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Daily Ipswich: Episode 121 - Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town Preview
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Join James & Tom as they discuss Town's chances away at Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace, can they finally start to turn their season round?
Host: James Bennett
Guest: Tom Crack
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Transcript
Introduction and Ipswich Updates
00:00:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, hello. Thank you very much for tuning in. This is, of course, the Daily Ipswich part of the GSPN where you will get all of your daily updates for Ipswich Town. And today I'm joined by the brilliant Mr. Tom Crack. How are we, mate?
00:00:21
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I'm very good, James. Happy Friday. Happy Friday, everyone. Like lovely weather. We're finally getting in the yeah UK now.
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Beautiful.
00:00:26
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Sun's out. Sun's out. Good moods. Good spirits. Hopefully town can keep those good moods up. Good spirits up this weekend.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, absolutely. It a lovely day as well. and So if you're listening and you're enjoying you know the sunshine, good for you, well played. and So Tom, this sort of first part then, I thought we'd actually start with Palace
Crystal Palace's Form and Strategy
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and just talk about how good they've actually been and quite a few you know in the recent weeks, to be honest.
00:00:44
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Right.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they've been playing really well. um I've been really impressed with them. I think you've said in the past as well, what have what have they impressed you with this season, ah you know Crystal Palace?
00:00:59
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah. I mean, I'd say i've impressed me this second half of the season. First half, they very much were...
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:01:05
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I spoke to Dan from the Palace team on the crossover episode yesterday. ah they they They're kind of the news as to why they found this strain of form. They haven't really put it down to a formation change or a personnel change.
00:01:17
Tom Crack - Ipswich
It's just been over time, really, and they've managed to improve a lot. I think this start of the season was quite difficult. you know, you lose losing Alise, like really like... You bet your best player going to Bayern Munich, that's always a big struggle. and I think kind of we kind of saw that with not knowing where, who's going to take the brunt of responsibility.
00:01:34
Tom Crack - Ipswich
It seems that responsibility has kind of now just been shared amongst the team rather than one specific player picking it up. And yeah, I mean, I i said yesterday, how they've, what is it there since January 1st, they're third in the league, 16 points with Liverpool City, the only two teams above them.
00:01:50
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And I think the reason for that really is just finding that synergy, you know, Palace are in a great position as a club where, you know, they very much are seen as that middle of the bill of the park team, aren't they? Like,
00:02:02
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Finishing above the top 10 is a great season for them, but they're never really flirting with the relegation zone come the end of the season.
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:02:07
Tom Crack - Ipswich
That's not the case again. And they've just got some, I think, some fantastic players in there. I spoke to Dan yesterday about how, you know, they are kind of in position where they are a selling club. You know, the likes of, I feel like, Eze and Gehi and potentially Wharton's, like...
00:02:19
Tom Crack - Ipswich
days or years at the club are numbered. But I think as a fan base and as a business, if you want to call Palace a business, it's football season at the end of the day, they're used to that being the case. I think clubs in that level of the Premier League, they're not expected to hold on to those players for the prime of their career.
00:02:34
Tom Crack - Ipswich
They're expected to go and stuff. Gehi, I think we very much expect him to go this past summer, especially how well he did for England last year as well.
00:02:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:02:41
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And obviously coming from Chelsea's academy back in the day as well. I think he very much will be leaving the club this summer, but... I'm sure they'll find another diamond in the rough or a championship player can come through as well. i mean, with Palace as well, they have the luxury of, they can get the best players in the championship, but have that sort of luxury of most likely not going down.
00:02:59
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Whereas, you know, we've we've we've had this struggle of a season of bringing the best players from the championship, but not having that certainty. Whereas I think if a young player from the championship, you know look at like, so Will Hughes is a great example and Wharton as well, two players who came from the league below to a,
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:12
Tom Crack - Ipswich
solid Premier League side like Palace and they've been able to really, really thrive. And yeah, yeah, i think I think with the exception of who was the most recent loss, it was Everton at home, which I think was a big surprise, but that's when since Boise has come in, they've really found their feet.
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:25
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And then home against Brentford as Their home form is a bit worse than their away form this season. They've they've won they've only won one out of their last three home Premier League games and lost two against Brentford and Everton.
00:03:36
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So it does put us in relatively good stead, I think, and we should be a bit more confident this weekend, considering, as we've pointed out, we have been much better away from home this season. But it's going to tough game, for sure. I think it's a real one role well-run club, both on the pitch and off the pitch.
