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Episode 140 - Arsenal match reaction: Another depressing defeat
32 Plays3 days ago
Rob & Tom pick the bones out of another dismal defeat at Portman Road as Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners. The lads share their thoughts on the game, discuss Leif Davis' very frustrating season and chat about how the recent performances of George Hirst give them hope for next season.
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
Welcome to the Daily Ipswich
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Hello and welcome back to the Daily Ipswich, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place you can find daily content on every Premier League club. Premier League wrap-ups in multiple different languages and all your women's football news as well.
Analysis of Ipswich vs Arsenal Game
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is Monday, it is Match Reaction episode and it's, well, let's just end the season now, shall we? It's another lackluster show and at home,
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Toothless is a word that comes to mind. The game felt like it felt like watching an Arsenal training session, didn't it? 4-0 we lost in the end. Look, there's an obvious golfing quality between the two teams. Arsenal went a lot stronger than I think most of us thought they would following the game on Wednesday night as well. They went with the approach of wrap the game up early and that's exactly what they did. We 2-0 at half-time. The second half was a non-event, but we still managed to concede two more goals.
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very, very bad day at the office, even for our standards this season. But it's our jobs to go through, pick it apart and try and drag out what we can. And fortunately, I'm not here on my own to join. I'm doing it today. I've got Tom with me. How doing, mate?
00:01:18
Tom Crack
Yeah, I'm good, Rob. Good description there, I think, on what was, yeah, quite a disappointing game yesterday. you know, as you said, got a golfing class was apparent even before a ball was kicked, wasn't it? Especially of how great they've been recently, especially in Europe as well.
00:01:33
Tom Crack
And home's been tough this year, but you know you still like to see a bit of fight, albeit with our names very much on the checklist for going down.
Ipswich's Premier League Standing
00:01:41
Tom Crack
But yeah, really, really poor poor performance yesterday. wasn't really much to go from at all, really was there. and We always try to put a bit of a positive spin on these performances in terms of an individual or a team effort, and we'll try and do as much as we can today. But overall, yeah, quite, quite poor.
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, but the big positive to come out this weekend and the only positive really to come out is that we're still here, you know. West Ham somehow failed to beat Southampton at home, so we survive another week. So in terms on the Premier League history charts, we're only going to be relegated with four games to go now instead of five. So he we jump up a bit there in terms of how early get you get knocked down. And there's obviously still a chance that...
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We survive another week, but bearing mind that we're now in the position where we're 15 points behind of five games to go. So we have to win every week, we're starting lose every week. And we're off to St James' next week. So I think next week is about as far as we're going last.
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah not sure we'll pick a result up there, considering how especially after they lost to Villa this week, how desperate they are for points in the race of top four, because it's very close up around that end of the table now.
00:02:48
Tom Crack
Yep.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fortunately, not quite as close down the bottom after another weekend. And like we said, it's a very, very poor game of football.
Arsenal's Strategic Shifts
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've always said this about Arsenal this year. I mean, i it it's quite odd timing after they just knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League. But they're not as they're not a very good watch, Arsenal, the majority of the time. A couple of years ago, when they were right up there with City, the first time they...
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
they were brilliant. They used to go and blow teams away every week. I know we've just lost 4-0 to them, but they used to go, they blow teams away, play fantastic football, but they've sort of developed a lot more defensively. They've sort of stopped going for that hell-for-leather attacking approach now. And a lot of the time, they're not a fantastic watch. And I don't think I've ever watched a game with four goals as boring as that one this afternoon. Maybe there's bias in there because we're the team who let the four goals in, but...
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
The shocking game of football. And the big concern for me, Tom, I don't know if you're all the same with this, is just how easy it was. look I know the class difference is there. Obviously, Arsenal, like I said, they just knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League in the last week. come And we've won one game at home all year. it was It was only ever going to go one way this game. But does that worry the fact that they didn't get out of first gear and still shipped in four past us?
00:04:11
Tom Crack
A little bit. I mean, at home, like it's it's something you know you want to see your side, regardless of opposition, kind of especially in the first five minutes, so sort of go hell for leather and use our pace and the fan support.
00:04:24
Tom Crack
But I think, to be honest, mate, I think the issue at hand here is now that relegation, you know since Wolves, it kind of does see it's it's it's it's happening, isn't it? The fan support pre-match, I noticed, ahead of the kick-off, like with our sort of vague rendition of Hey Jude playing before kick-off,
00:04:42
Tom Crack
was very, very minute in terms of it the crowd singing back. and it just sort of That was like an i sort of a prelude to what the game was going to be like, I think. like It's nice to still we be there. and you know it's you know This season has been great and it's been a nice change to welcome sides like with the quality of Arsenal to Portham Road. and That's a nice fad, but you know that fad certainly worn off now with a few games left of the season compared to Liverpool in the opener. And Yeah, I think people are just used to that sort of game and really expecting how it's going to go And the quality of line-up vapour out as well.
00:05:16
Tom Crack
I was very surprised, as you said, because you think like with all their focus, the league's not going to happen. They're going to most likely get a top four, top five position. Their focus is entirely on Europe now, so I was very surprised to see that strength of the team. But, you know...
00:05:29
Tom Crack
with that strength of 11, they had few changes here and there from the win in Spain early in the week. But to be honest, it was domination from the offset. I think that was in the first five minutes, we strung together eight passes compared to the almost 50 or something.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It wasn't even there.
