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Episode 133 - Wolves Preview: The biggest game of the season!
32 Plays24 days ago
Rob & Tom look ahead to Saturday's season-defining game against Wolves at Portman Road. The lads discuss just how important this game is, compare the form of the two sides in recent weeks and delve into the team news to try and predict how Town will line up.
The Daily Ipswich Podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, is the home of all your ITFC. Join us every weekday for the latest news, build-up and reaction in the club's first season back in the Premier League.
Host: Rob Binns
Guests: Tom Crack
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Transcript
Introduction to The Daily Ipswich Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Ipswich, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place to find daily content on every Premier League club, wrap-ups in multiple languages and all your women's football news as well.
Ipswich Town's Recent Premier League Success
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there's a big, big start and talking point for our point of view over the last couple of days. As you would have heard from James' solo episode yesterday, Ipswich Town have won a game of Premier League football in 2025, finally we're We're going to talk briefly about that today, as obviously james James covered that yesterday on his own, but you haven't heard my thoughts or those of Tom, who is joining me today. So I'm going to chuck you straight in now, Tom, that before we get on to a Wolves preview, which is the primarily what this episode is, what were your thoughts on Wednesday night's game?
00:00:58
Tom Crack
Yeah, I mean, I'll start off by saying, I mentioned it to you guys yesterday, that I was, I'm living up north now, was hanging out with an old schoolmate that night, and in the brief occasions we've watched it, which together, he's been with me when we beat Chelsea, and also the game against Huddersfield on the final of day last season, and and again with me last night. So very much a good luck charm. So, Isaac, if you're listening, please, if you can find a way to join me on Saturday, be greatly appreciated. But,
00:01:23
Tom Crack
Yeah, I mean, i feel a bit guilty to be honest, Rob, because ahead of the game in the preview week, I felt like I was more working for Daily Bournemouth Daily Ipswich.
Ipswich vs Bournemouth: Strategy and Performance
00:01:33
Tom Crack
singing Bournemouth's praises, quite rightly, of how they've been this season. And you were quite rightly saying, you know, they've been on bad form at home and obviously the cup and stuff. It's a good time to playing them.
00:01:43
Tom Crack
And I should have sung your tune, honestly, mate, because, you know, obviously we did expect to sit back against the top side, which is exactly what happened, but took our chances really, really well. I thought these are some of the best goals we've scored all season, especially the second in terms of building up from the back, which is what we...
00:01:58
Tom Crack
made famous for in League One of the Championship, and it's been hard to do so in the Premier this season for obvious reasons. But to see us score a goal like that was just, you know, no no matter how this season goes, <unk> I've been very adamant, and it's a small hill to die on, but i'm been very adamant that we have been the best side of the three that have gone up, and last night proved that ever more, didn't it?
00:02:15
Tom Crack
And just from starting at the back, and then Q stays ball over, and Townsend and Delap sort of pairing up, leading to a fantastic goal, and what was the winning goal of Bournemouth getting a what would be a consolation a few minutes later. Just, yeah, really big, massive. Well, obviously this is a Wolves previous. We will get into the nitty gritty of Saturday's game.
00:02:34
Tom Crack
It makes this weekend huge and gives us a slight chance, doesn't it? Which, you know, you wouldn't have said that it but heading down to the South Coast ahead of the game on Wednesday night, but lads pulled it through and I'm so chuffed for them.
Optimism for Ipswich's Premier League Season
00:02:43
Tom Crack
But yeah, huge, huge result. I'm really, really happy and have been few and far between this year. And so when they do come, you've got to really appreciate them. I'm very much doing so, but Yeah, waffled on there a bit, but really happy. How about you the win and thoughts on the game, mate?
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
Preview: Ipswich vs Wolves - A Season-Defining Match
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
well, it was fantastic game, wasn't it? the is It went how we thought it was going to have to go. And the way we played isn't too different from how we have been the rest of the season.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've just actually put the ball in the net and the at the right time.
00:03:12
Tom Crack
Hmm.
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the only difference. that like We've scored both goals really well well created and well taken as well, which is obviously which is almost always a boost in that and that sense. But say the sort of sit-back...
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
spring on the counter attack. like It's the way we've been trying to play. so The two big differences is we actually put we actually finished the chances when we made them, which we aren't very good at doing. But also, it's just we spoke about people, so Hutchinson in particular, but we spoke about the problem being getting the ball out.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Cito was fantastic at that. Obviously, you see it the most notable example of the first goal where he just drives before poking ball head in. But that's that's what we've been missing, that that player to just take the ball and get us out of that and be the one to actually spring that counter attack, to try and go and create something with it Because there's no good sitting back if you don't then go and build a counter. Because if you just keep giving away, it becomes an onslaught.
