656: Kings of Anglia: Town beaten at Everton, and now… a break…

23:15And I thought he gave Grealish a pretty tough time, all things considered. So I think that he can be moulded into that role. I think that he's not fully there yet in terms of being the complete package for a, yeah, that's a really solid, good Premier League right back. But I think that he's got all of the kind of core materials there to be very good in that role. And I thought that we saw some of that in terms of his tracking back, in terms of his movement and understanding of the position. I know he's played it in France. I mentioned his athleticism, his physicality looked quite good Yeah, I really liked him So it gets players into their right positions And even though it was a little bit weird with O'Shea on the left side of defence I think it's good to have that as the centre-back partnership I don't think that, even though O'Shea did well at right-back against Palace I think that it's becoming clear that they need to have a proper suited right-back in that role is that going to be Watara?

24:18I think Watara throughout his career has probably been someone who doesn't know what his position is at any given time so maybe this is now the point where Gary O 'Neill can fully turn him into a right back, into a starter in the Premier League and it just feels like a more natural fit and that will come with time as well it doesn't help that O'Shea and Diop go away during the international break but hopefully some time to work with Watara over the next three weeks he's not going away and just to get him used to that role. But as things stand, I'd be starting him there against Fulham.

24:51Ross Halls:Yeah, I would too. How are you feeling about it, Stu? He, of course, had to come up against a very experienced Jack Grealish and I thought he did okay. There's a few moments where Grealish beat him, but overall it was pretty solid.

25:01Stuart Watson:Yeah, I wonder if this was a selection based on an assumption that Tyreek George was more likely to start on the left for Ipswich. Grealish had been given his first start of his second spell at Everton in the midweek cup game against Wolves. Maybe they were anticipating him to drop out and George, who'd started the season really well for Everton, scored a good goal against Man United. He is more of that sort of direct, athletic, vertical running style winger. And maybe they thought Wattara was better suited athleticism-wise to deal with him. Also, the fact that Mikhelenko is a bit more of a stay-at-home left-back.

25:43Stuart Watson:I think they thought that that was a side of the pitch that they could target going into this game. That might not always be the case going forwards. I'm trying to think who Fulham's left side is off the top of my head. It'll be Anthony Robinson at left back who certainly likes to bomb forwards more. Iwobi? Is he the one who plays in that role? In the last game, it was Alex Iwobi who played in that game against Manchester United. City. So we'll have to see, but it's certainly something that we've, you know, the Daro share right back is something we've all been talking about for a little while.

26:21Stuart Watson:And I'm not sure that that is, I'm not going to sit here and say that that is the last time we've seen Daro share right back. I think there'll be games where that is seen as the more pragmatic option. But on Watara, highly encouraged. I thought he was one of Ipswich's best performers in this match. There was only one moment where Grealish beat him all ends up, but as you say, it was a pretty even battle there. He got forward. It's his athleticism that really jumps off the page. And he's only 20 as well. It's easy to forget. So, yeah, we're still waiting to see what Wattara is fully all about. That's his first proper league start.

27:04Stuart Watson:but yeah another positive to take from the day I would say.

27:09Ross Halls:Yeah and I think the line-up was the rest wasn't it pretty much but shall we talk about which you sort of mentioned Stu the goal they scored I've put it as in the talking points fluke or creative goal I think someone actually mentioned on game day sort of similar maybe not as similar but like George Hurst with the chest a lot of people thought oh I've made a bit of luck I think they walked through the way last season. And a lot of people went, oh, that's just very lucky. But sometimes, actually, no, he meant to do that. And maybe Barry meant to do it. How are you feeling about it, Stuart? You've watched it that many times.

27:44Stuart Watson:The more I watch it back, as I said, the more I think he probably did mean it. I think I'll give him some credit. He's kind of looking straight down the barrel of Tarkovsky's volley. He kind of watches it all the way. And, yeah, it's sort of chess slash mid-drift, isn't it? and he sort of angles his body to turn it away. Completely wrong for Swalton. But there's still an element of misfortune from an Ipswich point of view, isn't it? A bit like the Maguire shot that's going off target and takes a deflection in. Not quite those same levels of misfortune, but nevertheless an element of it, which gives an Everton side who AJ mentioned are defensively very resolute, an early lead and something to kind of defend made for a difficult challenge early on at the Hill Dickinson.

28:39Ross Halls:Yeah, as always, AJ, I always ask, how were you feeling at that point? And what do you think of the goal as a whole? What do I think of the goal? I don't think that the finish necessarily is a fluke. And I did at the time, I'll agree. Even watching the replays at the time. I was like, oh, come on. It's so unlucky. The aspect of it that's a fluke is the fact it's a shot that comes in from Tarkovsky, that if it doesn't go anywhere near Barry or doesn't go near his chest, it's going to go wide, and Ipswich will deal with that. So I don't think it's, say, Barry's incredible positioning and understanding of where that ball was going to go that allowed him to do that, but it was very good quick thinking with the finish.