00:05:43
Tom Crack
And it was like, I'm not sure the percentage number, but obviously it was it.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was about seven or eight minutes on the clock by that point.
00:05:50
Tom Crack
Oh, right.
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it was the other way around. i think I think it was five passes in eight minutes rather than eight in five minutes. I think it might have been seven in eight minutes, something like that.
00:05:58
Tom Crack
Right. Right. Okay.
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a lot of these stats come up. We can get into them over the course of the show, pop up in conversation. But there are plenty of times that the commentary was filling the silence where Arsenal just
00:06:11
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
played it around comfortably with some very damning stats.
00:06:12
Tom Crack
Can we... Yeah, just touching on commentary there. my my My dad texted during the game, and he it was right to say it as well. like Chris Sutton on comments. In the UK, we had Chris Sutton on Sky TV.
00:06:25
Tom Crack
Love that impartiality on Sky TV. A Norwich City legend, 100 appearances, like plenty of goals for them. Pretty much slating us the entire game, saying things like, oh, i'm pretty sure they want to go home town, like why are they even here?
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think so
00:06:35
Tom Crack
It annoyed me a lot.
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he's done a Premier League game all season until this point.
00:06:36
Tom Crack
and
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He does the EFL game too.
00:06:38
Tom Crack
I know. I didn't know he did.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
We used to have him every every every week in the AFL.
00:06:41
Tom Crack
Yeah, I didn't know he does those.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But let's say these apparently all the the usual the usual lot of or the usual co-coms must be on holiday for Easter or something. I don't know. But I'm pretty sure he hasn't done a Premier game all season, Chris Sutton.
00:06:51
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:06:55
Tom Crack
didn't know he them.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they thought i've put him on an Ipswich game just to slag us off after however many times he'd done it last year.
00:06:56
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Didn't he? but like every week I was reading something that Chris Sutton's now said, Ipswich won't go up. No, they're not good enough as... every week you reaffirm that point until we have until we finally done it.
00:07:08
Tom Crack
yeah
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
that his His bias is obviously there, but don't know. That's just the way it's going now, isn't it? I mean, Man United Thursday night, I mean, don't know if you listened to that one, but so, Rio Fernand and Robbie Savage, as someone put on Twitter, he might as well pick two fans in the terraces and that'll give the same level of unbiased and sort of neutrality that Fernand Savage gave in that game, but
00:07:24
Tom Crack
Yeah, I did.
00:07:33
Tom Crack
Yep.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that was the hardest part. and So that was the problem as well. was like It was shocking to watch. It was shocking to listen to as well, haven't it having Chris Sutton on there.
00:07:43
Tom Crack
Yeah.
Ipswich's Tactical and Performance Issues
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
the yeah it's this right about which But you mentioned stats.
00:07:46
Tom Crack
ye
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's run let's get them all out the way now before we bring them up again. That was a bad one. First seven or eight minutes of the game, we'd made like seven passes, two two in the opposition third in that time.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've had four shots, none on target. 25% possession in the end. At one point, we had 21. This was after like 65, 70 minutes, and which is the lowest any team's had at that point in the game in the entire season.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're the home team. that say A red card, obviously, which creates problems going into other games because Connor Townsend's injured. And we've now got no Davis.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I believe he believe that challenge falls into the category of three-game suspension rather than a one, which...
00:08:33
Tom Crack
It'd be up there, wouldn't It'd be up there.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, considering we've got five games left, means he literally will play Leicester and West Ham at the end of the season. So if Townsend's not fit, we'll be running the grooves at left back or whoever else playing out possess position there for ah ah comment for the next three weeks, we say which includes games against Newcastle in the and next week. And the form Jacob Murphy's in right now is a very concerning thought. But yeah, pretty damning.
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
all round really wasn't it that oh is it where does it rank it's a horrible question to ask where does it to rank and worst performances of the season was it just a case of relegation being accepted and we're almost coasting our way through now or I don't know what what do you try and put it down to and have we have played any worse than that this year
00:09:26
Tom Crack
I think performance-wise, it's certainly up there with one of the worst we've seen this season. I think, you know, in terms of how it feels, you know, we're being quite sort of jovial and joking about this result. I mean, I think considering where we are where we are in the league and it's it's not as damning, is it? I mean, I think, you know, results, I've said it many times, but results against teams we hopefully expect to get something against, like Wolves, Everton's, Leicester's, etc.
00:09:48
Tom Crack
And those are lots results not going away have been a lot more, like, heart-wrenching and gutting as well. So, I wouldn't put it emotionally into that bracket of, like, worst performances home this season.
00:09:59
Tom Crack
But in terms of just... overall like actual quality on the ball. And I know, again, you know people are putting this like, well, we played Arsenal. We can't expect to be going 50-50, tit for tat, shots, stats, everything equal, which yeah I'm not expecting that.
00:10:15
Tom Crack
But we've played against sides this season. you know We got battered by City more than this, and I thought we put better performance we did this game. So I don't think it's necessary you can just say, oh it's a better side, so we can't expect to play well, because that shouldn't be the case, because there are some really damning stats you just read there.
