'd be looking for a League One club to sign him permanently next year. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a loan and then a sale next year.

31:15But I think that this is now the point where he needs to go and forge his own career away from Ipswich.

31:20Ross Halls:Definitely. Of course, a left-footed centre-back, Stu, which is pretty rare. and he had an opportunity of playing a left-back against Wrexham, but that did not work out very well, did it? Which was a surprise for us all. But yeah, Alton Baggett is someone who broke into the team when we were in League One days. I think it was Kieran McKenna who gave him his first start. I think it was away against Rotherham. It was a bit of a surprise start and he had a fantastic game. But since then, he's just had injury problems, gone out on loan to various places, but they've all had injuries. But he's someone who's a big lad and who's very intelligent guy as well but he just now needs a kick on doesn't he yeah he does it's just uh his career's just stalled in the last couple of years and um he just needs to go somewhere and play 40 odd games and i thought blackball blackpool looked like a brilliant loan for him before it was under steve bruce when he went there a brilliant centre-half himself back in the day in league one and then just injuries prevented him playing lots of games and then last year he needed to go out and then and they had to sort of reluctantly keep him around as centre-back cover because without him, they would have been down to three centre-halves and that would have been too risky.

32:33So it's looking like his future is elsewhere. I can see the logic behind selling now. I just think his value might be a bit more, even though his contract will be a year down in 12 months' time. If he can go somewhere and play and prove himself a little bit more, or he might be of more value in terms of getting some cash back for Ipswich. But I could see it going either way, loan or sell this summer.

32:57Ross Halls:A little fun fact, by the way, he was signed by Neil Critchley at Blackpool, who, of course, is now Gary O 'Neill's one of his assistants. So he made a little word with Gary and went, he did okay for me. And, of course, I got sacked early doors at Blackpool. I think he was sacked quickly. Let me bring up when he was at Blackpool. Yeah, in the August. So, actually, double-check. Did he sign Bagga? Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, I may have got that completely wrong. No, Bagot signed on the 5th of August, said he got sacked on the 21st of August. So, didn't work with him long, but there's a little connection there.

33:27Ross Halls:So, watch this space and how can Bagot then, boys. Let's go to left-back then. Of course, we have Nexit and Colin Townsend, who was released. Wish him all the best in his future. Of course, recovering from that ACL injury. Hopefully, he can find a club and kickstart his career as well. So, the current squad is as follows. Leif Davis pretty much is a left-back, but there's options in terms of Ben Johnson and Jacob Greaves. Leif Davis easy one here of course signed a new deal somewhat recently keep, keep, keep he is probably the first name on the team sheet I know he wants to improve I know you spoke to Stu, you spoke to Stu you spoke to Leif at the fixtures breakfast and of course he knows he needs to improve on the last time he played in the Premier League but I'm sure now he's looking forward to he's got to be playing under a new manager as well Yep, played under Gary O 'Neill at Bournemouth when he was on loan there.

34:18Gary Neal was assistant manager at the time when they got promoted from the championship. They'd worked together. Leaf wasn't nailed on starter there. So it'll be interesting to see what that relationship's like. I don't know about first name on the team sheet. I wouldn't go as far as that. I would say sort of Daro Shea probably tops that. Azor Matasewa, who we'll come on to, is probably above. Another one with a bit of a point to prove in the Premier League. you would say that Leafs' best season has been that championship promotion season, 18 assists, bombing up and down the left tirelessly. And then the next two seasons have been very different.

34:55Premier League, by his own admittance, eye-opener, exposed by world-class wingers. He seemed to be, every week it seemed to be a proper name from Mo Salah to Jared Bowen to whoever else you want to name during that season. and he probably wasn't helped by the fact that Ipswich tried to continue playing the way they did in the Championship with Leaf flying forwards, didn't have the correct protection behind him. Last season in the Championship didn't really get the best out of his strengths, I would suggest, and that's because the player in front of him was very different. Instead of Nathan Broadhead tucking inside, it was Jadon Philogene slash Jack Clark wanting to start wider on the left, and then as a result, they're taking up the same space, So Leaf has to sort of play that inverted fullback role, which by, again, his own admittance took a little while for him to get to grips with.

35:48So the big question with Leaf Davis is how do you how do you maximize his strengths? How do you hide his weaknesses in the Premier League? And is he a more rounded player? Is he a better player now than he was two years ago? I'd like to think so. Again, would a left wing back role be the solution to get the best out of Leaf Davis? quite possibly Willips which signed I need to sign another left sider because they were a bit fortunate last year that you know they had to fudge it a little bit and they were fortunate that Ben Johnson did manage to do that and Jacob Grease managed to do it but they need another specialist and not just a just not not a counter Townsend reliable backup guy I think this needs to be someone that is like really slugging it out with Leif Davis for minutes.

36:37That's my feeling on this one.

36:39Ross Halls:I think that's what Leif Davis maybe needs a little bit, because I'm not saying he's comfortable, but he probably knows, yeah, I'm pretty much first choice. It's funny you use that word, because in that interview with Leif, he said to me, there was chances to go elsewhere last summer, and he sat down with Kieran McKenna, and Kieran said to him, I think your career is best served by staying at Ipswich and getting another season of the championship under your belt. And Leif said, I'm glad I did that because I needed it. And he said, I stayed because I'm comfortable at Ipswich. And then he very quickly corrected himself and said, no, comfortable is the wrong word.

37:17That's definitely the wrong word. I'm not comfortable because I want to push myself every day. And this is a club and an environment where I can push myself. But he likes being at Ipswich. He likes Suffolk. He loves the people. He loves everything. He's a new dad as well. So it's an interesting word to use comfortable there. But yeah, another one with a little bit of point to prove, a little bit of hunger to him, I think.

37:41Ross Halls:Definitely, yeah. Left-back is going to be an interesting position this summer. Let's go straight into centre mids then, boys. Of course, the exits are as follows. Gendie Q's stay. Of course, his loan spell with Napoli is ended. And Town, of course, in the end didn't buy him on a permanent deal. Dan Neal, of course, was on loan from Sutherland. He's now joined Rangers on a permanent deal. So all the best with the Scottish Giants. Dan returning on loan, from loan, sorry, is Cameron Humphries from Huntersfield and Finlay Barbrook from Colchester. So current squad, Azor Matasiwa boys, Clare of the year, the Dutch monstro.