29:23So credit to that. Again, it's one where if you're an Ipswich persuasion, you're going to say it's luck and fluke. And if you're Everton, you're going to say it's an incredible, incredible quick-thinking finish to score that. The answer is probably somewhere down the middle, as it always is. How was I feeling at that point? A little bit kind of here we go again, because we've seen this too many times now. And this was one that felt different, of course, because Liverpool, where they were trailing early doors, they both felt very self-inflicted. the same with Arsenal conceding there it's felt that with the goals that Ipswich have conceded earlier, there have been a lot it's either been moments of real quality or it's been self-inflicted madness or a combination of both and this was the first time where it was neither but well, okay, still good thinking for Barry, but still it felt quite harsh for Ipswich to be down at that point, but I felt quite confident knowing what they'd done at Palace that they could still try and make a good fist of it, which they did as well, especially in the first half.

30:28My only concern was Everton do not concede goals. Everton do not really give up leads. It was going to be a real test for Ipswich as it proved.

30:38Stuart Watson:You say that about, you know, we're talking about early goals conceded, maybe becoming a bit of a theme. Brennan Johnson should have scored after five minutes. I mean, he did the hard work with a lovely little sort of dragged flick in the box and then dragged his shot wide of the post. That was a glaring miss for a player of his calibre. So as much as we're talking about some of the fortune element of the Everton opener, they should have scored before then as well. So it's kind of making sure they're nice and tight in those first 10 minutes and giving themselves a platform. I think that is still a conversation to be had after this game.

31:18Ross Halls:Definitely. Another man that should have scored is Leif Davis, who's got two to his name already. I had him down as the first goal scorer and I thought I was about to celebrate some lovely, lovely points in the Prediction League. But no, he didn't score it, which that could have been a whole, this could have been a whole different game if that went in. Boy, do you reckon, Stu? Do you think that was a big moment in the game?

31:41Stuart Watson:Yeah, just approaching half time, wasn't it? if he wanted anyone to be arriving at the back post with the ball on the volley, a man who repeatedly tells us, I like to score goals off the floor. I'm no good with shooting off the ground. I don't quite know what went wrong with it, really. I think he was just trying to be too cute. Maybe it was one that he needed to go out with his right foot rather than his left. and just, yeah, way off target. Be on the far post, wasn't it? And head in hands. And he knew it was a big moment. And we spoke to him recently. And I think it was going into the Palace game.

32:22Stuart Watson:He had the one goal at Old Trafford. But Gary O 'Neill said, well, he should be on three, really. And he agreed. And then he goes and scores at Palace. And then this is another one that's just gone by for him. So you're right. That could have really changed the mood because I touched upon it right at the start of this pod. It was an edgy atmosphere at the Hill Dickinson. And there were some moments in that first half, even after they got the lead, there was collective groans. I remember a Jared Branthwaite sort of chipped pass forward that went to absolutely no one. And that sort of energy sapping, collective sort of exhale of frustration from the crowd came out.

33:02Stuart Watson:And it wasn't the first time. And if Ipswich had got themselves a goal back before half time, then who knows? And they started the second half really well, Ipswich, didn't they? They had a couple of chances. And Ciso had that shot saved down low at the near post by Pickford. Wattara had a really thunderous effort from outside the box that was blocked, I think it was.

33:25Stuart Watson:So there were some nice attacking moments from Ipswich in this game. It carved through Ipswich really well. It was a game that sort of ebbed and flowed. And in the moments where Ipswich were on top, they played some really good stuff. it was just in the final third wasn't it just that last decision pass little bit of execution that just fell short in this game and yeah for the first time really this season we sort of were disappointed with the attacking side of the play which has not really been a theme of conversation

33:59Ross Halls:yeah the Brazilian of course Emerson had a tough afternoon against two very big experienced defenders I think that's the first time where I felt like, oh, he struggled. He did, okay, still. He tried his hardest, but there was moments where I was like, yeah, he's getting beaten to that ball plenty of times. AJ, did you feel the same? I think especially that is one of our key positions as well. Yeah, I think so. I think with hindsight, and I was backing Emerson to go into this, well, with hindsight, Zian Fleming was better being more of a kind of a battling strike. I think he's got more of a physical edge to him, more of the kind of aggressive side.

34:38And we saw that when he came on towards the latter stages. It felt like he was up for a bit of a scrap, Zian. Whereas I think that Emerson tried his best to make a dent in those two centre-backs, but did find it harder. And he's still someone that's growing into his physicality, I think, Emerson. So that will come. It will come with his height. It will come with everything else. but he's still raw and he's still getting used to how to use his body within games, especially at this very high level. So yeah, probably Zian Fleming might have been more suited to it, but a good experience nonetheless for him to come up against two guys in the giant Branthwaite, 6 '5", and Tarkovsky, who has fully been there, done that, got the T-shirt, a very experienced one.

35:29So he'll learn from that for sure. Yes.

35:32Ross Halls:I'm going to play a bit of Leith Davis' audio just to get his thoughts on the defeat. And then we'll talk about some of the other talking points in the game because, of course, we've got the disallowed goal and the red card, of course. But here's Leith Davis on the defeat. Leith's defeat here at Everton today, what would you make of that one?

35:48Stuart Watson:Yeah, I think we controlled the game a lot as well in large parts of the game. I think areas of the pitch were good. final third was we needed to tidy up a little bit i think there was areas where decision making wasn't wasn't the best um not i'm not saying people being selfish i think it's just we've got to realize when that extra pass can be can be um instead of trying to shoot in front of four four defenders i think then little details are what's what's big in this league um you see teams that punish punish for teams it's when they're working the ball side to side i think we were doing that and I think that final third bit is when we lost it a little bit.

