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Episode 151 - West Ham Preview & O'Shea wins POTS
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With the final day approaching, Tom and Richard look ahead to Town's closing game of the season at home against West Ham. The guys also recap the recent end of season awards which saw Dara O'Shea take home the men's player of the season award
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: Tom Crack
Guests: Richard Popple
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Transcript
Introduction and Season Overview
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome back to another edition of the Daily Upswich here on the Global Sports Podcast Network. We are previewing Town's final game of the Premier League season today. It's been a long old journey since the podcast started way back before we were previewing Liverpool and we have now come to the end of the season. We'll have a full season wrap-up next week, I'm sure, and player grades and all that sort of stuff. But for now, we'll be looking ahead to Town's final home game of the season against West Ham, as well as looking at the end-of-season awards that took place for Upswich earlier this week
Guest Introduction and Season Reflections
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
as well.
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
To help me look forward as well as look back there, as I said, I'm once again joined by Mr Richard Popple. are you doing, Richard?
00:00:42
Richard
I'm good, thanks mate. Yeah, not too bad at all. Yeah, you're right, we've reached the end. It's been long season, but also actually Liverpool and August really doesn't feel that long ago either.
00:00:56
Richard
But I think we can all probably agree that we're quite looking forward to not talking about Premier League defeats in a couple weeks' time.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
are and
00:01:04
Richard
Let's against nothing.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
Final Game Discussion and Team Performance
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, mean, the game in terms of West Ham, our reverse fixture against them at the London Stadium was the 5th of October.
00:01:12
Richard
Can you hold on the second slide?
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It did not feel that long ago either, to be honest. But we are now, like said, final of the season, final at Portman Road.
00:01:18
Richard
What time did they say we were going to have you?
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just before we get into individuals from either side, just final thoughts, last home game of the season, Portman Road has not been a fort just as we'd like to have been this season. Can we hopefully end the season on a high in front of our home hometown crowd?
00:01:31
Richard
Yeah, I mean, hopefully. Yeah, I think you bringing up that game, up that West Ham game is interesting because that was one of those when we were, you know, previewing games at the start of the season.
00:01:42
Richard
I think that was about six or seven games into the season, maybe.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, guilty.
00:01:45
Richard
You know, and we looked at that thinking that's going to be a ah ah potentially winnable game or somewhere where you can get points or something like that. And you know, with hindsight, you look back at results like that, and that really was kind of the writing was on the wall, we were going struggle this year, because we conceded four, I think.
00:02:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
All one, yeah.
00:02:03
Richard
Yeah, four-one. So, Yeah, it was a terrible result and we played really poorly that day. I think up until that point we've been playing quite well and we played really poorly. And yeah, what's been has been. But in terms of this one, you know, we finish at home. They've already had the end of season dinner and awards and all the rest of it. And it feels like the whole thing is kind of like, you know, closing down for a little while, which end of season kind of always feels like, particularly when you're not really playing anything for the final few weeks of the season. Everything's already been kind of been decided and stuff. So,
00:02:32
Richard
yeah it's been a weird one hasn't it it's been weird to kind of view it from the outside and yeah like i said earlier it's it will be good good to kind of like not to be thinking about this for a while
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. Do you think the from a player's perspective, either side, it's obviously West Ham, there's only but it's only a few teams really let going into this final game week who've actually got someone to play for.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
do Do you expect a very much a, with both sides, we're on our holidays right now, let's just get the 90 and be done, or a decent game when it's all said and done, as as much as can be?
00:03:04
Richard
I'd love to say the latter, but I think truthfully, i I've wanted to think that for the last few weeks. And it feels to me like no one's saying anyone's given up or anything like that. And I know we played all right at Leicester and you know obviously should have scored goals and all the rest of
West Ham's Challenges and Future Speculations
00:03:19
Richard
it.
00:03:20
Richard
But there has been a real feeling of, you know, it's done. So what what are we kind of doing here? And I think West Ham, I caught a bit of their game actually recently. Who were they playing?
00:03:33
Richard
Who did they lose to in their last game? I can't remember.
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was forest at home.
