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Episode 147 - Brentford Preview
29 Plays19 days ago
Rob & Richard look ahead to the visit of Brentford on Saturday. The lads share their admiration for this weekend's visitors on and off the pitch, dive into the team news from both sides and share their predictions for the game.
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
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Ipswich, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. The only place where you can find daily content on every single Premier League club, women's football and Premier League wrap-ups in multiple different languages.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is the Friday preview episode for Daily Ipswich this week. We had a bit of a quiet midweek session again this week, so it's hit a very busy time for us, which is fortunately sort of tied in with the fact we're already relegators and these games don't matter anyway, but With the preview episode today, I was on my own on Monday, but I've got a friend today, Richard So I've done very well in terms of doing the match reviews with the games I've had to do with ones on my own.
00:00:45
Richard
I'm good, mate, yeah. You did very well on your own. It's never easy.
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've had games like Villa, Chelsea. That was a good point on Saturday. I've tended to dodge the fairly shocking results. Was it James the other week who had to do one on his own when we'd been just humiliated?
00:01:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
was somebody who had to try and sit down on their own and talk about how rubbish we were.
00:01:08
Richard
Yeah, I think you did, yeah.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I've managed to get away with those ones.
Impact of Relegation: Why Do These Games Matter?
00:01:15
Richard
Yeah.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So well done, but a lot more positive anyway on the preview episodes more often than not, but certainly a tough game coming up. I said that it's that weird spot now, isn't it? Because it doesn't really matter.
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's not much to play for, but we're also, we want our end on a, on a high as much as possible and be nice to get some wins at home and, In the two games we've got left, don't we? look where's Where's your head at with with these games we've got left?
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you overly bothered by what goes on in
00:01:46
Richard
If I'm brutally honest, no, I'm not. But I guess, you know, everybody is going to be at the game. We're going to have a sellout, obviously, for the last two games of the season.
00:01:58
Richard
We don't know when we're going to be back in the Premier League. So I think we need to enjoy the moment. But I think in terms of the results themselves, i i in all honesty, they don't really matter that much.
Ipswich's Carabao Cup Prospects
00:02:09
Richard
It would be really nice for us to pick up a couple of wins, as you mentioned. I kind of expected us to in the final kind of like seven or eight games of the season, just based on the fact that, you know, the team would sort of loosen up a bit, given that the relegation is confirmed and stuff.
00:02:22
Richard
You know, decent result Everton last week, obviously. maybe Maybe we get a home result here and get our second home win of the season. But, you know, Brentford have something to play for, as I'm sure we'll be talking about. So it's not going to be an easy game and If it was anything like the first game between the two sides, there could be a few goals, which would be nice.
00:02:40
Richard
But I think for Town, it's like, yeah, I mean, it would be nice for them, you know, all of these kind of cliches and stuff to give the supporters something to actually cheer about before the end of the season. But if we're being totally realistic, the result doesn't mean very much at all.
Brentford's European Aspirations
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, there's there's not much in there. Although I did find out this week, actually, that there there is technically something to play for. A very little thing.
00:03:02
Richard
Oh, yeah.
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It turns out if there is an odd number of teams get European football next season in the Premier League, we get bye in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Because obviously Premier League teams in Europe coming in round.
00:03:15
Richard
Who do? Ipswich do.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Because it's teams who are in Europe in the Premier League don't come in until round two of the Cup.
00:03:19
Richard
All right.
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't remember how works. someone I think round two. Yeah, they don't come in until then. But if there's an odd number of them, then obviously they're excluded from the draw. That means there's an odd number of teams in the thing. So it just goes so it goes to ah just co to the team in eight who finished 18th the previous season.
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we could get by to round two of the cup.
00:03:40
Richard
So we need to finish 18th.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. so we talk we'd come in with the Premier League clubs effectively rather than them because of just how the way it works out. There always needs to be even number of teams, ideally. So. So highest ranked team gets a bye. So if we make sure we stay above Leicester, we but get a Tuesday night off in August.
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
that That's the one that sort of the one thing we're trying to get to, I suppose, that saves a bit of early rotation by having to travel to Barrow or somewhere daft on a Tuesday night one week into the season. So better than nothing, I suppose.
00:04:10
Richard
Yeah, true. that that that yeah but um puts something on the game maybe next week at the King Power.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, I suppose, yeah.
00:04:17
Richard
That could be interesting.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i just to add the slights little bit, but say certainly this is a game we sort of looked at very early on the season. well In our last four, didn't We said those last four really good. like We don't know what the situation was going to be like. Obviously, in the end, we're already down the time we got to them, but we always run a game. But actually, now we're here, the context of it.