36:33Stuart Watson:Like I say, decision-making is key, especially in this league or you're running the other way trying to stop a counter-attack. But no, for straight and one, not to get any points in the game, I think we deserved at least a point in the game as well. But yeah, a lot to learn from, a lot to take, a lot of positives to take as well, especially away from home, but not the result we wanted.

36:55Ross Halls:they need to um maybe move their mix zone they were probably heard yeah they were all after you actually i was stood there and the amount there was just loads of everton fans like roscoe where is roscoe i couldn't unfortunately uh that that was why yes um but yeah that does leave thoughts on there and we're going to get on to about him mentioning about you know different passes and all that um we're going to discuss a certain player that I think he's alluding to. But, Stu, let's talk about... Who? Let's have that conversation now. Oh, Julio and Ciso, isn't it? It's got to be Julio and Ciso because you get two versions of Julio.

37:37Ross Halls:You get the South American flair with some great passing and some good opportunities. And then you've got times where he's like, pass the ball, Julio, pass the ball. And I think we got that in this game, I felt. I think he sort of overplayed it at times.

37:53Stuart Watson:um how you feel about stew yeah i think i think he's maybe one that falls into that category but he wasn't the only one um there was a there was a chance just looking back at it in the ninth minute we're in c so had the sort of the low shot saved by pickford's legs and if you watch it back jack clark is is throwing his hands up in frustration because he wanted the cut back um I thought Everton deserved credit for the way they defend.

38:26Stuart Watson:And there's always debate around David Moyes in the same way there was in his latter days at West Ham and the same way there was around Mick McCarthy towards his latter days at Ipswich in terms of the pragmatism and the organisation and the stuff that doesn't necessarily entertain or excite, but it makes them a very solid side with sort of one holding midfielder in Ghana. And it just felt like they were able to double up on people a lot of the time. Certainly Nciso and Clark would go past one, but there would always be someone else there on them in a flash. So I think an element of credit has to go to Everton in that respect.

39:06Stuart Watson:But this was one of those days where Nciso would maybe run into traffic and do one thing good and then kind of get snuffed out.

39:17Stuart Watson:But, yeah, I think I'm inclined more to give sort of credit to Everton for the way they defended rather than kind of sort of bemoaning Ipswich being too individualistic in this game.

39:30Ross Halls:That's fair enough. There is just moments he does frustrate me. I like he's an officer, a really talented player. But there's just times I'm like, oh. And we got that in his last spell. I think he's definitely matured. And I think he's got better at that. But there is moments in games. And AJ, I'm sure you, well, I assume you'll agree, but yeah.

39:48Stuart Watson:Is there a, you know, what we loved about Julio from that game against Sunderland was we had the whole debate in his loan spell before, bit of a shop window loan, was he playing for himself to get a move, trying to do everything on his own, trying to add to his highlights reel of spectacular goals? That was the question mark going into this. and then Sunderland opening weekend he runs his absolute socks off and was a real team player and you know he assists for the first goal and we're going okay he's he's matured Gary O 'Neill's got hold of him this is great and then is he someone that he's a confidence player and he's starting to feel some sort of praise around him and then you don't want to completely coach that out of him as well that's what makes him a special player he is someone that can do something out of nothing and maybe there's going to be a bit of ups and downs in in that respect for Julio this season and maybe that's something of a player of his caliber that we kind of have to accept at times I don't know what do you boys think yeah I think so I think that he he needs to feel special he needs to feel confident he needs to have something to be fired up about and that's why I think especially that opening weekend where everything was so emotional and so high intensity that suited him to a tee and the other games that I think suited him are the ones where you can really feel the energy and the intensity in the way both Ipswich play and in the game itself and the harder ones probably then become games like this one where you're away from home you may be up against it a little bit especially when you're down to 10 men and you're faced with giants at the back and a team that aren't going to give up many chances.

41:39And as soon as you have the ball, because even when they attack, for example, they don't really get men forward. They get their attackers forward, but they don't play going forward as a team in the same way. Whereas you look at Ipswich, you've got Davis will make the run. Sometimes O'Shea will be involved. The midfielders will go and be involved. Whereas with Everton, it very much feels like they have this core unit that stays where they are. And you mentioned about Mikalenko, for example. You don't see him getting up the pitch. You don't see the centre-backs getting involved from open play. You don't even see players like Garner, really, unless it's an extended spell of possession being really involved.

42:15So these spaces aren't there for a player like Julio in CISO. He's the one who thrives, even against some of these top opponents, where at least they'll bring bodies forward and there's space to get at them and run and create and do that. So that's where he then does it, and he pulls off a fantastic pass or a brilliant shot or something like that, and we all praise him. And then it doesn't work in another game like this one, and we're all thinking, oh, God, come on, do something else. Don't do what you've just done. It's also harder to – it's easier for us, for example, to be sat up in the press box at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, miles away, and being able to see everything and shout, there's the pass, there's the pass.