00:03:38
Richard
Oh, yeah, they lost to Forest at home. And I caught a bit of that in the second half. And actually, they were playing quite hard. But they've been awful, really, since Potter took over.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:48
Richard
So it'll be interesting to see what they do in the summer because they really have gone backwards. And they've had a tough season, generally speaking. But, yeah, so I think, if I'm honest, I don't think it's going be a great game.
00:03:59
Richard
But let's hope that Town can can actually give the fans something to to cheer about at home this season.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. Before we go to the first break, just thinking about the game on the weekend, you know kind I'm kind of thinking about the start the season when we had the likes of Luongo and Chaplin few other guys like that start as a way to honour the team that came before.
00:04:13
Richard
No, no, no.
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Obviously, it's not confirmed of players who are definitely leaving this this summer in terms of once they've been there for a wee while, but do you expect maybe the squad to look different than what we've really seen all season? Obviously, injury-wise, we've seen players we didn't necessarily expect to see, but maybe Luongo maybe gets his final 90 minutes.
00:04:30
Richard
do?
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is he going to be gone and, you know,
00:04:33
Richard
I don't know.
00:04:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
The way certain substitutions may happen may be indication as to how they're going to be, how the summer's going to go for them.
00:04:35
Richard
don't see people.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You see some players like, you know, think Ducure for Everton at the weekend.
00:04:39
Richard
I don't know. I don't think that this is true.
00:04:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not official, but it was a big sort of emotional goodbye because everyone's kind of expecting to leave now.
00:04:44
Richard
Yeah.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
think could be the case for some players this weekend? Dilat, maybe? Because that?
00:04:49
Richard
yeah Yeah, I don't think De Lapp will start again. he obviously didn't start against Leicester. McKenna made a very sort of diplomatic you know reason for that. and you know There is a case that George Hurst has played his way into the starting line-up.
00:05:01
Richard
But I don't think De Lapp will start. He may come on just as a kind of you know farewell sort of thing. It wouldn't surprise me. i mean McKenna doesn't play his strikers for 90 minutes anyway, so you know that that never happens.
00:05:15
Richard
Yeah, I think I probably could see a few of the players that we expect might leave to to play. i would imagine Burgess will play if he's fit.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:24
Richard
Is he fit?
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I believe so. Didn't he start the racing game? I'm sorry, the loop.
00:05:28
Richard
Yes, he did he did. But I know there's been a few niggles with him, but I imagine he'll play.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:33
Richard
And then, yeah, you're right. Luongo, I'm not sure if he'd start the game, but I'm sure he'll make an appearance. Broadhead potentially, who feels like one that might be off, has not necessarily been trusted quite so much.
Women's Team Success and Achievements
00:05:46
Richard
And yeah, maybe a few others. But again, it's a numbers game, isn't it? we we We don't really have the midfield numbers for not for them not to be playing, the likes of Jack jack Taylor or whatever, even if he is sticking around.
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:57
Richard
And we know that Cayuste is not playing. That's probably a Napoli thing. We know that Calvin Phillips isn't playing. That could be a multitude of things as well. So, yeah, the club have got a huge summer ahead.
00:06:08
Richard
I can't wait to talk about it over the next few weeks because it really does feel like there's so many things up in the air. And it's it's a bit of a guessing game as to who's actually going to be around.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Yeah, absolutely. I agree. We'll take our first break here and we come back. We'll give our score predictions. We'll have a few other things going for game. And then, like I said, at the top of the show, we'll be looking into the player awards ceremony and results about the happen in week. So we'll be back in one sec.
00:06:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're back here on the second part of today's episode. We are previewing Ipswich's last game of the season the Premier League for we don't know how long, but hopefully we can savour it as much you can before 90 minutes ends this weekend.
00:06:57
Richard
so
00:07:07
Richard
Yep.
00:07:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Richard, one of the the stories, you know, like I said, season's kind of said and done. Both sides aren't really playing for anything and there's maybe not much to talk about going into the game. But one of the things that I'm actually quite...