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:50
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And, yeah, hats off them for maintaining that spot in the Premier because it's a tough thing to do, but they're doing really well at the moment, I think.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. i would I would have to agree. And you you touched on it there. Obviously, since the turn of January, they've been they've been well up there. um
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously, was looking at sort of how they started anyway. And the first couple of months... Obviously, they were there with us, weren't they? They were the other team that was saying, no, we need to stay in touch with them to see how we can do, et cetera, et cetera.
00:04:04
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Hmm.
00:04:16
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah. Hmm.
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because their first eight games, they they didn't win. They didn't win in their first eight games, which to me sounds mental because you look at them playing now and that's not a team who didn't win in their first eight games. But obviously...
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they've had some they had some injuries and they've had players come back. like You mentioned Warton then. Do you think it's because of that they've got a couple of players back and they've finally started to gel? Do you think that's where they finally turned it around? Because they they look they look a different team from the start the season.
00:04:45
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah, I mean, that like you said there, though, the amount of points they had around the halfway point of the season was very similar to us, slightly higher. But, you know, they just managed to kick on and we just haven't not been able to kick on.
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:04:54
Tom Crack - Ipswich
We've kind of maintained that. like They've got 16 points, which is only one of this calendar year, which is one point less than we've got the entire season. and And I think the reason they've been able to sort of kick on and do that is, you know, they've got a lot more quality there.
00:05:05
Tom Crack - Ipswich
You know, as I said, they've got England internationals. Three of the lads in that team were called up to Southgate squad last year. Two of them made a major major impact as well.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:14
Tom Crack - Ipswich
in the Euros last year and Premier League experience, you know, it's it's a cliche to say, but it very much is the case and just being level-headed.
Impact of Oliver Glasner
00:05:22
Tom Crack - Ipswich
They were kind of at this point last season. I don't think you had as a poor of a start to the previous campaigners with it this year, but they had a much better second half the season last year as well. And it it appears to be the case. Little Palace always a team like that where, you know, because i don't think anyone really goes into a season like looking at them as a contender for Europe or a contender for relegation. And that's exactly where they are now.
00:05:42
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But I think,
00:05:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:43
Tom Crack - Ipswich
they're getting highlighted a lot more right now is because they had such a torrid start and have now moved to where they should be. I think if they maintain this form from the start the season, they would be within that pack of like, you know, this season's been, you know, Liverpool been fantastic, but with the fall of city this season, you've seen the rise of your Bournemouths, Brentford's, Bryson's continuing to do great.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:03
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And a few other sides like that. I think if Palace had this form that they do now at start the year, they may have been even higher for them, which, you know, I'm sure is where they want to be. Fulham and other side included, found a really good year as well.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:14
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But yeah, as as as the pal as the Palace lads pointed out on their podcast, yeah I don't think there's a specific reason why they've managed to crack Because Walton is a great player, but I don't think just his return has made them skyrocket the league.
00:06:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:26
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I just think it's like just mellowing out that drama they had at the start the season, knowing they've got the quality there.
00:06:31
Tom Crack - Ipswich
You know, Mateta is arguably becoming one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:36
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I don't think we'll see him this weekend, luckily, because he got bonked in the head in the FA Cup last week, unfortunately.
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:06:40
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So. not a injury.
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:42
Tom Crack - Ipswich
and want to have him on a pitch sooner rather, but yeah, just well run mature players and they what doing up there. And it's, it's showing, especially this second half season, isn't it?
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. How much do you think this is down to Glasner then, like Oliver Glasner? Because he seems like a very good manager. Do you think after this season he could know maybe get, a and this is no disrespect to Crystal Palace, of course, but you know a bigger job perhaps?
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because the job he's done is is ah something, yeah, it's quite incredible really.
00:07:06
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Hmm.
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's really done a hell of a job at Palace. How much do you think that it's all down to him then? Or is it a combination of you know the players finally playing together or is it all just him kind of thing?
00:07:22
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I think you definitely have to give him a lot of credit. You know, he's been of a job for just over a year now. And, you know, since he's been there, he's got just under 50% win rate. win rate I think he's managed 47 and won 22.
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
right.
00:07:32
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So for a side, as we said, middle of the table, that's kind of what you'd expect of Palace. But I think the way he's got them playing and the chances he's given to certain players, I think young English players well, Palace have always been really, really good for that.
00:07:42
Tom Crack - Ipswich
You look at like young Wilfred Zaha and Nathaniel Klein a few the lads years ago and he wasn't part of the system then, but it's what you come to expect of them. So he's kept that tradition with the likes of Eze Warton and Gahy being pivotal players for them.
00:07:54
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But I think what he brings, and it's something Palace been lacking, is that sort of wanting a bit more, you know, I think trophy, like a great chance of the FA Cup this season, know, Bar City, it's anyone's, it's anyone's trophy really, isn't it?