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
We finally sort of ticked that box off in a game and there's no surprise that we then went on to win it, even though we but got pep with a few times. The goal, didn't we? It's a 20-odd shots we almost had. But then also we spoke about confidence at the back.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and everything We've got we got a decent goalkeeper back there now who instils confidence in his defence and makes a few saves. and ah so Some of the key problems weren't there in that game Wednesday night, but it's whether was that just a fantastic one-off or have we have we solved those problems to try and just in time to try and pull off an improbable great escape. I don't know, but I'm happy with the game and so even more happy that it makes me, I've come out of last week's set of podcasts looking really well because a lot of the stuff I said would happen did happen so that's salvaged me from a lot of the bad takes I've had going into games prior international break that that we've we've gone away and obviously got everything right in that two week period off and looks like I've done the same so far so hopefully I'm, because I'm fairly confident now after Wednesday you're going into this game Saturday so I'm hoping that I'll sit here and
00:05:03
Tom Crack
good.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
spew all the same stuff I did on a Bournemouth preview and all come right again like I did this time around because we will see but let's move on to the game Saturday obviously that's what we're here for on for the Friday episode and there's no point sugarcone is it it's the biggest game of the season for us there's no way of getting around that look obviously after everything we happened at the Southampton game we we spent the whole week calling up biggest game the season and we and then all
00:05:24
Tom Crack
Right.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
blew up on the faces when we got beat. So we've we've been trying to tone things down best we can, but this game is massive because it's season-defining, isn't it? Because six points, you ji if we can if we win the game, gap to six, you just sort of think we get a chance. and Obviously, there'll be the mental aspect on there as well, Wolves knowing that we beat them for us winning two games in a row.
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then loss back to 12 points with seven games left. eight games left to have many years you yeah seven yeah seven games left you wouldn't you won't feel confident and even a draw staying at nine points with seven games left you'd feel like it was pretty much over wouldn't you so it's there's there's no way of putting it besides i'd say it's absolutely huge it's season defining it's make or break ultimately isn't it for survival chances and
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
What are your general thoughts? like Obviously, I suppose a bit more buoyed after Wednesday night, but how you feeling and going in into tomorrow?
00:06:53
Tom Crack
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm echoing all your sentiments there about it being absolutely massive and trying not to up play it in my head so much before the ball gets kicked to Portman Road tomorrow. But it is huge, isn't it? You know, I think talking about the mental aspects, obviously, know, a month or so ago, we were five points behind. If we win this game, we're with the six, which is, you know, worse off than what we would have been a month or so ago. But mentally, it's huge. I think going into the game,
00:07:19
Tom Crack
regardless of formations and players and stuff, one of the things we're going to have, I hope to have at least compared to Wolves, is that sort of go and get it attitude because we know we have to win with wolves. They're very much thinking if you said, if we draw the gap still there, know mean? Like just don't, don't lose. We're with us. It's all we have to win, which hopefully could be a sort of a hurdle for us as well to go over them. Knowing like we have to do this. Whereas them, it's like, as long as we don't lose, it's fine.
00:07:46
Tom Crack
Which, you know, I guess is always the mindset to have on the road. We beat them already. I know it was a last minute winner at Molyneux, but you know, we have got that over them as well. home has been a lot harder than away for some reason this season, which, you know, again, proved that the case at Vitality and obviously games against the likes of Southampton has proved at home that it's much harder to find three points to put on road for some reason. But yeah, it's huge, isn't it?
00:08:11
Tom Crack
I've always like said, like, as long as we're, because i don't think there's any shame in going down considering the journey we've been on the past couple of years and the quick rise we've had. But the thing I wanted to see from us, and if we've been on this weekend,
00:08:22
Tom Crack
it will very much be the case that, you know, we've we've given a go of it and we've given a fight. We haven't just sort of sat down on our backs like, yes, they beat us, but like Southampton to an extent, Leicester, where you just felt like they were nailed shut the second they went up, which people might have thought that about us, but we didn't.
00:08:36
Tom Crack
And, you know, the fact that we could potentially be within six points and then, you know, it's anyone's guess really after that as to how how things go from there. Like momentum is such a big thing in football and you can find your feet at the right time of the year. And if we get a win on the weekend, it seems like we're doing that.
00:08:49
Tom Crack
For sure. Obviously, Wolves are coming off of victory as well. They have been in good form recently, unfortunately. Hence why we are in this position. But yeah, it's huge. I wish I was going to it. I hope Portman Road are as loud as they can be. There's been a few drab atmospheres this season with results obviously not going our way.
00:09:03
Tom Crack
But everyone knows, including us and everyone listening, how big this game is. So hopefully players, fans, light will push us over the line to get us within six and keep that scrap potentially going. But yeah, it's massive, isn't it?
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like you say, despite what the form is, you really would would want a game as big as this at home rather than away. Because I can't imagine that, as I say, it's it's the biggest game
00:09:24
Tom Crack
Yep, definitely.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
for us obviously I can't imagine that they won't provide the biggest atmosphere. like that There's got to. it's like There's no outcome in my head where even if we lose the game where the stadium's quiet from the off and nobody's up for it, it will be bouncing. and The cliche 12-man will need to be there and because, like you said, there hasn't there has been some games where this year where actually probably more often than there has been high-tempo games, which obviously comes down to the poor form as well.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't be expected to bring the noise when what you're seeing on the pitch is rubbish a lot of the time. But it's a huge game.
00:10:08
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
We know we know what how good Portman Road can be when we're up for it. And say you've got to you've got to go and say the pressure's on us, so you've got to go and produce something and this game because it is like, there's yes, there's there's seven games to go and anything can happen, but it feels like like It might as well be the last day of the season and and this is what to play for. That's almost like a cup final mindset. That's what it's got to be.
