KOA special: Our verdict on Ipswich Town's loan signing of Dan Neil

0:08Ross Halls:Hello everybody, it's me Roscoe and I'm joined by good old Stuart Watson as we react to some breaking news. It's just town have made their second signing of the January transfer window in midfielder Dan Neal, who has joined on loan from Premier League side Sunderland. Stu, it's just like London buses, two signings comes at once. We've been waiting all January for Town to make some signings and two in the space of a few days. Your initial reaction on this one?

0:38Stuart Watson:Yeah, we've waited a little bit longer than previous January transfer windows. But we were just discussing this kind of before we went live. There's some real similarities between what Ipswich are doing in this window and what they did halfway through the last promotion season in the championship. I've seen a few people have picked up on this already. It's which have got their Samiento-style signing in Anes Mometi and on loan from Bristol City. And there's a lot of similarities between Dan Neal and Lewis Travis, who was the experienced midfielder with some captaincy experience. Done it at this level coming in to try and help this squad get a promotion over the line this time around.

1:23Stuart Watson:So, yeah, we've been saying for a little while that Ipswich needed another midfielder that, as and when Azul Matasiwa gets suspended or touch wood, I hope this doesn't happen, picks up an injury, that they were looking a bit short there. Dan Neal is someone that can come in and really help that midfield unit.

1:42Ross Halls:Yeah, very much so. 24 years of age, Stu, but he's experienced. you know he captained Sunderland last season to promotion to the Premier League winning at Wembley played pretty much every game for them um it's been he's a boyhood Sunderland fan he's been there since he was a kid um I'm sure it's a bit of a hard sort of move for him leaving his boy club leaving an area he knows well um but he's not been playing much this season we're going to discuss him as a player and you know how what he will add to the midfield unit because um it's nicer now as all matters to see you are. Jen's used Q-Stay.

2:15Ross Halls:Jack Taylor's now got that sort of competition there. But just your thoughts on him as a player as a whole. I'm sure you've seen him play a few times because we've battled Sunderland through the years. I remember playing against him in the League One days when he was part of that team at one promotion too. I think actually looking back at his stats, that was his first full season playing week in, week out for them.

2:35Stuart Watson:It was, yeah. You're right. He's South Shield's boy. Grew up watching Sunderland from the terraces I believe there's a picture of him I think he'd been about 13 in the stands When Sunderland played Man City in the League Cup final Yeah, boyhood dream goes on to break into the team As you say, in League One And he's been a key player during their rise from League One To the Championship Ultimately becoming captain And becoming the first player to captain Sunderland at Wembley going back to the 50s, I believe. So, yeah, minutes have dried up a little bit this season in the Premier League. They've obviously got out and spent big money on Granit Xhaka and others and has found himself on the bench.

3:27Stuart Watson:But ticks a lot of the boxes in terms of what we've seen from Kieran McKenna signings over recent years. Somebody who has climbed the leagues and knows what it's taken to do that. somebody who's been, you know, a big part of culture setting behind the scenes. You only have to hear how certain people talk about him. Tony Mowbray, whose opinion we trust very much in these parts. Some of his teammates have some comments fairly recently from Luco9, who's talking about even when he's not been playing this season, he's been a massive kind of standard setter behind the scenes in training, which is good to hear.

4:07Stuart Watson:yeah and we can debate what he's going to be like on the pitch in a moment but off the pitch I don't think there's any doubt that Ibswich has signed a really good character here

4:15Ross Halls:yeah and he'll know Jack Clark because he was a teammate of him at Stadium of Light so I'm sure Jack Clark's been speaking to him during this period and yeah he just seems like a really nice lad you know I've watched his interview yeah as I said I'm sure it's hard to like leave your boyhood club for all those years. But he wants to play football. He's at an age where he wants to be playing week in, week out. And he's just played three times this season still, as you mentioned. They signed Granit Xhaka, signed some other players. Yeah, he probably just wants to make sure he gets more minutes. And he's on loan.

4:46Ross Halls:It's a loan deal, but he's out of contract in the summer. So, yeah, if he does well and helps Town win promotion, yeah, potentially a permanent deal on the cards.

