Well, that was a fantastic week, wasn’t it? A superb victory at Southampton followed by a win in one of the best games Portman Road has seen in years.
And here’s a question. Is Massimo Luongo even human?
Ok, I am going to have to admit something now. It’s official. For the first time since Matt Holland last wore an Ipswich shirt, I have a man crush!
Maybe it’s because he wears my favourite number – 25. Maybe it’s because we share the same birthday – today, as it happens.
But probably because he is such a good player. Massimo, you have my heart. Your own is one of a lion. What a warrior he was on Saturday once again.
Some of his tackles are on the border of fouls. But he has that knack of timing them to perfection. To break up play, to instigate our own forays forward.
And to think that this is a player that Middlesbrough did not give a single minute of time to in the first half of last season.
Their fans must look at his partnership with Sam Morsy and wonder what could be. Who else spent their Saturday evenings struggling to get the ‘Massimoooooo’ tune out of their head, It certainly got into mine.
But, of course, it wasn’t just about Massimo. What another superb pair of performances in these latest two victories.
Last Tuesday night’s win typified the work ethics of our squad. Four changes, with game time too for Dom Ball, Marcus Harness, and Dane Scarlett coming off the bench exhibited how to a man, we have so many that can make changes look seamless.
Omari Hutchinson deserved his goal for that tackle alone. And not a bad celebration too. He was another to excel on Saturday by the way.
A determined 1-0 win was followed by yet another single goal win that showed further quality in depth.
Huge credit to Blackburn Rovers. The days of opponents visiting Portman Road and sitting with ten men behind the ball are long gone.
That brings new challenges to us, but it does allow us to play some breathtaking football. From our viewpoint, we could have been at least 5-1 ahead at half time and there could have been few complaints. From theirs, it was probably harsh on them to be two goals behind.
They certainly went for it in the second half and whilst it was painful, it was to their credit they drew level.
You could see why Kieran McKenna said on Friday that we would have to be at our best both on and off the pitch.
But we know that our lads do not give up. Luongo’s winner typified our never-give-up spirit.
When his goal went in, it produced a nice moment. Our four January signings, that took us up a level towards promotion, all scored in a game for the first time.
In my 45 years of watching Ipswich, this was only the third time that I have witnessed a 4-3 victory.
Not since April 2005 had I seen us win by this margin when we beat Rotherham United 4-3 to go second in the league. Coincidentally, the same position we find ourselves in currently.
Nathan Broadhead’s goal was the 100th I have seen us score in the 43 games I have seen us play under McKenna’s leadership. 43 games have seen 30 wins and just three defeats.
This new era of watching Ipswich is just tremendous. McKenna’s overall league record of 46 wins in 77 now has his win rate at 60%.
For so many years, writing this column had many weeks of feelings of déjà vu for all the wrong reasons.
I feel in the same situation now. But the wheel has turned and they are similar feelings each week of ecstasy and bewilderment of how good we really are. Long may it continue.
Sadly, I will not be at the Wolves game as I am off to the sunnier climes of the Catalan coastline.
No doubt both teams will make several changes. But it will be a very good further test of how good our squad really is.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here