38:15Ross Halls:Boom, keep, keep. I cannot wait to see him play Premier League football AJ. He's going to be fantastic, hopefully, and I can't wait to see that step up. yeah he's going to be really important in the role that he has and it's a big one for the for him and there's a huge moment in his career and he's spoken a lot about when he was in the netherlands watching the premier league falling in love with the premier league he's had the opportunity to move into england it came with the championship and it was always going to be that drive to go and become a premier league footballer that's now what he's going to be i would imagine that he's going to be the starter in that role.

38:54I think that Ipswich could do with, especially if they play more of a four, it's not as important in a five, but I think that it's going to be important to get more natural cover for him, which I know they tried to do in Dan Neal, didn't kind of work out in that way, but yeah, so I think that he'll be the starter, get some extra competition, and as you say, Ross, I'm excited to see what he can do because he's got all the traits of being able to thrive at the level. Well built. EA might not be the tallest, but the ground that he covers, the aggression that he shows, the yellow card tightrope last year, incredible.

39:32Goal against Hull, so many things. I'm really excited to see how he handles the step up and some really interesting midfield battles next year. The big question mark with Azor is, can he hit the ground running? That injury at the end of last season is just a slight concern of mine. Played through the pain at the end of the season. applaud him for that says you know i think that says a lot about his character but he underwent surgery which has just been described as a muscle muscle surgery i think in his instagram post he described uh used the anatomical term which i think translates to sort of around the thigh area but he had some various issues going on tight hamstring um he wasn't mobile in the same way was he and how's that going to affect his pre-season and is that going to eat into his pre-season and can he afford to be sort of only at 80 % come the big kickoff I hope he's not playing catch up a little bit because I think having him fully fit and firing could be important to Ipswich Town because as you say I think he was signed with half an hour in promotion and having those kind of Premier League attributes.

40:37Ross Halls:Yeah thankfully we didn't have you know the playoffs to contend with thankfully we just ended on the 2nd of May and then we you know he had surgery straight away and then he's had opportunity to sort of recover rehab and back in pre-season very shortly uh Jack Taylor course is the next player on the list and he had surgery as well alongside Azor Matasiwa um what do you reckon boys keep blown or sell Jackie Taylor uh gonna be very interesting to see how he does this year in the Premier League A1's going keep AJ I know he's your your boy in a way JT um yeah I don't know how that's happened as a former Peter Broman.

41:14We've had a couple of conversations about that one in the past. But yeah, I think that he deserves the opportunity and he deserves the opportunity because he's relentless in his perseverance. Ipswich, I feel, have tried to replace him in the starting lineup on so many occasions. They signed Jenski Uster. They signed Marcelino Nunez. They've had players in the Premier League that they brought in to get Calvin Phillips. and yet it still feels like Taylor has played more minutes than all of them. He always finds a way to get in and his performances have always been really good and he's never that spectacular player.

41:52He doesn't come up with 10 out of 10 performances that often. They don't really come and I think even some of the goals have dried up a little bit. But he's really consistent. When you go through and look at his performances, there's plenty of times where he's been one of the top three players on the pitch for Ipswich. Hard work. He's built up his physicality really well. Started off when he made that move and he kind of came into Ipswich, was more of a 10 who was being asked to drop deep and played a bit of an eight role. But actually, his defensive solidity, as I said, the physicality that he's shown, I've been really impressed.

42:28So again, I think Ipswich will try and take him out of the starting lineup. I don't think he's going to be a regular starter. They will look to go and bring in at least one, probably two extra players into midfield, I'd imagine but I think that he'll get an opportunity and I'm sure that he'll have a part to play in the squad next season

42:47Ross Halls:He's only got a mark on his name though, Jack Taylor or Gary O 'Neill because of course Jack Taylor's late winner at Wolves made Gary O 'Neill get sacked Did he score twice against O 'Neill? Did he also score in the Carabao Cup? So yeah, maybe they won't be on speaking terms No, but yeah he's got he's like scoring against Gary Neal's team. It'd be funny if that was sort of the first conversation they have. Stu, should we move on to the two young lads? I'm sure you sort of echo AJ's thoughts. Yeah, I don't, all I can say, Jack Taylor is most improved slash surprise package. I think in many people's eyes last year, fair play to him, you know, in the Premier League, he got off the bench most times, but he's not going to be a starter next season.

43:35If we're being brutally honest, I don't see him being a Premier League starter. I think for me, alongside Stryker, that is the position that is make or break in terms of how well Pipswitch recruit this summer for me. Definitely.

43:50Ross Halls:Yes. Now, Cameron Humphries, Finlay, Barbara, two youngsters. Put these together. Keep, loan or sell, boys. I'm doing a bit of a duo here. So this is mine. so I'm selling Humphreys and I'm loaning Finlay Barbrook I think Humphreys love him as a player lovely lad he now needs to kick on he's just like Elkhorn Baggett he's in the same mould as Elkhorn Baggett now so yeah I'm loaning Finlay Barbrook although I think he's potentially going to be going out on loan anyway and then come Humphreys sell him on hopefully he can get a championship club or a high-end League One team Stu what are you going for my friend?

44:30Yeah I think I'll concur with that But like you say, very similar conversation to Bagger, although a little bit more elevated with Cam Humphreys because he's played more minutes for the first team, actually played a fair amount in that League One season when there was injuries and that spell over winter where he played quite a bit. You only had to hear about how McKenna and some of the senior guys talk about him being, you know, older than his years and a real leader in the squad and stuff like that. Brilliant loan spell at Wickham. Not so much at Huddersfield last year. Yeah, how old is he now?

45:12It's difficult to kind of see. It's difficult to see the pathway there now, isn't it? I think given where Ipswich are at, which is a shame. You're on mute, Ross.