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is a really, really hard game because you talk about teams having nothing to play for, like in our case. Brentford is sat in ninth currently, near a point behind Bournemouth, level with Brighton, one ahead of Fulham.
Brentford's Performance and Management Strategy
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's those four trying to get that eighth spot.
00:04:51
Richard
Thank you.
00:04:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think top seven is going to be out of the way for them now. But that eighth spot, so there's a certain second, I can't remember them exactly, but there's a certain set of circumstances that can fall in the favour.
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
That means eighth place gets Conference League. And then maybe less so Brighton, because they've had the Europa League the other year, but I'm sure they still take it. But Fulham, Brentford, Bournemouth, that's massive for them.
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
they get into that. So they they're going to be well up for this game because ah ah they're going to want to make sure they try and get that eighth spot and hope things falling way. But then also, which is something I didn't realise, they're actually unbeaten in the league since the 2nd of April.
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Drawer of Chelsea, drawer of Arsenal, four wins on the bounce, three wins on the bounce since then, include which includes one away at Forest, which is a very impressive result to go and get at the City ground.
00:05:28
Richard
Yep. yep
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
One of the most formed teams. So it's not going to be some rubbish end of season game where Both teams don't really care what's going on. i think Bradfield are going to be well up for this and we're to workout for us.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you agree?
00:05:52
Richard
Yeah, absolutely. i was looking at the form guide as well. Yeah, they've they've they've come. They kind of do this, don't they, Brentford? I remember their first season in the Premier League, they were pretty consistently in the in and around 10th, 9th, 10th or whatever it was. I'm not sure what their highest recorded finish is, but it's got be around here at some somewhere. So that you know they they may be going for a club record, certainly in the Premier League.
00:06:13
Richard
and But yeah, they they tend to have, they're one of these clubs that tend to have these finishes sometimes because you you see them down in kind of like 15th and think, oh, they've not really had a great season. But then all of a sudden they're winning they're capable of winning sort of three or four games or going on the kind of run that you just mentioned and stuff and taking points off the very top teams, which they are very much capable of doing.
00:06:34
Richard
And then they they're all of a sudden sort of, you know, 11th, 10th, 9th kind of thing and and kind of where you sort of expect them to be at the start of the season, which is kind of incredible if you think about it. I mean, Brentford, you know, growing up,
00:06:47
Richard
but they weren't they were not a top championship team, let alone a Premier League team. So from where they've come from since they got to the Premier League is is kind of incredible, really.
00:06:57
Richard
And Thomas Frank has obviously done an amazing job. I think it was... Was it Dean Smith that got them promoted?
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. He was there at some point, definitely.
00:07:07
Richard
he said something but Maybe it was Frank himself. I can't remember.
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
think of but I think can't think of anyone else who's managed him in the Premier League, so I think maybe he must have they must have been Frank.
00:07:10
Richard
But I know Dean was there...
00:07:16
Richard
He must have done. And then, you know, they had a few Villa players that went to Villa. You know, Ollie Watkins obviously sticks and there's a couple of others and things. And, you know, Frank was talking about the fact that they are a selling club sort of thing. And you look at the latest iteration because they're a bit like Brighton.
00:07:30
Richard
ah ah You know, they seem to sell their best players or some of their best players. And yet... They you know have a good set of scouts and they seem to be able to buy players, particularly from Europe and stuff, and pick up from where they left off season after season. And Brian, what's his name?
00:07:48
Richard
Mwembo? Mbuma,
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Boomer, I think it's pronounced. so I hear every commentator says different.
00:07:53
Richard
sorry.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't even know anymore.
00:07:55
Richard
They do, yeah. And Jo and Wisser as well. like they're They're forwards. They carry a lot of threat. And yeah, they just they're just an impressive team. They're always physical. They're always really athletic and kind of chuck themselves about. And they're difficult to play against. And it's not just for clubs like Town.
00:08:10
Richard
I say, they take they take points off everyone in the league, really, or they certainly can do on their day.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they're really impressive club, Brentford. mean, we spoke about it when some of the other clubs we played, like your Brightons, your teams all that you're always like that. You always feel you have a soft spot for these clubs that have just worked their way up through good scouting, like the own owners who know what they're doing.
00:08:28
Richard
yep
00:08:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's so many bad owners in football. i mean, just look at Reading situation there, for example, that like it's worth praising those who do it who do a fantastic job and the sort what they implement in there.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And It's weird because they're so similar to Brighton, but they hate each other, those two owners. I'm pretty sure there's some sort of rivalry between the two owners there, I'm pretty sure. that can't can't remember the exact words, it's weird the way they are. Because like you said, that they're a selling club. I mean, the joke used to be in the Championship, they'd reach the playoffs, lose, sell the three best players.