00:10:30
Tom Crack
And, you know, i think a lot of us, you know, this season has been difficult, albeit, you know, i think still quite a event for one and a good one to look back on cons considering like where we were a few years ago. you i My worry with, you know, and obviously obviously a lot of us are probably saying, oh, next season of the team we've got on paper now, you know, we'll be getting north of 85 points, which, you know, hopefully is the case, but it's not guaranteed. And performances like this mentally can have a lasting impact on you, regardless of who you're playing. And obviously no team in the Championship going better than Arsenal, of course. But mentally that could be something that it carries over and really hope it doesn't because you've seen with Luton. It has carried over for them. So really hope it doesn't for us. But, yeah,
00:11:08
Tom Crack
Yeah, I think just there was nothing there. really was there. mean, we'll get on individuals in the next part of the show, but for the most part, one of the worst team performances we've seen from Ipswich a long time. And I'm not sure you've read this stat out as well. I think it's our longest winless run at home now ever, perhaps, or it's at least up there.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wouldn't surprise me.
00:11:26
Tom Crack
So, yeah.
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's
00:11:29
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:11:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
a tough one. Ultimately, it was a bit... I said it on the crossover. It was a nothing and everything game because it's such an unimportant game with both teams having nothing to play for, effectively.
00:11:39
Tom Crack
yeah
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But at the same time, it could have been a massive game because it could have confirmed renecation for us or confirmed the league title for Liverpool. Assuming they beat Leicester all the time recorded that game not happened. So I'm going to assume they would they beat Leicester.
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll be shocked if they don't. But it could have been a big game on that front. But at the same time, it was very nailed on nothing game, wasn't it? Neither of us really had anything to play for.
00:12:05
Tom Crack
yeah
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even with that considered, and 10 men considered, 25% possession and four shots, none on target as a home team, regardless on who you're playing, it's just a bit embarrassing, isn't it? It's one of those that someone said it the other day.
00:12:18
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm. Yep.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
can't remember which one of us it was. Definitely wasn't me. Said that at this point now, You're looking for memories, aren't you? you know You're not going to win games to... It might have been Richard said he wants a couple of wins.
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
you like We're now looking for memories at this point because there's no guarantee that we come back to the Premier League any time soon.
00:12:35
Tom Crack
Hmm.
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
like This would have been like... To get a result against Arsenal at Portman Road would have been that nice memory to have if it is, God forbid, another 20-odd years away. that don't know. That's what we're looking for at this point. and so of If if every tip we're going to turn up like this every game, which I don't think we will because...
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
The context of the opponent important, but if we turn out like that for the last five games, we're going to have no memories we and no memories to take away and in these last few games to try and end on whatever high we can.
00:12:55
Tom Crack
No, no, no,
00:13:03
Tom Crack
no yeah you're right.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But have a quick break now. We'll hear from one of our sponsors and we'll dive into the goals when we come back because there's a lot to pick apart on before the four that Arsenal scored.
Key Moments in the Match: Arsenal's Goals
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are back for the second part of your Monday match reaction. And let's go into the the key moments of the game, that which is obviously the four goals and the red card. We'll do them in chronological order.
00:14:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
we We got through, was it 12, 13 minutes? Where we'd hardly had a kick of the ball and you already knew what way the game was going to go.
00:14:11
Tom Crack
Give or take. Yeah. 14.
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but then, yeah, finally, Arsenal did take the lead in the end. And it's a it's a really poor goal from our point of view, isn't it? Just how easy it was, it was a, a ball in down the channel, ball across, so Erdogan gets whatever that touch was on it. And Trossard just somehow got... somehow unchallenged, just managed to take a touch and roll it in the bottom corner about two miles miles an hour. apart The only reason Palmer doesn't get near it is because he can't see it.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't know what the defending is there to to let Trossard take that touch and...
00:14:41
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
get a shot away under basically minimal pressure. mean, I was sure he just stood there his legs open the whole time. When you watch the slow-mo, it really shows how bad it is. like He just stands there the entire time his legs open and goes, come on then. And then troman then looks still looks surprised when Trossard does it.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was shocking, wasn't it?
00:15:06
Tom Crack
Yeah, it's it's I think the the setup of the team there as well, it's just like we're sitting so far back and then you inevitably see, after Saka runs in, you inevitably see the sort Trussard Nodegaard sort of step back to ahead of the six and then just nestle it in.
00:15:20
Tom Crack
from the From the angle the goal originally in in live, in sort of real time, like of all the shots Palmer saved this season, to see that trickling about sort having and the understanding of where O'Shea was in his eye lines, oh, the flipsy knot.
00:15:31
Tom Crack
put an effort on that Palmer because, yeah know, he's been so, I think, relatively reliable, albeit our performances haven't been that great. So that was a bit of a disappointing way to concede. I think, you know, i said to some friends before the game, or during the game, I should say, after the first five minutes, few of them who were Arsenal fans, was like, we'll be lucky to, it'll be good performance we lose two nil here because you could just see the right man in the wall straight from the start, couldn't you? And then, you know, i think...
00:15:55
Tom Crack
yeah, the quality of that goal wasn't that great. But the second one, especially that flick from Marino, who's really starting to find his feet in that side has since Havertz being out and obviously now playing his preferred central role, was a really well-taken goal.
00:16:06
Tom Crack
And definitely that one showed the the quality and well-deserved second one, wasn't it?
00:16:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the second one, so that's that's the exception to the to the game to me, really. That is...
