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Daily Ipswich: Episode 127 - Delap to the England senior squad?
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Join Rob & Richard as they look ahead to the international break. The lads discuss which Ipswich players are off with their national teams, try to predict what work will be done on the training ground over this two-week break and react to Liam Delap training with the England senior squad.
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: Richard Popple
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Transcript
Introduction and Overview of International Break
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Ipswich, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place to find daily content on every single Premier League club, wrap-ups in multiple languages and all your women's football news as well.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an international special of the Daily Ipswich today. and know our last episode before we head off on a little international break as well, we'll we'll put the daily on pause for a couple of weeks, but We're look ahead, we're going to see whoop who's going away from the town squad, where where they're off to, sort of what their games are looking like. And we'll talk about, of course, those who are staying at home, particularly Kieran McKenna on that front and what he's got to try and conjure up in this two-week spell before he returns to league football action.
Personal Reflections on the Break
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And joining me, Rob Bins, to go for all of that is Richard Popple. How you doing, mate?
00:01:03
Richard
I'm good, Rob. Yeah, not too bad. Looking but looking forward to the yeah to the little break for ourselves as well.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it'll be nice. says A couple of things to look forward to the international break for now because partly you don't get your weekends ruined anymore. couple of weeks off that for a start and we we get a nice little break.
00:01:19
Richard
Exactly.
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
We only have to do a couple of episodes here and there.
00:01:23
Richard
ye Yeah, yeah.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a bit much to try and do daily still, but I'll
Liam DeLapp's Training and Potential Call-up
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
say we'll see how it goes. But the reason I say it's a struggle to do daily is we don't often get much news to talk about, but there's been quite a big story relating to Ipswich and internationals that has broke in the last day or so and that is Liam DeLapp has been training with the England first team.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So obviously it's not all the under-20s, he's gone with the but it's not the whole squad that's been training there, it's just a select few players. So is he potentially sort of on hold should could should people pull out maybe prior to the game Friday night? Or usually what happens in these sort games is that somebody plays the first one and then goes back to their club and those sort of players that have got a title or running or...
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
European football to go and chase after. they tend to They tend to play one and then disappear. So the fact that De Lapp's been one of the few up with the first team, is there that a suggestion there that he might get promoted halfway through the international break?
00:02:22
Richard
Yeah, maybe. i think I think there were three of them, weren't there? There was Taylor Highwood-Beles from Southampton and Adam Wharton, I think, as well from Palace, who's obviously been in the the first team or the senior squad, sorry, before few times. and he was in the He was in the Euros, obviously, wasn't he, last year?
00:02:39
Richard
So, yeah, I think for De Lappe, it's like, you know, it's probably the call-up that we probably expected. I was a bit surprised that he wasn't called up in the first place. just given that I would have thought Tuka would have wanted to have had a look at him. There's been a lot of speculation about how long Kane might go on for and that obviously England need to try and look to the future a little bit in that position maybe and try out a couple of people. But yeah, obviously it was giving him the opportunity to to impress.
00:03:07
Richard
So I'm sure he did. i I'm sure he put himself about in training and stuff. And yeah, maybe maybe he will get a call into one of the games and and we'll see him for 15 minutes or something in one of the games.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it'd be nice to see, you wouldn't it? so he we We've mentioned at pretty much every international break so far this year, but we're still yet to receive a town player getting an England cap since 2000 when Richard Wright got one.
Analysis of England Squad Selections
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it'd be nice to even to have a player back in the squad would be nice.
00:03:32
Richard
Yeah.
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But say certainly they say the three that have been picked there, I mean, I assume it's deliberately been done one for each main position. We don't need a goalkeeper because we've got four in the squad anyway for some reason.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got two friendlies being played that But but say probably part of reason why Lapp's not made it in the end is he's ended up being picked ahead of the pick four goalkeepers.
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
They had to chuck an extra strugger in there, but that's that's a different conversation. But like said, the other two, yeah, I don't know.
00:04:02
Richard
It's just weird, isn't it? why Why do you need four goalkeepers? It's bizarre.
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know that one, realistically, Pickford will play both and if he doesn't, we only one of them's going to play the other game. There's two of them going there knowing they're not getting any minutes at all, so it's a bit pointless really, but
00:04:14
Richard
Hmm.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The young lads that come up, obviously Harwood Bellis was in the last squad and scored on his debut.
00:04:19
Richard
Yeah.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Warton has made a few squads because of the unreal form he was in in the back end of last year. Got him one this time its time last year. He's had his injury troubles this year. But the lap is obviously the outlier there. He's not been called up before. It suggests there's something Tuchel sees there that maybe the likes of Southgate and Carsley, or not even Southgate, suppose just Carsley,
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
sort of maybe looked over that maybe there is a bit more there with Tuchel interesting as well obviously I know the benefit of these three is they're probably on the fringe of the squad but have been called up because to to do some training because they're with the twenty ones you obviously can't do that for players don't call up but the fact someone like Ollie Watkins doesn't make the squad and then you've got the lap training with the first team it does it does make you wonder there if there's a bit of a shift in the pecking order now Tuchel's in charge but
00:05:09
Richard
yeah Yeah, definitely.