00:08:05
Tom Crack - Ipswich
With the exception of maybe Preston, sorry, Preston fans, but it's, it's really open field, that trophy this season.
00:08:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:11
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And they've got a really great chance of doing it. And I think that's something they're really going to focus on, especially if they're spot in the Premier League secure for another season. They'll be going hammer and tong at that. And, you know, he's used to winning silver in recent seasons. Like he won the, um,
00:08:25
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Europa League with Frankfurt, like 21-22 season, which though Frankfurt, you know, I'm not going to pretend I'm the biggest like expert in German football, but they're not we know they're not like your Bayerns or your Dortmonds, are they?
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:35
Tom Crack - Ipswich
they theyre Or now Leverkusen as well. They're sort just below that echelon of quality.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:08:41
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And he had some great players in that team. saw Jovic, who went on to Real Madrid and a few other lads there, and he's managed to improve that team. You saw Jovic leave. frankfurt to go to ramadriel which was a ridiculous transfer and it didn't work out um but you saw i you could argue that a lot of the quality and the reason he was playing so great was down you could argue was down to the manager because you've seen certain players come through water you know what is elite was he a league one a championship player but you know no one was really exp expecting much from him when he signed and he's turned into the absolute world beater and could be cdm for england in like five years time like after rice is sort of approaching firsty so
00:09:15
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I there's a lot of credit there. terms of like going to a quote-unquote bigger club, I don't think so for the time being. yeah know He's only been there for a year. i mean His previous two jobs were like in Germany were Wolfsburg and Frankfurt.
00:09:25
Tom Crack - Ipswich
They were around the two-year mark. It was July to June 19 to 21 and 21 to 23. He did kind of make a step up in German football there, going from Wolfsburg to Frankfurt.
00:09:36
Tom Crack - Ipswich
but so You could maybe see him going to a Spurs if Ange doesn't work out or
00:09:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah could see that.
00:09:43
Tom Crack - Ipswich
you know United in a year's time.
00:09:45
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But I think for now, at least give him another year. This is his first full season and you know it was ah it was a slow start, but they found their feet. And I think he'll be hoping, and if they win the FA Cup as well, but he's going nowhere, is he? Because they're going throw more money at him as they should. But I think he's done a great job in the short time he's been there because he's really given them ah an identity on the pitch. I think off the pitch, like we said, mid-table, that's what we expected him, regardless of who's in like the managerial dugout for them.
00:10:10
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But the style of play, I think he's what he's changed a lot and given players a chance. And some stars have risen that team. Mateta is a great example, isn't he? few others.
00:10:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I would 100% agree. I think he's ah he's got a bright future ahead of him as glass. I think absolutely. All right, well, thank you for that one then, Tom. That was, ah of course, part one. We'll leave you with a bit of an advert now. And then part two will, of course, come to the Mighty Town.
Ipswich's FA Cup Performance
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're back with part two. Thank very much for still joining us. So, Tom, we'll crack straight on. Obviously, we want to talk about Ipswich more about the Premier League and everything. But I just thought i want to get your views on the recent FA Cup tie with Nottingham Forest.
00:10:46
Tom Crack - Ipswich
yeah
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I ah generally thought it was a really good game, to be honest, and absolutely gutted, of course, because I thought we were going to do it and get to the quarters.
00:10:53
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah. oh
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really did. And that would have been a nice little cup run, like we said at beginning of the season. um But not to be. Absolute heartbreaker at the end. But yeah, your thoughts on the game, mate?
00:11:05
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah. I think we've had, I think, you your prediction will start the season to have a cup run. I'm still counting it as one, you know, getting last 16 and, know,
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:13
Tom Crack - Ipswich
coming as close as we did to get into the quarters. I'm because it's been a long time we've had that sort of action in in a couple of competitions.
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:18
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So that's that's been one of the good things about the season was that, wasn't it? um Yeah, you know, we I didn't expect it to be as much of a second team, so to speak, as what it was. There a lot of changes to the side.
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I know, yeah.
00:11:31
Tom Crack - Ipswich
We saw the likes of Morsi coming back into the team, him and Longo back together, which was like a pairing I didn't think I'd see. this season, to be honest.
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah know yeah
00:11:38
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But I thought Morsi was fantastic. Played all 120 minutes and really put in a good shift. You know, with him being in that starting lineup against Forrest, in my head at the start the game, at least, it was like, oh, well, you know, he's he's not going to be one of the starting CDMs or centre mids going forward in the league. it'll be Phillips and Cuyuste. But the performance he put in there, that shows why he's the captain, doesn't it? Because Forrest have been, you know, one of the best teams in the league all season.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:12:01
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And yes, they started with a relatively weaker side, but by the end of it, it was pretty much their Premier League XI, as almost was ours as well.
