Final thoughts on the season

My name is Chevy and this is my NHS story. Over a couple of days I was getting quite intense pain on the left side of my stomach because I called my doctors and then was referred to the Elton CDT. It was literally a seamless, stress-free The government is opening new community diagnostic centres with many already available twelve hours a day, seven days a week. So the NHS can be there for all of us when we need it. Find your closest one at gov.uk slash NHS Hello everybody it's me Roscoe and welcome to Let's Epis ode of the Kings of Anglia podcast, sponsored by Meleclia UK. To sort you out all your cleaning products for your car, uh use the code CAWAY10, a great local software company that we are supporting for this podcast . And um, we're here to bring you a podcast a day after a night before town having an absolute thrilling two-two draw, a Desmond against Southampton, and um we can just about touch it. I'm nearly touching it here. We've still got one more game to go at Portman Road on the final day against Kupiang, joined by two fine gentlemen. We're just trolled back from the South Coast . We're now back in our humble abodes. I'm gonna start with Stuart Watson, first of all, who of course was my my driver of many. Um we got home safely. Thank you very much for doing that, my friend. How are you? Very good . Yeah. Looking forward to getting um stuck into a yeah, a thrilling game of football, as you've said. That was that was some watch last night and I didn't quite get over the line. Um , but yeah, I think anyone who was privileged enough to be there and watched that in in the flesh will have uh certainly can have no complaints about what was what was dished up. Yes indeed, and uh yeah, He Fee is currently having a lie down after watching that and um he's getting ready of hopefully a promotion party podcast. But we're joined also by Alex Jones, my friend. You you trained to Southampton, trained back to Cambridge. How was all that, Jazz ? Yes, all that jazz was good, Ross. Um, I hope you can hear me okay. My wifi seems to be cutting in and out at the moment. But yes, it's weird. It's uh when it takes like um pretty much a whole day to to get back from an away game that kicked off almost twenty four hours ago. But yes, back now, ready to break it all down because my word, there is a lot to break down, isn't there? There is indeed. And um I think Stu, you mentioned it. I think even before the game and a few other people were mentioning, like, could this be that night at Hull City? Which um very much similar themes because of how the game was. For a neutral, this game was incredi ble. Had everything. Maybe didn't the Kira McKenna punching the uh dugout um stuff, but um this game had it all just your opening thoughts on this Desmond because you predicted a two-two draw, my friend. You gotta bang on . Yeah. A lot of the talk was could this be coventry again, two years on? Could it be the penultimate game in the season away from home midweek? Um up against a very good team could they go and get the win that wouldn't guarantee them mathematically promotion, but would be the night pretty much that it was sealed. So big comparisons with Covent ry going into it. As you pointed out, Ross on the boot run video, Coventry had just come off the back of losing an FA Cup semi-final to a Manchester club. Manchester United, they pushed them all the way. Um, and Southampton have just come off the back of a uh an FA Cup semi-final against the Manchester Club City this time, pushing them all the way. So it was loads of comparisons with that fixture from two years ago, but I just wondered whether it had all the ingredients to be more of that whole type of game because we knew that a point was no good really for either side, certainly not for Southampton going into it. It was always going to be completely different to West Brom where you know a point was good enough to keep them up. Ipswich you know a point closer to their their target that day against an informed side. This was this was a free hit. Two sides very good for the level. We hoped we're gonna go at it hammer and tongs and um we weren't disappointed. It was uh a hell of a game. Yeah, cracking game. First half, second half, both really good. Uh I know all the goals came in the second half, but um that first half was still very good. Maybe not too many clear-cut chances but AJ um your thoughts on it all and we had some big surprises in the the starting 11 as well for town um I took I was in charge of predicting the starting 11 I didn't bang on because there was a few players that came in. I was like, oh, Leif Davis is back. Um and then a surprise starter. Well, started. We'll get on to him. But um, yeah, your thoughts on on the starting eleven and and just your opening thoughts on this two-two draw . Um main thoughts on the game, great advert for for championship football on a night where I think you know, football's going a certain way, isn't it? And we've seen that with Mikel Arteta's Arsenal and defensive setups and set pieces and headers and physicality on a night where obviously there was everything in the Champions League with with Bayern and PSG and then this one as well. It's just a reminder, I think, of what football can be at its best. And this game was a a brilliant, a prime example of it, where the goals are great, the drama was there, it was end to end and um kind of like the stakes were high and both teams wanted to really go at it and that's what I I really love and it's probably not we've seen enough of in the championship this season but this is what it can be. So that was great. Um and going back to the first bit you mentioned about the teams, uh definitely a couple of surprises in there, but good surprises from a NIP switch perspective, getting C Wes back in and Leif Davis back in. I think those were the two main bits for for me because at this stage of the season, having two very good football players, but two players that are adored by the fans have done this before, give you that boost of having them back in . You know what they bring . It's almost as much as what they bring to the club and to the group, I'd say is almost as important as as what they bring on the pitch, to be honest. And that's what I think gave Town a big lift in this game because it was a huge task to go to Saints and get anything with the form they'd been in. Um and that certainly played a uh a big part for for Ipswich to have both of those guys back in. Yes, indeed. Uh we're gonna hear from Kieran McKenna first of all, but then we're gonna move on to sort of just opening thoughts on the the first half, because um I know the second half um was the the main focus in this game because that's where all the goals are at, but there's moments in that first half, but let's hear it from Kieran