4:56Stuart Watson:yeah and I assume that is um case of keeping his options open maybe going into the summer there was plenty of interest in him Rangers up in Scotland West Ham have been linked Sheffield United a few clubs in the Bundesliga so um he's decided to come to Ipswich because he thinks it's the best fit for him uh in terms of style of football and what Kieran McKenna wants from his players. So financially, for whatever reason, that's what the clubs have decided to do. Don't know what percentage of wages are being paid, what sort of loan fee, if any, has been paid here, but it's a loan. And as you say, he's out of contract in the summer.

5:39Stuart Watson:People might ask, well, hang on, he's not managed to get in Sunderland's team in the Premier League. And that's where Ipswich are looking to get to. So it might be a little bit of both parties keeping their options open going into the summer. But as a short-term signing for these next six months, this is a very solid one indeed, I think. And then I think all parties can kind of cross that bridge when they get to it come the summer.

6:05Ross Halls:Yes, indeed. And as you do, you watch the highlight reels, you sort of read about him from what you've seen, what he liked. For me, there's some crunching tackles in there. He gets the ball, he moves the ball up the pitch. He's got a few goals in his locker as well. He's a versatile midfielder. I think that's what Kieran McKenna has mentioned as well. So he can play different roles. But I think his main role is that he's got the number six shirt. I think that will be his main role.

6:33Stuart Watson:Yeah, he's been a sort of a holding midfielder for Sunderland sometimes as one in front of the back four. In more recent times, as part of a double pivot there, He's more reading about him and watching him through highlights, which doesn't always tell the full picture. I think he's more of a Kuyusta-Taylor type than he is a Matasiwa type. That's not to say that if Matasiwa's out for the odd games here and there, he can't do it and he has done it. But stylistically, he's not a destroyer. He's not an interceptor. He's not that sort of type. He's more of a box-to-box. He'll get the ball and he can drive you up the pitch and he can pick a forward pass.

7:20Stuart Watson:The story of his early days at Sunderland was that he kind of got in in that first League One season that you mentioned. And then Alex Neal, I think, came in at Sunderland and bombed him out for a bit. And there was a bit of an honest exchange of words between those two where Alex Neal said, look, technically you're fine, you're good, but you need to improve the defensive side of your game. And he really took that on board to his credit. That's the type of character he is, went away and knuckled down on that and said he worked so hard on the defensive side and the off-the-ball side of things that that almost became the better part of his game.

7:53Stuart Watson:And he had to sort of readdress and rebalance those things. So I think he's someone that's known, you know, he's taken on board constructive criticism when it's come. He's known that that's not the most natural part of his game. Physically, he's had to improve himself over time. but his strength is someone who's neat and tidy, gets on the ball, keeps it, gets you moving forward and he's got, as I say, you can see in the highlights he's got that little Jens Kuyusta turn and drive up the pitch. So where he'll fit into this, as I say, he's cover for Matasiwa but he'll be putting some serious pressure on Kuyusta and Taylor for a starting spot in that sort of left-sided box-to-box midfield role is what I can see.

8:40Ross Halls:Like I said, he's got a few goals in his locker. I've seen some long-range screamers, so you never know. Yeah, not loads.

8:47Stuart Watson:I think goals and assists hasn't been his forte if you look through them. Yes, he can sort of chip in with, like you say, when they come, they tend to be the spectacular, but probably a bit like Huyster and Taylor, someone that you'd feel maybe could contribute more in terms of goals and assists for the role they have in the side. So, yeah, that's not something I don't think he's been signed necessarily for. It's more his on-the-ball work. But you're right. Have a look at his highlights. He's got some good ones, hasn't he?

9:19Ross Halls:Yeah, definitely. And Nathan here. Good evening for Victoria in Australia. Let us know in the comments down below, ladies and gentlemen, your thoughts, your feelings. But, yeah, Nathan, evening in Australia, which is good to hear. And Rodney's made a good point. He's played pretty much every game, every time he plays in the championship. So, he's presumably fit all the time. Touch wood. Everything. Yeah, he's coming here to compete. But, yeah, he's coming here to obviously play games.

9:44Stuart Watson:Yeah, looks super robust, doesn't he? Looking at his record of game time, 200 appearances, I think, under his belt at the age of 24, which is pretty impressive. Yeah, it's only been this season that he's not had game time. He comes here having, I think, his last start. is going back to August in the League Cup, and he's had three Premier League appearances that have totaled less than 10 minutes there or thereabouts with some stoppage time on top. But, yeah, really limited game time this season. But as I say, all the noises coming out of Sunderland from the manager, from his teammates, is that he's been really sort of driving things in training.