00:16:17
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We spoke a obviously, about the the class differences there. The second goal for me is the only real time that was displayed, apart from Arsenal's ability to keep the ball for what felt like the whole 90 minutes without us barely getting a kick in.
00:16:24
Tom Crack
Hmm.
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in terms of the attacking quality, that it was a really good... Like said, Mourinho someone who's gone fairly under the radar in the last few weeks for Arsenal. Obviously, everyone everyone's been... taking the mick out of them for dropping points in Premier League games and almost handing the title to Liverpool. But obviously that they didn't do one in the Champions League. But in and around these performances, even the good the good ones and the bad ones, he's suddenly become sort of very instrumental. If he's not getting the goals himself, he's in that false nine role or in the midfield, wherever he ends up playing. He just seems to be the one who's linking the play together the way Odegaard was. Again, when I speak about that team a couple of years ago, who used to bang in goals for fun.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mourinho seems have slotted into that role of Erlegaard had in that team where he's the link together so he pulls out these fancy little trick passes he knows where his wingers are going to be that it's almost a bit like mean the classic example is Firmino isn't it in the Premier League it's almost I know he's in midfield today not in the nine but he's sort of slotted that role and he's a player that I've been very impressed with recent weeks and yeah that that's that goal was well taken by Martinelli as well credit to him but it's it's about Mourinho isn't it and
00:17:10
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:17:40
Tom Crack
Hmm.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
of Of that one, I can forgive. Like said, that is just Arsenal.
The Red Card Controversy
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
We said them about the City game, didn't we? Where like, in that case, where we let six goals in, that we didn't play too badly. We just were quite, we were fairly easy to break down and they just turned on the quality to make it even easier.
00:17:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's what that goal felt like for me.
00:17:56
Tom Crack
Hmm.
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But don't want to say the turning point, because the game was already gone at 2-0. We were never getting three.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the big moment which set standard for the remaining hour of the game was the red card. I mean... Easy question, i suppose, from what we're from what we've seen of it. But do you think it was a red card?
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That it was a challenge?
00:18:18
Tom Crack
Yeah, yeah, I do. i think it was, you know, it on on paper, that's, you know, whenever Leif Davis is on, I think it was ahead ahead of the season, it was like, you know, it's exciting to see one of our best players for the past few years match up against sort the game-changing players in that part the field, Saka being one of them, of course. Yeah.
00:18:35
Tom Crack
But yeah, completely outmatched, outpaced, outstrength from most areas of the game excuse me that Davis had against Saka. Just, yeah, frustration got the better of him. Really bad challenge. It was funny as well because the way of production was for the game, you didn't know it was red card at first. It wasn't on screen. And you saw a reaction from the crowd and Davis moaning. What's he moaning about? It's obviously a foul. But then you hit real. It's a red.
00:18:55
Tom Crack
He might have thought it was a bit unjust, but it it definitely was. It really was. I mean, and the the the thing that came from it afterwards, because with with the crowd, like because, you know, on paper, on the pitch at least, we're defeated. i Very much, I kind felt like the crowd went into business with themselves to try and at least give themselves a sense of competition and having a go at the arse of fans. There was a good chance of...
00:19:14
Tom Crack
you know, champs of europe Champions of Europe, you'll never sing that, second again, ole, ole, just things like that to try and get a bit of one-upmanship against Arsenal off the pitch.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:19:22
Tom Crack
But our fans, which, you know, i guess in the heat at the moment, it makes sense. im I've probably been guilty of it a few times at games in the past, but booing Saka whenever he's on the ball following that, I guess it's, to try as a fan at the ground at least give some sort of sense of enjoyment and occasion to what is what is quite a bleak bleak affair from a town perspective. But yeah, strange one to to see the fans booing Saka for what was a brass challenge. But I guess without the luxury of replays and all that sort of stuff, maybe they might have thought it wasn't as bad as it was, especially given Davis's reaction.
Leif Davis: Season Struggles and Future Prospects
00:19:54
Tom Crack
But Yeah, clear clear red card. As you said, it could be three games out, which you know doesn't give Davis much more time to sort of spreading spread his wings in the Premier League as much as he'd like to. you know he's He's had a really tough season, I think. It's such a difficult area of the field.
00:20:08
Tom Crack
Injuries haven't helped him. Quality of opposition definitely hasn't helped him. And yeah, he came up against one of the best in the league, arguably the best league in that position, and was found out and took his frustration out on Saka's ankle.
00:20:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think you say they're a tough suit. For me, Davis' performances have been the most underwhelming part of the season for me. Because in a year where you knew were going to struggle because we lacked experience, if there was anybody in our squad I thought would take, from last season's squad, I mean, who would take to the Premier League straight away, I thought it would be
00:20:28
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought our biggest concern with him this year would be trying to keep hold of him at the end of the season, whatever division we were in. But,
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, showed some promise early on. he He topped the chances created charts at like October, was September time. But I'd actually, there's not just being reactionary because he was poor today and got sent off.
00:20:48
Tom Crack
yeah
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I've been thinking this for the last couple of weeks and sort of waiting for the right time to raise on the pod. But there's a serious conversation to say we're we're better when Connor Townsend plays at this point in the season.
00:21:05
Tom Crack
Go on.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:21:11
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously I know today he the he was always going to play. because Townsend's injured and the only other, but we had Boniface on the bench who was never, was never going to come in from the start, but you you could see from before the game started, it was a total mismatch against Saka because Saka is one of the best in the league exploiting space in behind.