00:12:07
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But he made he stayed there after, you know, we've sort of spoken a lot this season about him, his legs sort of giving way and not being able to keep up with the pace the Premier League and stuff, but completely trumped that this week.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:12:18
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I don't know, because he played all those minutes on Monday night, if asking to play 490 on Saturday, maybe... um not Not possible, unfortunately, but really, really good performance from him. And it's it's I think it's just when we play away from home, honestly, ma I don't know what it is. It's just a a change in sort of morale. I think the confidence looks higher. Like it's the us against the world mentality seems to be even but when we when we play away from home.
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:42
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Great to see Hurst get a goal as well.
00:12:44
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I think, you know, if if we do, unfortunately, go back down to the championship, he'll be up. yeah I'm happy for him to be our starting striker. Absolutely. Cause the few games he started this year, you know, he's either scored a goal or been key to a goal being created.
00:12:57
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And he's still a top player, very similar to the lap. I think slightly bit less speed and strength, but similar to playing styles of holding off the sense back and running on. So there were, there were positives, obviously, which we'll probably touch on a bit more of preview for the game.
00:13:10
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Some more, and some more injuries did rear their head. It was great see Burgess and Twenzavia in the side, but both enough at halftime, didn't they? And,
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Ipswich's Injury Challenges
00:13:16
Tom Crack - Ipswich
don't look like they're going to be playing this weekend and against Palace, which is a big loss because we've I know we've said maybe Burgess should be coming back to this team.
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:13:21
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But yeah, difficult losing on penalties again.
00:13:24
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I think when Taylor stepped up, I did kind of think he's not going to score it because everyone everyone else's penalties great. But, you know, he did miss against Wimbledon early in the season. And that, obviously, this is a bigger game, but that must have been weighing on his mind, surely.
00:13:36
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And it inevitably did because he missed. But what what did what did you think of, like, just the whole result, cut runs, certain players? Like, it... Positive to take despite the fact we did get eliminated from the the cup, wasn't it?
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely. It was pretty much the same as you, really, Tom, mate. So, like, it was nice to see, you know, nice to have a cup run and it was nice to see a good performance as well. It wasn't just a boring sort of cocktail.
00:13:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
We actually did play well, which was good to see because, obviously, in the recent weeks anyway, it's not been the best, shall we say.
00:14:01
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Hmm.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:14:08
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah, good to get... well Well, I say a good result, obviously. It's a one-all draw, but obviously losing on penalties, but...
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
and yeah Absolutely, yeah. Snatch your hand off for that. But yeah, good to good to have a cup run. Nice to see his player well. and Good to see other players you know'll get a couple of minutes, like Luongo.
00:14:16
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah, I take that in the league one or four is to right now, that's for sure.
00:14:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's good to see him get some game time because I don't think he's going to get any more.
00:14:30
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Because obviously, no more cups.
00:14:32
Tom Crack - Ipswich
No.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can't see him getting any minutes now. So yeah, it was nice to see him play with Morsi again. And yeah, I agree with you. Morsi was unbelievable, really. If he can do that, carry and for carry that forward...
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
i yeah, I can see him starting most games again. But ah yeah, you touched on him, Jack Taylor. I just wanted to give you opinion. How do you think that's going affect him? Because obviously he does play in the Premier League anyway. He gets a few minutes here and there.
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that's going to weigh him weigh on him for the rest of the season? I hope not. And I don't see why it would, but it's a question that I think should be asked. like you said, Wimbledon, he missed that penalty.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he's done exactly the same in the FA Cup as well. Do you How do you think he's going to take that? don't
00:15:19
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I mean, it's's it's obviously an aspect of this game he needs to work on. It's not very often that he takes penalties for us.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
know.
00:15:24
Tom Crack - Ipswich
you know The two times he's done it this season, he has missed. But you know he ate the the sort of player he is and his role in the team is one, obviously, predominantly off the bench. And Being that sort of player and being in that sort of position can knock your confidence a lot. And, you know, if you're not starting week in, week out, it can do that.
00:15:42
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I think he's been one of the few players this season. I'm not saying, you know, he's been like an absolute well-being to this year, but he's never really been much of an issue when he's come off the bench. He's tried his best. The quality's been a bit too great.