00:07:18
Richard
so arbitr
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
intrigued about in terms of his reception does he play i'm not sure his injury status at the moment but it will be the final game for West Ham for Mr Aaron Cresswell who will be playing maybe at Portland Road I'm a big big fan of his obviously he was at us for three or four years before he moved on to West Ham but what a kind of you know storybook ending to his time at a club he spent a long time at for the club he left for it's kind of a full circle moment isn't it
00:07:36
Richard
yeah
00:07:49
Richard
It is, yeah. So his contract's up, is it? he he'll He'll become a free agent in July or or whenever it
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:57
Richard
Yeah, he's been I mean, he's been at West Ham for a really long time. Ten years, I think. He was at town, you're right, I think for three or four seasons. Are you saying that you'd like him back?
00:08:05
Richard
Is that what you're saying?
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, I'm not saying that. I'm 35 years old and, you know, if a Leaf Davis departure does go, I'm not saying that's necessarily the one.
00:08:11
Richard
Yeah. Yeah.
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think it's just kind of a cool moment, isn't it, really, that, you know, his final game in front of the West Ham fans will be in an atmosphere he's you albeit very comfortable with and he's going to get reception from great great from both sets of fans.
00:08:20
Richard
Yep,
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been quite of a cool cool story heading to game. But i don't I don't see him as a ah ah Davis or a a backup left back. I think we're pretty well versed there, to be honest. at the left back position but yeah thought it was kind of a cool unique story heading to game this weekend yeah yeah I mean just before we like I said go into the end of season awards stuff and we do this like I said our final Premier League home game of the season can we get our it's horrible say out of how many games we've had at home but can we get our second home win of the season
00:08:41
Richard
agree. I don't
00:08:46
Richard
know what you're saying.
00:08:58
Richard
You know what ri me and Rob were talking about last week was that Ipswich have not only won at home in 2025, we've lost every single league game at Portman Road in 2025.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:09
Richard
It's beyond horrendous. So on that basis, no, we can't. I just think there's there's literally no confidence in the squad.
00:09:20
Richard
I mean, look, what what you hope is that... West Ham don't really turn up. It's a bit of a non-event and we nick a win because they they really just literally don't turn up and you know there's not a lot of effort from them.
00:09:32
Richard
But if it goes the way that it has been over the last few months, then we'll play all right for about half an hour, create a couple of chances, which we probably should take. And then we'll get caught out and then we'll get caught out again and lose the game.
00:09:44
Richard
And it's taken until game 38 for me to be this pessimistic because i have all of the four all of the four of us, I think I've kept up the sort of joie de vivre.
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:09:55
Richard
stupidly, stupidly looking back across the whole season.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:09:59
Richard
And I think the last few weeks, honestly, has kind of taken the wind out of my sails a little bit. And it kind of, you know, look at the discourse online. It kind of has for all fans, really. because there's getting relegated and there's getting relegated in the kind of whimper that we seem to be going down with, which is obviously very common for clubs when they when they do finally go, particularly as early the three have done this year. There's just no momentum.
00:10:22
Richard
And that's so important in football. And there's no kind of like energy. And how can you wrestle that back? Because there's nothing to play for. Everyone just wants the season to end. So on that basis, I think we are going to lose, unfortunately. I think would be 2-1, something like that.
00:10:35
Richard
I'd love to be wrong. And I would love for us to actually, you know, get to the 25-point mark, which I think would represent equal our worst ever season in the top flight. I can't remember. You had that stat, didn't you?
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was 25. I'm sure when we spoke about you were saying, like, surely we'll get to 25.
00:10:48
Richard
Yes. i mean, that's...
00:10:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, give take.
00:10:55
Richard
Yeah. Well, I think we had 16 points at the turn of the year. I might be wrong, or 17 points at the turn of the year.
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. keep or take
00:11:03
Richard
And look how many we've won in 2025. I mean, it it has been catastrophically bad. And i'm sure I'm sure we'll kind of, you know, pick the bones of that over the summer and stuff when we do a bit of ah a a season review and things. But yeah, unfortunately, I feel as if we're just ripe for the picking because we are so low in confidence.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm in agreement with you. It's a painstress to say the final game of the season, but it's the home home form, especially in this guest calendar year at least, has been really, really poor. and I can't really see it going any other way apart from a loss, unfortunately. Well, at least not a win anyway.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as you said, you know it's kind of the end of season and reflection and that sort stuff. So we did have our end of season awards midweek before the final home game of the season. So we sort of gave some awards out to players who have impressed in the rather bleak score on the men's side. But obviously we got some awards for the women's team who had a fantastic season. So we'll sort of just go through those now, Richard, and just get your thoughts on some of those. Yeah.