McKenna Kieran, that was some game of football tonight. Um not the result you wanted, but uh how do you reflect on it ? Yeah, I thought it was was an outstanding game , um definitely one of right up there with with any game that we've had. In my time here, certainly in the championship, one of the very very top ones. Yeah, I loved the large majority performance. I thought we were excellent. Of course, you give credit to Southampton as well, a very good team, and they they played their part as well. So yeah, we would have, of course, loved to have finished it tonight and were millimetres away from doing it, but for me, I think it was an outstanding performance with with all the things that we want to be as a team. It shows huge growth over the course of the season to produce a performance like that in your third away game in six days and game forty-five in the season is you know, shows the trajectory that that we're on and um yeah, we didn't manage to to get the win that we really wanted but I think a a draw as much as we said a draw isn't any different than a loss it So yeah, we look forward to the weekend now. We go into it with with confidence and belief from the work across the season and and how that was evidenced in the game tonight. We know it's gonna be tough, we know it's gonna take a big, big push from everyone, but um you know, we believe that we'll we'll find it . Hopefully they will boys. Um Stu, when we're driving down the Southampton, we just don't know, we just felt even though this was a big game, it just didn't have that same feeling as that Coventry night. Um I I will admit though, when we got to the stadium, I did feel a bit of uh something was around, something in the air. And then we did get an end-to-end battle with two really good teams. Um I know you were s you know feeling the same and when that sort of whistle blew, did you feel like okay we've got a game here 'cause the atmosphere was was up for it. Yeah, I I was looking forward to it as a game 'cause I just thought it's not often it's high stakes, but it was everything to win and and little to lose, certainly from an Ipswich perspective, and um you just hoped that that would as much as we want every game to be like this, there's always gonna be an element of pragmatism at at times throughout a course of a season given the context of where where football matches fall and um the fear was that it might there might be a bit of tired legs, and understandably so given these are the two teams with the most hectic schedules at the back end of of this season, but um yeah, in answer to your question, uh every time I speak to supporters, I did a little bit on Look East before the game last night, and stran ge season is kind of no one quite knows how to feel about this season, this team. Um, it's just different, isn't it? For all the reasons that we've discussed. Favorites tag, money spent, have done it fairly recently, so the novelty of that's gone, everyone wanting it switched to fail. It's just felt different. But um I think last night was I know it wasn't the result that it was just wanted, but it was the performance that everyone needed to just get that feeling of connection fired back up again going into the weekend. Yeah, and uh they showed character, didn't they? You know, goaless in the first half. Then out of nowhere, Wes Burns, and I didn't appreciate this as much until I watched it back because this is a hell of a strike from Wes B urns, AJ. Um and I want to have a nice little segment on Wesburn because he's out of contract in the summer and there's going to be debates about that. Um but he's one of the men in this team that you would want to be the sort of being a hero. Um he's already had that sort of night at Coventry, you know, coming back from that injury and score on that key goal. But he opens the score on this one, my friend, and a a head of strike. Man, for the big moment, isn't he? You mentioned the Coventry one, thinking about Huthersfield two years ago opening the scoring, settling the nerves there. He's had some some big moments in a Nip Switch Town shirt. Um, delivers when the the pressure is on. I really like this goal, and it's it's the finish, but it's it's the build up to it as well. Jacob Greaves doing his little walkabouts. I really weird to be honest sometimes, but I love it as well. Where when he knows he's got the cover and the protection behind him, he just thinks, Yeah, I'll take the ball up the pitch, I'll try and make something happen. Gets quite high up the pitch, dinks the ball into the final third. And then this really intelligent play from Azon who um just wins that initial header. And again, strikers instinct to me always kind of comes back to how can I get the shot off? Where can I open the space to try and test the goalkeeper? But he's so intelligent in seeing Burns to the right, the way that he prods over it is uh a perfectly weighted kind of dink over to Burns. And at that point, I think where he was, there was little doubt that the Wes was going to hit the back of the net with that, sets himself, really nice finish, um, and a really good goal, one that Town had to work hard to get. There's a lot of moving parts that that come to it, but that's what you need when you're playing a team like Southampton. And um it yeah, all three of those combining really well. Wes takes the credit for the finish, and uh yeah, you you don't want to take too much away from him because that was some moment right in front of that away end as well. He loves he loves a knee slide, he does, Wes. He does indeed. Um, Stu, yeah, the big talking point would be, you know, he's out of contract this summer. What would you do with him? Um will he have he send off, a dream send off um on Saturday, or could he s you know stick around and uh yeah, what how you feeling with that? I've been blown away by Wes Burns this season and the way he's come back from an ACL injury. Um I'll have to admit going into the season we were talking about Ipswich's Ipswich's 25-man squad and who they re would register and who they wouldn't. And you know, you wondered if they'd leave Wes out, or you know, if he was to come back this season, I thought it might be right in the latter stages and he might get a a token sentimental couple of appearances towards the end and and and that would be it um for Wesburn. So for him to have come back at the time he did, but also the impact that he's had from that Coventry moment onwards. Um yeah, to get himself undoubtedly at the top of the right wing pecking order, ahead of a championship record signing and another player in Casey McAtee who's eleven point five million pounds, um, is is super testament to him and there is a legitimate conversation about whether Ipswich should try and extend his contract this summer. Wages-wise, he's he's not going