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then somehow they'd be back there again the next year. like You think Ben Rahm, some of the folks who left before they come up, like Ben Rahm and people like that, they they would just go up.
00:09:13
Richard
Yeah.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's our best players, oh, they're gone. now Even last summer, I mean, Ivan Toni was linked to a move away from the second the Premier League kicked off at their ground in the first season, pretty much. And hey, he's moved on, doesn't matter. And Buma's gone, bagged in loads of goals, this is up to how many he was getting by five or six, to sort of cover between them, they've covered it. And then, mean, I think even as as recently as today, they're they will will let's come out they will listen to offers on both of them because of the way the club is run. They're very much, ah if the offer's right, you can go. But you wouldn't even put it past them surviving that both of those go. are'll probably go and find these random players that most of us have never heard of now who will come in and get 10, 12 goals next year and keep them firing again. i don'
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I don't really know. There's a lot of praise to to give them, really, I think, just for the way they'll run and
00:10:05
Richard
Yeah.
00:10:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
where they've been over the last few years to to get up to the point where they are now, where a fair chance at European football next season. and I know, I know, take conference league, it's a lot of stick, but I think of where they were a few years ago, it was similar to us that you take in a heartbeat, wouldn't you?
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because know it gets a lot stick, but you'd you'd love it.
00:10:22
Richard
Yeah, absolutely. and and the the they're the club, I think, more than any of them, really. And I've actually, I've been looking at sub-watch, I should have should have done beforehand. Dean Smith has gone way before.
00:10:33
Richard
So Thomas Frank, literally, he got them promoted. He's been there, I didn't realise he'd been there since 2018. So into nearly his eighth year at the club, which is incredible, really.
00:10:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was good one.
00:10:42
Richard
Um... So he obviously got them promoted and has kept them there and kept them afloat. They did they did have a dip last year. They did finish 15th or 16th last year, but obviously they've rebounded really, really well this year. And, you know, as you as you're mentioning, you know, challenging for Europe and that would be an incredible achievement. And I think they are really more of a realistic kind of example for Ipswich more than maybe Brighton, because I think Brighton...
00:11:08
Richard
There's a bit more of a I mean, I know Brentford's London, but I think the size of the club and stuff, they're smaller than Ipswich, realistically, certainly fan base-wise, that they are smaller than Ipswich.
00:11:20
Richard
Whereas think Brighton have kind of like grown to probably on a par or bigger than Ipswich. And I think they've they've always had a bit more of a ah ah Sleeping Giant-esque quality to them, Brighton, all they' or they've they've got the foundation of, you know, could be a big club realistically.
00:11:34
Richard
And I think they're they're gradually becoming that or certainly more so than they've ever been before.
Ipswich Squad Analysis and Future Changes
00:11:38
Richard
Yeah. Whereas Brentford have kind of come from nowhere really and have essentially established themselves and as you say are incredibly well run and I think that could be a great example for ah a a club like us really and it and it kind of goes back to the recruitment as you're talking about. They they can sell their best players.
00:11:54
Richard
Or they've got a great coach, obviously, in Frank, and he makes players better, it seems, or he certainly gets a consistent performance out of lots of players. Obviously, he has a great knowledge of the Danish leagues and stuff where they've got some really, really good players from as well.
00:12:08
Richard
And like you say, you know they pick they pick up these players on a fairly routine-y basis where... you know, they get goals basically and they carry a threat. And that's that's what Brentford always do. They carry a threat going forward.
00:12:19
Richard
And I think you look at some other teams in the Premier League, higher up the league, who struggle with goals in kind of like big moments and you would think they would want some of the players that maybe Brentford have in that kind of like direct approach.
00:12:30
Richard
So, yeah, they're very impressive. And think like you, I always kind of root for clubs like that who have come up and managed to sort of establish themselves the right way.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the other thing I like about them as well is that they have so they have to deal with so many injuries. They just get on with it. There's so much moaning and groaning.
00:12:48
Richard
Yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, again, feel like I've given Arsenal a lot stick in this episode for no reason. But even like yesterday, they've lost Champions League semi-final and Rice has come out in his interview and said, yeah, we've missed four or five key players tonight.
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it's always tough when that happens. ah ah Looking at Brentford, I mean, we'll get to team news after for this, but Brentford have had, like, there's two starting full-backs. in their foot in, what, 18 months or so ago, was Hickey on the right, Henry on the left.
