Season Preview - Ipswich Town

Vital QPR takes a look at Championship side Ipswich Town

FACTS & FIGURES

Founded: 1878

Nickname: The Tractor Boys

Ground: Portman Road - 30,311

Manager: Roy Keane

SELECTED HONOURS

UEFA Cup: Winners - 1980-81

FA Cup: Winners - 1977-78

First Division: Champions - 1961-62
First Division: Runners-Up - 1980-81, 1981-82

Second Division (Old): Champions - 1960-61, 1967-68, 1991-92
Division One Playoff: Winners - 1999-00

Third Division (South): Champions - 1953-54, 1956-57

RECORDS

Record Attendance: 38,010 v Leeds United (FA Cup 6th Round, 1975)

Record victory: 11-0 v Cromer (FA Cup, 1936)

Record defeat 1-10 v Fulham (First Division, 1963)

Record Buy: Matteo Sereni - £4,800,000 from Sampdoria

Record Sale: Kieron Dyer - £6,000,000 to Newcastle United

Record Appearances: Mick Mills - 741

Record Goals: Ray Crawford - 218

PREVIEW

There simply must be an improvement from Roy Keane's Ipswich Town after flattering to deceive last season in quite dramatic fashion.

All the pre-season talk had Keane's Tractor Boys challenging the higher echelons of the division, owing to his positive experience with Sunderland, but they spent the vast majority of the season in the bottom half.

It's now make or break time for Keane as Town chiefs dispatched Jim Magilton based on his ninth-placed finish in the Championship, a far cry considering last season's performances and results.

Prediction: 11

I would expect an improvement from Town, but the consistency required to challenge for the playoffs, along with the strength in depth still isn't evident to my mind.

It is therefore my opinion that not only will the Tractor Boys miss out on the playoffs, but Keane will walk out on the club before he's pushed given his personality within the game, should this become an eventuality.

However the unpredictable nature of the league could see Town hit their straps and fire higher, but they would require further investment in quality players before this can become an eventuality.




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