00:15:53
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But, you know, we we talk about the rise I've made in the past years. He's probably individually been on an even bigger one coming from Peterborough, like the league below there as well.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:03
Tom Crack - Ipswich
and then you know playing against Mohamed Salah and all those guys and in the open day of the season. like It's such a huge jump in such a short space of time. So I think not just to get to grips with it physically, as he and many others have done this season, but mentally it's it's been really difficult just to like make yourself, like, give yourself a surety that I'm meant to be on the pitch against these guys, which I'm sure he does think that, but it's it's been difficult, I think, for certain players like that.
00:16:30
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But I think, you know, he's a reliable hand, and I don't think you'll knock him too much, because it's not, he'll be the first thing, that's not what we expect from him as a player to be banging in penalties week after week, like, he's there to be in the middle of the field and just sort of look after the ball a bit more, which...
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:16:44
Tom Crack - Ipswich
He has done on occasion. Obviously, he yeah he was one of the players who was key to giving us one of our few wins this season with that header at Wolves. So, you know, he's given us maybe our biggest moment of the season on the pitch, bar the Chelsea game.
00:16:55
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So you've got to be thanking him for that. And I'm sure he'll carry that with us. And if things can go well in next few weeks with victory against Wolves and few more points here and there, that may come to be pivotal as well. and So he'll be one of the players we have to thank for that.
00:17:06
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But yeah, difficult night for him. But hopefully, I'm sure he'll be sort of heads up moving forward.
00:17:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. i I'd have to agree. He's a good player as well. you know Like you say, he's made he's made the leap up and and like you say, if...
00:17:16
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah, definitely.
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, it's looking more likely than ever as the weeks go on, but if we do go down, I think Taylor will be a very, very good player keep hold of. So, yeah, fingers crossed for him that he keeps his head up because he is a good player.
00:17:28
Tom Crack - Ipswich
yeah definitely
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah just Just before we go into another break, just want to touch on... Obviously, we'll come back to the Premier League with us. Yeah. Obviously, it was good to see hair starting against Forest. And yeah, like you say, when he plays, he seems to pick up a goal.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Obviously, the lap, he's not going to be here in summer if we go down 100%. We all know that. But with the lap, I think we've touched on it previously. But do you do you think we rely on him too much at the minute?
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
is that Is that the... Because I because that i was thinking obviously are thinking the same, but I think if we maybe start giving Hairst more minutes before the end of the season, we can see what he can do going forward as well.
00:17:59
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
00:18:09
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that something that you'd be keen to maybe see happening?
00:18:15
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I mean, in terms of giving him more minutes, it's it's ah it's a tricky one, isn't it? Because i' I'm in complete agreement with you where we do rely on him so much and it must weigh on him physically as well.
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:18:25
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And it does kind of make us a bit one-dimensional, having that sort of one threat. It's just a difficult issue in the fact that our best, are in my opinion, our second best sort goal-scoring player who can be there or thereabouts to give the keeper a bit of a worry is our second striker.
00:18:41
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And usually that means that he's not going to be on the bench.
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:44
Tom Crack - Ipswich
He's going to be on the pitch when our starting striker is off the pitch. I've always been quite you know keen to see them on the pitch at the same time. It's been very rare. I think we saw it against United, which, you know,
00:18:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:54
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Really, we didn't threaten the net much at all in that second half, unfortunately. But it it could be something worth trying. you know We're trying to get as many goals as possible. But that's a complete change of system if that was the case. it's It's a difficult situation, isn't it? Because, yeah, like I said, I do think George Hurst can provide something slightly different.
00:19:10
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But you're going to sacrifice our ah best player in terms of goals. But it's it's it's it's difficult, isn't it? i'm not I'm not sure, to be honest. um Yeah, I don't know, man. Because you're losing something you're losing some real quality if you put him in.
00:19:24
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But I get the point of getting more on the pitch because the two of them on the pitch could provide something. But, you know, if one of them goes down on the pitch together, you kind of screw moving forward, aren't you? Bring back Elhamadie.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
enough
00:19:34
Tom Crack - Ipswich
but
00:19:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, not absolutely. i mean It is always a tricky one when you've got a striker. That is so good. And then another one that you think could possibly do something as well. It's always going to be a tough one. But um I just hope that they can both start scoring more goals.
00:19:44
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. like But we'll take another little short break and in part three, obviously, we'll cover sort of our line-up score predictions and everything like that.
00:19:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, Salo, and back with part three and we'll jump straight into it, Tom. So obviously I'll just probably start with a bit of the line-ups. But before we do that, obviously not sir we don't want to sound like we're complaining too much, but our injuries this season have definitely been a hindrance as well. They've not helped us at all. We've signed players and they've got injured, so we're missing them ah again.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, is it bad luck, Tom? do you Is that what you think is done our season or is it a little bit more than that, do you think?