42:57It's much harder when you're down there. I've got no doubt knowing everything that's around you. So, look, there's areas for him to improve, but I agree. Don't take that side away from him. don't coach the flair out for him don't even coach the selfishness out for him because I think he needs that and I think he thrives off that he'll improve in that regard there is work to do but that also doesn't take away from the other stuff he's done, take Palace for example think about that incredible pass that led to the winner, that ball into the box that Davis headed onto the crossbar there are things I think go under the radar a little bit I didn't notice that one at the time actually until I watched the replay and so it was mentioned to me I just forgot about that totally.

43:37He does do that side of the game as well. It's just about finding a better balance probably, which will come.

43:43Stuart Watson:Every game, every Premier League game so far, I've kind of noticed that opposition fans all say, well, their 10's good, he's a talent. And that's even when he's not been at it. I always sort of, first-time viewers, like my dad and my sister were there as Everton fans and they came away going, he's got a bit of something about him, hasn't he? So a reminder that Ipswich have got a very talented player there in Houtier and Cicel. And I think, you know, the spectacular and the highs are going to hopefully outweigh the frustrating moments, which will happen.

44:20Ross Halls:It will. There's another player I want to discuss later on, because I think he's getting a lot of flack on social media. We're going to get into that later. But we've got to talk about another man who, unfortunately, has got some flack and has also been targeted on social media. And that is, of course, Abdul Fatou, who got sent off for two, probably needless yellow cards, really. I think definitely the first one, the second one, we'll get on to. At the time, I didn't have a clue what was going on. I thought they were actually sending off, who did he dive next to? Who was the guy? Who was the guy?

44:53Ross Halls:Garner, yes. Garner, sorry. And I thought he was getting sent off. And then I then looked, no, it's Fatou. Oh, no. because the internet, by the way, at Everton was rubbish. Sort it out. But yeah, of course, that changes the game. Stu, how are you feeling now? A few hours or 40 hours removed from the game and the fact that we read cards.

45:16Stuart Watson:Well, the first thing to say is to utterly condemn some of this alleged racism that's come his way. I don't know what platforms that's come on, But well done to Ipswich, the Premier League, and everyone's sort of coming together and continually calling that stuff out. Let's not sort of get blasé that in this world that we live in, it still doesn't happen and it needs calling out when it happens. But separating that and parking it, it's a silly red card. And I'm not going to argue against it. The first one, it's the second yellow I'm more cross about. The first one is a cynical counter-attack stopping almost rugby tackle from behind where he just climbs all over the back of a player.

46:07Stuart Watson:They happen. But then once you've got yourself on a booking like that, you have to be smart and don't give the referee decisions to make. And it is a dive. And he does it right under the nose of the referee. He's looking straight down the barrel of it. if you look back at the replays. It's not even like, you know, the risk versus reward is, it's not even like you're in the box and you might win a penalty from it. It's halfway into their half. It's one where he kind of dangles his leg and his weight, he's already half going down before the contact comes. I kind of see what Gary O 'Neill's saying.

46:48Stuart Watson:Does he have to, does common sense need to prevail? Does he need to go, he was saying, well, no, It's not like anyone was appealing for it. They were, actually, if you look back at it. Garner was furious. There was another Everton player on the scene straight away. You can now get into consistency debates, and I know people are going, well, look at Gabriel's ridiculous dive for Arsenal the other day, and there's countless other examples that you could say are on a par. But I don't think there can be any complaints from an Ipswich Town point of view. And I think Gary O 'Neill, while he might publicly be sort of saying, you know, well, it didn't have to be given.

47:26Stuart Watson:And I think privately he will have a little, and he's kind of alluded to this, he'll have a little, come on, Abdul, you've got to be a little bit more smarter than that because not only did he leave Ipswich in a really difficult position in this game, he's now going to miss a pretty big home game against Fulham as well, which is disappointing.

47:46Ross Halls:Yeah, it's going to be interesting now who's going to play on the right, which will likely be Casey McIntyre, Wynne, AJ. Can we segue? I think this is a good opportunity. I don't think it's going to be Casey McAteer. I think it's going to be Dyson Mider who's going to play on the right to bring in this discussion because I know you've been looking at this one. Look, maybe that thought process will change, but Casey McAteer has not been in the squad recently, hasn't even made the bench. Who's been coming on with Clark and Fatou starting games, the substitutions in the last couple of games. Well, okay, it hasn't really happened with Fatou, but the changes have seemed to be bringing Philogene on for Clark on the left and then Maida has now been getting minutes on the right.

48:27It looks like that, I think, would be the way that he plays it. And it opens up an interesting debate, I suppose, on Dyson Maida because he is the one you've been referring to as the one who's taken a bit of criticism on social media.

48:39Ross Halls:Yeah, there's been a lot of posts about it, which I'm a bit shocked about, of like, what does he do? I think he works really, really hard. I think he's done what he's been sort of told to do. I think maybe the last few games, he's actually had to come off the bench. He's not starting games, is he, recently, and playing a different role. How do you think Balot's do? Because I've seen loads about it. You know, what does Dajza Amida do?

49:03Stuart Watson:Well, I think we outlined this in pre-season from the quite limited viewing of Dajza Amida is what he does do, and what arguably he might even be one of the best in the Premier League at is dynamic pressing and he came on in this game and there was a moment where he had no right to almost go and win the ball but he saw his acceleration is insane and he suddenly was right in the face of Jarrod Branthwaite and the crowd was sort of sharp intake of breath and that then created some nerves that almost sort of snowballed during that stoppage time period so So that is what he is really elite at. Defensively, he helps out as well.