to probably break the bank compared to a shiny mega money signing on the right wing. It depends whether I think it will ultimately come to I think there's a bigger shout for Ups which wanting to keep him, but maybe Wes having to think about his career and what is he 30 now, West Burns, um important stage of his career, hips which probably will only be offering him one year, you would think. Where's a bit like Cameron Burgess last summer, you know, does he want a longer contract and got to think about his his um his own career. I mean AJ's been calling this for a for a long time. Cardiff, just up from League One, hometown club. We've seen, you know, his Cardiff connections mean a lot to him with the celebrations against Swansea last time in the championship, maybe something like that could come up. But I think all Ipswich fans would be very happy to see Wes Burns extend his stay. But if that is to be his one of his last big moments, um a fitting way for it to come to an end, if that is the case, and who knows, maybe he could have another last last game of the season big moment in him. Oh that, would be brilliant. Um, AJ, I'm gonna give you the power. If you could, would you give Wes Burns a new contract? Yeah, 100%. 100%. Um because of the personality and the character that he is, because of still what he's able to deliver. He's he's 31 now, turns 32 in November. Um because of of still what he's putting out there on the pitch, because he's st ill is Ipswich's best right-sided option over those players that that she mentioned, at least as we're sat here discussing this right now. Um , and because he's got experience, he's played at the level before. That that's quite a valuable thing and a team that is still a little bit kind of new we've taken big strides to falling in love with a lot of the players you've come in over the summer replaced the old guard who who got the team into the Premier League and then played in the Premier League last year? So much changed to have that consistent face there and someone who's played Premier League football before and I think really grew into Premier League football when he was there. He had a tough start to it, but I thought um over time did did really get there. Um, I I think if you get the opportunity to keep him, then do there does have to be a fine balance with it. There's the contract situation, there's also got to be a reality that town will likely go and sign another right sided player in over the summer. Yeah, I know. But look, they went and tried to get Femi Femia's E's from Millwall in January, which is a s an indication that they wanted to go and strengthen that that right side. Cindra Valaragelli isn't squads. Casey McAtee is uh improving massively, but I don't think he'll be starting games on the right for Ipswich Town. So it's a about finding the balance in the squad and getting the best options out of 25 man squad and being honest with Wes and saying this is what we see you doing. I I mean the Cardiff one I've mentioned a lot, you could always see someone like Bristol City a comeback there. There are there will be options on the table for Wes if he wants to go somewhere else and get more opportunities and a longer contract. But if he's happy where he is and he seems settled and he wants another shot at the Premier League, I think Ipswich should certainly offer him that. And the other thing I'll put onto the table, been really big on a back five for Ipswich next year if they get promoted. I think that's really the way that I want them to approach next season to to be a little bit more um suited, let's say, to the Premier League. And he's the kind of player that would suit that role quite nicely playing in that wing back role. Um that might be a an area where you can get the best out of him and and he can help get the best out of the team. So yeah, if I'm at switch town, I'd be putting something on the table for him. No room for sentiment, but it wouldn't be a sentimental move. It would be uh it would be a move fully earned for all the reasons outlined, it I think it will ultimately come down to what Wes wants to do. Similar conversations that were had with the likes of Cameron Burgess and Sam Morsey and Connor Chaplin last year. I think Kira McKenna is very honest and very open. This is the role , this is what's here for you. And if it's not quite right for you, we we completely understand that. I imagine that's how those conversations will go. I just hope there's not a saga like you know, like the Cariburgers one and even Vaz, you know, Vlack Lag Halag Cle. I could never say it. Um, but yeah, hopefully it's not a cycle like that. Hopefully it will get sorted um after Saturday and you know, things sorted. But um but yes, let's hear though from the man himself um where's burns um on the draw and his goal where's roller coaster game today what do you make of that one uh like you say it's a bit of a roller coaster game I mean obviously both teams knew coming into it that you know a draw was a bit of a nothing result. Um so it was basically evidence of two teams that wanted to go and win the game. Um and in my opinion I think tonight is probably the highest level of a championship football game that you'll see. You know, you got two outstanding teams really in terms of you know starting eleven and squad depths and things like that. Um but yeah, like say, it wasn't the result that either team wanted, but um you know the performance that we gave tonight uh was a really, really you know, solid col confident one. Um and if we take that into Saturday I think we'll be fine. That moment for you to open the scoring, you've had your injury issues to come back, you get that ball lined up to you for from Evan, you celebrate in front of that away and that must have been up there with with some of the moments you've had surely. Yeah, to be fair, I mean I've had some I've had some really good moments since coming back from my injury really. Um like you say I've I've had a little bit of rotten luck with uh various things since coming back. Um but that's football. Uh it's a part of the the journey really. Um I'm just glad to be able to contribute in any way I can this year really. But like I say, yeah, to score in front of our you know travelling fans and get the reception that they always give me is is is always a special feeling for me. You're kind of the guy who delivers in the top moments, aren't you? You you remember Huddersfield a couple of years ago, you come back, you have that night at Coventry, you've got this one, I know it's not the win that you wanted, but to be able to be that guy must be a really great feeling. No, it's it it is good to obviously be you know, you know when the big games come you always look to somebody to step up in those moments and for some reasons that always seems to be me over