00:20:23
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I think it's a mixture. like i know injuries can be seen as like a classic excuse um because every club obviously goes for injuries as the season goes on. It's just a part of the game, isn't it? But the amount we've had has been ridiculous. you know we've we've we've We right at the start in the first game of season that we need a player on the right because Burns probably can't cut it as a starter.
00:20:41
Tom Crack - Ipswich
We brought in Obené, who I thought could have been that guy and looked great. Then he got injured as well, so we needed someone else to replace him as well. And then we kind of addressed that with, you know, a few other signings coming through. But predominantly, that's still been a whole the entire season, hasn't it?
00:20:54
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And then, you know, you bring it in CISO in January, who could be a real game changer. And again, the few games we've seen of him, he should be back, I think, it' hopefully end of this month, start of April. But the few games we've seen of him, he looked great.
00:21:05
Tom Crack - Ipswich
then got injured as well. And then, you know, Sammy Schmodix, who can bang in the goal or where to away from home, great, got a great goal start of the year against Fulham. He's injured as well. It's just, there's a lot of people, isn't there, who, you know,
00:21:18
Tom Crack - Ipswich
we would rely on to be a bit of quality on the pitch and they're predominantly all out.
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:22
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Amari Hutchinson, my player, like, you know, jury's out and who as whether it's not, it's been a decent season, but he's out. Calvin Phillips is now out as well.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's
00:21:29
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Dwan Zabies, there's a lot of names here. And I think the fact that I'm naming all these names here, it's and it's not just, you know, random throwaways, is it?
00:21:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
a lot. Yeah.
00:21:37
Tom Crack - Ipswich
They're they're important players. to do do Do you think that could be a reason? I kind of think it is, to be honest, and it is a bit valid. Like, they're our best players.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Absolutely, I completely agree. So just, excuse me, just for sort of everyone listening, obviously, we've met you've mentioned most players, but I'll just go through the full list fully now. So obviously we've got Burns who's out and then Ogbenay, Hutchinson, Walton, yeah, Nciso, Phillips, Twanzebi, Burgess, Smodic and Connor Chaplin as well.
00:21:53
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean, you go through that whole list and they're such important players. like Most of them injuries there are such important players.
00:22:10
Tom Crack - Ipswich
yeah
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, I think it's absolutely fair to say that's that's been ah massive hindrance on us. And I do think that's why we've not ah we're not a bit fair up the table.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because I truly believe fully fit team, I think we would have more of a chance right now to stay up than but won then what we do at the minute. and And I think most fans would agree with that. And I'm sure you would. Is that right, Tom, I think?
00:22:34
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah, yeah. I mean, we still there's still quality
Formation Adjustments for Ipswich
00:22:36
Tom Crack - Ipswich
in there. I think it's just now our bench and and like the issue we've had a lot this season is players coming off the bench haven't been able to match the quality of our opposition has coming off the bench.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:45
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But, you know, we're fully fit. You know, you get those three behind the lap. If we had, like, you know, Philogene Hutchinson and CISO is that three. It's a fantastic three. I think that's a mid table, like three man there.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gravery.
00:22:58
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And then off the bench, you got like Smoddix, Chaplin, Ogbenay. That's three decent players to replace there as it burns potentially as well. You know, half of those more more than half of those names there won't be able to play this weekend.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:10
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So you're then going to have to rely on the ones who start to play more minutes and also the ones who replace them to not be as good coming off the bench or asking players to play in a position they're not necessarily accustomed to.
00:23:21
Tom Crack - Ipswich
One thing I've seen online, i don't know if you've seen much of this, because richard i think Richard raised it a week or so ago when we spoke about potentially having in a three or a five, um because I think he's been great in the few times we've seen him, but having Davis like on that left side of a three and then having Townsend in the left back role. We don't usually like having the same guy or two players in the same position on the pitch at the same time, but I think it could provide something quite...
00:23:45
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Interesting. I think we'll ever see it This is kind of a devil's advocate for formation guests here.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:23:48
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But I think Townsend's really sounding every time he's been on the pitch. And Davis, you know, I think defensively he's good, but going forward is even better. And it could be kind of a cool pairing to see. do do do see Would you see that working? i don't think it's going happen.
00:24:02
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I'll just put out there. But i think I think it'd be a good way to fix some certain things on that side of the field.
00:24:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I could absolutely absolutely see it working because, like you said, just for the reasons you've absolutely said, Davis could get more forward. Yeah, I could absolutely see it working, but will we see it? No, I don't think so.
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like you say, it's just a bit of devil's advocate in it, but I'd like to see it because why not start experimenting?
00:24:18
Tom Crack - Ipswich
no
00:24:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
What what else have we got to lose? Do you know what let Let's try some things.