00:21:31
Tom Crack
Hmm.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Davis leaves that a lot. And even in a this game where he wasn't going to get much joy in attacking sense that, and so both, the first goal you saw, how how easily Saka got in behind, it was,
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was an area I was very worried about when I saw the team. So even though I knew it was coming because we didn't have anybody else fit there, but it's just a stupid challenge. And so, you know what I'm like with these. I've said it pretty much every time we've had a red card this season that they've all been so avoidable.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's no one who's done like, there's been no like unlucky challenge where they've gone in, tried to pull out and still caught with something.
00:22:02
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've all been stupid, whether they're straight reds or second yellows. So easily avoidable and, This one's on there for me. Like you said, it's just a frustration challenge. and He's had a frustrating season, Davis, what I thought he was absolutely shocking today. and even Even before the red card, I thought he'd had a... Partly, obviously, due to to the player he's up against, who probably the... was going to say the best. up Him and Salah are the two so incredibly clear of everybody else in the league.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
In opposition, he's going to come up against that... he didn't get anywhere near to stepping up to the plate today. And to be honest, in the end, and him getting sent off might have ended up saving it because i think Saka would have got him behind every time he wanted to, the way the game was going until he come off.
00:22:47
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. But yeah, we'll get on to what team selection issues we're going to have in future weeks later. But left back straight away is is a problem position now, which is, like I say, for a stupid challenge. So now he's undoing the team for the next three weeks unless Townsend's back, which is...
00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
even more of an issue.
00:23:10
Tom Crack
Yeah, it's a weird one of Davis though, because like, I'm in a agreement with you and it's it' it's a harsh reality and a harsh truth maybe, not meant say a truth, but a harsh app opinion to maybe have, is that we have been a better player, a better team, sorry, with Townsend playing because he's been a more lot more Shaw defensively as opposed to Davis. I don't know if it's, it's you know, it's that it's a similar sort of analogy you know, not obviously equating his quality here to someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold, but you look at where he is, that team in the league and where they played, his biggest criticism of his career has always been defensively. Going forward, he's fantastic.
00:23:42
Tom Crack
And where they are in their Premier League is like where we were last year. And that, again, was the big criticism of Davis, wasn't it Because going forward, you saw it briefly against Leicester this season. He's so good going forward and create can create so many chances and create so many goals. But defensively, even last year, but despite it's being one of the best teams the league, you could see it, can't you? And I don't know if next season being the league below, if we want to continue that because...
00:24:07
Tom Crack
maybe you have to sort of change way and so you are it's maybe sound a bit arrogant say but so you are ready if you are to go up the year after then or year year or so to have a team and a style that suits for league you're going to be going to I know it's difficult to do that but it's maybe a conversation need to have I mean you know it's it's I guess it's a good thing to say that he hasn't been that great because my big worry was maybe he will go and maybe he still still will I think there's obviously a quality player there and maybe a side where You know, losses aren't considered a surety or a expectancy. Like, at the higher play side, he may have that freedom to do what he did for us last year a better side. And, you know, the player that we all know and love could show his face in the Premier League.
00:24:46
Tom Crack
I'd like to see that because I think he deserves that. But for us this season, the way he plays, the way we want to play, it hasn't worked at all. And, yeah, really showed in the first two minutes and the frustration came out there, didn't it?
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, mean, it's risk and reward, isn't it, the way he plays? Last year, it was a risky take and it paid off.
00:25:00
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
He broke the assist record. We we won more games, we lost convincingly and it worked. It was something you could afford to have that only really Leeds punished us for.
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
The two times we played Leeds, they made the most of that gap.
00:25:13
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
but There weren't many other teams, even the ones who ended up beating us. There wasn't a lot of pushing down that right-hand side, whereas in the Premier League, the attacking output hasn't been there.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
as much as it had been in other divisions and the issues caused by it defensively have been considerably
Ipswich's Future in the Championship
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
higher. So like say, it has made sense up until the point of this season, but I think that's something we should have looked at after the first couple of months of this year and tweaked that role to stop causing this damage.
00:25:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But don't know, but then also like said, we're now going back down to the league where it worked wonders.
00:25:49
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't think it will change next year. and I don't think it will need to, in all honesty, because... I'd say only Leeds really took made advantage of that last year. And the quality in the Championship is, in terms of the teams right up there, there's not...
00:26:02
Tom Crack
They won't be there.
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to say the quality's gone down, but I think if like teams come back and like, Leicester are really poor. I don't know how they'll recruit, but even though their team they theyre they're coming down with a weaker team than they had last time they were in the Championship, Southampton are, again, probably the same.
00:26:19
Tom Crack
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Weaker than they were last time.
00:26:22
Tom Crack
Definitely.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leeds, you'd expect, Leeds and Burnley expect to go up at this point. And we'll see what happens if teams in the playoffs. But there's really not, like, and I know we're looking really early on.
00:26:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, there's a whole chance I win as a go. But in terms of squad, we look far and away the best in that championship league line lead next year.
00:26:39
Tom Crack
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
that i think, again, that'll be the same case. You can get away with doing it again next year. But it's been a problem position this year. And like I say, it's now going to be more of a problem position, which...