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's certainly our best shout, isn't he, if we're going to get an England call up anytime soon to break the streak, the 25-year baron run.
00:05:26
Richard
And I think you look at the England squad in general, there seems to be like one one very experienced player in kind of like each position. So you've got obviously Jordan Pickford, you know, even Ramsdale, who's been around for a very long time.
00:05:36
Richard
He's only played five times for England, I think. Trafford's never played. Henderson's played twice, I think. So Pickford's that kind of like one. And then in defence, it's a really young defence, apart from Kyle Walker, who's obviously a kind of experience there.
00:05:51
Richard
Midfield, Declan Rice is obviously very experienced, but then they you know Henderson was the one that was causing a bit of controversy. People wondering why that was the pick. But because you don't have that many really experienced players in there, you kind of need those sort of four, I think, you know, to kind of like cover cover that a little bit. And Tuchel obviously is looking to the future. Morgan Rodgers coming in and Liveramento, Myles Lewis-Skelly.
00:06:16
Richard
So, you know, DeLat fits in that mould, doesn't he? have a Kind of like an up-and-coming player. And I could definitely see him, if he doesn't make his debut in these two games, I can see him, you know, making an impact in training probably and and giving himself an opportunity to be picked later in the year.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. It'd be lovely to see, wouldn't it? And I said, some of the two shows picked, well, let's just talk about the squad generally because we're an Ipswich podcast, but we're all England fans as well, aren't we? So talk about there's some some of those strange ones. What are your thoughts on the whole so henn Henderson being the main one, obviously Jordan, not Dean, and then even Kyle Walker, who somehow seems to make every single squad after he was one of the worst players at the Euros and is obviously getting on a bit at What your thoughts on the so the overall squad, apart from obviously want and there wanting there to be some town players in there?
00:07:08
Richard
Yeah, I mean, like I just said, I think I feel as if he's kind of, It would be really bold in your first squad to be you know to cast aside kind of like people who have played 80, 90 games. and yeah and I agree with you. Kyle Walker was one of the poorer performers for us last summer. and Before that, you know Walker had been easily one of England's most consistent and best performers for the for the previous sort of six or seven years, really.
00:07:35
Richard
so I think his form did fall off a clear fit, obviously did for Man City. then he got Then he got the move to Milan and stuff in January. So I'm a bit surprised at that one. I kind of get it, but I'm a bit surprised. i think they should probably move on from him because I think he's 35 maybe now.
00:07:50
Richard
Then in midfield, the Henderson one. i mean, Jordan Henderson for me, I've never really got Jordan Henderson. i don't don't think he was part of England's best team when we got to the two...
00:08:02
Richard
Euro finals or or the the tournament before even really with the World Cup and stuff. I'm not sure if he was ever like in England's best team and I certainly don't think he is now. I think you've got to have Morgan Rodgers in there and I think you've got to have Declan Rice in there and then you pick one more.
00:08:16
Richard
And for me, that would probably be someone like Curtis Jones who kind of stitches play together really, really well. I think Henderson is a backward step. So, Don't really get that one.
00:08:27
Richard
i kind of, again, understand from a kind of experience point of view, but I don't think in terms of ability or stage of career, he necessarily deserves to be there.
00:08:37
Richard
How do you feel about it?
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it feels like he's just been picked for the sake of having him in the squad. There's there something Southgate used to do with Connor Cody. He took him to consistently like every international break for weeks and he'd never play.
00:08:48
Richard
Yeah.
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was just good he was a leader in the dressing room and was somebody good there. I think that's the role we saw he's almost bringing him in to be a coach. I can't see him playing any any games unless we are that short. But then I don't know. it For me, the thing to compare it to is when you think,
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
who's missed out so in order for him to get in? Obviously, Giz White was out, but with Palmer being injured, he's come in. i know they're different positions, but don't know he's not got in there. You've then got Anderson at Forest, who's been fantastic this year. got Conor Gallagher, who has his critics of England, don't get me wrong, but playing very well at Atletico Madrid. And you sort think, there's two right off the bat having fantastic seasons.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
In Gallagher's case, he's quite experienced of England as well. So you're not... Obviously, Anderson would bit would have been a complete newbie, so you may be get the argument two tools going and for from that side but the fact i can name you two players were thinking about it for half a second that are playing well and on the merit of form probably wouldn't deserve to be in there and then you'd pick somebody who is there like i say just almost to be like an an an extra coach and he's there to keep the dressing room up and almost and give some advice out maybe i don't know about that one but
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
suppose, like you said, having one in each position can make a benefit.