the recent years and I'll you know I like to you know take the the pressure on and maybe take a little bit of pressure off others to let them thrive a little bit so um yeah I'm glad that I can always help in any way that I can . Yes, indeed, whereas and I think we're now definitely getting used to him without his long hair and that those locks um which uh hopefully you know there'll be new pictures of him celebrating and have a promotion and with his new haircut. Well it's not new anymore, it's been over a year or so. Um but yeah, boys, one nil. That game the game opened up, didn't it town were chasing a second, but still uh Southampton got back into the game not once but twice . Yeah, I'm not gonna try and sum up every bit of action in this football match because we would be here all day. It was just end to end, two teams going at it, even in the first half when it was goalless. I thought it was uh just really absorbing, couldn't take your eyes off it. Fascinating tactical battle. Southampton are probably got the best left sided duo in the league with with Ryan Manning at left back and Sienza most formed player, the Brazilian in front of him. Wes was looking sharp down the right for Ipswich, cat and mouse in certain areas.oug Iht th both teams were mixing it up brilliantly as well. Sometimes when we talk about some of the staleness and the boredom of football now is almost how it can become a bit robotic football and its possession for the sake of it. And I like the way t both teams mixed it up in this game. You know, they weren't both of them weren't afraid to go long and and and you know, go into the strikers at times as well as trying to play out from the back. You had good bite as well with players flying into tackles um yeah and then and then the Southampton goal I mean it's big Walton save from a Larren Sissar kick wasn't there just before the Burns goal um and then their their goal comes sort of a little bit out of nowhere, really, wasn't it? Jacob Greaves, who'd been really good up until that point, missed times a a lunging tackle on the edge of the box, wipes out wipes out his man, and then um Manning's free kick takes a nick. I didn't realise it off the at the time off the toe of Nunez in the wall to wrong foot Walton. So cruel way to concede . And then they got another one, didn't they, with uh with M annning at the heart of it, that was a bit of a transition goal, counterattacking on Ipswich, Manning eat eating up the space, Larin chopping two players up in the box and a and a neat little finish with the outside of his boot and at that stage St Mary's was bouncing um and that this is the point where we have to really, really give it switch their flowers for the for the character that they showed in this game. Yeah, this team has come a long way. You know, I think if this was this the team, you know, if this happened in like yeah, September time, November time, AJ, I think they would have, yeah, they wouldn't have been able to come back. They would have yeah, gone into a shell and um lost this game. But yeah, how are you feeling? As I normally ask, you know, when it went the two one because the atmosphere was up. Southampton fans were were loving it. Town fans were probably like, oh no. I know there's a few that's I spoke to who game day after the game, they sort of sunk into their seat and gone, Oh, it's gonna be one of those days. But um well, we'll get on to the the winner in a minute, but yeah, just yeah, this team showing you know very good character. Yeah, I I didn't think that they wouldn necess'arilyt that sounds really harsh, but have it to to come back in this one because Southampton are the team that they they are, we know the quality, we know how good they are, we know what they're like at home, the atmosphere was right up, Southampton had what they needed in their grasp, and from a town perspective, a defeat and a draw said a very similar outcomes. And I thought uh knowing how difficult it will be to come back and score two goals from behind with everything that's going against town, all those things I just mentioned, is this going to be one that might just be a bridge too far and it it might be that that two one defeat. Um and that was kind of the the feeling that I had. You look at the goals, I thought that the first one is probably unfortunate in in the way that the the free kicks given. I thought Greaves got a nice a little bit of the ball, but he is he does take the man with him, and it's probably um I think should be referred to it as uh probably an amber card, that one. Uh strong yellow for a very strong challenge and obviously um an unfortunate time Walton and the the goal that Southampton scored to go ahead is really good. It's a really good ball from Manning. The way that he sends um kind of splits Greaves and Davis and and Larren's turn to then send them the other way in the finish is it shows the kind of team that they are. But yeah, the character then to come back eightieth minute they conceded that goal could easily just say that it's not gonna happen for us today. It's gonna be a defeat. Let's let's roll on to Saturday. But the fight they showed, really impressive. And again, subs making a difference though. Um Jack Clark, of course, the man the score that goal. Jalen Village got the the shirt to start for this one, but Jack Clark off the bench and scores a good goal and could have scored a winner as well. But yeah, the subs are really injecting some energy into the team Yeah, Clark and Macketeer, the first two introduced, then interestingly, Jens Kyuster and George Hurst are the next men on. Uh, we didn't think necessarily that we were going to see Jens again. He's been not making squads recently. He's had um Jack Taylor and Dan Neil ahead of him in the pecking order, but Taylor out with uh an injury, he's got a bit of a a knock, some swelling on his knee, so he wasn't in the squad for this um so interesting that that jens was was introduced in the 10 role for an off par Marcelino Nunez um and yeah, Clark Clark's the man, isn't he, that just uh took this by the scruff of the neck. He was he was virtually unplayable the way he was he was getting the ball running at people, he just He just glides, doesn't he? Glides across the turf, little micro feints that leave people. You know what he's gonna do, but stopping him is is is a completely different thing. Um gets the goal. Um brilliant finish. I think it's a long throw that led to it, wasn't it? And uh half cleared and and he just arrived uh to provide the crispies of finishes. And then you know, it's it's two two, eighty-seven minutes and only one team's gonna win it and Ipswich have four good chances to win it. Looking at it here, we've got um so the goal is on eighty seven, eighty eight, that furlong header at the back post, Leaf Davis on the overlap, dinks