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know you're going to you said to me earlier today, before today's recording, but you're very excited to talk about this. I'm intrigued what you're going to say. But just some of the ones that my eye, just we can speak about
00:12:01
Richard
Thank you.
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Men's young player of season, Liam DeLapp. I think, you know, given his age, that's a sort of by proxy, considering, as we said, we'll get onto it, who did one who did win the player of the season. think DeLapp kind of the wall by proxy for as well as men's top goal scorer, didn't they?
00:12:18
Richard
who who Who would have been in the running alongside him? Who are the other young players in the squad? Because Rob brought this up when we were talking about the Premier League Young Player of the Year award, which is just ah a complete con. It's ridiculous. Saliba, who's like...
00:12:34
Richard
You know, one of the best centre-backs in the world, France International, played for Arsenal three or four years or whatever. And he's in the young player category still. It's just stupid. where you know And you've got Myles Lewis-Gelly next to him, who should be in the young player category.
00:12:46
Richard
So I don't know what they're basing on at that level, let alone at individual club levels. But yeah, who who else would there be? Greaves?
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
think I think like just Greaves potentially there.
00:12:55
Richard
Greaves?
00:12:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah yeah Our youngest player in the squad this season, who sort of featured heavily, at least with the exception yeah of De Lapp, was Hutchinson at 21 and CISO's 21.
00:13:08
Richard
Watch this.
00:13:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then you got... and you got slicker at 22, then after that you get into Greaves and Clark above 24. So, I mean, I think young player, because De Lapp, yeah, young player, 21, he is.
00:13:16
Richard
Right.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I guess he does fall in the back bracket because he didn't, you know, it's his first Premier League season. Yeah, I think De Lapp, yeah, so Saliba and players like that who... Yes, they do fall into that bracket. think Palmer won it the season before as well.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like they've been at the top level.
00:13:30
Richard
Hmm.
00:13:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not a surprise. I think that young player of the world should be somebody who kind of comes out and nowhere like a breakout star kind of award rather than, yeah.
00:13:33
Richard
Yeah.
00:13:36
Richard
Hmm.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But given the lack of youth we have in that and the team, I guess, that's, I guess, fully deserving of that award, isn't he?
00:13:46
Richard
Yeah, I mean, I think you're right, really. It's between him and Hutchinson because they're the two that have played the most. And by a country mile, he's had a better a year than Hutchinson. So, yeah, it has to be him, really, by by default, if nothing else.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Looking at the women's side of things, like I said, they have a much better season than the men's. So their young player of the year, Lucio Bryan, I think she managed to be England under-17s a few times as well, was a starter for the majority of the season and really, really key to the promotion. Women's player of the year was Sophie Peskitt, which two seasons a row now where she's won women's player the year, 23 goals and eight assists. It's just fantastic. The amount of goals they were banging anyway, and she's managed to contribute loads towards that. So that's Brilliant stuff.
00:14:29
Richard
Yeah, she was also the lead the league's golden boot winner as well, I think.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:32
Richard
So she's had an incredible year.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
well Yeah, well, there you go. Do you think like, obviously, we don't know really how the Super League 2 is going to go next year, but do you expect them to have a good go at it next year? think they're moving in the right direction, they?
00:14:46
Richard
I definitely do because I think I actually think it's a priority of the club because we've spoke about this before. You know, we've got American owners, American women's football in the States is big. Women's football in the yeah UK is becoming huge in terms of sponsorship deals and stuff like with Barclays and things last year. Lots of money going into the top end of the game.
00:15:04
Richard
So Ashton and everybody else had spoke about the importance of Ipswich Town women getting into the second tier, which now obviously they are for the first time. and So they would be remiss, I think, to not invest again and give... give give them the tools to give it a good go, to at least kind of try and consolidate in that league, which I think they can for a couple of years. And then you think about, you know, how can we get into the Premier and see if that's even possible. But yeah, it's an incredible achievement. It's been a long time coming. They've been so close, three or four times really, but a couple of times very, very close, you know, goal difference and stuff being the difference. Yeah.