00:10:06
Richard
Yeah, yeah.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
like So there's a reason why pretty much every picture of the lap and training that he's with Harry Kane, because there's nobody better for him to go and speak to, to pick up little bits here and there to train with, see what they do, pick things up, take it into his own game, because he's only 21 or 22, however old he is.
00:10:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He might never get a chance to train with somebody as good as Harry Kane again. Yeah. You can see why there's a reason why every picture of the lap, there's a lot of them with Kane in the background as well. So I suppose it's the same element with, maybe not in terms of the same level of football and ability, but certainly something that a role Henderson can play, I suppose, with some of those younger lads coming in, like your Rodgers and yeah even Eze and Gibbs
Jude Bellingham's Role and Potential
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
White, people like that. And then obviously even Jones is quite young. You just sort of forget. Some of these people have been around, like Eze and Jones, they've been around for years now. You forget they're still actually quite young.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
and fairly inexperienced of England as well.
00:11:02
Richard
Yeah.
00:11:03
Richard
I mean, i really like Hurst-Jones.
00:11:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a tough one.
00:11:05
Richard
I think he's a really, a really good player. But the the Henderson thing as well, I completely agree with you and I get that about the the the sort of experience thing. But the way Tuchel's been talking about him and and if you look at the profile of our midfielders, it looks like he'll play.
00:11:21
Richard
And I don't, I just don't necessarily think Jordan Henderson is one of the best 11 footballers in the country. And I know that's not necessarily how you pick the team because it's about the kind of like combinations and working together and stuff and and different qualities are needed.
00:11:37
Richard
But, they need to work out the midfield England because since they had that two pivot in the, in the, later euros, 2021 euros should have been 2020 euros, obviously with Phillips and rice, which worked really effectively in that tournament, they've not really got the balance of the midfield, right. And obviously,
00:11:54
Richard
you know Southgate towards the end of his reign was really struggling to get enough creativity from his midfield and was you know chucking loads of kind of different combinations in there. and Then Karsley went even further and like was playing like six attacking midfielders in the same team.
00:12:11
Richard
and and The problem was that they were basically playing Declan Rice as that kind of holding midfielder. Declan Rice doesn't play as a holding midfielder anymore for Arsenal. so you know he's out of He plays as a left eight most of the time. so you You need to find that combination. So I think if Henderson's being brought in to start, it would worry me that he's the best we have in that position because I think he's always been a bit limited with his passing.
00:12:34
Richard
And if England are going to try and be a bit more of a progressive team, you need that base, that person at the base to be able to kind of like set attacks nice and fluidly. And I don't think he does that.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I think that's that's the issue we've got, I think, at the moment. You just need someone. It's like always said back in the day, weren't it, that we had all the talent that we didn't do anything this because we tried to force the big names in when actually, I'm talking about Skulls, Gerrard, Lampard, who tried to force all three of them
00:13:01
Richard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they' they've all said that they needed somebody like a Michael Carrick next to them to bring their best game out, but when they're playing there each other, they're sort of lost at knowing what to do. And we're sort needing that role now. We need somebody to sit in there and let Rice do the role that Phillips was doing a few years ago and then, you know, and that the talent that gives the freedom to the attacking players as well.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Wharton probably is the best shouter with his fitness issues and everything that you can say why he wasn't called up.
00:13:27
Richard
Yeah.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't know, but I was completely distracted myself while I've been talking about the England squad as well because I've just stumbled across the fact that Jude Bellingham's got 40 caps already and he's still 21 for another three months.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I don't know what sort of records he's going to break.
00:13:42
Richard
Yeah, weird. what do you what do you feel about What do you feel about Bellingham? Because obviously he's a brilliant footballer, but it just looks weird with him in the England team because I don't know where he plays and i don't know who he fits alongside.
00:13:56
Richard
And he often plays kind of hero ball a little bit, doesn't he? Where it's kind of very much kind of the du the Jude Bellingham show.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know.
00:14:05
Richard
How do you feel about all of that?
00:14:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think says its just it's finding in the right spot for him. I think the issue has been that number 10 is our most stocked up position. and like and
00:14:19
Richard
Yeah.
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
say In this squad, for example, he's been listed as a forward under this squad. I don't know whether that suggests any ideas of what Tuchel's plans are, but in this squad, obviously, we have Palmer, who's dropped out for the 10 role. You've got Foden, who can play there, but probably get shoved out wide, even though it's not his best position.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gibbs-White's come in. You've got Rodgers as well. So Bellingham's best is probably the 10. And then we saw in the Euros, he is sometimes gets pushed further back, which I don't think works.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think I think it was the right thing to do at the Euros. I think he was the best option to play there next to Rice out of who we had. But I don't think it's the best option. position for him to be in ideally. and so The problem is his best is a 10 and probably makes sense to move him. He's good enough to play somewhere else when you've got 15 other 10s you can go and pick from in every squad. I don't know. but I think he's someone that we've not unlocked the best out of yet, but when we do, or if we can even, I should say, rather than rather than when, if we can, then we obviously know the quality is there. that
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's only score look He's got six goals in his 40 caps, but then I can think of two straight off the bat, which were in the 90 plus minute, either winners or equalisers. So he's one of those players that he might seem to not do too much in a game, but he's one of them that you have to, at some point, can just pop up create something and win your games on his own. And we've seen to have a few of them now, which is quite good. But like I said, there is bit of individuality about them all really rather, certainly under Southgate there was anyway, rather than working as a team.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
which maybe maybe is the problem.