49:46Stuart Watson:He came on in this game originally after Ipswich had gone down to 10 men. He came on almost as a left wing back, and they went to a back five just to sort of flow the – stem the tide a little bit. And then as Ipswich then threw caution to the wind, he then went and played sort of further forward and switched to the right-hand side that we said. So I think AJ's right. I think that's probably where my pound would be in terms of sort of picking the selection, early selection for Fulham at home. So he's not got the same attributes in terms of technicality on the ball as a Jack Clark or a Jadon Filagene.

50:24Stuart Watson:He's not going to drift past people and do all of that sort of stuff. But you can't overlook all the other things that I've just sort of outlined. There's a big adjustment for him as well. like this isn't an easy one of the hardest step ups that an Ipswich Town signing has had to make um I'm not here to play down Scottish football too much one of his last appearances came at striker for Celtic right it was a wet motherwell this back line included have you heard of any of these Tom Sparrow uh Stephen O'Donnell Johnny Kutrumbus and a former Cambridge United loanee Manny Longello um that is a team that finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership last year That is the level that he's been playing at.

51:08He is a very talented player. And we've seen that international level. We've seen that at the biggest stage in the Champions League. He can hack it against the top players. But it is a big step up coming from the Scottish Premiership into the Premier League. And he's been trusted with that starting role for a lot of the season. And he's done a lot of the right stuff in terms of everything that, again, Stu's just outlined. All the off-the-ball work, all of his pressing, all of his running. but there is going to be an adjustment period that comes with that in the next few weeks months however long um he's not going to come in and get the goal return for example that he has done at celtic in the last few seasons it's not going to translate seamlessly into english football

51:51Stuart Watson:give him time as well so it's the inverse luxury player debate isn't it normally we talk about you know we just had that conversation almost around julio and cso of like oh they can they can produce a bit of magic but are we carrying them because he doesn't do his work off the ball it's the opposite with Maeda he's an absolute grafter he's brilliant at it but is he good enough on the ball um squads need that that variety you need a bit of a mixture um again we talked about D-Dips which need to go and sign a goalkeeper in the summer would they have signed Maeda if they knew Philogene was going to stay and now they've ended up with with three right-siders and they almost look looks like they're going to have to sort of crowbar.

52:35Stuart Watson:What did I say? Right siders. Yeah. Three left siders. And now they're almost having to convert Dyson into a right sider, which is probably not ideal, but that's where we find ourselves. But yeah, look, I love players that get in people's faces and have a bit of fight and a bit of edge about them. And Dyson certainly that.

52:59Ross Halls:I think maybe because he's not going to give you those really attacking numbers. I think that's what people look at the most. I think they don't look at what he's doing defensive-wise and grafting. I think people just want their left-wingers to be sexy and scoring goals and creating chances, which Jadon Filagene and Jack Clark does. I was just a bit surprised to see it on social media, but people can have their opinions and stuff. I was just a bit shocked to see that, especially when everyone was so excited when Dyson Maiden signed the Japanese superstar but yeah he obviously does need to still work on that attacking element of his game but I think we saw that in pre-season we're like oh maybe he won't you know in the final 30 he's probably not going to be too great but he works his arse off Dyson Maiden he does and it was great to see him Matt Seltlepark sort of say his final goodbyes although it's a bit of a not going well up there is it and there's a talk about Kieran McKenna isn't there could he go there if Martin O 'Neill goes.

53:55Ross Halls:But anyway, won't get into that. But I want to talk quickly about the disallowed goal because it's an interesting debate to have because wasn't it last year the rule changed, didn't it, about the player in front of the goalie and stuff? I think you're sort of thinking, Stu, not because of the Everton glasses on, but you think it shouldn't have been disallowed.

54:20Stuart Watson:I think it's a goal. probably by the letter of the law it isn't and I've struggled to keep up with all these rule changes now I definitely think the Manchester derby and the Haaland goal is very much after all of the intense debate around that a week earlier is in the officials' minds with this one it's completely different who was the United player who tried to go with the diving header, not United City anyway it doesn't matter, that is definitely interfering with play. He's made a clear action to go for the ball, which then puts the goalkeeper in two minds where he's tracking the ball, what action he takes next, right?

55:02Stuart Watson:There's no debate. Anyone who's played, watched football knows that that is interfering with play. I think this is completely different for this one. I think if you watch Christian Walton, he's got his eyes on the flight of the ball the whole time. I don't think he's not physically impeded from making a dive. He was never going to get to that ball. It's, you know, good corner. Attacking player wins the leap, scores a great header. I'd be really, really frustrated if that was one that went against me. Gary O 'Neill said afterwards that that's something that they work on, like it was a game plan that came off, that we defend corners that way.