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
You ignore what's happened before, what's come after. It's about this 90 minutes and getting the job done. As it is obviously for Wolves as well. But from their point of view, like you say, that they they can afford to take far less risk in the things they do in this game than we do. that The pressure is all on us. and Winning Wednesday night is...
00:10:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to be just sort of the boost we needed in there but like you say it's it's probably a hit we can afford to take relegation but it doesn't mean we want to in any way and while while we're still kicking there is then there's going to be big hope like I say we're sort of keeping the heads on at the moment because you need to know how Saturday goes you don't want to start getting excited after the Bournemouth result because ultimately things haven't changed and where we were because Wolves win Tuesday night we're
00:11:07
Tom Crack
yeah
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
where we were where we were we won less games or actually we tend to be in a worse position than where we were at the weekend because we're in hell but just getting in the win like you say we've only had six all year all competitions and think two of them have been in the cup they've fought four league win since coming up they don't come around very often so reason to celebrate but I think it's been fairly tame because everybody knows that it means nothing if we don't go and get the result on Saturday but
00:11:41
Tom Crack
Yeah.
Wolves' Form and Ipswich's Consistency Challenge
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It won't be easy for us against Wolves. Like you said, they're in good form. And we're going have a quick break now to hear from one of the sponsors. And when we come back, we'll diving into Wolves in recent weeks and months and just exactly what kind of challenge they're going to pose for us.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are back for the second part of today's Daily Ipswich. It is the Friday preview show. Of course, looking ahead to the huge match against Wolves at Portman Road tomorrow afternoon. But let's speak more about Wolves, Tom.
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've made the point on here about this time in the year, you don't want to play teams down the bottom. And not the importance of picking up a run of form and making the most when you have a run of games that you see winnable.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's something that I've criticised us for not doing when we've had these runs of games, but Wolves have done it.
00:13:18
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because the last seven, so since the 1st of February, in the last seven games, they got 13 points out of 21. For team down the bottom, that is fantastic for them. And they've only lost twice in that time. One of those was a away to Liverpool, who were storming the league. so like you can't really, you can't discredit them for not picking up a result there.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when you look at some of the games, like say, they're having that run of games where you think, win You look at their last three, that Everton at home, Southampton ha away, West Ham at home. You look at that as a and you think, it's like like you say with our sort of run games at the end of the season, the last four are still in it by them.
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got to go and get so respectable points totals from those games.
00:13:55
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm.
00:13:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously they've had the dilemma of the whole Cunha situation with his red card. mean, he was banned for this very winnable run of games they've got. it hasn't mattered. They've got seven points from those games.
00:14:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a sort of run that... I've looked at saying how desperate we are for that on the run of these games and we never produce it. They've gone and got it done and looked at us. Like I could say, they've got, what, 29 points all season? They've got 13 of them in the last two months when when there's so when the chips start getting down. And they've reacted very well, haven't they, so that to being in the position where they were that a game as the games dropped down.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's something we haven't done.
00:14:38
Tom Crack
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's looking at their, their run of form, as you said, it's, you know, it's, it's things like going on a little run, which we've,
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:14:45
Tom Crack
been hoping for would come all season. And then there's been brief moments when you think it could, and then it slightly hasn't. But I think of them, like, obviously they brought in Vita Pereira in mid-December of last year after Gary Nill was sacked.
00:14:57
Tom Crack
And, you know, he's kind of flown under the radar. I'm not necessarily saying, you know, he's the sole reason why they've had this bit of bounce back because... I think the squad is kind of, in my opinion, more the main reason. Because the girls Strand, Larsson and then if few other top players like that recently, they've always kind of found their feet a bit more, which, you know, and they have a bit more quality than we do, which I think is probably why they're in a slightly higher position than we are.
00:15:20
Tom Crack
Because when we played them early in the season, I said to you guys, obviously when we beat them in the season, but I said to you guys how this has been the worst we've played all season, just in terms of like the fan atmosphere and the quality on the pitch and stuff. I would have really annoyed if we didn't get a win out that game. but Yeah, go going on this run recently, it's like, you know, maybe hopefully it's the Rumble end on a weekend, but it's they found their form or what would be considered their best form at the right time, haven't they? It's just hoping that it comes to an end this weekend. But, you know, they've played favourable opposition and they've they've made they've made the most of it. And, you know, I've i've kind of likened them to a one-man team this year of Kunyan. They've shut me up full well there because, free as you said, three games about him will be a fourth against us this weekend.
00:16:03
Tom Crack
And they've they've done fantastic. You know, sometimes that that one big focal point in the team can make you as a team mentally very one dimensional. You as a team might think, let's get the ball to Matthias and he could the rest. And they know they haven't got that safety net anymore. And they've had to sort of come up with a new game plan to get everyone else involved and stuff. And it seems to have worked. I mean, most likely, where but whether they're the Premier League or not next season,
00:16:23
Tom Crack
they are going prepare for a life of Atmotez Kunia. And if this was what it looks like, then they're in for good stead. I mean, just talking about the manager there as well, since he's been, he's had 17 games and won eight of them. So it's just under 50% win rate, which, you know, for that team, that part of the you would want straight away, wouldn't you? But yeah, it's it's it's, you know, these are the games we hope to get something from.