00:15:58
Richard
Yeah, that's the challenge, isn't it? but that's so That's always the challenge of international football. But with England, it seems to be a common kind of like thing. Yeah, you get great individual players, but it just never quite works in the team. So hopefully Tuchel is the man to change that. i'm i'm I'm quite excited about seeing Anthony Gordon. I think he's he's had a really good season. i think he's a really, really good player. And obviously with Saka not in the squad, he'll get an opportunity to... to play, you would think, even though he normally goes off the left, I suppose. But yeah, he he's a really exciting player for me. I think he gets ahead of Foden for me and the team.
Ipswich Players on International Duty
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'd agree.
00:16:32
Richard
Maybe Rashford plays as well. I know. Yeah, we'll see.
00:16:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, don't know We'll see how it goes. So, I'll be interested to see what the squad looks like after Friday night's game as well and how that compares to Monday. And who knows, maybe we will have Liam Dallap called up.
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe he'll do one with the 21s and then come up to the first team and for a slot on the bench, if nothing else. would We shall see. But we focus a lot on obviously one player there. We've got about 10 other international players off on this window. So once we have a quick break to hear from one of our sponsors, we'll delve into the rest of them.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
like We are back for the second part of today's show. As I mentioned, we spoke a lot about the lap, who's off with the 21s and hopefully an upgrade to the first team maybe on the cards there. But we have 11 internationals in total, which again, the point we've made many times this year is a sign of the journey of the club over the last couple of years to have, was going to have a full 11.
00:18:04
Richard
Yes, a lot.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it wouldn't play very well because it's two goalkeepers, two defenders and the rest of them are attackers. It would be and make for a terrible game of football, but The fact we have enough to fill an XI is certainly a step up. But run for him all quickly. So obviously, Delap's with the 21s alongside Hutchinson and Philogene as well, both part of that England under-21 squad.
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have a few players that are involved in the Nations League tonight, which is say for Frieland, Darroche and Jack Taylor. And for Scotland, there's Kieran Slicker up with the senior squad and also George Hurst, who has had all his documents And everything confirmed. And he is now officially swapped over to represent Scotland, which is benefit for him, you'd say, wouldn't you, Rich? so Because he's he's not going knock down the doors on the England squad as much as we all love him.
00:18:55
Richard
No, yeah, it's brilliant for him. And hopefully he he yeah hits the ground running. I think he'll do quite well. I've been really impressed with him this year when he's obviously been fit and had the opportunity to play. He's obviously been quite effective.
00:19:08
Richard
And I think he's someone that we know that will probably be at the club next year as well. So if he can put his fitness issues in the past, he's kind of hitting his peak. you know, prime age, isn't he really? I think he's going to be 26 later this year. I'm going to be an international footballer now as well. So hopefully it's all about keeping fit and then he can press on in both regards for club and country.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, I think it'll be good for him because the best chance he's going to have for international football, isn't it? Some players, obviously, you make the switch knowing that you have you have to really back yourself to compete to get to the level of England now. Whereas maybe 10, 20 years ago, it might have been a bit easier than it is now. But certainly, it'll be good move for him. I think he can regularly compete, I think, definitely. sir He'd be making the squads consistently. like to think that don't know what some of the other options are. I'm pretty sure most of them are born in England like he is anyway. So this needs to be the way why Scotland are going. Is that pretty much it?
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
All their strikers are born somewhere else, but somehow end up being Scottish. that yeah So he should do well and hopeful hopefully he'll hit some form in the international level as well. And then can... It's a bit of confidence. Like we say, he's he's picked up some confidence boost in the cup. The goal against Forrest will do wonders for him as well. If he could go away on the international level,
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and mark his Scotland debut of a goal, then you know he might he might come back and be a serious contender to be in from the starting line-up. You never know. but Who else have we got away? We've got Burgess off in Australia as well, so of travel involved for him, as as always in that case.
00:20:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Someone else who's got loads of travel is in CISO, obviously a new international for us.
