Ipswich Town

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  1. McKenna a 'huge part' of choosing Ipswich - O'Sheapublished at 15:20 26 August 2024

    Dara O'Shea of Republic of IrelandImage source, Getty Images

    New Ipswich signing Dara O'Shea says manager Kieran McKenna was a "huge huge part" of him making the move to the Blues.

    O'Shea joined from Championship Burnley for an initial £12m plus a potential £3m in add-ons on Sunday, becoming the club's 11th signing of the summer.

    "I'm really excited," he told club media.

    "I've never really been down that part of the world before but I've heard great things about it and how beautiful it is so it's an exciting time for me and my family. A new start and a new place to live.

    "There is a lot of attractions. Obviously the club is a massive club and I know that from speaking to people in and around it."

    McKenna has attracted plaudits from across the game for the work he has done with Ipswich, achieving back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

    The 38-year-old attracted interest from both Chelsea and Manchester United over the summer but signed a new four-year deal to keep him at Portman Road.

    "The manager [McKenna] is a huge huge part of why I've come here," O'Shea added.

    "I've really admired him over the last couple of seasons and what he's done here and elsewhere.

    "I think for this stage in my career it is the perfect time for me to come to a club like this and to work with a manager like him."

  2. Ipswich looking at Luton's Ogbenepublished at 14:09 26 August 2024

    Nick Mashiter
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Chiedozie Ogbene holds out his arms as if he is pleading and looks right to left with his mouth partially open. He is wearing Luton's orange home kit with a white stripe down the front left side. Image source, Getty Images

    Ipswich are eyeing Luton winger Chiedozie Ogbene before Friday's transfer deadline.

    The Tractor Boys are looking for another forward despite spending almost £100m this summer.

    It comes after winger Wes Burns suffered a hamstring injury in the 2-0 opening day defeat to Liverpool.

    Ogbene joined Luton from Rotherham on a free transfer last summer and impressed in the Premier League, despite the Hatters' relegation.

    He scored five goals in 39 games in all competitions and was the second fastest top-flight player last season, after Tottenham's Micky van de Ven, having clocked 36.93kph against Fulham last September.

    Should he move, Ogbene could be Ipswich's final piece of business this window with Kieran McKenna's side having already signed last season's Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics from Blackburn for an initial £9m as well as completing a move for Sunderland winger Jack Clarke.

    They also beat Wolves to defender Dara O'Shea from Burnley on Sunday and have brought in Ben Johnson, Liam Delap, Jacob Greaves, Omari Hutchinson, Arijanet Muric and Connor Townsend since winning promotion from the Championship.

  3. Man City 4-1 Ipswich: The fans' verdictpublished at 11:59 26 August 2024

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    We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Ipswich Town.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Man City fans

    Abdullah: Brilliant performance. Every player was superb. Haaland hat-trick, Savinho and Doku looking really positive, De Bruyne looking strong, but the defence is the only slight problem. It is one of the best in the world, but you honestly can't be conceding silly one-off goals to any team, because eventually the very best clubs will punish you.

    Tim: Despite the early goal, City remained focused and showed their ruthless possession and finishing qualities to transform the game. The crossbar prevented two goals in the first half, but Haaland's hat-trick was well deserved and announced his intention to retain the Golden Boot this season. Another deserved and clinical victory.

    Andrew: Total domination against the Championship winners, and it was all done without Rodri and Foden. Gundogan should be the final missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle from last season. I'm not sure where the vastly overpriced Jack Grealish fits in now though.

    Geoff: Man City are playing in training ground mode, against modest opposition, until the real season starts in a few weeks. Now Gundogan has returned, I feel more confident of a fifth Premier League title and another excellent run in Europe. It is great to see the promotion of four or five homegrown youngsters to the first-team squad - that could be significant as the season continues.

    Ipswich fans

    Andy: This result was expected. Honestly, I thought it would be 5-0! We showed that we can be an attacking threat and we should have been awarded a penalty too! The mistake by Muric loomed large in this game - it was a huge blow against a far superior opponent. There is nothing to be ashamed of here and nothing to panic about. There are 36 games left.