55:43Stuart Watson:We step out to try and make people offside. Is that now going to become part of the game with people trying to play off sides at corners to try and sort of take advantage of the rule you could argue that that's smart i've watched it back i'm not sure it's like abtul watar is the last man and he kind of drifts towards the ball which i think is a bit more kind of that ball watching rather than a orchestrated offside trap where he's not like he's suddenly putting his hand up to say what about this guy that's from an offside position it's all getting a bit silly all this stuff at corners now isn't it last year we had all the fighting and the royal rumbles in the penalty box which they had to get under control now we're getting into semantics of players kind of breathing a bit too close to goalkeepers and stuff it's not it's not the spirit of football it doesn't feel like to me but I thought Ipswich got

56:38Ross Halls:got away with one with that yeah it kept us in the game didn't it and there was moments at the I thought your boy, Asia, I thought Zion Fleming was going to get another late goal. Unfortunately not. How were you feeling that last 10 minutes of the game? Do you feel like Town could get something? There was moments where I was like, come on, boys, they can do it. But Everton, they're just so defensively strong. Yeah, there were moments. I never really felt like Everton were put under loads of pressure. I didn't think that they were going to cave in. they looked quite comfortable despite maybe one or two bits where Town found space, probably tired legs in the Everton back line Ipswich realising that 1-0 and 2-0 defeats aren't going to make that much of a difference to them so just throwing bodies up the formation at the end was a 4-1-2-2 I suppose is the best way of putting it, maybe a 4-3-2 where it was the same back line then Florentino off the bench the octopus just had to do everything he was the one man midfield um had uh just yeah it was just him it was a bizarre situation credit to him i'd go as far as calling it 4-1-4 aj almost wasn't it

57:52Stuart Watson:they just sort of had two two proper strikers on the pitch in fleming and at pom then you had maida and philagine kind of flanking them very very advanced and as you say poor old Florentino having to kind of hold it all down in midfield alone. Yeah, and I like the fact that Gary O 'Neill went for it and realised that, as I said, 1-0 and 2-0 say what you want to make goal difference, but ultimately it wasn't going to make that much difference when I suppose Ipswich sensed that there was an equaliser on the line and they had the stronger attacking options. They really did, Ipswich, compared to Everton.

58:26We've said this in a few games now, the options that Ipswich have been able to bring off the bench were really, really sharp. You look at Zian Fleming, you look at Akpom, you look at the two wide men. Being able to take off both Palacios and Lukic, although probably not by choice, and put one man Florentino in there just to go for it. So yeah, I was happy that they took that approach. Ultimately, time just wasn't their friend and nor were Everton's back line because they're just very good at what they do.

58:59Stuart Watson:here's a question for you would Kieran McKenna have taken that approach with 10 men in the latter stages in that scenario not to the same degree I don't think I think that you would have seen maybe an attack minded approach but not one that literally was just no shape all the attackers on the pitch which is what it felt like a little bit here to try and go and win that I can't think if there are any examples that we've seen of something similar but I could probably count on one hand the amount of times that Kieran McKenna has put two up top in a game.

59:33Ross Halls:I think it maybe depends on the options you have on the bench. If he looks on his bench and goes, OK, I can use him and that. But yeah, he didn't do it that often. So I think Gary O 'Neill went, might as well, go on, lads, go for it. Because he has mentioned that, isn't he? That he will try to do that sort of stuff because he wants to play, obviously, entertaining football and especially away from home. He can backfire, but he's got had nothing to lose. And as I said, the on the lemming literally had a moment there. But yeah, any other business boys from the game before we talk about covering the game as a whole?

1:00:04Ross Halls:Because there's some nice little talking points of covering a game at the new Hill Dickerson Stadium. But anything else you want to mention, Stu? Any players? Any moments?

1:00:12Stuart Watson:Not really, as I say. Yeah. It wasn't a classic. No, it wasn't a classic. Take something from the fact that 10 man-ips which had Everton really kind of quite nerves jangling in those seven minutes of stoppage time, albeit without sort of creating anything, as AJ says, sort of clear cut. But that game should have been killed before then. And we shouldn't forget that. Everton had some big chances in this. Barry had a header that he should have scored where he was left completely unmarked in the box. Brennan Johnson didn't have his shooting boots on that I mentioned.

1:00:49Stuart Watson:Yeah, I thought it was a narrow Everton victory, probably about summed up this game. And that's okay. And I'm okay with that. And I'm okay with where Ipswich are at in terms of performances. And I'm okay with where they're at in terms of a points total five games in.

1:01:07Ross Halls:Yes. We're going to discuss just, you know, well, actually, we'll do it now, actually. And we'll end the podcast indulging in covering a game, Evan, and looking forward to a lovely three-week international break, which is going to be fun for all of us, listeners included, because I'm sure you're going to be annoyed that you're not going to be able to watch it through town games. You're going to have to watch stupid England and whatnot. Anyway, are we ahead of schedule then, boys? Six points in five games. Is this as expected? I don't know if we were all expecting a win on the opening day against Sunderland, which was amazing.

1:01:45Ross Halls:Of course, the Palace game, Liverpool, you just never know anything can happen in those games. and everything going like we're thinking oh could this be an opportunity to get a point there maybe a win um unfortunately not but six points aj are we ahead of schedule no not ahead of schedule i think we're on schedule i think this is this feels like uh wrong course at the moment and that is with a lot of money spent in a really strong squad i think and a squad that should be able to compete and win games at the level but also one that has to deal with a lot of players coming into the level, maybe for the first time, like a Palacios, like a Maida, like an Emerson.

1:02:22But they have got the experience there to kind of caveat that. At the same time, just a lot of new players coming together as well. And a team that, and we said this two years ago, and it didn't happen. You can even make the argument that at times it felt like they regressed two years ago, but should improve over the course of a season. I think they're pretty much where I would hope that they would be. They've got the points on the board. They've got a couple of wins on the board. They, I think, should be doing better than, say, a Coventry as they are. Hull, obviously, are a different exception.