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've both been injured for basically a year and a half. They just get on with it, don't they? How many times has that been brought up ah that time frame since?
00:13:21
Richard
Yep.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
They just get on with it. Like, even their dip last year is because Tony tony and they tony had his ban one year and Buemo had an injury at the same time. They just get on with it. There's no sort of, there' no excuses made every interview. that They they got come off every game after they lose and go, well, if so-and-so was playing, we're just unlucky of injuries. They just get on with it, which is a nice thing to i thing to have in there because it's getting a lot of moaning and groaning, particularly at the top end of the table on that kind of thing.
00:13:51
Richard
I mean, you would say, but i do agree with you, but you know the expectation level is obviously at the top and the pressure is kind of insane, right? And they have to somehow sort of like justify bad results, even though I don't think they should. I think they should just be a bit more honest and and upfront about things.
00:14:06
Richard
And I do agree, just like that kind of next person up, up that's why you have a squad. That's why you have an academy. That's why you have a a B team or an under-21 team. There should be more of that in football. I completely agree because it's like...
00:14:18
Richard
oh, well, if I don't have my first 11, then I can't possibly win a game of football. It's like, man maybe manage your squad a bit better, manage your club a bit better and get the culture to a certain point where people can step in and you get behind them and they feel empowered to do their job. And and Brentford do that brilliantly.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. mean, like I say, the whole situation with Henry, how long he's been out. Keane Lewis Potter's been playing left wing back pretty much all season. don't think he'd ever played there before.
00:14:44
Richard
He's been great.
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
just He's just got asked to do a job and he plays for a manager he obviously really respects and gets on well with.
00:14:46
Richard
No.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's gone in there, done it, and now he's a few he's few fair few months in into doing it. He looks really good there. They just get on with it.
00:14:58
Richard
I
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, that'll do, I think. We're meant to be bigging up this sort game on Saturday. I hope we can go beat him. We've just lumped Rays on Brentford for 15 minutes. for They do deserve it, in fairness.
00:15:07
Richard
know, welcome to the Daily Brentford everybody
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so we'll call it there. have a quick break to hear from one of our sponsors. And who knows, maybe Ipswich will even get mention in the second part. you know We don't know. well We'll see how it plays out. But let's hear this message first.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are back for the second part of today's show. let's Let's get into team news, Rich. where Again, it's going to be a bit Dainey Brentford here. I can't lie to you because simply for the reason of Thomas Frank has done his press conference at time recording.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kieran McKenna has not because we Ipswich always do press conferences on a Friday. But when you release your podcast at five o'clock in the morning on Friday... that's a bit of a pain because you don't get the team news. So we'll have to sort of go off the rumours from the Ipswich side of things. But let's start with Brentford because that's concrete. We know we know that. they they they ah They could pretty much be unchanged from their win against Man United last weekend. No new injuries have been reported.
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're actually closer to having a full squad back because someone we mentioned before, Aaron Hickey, October 2023, he last played the first team. ah for the first team so long he's been injured.
00:16:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been back with their under-21s, who might make the his first squad in, like I said, about 18 months, however long that is.
00:16:56
Richard
wow
00:17:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He might be back in that sense, but I'd highly doubt they'd risk him playing at this stage in the season after so long out. And then also Igor Thiago. You'd be forgiven to have no idea who that is. He he was signed in the summer by Brentford.
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Instantly got a call some sort of foot injury, I think. Metatarsal, this is one of those. they all They all sound the same in my head, the complicated actual scientific words of the body parts. Got injured straight away, come back, played four games in November, December time, got a knee injury, he's been out since. ah he was He was meant to be the Ivan Toney replacement, but he has had the horrible luck of injuries.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Come back, got nine minutes off the bench against Man United and he is back fully in contention and is likely to get minutes. He's sort of in that group like we're going to have with a lot of players where you want to give them some game time with the way with the games that you've got left to sort of set yourself up for next season, see what they're like. So we may well probably off a bench in this game, but say he's likely to feature.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it probably will act as a bit of an unknown because I say five appearances since he signed and picked him up from the Belgian league. So it could be a bit of a wild card that we might see in there for Brentford. But the Ipswich side of things, as far as we know nothing new.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's still not exactly a positive thing because what we know is there's about eight or nine injuries in the squad and the majority of them we don't look like we're going to see back before the end of the year. I'm trying to count the games. Is Davis back yet?
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
What game did he get sent off? Is Arsenal? I don't know anyone.
00:18:41
Richard
Yep.
00:18:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
So this is this is the final game of his band then, must be.
00:18:45
Richard
No, this is this is the third, yeah.