    Ash: We showed a lot of courage at times and we will take points from a lot of teams this year. Manchester City and Liverpool last week were simply levels above at times when it mattered. They created so much space and looked dangerous the whole game. We did have our moments, with some bold play, but there was not enough in the final third.

    Andrew: Some slick passing at times but unfortunately, against the world's best team, they just kept playing into trouble. We were penned in for the whole of the second half, so we need to find another way to release the pressure.

    Paolo: A misleading score! Ipswich gave a very good account of themselves and, if it wasn't for the penalty and goalkeeping error, we were well in this game. Other clubs will get a shock if they take Ipswich lightly.

  4. Man City 4-1 Ipswich: What McKenna saidpublished at 20:04 24 August 2024

    Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has been speaking to BBC Sport following the defeat: "We regrouped and stuck together. We got through the majority of the second half without giving up too much. It was something for us to go through at this stage of the season.

    "The way the fixtures have come out, it is about learning lessons and adapting as quickly as possible. There are positives for us to take.

    "It was great for us to get our first goal. It was a really well-worked transition, exactly to plan. The only shame was we weren't able to enjoy that for longer and find stability in the game.

    "The first goal is just a one-vs-one and you know you have to defend them. The second goal is a mistake. It wasn't a big bother from a tactical point of view. The players got together on the pitch and said we need to have a steady period.

    "If we use the lessons well, it will be two good games for us [Liverpool and Manchester City]. That is a really difficult game - to play Manchester City - their first game back in their stadium and with the fans' favourite player back at the club.

    "We are still short. We have added a lot of players late on [in the transfer window]. We know we are a work in progress and we will be for a little while. There are big positives across both games and that sets us up for the season."

  5. Man City 4-1 Ipswich: What Szmodics saidpublished at 18:09 24 August 2024

    Ipswich forward and goalscorer Sammie Szmodics has been speaking to Sky Sports following the defeat: "We knew it was going to be a tough game. We knew the crowd would be up for it. We started the game well and individual mistakes at this level get punished. The three goals in four minutes killed us.

    "It was a dream start but we have got to manage the game better. We have got to learn from it.

    "It is early days. I'm getting used to the intensity [of the Premier League]. We have had the first two games against two of the best players in the league. We have got a week to look forward to another home game."

  6. Man City 4-1 Ipswich: Did you know?published at 17:39 24 August 2024

    Ruben Dias of Manchester City and Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrate after 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FCImage source, Getty Images

    Each of the first four shots in this game were scored, making this the first ever time this has happened in a Premier League game (excluding own goals) on record (since 2006-07).

  7. Man City 4-1 Ipswich - Szmodics shines published at 17:29 24 August 2024

    Gary Rose
    BBC Sport journalist at Etihad Stadium

    Sammie Szmodics celebrates his goal against Manchester CityImage source, Getty Images

    Few teams will go to Etihad Stadium this season and get a result, let alone one that was playing in League One just two seasons ago, so for Ipswich this was all about learning and taking the positives they could.

    One of those positives was Sammie Szmodics. The forward is one of a number of new additions at Ipswich this season following their return to the Premier League and he picked off right where he left off in the Championship with a goal after seven minutes.

    It was similar to many he scored in the second tier as well. Getting into the right position before squeezing a shot under goalkeeper Ederson and into the back of the net.

    That was Ipswich's only shot on target, but they will need players capable of finishing the very few chances they are likely to get in the top flight, and Szmodics did just that.

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  8. Follow Saturday's Premier League fixturespublished at 11:37 24 August 2024

    Brighton v Manchester United, Manchester City v Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur v Everton, Southampton v Nottingham Forest, Fulham v Leicester City, Crystal Palace v West Ham United, Aston Villa v Arsenal

    There are seven games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction.

    Follow live here

    *All times are BST

  9. Sutton's predictions: Man City v Ipswichpublished at 11:18 24 August 2024

    Chris Sutton and Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens

    Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

    For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

    Sutton's prediction: 4-0

    I really like the work Ipswich have done in the transfer market. They are signing Armando Broja and also got Sammie Szmodics, Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson in, so they are giving it a go.