it stands it up to the far post, the away end right on that side. I think they thought it was in. We all thought it was in, didn't it? A roar it was a you know a roar of celebration as it just flew the wrong side of the post. Uh a minute later, Jack Clark again running at the box, stabs one, back off the base of the post, hits the back of the goalkeeper, could go anywhere. Could easily be an own goal , but it goes out for a corner instead. Into stoppage time. George Hurst gets it in the back of the net, disallowed for offside. Yes, I think it's the right decision, but that was a lovely crisp move. Clark involved again. Dan Nil sweeping the ball across the box, and then 90 plus four. Jack Clark bends one towards the top corner, and it's a hell of a save from Perret's fingertips, springing to his left, full stretch stretch to tip it around the post. Um switch couldn't have done a lot more to win this game. Yeah, um an AJ. A point then Southampton are out of the top two mixed, but town, yeah, he's in their hands going to the final day. But any other business from the game, anything you want else you want to mention? I think the the interesting one is Yen's Goose Day going into the ten roll because um yeah, you got Anas Vetty on the bench, doesn't come on. Jens his first game since the Stoke game, wasn't it? Um so it's been a what? It's been over a month since his last game. So yeah, he's and playing in a different role. Yeah, he he did. He came on in the 75th minute and played seven minutes in the ten roll and then changed and dropped deeper because Akbom, Chuba Akbom came on for um Matasewa. So you had the Neil uh Keuster pivot uh instead and then with uh actbon playing in the 10. So it wasn't we didn't get to see a lot of it but in fairness for someone who hasn't played since the Stoke game I thought Jens looked pretty sharp didn't look like he's he's not been playing any football. So real credit to him because especially with his his fitness issues he's had before, I thought he could come back and look really rusty, but um there were some nice bits that he showed in that game. Um mentioned again for the Clark finish. What a hit. The the move's really good. There's so many, again, a lot of different kind of moving parts to it. The cross that Clark gets back in is from the initial long throw, it comes back out to Clark. Good cross in. Uh O'Shea winning that header was really good. And then it's a weak footed finish, isn't it, from from Jack Clark? He hits it with his left. And um he gets real real power behind that strike and a lot of precision too. So um credit for him, he was exceptional off the bench. O'Shane and Clark, I think probably the the two standouts, but him credit to them, credit to even Azon, I thought was really, really good in this game. Um um big moments from Walton to to ensure that that town stayed in it, which was important . Yeah, that those were kind of the main standouts and when you look at the result as a whole, it's weird because a point doesn't do anything really for Ipswich apart from uh taking uh taking Southampton out of the race and ensuring that there is a gap still to to Millwall so technically if Ipswich were to uh or let's say Pompey Pompey if Mill were to draw on on final day that they wouldn't be able to get the process they have to win now as well even if Ipswich failed to um so th there are positives to take from it, but take out all of the circumstances and stipulations, getting a point from that game and a two two draw against Southampton in their current mana form, I think it' as really good result and should give them the confidence going into that QPR game. Yes, and I think you mentioned it, Stu, a bit pretty much a free hit against Southampton. And yeah, as we said to the start, what a great advert for championship football. Um, you know, there was a Champions League game being played which was also good. So you know, uh but you know, if you were watching both games somehow, you know, one on one screen, another one on another screen, you would have uh had a very good night of football watching because uh yeah um what yeah what another challenge to football yeah not a lot more to say about it really I guess um maybe give a shout out to Dan Neil we talked about players always being ready when called upon in this squad this season, Ben Johnson has been a shining example of that in recent weeks. Dan Neal, after a really encouraging start after arriving from Sunderland, um faded from the picture a little bit because of Jack Taylor's form. Um so for him to go straight into this game, he wasn't perfect. There was a couple of times he gave it away, but he did some really nice stuff in there as well. And um you know for, him to come in and and play the way he did, for for Wes Burns to come back, you know, it's his first start in was it the Sheffield Wednesday game that he came off? I thought for him to come in and and provide the shift that he did, leave Davis having missed two games with a hamstring injury to come in and do what he did. Um yeah, as Kira McKenna said afterwards, it's it's a real show of uh progress in terms of the mentality and the character and the togetherness of this squad, which has been called into question rightly so several times throughout this season. Um , but over the course of this last month, this very busy April, park the Portsmouth game which was undoubtedly very disappointing but I think you can you can give them a little bit of a a pass on that one because it comes off the back of Norwich and everything that went into that. Park that one. You know, they've come from behind finally to beat Birmingham. They've recovered from conceding after a minute at Charlton and come back to win that game. Thought they showed good character at West Brom as well to stand in the face of a really motivated inform side there um and then to produce what they did last night um amid such a busy busy schedule the third away game in the in a week. Um yeah, that it's uh we we've knocked the character plenty of times this season. It's only right that would that we really praise it now. Yes indeed. I think the fans, to be fair, a lot of the away fans in that end were um appreciating that as well . Um, you know, it wasn't massive celebrations, it wasn't like the Coventry night because it wasn't a win, but I think a lot of fans like fair play boys, very proud of the team. And um, I got a picture of Daro Shea just pointing with one more one last push boys. AJ , let's um move that side. What a game of football. Hopefully we'll look back and go, that was a great night, but hopefully this weekend they're gonna get over the line. Uh how you feeling about it all and um we're gonna talk about how it's gonna sort of shape up with different things that could happen. I know Stu've done a piece, we're gonna go