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so still no doubt.
00:18:47
Richard
Yep.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So probably still for probably four centre-halves across the back line again, although Twanzevi did make the bench last week So maybe he'll come back in to start. Yeah, I suppose so.
00:18:57
Richard
He's a sender back as well.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's basically a right back at this point. He's played there all year. for yeah that What do you want to see team-wise from the Ipswich side of things?
00:19:06
Richard
still a sender back to me.
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because like's so you've got that, like I was just saying, with the Brentford side of things, with Igor Tiago. You're sort of now like, you might as well play people and see what they're like for next year.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
like In my head... But also, like this is on merit as well, based the last few games, but I think, we we why what's the what's the harm in having George Hurst up front the last three games? He's going to be there next next next season, De Lapp blatantly not going to be. I know he's it's always hard it's hard to kick someone out of the team just because you know they're going to leave, but in my head, I'd rather see three games of Hurst, especially the way he's been playing, than I would have De Lapp in from the start.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd actually want them both. i I've accepted that's not happening. So I'd quite like to see Hurst in there on Saturday.
00:19:54
Richard
Yeah, I agree. I'd quite like see both as well. I'd quite like to see De Lapp off the left and Hurst up front. But as I say, you and I have both said that at different points of the season. Yeah, I kind of agree with you. I mean, I think De Lapp was kind of doing his best in the first half of the Everton game last week to get himself sent off, which is the last thing that we need.
00:20:13
Richard
given that we've already had five this year, but he was lumping himself into a couple of challenges and he was kind of lucky that, you know, on another day, ref could have given a red card or a second yellow card or whatever.
00:20:24
Richard
I think, a yeah, it's a difficult one, isn't it? Because the club are making all the the right noises that, you know, he boom might stay and all the rest of it, but there's I mean, there's no way. i mean, there's absolutely no way.
00:20:35
Richard
I'm not sure why he would. I'm not entirely sure why the club would... Well, I think the club have to, obviously, if he's got a relegation clause. And even though it's probably his agent doing most of this work, there seems to be every club in the top seven or eight places in the league have have registered an interest. The new ones are Arsenal and Forest today. We've already heard about Man United.
00:20:56
Richard
We've already heard about Chelsea, and Newcastle, Everton. So many clubs are after him, apparently, which, again, there's no smoke without fire, but I'm sure half of them probably aren't. But agent's you know doing all the work.
00:21:11
Richard
So, yeah, I think Hurst, for me, would would would get the start. But as say, I'd play him on the left and I'd put in Cicero at the number 10 and Hutchinson on the right, I think. That would be my team. But I think he'll probably start with the same lot that but got the points got the point last week, I would think. I think he'd start with the same team.
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, mean, i'm I'm never going to be against that. It's something I've moaned about many times over the course of the season, how we never do, we make changes for changes sake, as I like to put it.
00:21:42
Richard
Yep.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm never going to complain at the same 11, especially after a positive result like it was last weekend. wouldn't be against that. So the other ones is... so Well, I was getting myself confused with the old red cards, thinking it was Davis back. it's not, it's because Ben Johnson's back.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just the one game suspension for him for two yellow cards. Obviously, that was last week. So he's back in contention. Obviously, so with Twan Zaby coming back to the bench last week, one or the other, you'd think, unless we go back to Johnson on the right, because that was working well until we got two silly yellow cards against Newcastle.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
to sort of
00:22:16
Richard
Mm-hmm.
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was actually, he's probably on his best run of the season. up until that point. And then, say, one for diving, one for then doing a silly foul five minutes after knowing you're on a boogun, which I had no sympathy for in that case. But I rarely do when people get sent. I think I've said all five red cards we've had this year, which stupid.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't seem to offer much sympathy out for these players who sent off. And then, obviously, the other thing we've had in the last couple of weeks is Cajuste. Been on the bench last few weeks. been managing a knock again.
00:22:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another one who more than likely he won't be here next year. So you leaning towards leaving him out in that case?
00:22:51
Richard
no
00:22:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, Phillips also made the bench again at the weekend. Would you leave him out because you sort of know he's going? Same of Phillips as well.
00:23:00
Richard
i
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
you just play him?
00:23:01
Richard
I'd leave Phillips out. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:04
Richard
Phillips can go back to Manchester if he likes at this stage of the season.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:07
Richard
I'm not too worried about that. Jens. This is kind of the Jens' Q-Stay derby, isn't it? Because Brentford turned down the opportunity to sign him.
00:23:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:16
Richard
So it could be could be a spicy game for him. Yeah, maybe he comes into it ahead of Taylor.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I think, yeah.