Impact of International Duty on Players
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Off to Paraguay to take part in their squad. We're not usually a team that deals with the delayed returns from South America like a lot of teams do. But, say, fortunately in our case, because we didn't see so, normally the these South American players would fly back and start on the bench because of all the travel involved. But luckily we've got an extra week when the international breaks come comes to a close. So we haven't got to worry about that because he has been very sharp since he's come back from injury. And I think he's going massive part to play between unfortunately now in the end of the season. But then...
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
assuming he gets through the international break all right, because that is to worry with this. so The flip side of the positive having players go out is the and chance they get injured. That's the concern there. we haven't so We have so many players out out now that I always feel like we're bound to get an injury the way our luck's been this year, but you never know.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then our final two we have off is Murek is off with the Kosovo squad and Nathan Broadhead is back with Wales after a couple of squads out, I believe, that Hopefully he'll get a few minutes in the Wales squad. I think that will do him good as well because Broadhead's one who I think has played very well pretty much every time he's been on the pitch this year, but seems to be always the one who drops out the starting line-up when we make a change when he perhaps doesn't deserve to be. I if you've got the same train of thought on that.
00:22:14
Richard
I do. Well, you you know I'm um'm a broadhead fan. So, yeah, i i I've found that weird all year, really, or since he got back fit anyway. He was in really good form at the turn of the year, wasn't he? And then he kind of like seemed to be a bit of a fool guy.
00:22:29
Richard
You know, there are weaknesses to his game. I think i think he does kind of flit in and out of game sometimes. He can be knocked off the ball. He loses the ball a little bit sometimes a bit too easily. But then, you know, which of the Ipswich wingers doesn't do that? Hasn't done that this season. So, you know,
00:22:43
Richard
We're not here to talk about that today, but yeah, I agree with you. I think it'd be nice for him to get a start maybe in one of their games and get some football under his belt a little bit more. Because I think like Hurst, like Cameron Burgess, I think he will be around next year. And I think he he's going to be a big part of our squad again in the championship if if we do get relegated, which looks looks like what happens.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, unfortunately so. Yeah, but that'd be good. So it's nice to see the return from Broadhead because, say, we were sitting here just before the January window wondering that would he even be at the club past that point? There was all sorts going on.
00:23:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just didn't exist by the looks of it for the first two or three months of the season. And he's popped back in and put a few good shifts in and they say looks like he'll be an important player next year, regardless of the division, to be honest. But especially if we to drop down the championship and maybe there's a few departures as a result of that as well. But you never know. But overall, I'll say 11 players going away and hopefully there's a bit of some confidence building there. Obviously, players always come back with a bit of buzz, have them play for the national side, won't
Kieran McKenna's Strategy During the Break
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
they?
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'll be good for And hopefully, like we said in part one, maybe that there is a chance we get an Ipswich player in an England squad for the first time in nearly 25 years or so which would be a fantastic achievement for the club and shows the progress we've been on in the last couple of years. But that sort of sums us up for players that have gone away. We'll be talking about those who have stayed back home once we have another break to hear from one of our sponsors.
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to the final part of today's Daily Ipswich, the international preview special. And on that road, obviously, we have players going out on international break. We covered, but obviously there's 11 going out. but That still makes a decent chunk of the squad staying at Playford Road over the next week. and then obviously we will have everybody together the week after that.
00:25:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
once the Nationals draw to a close and obviously it's the FA Cup quarterfinal weekend so we unfortunately aren't involved in that. Have a free weekend before we get back to action on April 2nd against Bournemouth.
00:25:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's a healthy chunk of time there than where we are now.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's say a couple of weeks. Obviously we're already a few days into that run already so it's been about two and a half in total. And it's a huge period of time to get things together isn't it? Because we're Well, there's an argument to say we are on the worst runner format of anybody in the top four leagues at the moment because we are the only team out of those 92 to have not won a game since the turn of the year.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's a lot that needs to go on behind the scenes, but if there's a man you could trust to get a job done in this period of time and pull off a miracle, it's Kieran McKenna, isn't it?
00:26:00
Richard
Well, I would have said yes at the start of the season, but and I'm not putting this on McKenna, but yeah, i think I think even for him, this this might be a bridge too far, unfortunately.
00:26:13
Richard
But yeah, I think it is an opportunity. First of all, I think for some of the players to just take a bit of a breather and for him to take a bit of a breather, I think obviously mentally, even as much as physically, this this kind of you know, losing streak and, you know, trying stuff and it not working and flipping around with the team and all this kind of stuff. and And, you know, just generally trying to stem the tide of negativity, which invariably losing does bring, you know, kind of on and off the pitch from the stands as well.
00:26:44
Richard
I think it would just be a nice chance for them all just to have a bit of a breather. And I'm sure they would have taken a few days off this week or at least a couple of days off this week to to try and just clear the system a little bit of that.
00:26:56
Richard
And then, yeah, I'm sure, you know, he's a bit of a workaholic, isn't he? Like all top football managers seem to be really. They kind of live and breathe the thing. So I'm sure he would have been scheming and working out ways in which they could, you know, try and give it one more go.