through it all, just maybe to work you know w let everyone know how things can happen if we lose and win, draw and all that. But yeah, how you feeling about it all my friend? How's your nerves? This is gonna be it. This is the the finale. This is the tense game . It's it's win or bust, and there are ways of course that town can can get promoted without that win, but I think realistically we have to see this as they have to win, and they will be seen as a must-w in. Um QPR at Portman Road on final day. A couple of ways to look at this one. Is it an ideal fixture to have at this point of the season for a final day must-win match? Absolutely. Is it a Huddersfield from two years ago? No. I think it is definitely a harder test than that . QPR, an interesting team to be facing at this point. They've lost their last three, they're winless in five. Millwall beat them fairly comfortably, but they showed good spirit against Derby in their last game. They're turning to the youth for the final few games. They're switching things up with an A in the future. Manager's been linked with a move back to France. Um so a lot up in the air at QPR, maybe that's a good thing, but I feel like that makes them quite unpredictable and there's good quality in that team as well. But I think more than anything it's gonna be about Ipswich, isn't it? We know that if Ipswich come in and deliver the kind of performance that they did last night, the kind of performance that they have done pretty well in the last few weeks, then I think that they will be able to win this game and they will win this game if they do that . But this is now the test of of character and the test of how they handle the pressure. They've done it really well on various occasions, the Norwich game, last night, West Brom, all of those. Um they they pass those tests but I think this is gonna be the the biggest the biggest test of all of them. Yes indeed. Well Stu you've done the working out um the way it could have this scenario if it's just win, draw, or lose. Talk us through it all, my friend. Um it's not maybe as hard as you think it is, but it's good to just have it all, you know, you're working out, please, my friend. It's simple, Ross. Win and they're up. It boils down to that, doesn't it? Um the uh I know people have sort of said actually the point could could help out. It's a bit of a backstop. I don't think it really matters. I honestly I think we have to assume that Millwall are gonna beat an already relegated Oxford at home. I know people have been pulling up that Oxford have got a reasonable record against Millwall. Uh Oxford are I know Slouches, we've seen that in the in the you know with Ipswich against them this season. They're a spirited side, they've been in most of their games this season. Um Millwall will be feeling the pressure, no one expects them to drop points against Leicester, so anything could happen in that game, but I think we have to work on the assumption that they will win and therefore Ipswich also need to win um to go up. Middlesbrough are pretty much out. So as you say, Southampton are definitely out of it. Um they had to win. They cannot make second now. Middlesbrough need both Ipswich and Millwall to slip up in order to get in there. If Ipswich get a point, um Middlesbrough will cut it just a point will see Ipswich finish above Borough 'cause Borough even if Borough won, they would go level on points with Ipswich, but then you start looking at goal difference and goals scored, Middlesbrough then have to go to Wrexham and win like seven nil and Ipswich would have to draw nil-nil. I mean it's it's in a very you know, almost impossible circumstance there. So it's between Ipswich and Millwall by the looks of things. Um, I can't see both of them slipping up to open the door for Middlesbrough if I'm honest. Um, so yeah, I think Ipswich need to win. Um and you know, play like they did and they should win. The with the crowd behind them, I'm sure there'll be I don't know if there'll be plans for a bus welcome again. I'm sure there's conversation amongst supporters group and stuff like that, but the Kieran McKenna and the players have loved that before. So I'd be all for it. If there's there's plans for that, whip up the atmosphere. It's slightly different to the to the last couple of um promotion defin ing games at Portman Road in League One. It was Exeter and they were put to the Sword six nil, but that was a an Exeter side that was, you know, in a bit of turmoil at the at the time and it's which still had the foul safe of a game to come, didn't they? The Huddersfield game in the championship. A point was enough, and Huddersfield again were in a really awful place at at the time. Um this time around slightly different. QPR Um predictable is probably the best way I can describe them. This is a side that beat Portsmouth six one recently. Earlier in the season, they got beat seven one by Coventry. I look at their record against the the teams at the top end of the table. They've lost twice to Millwall, they've lost twice to Middlesbrough, they've lost twice to Southampton. They were well beaten by both Middlesbrough and Southampton recently um all things considered hips which should be winning this game and I know anything can happen but I do feel quite sort of calm about it at the moment as we sit here. Maybe as the game gets nearer those those nerves will start to jangle. Yeah, the morning of the game I'm sure we'll feel yeah some nerves and I'm sure they're drelling will get us through. Um AJ, there's been a few questions about would there be a pitch invasion if the town do get over a line? Um do you think that there will be for this one? I said it does feel a bit different, different, but you're still getting promoted back to the Premier League. Yeah, should be said quickly that Kings of Angla do not condone any sort of pitch invasions or anything like that, and that you should uh obey by the rules set out by the EFL. I'm not gonna ban every single fan. Seriously. I I wasn't I wasn't there obviously for the the first promotion. I heard it was a bit of a mixed bag. It it's different, isn't it? Where last year not last year, two years ago, was this explosion of relief. They've got it, they're over the line, especially with how tense that run-in was, with the fact that they had to be in relentlessly good form, and and any sort of slip-up felt fatal. And the way that Leeds were playing, and the way that uh Southampton were playing and Leicester, like to get that over the line after so many years away from the Premier League 20 plus, 22, wasn't it? Um, that that was like a huge explosion of relief. Whereas promotion on Saturday should Ipswich secure it it's it's almost horrible to say it feels a bit like a job done, doesn't it? Because of how this season has been. It has been tough