Ipswich's Road to Recovery
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe we need to try some new things and maybe that's the thing that we're missing. But and speaking of that, if we do try anything, you know, in the next coming weeks,
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
i ask I'll ask you this now before we get to the end. Do you genuinely think we can turn this around?
00:24:44
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I do, yeah. like there's no i mean I said it yesterday, there's still no reason yet to be writing our obituaries.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:51
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I think you know if if the if the gap does close ah extend sorry more than it has now, then probably not.
00:24:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good.
00:25:00
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But the fact that you know we've still got to play Wolves at home, which is a must-win game, I'm very much looking forward to that. as as now oh If the gap stays what it is or it...
00:25:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:08
Tom Crack - Ipswich
decreases even more if it decreases to be honest but the fact that we've still got to play them we've got still got to go to Leicester as well and then you know
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:25:19
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Again, I said this Thursday show, and I said it probably a few other times this season. I know one man doesn't make a team, but with Matthias Kynia being out for three games now after his silly um incident against Bournemouth in the Cup, with him being out for the next three games, you see how reliable ah how much they rely on him. I know they've improved under the new manager ever so slightly, but they still do.
00:25:36
Tom Crack - Ipswich
He scores most goals for them still. So the fact that he won't be there for the next three games, I think mentally that will really scupper them as well.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:43
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And yeah, why not? You know, it's been a long season. They haven't been able to run away from us too much. We've kind of been in there or thereabouts. It's been, I think 2025 has been a lot, much more harder than 2024 because we haven't had the luxury of sort of doing being like, oh, we're the new boys.
00:25:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:57
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And to be honest, I think the performances were better. Injuries weren't as big. been a lot of reasons why 2025 more difficult. But yeah, if we can mean if we can maintain this gap or, like I said, decrease it and then get a victory against Wolves in three or four games' time, we've got international break coming up, which fitness-wise is going to help.
00:26:13
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Usually, I don't like the international break because it gets in the way of the season, but it's going to be a week's break for everyone and predominantly most of our players won't be going on international duty.
00:26:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
look.
00:26:22
Tom Crack - Ipswich
You might get De Lapp and Hutchinson and Philogene going on under-21s or maybe De Lapp even getting a call-up to Tuchel's first squad. I don't know. Maybe, hopefully. but predominantly not many people are going to be getting called up and that's going to help us as well and give everyone a week's break so you never know what what do you think like i'm i'm still on a main positive ah you just have to i think don't you
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I'm with you, mate. Absolutely. I'm still absolutely with you. I still think we can do it. I'm still positive. It's just getting closer and closer and more nervy and nervy, which I do not like.
00:26:50
Tom Crack - Ipswich
yeah
00:26:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um I'm absolutely with you. I do think we can do it. i Obviously, we're going have some players that will return in important parts of the season or when we've got likes of Wolves and Leicester and everything. So, yeah, I don't see any reason why not.
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it would be incredible if we do. But obviously, for sticking with obviously more recent times, we've got Palace um on Saturday.
Match Preview: Ipswich vs. Crystal Palace
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
we'll We'll start with the line-ups then, just a quick run through. Obviously, Palmer, unbelievable, to be fair. hes Obviously, he's going to start.
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Run me through what you think sort of the back line is going to be and your midfield and everything.
00:27:27
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Yeah, I think we'll stick with a four now. I think just because, you know, we've only really got three centre-backs in Wolffendon O'Shame and...
00:27:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:33
Tom Crack - Ipswich
duno shame and um Greaves. So I think having all three of start is a bit dangerous, to be fair, even if some for some people it might be their preferred formation. So I think we'll see a four. I think we'll see Greaves and O'Shea as a pairing.
00:27:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:45
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I saw in the FA Cup game on Monday, there was a moment in the game where Greaves, for me as a talent player, was summed up where he put a fantastic block in and a tackling and then held the ball and was looking to like p play out from the back and just fluffed it.
00:28:01
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Then the player who, from Forest interception, he got back straight away because his interceptions are so good.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
perfect
00:28:07
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But it's just creativity, I think, with ball was really poor. But I still think, yeah, they'll be the two there.
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:12
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Davis on the left, despite my ah sort of desire him to go bit further forward and Townsend there, I do still see Davis playing there. And then the rights, I was going to say difficult, but mean, it's either going to be Godfrey or Ben Johnson, but I think it'll be Ben Johnson starting write. He's struggling a lot more in a pure right-back role than he has in a right-wing-back role this season.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:34
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But with Twenzaby out injured again,
00:28:37
Tom Crack - Ipswich
it's going to have to be Johnson starting. So I i don't really have much faith in Godfrey. The fact that I didn't mention Godfrey there as one of our centre-backs, I just remembered he was one, shows that, you know, it's not going to be that. And we need to go bit more forward as well.