00:16:47
Tom Crack
Ideally, this is not the time you would want to be playing them. But then again, maybe it is. After coming off one of our rare wins, hopefully we can get something from it. But you know they're not they're not in any they're not in bad form themselves, are they? So it's going to an interesting matchup. But you've just got to hope that we are putting our best foot forward more than them and we can come out on top. But it's it's going to be a good game between two sides who are confident after the international break, which, you know, who would have fought that if it was town after how 2025 has gone. But it's it's a good good way to be heading in into the game, isn't it?
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but we're in a much better position than we would have been if you'd asked us on Tuesday night before that game had happened. Obviously, fresh off the walls win against West Ham, it went to 12 points, we'd all effectively given up and 24 hours later, it's back to nine, we've got a win to celebrate it's a very active thing, football, isn't it?
00:17:23
Tom Crack
yeah
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I always think that
00:17:37
Tom Crack
Oh, yeah.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're completely down the bottom where we are. It feels like week on week you're flipping between we're going to do it and I give up. where It's over. We're down. It feels like almost every week that changes back and forth.
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
The recent run of form from Wolves had pretty much made all of us give up give up hope. But it's amazing what a win will do. and There's also obviously there's the argument that it's the hope that kills you. and Should we have kept that mindset of they maybe giving up and taking the pressure off but the thing is as well obviously it's a massive game like we've said but <unk> still gain there's still seven games to go after this and there's still even if we win there's still six points to make up and I look at Wolves that we talk about favourable games in there that exactly yeah so goal difference is basically an extra point as in there as well unless we thrash them on Saturday to try and knock it down a bit it's effectively seven like it's effectively ten points now so we can get it down to basically seven but
00:18:23
Tom Crack
And goal difference.
00:18:36
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tell about this run games. They've had seven there run seven games in the league where you wouldn't say it's unrealistic to go and get points. and say Everton have been very good under David Moyes. They've got a draw there. It's very good draw. Southampton away, you expect them to win. West Ham at home, you expect them to win. They'll see this game against us as as big of an opportunity as we do against them. they don They've gone up top them at home next week. It was so inconsistent. You can get something there.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then go to Old Trafford, which again, I said it when we went there, it's on paper, it's one of the easiest grounds to go to and as a wayside. United's home form is rubbish, they tend to roll over.
00:19:10
Tom Crack
Yep.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've got Leicester at home, which again, they'll see as an absolute, like, that has to be a win from the way they look at it. that
00:19:19
Tom Crack
yep
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
they This run, they'd looked at this run as a make or break spell, wouldn't they? that Having that that seven, those seven games over like a month or two period. is And so far, so good. Like say, they're unbeaten from the first three of those games. And As much as say we're sitting here and saying how good of a chance we've got, guarantee you that Wolves fans are sitting there saying how good of an opportunity they've got despite our win on Wednesday night.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
They'll be wanting to come to Portland Road, get a result and end it in their eyes, won't they?
00:19:48
Tom Crack
And things.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And everyone's asked.
00:19:49
Tom Crack
Yep. Yep.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. that It can go both ways, this game. And the big thing for me, which we're going to touch on shortly when we get onto team news, is like you said, that we've sort plastered them off If Kunia left in January, they'd have gone down.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's his goals, it's his involvements that carry him through the games. That's the difference. They've got this one really, really top-class player who can go to a much higher level that drags him through games. And that's what us promoted teams don't have.
00:20:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's got he got himself a stupid red card. There's even been some say some of the more reactive fans are even calling for him to not play again. because it's his attitude that's seen him get a couple of bans. He's obviously had some incident after the game at Molineux when we went there that saw him get two-game ban as well. And then they've gone on to get seven points in the first three games he's not played. Like you said, they've proven us wrong. They've proven everybody wrong in that sense. And they've stranded last and stepped up, got the goals. They also recruited well in January like that.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Munezzi or Monsetti, whatever his name is, It looks very... It's slotted into that role that Kunja would normally play and looks actually quite strong there. Agba do in the middle of the defence. It's done very well as well. that so All things are just sort pointing towards Wolves at the moment and it's about... and they'll come into this game with confidence because of that. So it's about us just want to flip that round, isn't it? But also, like I say, that despite everything I've just said, Kunja is still their best player and...
00:21:24
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm.
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
as we know as we know, like said, the biggest bit of team news for this game actually came a couple of weeks ago when his ban got extended to confirm he would miss this six-pointer. And that's probably not as much of a threat as we thought it would have been when he when he first got suspended to know that it could have dragged on and got this game. We'd have been delighted. But the way they played recently, you never know. But That's your early starter into some team news. We're go to have another quick break to hear from another one of the sponsors here on the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then when we come back, we'll delve into the team news coming out both sides and whether there's been any injury news from the midweek matches.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We
Team News and Tactical Analysis for Ipswich vs Wolves
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
are back for the final part of today's show and going to get into team news now. Let's start with Wolves because we spoke about them for the last section there. So it makes sense to group all together.