at times. It it's not been uh a trademark top two push campaign but um yeah would would there be some sort of pitch invasion uh i i don't know i would imagine that uh there'll be some fans who who'll be making that plunge fair enough. Um be interested to see how they go about the whole whole event and and what the celebrations would be like afterwards. But uh let's get let's get it out of the way first. Yeah, so I'm getting too carried away. Maybe that's me being too positive and too confident that town gonna get the win because uh yeah coopier your boy Richard Coney will be will be playing AJ I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing him play uh well looking forward to yeah he's he's a good player and someone I've obviously tipped for for town interest before. If you look at uh championship squads, I think it's it's more than solid for this level where you look at the attacking talent they've got. Kone certainly won a real kind of physical pacey clinical finisher been playing up front with uh Raman Burrell who scored against town in the last game the last meeting between the two consolation uh yeah, it it was was well, an equaliser at the time, wasn't it? But still, yes, it went down as as meaning little, but he he was a real threat in that game, I thought. Harvey Vale, who's who's now ended up permanently at QPR from Chelsea, has been excellent. Rentecly, he got a golden assist in um in QPR's last game, the defeat to Derby, uh playing well. And then it's just about how they try and mix things up a little bit because Steve Cook is an interesting one where he he won't be playing in in this one. They announced that he's going to be leaving the club, the veteran defender, at the end of the season. And within that statement, they said the reason that he's going to be playing his final game, uh, it was the Tuesday night game at home to Swansea, they lost it 2-1. They announced that as his final game then because they want to use the last two games to look to the future. And that's where the unpredictability comes in, but also them mixing things up. They've got young players look at uh Kayleigh Adamson, twenty-three, right back came on in the second half of the defeat to to Derby. There's others who've had opportunities to come in and get minutes, twenty-year-old Kieran Morgan, Northern Ireland international is getting more opportunities, Daniel Benny, uh twenty-year-old Australian on the right. Um yeah, we'll have to see how they mix things up, but um don't ignore the quality that they've got. Don't ignore the fact that they'll probably like to be party poopers in a game like this. Cocky Saito, Ilias Chair, really good player. Um my hope would be that if Town can strike, you want an early goal, how much of a fight are QPR willing to to put up in a game like this, knowing that they haven't got anything to fight for, fourteenth in the division, 15th best away record, they are mid-table personif ied . You talk about the sort of like the there's always a context, there's always a feel going into a game and you can never kind of quantify it, but you know last night's game was was was it was what it was because of the freedom that both sides could could play with Saturday's game at West Brom was what it was because of the context of their injustice and what they needed and where Ipswich were at at that stage. This one, you've got Ipswich , super fired up, motivated against the QPR side that I'm I'm not saying that you don't you know the the whole on the beach thing sometimes I've I've I've written that in the past and players have bristled at it but it's a subconscious level you are just not going to be at that peak of focus and your game when you're you know you're 14th in the table, you've got nothing to play for. Yes, they've got some young players that will be wanting to catch the eye and do well. Um but I just you just don't have that little something in you, I think, sometimes. Um and yeah, if Ipswich can can get that early goal or get you know, even if it isn't e anarly goal, if they have to be patience and, you know, there's full faith in subs that can come on and do it as well, over the course of ninety five minutes, whatever it may be, you have to have belief that it's which will will get this this job done on Saturday harder than the previous tasks when it's come down to it but one that I think we we still believe this this team can do. We've talked about do we trust this team? They've earned my faith over this last month um going into this game. Yeah, me too. Um and I'm gonna ask you both this boys, what's your hot take? Who do you reckon could be that sort of hero on the day who maybe open the scoring or score the late winner or just do something that you know wins the game for us. Um we've said like Wes Burns would be be a perfect one. Maybe he's already had that moment um at Southampton. Could have another one that'd be great to see. But anybody else that comes to mind, start used to I think I probably would have gone to Wes Burns, but I think maybe you can say he's had his his moment last night. Um Um Leaf Davis, I mean if we're talking about sort of the old guards or the the long servers, the ones that have been there throughout this journey, that'd be quite nice. Or or maybe it would be nice now we're talking about bonding with this team, this new team, and moving forward that it would be nice for one of the ones that's been for a bit of a roller coaster journey this season in in terms of winning people over. For me, I'd love to for it to be for Dar Dararow. O'Shea, who, you know, I said it in the boot room with you, massive boots to Phil stepping in for Sam Morsi . Um had some rocky moments, people questioning him, different leadership style to Sam , um but his consistency he's played every minute of every game, and since that five three defeat at Wrexham, I think he's been outstanding. Um again one of Ipswich's best players last night. I'd love for him to to have his moment and write the headlines in the in the biggest game of all. Oh, I'd love that. We've been waiting for that goal, haven't we, from a set piece? Him heading it in though he scored at Barra, but that would be amazing. AJ, have you got uh an ideal candidate to be that man? I'd like it to be one of the strikers because they've come under so much fire that having one of them to write their name into Ipswich Town history. And even if things don't work out, even if Town Garp and George Hurst maybe doesn't get the minutes he wants in the Prem or it's Azon's last game in an Ipswich Town shirt, for them to always be remembered as the player that took us into the Premier League, I think would be nice in what has been a tough season. We can look back on, let's say it would be Azon. You can look back on well, yeah, he wasn't the best finisher, but he worked so