00:27:09
Richard
which is what obviously the position town are in with, with being nine points behind it very much is one more go. Let's see if we can, if we can try and get some points in those two games when we come back. and Because if not, then we obviously know at that stage it it it is completely gone. So yeah, i'm I'm sure there's a lot of things going on. There's kind of like the goal of trying to get some points on the board and work out what to do to try and win some football games again.
00:27:36
Richard
But I think there's also that kind of, you know, pride and kind of like personal development thing where he will be thinking about how to to change the fortunes of the sides and what he could do better, what the coaching staff can do better.
00:27:51
Richard
You know, the club has a real culture now about improvement all the time. And and it's really important, even when you're losing, that that kind of like remains and that kind of wins out at the end of the day. So, yeah, he he is definitely the man to to do it, to try and keep a clear clear head about it all and a level head about it all.
00:28:07
Richard
And hopefully he can instil some of that confidence into the players again.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you'd hope so, wouldn't you, over the course of this period. Like i say, the advantage of it being a couple of weeks is because it's not actually that long for everybody, including Bournemouth, who are in the FA Cup quarterfinals and are playing Man City on that note, who are off it this year, don't get me wrong, but still a very tough game.
00:28:22
Richard
No.
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've got that three days or something before we travel there. And as I say, it's the sort of game they don't like Bournemouth, but So maybe that extra week could be used our advantage.
00:28:41
Richard
And also, yeah, and and the Cup game for sure for them is going to be the focus because they've been brilliant at home against, as you say, they don't really like the smaller teams, but they've been brilliant at home against the big teams.
00:28:54
Richard
And if Bournemouth get into the FA Cup semi-final, coupled with the league season that they've had, that's incredible. So, yeah, that that is 100% their focus, not not the town game in the middle of the week.
00:29:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you so say there's an opportunity there, there's an extra week's preparation. You don't get that very often. Well, you say an extra sort of 10 days even preparation. <unk> not It's a rare opportunity to have that over an opposition, how thick and fast games come in the Premier League now.
00:29:20
Richard
Yep. yep
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
that To say that we've had two and a half weeks to sit and prepare for that game specifically if we wanted to, I'm sure that'll be general work mainly, but you could have that with that game in mind, but do you think that we sort of trying to cook up anything behind the scenes, like changes to the team? Cause we are very much, we are four, two, three, one, or we are five, three, two, aren't we? They're the two options. Do you think there's going to be any sort of mix up five, two, three, even? I mean, do you think there's going be any mix ups there? on I know you've spoke about liking the idea of trying to move to two up front. Do you think there'll be anything there, like trying somebody in a different position or,
00:30:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
figuring out a new system to switch to either during a game or from the start.
00:30:06
Richard
I don't know if he'd change the system because there's there's not really been anything that suggests that he's wanting to do I mean I know there is a couple of systems that he's used but like there doesn't seem to be much evidence I suppose to suggest that he's kind of going to really rip up the the rule book and do something again particularly with you know that many players as we've talked about being actually away I mean yes they've got the time off to work on things but half the players don't get back for another week so you know and he can only work with what he's got there at the moment. and I think what i could see, and he played a lot there for Hull last year, is maybe De Lapp playing on the left and then you can play Hurst as well.
00:30:43
Richard
Then you've got them both in the team. Lapp's obviously a brilliant runner with the ball. I don't think it would necessarily dilute his kind of like impact and because he's missed a fair few chances, not like clear-cut chances, but he's had opportunities recently which he hasn't taken.
00:31:00
Richard
you And you could say that Hurst is in reasonable form having scored a couple of goals and in in the last you know two or three games. It depends kind of how the internationals go, I suppose. But I wouldn't mind seeing that because I think also it gives you more physicality up the top of the pitch with the both of them in the team.
00:31:16
Richard
And he's you know they're not going to play as a two up front, but you could you could go with De Lapp off the left, maybe. Just going on like marauding runs. And then if you had Nciso as the number 10 in the middle and then Chaplin off the right, I think that's quite a potent four potentially. Yeah.
00:31:31
Richard
So I'd maybe look at that. I think midfield, you're completely limited because we just don't have the personnel or the profile of players. And we've discussed that to death. I don't know what you could do there really other than, yeah, can you stay? And Morsi's not on with Egypt, is he?
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think so, no.
00:31:50
Richard
No, which kind of so shows you where, where he's at in a way, because he was, he was very much knocking on the door of their squads constantly for a while. But yeah, so you know you stick to what you've got and then defence, it's, I don't know, who do you pick really? But personally, I would have Burgess in the team. I think Greaves is really short of confidence at the moment.
00:32:12
Richard
Maybe the the next couple of weeks gives him a chance to kind of like build his fitness and stuff. And obviously, Davis is back there as well. So maybe they can work on their partnership a little bit more. But I would probably have Burgess in the team ahead of Greaves at the moment, I think. How about you? Do you see any sort of changes incoming?
