Ipswich Town are far more prepared for the Premier League this time around under new head coach Gary O'Neil, who has quickly won over supporters after succeeding Kieran McKenna, according to East Anglian Daily Times chief football writer Stuart Watson.
McKenna's departure was a 'complete bombshell'
McKenna left Ipswich in June to take a break from the game, just weeks after securing the club's return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Watson described the news as "a complete bombshell," noting that McKenna had "written himself into Ipswich Town folklore with three promotions in four seasons" and was "adored by the fanbase and players alike."
"There was a feeling when promotion was secured... Kieran was talking about the club being in a much better place to take on the Premier League this time around," Watson told MEN Sport. "He helped design the state-of-the-art new training ground that has just opened. So when the news came in June that he was quitting to take a break from the game, it took everyone by surprise."
O'Neil wins over fans with ambitious approach
Gary O'Neil was appointed as Ipswich's new head coach less than two weeks after McKenna's exit. Watson admitted that the appointment "didn't necessarily set pulses racing to start with," but added: "Very quickly he's won people over. He's been very bullish about what Ipswich Town can do this year. That's been backed up by a really ambitious transfer window and a fantastic start to the season with the win against Sunderland on Saturday. So the mood's pretty buoyant at the moment."
The victory over Sunderland last weekend could have been the shock of the opening day, had it not been for Manchester United's dismal showing at Hull. Watson explained that O'Neil has won fans round by playing the front-footed, possession-based style that beat the Black Cats, but believes O'Neil has the potential to eclipse his predecessor's legacy.
"If there was any slight knock on Kieran McKenna, and I'm loath to highlight too many, because he was absolutely remarkable for Ipswich Town, but it was that you tactically always knew what you were going to get," Watson said. "There wasn't a lot of deviation from 4-2-3-1, front foot, possession-based. One or two questioned whether there was maybe a little bit of naivety to that in the Premier League last time around. Gary O'Neil has said that he'll be adaptable, he'll be flexible, and you only have to look at the way he kept Bournemouth and Wolves in the Premier League before, he changed tactics in certain games."
Ipswich's tactical flexibility and threats going forward
Watson believes there is a good chance Ipswich could look to recreate Hull's system against United on Sunday. "As soon as Gary O'Neil talked about having that sort of flexibility to maybe go a bit more defensive, counter-attacking for the tougher away games in the division, we were looking through the squad, working out where the personnel fits in it," he admitted. "They certainly have got the personnel for kind of a back three/five."
The right-back at the moment is the captain Dara O'Shea, who played all of last season at centre back. He is a centre half by trade and has been played at right back because they've brought in Issa Diop, an experienced player from Fulham, ex-West Ham. Watson noted that O'Shea "naturally tucks in anyway, which can create a bit of a back three feel." The left back, Leif Davis, is very adventurous and "certainly has a wing-back feel to him."
They have also brought in Abdoul Ouattara from Strasbourg, reuniting with O'Neil, a young Ivorian who is "ultra versatile" and has played left back, right back, and centre midfield. "Gary O'Neil says he's got a role in mind for him, but he won't tell us just yet," Watson said. "He could be the right wing-back option if they decide to go down that route at Old Trafford on Sunday."
Ipswich also have threats going forward. Julio Enciso is the main man and a popular figure at Portman Road, having rejoined this summer after a loan spell. "He's got a habit of scoring worldies from 30-40 yards out," Watson raved. "He's an absolute superstar back in Paraguay. He scored at the World Cup against Germany this summer and he's seen as a major coup." He is joined up front by Abdul Fatawu, who arrived from Leicester for £20m, and centre-forward Emersonn, seen as one for the future.
Club 'far more prepared' for Premier League challenge
Watson concluded: "It certainly feels like a club in general that's far more prepared this time around. It was, you know, 22 years away from the Premier League. It was back-to-back promotions from League One, and it was a fantastic story, but the chairman Mark Ashton always used the analogy of trying to build a plane in flight and it was just too big a gap to bridge. So they've come back at the first time of asking and the water levels have risen in terms of the quality in the squad."
He added: "I think their feet are firmly on the floor. Ipswich's eyes are wide open now to how tough the Premier League is. Gary O'Neil talked after the weekend about not getting carried away. Before a ball was kicked, he said: 'I don't want us to go into this season with any kind of fear. I don't want us to be scared of any of the challenges ahead of us.' So I think they'll go to Old Trafford very mindful of it being still a very, very difficult Premier League game, but equally no fear about what they could potentially do at the weekend."