45:26Ross Halls:23 in October. But yes, I think that is the situation. But of course, the club took an option, didn't they, on Cameron Humphreys' deal because he was going to be out of contract this summer. Let's go to right-wingers then, boys. I know we've got to wrap up soon because Stu has got to do something. So we'll go right-wingers. Of course, back from loan is Chio Ogbena. Of course, had a very frustrating loan spout, Geoffrey Knight, because of injuries. So the current squad, Casey McIntyre, Sindra, Wally Aghelli, Wes Burns, of course, currently in talks of a new deal. Technically, he's now a free agent.

45:58Ross Halls:it's first of july so we'll see that um casey mcateer first of all boys as my doorbell rings hopefully i don't have to answer that i may have to um casey mcateer keep loan sale boys keep and i'll let you take the floor boys because i need to answer my door i'll go here um yeah interesting one this and i was really deliberating between keep and loan and i do think that there is a possibility when there's only a finite number of squad spaces that you can have that casey mcatee could be an option to loan and see if he can have a really solid like regular starting championship season somewhere but at the same time he's shown some really good stuff and huge improvement and shown real character at the end of that championship season which i've been really impressed by i think that his athletic profile can suit the premier league he obviously got a few opportunities to to show that with leicester um and just the case now of seeing where he fits in again what's the team going to look like with a back four or back five is it going to be that he might be asked to play wingback minutes which i think he could suit um but he wouldn't maybe suit a kind of a an inside 10 role as much if it's a natural 4-2-3-1 for example he might get more of an opportunity to play high and wide as a right winger yeah I think that as long as he fits into those plans somewhere he will stay but it wouldn't shock me with the business slips which are trying to do if there would be a loan in there do you agree?

47:42I think he'll almost certainly be kept around Casey McAteer finished last season really well with those three goals in consecutive games at Portman Road. Had a little taste of it with Leicester and again, we're going back to athletic profile required. He's a big lad. He's got a turn of pace. Don't see him as a starter, but see him having a useful squad role.

48:05Ross Halls:Good chat, guys. I didn't hear any of it, but good chat. I'm sure the listeners had good time talking about Casey McIntyre. Let's talk about the Norwegian Sindro Walageli, who had a tough first season at town in the Championship, but will he thrive in the Premier League boys. What do you reckon? Keep, loan or sell, Sindra? Keep. All go and keep. Could be an option in the number 10 role as well. Stu, what do you reckon? I think expectations were maybe unfairly high on Sindra last season because of the transfer fee. Club record £17.5 million. Easy to forget. He's a 19-year-old kid. Coming to England for the first time championship vastly different to any of the Scandinavian football that he played before and played a decent amount of minutes and did he set the world like no did he have some some decent moments in there and show some signs of what he's all about yes some important goals can strike the ball with with real technique can bend the ball the frustration for me is he just I can see why Kieran McKenna wanted to kind of gently ease him in in a right wing role you see that so often with kind of versatile attackers well we'll start them out wide and um so they don't get lost in the middle of the pitch um but he just doesn't look like a winger the amount of times that he would get chance to isolate his fullback and you'd think go on take him on we're so used to it with with Wes Burns and he just turned it down time and time again because his natural instinct is to drift inside um so I think a bit like Amari Hutchinson, he is someone that will transition from a winger to more of a 10.

49:47And if it's to be sort of dual number 10s in a kind of two behind a striker type 3-4-2-1 set up, maybe that right-sided 10 role could suit him. Again, not a week-in, week-out starter, but although there's an argument that he could go out on loan and then come back, personally, I think his development is best served sticking around at Ipswich Town and kicking on after a season finding his feet.

50:16Ross Halls:Especially with the fee we paid for him, that record championship fee. So he now needs to be around the team and hopefully producing a bit more. But we shall see. But a bit harsh that though, because he's still a very young lad. But let's move on then, boys, to Wes Burns. Of course, he's currently in talks with Town over a new deal. We can't really say keep alone. We can say keep if we want him to do a deal, but can't say settle because he's not currently contracted loan as well. So the situation as we know it, it's just he's in talks and it just depends on what he feels his future is, AJ, really, isn't it?

50:54Ross Halls:Just if he wants to maybe sign another deal here at the club, be a backup, or does he want to sort of push on? He's now an age where he probably, you know, he's got a young family, probably wants to settle somewhere, doesn't he? so i'll hold up my paper this one might be controversial release oh so that's i don't think i that's how i see it um and it's really hard saying that and if he stays it will be great in the way that he'll be you know what one of the fan favorites sticking around the squad he's been here for so long and he'll get the opportunity to have another crack at the Prem and he still wants to score in the Prem, I feel like this could be the right time.

51:37And I think that Kieran McKenna's exit feels like it closes a chapter on this era of Ipswich Town. And it's going to be about two perspectives. One is obviously Wes and what is going to be best for him. And I think that's going to be long-term assurances over his future. It's going to be assurances over game time, which he's not going to get at Ipswich for sure. He won't be a starter in the Premier League next year if he stays. It'll be things like location. There's so many factors that come into it. And I think that this could be that moment to start looking for him about what that next chapter could be.

52:14We know Sheffield Wednesday have been interested and there's been interest from the United States as well. So that's one side. And also, you've got to be ruthless. There are 25 squad spots to have here. and I know that again as someone who's a big advocate for the back five system he could certainly suit that wing back role but you've got to be ruthless and looking at who's going to be able to step up and really contribute at the highest level so can he do that? Yes but with all of the factors coming in I do just have this feeling that maybe this is the time to kind of part ways and go in a different direction with Kieran McKenna gone, with a new man coming in and getting his ideas across to a new group in the Premier League.

53:03So I think that that's maybe what's going to be for the best, as much as it hurts to say. And I also do think that is probably the most likely outcome of these talks that have been going on in the background.

53:14Ross Halls:Yeah, hopefully we don't get the news of that dropping as we sort of publish this podcast, Stu. But yeah, end of an era, it seems likely. I think so. personally I would keep him and that is not just a sentimental reason. He's earned that with the way he remarkably came back from that ACL and all of these right wing options that we're discussing and Wes Burns put himself at the top of that pecking order last season because the way he plays is so integral, was so integral to a Kieran McKenna set up in terms of almost being a cheap right-sided winger who stays high and right but also can drop right back in as well when out of possession.