00:15:40
Richard
so yeah it's brilliant and uh hopefully hopefully they can have a a solidified is that a word or a year where they solidify that's what so where they can solidified where they can sort of um solidify themselves in in that division for a year or two
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Slyfied. Slyfied.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's the incentives, obviously, it's going to be regardless, but I think with it now being Super League 2 and the the the profile of that league, the league below the Super League, is going to grow even more next season, especially if do you want to be involved in that.
00:16:06
Richard
yeah
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So hopefully they can stick around and have a really good go of it next season. Before we go to the... final part of the show. One of the awards on the men's side of things that I'm fully in agreement with was the men's goal of the season, which was Liam De Laap away at Bournemouth.
00:16:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought a really well-worked team goal and he thumped it in. A really great cross-the-face from Townsend as well, which gave us, I think, at time recording, was our most recent win.
00:16:28
Richard
Yep.
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
2-1 away at Vitality, which, you know, that point, obviously Bournemouth have kind of flags as the season's gone on a little bit, but at that point, really, really top quality side and a really, really well-taken goal from that. Would that be your goal of the season? mean, we can get into our awards later and see more important awards than Town Zone, of course, but I think that definitely was very well-deserved, the goal of season, in terms of how it was built up rather just a smash and grab.
Community Engagement and Player Contributions
00:16:53
Richard
Yeah, team goal, definitely. It was the best goal of the season. And it's sort of a bit of a throwback to how we were playing over the last couple of years.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:16:59
Richard
and obviously And obviously what the idea was to try and do it again in the Premier League. And we've seen it obviously all too frequently actually work. yeah, it was great goal. I think there was a couple of goals from him on an individual basis that would have been up there as well. But he he would very much take the award.
00:17:16
Richard
Yeah, whether you go for like an individual strike or or a team goal like that.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolutely yeah i'm in agreement like said we'll have our end of season reviews and stuff in a week or so we'll also have we had it around christmas time end of calendar year but we'll do like a whole season wrap-up awards wise mean i don't know as many awards to give out but we'll do our best in a couple weeks hopefully get all four of us on the show as well for that but we'll take our final break of the show and continue to look back at the town awards here
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are back here on the final part of today's show, looking back at the Town Awards end of season there. Richard, before we get into the one i think that's going to have the most discussion, just another honorary one as well was the Philip Hope Cobbled Award, which is sponsored by the Town Foundation. So two players have done great work off the field this season.
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Both players were honoured from the men's women's side was Natasha Thomas, who's been a fantastic servant for the club. Really, really positive work outside. And then Ogbene, who really, you know, apart from a few games here and there, wasn't able to offer much for talent on the field, but was able to do some brilliant work off the field, wasn't he? And he's on with that award earlier this week.
00:18:59
Richard
Yeah. ah ah tom Tom's just stepping away for a second because he's got some a new dog. a new dog and But yeah, you're right.
00:19:10
Richard
Natasha Thomas has been incredible for ah ah town for a really long time. She's been a trustee on the foundation for the last, I think, three years alongside... Connor Chaplin on the men's side.
00:19:22
Richard
So the two of them have always done incredible work. And I think with Ben you know, having the season ending injury that he had way back when, what was that end of September, October time?
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Brentford.
00:19:32
Richard
Yeah, that, you know, that he was a player that I think we were expecting we could get a solid season out of based on what he'd done for Luton the year before. And hopefully we will be able to next year, but you never know with the kind of injury that he had, whether that, you know, just affects him for the rest of his career or not.
00:19:47
Richard
Hopefully not. But yeah, you know the fact that he's kind of like turned his attention to doing stuff outside the club and the community and and the foundation, which you know by all accounts, obviously I had some dealings with them last year and stuff and their plans for what they could do in the Premier League with the Premier League exposure and the support and all the rest of it were really, really positive.
00:20:07
Richard
And I know that the club want to continue to build the foundation and and to make sure that it is working to as high a standard as the club is in terms of like its ambitions and stuff. So, yeah, I think the players are, whenever they sign for Townsend, Ashton spoke about it many times, you know, that there is an expectation of of what you have to do off the pitch.
00:20:29
Richard
You see the photographs every week. Burgess was doing stuff yesterday. You know, you they're still doing it in the final week of the season. and Things off the pitch don't stop, even if, you know, things on the pitch aren't going very well.