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think there'll be anything major. I think maybe it might be a case of those who have been there for the full two weeks and you can really drill them down and pick things out, perhaps more likely to start.
00:32:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I look at sort of the wing options. So this again, there's a lot of quality there about really showing it, isn't what we spoke about before. But I do wonder if the fact that, you know, we've got CISO off away, Hutchinson, Philogene with the England 21s, I do wonder if that means that somebody like Clark who seems to be one of the only wingers we have left at the club over this period, that does he just get two weeks to really nail something down?
00:33:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I'd say it's a good window so you get time to practice something if you want to mix it up. But it's also, of and in football, two two weeks is a massive period of time to work on just one particular thing if you're going to
Preparation for Upcoming Matches and Future Plans
00:33:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
stick with it. And like, whether it's an individual programme on the side or whether it's part of an idea for the Saturday, do wonder if Clarke could just get two weeks to go and practice a certain role, whatever that might be. And then you see him in the starting lineup. I don't know Like said, with Davis and Greaves maybe getting the, in the absence of like the likes of Burgess and O'Shea, do you get them playing together and different things and training, try and practice in that positioning? I say there's a lot you can just drill down. into your
00:33:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might not be very fun, you're not going to have, you don't want to have two weeks messing about just playing five a side every day. The international break position we're in, do you? There's, It's going to have to be some hard work, probably up from boredom on the player's side. but I would say those two together, if you've got them there every day for two weeks, there's nothing saying that you can't do a little bit every day. Just working on that position and saying, right, if he goes, i want you in here.
00:34:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
and they not you I don't know. if that think it's a good opportunity there. I'm not sure which way we'll go about it, is is my thing. I wonder if we maybe will just drill everything down on...
00:34:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
those Bournemouth and Wolves games early doors and then try and use that to springboard into the other games rather than, because I don't think, I'll be, a they might not even be even talking about Wolves yet.
00:34:31
Richard
Yeah.
00:34:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the other thing. They're very much take one game at a time as well.
00:34:37
Richard
No way. No, I don't. Yeah.
00:34:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
that They might just stoop throw everything into that Bournemouth game, get it right. They'll try and get it right, get three points and then that's your springboard to go from there and be like, right, there's three points down.
00:34:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully Wolves lose on the same week, on the same midweek period. then you go, right, that's three points off a tally. Let's go from here. Wolves on Saturday. And then get another three points and suddenly we're right back in we'd be right back in it, wouldn't we?
00:35:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So two very big games and lots of time to prepare for them.
00:35:06
Richard
yeah
00:35:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm not sure which way we go about it on that one.
00:35:11
Richard
I know i know i know we
00:35:14
Richard
but i know we we're we're kind of like talking about it in the sense of like, you know, we sort of feel as if town are down. So we're we're we're kind of thinking about it with half an eye on what's going to happen next season already. And obviously the club won't be outwardly saying that or or maybe even thinking that. And I certainly don't think McKenna would necessarily be thinking that.
00:35:37
Richard
But I do think Ashton might be thinking that. And I do think that like behind the scenes, there'll be sort of, you know, the way they always talk about once one transfer window closes, they're thinking about the next one and all the rest of it.
00:35:49
Richard
So do you think there is kind of like already... muted, maybe, you know, private discussions about kind of like looking at the balance of the squad, looking at what might, what they might be able to do in the, in the summer based on whether they're in the Prem or the championship. And let's be honest, like there is a 95% chance at this stage that we're going to be in the championship. So do do you think that those discussions are kind of already happening and and this two week break from the actual games themselves gives people behind the scenes a chance to kind of like start that evaluation process?
00:36:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think i think so. i think I don't think it will involve McKenna or anybody like that, but I think Ashton and the recruitment team will be having meetings and they'll be going through the data from the say another bonus of having training in every single day.
00:36:29
Richard
No.
00:36:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
is Obviously, they all wear their vests and everything now and track all the stats. You can see in this spell, you can see who's taking while people are off on the international break, you can see who's making the most of that chance of a bit more time there. And so if or have any young lads come up, you've got all that data, they'll sit and do that. And if there's anybody who's not working hard enough this week, then that'll sort of be an opportunity when that's the sole focus for the team to look at that and go, right, well, his numbers aren't very good. What's he been like the rest of the year?
00:37:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
That just seems to be his level. That's not good enough or whatever. I don't know, but. there'll be people behind the scenes because they'll be because it's their job ultimately the end of the day. They'll be thinking about the state of the squad. They'll be same it's the same way we we've already got spreadsheets and on on with data and everything about players who could be a good fit and you have scouts out at games and all that. that It's just as much about who goes out as well as who comes in, isn't They'll be watching players and thinking that who' who's in the long-term plans.