53:58Yeah, talked about the way Sindra played it, wanting to come inside. It's that directness that Wes Burns brings. And he was doing well in the Premier League up until that cruel injury in the Liverpool game. Probably wouldn't break the bank. I think it will come down to Hedri Hart, as I've said with Wes Burns, and I think he'll probably know that maybe a longer contract and a fresh challenge elsewhere at this stage of his career is probably the wiser decision, but we'll see.

54:26Ross Halls:So there we go. The Wes Burns chat is done. And we'll just have to watch his space to see what the future holds for the Welshman. Let's move on to an Irishman in Chio Ogbené, boys. Of course, signed, was it£8 million,£9 million, I think, you know, from Luton Town in the last Premier League season. Of course, suffered that bad injury. And as I said, had a sort of injury frustrating spell with Sheffield United last season. what are we doing with him boys are we keeping him are we slowing him out again or are we selling lovely chio or benet oh i don't know

55:07Ross Halls:um i'm changing my mind Yeah, I'm going to loan him as well. Just want to copy Stu, don't you, Ross? I was going to keep him, actually. And then I was like, I just don't know. But then a new manager, Gary O 'Neill, may go, I like you. Isn't that interesting that he might be the one, maybe the only player on this entire squad, that we could have ended up with all three of us doing different options? Yeah. Because you could make an argument for all three, couldn't you? So it's just not happened for him, you know, and that's been injury affected, that horrible Achilles injury that he suffered at Brentford in the Premier League season.

55:50Loan, because again, is someone going to match his wages? His wages will have jumped back up to Premier League wages. Unlikely. So if there is to be an exit, I would argue that maybe a loan is more likely than a sale. and then keep, as he himself has said while away on Ireland international duty recently, if Ipswich are going to take a bit of a counter-attacking style to the Premier League and Gary O 'Neill has done that with previous clubs and has hinted that he's going to be a bit more flexible and adaptable, then Chiyogh Benet has something that not many players have when he's fully fit and that's raw pace.

56:24That's why Ipswich brought him in before, was to bring that sort of athleticism and dynamism to it. He's a great character, by all accounts, behind the scenes as well. So you could make an argument of keeping him around. I certainly feel like he'll want to have a good look at him in the early stages of pre-season to kind of assess where he's at. It's just that major injury question mark against him, isn't it?

56:49Ross Halls:Yeah, he still gets picked for Ireland, though. Even when he was not playing for Sheffield United, he was still getting picked because he's such a first choice for them. AJ, you have to go and sell, though. Again, I agree. you can make a case for everything. I come back to the point of squad numbers again with looking at keeping him where there is only so many spots you can have. And if you're then keeping Casey McIntyre and Ben Johnson, as we've said they will, and then you probably are going to want to add more right-sided quality there. You've got an offer maybe on the table for Wes Burns to stay.

57:21You can't have them all. There's got to be some kind of balance within there. And I think that you need to look at probably is you're going to sign someone on that side, which I think Ipswich will, and look at the fact that they bid for Femi Aziz on deadline day in January, that you're probably going to have to say goodbye in some form to at least two of them. So yeah, I think that that will be the most likely case would be a loan or a sale. I could see it from a loan perspective in that is someone going to come in and pay the transfer fee and pay the wages given that he's had a year that hasn't really worked for him at all at Sheffield United.

58:01He would obviously be back at championship level. So there might be more of an opportunity there. I also think there's an argument to say, cut your losses, in that he hasn't really been able to deliver, even when he has been fit as much for Sheffield United. I think there have been glimpses there. Maybe Rossi might know a bit more in terms of how he's been at Bramall Lane. But I think that, you know, it's been, from what I've seen, kind of some good bits, but not shown enough in an injury hit year. So yeah, difficult for him. I could see him coming back. He seems determined to do it. I will be interested to see him in pre-season, but ultimately I don't think he'll be part of that 25-man squad that Ipswich are named for next year.

58:38Ross Halls:Yeah, I think the problem with him at Sheffield United is they had loads of lone players and I think he actually missed out on matchday squads because of the lone rule. So unfortunately, even though when he was fit, he wasn't being picked by Chris Walder because once again, he wasn't. He's signing and yeah, it's a shame for him at Sheffield United, but yeah, he's someone I'm sure wants to kick on and once again, watch the space on him. Keep, loan or sell, Gerald Bonnet, we shall see. Let's go and move into the number 10s, boys. Of course, we're at Exeter and Connor Chaplin, who's been linked to a move to Leicester City, which would be an interesting move for him.

59:10Ross Halls:Returning from loan is Sammy Smollocks, of course, second half of last year at Derby County. So the current squad in terms of number 10s are Marcelino Nunes, as with Metti and Sammy Smollocks in terms of the nailed-on number 10s. Let's talk about Marcelino Nunes, what sonning he was last season. Keep, loan or sell, Marcelino Nunes, keep. It's going to be very interesting, really, isn't it, how he's going to be in the Premier League and how Gary O 'Neill will use him. Will he maybe push him back, do you reckon, Stu, or will he play a number 10 role?

59:52he was signed to play that sort of left-sided midfield role wasn't he and very quickly ended up as a 10 I think more by virtue of the fact that the second striker types just wasn't quite working whether it be Schmodix whether it be Chubarak, POM having a creator in that 10 slot suited Ipswich better as it did with Connor Chaplin before or someone who's a bit of a glue at the top end of the pitch. So I guess all bets are off with a new manager. You don't quite know how he'll see things, but I'd be surprised if he moved back into midfield, is my first thought. Like with so many of these players, I've got mixed feelings because there's many attributes that Marcelino Nunez has that is Premier League quality in terms of his vision, in terms of his technique, in terms of something that's underestimated is the amount of ground he covers and how hard he works.

1:00:55I quite often hear from people at the club that say the data says it's remarkable record numbers that he posts sometimes in games. The concerns I have are his positional discipline, whether he can channel that energy in the right way at times and his consistency and his robustness as well you know he's someone that delivers remarkable things once every three or four games is that enough and you know as Norwich fans did warn he does get have the odd injury set back along the way and and there were a few of those that crept in towards the back end of last season. So another one that I really can't hang my hat on as a nailed-on starter as we sit here right now.