Player of the Season Debate
00:20:38
Richard
So I think the club have been great at that and the players clearly respond to that responsibility as well.
00:20:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. and like you said, I think it's just, you know, especially with Ogbené as well, you know, he really could have, especially being a club he's barely been at for about a time, really could just sat back and just counted down the days and maybe have left, but really still get stuck in.
00:20:53
Richard
Yeah.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it shows where we are as a club right now that he wants to continue to do that, became, but I think, the disability ambassador as well. And April's fair. that means he's there to stay for the long run and fitness-wise he can come back next season. And, you know, he's done fantastic off the pitch.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's hope he can do it on the pitch next season as well. Final part of the end of season awards, Richard, and you said to me you you had a lot to say about this. you've been a player that's sort of been on your mind all season but and and the player of the season from Ipswich Town is Dara O'Shea.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
where Where's your head at for that? I mean, I'll just add some fuel to the fire. Just looking at bbs BBC did a sort of Ipswich of the season, pick your player of the season article a few days ago. The four contenders they listed were Dillap, O'Shea, Hutchinson and Kiyuste.
00:21:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And one of the sort of bullet points to put about O'Shea was probably the most consistent performer at the club this season. I sort of waxed lyrical about him, I think, on a recent podcast we did about a few weeks ago when I was sort of saying, not necessarily player of season, but I could see the improvement there from a leadership perspective and I think just overall form.
00:21:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where's your head at with O'Shea being given that honour?
00:22:05
Richard
Well, I think the leadership thing... People say that kind of stuff. And I, and i you know, I've not been to the the games recently. So it's very difficult, you know, when you're watching on TV or whatever, obviously you' you're following where the cameras are, where the ball is. So you don't always see the players. You can't watch a player for five minutes straight if you want to.
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:25
Richard
So you don't see all of that kind of stuff. so i think you have to take all of that as kind of people who are watching the games and and talking about that, you know, and they're seeing that, which is great. And people talk about, you know, he's he's the most verbal in the warm-ups and all that kind of stuff. And he's the one geeing the players up and communicating at corners. And you do see that, you know, free kicks, et cetera.
00:22:42
Richard
So I suppose in that sense, yeah, he's he's doing what centre-backs, to be perfectly honest, normally do, or good centre-backs kind of like normally do. Yeah. So that's all good for me. That's fine. People can sort of like pin that up on him and say that that's that's great.
00:22:59
Richard
I suppose the thing that I slightly have the issue with is giving it to a defender when we've just conceded a ton of goals.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bye.
00:23:08
Richard
We've won four games all year and we don't look ever likely that we're going to keep a clean sheet. And of of course, that is not down to one person. It is not down to Dara Roche. I'm not saying that at all.
00:23:20
Richard
But I suppose that's what I slightly have the problem with. It's a bit like, i know there aren't many, many candidates. We've had a really poor year. Most of the players have not covered themselves in glory and they found it a struggle.
00:23:31
Richard
And I think the people that you mentioned would be the candidates for the role.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:35
Richard
Cuyuste, I think if he'd have continued in the team until the end of the season, probably would have been my pick because I think he's the best player at the club. I think he's the best footballer at the club. So I would have given it to him.
00:23:47
Richard
De Lapp, again, if he'd have continued on that vein, he'd have been a very close second or won it himself. The way that things are finishing with him a little bit with the rumour mill and stuff, which is probably out of his control, I think is souring.
00:24:00
Richard
our memories of Liam De Lapp a little bit, even though I don't particularly care about all that because of course he was going to go if we got relegated because because of what he was doing for those first six months of the season.
00:24:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:10
Richard
So with O'Shea, it feels to me a little bit like he's been given it via default slightly because he's probably going to be there next year.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:24:17
Richard
People have seen these things. He is consistent, I think, to a certain degree, but I don't necessarily think he's consistently brilliant. I just think he's He chucks his body about and he does things that I would expect a defender to do But he has been relegated three times.
00:24:33
Richard
ah ah He might go to another club. I don't think his ceiling is much higher than Ipswich. You know, it might be another promoted club. And I'm not really having a go, but I think people have put him on this pedestal and category.