00:37:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously they the initial discussions will start now. And then when the season ends, you get McKenna involved as well and get his thoughts. And then the window opens up, you're ready to go. But certainly those in the recruitment team or some of the other departments like that, the analysis department, maybe people like that will certainly be having these conversations with people like Mark Ashton at this point in the season, you I'd assume, definitely.
00:37:50
Richard
Yeah.
00:38:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It'll be interesting to see if and what happens from that.
00:38:06
Richard
Yeah, yeah. I mean, it will be interesting to see it. Yeah, and obviously, you know, we we we will talk about kind of summer plans maybe a little bit later in the season, but and maybe reviewing the squad and having a look at where we might need stuff and and all the rest of it. I mean, there is an argument, I suppose, that because of the profile and the type of player that they were bringing in last summer, that we already have a pretty good championship squad and that you wouldn't necessarily need to do too much to it maybe that maybe that comes to pass you never really know but yeah no it's interesting isn't it because it's the the cutthroat nature of the business really you know the players are trying to get on and trying to improve and McKenna's trying hard to you know find solutions on the pitch and stuff and ultimately behind the scenes there that you're right there will be those conversations happening and
00:38:52
Richard
That might not mean getting rid of people, of course, but but it might. And, you know, it might it might mean certain areas do change and stuff. So, yeah. Interesting stuff.
00:39:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so if I was there, the sole focus of the meetings on my part is how are we raising the money to buy Caduce on a permanent effy if we go down and we don't get that automatic deal?
00:39:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have you number?
00:39:12
Richard
I find that, I mean, look, I i i do really like him and i I think he's a cut above what else we have in midfield, to be frank.
00:39:21
Richard
But, I'm not sure if I'm on that bandwagon. There's a lot of town fans talking about that, that they, but surely we want a midfielder who plays 90 minutes all the time.
00:39:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I am.
00:39:34
Richard
And you're not worried if he, you know, you're not worried about his fitness and all the rest of it. I just, There's something flimsy about him to a certain extent. And I think he's a brilliant player. I i genuinely do. I think he's he's had a really decent season. I don't think he's like been incredible, but I think he's had a decent season in a struggling team.
00:39:54
Richard
But do you not think we could do better? That we need a... I don't know. there There must be other options out there is all I'm thinking.
00:40:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. No, think... I don't know. So my solution would be to sign somebody else to either compete for the role or to be the backup. And then that way that there's somebody there that can fill the void if he has to come off early.
00:40:14
Richard
Sure.
00:40:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so it would be interesting to say that when you see what the squad's like as well, because obviously there's a return in loan players as well.
00:40:18
Richard
Yeah.
00:40:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you'd have to think some of them would have an involvement if it was cha if it is Championship football next year. But like say, we can, that's sort of a conversation that there's plenty of pods to do once the season ends on all this sort of stuff. as
00:40:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's fun to speculate, but we're we're going, yeah, we're having fun speculating, but ultimately it's it's mid-March.
00:40:41
Richard
yeah.
00:40:42
Richard
they're the They're the exciting ones. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:40:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got two months to go. You don't know what's going to happen in that timeframe that there's plenty of this chat we can do in the summer when it will have a lot more meaning and behind it.
00:40:51
Richard
Wow.
00:40:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in this case, so we've got,
00:40:59
Richard
It's true. Well, look, it's the international it's the international break.
00:41:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. International break.
00:41:02
Richard
It's like, you know, you've got to discuss these things. Also, just on that, I'm a Cameron Humphreys man and I want him back in the team next year because he's had a great year for Wickham.
00:41:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly that's where I was leading with that until I realised was having this conversation three months too
Conclusion and Return to Regular Content
00:41:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
early. So I stopped myself before I said it. holy
00:41:17
Richard
All right, we'll we'll we'll leave it we'll leave it for now.
00:41:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's sit here for 10 minutes to an international preview. Sit here for 10 minutes and chat about should Humphreys be in the team next year. I think we'll say it will park that one.
00:41:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And have a good chat in the summer about that one.
00:41:29
Richard
Yeah, we'll park it.
00:41:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although i think we might both already be on the same page on that front. But say that's the long term discussions.
00:41:34
Richard
Yeah.
00:41:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
The short term is we've got two weeks without game. Plenty of time for those around the club to get to work on the training pitch in that time. And a two week break with no games obviously means a two week break from our usual daily schedule.
00:41:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we'll be chiming in here and there over the next couple of weeks. as we try and fill the international break, we'll see if we what clever ideas we can come up with to make sure we get you some podcasts so it's not two weeks of radio silence from us. But like I could say, it certainly nu will not be daily. Daily will return the week of Monday, the 31st of March in preparation for the Bournemouth game on the Wednesday night.
00:42:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I say we'll keep you up to date here and there on the international break. But until then, thank you for listening to today's episode and we will see you next time.