1:02:54We're going to be kind of benchmarking naturally through the season with them and maybe with others like a Fulham, like a Palace, who have struggled as well. And Ipswich feel in a better spot. And we've seen good stuff and bad stuff. It was never all going to be brilliant. Here's another win and another win. They were going to have to suffer. They were going to lose games. They were always going to lose probably at least one, two, three games in all competitions, realistically, with the fixtures that came at the start of this one. So I'm not sat here and I'm going to be, wow, amazing, overwhelmed.

1:03:26This is incredible. Europe's on. How many points off the title, anything like that. I think we're all very well aware and have been reminded with games against United and Liverpool, but also as well a reminder of what teams like Palace can do with their attacking quality and what teams like Everson can do with their defensive quality perhaps. We've been reminded of what the Premier League is all about if you've forgotten it after a year back in the Championship. And overall, it leaves Ipswich somewhere in the middle in the table. I think it leaves Ipswich pretty much where you'd want them to be at this point.

1:04:00Yeah, I'm not going to go overboard but I feel very, very content with where they are at the moment for sure.

1:04:09Ross Halls:Obviously, it's much better than last time around because, yeah, that was tough. But, yeah, Stu, are you pleased with the start? You know, six points out of the 15 that was available? Yeah, I'd have snapped your hand off for it, I think,

1:04:23Stuart Watson:before a ball was kicked. You know, we're going to be looking at that sort of trying to tick over a point a game just over and that's where they're at. Look a goal threat, look capable of creating and scoring goals, need to tighten up at the back, need to make sure that games don't get away from them so early. Always a fear that when you recruit so heavily and it's a completely new look team, how quickly are they going to gel? But I think there's been some encouraging signs on that side of things. Scored some late goals, which is always great. and we've now got this long long wait for Fulham at home which feels like a significant game doesn't it after the start that Fulham have made at Portman Road these are the sort of matches that are going to be the sort of the more defining ones you would imagine over the course of the season so yeah and now a nervous wait to see who comes back from international duty okay uh and then that's going to be a big one yeah it's gonna be massive but

1:05:34Ross Halls:um yeah aj is it potentially like 10 players have gone is it's a good amount yeah 10 i believe there will be a roundup or like a preview to come later in the week and i'll be keeping up to date with all of those i always do um we've got off the top of my head ireland argentina paraguay Japan of course Serbia Chile Albania Morocco

1:06:04Ghana there are plenty here so yeah a lot to keep track of the standout for me though and the fact there's an Ipswich Town player involved in this is there will be an Ipswich Town player possibly even on the pitch starting during Lionel Messi's last ever Argentina game that is mad I will be following in particular the Palacios international break with Keenan Trespers, a lot of pretty unique different stories, different competitions different bits to keep an eye on I know it's boring, I know it's not the Premier League, it's not Ipswich Town directly, but yeah, will be fun to follow nonetheless for me

1:06:43Ross Halls:I think the good thing though, at least we know that this is the only international break left this year, I know it's three weeks No, it's not. It's not. There's another one in November, mate. I'm sorry. Is there? I'm really sorry. So you remember last time they used to do the international breaks in September, October, and November. There'll be a break in each of those. They have just merged September and October together, which means that they're all into one, and then we're going to have another break in November. Once November is done, then that'll be the last one through to March. That's killing me, though.

1:07:19Ross Halls:that's just sorry I'm so deflated I'm so deflated oh I don't know where to go from here thoughts on covering a game at Everton is it time for that now yeah let's let's do that let's do that move on to some positives that was very impressive I have to admit when I arrived at the Hill Dickerson Stadium I was just I was blown away by it I'm sure a lot of town fans who went as well it was just you know it's a modern stadium of course and it's like a spaceship but i just love the um and you said stew the story about i thought like the castle wall and everything that's from the old docks isn't it and i just

1:07:58Stuart Watson:was just yeah i just love that i think so yeah i think that must they must be this sort of historic dividing wall to the docks and they've literally built a man-made spit of land on the water to to build this stadium um i know they've had logistical issues with fans getting to and from games, certainly for night matches. But yeah, I think they've done it well. It's got its own, you know, they've done a real steep, they've made it as steep as possible. One of the stands behind the goals, it's tight to the pitch. They've put a lot of work into the acoustics and keeping the sound in. I went there last season when they thumped Chelsea 3-0 and it was absolutely rocking.

1:08:43Stuart Watson:But I don't think, I think that has been as good as it's got, speaking to Evertonians and like all clubs that move to a new ground, it takes a little while to make it your new home. And they're not quite there yet at the moment. And the atmosphere, this is where the element of frustration comes from, from Ipswich. It felt like, you know, that was an edgy crowd there and it had a moment gone Ipswich's way. Maybe that Davis goal before halftime, who knows how it could have played out if Fatou hadn't got sent off. Who knows how the last few minutes of that game played out. So you could argue it's one that slipped away.

1:09:21Stuart Watson:Maybe if we're looking back at the end of the season and there's like a point here or there that we're looking at. But no, I don't think anyone's too downhearted about that game. And now comes the challenge of keeping the content well moving for the next three weeks.