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
we'll get onto in the third part of the show. going to have a quick break now to hear from another one of our sponsors.
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to the final part of today's Monday edition of the Daily Ipswich. And we went on quite a big tangent there, Tom. We only actually got through and two two out of four of the goals we were meant to be diving into.
00:27:36
Tom Crack
Yeah, trying to avoid it, mate.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we'll we'll go back into them then. So, Trossard's second goal, Arsenal are the corner specialists, aren't they? We say that because of when they whip the balls in like that one, actually the Marino should have scored in the first half.
00:27:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't know how we got away with that one. We had a free end over about four yards, but... That's what they're known for when we say they're corner specialists.
00:27:53
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:27:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it was a clever little short routine this time. And we just looked completely oblivious to what they were doing, didn't we? It was a well-worked move and Trossard finished it well. But again, from our point of view, it's schoolboy defending, wasn't it?
00:28:08
Tom Crack
Yeah, yeah. In complete disarray. i mean, you know, Arsenal have kind of been, it sounds strange say, bit of a joke when it comes to set pieces in terms of online. Obviously, they've been really well, but i think the way they sort of had but portrayed their sort set piece play online with like putting a mirror up for their set piece characters kind of put them on the wrong end of the stick and rather than being praised for how great they've been set pieces. But this was an example on the pitch compared to off the pitch, how great they are with set pieces. And it was really well worked. And, you know, it does show that short corners can be effective. Sometimes they are hated by fans because you want to, yeah it's a great goal scorer opportunity, whip it into the box, but really well played. And we were just, yeah, all over the place, really good finish from Trossard who, you know, he's he's one of those players, he's a very reliable hand. He may not be the first name but team sheet if everyone's fit,
00:28:52
Tom Crack
but he's ready to go whenever but whenever he's needed. And he was needed today. Two goals, really good performance from him. Yeah, you can't really say much else apart from that, to be honest.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so that set-piece annoys me so much. I despise Arsenal's set-piece coach. Obviously, the work he does is fantastic, but every time they get something, the sidelines.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
It annoys me so much. It's not all about you, mate. Obviously, the work he does is good.
00:29:19
Tom Crack
Main character syndrome.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It deserves credit, but like say, putting a mirror up.
Arsenal's Strategies and Player Performances
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Crystal Palace have scored two less goals than set-pieces than Arsenal this year. Do you know what Palace's set-piece coach look like? yeah i don't.
00:29:32
Tom Crack
No.
00:29:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
couldn't tell you I couldn't tell you which member of the coaching starts were set pieces.
00:29:34
Tom Crack
All right.
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah We all know exactly, no one knows what Arsenal's one is, don't we? that He's up there every time. He's always in front of the camera and everything. He annoys me so much. but And then, so the fourth guy.
00:29:45
Tom Crack
It's quite a cringy fan base also sometimes. I mean, that's just like, so again, tangible law, but they are you know they've had one of the greatest weeks in the history of the club this past week or so of Real Madrid, but they still don't handle themselves in all their glory with you know acting like they've won it now and all that sort of stuff.
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:01
Tom Crack
But yeah, the set piece coach in the murals is another example of maybe staying humble, as Harland said a long time ago. Yeah.
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they said the fourth goal was, again, just comically poor from us, wasn't it? I mean, two deflections on its way through, which shows sort of how slow we are to react because we can see a player shaping up the shoot and we only get there in time to get deflection on it rather than a solid block.
00:30:15
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think it was O'Shea's boot and Burgess's backside on its way in the back of the net, which again, just Palmer gets absolutely no chance in that from from where he was to try and react to it, but...
00:30:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess the basics, isn't it? i mean, it's amazing how many teams in world football don't do this. Is a player shaping up the edge of the box to shoot or there a player driving towards goal? And they just back off, back off, back off, let them do it.
00:30:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you either they either pick the spot themselves and score a worldie or sometimes in this case you decide, oh right, I better go now, he's too close the goal and you don't get there in time. It's such a basic skill of defending that
00:31:02
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:31:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
so many teams in world football don't do. We seem to be the latest victims at this point. We just we were back and away. We finally decided to make a move as he shaped up the shoot. We got there too late and it just deflects a couple of unlucky deflections. but And so Palmer's wrong footed. But again, you can't you can't question it, can you? Because no ah ah it's like if you can see the goal like that late on, couple of deflections, you'd all be thinking that's the size the game and you're And how you're unlucky because like those deflections could have gone anywhere. But you can't really say that 4-0 was an unfair result for how comfortable Arsenal were. And as poor as that was for a fourth goal, and so they probably deserved it, didn't they? But again, it's just schoolboy from Arsenal, isn't it?
00:31:50
Tom Crack
Yeah, I think just sort of encapsulating or looking at all four of their goals as a whole, like you said, think the second was the outlier in terms of actually being a bit of quality than just defensive disarray from us. But the thing that really annoyed me the most, and again, I guess it's where we're at as a team and where Arsenal are at in the league at the moment where, you know, they're not really playing for anything now, Liverpool's so far ahead.
00:32:09
Tom Crack
But just the lack of celebrations from Arsenal when they scored any goal, even early on when, you know, you you but you're you're behind, you're, you know, at that point, nil-nil level and it's not a guarantee you're going to get win against us.
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:32:20
Tom Crack
it was just like, you know, preseason friendly celebrations master, wasn't it?
