LASTSEASON
LEAGUETWO1stFACUPThirdRound
LEAGUECUPSecondRoundTOPSCORERJohnAkinde(17)LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP 24th FA CUP Third Round LEAGUE CUP
First Round TOP SCORERS Gwion Edwards, Freddie Sears (6)FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 65IPSWICH TOWn LInCOLn CITY
SEASOn PREVIEW
FFTVERDICT
1ST FFT VERDICT
7TH
Life after Mick McCarthy is less rosy
than some fans had anticipated,
but they’ll be expecting to bounce
back. James Norwood won League
Two’s Golden Boot by seven clear
goals – he’ll carry the goal burden
for Paul Lambert, who’s spent the
past nine years in the top two tiers.Lincoln shouldn’t struggle while
the Cowley brothers are in charge.
The football at Sincil Bank isn’t
always easy on the eye but it is
mightily effective, and the ease
with which Lincoln won promotion
suggests their squad, strong right
across the park, needs little work.The big talking point among the fans
is what life will be like in League One.
I won’t be happy unless we end up
being promoted, or, at the very least,
narrowly missing out in the play-offs.
Our most underrated player is Cole
Skuse. Not everyone appreciates the
long-serving vice-captain. Holding
midfielders are rarely fan favourites.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is David McGoldrick, Martyn
Waghorn or any of the other senior
players we allowed to leave last year,
although that’s not really a secret.
The pantomime villain will be Mick
McCarthy, who’s unlikely to relinquish
that position for quite a while.
Look out for forward Jack Lankester.
There are loads of young players who
could break through, but he might be
the one grabbing headlines.
The signature local dish is possibly
the Portman Pies, given they won an
award a couple of years back. It was
our last trophy, come to think of it...The other recommendation for
away fans is to visit the statues of
Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.
There’s a third on the way for Town
legend Kevin Beattie.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at Portman Road is
the atmosphere that the Blue Action
group are creating in the Sir Bobby
Robson Stand.
Did you know that we used to be
good? We won cups and everything.
Our key player will be Alan Judge
[below]. He made a big impression
coming in at the end of last season.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that Paul Lambert [above] has been
a unifying figure after the fractious
Mick McCarthy era and Paul Hurst’s
disastrous 149 days. However, he will
come under pressure very quickly if
we’re not in the running at the top of
the division.
If he left, he should be replaced by
former skipper and caretaker boss
Tony Mowbray, who’d be a popular
appointment – but Blackburn would
have something to say about that.
We’ll finish promoted, by one route
or another. I hope.The big talking point among the fans
is Danny Cowley [below] being linked
with West Brom and Boro, to name but
two. Every year it’s the same.
I won’t be happy unless we stay up.
Anything else is an achievement, but
our manager won’t see it like that.
He’ll want to challenge for the top six.
Our key player will be Player of the
Year Michael Bostwick – a behemoth,
and he knows this level, too.
The best away ground is Portman
Road, because we went there at the
start of 2017 as a non-league team
having a big day out at a big ground,
and now we go there as equals.
Did you know that we’re not plastic
fans – that’s the accusation levied
at us, but at various points in history
we have attracted five-figure crowds.
The one recommendation for away
fans is to see the Bailgate area. It’s
beautiful up around the castle and
cathedral, and on a warm night has
a European feel up there.Our most underrated player is the
midfield workhorse Michael O’Connor.
Look out for Jordan Adebayo-Smith,
who has torn up the under-18 scene.
The pantomime villain will be Evans,
Steve. There’s no ‘pantomime’ about it.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Manny Monthe at Tranmere- he’s a big lump, but also quick and
mobile. He’ll do well in League One.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be to have a bigger budget. We
are a small club in terms of resources,
but we’ve got the management to do
well and now sell out most Saturdays.
If only an investor with a few million
quid could see the potential here, we
could be Championship level.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that Danny Cowley walks on water.
Three trophies in as many seasons is
unprecedented in our history. He has
a certain approach – not long ball, but
not tippy-tappy either – and it brings
success, which is the important thing.
In these parts, he can do no wrong.
If he left... don’t say that. Just don’t.
We’ll finish 12th, but if League One is
as tight as last season, we could find
ourselves pushing into the top half.
FAn FILE
GARY HUTCHINSON
@StaceywestblogFAn FILE
PHIL HAM
@twtduk