    For the first hour against Liverpool, I thought they really pushed them and played with great intensity. I feel really sorry for them the fixtures have fallen as they have done.

    Manchester City got a pretty routine win against Chelsea last week and that is them fairly half-cooked and nowhere near up to speed, so that is ominous for Arsenal, Liverpool and everybody else. At home, it will be business as usual for City.

    Amfo's prediction: 2-1

    Stephens' prediction: 4-1

    I feel like Ipswich will get one, just because City always start pretty slow.

    Read the full predictions and have your say

  10. Why PSR tweaks may harm top Premier League clubspublished at 09:23 24 August 2024

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    This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

    Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

    Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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  11. 'I still want to learn and improve' - Johnson on Ipswich movepublished at 14:54 23 August 2024

    Ben Johnson in action for Ipswich against LiverpoolImage source, PA Media

    Ben Johnson has said the chance to develop and improve under Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was a major factor in him moving to Portman Road earlier this summer.

    The 24-year-old defender left West Ham at the end of his contract and made his debut for the Tractor Boys as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.

    Johnson said: "When I knew there was interest from Ipswich and the manager, he sold it to me when he said he was going to develop me, coach me and I was going to improve. That was definitely the key factor to why I made the switch.

    "I'm at a stage of my career where I want to make that next step and be a more established Premier League player, but also to learn. I've not come this far to just filter out and be mediocre, I still want to learn and improve in the position I play."

    Johnson's summer transfer ended a long association with West Ham and he said he will always have "fond memories" of his time with the London club.

    "It was a huge decision [to leave], but it was nice and it was mutual really," he said.

    "There's no bad blood between myself and West Ham, I always want them to do well and hopefully they want me to do well and establish my career here.

    "I had a great period of time there; growing up from a boy to a man, giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and setting me up for my career. I look back with fond memories and wish them all the best."

  12. PFA concerned at PSR's 'unintended consequences'published at 12:25 23 August 2024

    Media caption,

    Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association tells The Football News Show why he is concerned at the current and potential future financial rules in the Premier League.

    Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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  13. Watch: Ipswich will take Man City challenge head on - McKennapublished at 18:16 22 August 2024

    Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has told a news conference that his team face a "massive challenge" against Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday - but it is one they will "embrace".

    Ipswich, promoted from the Championship last season, lost their opening top-flight game to Liverpool last weekend.

    Media caption,

  14. McKenna on Man City, injuries and more 'good additions' to comepublished at 17:18 22 August 2024

    Henry Brownsey
    BBC Sport journalist

    Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City (kick-off 15:00 BST).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • On Ipswich's opening loss to Liverpool: "It was a great experience for us to go through, the most overriding feeling after the game was positivity and the group came away more confident from the game that we can be competitive this season."

    • He said his side "felt first hand how a team the calibre of Liverpool can go through the gears, they became a huge threat very quickly and had a number of big chances in quick succession so we need to manage that better."

    • He thinks Manchester City are "an even bigger challenge - the big goal is to get points but underneath that it's about coming out of the weekend stronger and we use it as a way to fast-track our adjustment to the league."

    • On prolific City striker Erling Haaland: "He is pretty unique in world football; in terms of his physical attributes and his strength, pace and power - there's probably not anyone in the modern game that comes close in these aspects."

    • New signing Jens Cajuste may be involved on Saturday and McKenna said: "He's a different profile to the midfielders we already have, he's a very talented player - there will be a period of adjustment but I think he's going to be a good addition to the group."

    • McKenna thinks the side are now strong in the midfield area but "there are still some areas we feel we want to add to, the forward area is one of those". He added: "With the level of the league and how we operate, we need great depth in those areas. We want to add different qualities that will help us be successful in the Premier League."

    • On Armando Broja, who is reportedly set to join on loan from Chelsea, he said: "There is nothing confirmed yet, until there is any confirmation - I think that is still a little way away."

    • Wes Burns has had a scan on his hamstring this week and he will be out for "a number of weeks". McKenna said it is a "blow because he's an important player for our system". Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric is doubtful but on-loan midfielder Kalvin Phillips is unable to play against his parent club.