1:01:46Ross Halls:Yeah, for me, it's just going to be an option, just someone there. Because, yeah, AJ, you kind of have the X factor at times. You know, you can step up for a free kick and you just don't know where it could go. Going to the net, going to Rose Ed, you just don't know. But, yeah, of course. Depends if it's QPR. Yeah, true. But he was loving life, wasn't he, on that open-top bus parade. and he's going to be buzzing to be playing in the Premier League, Richard Town. Deserves his crack at the Premier League. He's shown he's a top-end championship player and now we'll get that opportunity. I think he's got this kind of versatility that could help, again, in that if it's a 4-2-3-1, he can play as the 10.

1:02:26I agree with Stu that that kind of left-sided role, I have worries about him and maybe some of the some weird phrases, like mental discipline being switched on all the time that sometimes you watch him and there might be his passing range can be excellent, but sometimes he just switches off and maybe doesn't read the game in the way that he should. And if you do that in the Premier League, you'll get punished. I think that again, coming back to it, and I know I'm sorry I talk about all the time, but if you go to a three, you have three natural centre-backs, it's very different playing in a midfield two that is screening two centre-backs rather than three.

1:03:06You have more licence to go and be on the ball and be creative without having to worry about your defensive duties. So that's probably why Jack Taylor was maybe suited more to that role playing behind a back four, because you are protecting Greaves and O'Shea. Whereas if he was playing as one of the two midfielders in a 3-4-2-1 system, you wouldn't have as much focus on that because there'll be another man who'd be behind you as well so you could have more time to pull the strings and then do what you want to do so i could see him playing in that kind of deeper midfield role if there was more cover behind him at the same time i could even see him playing like one of the players off a striker he's how how advanced did he play at times in the championship half the time when he was playing in that number 10 role he was playing up as high as george hurst so i could see him also kind of having a little bit of a free roaming role um like one of those 10 positions that can go either side of the striker as a possibility as well.

1:04:01So I think his versatility is a plus. I do have some concerns, but he'll have a part to play for sure.

1:04:07Ross Halls:Yes, indeed. And as we met him then, boys, signed in January. Did okay. I thought he did okay. Keep, loan or sell. I keep losing my pieces of paper. Everyone's going keep. There we go. Stu, you know, signed by Kieran McKenna. Now he's got a new manager to sort of impress, but he's going to be, you know, hoping to thrive in the Premier League. has the hunger certainly doesn't he has the eye of the tiger about him someone who's risen from non-league had a few years in the championship posting some good numbers with Bristol City had an immediate impact at Ipswich I think we were all so impressed with those early performances but maybe just faded off a little bit towards the end of the season his best role for me is more of an inside left forward rather than an out and out number 10 where does he fit in the puzzle not quite sure at the moment clearly that left sided area will come on to his hips which is strongest so it doesn't look like much of an opportunity there I just think he's going to be someone that's going to just even if it's like 5 minutes here 10 minutes there off the bench is someone that can come on and lift the crowd and really go for it come January it will be interesting to see what sort of conversation we have is there a bit of almost like an Ali Alhamadi timeline here where he starts in the Prem just a bit of a step too far and then there's a loan exit further down the line, I don't know, maybe I'm doing a disservice to Anis Mometi there he's that little bit level higher isn't he, he's played champ for a little while rather than Ali's jumped effectively from League 2 to the Prem in the space of a year.

1:06:01But, yeah, I just think not everybody can be a starter. You need hungry, happy, contributing squad players. And I think Anis Mimeti can very much be that. Yeah, I like him.

1:06:15Ross Halls:AJ, you're on a similar wavelength, I assume? I think so. I think that if it wasn't Gary O 'Neill as the manager, I think that there would maybe be different discussions you could have. I think he suits the Gary O 'Neill team. I think that if it's a three, he would work as either one of those kind of left-sided 10 roles. I think that he can play out wide and he's a good squad option to have and will step up well. I think he'll suit Gary O 'Neill's brand of football and what he wants from attackers. If it was someone else and you're looking at the players that the Lipschitz have in the 10 role and on the left, and I think there would be that discussion of saying, well, six months ago, we signed him for this amount, we could probably sell him on after promotion for two, three times that and help our financial situation and what we're able to spend or look at maybe a loan or something.

1:07:11But yeah, I think that he will have an opportunity and I think that playing under O 'Neill will be a benefit for him. So I do think that he'll be staying around and it might just be a case, as Stu says, of assessing what his opportunities are and then in January, if Ipswich wants to go and make moves in the transfer window and they need to free up squad space and he isn't getting that much of a chance and there might be a loan option that comes up or even a permanent if the right money is there, then you can reassess. But I think he'll be part of that 25-man squad. And yeah, I hope he can do well under Gary O 'Neill.

1:07:47Yeah, me too.

1:07:48Ross Halls:Hi, boys. Next up, Sammy Smoddix, which I can imagine we're all going to have the same thing. Is he going to have a new chapter at town or is he going to be going through the exit door? I think everyone's going to say the same as me. Keep loan or sell. I've gone sell. AJ's gone sell. Stuart Watson has gone sell as well. Had a fantastic start in the life at town, you know, in the Premier League, scoring against Man City and stuff. But yeah, it just hasn't really worked out because of injuries and off-field stuff. Of course, spent last season, second half campaign, as I said, at Derby County. when I was speaking to Derby County fans, weren't really that fussed about him coming back.

1:08:29Ross Halls:Yeah, he's in a sort of interesting position, isn't he, Stu? He's someone who had a fantastic season at Blackburn. Of course, Town went on to sign him in the Premier League for a good bit of money. And yeah, he's just very up and then down, down. £9 million, championship golden boot winner, 27 goals, I think, for Blackburn off the back, you know, when he arrived at Ipswich, which newly promoted. And he had his moments in the first half of that Premier League season, didn't he? He scored the overhead kick at Tottenham. He got the opening goal at Man City early on. Scored Fulham, Brentford as well.