00:28:49
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Midfield two as well. I think now it'll probably be Morsi and... um Cuyuste because Phillips is out again. So I think ah if Morsey's legs are up for it, you're going to have to see Cuyuste now do a 90-minute effort because you know this season he's predominantly been 60 or 70 minutes.
00:29:08
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But with Phillips out injured and Morsey having just yeah run out run his socks off for 120 minutes, ah only like five days or so removed from Saturday's game, you can't expect him to play a full 90 really. So I think that would be that one.
00:29:22
Tom Crack - Ipswich
um Is that is that a similar for that sort of defensive part of the team for you before you move to attack?
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, especially with the injuries at the minute, I think that's the best way that we can set up, I think. um So, yeah, I'm in complete agreement.
00:29:34
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Hmm.
00:29:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't see any other sort of major changes happening, you know mean? So I think it's just going to be what you've just said exactly. And think going forward, obviously, the lap's going to start in Ian's Who do you think is be out on the wings then?
00:29:49
Tom Crack - Ipswich
It's a tricky one, isn't it? I it's i think the injuries have made this slightly easier because there's less players to pick from.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:56
Tom Crack - Ipswich
But it's always, no matter who's fit, you still don't really know who's going to be on the 10, who's going be on the right and the left. I do expect, because, yeah, you said with Amari out now as well, who was on front three for Forest in the week? So, Broadhead, Hurst,
00:30:15
Tom Crack - Ipswich
and, well, Hurst was a striker. That was Clark as well, wasn't it? I think we'll see Clark on the left. I think he's been quite a bleak month or so, but he's been reason pretty good, I think. like he is he seems He seems to be finding his feet a bit more now um as a town player, which I think is really good if we go down or not.
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:30:31
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I think that' he's going to be an important player for us next season, and he's and he's definitely moved on.
00:30:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah absolutely.
00:30:37
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Philogene on the right, um he's he's, again, with Amaro Hutchinson out injured now, he really needs to pick up the mantle and be the player you know many have expected him to be. You've got to brace against United, albeit a very dodgy brace, but he's scored two goals for us now.
00:30:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
The price is the price, yeah.
00:30:52
Tom Crack - Ipswich
He's off the mark in the conference, isn't he?
00:30:54
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So hopefully he'll continue that and we need him to be a key player for us. Then in the middle, probably... broad head I know it's a strange position for him, but I'm just trying to think who could be that middle role as well.
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:05
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Because Chaplin, Schmodix and Hutchinson, all three of them out, they really are tens, aren't they? All three of those guys right there. And all three of are out.
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:13
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Maybe you could have sort of Clark floating in middle or Philogene floating the middle. But I think those three, again, I'm not sure specifically who's going to be in or about, who's going to be in the right, left and the middle. But I would say those three behind the lap because it is kind of getting slim pickings now, isn't it?
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, yeah, i't I'd have to absolutely agree, 100%. I think, you again, with the injuries, yeah. Broadhead, I really like him. I'd love to and to start on the left, but I think Clark has been playing well, yeah, and then probably Broadhead through the middle.
00:31:39
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I
00:31:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would absolutely have to 100% agree with you there, mate. I do think it's going to be that line-up. And just going off that, just before we finish, little score prediction, what do reckon?
00:31:53
Tom Crack - Ipswich
i said 1-1 yesterday, so I'll stick with that.
00:31:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perfect.
00:31:55
Tom Crack - Ipswich
um I can't see us getting a win there, but You know, away's been a lot more joyful this season than it has been a home. And Palace aren't as good at home as they are on the road.
00:32:07
Tom Crack - Ipswich
I know they did beat Villa 4-1 recently at home, but prior to that, it was pretty bleak with two back-to-back losses.
00:32:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:13
Tom Crack - Ipswich
So who's to say they can't get three losses out of the last four home games and we can get one on the board as well. And hopefully Wolves can have another slip up. But I'll go 1-0. Any point gained is good right now, isn't it?
00:32:23
Tom Crack - Ipswich
And hopefully that'll be the case. What about you?
00:32:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I've been saying one all as well. So hopefully we can go pick up a point at Palace and and we'll have a nice nice catch up for after the game. But thank you very much, Tom.
00:32:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thanks for joining me
Closing and Listener Engagement
00:32:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
today. It's been an absolute pleasure.
00:32:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you guys for listening. Remember to go like all of our socials, GSPN, Daily, Ipswich, and we will see you very soon.
00:32:37
Tom Crack - Ipswich
Thank you, mate.