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. That is exactly the point I was about to make. It was like watching the pre-season friendly, the whole game.
00:32:26
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:32:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just the way the pace of football was played at, the lack of celebrations.
00:32:29
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:32:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was they say I feel like I've watched the pre-season friendly. It's a league game at home where we've just been embarrassingly poor.
00:32:43
Tom Crack
Yeah.
Ipswich's Injury Challenges
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's, yeah, it's, done I don't know.
00:32:44
Tom Crack
yeah i think like
00:32:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, so that shapes us up in a poor position, like say. we The other problem we've now got a talk about following that Davis red card is we're running out of players. Because we've already got quite a lot of injuries.
00:32:56
Tom Crack
yeah
00:32:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, we lost Philogene the other day, who looks like he won't play again this season now. Dillap's already been having him to play a couple of games on the bench because he's got a rib injury, which... even that that is a question mark in my head, to be honest, because mysterious injury that means this this limit is minutes as he's getting towards the end of the season where he's due a move.
00:33:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
i do wonder if that is...
00:33:18
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:33:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
because so he was playing he was playing everything it He was playing every minute of every game, wasn't he?
00:33:19
Tom Crack
there a goal bonus for trying to restrict maybe?
00:33:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Beforehand. It's like until the last 10 minutes. But as soon as relegation has been nailed on, he's suddenly now dropping to the bench. I do wonder if that's like fear of an injury to block his big move in the summer.
00:33:34
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:33:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
of it Might be a tinfoil hat there, but
00:33:37
Tom Crack
Oh.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You look at that bench, and like Godfrey's reappeared in the squad for the first time in weeks, which he he's clearly not highly rated by McKellen, but he's here. We've got Boniface made the bench today because we're that short on players.
00:33:49
Tom Crack
oh
00:33:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then obviously now we've got... We've now got Davis out because of that, because of his red car for three games. so I don't know when people are coming back, but we're we sort of getting to the point where we can't even name a full 20 at the moment, which is going back to what I said earlier about wanting to finish as strong as we can and pick up some memories, some memories just in case it's not we don't come straight back, like we're all hoping we do.
00:34:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
the i mean, the fact that, again, i' obviously there's probably some sentimental thing to that, because it doesn't look he's going to sign new contract, but Luongo getting on the pitch today, just so the shot so after not getting a sniff all year, just sort of shows where we're at with squad fitness at the moment, doesn't it?
00:34:30
Tom Crack
Yeah, I think injuries have plagued us really, really bad this year. And, you know, sometimes it can be a seen as a sort of just an easy excuse to say, oh, we have an injuries, haven't been able to win, et cetera, and stuff. And not that wins have been a guarantee, but we have been really, really struggling with them a lot this year.
00:34:45
Tom Crack
And I think, you know, it's been it's been a long season, albeit fewer games than what we played in the Championship. But... emotionally it's been really difficult. That right side of the field is double fillaging. It's been absolutely cursed, I feel, because you had Ogbené at the start, Burns, who's obviously gone out as well.
00:34:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:34:58
Tom Crack
Fillaging came in to replace Ogbené, who was brought in. And obviously, Amari does dabble on the right as well. All four of them are out. And it's just, it's a really damning sight. I think with, Yeah, De Laap as well, with it being a slot is it but whether it's ambiguous slight knock, but he's still able to come on and play.
00:35:15
Tom Crack
Is there a goal bonus he's supposed to get? And we're trying to avoid paying him. I don't don't know, but it's a weird one.
00:35:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. yeah there's There's something going on there.
00:35:19
Tom Crack
I mean, before we do finish, like, talking...
00:35:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
because I'm convinced.
00:35:23
Tom Crack
Yeah, I agree. I agree. mean, my my sort of ten tin foil theory last week was that know Chelsea are one of the teams rumoured to be interested
George Hurst: A Beacon of Hope for Ipswich
00:35:31
Tom Crack
in him. Maybe we were just being bit stubborn saying, you're not going to have a look the I'm not going let you look at But I think just like just talking about individuals and things like that and what was quite bleak performance, we both said before we started recording, the only real bright spark was George Hurst, I feel.
00:35:46
Tom Crack
You know, two two starts in a row now.
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:48
Tom Crack
Plays a similar way to laptop trying to hold off centre-backs and run past, etc. did as much as he could in terms of the service that was there. You know, he's up against arguably one of the best centre-backs in the world, in si and Saliba and Kiviel has been really, really good in that role since he's had to play there as well.
00:36:02
Tom Crack
But i in injuries lack of injuries permitting, which obviously have been a big issue for Hurst, and with Dillac most likely going in the summer, I'm really excited for Hurst next year. I think he hasn't had many games this season.
00:36:14
Tom Crack
And he said in the press recently how he's sort of had to adapt mentally to not starting as much as he'd like to, but that hopefully has given him an edge. And I think, you know, you so you sort of seen that edge today against, sorry, yesterday against really decent side, but he still managed to shine ever so slightly. And he's kind of shone in almost every game he's played this season, given the lack of minutes. I think that's really impressive. And,
00:36:32
Tom Crack
big big hill for him to stand on to be honest and yeah I think I'm sure you echo as well I'm excited for next season if he can stay fit to be our number nine I've been questioning whether he should be we should get someone in but what I've seen so far I'm um'm um'm fully backing him as our number nine next year for sure
00:36:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there's there's a reason why we left this bit till last. We wanted to end on a positive today after everything else we spoke about.