1:09:09A little bit of a surprise that he played that sort of inside left role rather than, you know, I think he wanted to play that more central 10 where he got his joy for Blackburn. And then it was only really injuries that kind of set him back in the second half of the Prem season with his ankle, just couldn't quite get that right. And then last season, you know, we get the bombshell press conference from Kieran McKenna when he goes out on transfer deadline day on loan to Derby to say it's not a football decision, it's one made in the interests of the dressing room dynamic and the culture of the dressing room.

1:09:45So what's gone on behind closed doors there, whether that story will ever fully come to light. We don't know. Sami's kind of hit back at that. Where does that leave him? I don't know. Does a new manager? Is it, you know, complete clean slate? Many of the players that were part of that aforementioned dressing room dynamic are obviously still there. I think this is one that I think ultimately ends in him departing. either on, you know, for money or on loan again. I think it will probably happen later in the window. And it might be that Gary O 'Neill wants to have a little look at him in pre-season first.

1:10:32But it just feels like there's probably too much water under the bridge, even with a new manager to me. Is that how you boys see it? Yeah, I don't have anything to add, really. It's a shame because I think that, again, he's another one that I think could suit the O 'Neill brand of football, counter-attacking, wide tens, things like that. I think it could work well. Versatile player, has delivered in the Premier League, I think was one of Ipswich's better players in the first half of that season for the injuries. Clearly something that has happened behind the scenes and you need everyone on the same page and you need squad harmony and squad dynamic is absolutely vital.

1:11:20And while I'm always an advocate for clean slates, new managers coming in, I think that you really need to put the balance of the squad and all of those things. Look at Gary O 'Neill's Wolves team, really high on the list. It needs to be everyone in the same direction. So I think a sale is the most likely one if they can find a buyer with the right fee.

1:11:47Ross Halls:maybe they can't point a bar and he has to go out on loan again which you know route that they may have to go down so um we shall see i have a feeling it's gonna be a bit of a saga with him this summer for some reason there's always a player isn't there there's always just one player there's a bit of a saga going on different clubs looking to sign him blah blah he's sort of hanging around i'm sure he'll be part of the pre-season you know i'm sure um gary neill wants to see the whole squad um and he'll be part of pre-season so So we shall see. Stu, you... Ipswich are going to take a loss on him from the£9 million, but somebody will want him.

1:12:22He will have suitors. I know he didn't set the world alight at Derby in the second half of last season, but his record championship golden boot winner had some moments in the Premier League, means that someone will pay some money for him. Yeah, it just depends wages-wise whether he wants a clean slate and to cut ties with Ipswich and go somewhere permanently or whether it's difficult to walk away from Premier League contracts. You kind of think, well, I'm entitled to that. So maybe that's where a loan comes into play, as we've discussed with a few of these. OK, then.

1:12:58Ross Halls:Now, left wing, which is probably going to be the easiest decision of them all in terms of position-wise. Jack Clark and Jalen Filidion, of course, the two boys who were batting out last year in that role and they both scored plenty of goals, didn't they? And yeah, it'll be interesting to see how they're going to be under Gary O 'Neill. Should we put them together as one or should we separate them? Should we start with Jadon Filagene, Jack Clark? Let's just put them together. I think we know that this is probably going to be all of us choosing the same option. So I think we can safely do that.

1:13:31Thanks for us.

1:13:34Ross Halls:Now, of course, keep both of them. Because, yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing how Jadon Filagene and Jack Clark both do with an opportunity again in the Premier League because last time out, you know, Jeremy Fittin, of course, signed in that January, got that injury. Jack Clark was the first time playing in the Premier League fairly properly because I think, didn't he play in the Premier League briefly with maybe Spurs or Leeds, potentially? I don't think he actually ever got the opportunity to play there, but still, yeah, it'll be interesting to see how they both got points to prove. Both of them had difficult spells in the Premier League, you look at, let's take Villa, Gene, was supposed to sign in the summer.

1:14:14Aston Villa trigger their buyback clause. He goes there, gets a very limited minutes in the first half of the season, gets an odd start in the Champions League against Bayern, does quite well. But yeah, PSR reasons. PSR no more, of course. But yeah, meant that Villa had to sell him. They moved him on. And he then finally does come to Ipswich for a loss of money. I think it was, was it the record fee? I don't know if Amari might have just been higher, but up there, very similar figures, more than£20 million. And was played off the right predominantly in that season with Wes Burns' injury. Didn't have that much of an opportunity to show his best, looked lightweight, picked up an MCL injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season at Chelsea.

1:15:01But he's been brilliant in the championship. He's been exceptional. So I'm hoping that he can use what he's had off the back of last season to really kick on a full preseason now at Ipswich. And I think he'll be the starting winger. Again, interesting to see how that would fit if it's going to be wide tens rather than wingers in an O-steel system. How would that work with Jadon? I think it could, but obviously he's been really kind of high and wide in his play at Ipswich last season. Jack Clark, similar story, obviously signed in the summer, had just a tricky first year, wasn't it? I think that the step up coming into a newly promoted team in the Premier League was quite difficult for him with pressure on his shoulders.

1:15:45Didn't really deliver, didn't have the grounds to do it. I remember him making a really poor mistake against Man City. Yeah, just felt that it never really worked, never really clicked for him. But another one who's had a fantastic season now with Ipswich, then we'll have another full pre-season which he didn't have last time because he joined in August I just think that both players are going to be better off which is strongest area and I'm really excited to see what that dynamic looks like in the Premier League because they're both players who, the opinion from my perspective hasn't changed from two years ago, I thought they'd be ready for the Premier League I think it was circumstances that damaged them more than anything and now with a full pre-season, both having been in dazzling form last year I'd expect both of them to be significantly better next season

1:16:35Ross Halls:Yeah, both very good ages of course Still, shall you echo those thoughts or anything else you want to add? No, 100 % Jack Clark thrown into the mix that he was then also trying to play a different type of role when he came to the Premier League someone that was a paint on your boots winger at Sunderland and Kieran McKenna suddenly wanting to play inside a little bit more and by his own admittance, that was something it took a little while to get his head around. Jadon Filagene, mid-season move, always difficult. Suddenly trying to integrate yourself in a struggling side, always difficult. I'm excited to see what these two can deliver because they've been at Premier League clubs before for a reason.

