'We are a striker away from completing the puzzle'

At a glance the Premier League table does not make for pretty viewing for Ipswich Town fans. Second bottom, played two, lost two and a minus five goal difference should perhaps be stirring up feelings of concern and raising questions around our competitiveness at the top table of English football.

A more sanguine analysis however will show us that we have seen enough in these two opening games, against arguably two of the top three sides in the division, to think we will be ok. So far this season we have conceded five goals across nine minutes of playing time with a crazy four-minute spell against Manchester City effectively ending the game before the 20 minute mark. It is what we have shown in glimpses in the rest of the two games however which gives me hope.

This team has continued to show many of the key attributes which we have become so accustomed to over the last two seasons. Our high press, resilient nature and desire to continue to play the right way, regardless of opposition or scoreline shows to the fans that the principles which got us to this position will be adhered to and can be effective at this level.

Jack Clarke and Dara O’Shea have now joined the squad, and we are a striker away from completing the puzzle. The fixture list will now ease relatively and there will be opportunities to pick up points in the coming weeks as the new signings are integrated into Kieran McKenna’s patterns of play and principles.

Fan favourites from the last two seasons will probably depart as the squad undergoes a necessary evolution. The club will continue to be brave, both on and off the pitch and our fanbase must continue to support their decisions, after all it is an approach which has served us so well in recent times.

Find more from Seb Brown at the Blue Monday Podcast