hard, he battled for everything. I remember that night in Southampton where he set up Burns as a goal, and then he had that one moment where he scored the winner and sent us to the Premier League. That would be lovely. Um, Hurst has has also had his critics and that same kind of thing. Um , could you have like a rogue Darnell Furlong moment? Could could that be the one? And I'll throw out another one . He he's been really poor recently. Could Marcelino Nunez turn it around from a really difficult couple of weeks. And I the main reason I say that is because could you imagine the meltdown in Norfolk if Marcelino Nunez scored the goal to send Ipswich to the Premier League it would be glorious to see to be honest. Who did he get his uh who did he get his brace against earlier in the season? Exactly. Marcelino Nunz free kick against Keeper's third free kick the season against QPR to uh send Ipswich to the Premier League on final day. I think that'll be quite nice. Yeah, whoever it is, uh they'll be remembered in folklore for town, of course. I'm sure they will. Uh Jack Taylor would be another one of mine. Um, of course, you know, part of a promotion winning team as well before. Uh we'll see if he's fit though for the game because he was a bit of a precaution, wasn't it, for the game after you spoke with we had a little Of the journey, certainly from the championship promotion onwards, and um for him to have got himself in the team against the competition he has would do a trademark Jack Taylor swerve into the top corner from 30 yards out, but whether whether he's past fit for this one, I don't know. Quite frankly, Ross, I don't care who does it. They've all, you know, a look as you were saying, all these players, I was thinking they've all kind of had their moments along the way. Matase had his moment against Hull. Furlong finally got his first goal recently in the the Charlton game. Um they've all kind of had their moments along the way. I think that's why Dowra's kind of sticking in my mind I ' thinkcause he's due his kind of headline making moment for everything he's put into this season. But uh it doesn't matter. Hopefully it's not one singular player and it's uh you know, it's it's not that kind of ner ve wracking day where transistor radios, not that anyone's gonna have transistor radios anymore, but news is coming through on phones, Millwall have got an early goal and that uh everyone gets a little bit nervy and um god forbid something happens and qp will get a goal out of nowhere and it could become one of those really horrible sort of nervy days. Um so yeah hopefully it's not that. Um but even if there is a setback, I still trust this team now to to be able to un undo damage and get themselves back into it and fight all the way to the death. So um right now, as I say, feeling quite quite calm about it. I've got trust in them that they'll they'll get the job done. Um come Saturday morning, I'm sure the butterflies will be there f as as they will be for everybody. Yes, indeed. So what a what a strange season it's been, but uh hopefully it will end in promotion back to the top flight. Uh AJ, any other business from you, my friend, as we wrap up this podcast? We're gonna do a lot of build-up stuff um later in the week um because we're just still recovering from Southampton because that game was thrilling. But anything else you want to mention, my friend? Yeah, just to anyone who's going to that game, who's following that game, um in enjoy it and and bank the team and it was a message that we've got a bit from West Burns going out tomorrow morning where it talks about you know, we know what the task a hand is over the weekend. We just need your support, back us and and we'll do everything we can to to get that job done over the weekend. This will be the last time that we do a a proper pods before the big day. Hopefully the next time we talk over a pod it will be up switchtown back in the Premier League. But um enjoy Saturday as much as you can. I'm sure that people will be waking up uh not feeling too well, let's say, uh, not feeling at their best. Definitely some nerves. Um but hopefully we can put all of those to one side and um yeah, have a great day on Saturday. Don't worry, AJ. For those people who are not feeling well, I've got a doctor next to me, still Watson, message to the to the listeners as I get ready for another momentous day at Porton Road. I enjoyed a tweet. I I don't know who uh who did this. I saw a tweet flash up earlier. Phipps which finished second again. Arsenal might come sniffing for McKenna soon. I quite enjoyed that. Um yeah. Three automatic promotions in the space of four years. I do have to k stop sometimes and and kinda think about what these last few years have been. After you know, I started doing it in was Paul Jewel's first season, what was that, twenty eleven, twelve and just like a decade of of nothingness and mid-tables and this time of year we'd be pumping out content around oh mighty play a couple of kids in the last few games and um here we are almost kind of blase about where where Ipswish find themselves at and uh we shouldn't be. Um potentially three promotions all via seconds, um a relegation in there as well. Um yeah, uh we waited a long time for this sort of excitement around this football club. I know it it's uh I know sometimes it's not not good on the old heart rate, but uh we'd prefer this to the the apathy and everything that came before. So um yeah, just enjoy it everybody, if you can. Try and enjoy it. Yes, indeed. It's it's it's funny that when we'll, you know, sort of first launch Kings of Anglia and we're just discuss ing just yeah, dole championship football under Mitt McCarthy at the end of his tenure, then we had the relegation to League One and four years in League One and well there's some bleak times and with Paul Lambert and Co. and COVID and everything. And um yeah, we've got to give a big shout out to listeners because you've you've been on this journey as well. I know you're all town fans, but you've been on this journey. Listen to us discussing the bad times um thankfully, the last few years. It's been a lot of good times, minus the Premier League stuff, but uh hopefully be better. Um, if we are back in the top flight next time. But Stu, AJ, thank you as always for joining me. Um, my comrades going into battle this Saturday. We'll be doing all the normal bits and bobs, so follow coverage. If you can't make it to the game, um, but if you are going to the game, enjoy it and hopefully we can have another party at Portman Road once again. Thanks for listening. Shout out to our sponsors, Meleclo UK, use the code CAWA10 to get your clean and business for your car. And hopefully next time we speak to you in podcast form, we'll be celebrating promotion back to the promised land, as I say.