00:22:39
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
they They managed to avoid any key injuries on Tuesday night as we did. There's nothing new picked up on the midweek games, which is the first thing you've got a hope to try and get through on on a when you have two games in a week like that. But Obviously, we we know the big one, Noah Matias, Cunha still, that ban's been extended. I said that one already.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that how big of a loss do you think that is? you Does that still excite you as much as it would have done before they'd gone on this run without him?
00:23:09
Tom Crack
Honestly, no, Rob. I think as you've kind of pointed out there and I've said as well, the fact that, you know, the team's gelled very well in the past three games, especially with this team that Pereira's put together.
00:23:21
Tom Crack
And I think the main reason being is like just going forward, they seem to have found a bit more dimension to themselves. Strand Larsson, you know, he scored three goals in his last two league games. You know, he's decent player coming into Wolves and stuff. And I would have expected that.
00:23:34
Tom Crack
you quite decent start the season. fact, to go against Chelsea their, home opener as well. So he's always kind of been there and he's he's a decent striker as well. And I think just finding that consistency amongst the the team, you look at their last starting XI, like there's some, you know, yes, they may have flagged recently, but your likes of Semedo and Aitnuri, you know, i potentially could be Europa League Champions League fullbacks. And then Andre and Gio Gomez, not that level, i would I'd say, but decent sentiment pairing.
00:24:00
Tom Crack
Very impressed, as you said, with Minetzi, but also young Frenchman, Bellegarde as well. just a blistering amount of pace. So they've got, they've got some threats there and Doherty, Totty, and then Agba do at the back as well. It's, it's a decent side on paper. just, they've struggled really to find it this season. It's only been the last month they've done that. So I think looking at the way they line up, if it's, uh, I think the last formation they had was three, four, two, one, which is actually kind of what we had at Bournemouth, but kind of more of a, more of a five of Johnson in that weird sort of inverted right wing back, right winger role, which,
00:24:32
Tom Crack
has worked with Shreit lot of the time. We'll touch on Towns stuff in a sec. But yeah, it could also come could almost be a like-for-like kind of match-up in terms of formation here and how they how they go go against each other. But and some there's a lot of pace in this side on both both wings and then a big bolstering for centre-forward as well with Nistran Larsson. So it's very similar set-up to Town as well.
00:24:50
Tom Crack
It's just really who's going to have that blow there. But yeah, it's a de decent line-up. I hope we can find some weaknesses maybe in that centre as well because Q-Stay will definitely... tower over his opposites in the centre of the park and hopefully that could be a game changer because he's been very, very good recently.
00:25:05
Tom Crack
But yeah, decent 11 all-round really, especially in last few games. so
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think he did a bit disservice to Jao Gomez. I think he's a fantastic player. I really think he's another one that could really...
00:25:16
Tom Crack
Maybe...
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
hey i expect him to move, definitely, if they would if they end up being the one who get relegated and we pull it off. But think he could very easily get a move higher up in the summer. I think he's a really he's a really top player in there.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he and i I sort of wondered if someone would come in in January.
00:25:31
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, the big discussion was Kunia there. But I think there's a lot of there's a lot of teams higher up the table he walks into their midfield. And I suppose you maybe you say you make the same point about Cajuste, the way played this year for us. But I'd say he's a player I'm a big fan of. And I do think that you've got to cut him off with Wolves as well. Because he does, see he he contributes up there and up there with goals and assists as well.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah He can do a bit of everything in there. And he's he's a man that, I would say that battle of him against, say, Morsi Phillips, whoever plays next and next to Cajuste, that,
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
their role is going to be to probably shut him out the game. And if they do that successfully, I think we have that increase increases our chances quite a lot. But just want to talk about Stran Larsson as well, like you said there.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's someone who's gone very under the radar this year because he's only got one less goal than Liam De Lapp.
00:26:24
Tom Crack
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got the same amount of assists. And obviously you think how good De Lapp's been. Stran Larsson's just sort of tucked behind the shadows there of obviously Cunha,
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
gets all the headlines at Wolves but like you say he's been there thereabouts and that you always say it that team have about like it's a conversation that comes up a lot about Chris Wood at the moment now when people are saying we shouldn't be surprised that he's hit this level now he's playing for a team that's doing better at the table because he was a consistent 10 goal a year st striker down the bottom that's what you need isn't he someone who can go and get ten fifteen goals Wolves got two of them which is a big difference there because i was like I said we've obviously got the lab but then the dr the gap then drops down to like four or five
00:27:03
Tom Crack
Thank you.
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas you've got Cunha who's bagging them in and making loads of opportunities for others as well. But then have two strikers into double figures of goals when you're down the bottom is quite rare.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so Strand-Lar, he just ticks along and he pops up when he needs to. He gets lot of the big goals. Like say, they're both against Southampton, the winner against West Ham, just in last two games. it's not It's not three and two that have meant nothing. and they've won they He's got them those six points for those goals.
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as I say, again, and somewhat a threat to be quashed there, because like you said, Wolves have got very strong team. like That's interesting that, let's go on to the Ipswich side of things then, like you say, the wing-backs are a big part of the system for Wolves, aren't they?
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ait Nuri and Samedo Doherty, whoever actually plays a wing-back while the other one stops in at centre-half, but know they can both do both, but do you think because of that, we will match like we have done?