10:26Stuart Watson:Obviously, that doesn't replicate game time, and there might be a little bit of sort of rust there. I think he's played some 21s games along the way as well. But, you know, I'm not too concerned by his lack of minutes in the first half of this season. I'm thinking, you know, he's someone that can hopefully come in and be able to hit the ground relatively running.

10:47Ross Halls:Yeah, because Zach is cool.com said, is he match fit with only 30 minutes of Premier League football? But then there's a Sunderland fan who's joining us. First of all, he says, you've got a great lad, really good player in the Championship. and then he went, he's always fit, runs and runs. Wouldn't worry about that. He's always never injured. Also never injured. Always. That wouldn't have been good. So, yeah, I think he'll become, I'm sure he'll be a player on the bench at first, Stu, but is he going to be like maybe a Lewis Travis where he sort of breaks into the team?

11:17Stuart Watson:Yeah, I guess it's slightly different when you look back at the Travis one. He was clearly the sort of the Morsi backup that stepped in when required. Matasiwa's not dropping out of the team unless he's suspended or injured. I think that's pretty clear. He's been the pick of the summer signings. I think his most likely route into the team is alongside Matasiwa in the short time. And both Taylor and Kuyusta have had good moments in this season. Jens Kuyusta hasn't been able to nail down the spot. Let's be honest, he hasn't quite lived up to what we hoped he would be in the Championship. given what he did in the Premier League and the fact he's on loan from Napoli.

12:01Stuart Watson:That said, I have liked some of the stuff he's done, particularly in the home games, either side of Christmas. But that off-the-ball side of things with the ends is, I would say, still a question mark. And there's obviously the fitness question mark against him being able to rattle out the games. Jack Taylor, he's been fine. He's been solid, hasn't he? He's added a bit of bite. He's added a bit of positional discipline to the team at time. But if we're being brutally honest, that's probably a player that Ipswich were going to look to upgrade in time. And Dan Neal on paper looks like he could be that.

12:37Stuart Watson:I mean, I don't want to do Jack Taylor too much of a disservice. He's an Ireland international and he's been playing well for the team whenever called upon. But I think that that extra strength in depth in that department is required. With Cameron Humphries going out, it was kind of three players battling for two spots. And it only takes, as we've seen recently, one or two injuries to kind of change the picture of a certain unit in the team. So I think it's wise that Ipswich have gone out and got another, definitely.

13:06Ross Halls:Yeah, and just a question here from Michael Brown. Don't know if you know, Stu, is the loan obligation to buy should get promoted? But maybe, Michael, you may not know. He's out of contract in the summer. So it's really up to potentially Dan, Neil, you know, what he wants to do. Because, yeah, he probably knows his future at Sunderland is done. So, yeah, it's up to him, really. If he does well here and, yeah, if he gets promoted, then I'm sure there could be a potential there, Stu. But it's probably open to him, pretty much.

13:33Stuart Watson:Yeah, I don't know what sort of discussions have been had beyond the end of this season. As you say, it's a slightly different one in terms of obligation to buy type thing. You say, obviously, there's nothing to kind of set up with Sunderland because he's out of contract and he's 24. So it's beyond that cutoff point for kind of compensation needing to be paid to clubs. So, yeah, he's a free agent in the summer as it stands. Whether Ipswich have had discussions with him to say, look, here's a contract. Here's what a contract would look like, you know, if we go up. And I don't know at this stage.

14:13Stuart Watson:We'll have to find out a little bit more on that one. But you would imagine if Ipswich go up and he does well, it's a no-brainer that he stays longer.

14:23Ross Halls:Definitely. And he-he, 6-9-5-9 is a confirmation of his kit number. Yes, number six he's got. Taking Luke Wolfen's number. So that is his position. I think that's a solid midfield number, number six. So I like it. Although a lot of talent defenders have had it in the past. Kevin Beatty, famous Warwick. I think even Terry Butcher as well. So, but yeah, number six he's got. But we've got a lot of questions, Stu. Let's go through them. Let's do this one from Nathan Hall all the way in Australia, who mentioned it's like so hot there at 10 a.m., 10 p.m. So it's raining catching the dogs in Suffolk.

14:59Ross Halls:So, yeah, not a nice day. Yeah, not good. Storm, there's a new storm about, isn't there? So that's hit England. But let's do this one from Nathan. Does this mean that Taylor Qstay may play further forward? But does this mean Smonics is at risk for departure or is he shifting back to left 10 while JP is injured? Thoughts do?

