Sone Aluko has said that there is so much depth in the Town squad that nobody expects to play every week. “You’re always going to want to play every game, but you can’t sign for Ipswich and look at the squad and think that’s going to be possible. There’s too much depth in our squad to play every game,” he explained to the TWTD website. And what about the players we have loaned out? Armando Dobra is gaining valuable experience elsewhere, and even Myles Kenlock might not be entirely ignored.
It is a valid argument. The squad has strength in depth. I do not agree with former Town captain Mick Mills who thinks that only around 50% of the players recruited by manager Paul Cook were good investments. It is true to suggest that some have not reached their full potential, but as Aluko pointed out when you draft in 19 new players, there is nobody left to steer the ship. The old heads had gone and as Aluko alluded to these things take time. “It’s been trickier than maybe it’s looked from the outside. It wasn’t easy to come and settle here. Everyone was new, all the players were new, there wasn’t like a set culture here and obviously, I’m the oldest player.” He also said that injuries blighted his progress initially, but the 33-year-old told TWTD that staying here is a real possibility. “I’d be happy to stay, but I’ve been in football a long time and things change very quickly. When the conversation happens, I’m sure we’ll come to some agreement at some point.”
The Town squad has been utilized brilliantly by Kieran Mckenna, as it is very difficult to keep all his players on board if they are not playing regularly in the first team. Just when we thought that Joe Pigott and Kayden Jackson had been thrown to the dogs, they both start against Burton Albion and excel! Pigott hit the post and his hold up play was excellent, and Kayden Jackson not only scores a fine goal in the first minute but is responsible for the two assists that ensured a comfortable victory for the Blues. I suspect he included our two forgotten strikers for three reasons. 1. To see how they played together. 2. To reward their efforts in training. 3. To surprise the opposition. Let’s face it, we did not see that one coming!
Now, whether he plays the both of them again this evening is anyone’s guess, but he surely must play Jackson from the off because he was sensational on Saturday afternoon. This is another chance for Ipswich to move closer to those play-off places, so another good start would be just what the doctor ordered! Town are playing some sweet football these days, and the bulk of the players in Mckenna’s teams are remnants of the Hurst and Cook era. The difference is, he has made excellent use of them and has moulded his squad into a winning machine.