1:09:40Ross Halls:Yes. If you've got any ideas, there's actually a few people chucked some ideas when we did the live show, Building Up to Everyone. There's a few people mentioning different things. So we keep those in mind. But if you've got any other ideas, ladies and gentlemen, we'll work our butts off to get our content out there. But if you've got any ideas, anything you want us to cover? Are you doing an eating challenge? Is that one of them? Yeah, which I'll go for it. Because Everton, fair play to them, they had lots of options for us to eat. Once again, sorry, everybody, just my time to indulge. I know there's a few people probably switching off now when I was talking about food again.

1:10:14Ross Halls:But I have to give them a big shout out, Everton. They didn't muck about it. They gave us a lot. There was even like... I ran out of wedges before I got there. Yeah, I just got a burger with a load of ketchup because I was expecting the wedges to be there and then it wasn't, which is sad. I liked the... Very sad squash. I liked the customised... The cookies, which with the little Everton badges on. I was told previously they had donuts, which they got rid of, in favour of the cookies. I took mine back to the hotel room. I couldn't finish it. It was very, very sweet. But yeah, some nice bits there.

1:10:48The media facilities are good. Some TVs plastered all over, a massive one, which was good to follow the Millwall-West Ham game, even though it had the commentary of Spurs against Aston Villeron instead, which was really distracting, hearing Ali McCoy just talking nonstop throughout the Dockers-Darway, which is a bit of a shame. but yeah my one thing is fix the Wi-Fi please please Everton fix the Wi-Fi

1:11:16Ross Halls:yes very much so

1:11:17Stuart Watson:but yeah can I make one more observation on the weekend before we go the really touching tribute to Noah Woods in the third minute of this game and Everton fans impeccably you know observing that and joining in with that black armbands worn after such a tragic story last week. And also a word for Gary O 'Neill as well, who lost his father, big influence in his life. You can see that with the heartwarming tribute that he paid on social media for him to come into training Friday, to do his press conference on Friday, to travel up to Everton, to conduct himself in the manner that he did. I think that deserves a lot of respect.

1:12:06Stuart Watson:and I hope he manages now to have a little bit of time to grieve and gather his thoughts over these next few days before kind of throwing himself right back into work. So I just thought those two things were worthy of mention.

1:12:20Ross Halls:That's one thing about football as well, that everyone comes together when there is unfortunately a tragedy or something happens like that. So yeah, big salute to everybody. And Lee Davis as well, who obviously donated a good amount of money and just hit him hard. You spoke to him, AJ, didn't you? He obviously spoke to the media about that. And, yeah, just a big touch and tribute to Noah and Forts, of course, with his family. But, boys, there we go. Now a podcast in the books. We'll probably come back again soon for a flagship show. Hefe is back, so he'll be in the hot seat. Of course, we're going to sort of reflect on the opening five games and other bits and bobs as well.

1:13:01Ross Halls:But it's going to be a long three weeks. But bring it on. Me and AJ, though, we are still going to be at football because the under-21s are going to be playing in the famous, I don't know what it's called these days, but the pizza trophy back in the day. They're naming it after a sandwich shop now or something like that. That's fun. I don't know if they've done that yet. The trophy. We'll be there in the trophy as the 21s make their bow against the reigning, defending champions, Luton Town, away at Kenilworth Road. We will be there to cover it. So you can follow all of that with us. We're going to try and mirror near enough a full men's match day.

1:13:36Keep your eyes peeled for that one.

1:13:38Ross Halls:It's just, once again, it's another one of those things to, like how far we've come. Like we were playing in that competition with the first team and losing as well. Losing to West Ham and Arsenal.

1:13:49Stuart Watson:And yeah, had some pretty miserable days when we were talking about sort of the nadir of Ipswich's decline. That kind of was one of the things that summed it up. and here we are now talking about the under-21s about to play in it. So, yeah.

1:14:06Ross Halls:So, yeah, could I get to Wembley? We shall see. They've got some tough, tough games to play, but it's going to be a good experience for them. But Stu, AJ, thank you as always for joining me. Thanks everyone for listening to the latest Kings of Anglia podcast sponsored by Meleclia. You can use the code KOA10 to get a discount on your car cleaning business. And, of course, check out Kings of Anglia. on all the socials, the app, the website. If you haven't already, make sure to sign up because we've got a lovely user-friendly app, no ads, and all our content and video is on there. So why not sign up now?

1:14:43Ross Halls:Because it's a good opportunity. I know it's international break, but there'll be still content that we're putting out there for you to get stuck into. We'll be back, of course, to bring you another podcast very soon. Have a good week. Thanks for listening. Bye-bye for now.

1:15:05Thank you.

1:15:33Thank you.

1:16:01Thank you.

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1:17:07Ross Halls:Saturday, September 26th, two of combat sports' most dangerous strikers collide. Bare Knuckle. Liverpool's own Darren the Gorilla Till goes to war with Cuban powerhouse Yoel Soldier of God Romero. Plus the Bare Knuckle Middleweight Championship of the World is on the line when the reigning champ Dave the Redneck Mundell defends against undefeated British challenger Jack the Meat Cleaver Colon. BKFC 94, Till vs. Romero. Watch it live only on The Zone. Sign up now at TheZone.com.