00:27:58
Tom Crack
yeah
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll go with the five again with Johnson in there to sort of Because Nuri especially likes to get forward. Do you think you expect us to sort of stick? I'm going to double it in with a second question more about about personnel as well.
00:28:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you expecting unchanged after a result like it was Wednesday night?
00:28:22
Tom Crack
I mean, it's difficult, isn't it? Like, you know, we've we've said many times it's hard to predict a lineup with Townsend in terms of injuries and all that sort of stuff, because I very much was way off ahead of Wednesday night's game in terms of players starting, know, likes of Townsend and Broadhead coming into the side, two very, very good performances there.
00:28:39
Tom Crack
ah it's It's difficult, isn't it? Because we've always kind of said how, you know, five at the back, you you know you absorb a lot of pressure and, you know, It's worked in some games and it really hasn't worked in other games, albeit, you know, against the likes of Liverpool and City and Arsenal and stuff. But the the the right side, I think, of Twanzebi being, I mean, firstly, like, just, you know, I'm sure, and obviously, James put a touch upon it on the Bournemouth recap. But Twanzebi, he's such a difference maker, isn't he, when he comes back into the side.
00:29:04
Tom Crack
Just so self-assured, doesn't really get outmatched for pace against, you know, the likes of who was against Semenyo on Wednesday. He's been, like, a proper star this season. And it gives that sort of stability and reassurance for the centre-backs and kind of do their things. You know, you haven't got Darragh Shea playing out position on the right side.
00:29:20
Tom Crack
You also just announce like Burgess and whoever is there to sort of be more confident stick in that position rather than having to run long in cover because the right back isn't as strong as when Twanzebi's there. But that pairing of Johnson and Twanzebi, I think, because he doesn't really play a right wing, right wing like you an Amari Hutchinson or a Wes Burns does. so But he's not playing a right back like a Twanzebi. He's kind of just hovering in this weird air of the pitch.
00:29:43
Tom Crack
But when he's done that, he's always kind of picked the ball up in really pivotal areas. And I think it's been really key. I think looking at, so I can't be on the tangent there, Rob, I apologise. But I think in terms of looking at the starting XI, with it being so close to, what, Wednesday nights, you've got a,
00:29:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amen.
00:29:58
Tom Crack
Firstly, for you to get two days to recover, I would expect to see some changes in there. But it's it's hard to see really where those changes will come from in terms of quality. I mean, the the guys who came off the bench on Wednesday night was Phillips, Taylor, Hurst, Philogene and Clark.
00:30:11
Tom Crack
I can maybe see Philogene filling up that role that maybe Johnson had. But, you defensively, he's not as sound as Johnson, is he? and Maybe one of us was for NCISO and Broadhead, but then Broadhead got a goal. So that won't go down well with the town fans and especially a lot of us at the podcast here.
00:30:28
Tom Crack
I'd like to say be the same XI, but it's hard to say with how close it is. Maybe if Davis is fit or come back, but Townsend's been, again, another player. He hasn't put a foot wrong in the the cameos he's had this season. The draw at Villa, he he was probably one of our best players. And then just the sprinklings of games he's had this season. He hasn't, as I said, hasn't put a foot wrong, has he? you know And if Davis does, heaven forbid, leave us come summer,
00:30:51
Tom Crack
I know Townsend, I think he's in his early 30s, but I'm very confident of the player we have there, whether he can do it for a full 42, 38-game season remains to be seen. But very much just quality there. I think the biggest sort of, in terms of changes we may see in the starting XI tomorrow would be the centre-back pairing.
00:31:10
Tom Crack
I feel like backroom-wise, maybe it's not the case, but I feel like you know you you invest that much in Jacob Greaves, you want him to be starting and all that. But Burgess, you know, he's been an unsung hero for town, for for us on the podcast December last year.
00:31:23
Tom Crack
And again, you know, we've always said he plays better for Davis, but his distribution and his confidence on the ball is something none of our centre-backs have compared to him, I don't think. And it's the thing I see of Greaves, we panic so much. He's given a lot of goals away through his poor distribution and ball control at the back.
00:31:38
Tom Crack
Whereas Burgess looks so self-assured in whether it's a long ball or a short one who plays the right pass, which, you know, you might say for a centre-back isn't necessarily the key trait to have because you're there to defend. But the way the game's played now, especially with how he likes to play and how he did play with our second goal, is playing from the back. And, you know, he's such a key player in that. So I'd like to see him start really. i mean, yeah, you come off a win, you want to see the same XI, really, don't you? But there's going be changes considering how close they are. I just hope they're not.
00:32:05
Tom Crack
pivotal ones or ones where you're thinking, oh, why has he come out? Like, say if Cuyuste or De Lapp or O'Shea went out, something like that, you'd be questioning a lot. But there's going to be some small changes to Anzebio and everyone. There's going to be some small changes which I think could be necessary.
00:32:17
Tom Crack
You know, we're playing a side who, on paper, we may have more of a chance in beating the likes of Bournemouth. So we may go a bit more attacking, but that sometimes hasn't favoured us, has it? you know But yeah, we'll see.