1:17:17It's the one area of the pitch that Ipswich don't need to sign anybody as far as I'm concerned.

1:17:24Ross Halls:Yes, but I'm sure there'll be links and rumours, I'm sure, with left-wingers somehow, even though we've got two very capable players in that position. The great thing with them as well is that they're different as well in terms of Philogene is... I know they're both sort of X-factor players, but they do it in a different way. Clark is the ball carrier. He glides across the pitch. He wins free kicks. He can dribble with the ball for sort of 40, 50 yards, which when we're a team that's with your backs to the wall in the Premier League, which will be on several occasions, that's a really important quality to have.

1:18:03Someone that can buy you a set piece, just to buy you a breather, to get you up the field, to get you away from danger. And Philogene's different, isn't he? He's a bit more of a presser off the ball. If they can really tap into his dynamism and that long-legged ability to kind of nick the ball and turn over possession. And then on the ball, we know what he can do with the sharp feet and the shooting and all the rest of it. So, yeah, I'm hoping those two can write a few headlines next year.

1:18:33Ross Halls:Yes, bring it on. Well, boys, now to the sexy position, Strikers. I'm sure it's a position at town need to strengthen in big time because the options are very bare. Of course, Ivan Izon has left the club after his loan spell with Como has expired. Returning from his loan spell is Ali Elhamadie, who had not a good spell at Luton, but he's been playing at the World Cup with a rack. So fair play to him. So the current options are George Hurst, Chubatpom and Ali Elhamadie. George Hurst, of course, been at the World Cup with Scotland, didn't play and he got knocked out in the group stages. So not a good experience for him.

1:19:10Ross Halls:Although probably it was, because just to be around the World Cup, it must be amazing, but he didn't play. George Hurst, boys, big opportunity to step up to the Premier League once again. Keep loan or sell. Georgie, Georgie Hurst. Keep all rounds. Won't be first choice. But last time he played in the Premier League, I thought he did okay in the Championship. Didn't do this year. Just gone. Had frustrating times in the A-Stu, but still, you know, had his moments. Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it up from George Hurst's point of view. I think it's important that Ipswich keep a handful of players around from the promotion journeys to passing on the cultural side of things and having that connection with the fans.

1:19:59George Hurst along with Walton and Davis enables you to do that. His goals per minute ratio in the Prem was pretty good, as you say, when he was backing up Liam DeLapp. But he's not the starting striker. he's gone to the World Cup with Scotland probably only on the basis of Conway's injury he's been fourth choice for them over there

1:20:29as we'll probably come on to I think Ipswich are going to need at least two strikers to compete with George Hurst next season

1:20:37Ross Halls:Yeah, very much so AJ I'm sure George Hurst is going to want him to go into this season he's got the number 90 shirt again well, we'd think so but that could change if a mega superstar striker signs and he wants the number line shirt. But yeah, George Harris, my friend. Yeah, I'm still keen to see what he can do because I thought in the running in the Premier League, I was really impressed. I really was. And we did our KOA live show and we did a vote saying who should be starting up front. And obviously this was partially at least weighed in with the fact that we all knew Liam Dallap was going to leave.

1:21:16but people were saying at the moment, I'm more impressed with what George Hurst is doing than Liam De Lape. He's maybe one who could be, again, like Stu, I don't really believe in the kind of can be better at a higher level points that we've kind of spoken about with Kipro, but maybe when Ipswich need to go a little bit more direct, when they don't have as much of the ball, when you're having to hold up the ball against big centre-backs, you've got to be dominant in the air, maybe that would suit him a little bit more so interested to see that it's clear that he's going to have competition on his hands I think Ipswich will go big on signing a striker this year I feel like we said that for the last five windows it's not really happened but yeah I think that's what the aim will be I think that they'll also go and sign a younger number nine maybe one with a bit more experience and one who's maybe more someone who can develop into the future and that'd be good competition for him still has a part to play, still see him getting minutes and getting opportunities off the bench because he's done it before.

1:22:20But yeah, won't be a starter next season.

1:22:23Ross Halls:Okay, next up, Chuba Akpom. Of course, he's still loads of bill. Well, the clause was triggered from the time permanently. So he's an Itchristown player until 2029. Keep, loan or sell Chuba Akpom. I keep losing my bloody stuff. He's falling it down. Hmm. I'm interested in this one, boys. Okay. Three, two, one. Two loans. I've gone sell if we find a buyer. You don't think he'll be hanging around them, guys? So no keeps there. It's just sell and two loans. AJ, Chewbacca is a bit of an enigma for me. Yeah. I really feel for him. It hasn't worked out. I'll be honest in saying when the rumours came out and he was being linked and it became clear it was actually going to sign him last summer, I wasn't really that keen.

1:23:26I didn't think it was going to be the right kind of move. He comes in and initially I kind of was told it would be part of the striker unit, gets obviously good opportunities, playing in the second striker role instead. Ipswich don't work with the second striker role, as we've discussed, with Smoddix as well, just did not click. Then he becomes more of that striker, has a couple of good goals, scores one against Hull, one against Oxford. Ipswich don't get promoted without those goals, so you've got to give him that. Ultimately, I think that if you gave Ipswich the option now, they would not sign him if that was where we're at.

1:24:07But he's played over the amount of goals. I think I was told that was 40 % of games. I'm not 100 % sure. I think that was what it was. So he played over the threshold needed. That was what triggered the permanent move. I think it might even have just been a promotion. I don't know. We don't know what the trigger is, but it may even have just been that. There's no getting away from it. Ipswich wouldn't have chosen to spend£7 million on a player who had a pretty big part role in the championship. So if he didn't get loads of minutes in the championship, It's very difficult to see him having a role to play in the Premier League, even with the change of manager.

1:24:46Just don't quite know what he is from the season that we've seen. Is he a 10? Is he a 9? For the same reasons why it's difficult to find permanent buyers when you're maybe looking to sell lower down the chain, I think a loan is probably going to be the next step for Tuber Akpong. I know this is

1:25:09Ross Halls:I'm probably thinking of like career mode football manager here could he be part of a potential deal with another player is that something they may look at and go okay we want to sign this player could you do a party exchange and we spend a little bit he's not been afraid to go abroad I don't think you're going to see it to signing you know last time the recruitment centred around a lot of champion top end championship players and there'd be championship clubs that would be interested in Chuba Rak Pom So could he be a mate weight there? I don't know from all the links we've seen so far on the talk about how recruitment has progressed and they're going to sign players from all over the globe and spread the net further.