00:23:22
Richard
i mean, the midfield, we'll obviously get into this in the summer. The midfield's an absolute mess in terms of like who we have in there and like who's going to be there next year. it's 100% the area of the pitch where the club has to do something. And I don't just mean one player. I mean kind of...
00:23:40
Richard
Yeah, two or three potentially coming into that area of the pitch and two or three leaving. So that'll be interesting to see what they do. But I can imagine that Morsi and Taylor start and maybe Kiyuste comes on for Taylor, and you know, with sort of 30 minutes to go or something like that, potentially.
00:23:57
Richard
Yeah, think I think that would be that would be the most likely. but The thing with Ben Johnson, you're talking about him coming back. I actually would mate potentially want to play him because I kind of want to put him in the shop window.
00:24:10
Richard
If I'm thinking in a savvy sort of way, I know i know that's not Kieran McKenna's job, but if I was Ashton, I'd be like, stick him on because he was in good form.
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:24:18
Richard
As you say, he was playing the best he's played all year consistently. ah ah don't think Town want to play his wages in the championship next year. We got him on a free and if you can get eight to 10 million from some of the reported clubs interested in him, Fulham, I think have been mentioned, maybe a couple of others as well.
00:24:36
Richard
That'd be good business for Ipswich. So yeah, i'd I'd be looking to play Ben Johnson for a couple of reasons really.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so that that's that's that element in there, isn't it, at this point? now like You're scouting for next season, and maybe with some of the players you want to give minutes to. also, like like you said, there's the opposite side.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's the element of putting someone in the shop window, particularly those on high wages who... I imagine a new signer probably has some sort of clause that knocks that down following relegation.
00:25:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's very common thing in the Premier League for that to happen.
00:25:08
Richard
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But still... half of really high is still high in that case, it's good especially when you compare it to championship standards. So I don't know really, but not against it. Like I say, he was in very good form.
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
the yet The two yellows were stupid, but don't know. It's not like, other the art that I don't know really. We're sort of like, meant that this is meant to be moaning about injuries and not saying how many we've got at this point in the year, but I'm also like, don't really know who to play because there's quite a few options there.
00:25:38
Richard
Yeah, there are.
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. Yeah, we'll see how it goes. But like you said, midfield, let's go back to that. It needs a complete overhaul, doesn't it? Because you look at the options we've got there so far.
00:25:48
Richard
Yep.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've currently got five central midfielders, really, because I'm not counting Chaplin and that because he's nothing. There's five players who could play in that pivot role. Cayuste, loan, not coming back.
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Phillips, loan, not coming back. and Luongo, out of contract. Nothing's been signed. Blatantly to leave. Morsi Taylor. So we're currently going into we hope We're going into the new season with those two and Humphrey's coming back, although i think he's one, and so is Taylor, actually, that I would prefer to play further forward than in that role.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, effectively, nailed on double pivot player. Next season, we've got Morsy. And that's it. So, that is absolutely the key area next season because we cannot play one-man midfield in there.
00:26:30
Richard
Yeah.
00:26:33
Richard
Yeah.
Summer Transfer Strategies for Ipswich
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need depth. We need probably, three I'd say, least three to come in. But I also said we need at least one in January and we didn't do it. So who knows?
00:26:45
Richard
I completely agree with you. I completely agree. And I think you there's even an argument to make that relying on Morsi at his age is not necessarily the best way of moving forward either.
00:26:58
Richard
Now, They've done in this with with a few players where, you know, Sonia Luko, Luongo this season, obviously, where they've kept a player probably past the point where they're actually effective on the pitch, to be brutally honest.
00:27:12
Richard
But they've kept them around for other reasons. And I think you would you would probably do that with Sam Moorsley. I think he's come out in the press recently and said, I'm sticking around with the manager. Culture and like all of that is massively important. And the club cannot rip it up every single summer.
00:27:27
Richard
like we had to this year with bringing in tons of players and changing, you know, starting lineups and never really finding out how it worked because because of the situation. We all understand that.
00:27:38
Richard
But if we do that every year, then we're constantly going to be in this kind of like reset mode. So there has to be some continuity and Morsi, you know, will be, I think, one of those players. But you can't be relying on Sam Morsi, one, to get you back to the Premier League.
00:27:53
Richard
And two, being effective in the Premier League in at the earliest two years' time when he's going to be 34, knocking on 35 years old. So you could argue that we need three or four, two starting midfielders in there and then and then another backup or two.