00:32:29
Tom Crack
Ramadan a bit there, my friend. But it's there's a lot of, like... variables going into this game, isn't it? Do you want to see the same 11 or do you think other players may come in? As I said, it's a short turnaround. I'm not sure on Hutchinson and Davis' fitness heading this game.
00:32:43
Tom Crack
I know i maybe they had a little knock before or during the international break with the under-21s.
00:32:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, that's the injury side of things, isn't it?
00:32:48
Tom Crack
Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, we had Twins AB come back from the start.
00:32:50
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
As I so say, I'm finally getting better at reading what happens now with these little tidbits we get from McKenna. I saw he said there'll be judgments to be made. was like, right, I think that means he's starting. Then I said it on the pod and he did end up starting. We had Chaplin back on the bench who didn't come on in the end as well.
00:33:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But just say, typically, we we get an attacker back, we get a defender back. And we lose two at the same time. But all we know at the moment is that it has something to with his hamstring for Hutchinson.
00:33:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
McKenna said he got it on the first session after he came back the international break.
00:33:22
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:33:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he obviously probably done it on the international break and then just twinged it again in training. So no timeframe on that yet. And they actually don't know what's wrong with Davis. They're just calling it a leg injury at the moment because they're still trying to find out exactly what it is before they can let They need to know what it is before they can then even start trying to guess when he's going be back, which is a strange one in that case.
00:33:45
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:33:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like I say, Townsend's been a very good deputy in that case. So I don't mind that. But for me, so with the exception of being if Davis is back fit, as good as Townsend would be, I would put Davis back in.
00:34:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't think you should make any changes.
00:34:04
Tom Crack
Yeah, definitely.
00:34:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
i know i ah ah i know it's... a quick turnaround Wednesday to Saturday, but I don't really care, to be honest with you. That team's gone out played fantastically, got a result.
00:34:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
that like we haven't We spoke about linking up together and bouncing off each other, like making the right runs and things like that. They were doing that. We haven't had that all year. and
00:34:28
Tom Crack
No. Hmm.
00:34:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look at Forest. Forest play near enough the same team every week. they change There's one or two positions they rotate occasionally they obviously when they're forced to. with injuries, they make changes.
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they're third. they like They know they're 11.
00:34:43
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm.
00:34:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, like I say, luck comes in with injuries and stuff. They know what their best 11 is. And they play it. And then if someone comes in and has a good game, they keep their spot the following week. It's been one of my b my biggest pet peeves about this season is how many, what looks like needless changes we make. look so Like said, we don't name the back four.
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
the same back four two games in a row, hardly ever. We don't know. like The midfield, like Caillou stays every week, but the Morsi and Phillips seem to swap every other week about who plays there. that The three behind the lap seem to change around. like Johnson, Broadhead and Cesar have just played fantastically together, but you wouldn't be surprised if one or two of them aren't in the team Wednesday, on Saturday.
00:35:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And like that's one of my biggest problems I've had this year is that making changes for change's sake. Like again, you said about Burgess there that Everything you said is true. But it still wouldn't surprise you Green's came back in Saturday, would it?
00:35:44
Tom Crack
No, not at all.
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's for me. It's got to be, like look, again, like you can't allow for injuries. so like If someone's felt something in that game and they're not 100% fit and they need to be on the bench or not in the squad at all, then fair enough. But if it's just a case of trying to battle fatigue in that, just play play that 11 and take them off.
00:36:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
if If they get tired, I'd rather like, so like in say in Cesar, for example, who've done a lot of running, it might be a bit much for him to do two big shifts in a few days, maybe.
00:36:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But start him, give him 60, he might have made it or scored a goal in that time. Whereas if you bring him on for half an hour, he could be 3-0 down. That's the chance you take.
00:36:28
Tom Crack
Yeah, true.
00:36:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You want your best...
00:36:28
Tom Crack
yeah true
00:36:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
that the best 11 you've got available should start on the pitch. It shouldn't be... The what fear of rotation at this point, it shouldn't be... like After such a good result, it should be as close to that 11 as we can get.
00:36:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like say, the exception for me is say injuries, isn't it? If someone's got a knock, then they might have to come out. If Hutchinson and Davis come back, maybe they come in because they are key players in the squad.
00:36:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if we... like It was six changes from the lot. It shows, obviously, how poor we have been leading up to that.
00:36:58
Tom Crack
Yeah,
00:37:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Six changes in total. And they got the job done. If it's if it's anywhere near that amount of changes again, then we will lose. that It's got to, for me, this's such a but it's such a bugbear of mine that making changes for the sake of changes.
00:37:09
Tom Crack
yeah i don't think it'll be that many changes.
00:37:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Like I could say, the forests have completely disproved that theory this year. And I love it because it's something i've always hated that They just named the same 11.
00:37:27
Tom Crack
Well, it's kind of like Yeah.
00:37:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
They played City and Newcastle, Arsenal, City, whoever, two games like that in a week. They played the same 11 both times. They got positive results in both games. It can be done. I know they obviously you got manage people's minutes with the amount of ACL injuries and things like that going up every year.
00:37:40
Tom Crack
yeah
00:37:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Forrest the example there that you can do it and it works. And but for me, after such a good result, we've got to play that 11 again.