1:25:48Will they sign that sort of top-end champ type player? Maybe, not in the same quantity. But certainly if they're looking abroad, Tuba Akpon's shown he's not afraid to go and try different challenges and he's played for Ajax and he's played in France before that as well. so maybe they could throw him in as a bit of a sweetener for a deal. Who knows? I hadn't considered it, but it's worth a thought.

1:26:19Ross Halls:There's an option. We shall see. And then the final striker on this very long keep, load, sell edition of the Kings of England podcast. I think we're all in the same boat for this. I keep losing my piece of the paper. but Adio Amadeus, of course, had a very frustrating loan spell at Luton Town, but has just been playing in the World Cup. So maybe that's given a few clubs, a little eye on him. I thought he did okay for Iraq in those games, even though they... I was impressed. Like what you saw from him, don't forget, he's playing with a team that were one of the weakest, if not the weakest on the performances that we saw in the tournament.

1:27:00I think they conceded the most goals in the tournament group stages. and the way that he kind of battled quite tall centre-backs and handled himself and held up the ball, it was really good. And to take the game that they played against France, there was a bit from the live vlog in The Guardian where they said, other than Kylian Mbappe, he's been the best player on the pitch in the first 30 minutes of that game. So yeah, hopefully that's raised his profile a little bit because the loan spell at Luton definitely didn't. That was a loan with an obligation to buy, but clearly it's obligation that would only have been triggered with certain circumstances because he just didn't play enough games, primarily due to injuries, which kept him out.

1:27:45So, yeah, need to find a buyer. I'd imagine that will be probably top-end League One. It's just been a case that the club's rise as well has just been too quick for him. If it's which had a period where they were in the championship and didn't get back-to-back promotions and maybe had two or three years and he was the backup and worked his way in, his career might have been a little bit different at this point and you might have seen a different trajectory but it was too much of a step up to go from League One into the Premier League for him and the loan spells haven't really worked out so he needs to go find somewhere where he can play week in, week out, hopefully stay fit he's a great personality and a great character from every time that I've met him so I really hope that he gets that

1:28:26Ross Halls:Yeah Stu once again we already spoke when we were speaking about Aspermetu, weren't we where the rise from, you know, when we signed him, he was playing League Two football and he became the first Iraqi to play in the Premier League. Very much a bit too soon, Matt. And of course, yeah, he just had some injury problems. Yeah, injuries is the word, isn't it? And even going back to that first Premier League season, we talked about Matt Siwa having end of season surgery. It was the same with Ali as well. Straight off the back of that championship promotion, and he had surgery, forgive me, I can't remember exactly what it was on, but it disrupted his pre-season, which to stand any chance of making that gigantic step up, you need to be 100%, and I don't think he was, so it didn't really give him a fighting chance.

1:29:15And there seems to have just been injuries that have sort of dogged him along the way ever since. So people will look at his record in the lower divisions, people will look at the money it's spent on him. I think it was a record fee received for a League Two player, a million pound plus. Somebody will want to take a punt on him, but at what degree? Because there is the risk element of the lack of games that he played last year. And are they prepared to pay a transfer fee? On the lower end, probably. Someone, again, wages probably not going to be matched. So I might maybe lean more towards a loan rather than a sell here, but it's pretty plain.

1:29:59He's not going to be in the Ipswich squad next year. There we go then.

1:30:03Ross Halls:Well, what an addition of that is, of keep, loan and sell. The whole squad, there's a lot of names to get through. So I hope you've enjoyed this episode though and let us know your thoughts, your feelings. But it is going to be a busy summer of outgoings and incomings. Gary Neal, of course, wants to shape his squad. as Town return to the Premier League. Boys, I think we should wrap this up now because the England game is going to be kicking off very shortly. But any other business? As I said, we're going to be doing loads of our pod specials. Of course, me and AJ will do a transfer talk, looking at all the latest links because it's been a busy week with transfer links.

1:30:38Ross Halls:And also the new kit as well, which we'll be bringing new content around that as well. Stu, anything else to add, my friend? No, I think people can probably go back through that epic and work out that if that number of players leave, then there are plenty of gaps to fill. And I think we'll probably be pushing or exceeding double digits, not exceeding double digits, because I'm not going to find 100 players, but I think we could be in double digits again for incoming business. So, yeah, busy few weeks ahead, as you say. Kit's just about to come out. Players return to training on Monday. Friendly's just around the corner.

1:31:19It's heating up.

1:31:21Ross Halls:Yeah, full steam ahead, boys. AJ, anything else you want to add, my friend? Yep. Transfer targets piece coming out tomorrow morning to go with the goalkeepers one, so check that one out. The one tomorrow morning is some real sexy stuff, so keep your eyes out for that. And here's my question to the listeners. You've got three kings here. What would you do with us? Keep, sell, loan. How are you going to approach it? Let us know in the comments. wow i have a feeling a lot of people are going to sell me you'll get loaned because you're a youngster and stew is just the the mainstay he's the you know he's the captain so um i've answered it for them i'll have a little foreign loan spell i think yeah yeah just find me somewhere with some sunny climbs please yeah uh but yeah that's a great question aj yeah keep loan sell aj stew or myself.

1:32:14Ross Halls:But yeah, I think there's arguments for all three, for all three, keep, loan, or sell. So we shall see. Maybe Hefe can make that final decision. Of course, Hefe will be back very shortly. But yeah, AJ, Stu, thank you very much for joining me. Thanks everyone for listening and watching to the latest Kings of Anglia podcast. Big shout out to our sponsors, Molecular. Use your code KOWAY10 to get 10 % off your next order. and yeah is it going to be coming home I shouldn't have said that but we shall see can they beat DR Congo Axel Twenzavies DR Congo we shall see follow us on all our socials Kings of Anglia and we'll speak to you next time bye bye for now

1:33:16Thank you.

1:33:48Thank you.

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