15:23Stuart Watson:Not necessarily. Mehmeti's in, who can obviously play. We've seen him make his debut off the bench as that central 10 at the weekend. Numbers have been reduced up there, haven't they, with the Philogene injury with Nunez out for a little bit longer than we first feared. so do it which need to push someone further forward into the 10 slot not so sure out of those two I think Jens would be the one that I wouldn't mind experimenting with a little bit further forward but I don't know if that's necessarily the plan I think it will just be those I say those four slugging it out for two spots Matasiru I think has got one nailed down and it's the other three battling for one spot at the moment.

16:11Stuart Watson:But versatility is clearly a big thing for McKenna when he looks at signing players. How many times you never hear McKenna say when someone signs, I've got this particular role in mind for them. It's always that they can play in various positions and I like that. So, Mometi can play left, right, through the middle. Neil, he's talked about different types of midfield roles there. But yeah, that left-sided box-to-box midfield role for Neil, and I don't necessarily see anyone else's role changing because of that.

16:45Ross Halls:Yeah, it's funny that a lot of his signings, if you think about even the defensive unit, Dara Shea can play at right-back, Shea can play at left-back, I think even Sajid Kipre, well, once upon a time was a striker in his youth. There's so many players who can play different... I know it's all matters to see where that is his position. I know, I'm sure if you put him a bit further forward, you never know. But yeah, it's interesting. But obviously, still a lot of the comments is about strikers. I think Jacob, the earlier, I think the first comment we had said, morning boys, any news on a striker?

17:16Ross Halls:Paul here just needed a striker now and it's been a good window. Agreed. Do you think that is? Yeah, I think it's two good solid signings. Yeah, the striker is a big talking point, especially after the weekend's performance.

17:28Stuart Watson:Well, the first thing to say is Ipswich are up to five loan players now, which is the maximum you can name in a matchday squad. Yes, you can have more than five if you choose to, but then you're in a scenario where you have to start leaving somebody out of your 20-man matchday squad. You just had to have a little think about that, which is not an ideal situation. So the five loanies are Kipre, Kuyusta, who else have we got, Ross? Akpom. ACPOM, Azon and now Neil so first question is would McKenna want to have more than five and we can ask him that at his press conference later in the week if that's something that he's considering, if he doesn't and he wants to bring another one in might he consider ending one of those loans the only one that you could see that being potentially on the cards for is Tuba ACPOM I would suggest who is currently injured with a groin injury.

18:32Stuart Watson:Don't think that's long term from what we've been told. If Ipswich want to use a loan spot, it will be almost certainly for a striker. So, you know, Atpon would be the one that I would say is in that conversation. And Ipswich are also back up to 25 senior players now. Now, we've had two depart in Humphreys and Harry Clark on loans, which freed up the two spots for Mometti and Dan Neal. So in order to facilitate any further signings, senior signings, it's a case of either somebody departing or somebody being deregistered. Now, there are some options. Ashley Young has picked up quite a bad hip injury by all accounts.

19:19Stuart Watson:Good chance that it could deregister him for the second half of the season. And if you really wanted to, you could deregister David Button as a veteran third choice goalkeeper to free up a spot. Ben Johnson is someone we've talked about leaving for a little while. But Ashley Young's injury may mean that they want to keep him around as a backup right back, especially with Harry Clark out the building. Elkhart Baggett. Kieran McKenna's talked about being a little bit wary of only carrying three centre-halves for the second half of the season, and Baggett is the fourth choice there at the moment, and he was on the bench last time out, so I wonder if they'll want to keep him around.

20:02Stuart Watson:So that's the state of play in terms of loans and the squad size, and I know that what people are now shouting and demanding for is a striker. And I can see it. I mean, I've been talking for a little bit there, Ross. I'll get your thoughts on striker. What do you think? We've got Hurst, Azon and a currently injured Akpom. Is that enough? How would you feel if they didn't sign a striker before the deadline? It wouldn't be the end of the world.

20:36Ross Halls:But Nathan's actually made a good point here. could the central striker be an under 21 you know so a young player maybe on loan from a

20:42Stuart Watson:Premier League club but then so all loans count towards the squad limit regardless of age so even if he signed an 18 19 year old on loan that would count so the only way that you could get around the squad rule is to sign somebody under the age of 21 permanently yeah which is fair um so yeah