00:28:09
Richard
Maybe Morsi is one of those and ah ah to to move forward with next year. Because I completely agree with Taylor's not effective as a pivot. I'm not sure what he is effective for, really. He's an all right kind of sub, impact sub, but he's never, you know, in two and a half years or however long he's been at the club, he's never really managed to hold down a place in the starting line-up for very long. So that there's got to be question marks over the validity of keeping him as well, to be honest.
00:28:36
Richard
And I think Humphreys deserves his chance, given the fact that he's had a brilliant season, and player of the year season at Wickham. And you you would hope that the club give him an opportunity to to grow into a role with Town.
00:28:46
Richard
But yeah, it'll be really, really fascinating because there's so many things that they need to do in that area of the pitch.
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so Humphries will be an interesting in one, definitely. I mean, we've got Connor Townsend now, so he doesn't have to be sub-left back this time around. So he might actually get some appearances in the midfield instead.
00:29:01
Richard
Yeah, it's true.
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we'll see how it goes. So, started with team news. I mean, we just sort of ferried into the summer transfer window. So, that's sort of the point we're at now. we're We're all thinking the summer, aren't we?
00:29:12
Richard
It's me. It's me.
00:29:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
These guys,
00:29:13
Richard
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
We think it's the summer and next year. These games don't matter,
Game Predictions: Ipswich vs Brentford
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
do they? But nevertheless, going have another quick break from one of our sponsors. And even though we've just said the game doesn't matter, we're going to be finding out what Rich's prediction is after this.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are back for the final part today's show. Let's get straight into predictions then. we've sort of We've sort of done team predictions already in the last section. I think you're basically near enough naming what you thought the start of XI would be or what you hoped it would be.
00:30:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because I don't think we're actually going to see Dallap on the left as as interesting as it would be. But how do you see the game itself playing out? Because... I think sat the key to me on Saturday was bucking the trend of just rolling over, which we had done against Arsenal and Newcastle. And when we went 2-0 down, ah ah did that i want my worry was that that was going to happen again, that we just downed tools, game doesn't matter.
00:30:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it goes on to be a fairly unpleasing scoreline. But I think bucking that trend will give us a bit of hope because, like we say, Brentford will be up for this. So how do you set plan out?
00:30:38
Richard
Yeah, they will. a I don't know. I think there'll be goals. There'll definitely be goals because Brentford score quite a lot and they also concede quite a lot sometimes.
00:30:51
Richard
and And obviously the game, you know, the sucker punch earlier in the season when we got another red card in that game. Yeah, Harry Clark got sent off in that game.
00:30:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:30:59
Richard
Oh, so many red cards this season. Absolutely absurd. Harry Clark, will he come back? we' We don't know. There's so many questions for the summer. What do I think? I predicted a win last week.
00:31:11
Richard
I predicted a 2-1 win. Got a 2-2 draw, so that's not too bad. I'm going to go for another win. I think i think we're playing with... the freedom that it doesn't ultimately doesn't really matter.
00:31:22
Richard
And you would hope that a few players are playing for contracts and are playing for potentially a role in the squad next year or the side next year. And I think quite a few of them probably do want to be around. So, yeah, let's hope they give the fans something to cheer about. So I'm going to go for 3-2 win, home win.
00:31:41
Richard
home went
00:31:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think there'll be goals. Like you say about Brentford, there's actually been no... like The stadium in the Premier League this season that has seen the most goals is far and away the GTEC. I saw that stat the other day.
00:31:54
Richard
yep
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Naturally, after there's just been a 4-3 there, there's quite a big jump from the GTEC down to every other stadium because Brentford games tend to be a very entertaining. So hopefully there will be the entertainment value, if nothing else, and if we don't end up getting the result there, but I think it's interesting as well, like you said, i about players playing for their role next year because I think there's a lot of players that have got injured at a really bad time in that context.
00:32:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm thinking about mainly players out wide that... Because that's been the one place we've never nailed down what our best XI is, is it? And think, obviously, the one player who probably is nailed on at the moment in that slot isn't CISO, who's not going to be here next year.
00:32:30
Richard
no
00:32:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, like, I'm thinking the likes of Philogene, Broadhead, those who are probably... this would be their chance to really nail some themselves down for that first game the season and then obviously try and kick on and hold the place.
00:32:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got injured really bad time in that sense. I don't know. But then at the same time, suppose there's somebody who can come in try and take the place on that argument as well, isn't there? Like you said, play their way into that 11 to wherever it is we are. But We're on that opening game. if my mates or at My mate's already adamant we're gonna that it's going to be Wrexham away on Sky. They reckon they're going to rig it. that It's going to be one of the relegated teams is going to go to Wrexham away Friday night to open the season. they were there My mate is nailed on.