00:24:44
Richard
Where for me, I'm not sure if he's that much better than anyone else necessarily. I just think he's been in more of those battles before and he's a bit older than the likes of Greaves. And, you know, he's had more experience there than Wolfenden and Burgess. So I think that showed that that level of experience has showed in his play.
00:25:01
Richard
But whether he's a better player than any of them, I'm yet personally, I'm yet to be convinced. I think he's a decent defender. But I wouldn't hang my hat on him. And if an offer came in for him that was like good money for the club, I'd maybe take it because I don't think he's necessarily going to be much better than those three in the championship next year, because all three of them have proved that they can be really good in the championship.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You think with O'Shea, this award also but also hasab was a, I don't believe it's a fans chosen award. so It's an internal decision.
00:25:33
Richard
Is it right?
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think looking at, as you said, and I agree with you, like yeah it it it seems crazy, doesn't it, paper to give the ah best player of the season the award to a guy who was, you know, not individually, but as part of a collective as to reasons why we gave away so many goals.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah There must be factors to do with his off off the field commitments. I think personality is is a big factor. But yeah, I think it's just, you know, it could be as seen as a slightly political move as well.
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think giving it to a like lone player, because yeah, I'm in agreement with you. Quesday, I think, from when he's it been fully fit for what's been expected of him, he's been the best player, I think, by far. I think not just, you know, his on ball stuff, his off the ball stuff, the lap, you know, it's it's kind of just...
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unfortunately, it's the he's on where he can only kind of just bulldoze and do counter-attacking football. The occasional slow build-up, like we saw with the Bournemouth goal. But predominantly, it's you know just that counter-attacking, smash-and-grab style. But with Q-Stay, when we've had that, it's been effective. But also, when we've done the odd build-up and trying to win the ball back in the middle of the park, he's done really well.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i think I think for me, that's why he's been so impressed this season.
00:26:37
Richard
Mm-hmm.
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, giving it a lone player with all intents purposes, not going to be the next season. i don't think it was the right move. And then De Lapp. You know, as you said, the rumours are spreading. I've seen United these days, Newcastle, there's so many things going around. He's apparently had people speaking already. It wouldn't look good maybe to give it to ah leaving and ah a a leaving player, especially after but only being there for one season. So I kind of get the the move with O'Shea.
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do expect him to be the next season, unless, like you said, a big money move comes in. But I can't see him going outside of English football. Maybe move up to Celtic or Rangers if felt that came through. But I think with...
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't... it Any like of the newly promoted sides, whether it's Leeds, Burnley, or either Sunderland or Sheffield United, it doesn't really make sense so for him, personally, to want to do that sort method of football again.
00:27:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like you said, it's free relegation. Now, do you want to have another season, personally, of backs against the wall, conceding X amount of goals, and you know being kind of a bleak affair, whereas... you know, it's not a guarantee, but you'd like to think next season, Apeswitch Town, in a league below, he's going to have more more like opportunities sort of take it bit easy and be on a winning side.
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's a really appealing thing to tim him. And I think giving him giving and getting this award, as well as being vice-captain when Morsi's either injured or otherwise predisposed, he's been given the armband. So I think for him, there's been a lot of things that have shown the club towards him and saying, we want you here.
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
regardless of what offer comes through. So I do expect to stay. But yeah, he's been a very, like, I think on this podcast especially, he's been a very divisive figure all season. But there's been there's been improvements there, hasn't there? There's been improvements.
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's crazy to say, but I think there is an argument for him to be the recipient of this award.
00:28:15
Richard
Yeah.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
wouldn't necessarily give it to him, but I can see why he's won it.
Season Conclusion and Future Outlook
00:28:24
Richard
I agree. And all of those things that you've said completely make sense. And there is that you can make a perfectly logical argument for him winning it. i think it's sort of it sort of sums up to me a little bit what's happened this season, really, in the sense of you've had a ton of new players come in.
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:28:43
Richard
Some of them have been better than what we had before and have performed better than what we have before. And some of them I don't think necessarily have. I think O'Shea, you could say, yeah, all right, he tips over into the he's a better player than the ones that he's replaced or come into.
00:28:59
Richard
Greaves, I'm not sure if people would, but personally, I think the ceiling for somebody like Jacob Greaves is higher than Dara O'Shea, personally.