00:36:54
Tom Crack
yeah save the best for last
00:36:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But George Hurst, the last two games, we obviously said the laps, mysterious injury, whether it is an injury, whether it's something to do with it we just just coming up to end of the season and knowing we're down now, except whatever it is.
00:37:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the positive to come out of that is George Hurst starting two games a row and he's been fantastic in both. I mean, today it's harsh.
00:37:16
Tom Crack
Mm-hmm.
00:37:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the most frustrating game you can have as a striker when your team just sits deep and you're you're supposed to be the hold-up try and get things going and you barely touch the ball for long periods of the game. But when he got involved, he was superb.
00:37:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
he was Other than the fact Arsenal hold a very, very good off-sideline and caught him a couple of times. But other than that, like he was able to hold the ball up. He was on the shoulder making good runs. Whenever we did actually spring forward, it was a ball...
00:37:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
just before our Arsenal scored, we had a little bit at something where look they were going to go something. Hurst was a key part of that. they said he He's impressed a lot in the two games from the start. Like you say, limited very limited football this year, so it'd be easy for him to sort of fall out of out form, out of sharpness, things like that, just playing 10 minutes here and there every game.
00:38:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, it's so it's a positive it's certainly a positive to take out of today.
00:38:02
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:38:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he... It sums up how bad the game was, wasn't it, that Our best player was a striker who only got involved about six times because we had that little of the ball. But it is a positive to take forward. So when when you think of next year, like I say, at this point, we look like the strongest squad by a mile. mean, you might be bearing in mind that the front four we could be lining up with next year, everyone stays fit. you could Even with some of the players we're going to lose due to loans ending and say Dillap's going to go, things like that.
00:38:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
The fact that we could still line up with a front four of Hurst up top with Hutchinson behind him, Ogbené on one side and Filagene or Broadhead on the other side, but then still having people like...
00:38:47
Tom Crack
Or Clark, who's looked good recently as well.
00:38:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. And then you still... even All of those options there and you've still got, like say, you've then got Clarke, Broadhead, Filagene, whoever don't play there.
00:38:51
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:38:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got Chaplin, you've got Burns, you've got all these people. Smoddix even, I have almost forgot because he's been injured for that long that... all the over names you've got there for attacking talent that a lot of them are in in that category that I've said before where I think they've come up, whether they've been signed or come up with us, we just, that's what feels like about us generally.
00:39:03
Tom Crack
Yeah, yeah.
00:39:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're here too early, I think.
00:39:20
Tom Crack
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
00:39:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
we we speed We speed run the project, I think.
00:39:21
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:39:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
As I say, that Mark Ashton said at this, that this is still the beginning of the project. We've not this we've we've hit the Premier League. That's not... like We've achieved the project too quickly, I think. i we're supposed We weren't supposed to go straight up from the Championship.
00:39:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we were supposed to establish ourselves for a year, build a squad and go up. But I think now there's a lot players in this squad that are going back down for a year, having a year where they can get more freedom, so you get a few more, bit easier to get numbers on the board.
00:39:45
Tom Crack
yeah
00:39:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can then also, for i in the club point view, you can whittle out someone comes down doesn't do well in the Championship next year either, then you can know that they're not going to cut in the Premier League you come up again. And I think we go down, whether it's whether it's straight back up, whether it's a year or two, I don't know.
00:40:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think think we'll be back in the Premier League within the next two seasons. I say that fairly confidently, the way things are looking if we keep hold of players.
00:40:19
Tom Crack
Yeah, I agree.
00:40:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we'll have a much better squad and we'll be and we'll have more experience in that point. I think Like say, we've just come up a bit too early this time. I i think there's a Premier League club in around us there somewhere. It's just going to be that gap's getting bigger every year between the bottom three and the other 17. So breaching is going to be hard, especially further down the line. But from what we've seen from the likes of Hurst, I think next season is going to be an entertaining one.
00:40:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
swift sixty So just just score some goals and win some games at home again, if nothing else. That and So that's the positive to take is that I want this season to end. Horrible loss.
00:40:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can't be bothered with these last five games. Get them over with. But I'm get i'm growing excited for next for next season the more I'm seeing of certain players as this season ends.
00:41:02
Tom Crack
Yeah.
00:41:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's ultimately the sort of the best we can try and take out of that at this point, especially if we're not going to have any more wins to celebrate.
00:41:08
Tom Crack
Yeah. yeah
00:41:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we'll see how it goes, won't we? that And hopefully there is something strong to end on, but rontin We're off to Newcastle this week who are very much in need of points, which is going to be another tough game for us, but we'll go we'll go and give it a good go. That's all I want, really. Just put more a show in in than we did this week.
00:41:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose that's that's all we can ask for, really, isn't it?
00:41:37
Tom Crack
Agreed.
00:41:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But We'll wrap up today's episode there. A very forgettable game over the course. We've we've picked apart the best we can. And so I spoke about it as much as I want to, really, Tom, to be honest with you. So for that reason, guys, there won't be a Tactics Tuesday this week. I think we've said all we need to say about this very poor game of football. We'll be back on Wednesday for a wildcard episode.
00:42:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Until then, thank you for listening from me and Tom. It's goodbye for now.