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's going to be rigged. so That's going to happen one way or the other. and We're currently the best-looking squad out of those three. They reckon scott theyre reckon and Sky and EFL are going to rig that for a Friday night opener next season.
00:33:29
Richard
That'd be great. That'd be great.
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it would be entertaining.
00:33:32
Richard
Yeah.
00:33:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
i'm not sure it would be the ideal place to go and start the season with how the atmosphere, what that would be like around there. But so I've gone on a big tangent there because I'm sort of like, I'm just distracting myself from the fact I think we're going to lose because Brentford are...
00:33:49
Richard
Okay, fine. I predicted that, Rob.
00:33:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brentford are...
00:33:51
Richard
You predicted that all year, so
00:33:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I have done, but I quite like doing these with somebody else. I keep doing the crossovers on my own. I feel like I have to say something just to not, look bad. i say, you've already done you've done the positive one. I do do think it could go very badly, but said that the key for me is the the fight back on Saturday that we haven't done all year from two goals down.
00:34:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm hoping that.
00:34:14
Richard
what do you say?
00:34:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Because Arsenal and Newcastle were just like, we accepted the way the game was going to go and then the first one went and you went, yep, game over. That'll do. and then he like like But the fact that didn't happen against Everton is going to give me enough confidence to I'm going to step myself up to a draw because I'm going to hope that if we do start poorly and Brentford come flying out of blocks, like I think they will, that even know if we go behind, we'll drag ourselves back in the game. and I'll go 2-2.
00:34:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was really tempted say three three just because of how many goals there are in Brentford games, but I'll go 2-2 to be a bit more sensible because we also don't s score many goals at home. sir very three seems a bit ambitious.
00:34:49
Richard
No, we don't.
00:34:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah...
00:34:52
Richard
3-2 is very ambitious. it's not goingnna It probably won't happen. But look, you know, you get you get weird results at the end of seasons. Teams concede goals.
00:35:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:35:02
Richard
there You know, I know there's something on the line for Brentford, but you still get weird results.
00:35:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
of Oh, that's the thing about final day every year. It's always like final day. as low as West Ham at home is going to about four or all. It's just the way final day goes. It's just carnage in there.
00:35:15
Richard
Yeah, yeah, Well, no one cares, do they?
00:35:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
there No, no one cares. Those games, that'd be like them so that. that West Ham game is going to have five goals in it at least, I reckon, because we're both so bad at the back and we'll just be going for it because who cares? Nothing to play for end of the season, but.
00:35:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So
Upcoming Events at Ipswich's Portman Road
00:35:29
Richard
Yeah.
00:35:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
hopefully, let's say, some big big crowds, I reckon, the last two games of the season, hopefully in there.
00:35:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But just a tangent away from football, because the other big news since we've last done a podcast is that Ed Sheeran is finally doing a performance at the home of Ed Sheeran FC, and in the case of like what we are at the moment.
00:35:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
is that Obviously, the the big the big tickets go on sale, don't they, well on the morning of this podcast coming out? So... Good luck to anyone who's going to go sit in that queue that I imagine is going to sell out in about two minutes, if that, something like that. But that'll be another big crowd at Portman Road, those three nights. I'm not sure that'll compete with a promotion day crowd against them over down the years. Like the Huddersfield one comes to mind. don't know if that'll bring as much atmosphere, those Ed Sheeran concerts, as that. But good luck to anyone. Like say, any of our listeners are going to go sit in that queue, you're a better person than me trying to,
00:36:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
sit in a queue that's going to have thousands of thousands of people in it. But good luck if you do that.
00:36:31
Richard
yeah
00:36:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that'll interesting as well, like say. It's about time that... How long the association's been there that happens because me and you just had a quite a good chat before we hit the record button on the podcast.
00:36:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, there's a very interesting... Probably a full episode, if we're being honest, in that come the end of the season. Because the the era of Shearer and shirt sponsorship is coming to an end this season, or going into next season, which...
00:36:55
Richard
It is.
00:36:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
In my head, the little creative blame's got thrown there. Dream shirt sponsors could be a fantastic episode in the summer. If we could go if it's not been announced already by then. Because all just chatting about classic football shirt sponsors is always just good fun
Closing Remarks and Future Topics
00:37:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
to do. But maybe keep an eye out for that one over the course of the summer.
00:37:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the long term. Short term, we'll be back on Monday. Brentford review. Hopefully an entertaining game and a rare win at home. But we'll see how it all plays out. But until then, from me and Richard...
00:37:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thanks for listening and goodbye.