Ipswich Town kick-started their 2018/19 campaign with a 2-2 home draw with Blackburn Rovers yesterday. STUART WATSON gives his verdict on the start of the Paul Hurst era.
Work. In. Progress.
They are three words that you are going to hear a lot of over the coming months – and rightly so.
Ipswich Town are undergoing a complete reboot. There’s going to be a lot of on-the-job learning. It won’t always be perfect, but it’s going to be both fascinating and fun to see a plan unfold before our very eyes.
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Saturday’s opening day 2-2 home draw with Blackburn Rovers was timely reminder of the above.
The new era started with a bang, then encountered a major bump in the road, before getting back on track.
Seeing Town start with positive intent and take on the responsibility of getting the crowd onside was refreshing after years of cautious starts.
Seeing two sloppy goals conceded followed by Town struggling to break down well-organised and experienced opposition then made that little voice of doubt in the back of the head a little louder.
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Perhaps the ‘careful what you wish for’ brigade were right? Maybe the Blues are being tipped for the drop for a reason. Could this all backfire?
Well that little devil on the shoulder can pipe down.
That would have been written even if Tayo Edun’s late cross had not crept in at the far post for a dramatic 91st minute leveller.
Town had four full debutants and another stepping off the bench. Two of those players only arrived last week. One of them, Trevoh Chalobah, has been away with England U19s all summer.
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All things considered, there were far more positives than negatives. Welsh wing wizard Gwion Edwards’ electric display was worth the entrance price alone.
Martyn Waghorn is off. Joe Garner could possibly follow. It’s out with the old and in with the new.
Six have arrived and three, four – possibly even more – are on the way before Thursday’s 5pm deadline for permanent deals. Then there’s the loan window to follow.
Those that remain from before are still very much in the process of being rewired. It’s all going to take time.
Hold on tight, we’re in for a ride alright. We’ve moved on from safe and steady. The unknown is both exciting and scary. And isn’t that exactly what we were all after?
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