00:37:55
Tom Crack
Yeah, well, it's kind of like, you know, just before we wrap up here, i like you look at like Forrest and like famous teams over the years that have had a good run. You look at like town the past two seasons before every game, we could kind of, with the exception of an injury, we could kind of name that starting 11 every single time.
00:38:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:38:10
Tom Crack
And that's like the the hallmark of a top side is that the first 11 picks itself. And when it doesn't, like we have pretty much all season while we've had this big guessing game, every single preview, of of like trying to predict to the 11 is because we still don't know our top best 11. It's 30 games into the season. Yes, injuries haven't helped us there, but, you know, fully fit, I still couldn't name our best 11, which is a shame. And you really should, like, be able to do that come this point of season. and Top sides, famous sides throughout footballing history. You can look back to, like, I'm not comparing this to this, obviously, but, like, Barcelona like, you can name that entire starting 11 there, like, you know, Invincibles. Like, there's teams you just, you can see on paper and that's the hallmark of a good side, isn't And we haven't,
00:38:50
Tom Crack
be able to find that top 11 this season, unfortunately. Yeah, but hopefully the one that's picked on Saturday tomorrow will be the one that can get us to six the three points and cut the gap to six.
00:39:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
Predictions and Closing Remarks
00:39:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
hope we hope so, obviously. Then let's wrap up then. We have to end on this. We will on every preview episode. There's probably not going to be and one as important as this.
00:39:14
Tom Crack
Okay.
00:39:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the scoreline. And what are you what do you think it's going to be by five o'clock on Saturday?
00:39:22
Tom Crack
Yeah, well, in in our four wins this season, you can count on one hand, unfortunately. Only one of those games has been a clean sheet, which obviously was at Portman Road. You have a three-all being exact same scoreline, 2-1. And that's what I'm going to go for in this game, 2-1. Wolves wos are in good form, as we have you said in this show, and they'll be confident in front of goals, especially if Strand last and up there.
00:39:41
Tom Crack
So I do expect us, unfortunately, to concede goal. Hopefully I'm wrong there. But... you know we've we've got to we have to win this game. it's just it's It's a must win. If we want to stand any hope of cutting that gap even more, we just have to do it.
00:39:52
Tom Crack
So i'm going to say goal from De Lapp, and you know he's been knocking the door a season from a corner. and I'll say a Dara O'Shea header to win the game. Maybe it's a winner from a corner like it was in Molotov as well. But yeah, I'll go 2-1 and we cut the gap to six.
00:40:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are the worst team in the league at defending corners. pointed that out last time we scored one.
00:40:10
Tom Crack
Yeah, there you go.
00:40:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, you never know, you never know.
00:40:12
Tom Crack
Yeah, exactly.
00:40:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to, I agree with you. i I said it Wednesday night and if you say, if you say we're going to win, you have to start at 2-1 because you can't back us, even though we look better now, you can't back us to keep a clean sheet because, i mean, even the goal we can see at Bournemouth, it's not very good, is it?
00:40:24
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:40:31
Tom Crack
It's dreadful. No, no.
00:40:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, like, in a game where, yeah, we were on the back, you can't say we were comfortable, but to concede a goal like that at 2-0 up just sums the season up at the back, really, doesn't it? that You can't bank on us to keep a clean sheet.
00:40:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also, you can't bank on us to score more than two. So it feels like if we're going to win a game, it's going to be 2-1. Because, you like, you want to go for a bit confidence, say, like, in 3-1, but don't think we're getting three.
00:40:52
Tom Crack
Hmm.
00:40:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it feels like the only score on we can win by at the moment is 2-1, like you say, hence the fact that three of the four wins we've got have been that scoreline. But yeah, so I'm going to match you on that.
00:41:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we're going to double up on prediction of 2-1 Ipswich, which will obviously, if it comes in, that will cut the gap down to six points with seven games to go.
00:41:19
Tom Crack
Yep.
00:41:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course, we will see how it goes from there. Whatever happens is still in Wolves' hands, but all we can do is go out and pick up as many points as we can and put the pressure on. And maybe at some point, it'll flip and be and go into our hands.
00:41:30
Tom Crack
yep
00:41:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
so we can That's all we can do at that point. The other seven games after this, there's nothing we could We could win all seven and Wolves win all seven and we make no progress. This is the one chance we get to guarantee the gap gets smaller with a win.
00:41:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've got to go out and do it. And we're feeling confident. Maybe it's recency bias after Wednesday night, that but we're both back in a 2-1 win. And who knows from that point on, like I said, right at the start, it's that mental effect of, you know,
00:42:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
if we actually If we win two games in a row, which we haven't done all year, Wolves know we've beat them twice and they've lost a game as big as this. You never know what might happen. There's the ripple effect from there on. But like I said, so it's all just hypothetical at the moment, isn't it?
00:42:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the next time we are with you, we all know. Obviously, see we are back on Monday. I'm not. I'm away. But to count on that, you can get Richard back. He's back from his holiday. So...
00:42:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll have a normal run of episodes for you next week, obviously reacting to what's hopefully a win against Wolves on Monday, all the way through to a Chelsea preview on the Friday. But until then, you keep up to date with us on our socials at GSPN Ipswich.
00:42:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And from me and Tom, it's goodbye for now.