00:29:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah
00:29:08
Richard
So, yeah, it may be it maybe is a bit of a sad indictment of how the season's gone a little bit, because I think he clearly is that person that will, you know, all of those cliches. He'll run through a brick wall. He'll keep turning up. hell He does the right things. He's a good professional, all of that.
00:29:21
Richard
And I'm not, so it sounds like I'm sort slagging him off and I'm not really. I just think his signing and a few others, I didn't think at the time were necessarily what,
00:29:32
Richard
the club needed from the outside. Now, you know, we're not in the dressing room. We're not, we we're not in the training grounds and all the rest of it, but it didn't feel to me like those were the things that we really needed. And even though he's had a decent season, i think you're right. There's a bit of politics maybe around the awards and it sounds like, you know, he's vice captain and stuff.
00:29:52
Richard
So, you know, maybe he takes the captaincy next year if Morsi's not going to be playing so much. Or that, you know, that transition into O'Shea becoming the captain and stuff. I want to be proved wrong. And it feels like I've got a bit of a vendetta against him. But it's just a bit like...
00:30:07
Richard
you get these players coming in and maybe it's because of the situation and with the difficult season that we've had but it's really difficult to to grasp onto them as fans i think a little bit we haven't heard much from the players as much from the players it feels like as we have over the previous couple of years and there were so many of them so many new players it's very difficult to grasp onto it
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:30:29
Richard
And Town are in a really tricky position at the moment because they're going to have to, you know, do this again with a big turnover of players and changes in the summer. And it's very difficult to get momentum when you're doing that and to get, you know, connection with the fan base and all the rest of it. So, you know, maybe if O'Shea sticks around for a few years, then then he can build that and and I'll be proved wrong and hopefully so. But it it, yeah, it just smacks of like a bit of a disconnected season, really, that that's not gone the way that any of us would have hoped.
00:30:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i I agree. I think his signing was one of those when it happened. its i not a pue I know sometimes it's that it can be you can it can be a good move to make.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a the times when you get a player who's been relegated, who's looks like going to going down like he was at Burnie, then with us, just sort of that sort of right to being a Premier League type player. Like, I don't know who out of us and Leicester and Southampton will remain the Premier League individual-wise, De Lapp, with it obviously being one of those.
00:31:18
Richard
I
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I sometimes am a bit perplexed with those sort of transfers as like, you know, they've just been a relegation battle. Why would we want that player on our team?
00:31:29
Richard
i agree.
00:31:31
Richard
Yeah, agree.
00:31:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. that's my
00:31:33
Richard
and and and sometimes But sometimes it can happen by osmosis, can't it, little bit? Because ram Ramsdale is about to get relegated, I think, for the third time in his career. And, you know, the it could be fourth, but, the you know, the club in the middle of that were Arsenal, who, of course, were never going to get relegated.
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe fourth, actually, I think, isn't it? Yeah.
00:31:46
Richard
So it's a bit like the club you're at sort of dictates it. But but you're you're you're right with that. Would would a club like Bournemouth think... you know, I'll take on Darroche. He's going to be a good player for us or or Brighton or anything like that.
00:32:02
Richard
Probably not.
00:32:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:03
Richard
So is he is he the sort of, I don't know. I agree with you. There's something there's something a bit odd about that. Players get tainted with that with that kind of thing. But you, I think, need to go. So we should probably wrap this up.
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I apologise, everyone. I recently got a new puppy and I love him to bits, but he he whimpers like crazy and that sort of stuff.
00:32:19
Richard
Yeah, go and sort them out.
00:32:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we believe we've got crux of the awards done here.
00:32:24
Richard
we have
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'll do it for today's show. just because my dog is whimpering. and We can blame it if you wanted to hear more. But we'll be back next week to just recap Town's final Premier League game for however many months, maybe years, hopefully months.
00:32:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we'll, I'm not sure we have dates yet, but we'll definitely be coming at you with a end of season review awards. Then as the summer progresses, we'll then start looking ahead to next season with transfers and all of that good stuff. But like said, that is going to do it.
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Richard, thank so much for joining me. Thank you everyone for listening. And we'll see you next time.
00:32:54
Richard
Yeah.