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The East Anglian derby will be reignited this weekend, marking the first meeting in four years and 10 months between Ipswich Town and Norwich City. While this matchup may not draw as much attention as other English derbies, its monikers – the Old Farm and El Tractico – still hold a hint of teasing and are sure to deliver an intense match at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.
The upcoming game holds a lot of importance for multiple reasons. The time gap between matches is significant, as absence not only increases affection but also adds intensity. There is also a sense of superstition in the atmosphere, as Ipswich has not been able to win against Norwich in their past 12 attempts. The last time Norwich faced a loss was in 2009, when Bryan Gunn was their manager. Now, his son Angus is the goalkeeper for the Canaries and a lot has changed since then. In 2009, Norwich was heading towards League One, but they quickly bounced back and earned back-to-back promotions to the Premier League. In the 14 seasons since, they have spent six in the top flight. On the other hand, Ipswich has just managed to escape the third tier after 20 years of struggling.
If you haven’t heard, Ipswich is now a changed team. They are competing with Leicester for the top spot in the Championship and are proving to be worthy contenders for their second consecutive miracle. Additionally, they play a style of football that aligns with the vision of God (Bobby Robson) – swift, clever, and aggressive. A video of midfielder Wes Burns scoring against Coventry this month has garnered 5 million views on X, showcasing the beauty of his trivela shot as part of a stunning play.
Brenner Woolley, the primary announcer for BBC Radio Suffolk and the individual whose voice has accompanied Ipswich’s extended struggles and recent successes, cannot find enough words to commend Kieran McKenna, the central figure behind the revival at Portman Road.
“At the age of 35, he is only slightly older than some of the players in his squad, but their feedback has been consistently positive,” Woolley remarks about the Ipswich manager. “His approach with them is admirable – he is honest, communicative, and has a certain way of handling things. He pays attention to even the smallest details and maintains a humble demeanor. Ultimately, he is not only intelligent but also a genuinely good person.”
McKenna has successfully transformed reliable players from lower-league teams, such as Conor Chaplin and Sam Morsy, into impressive and attention-grabbing talents. His acquisitions – George Hirst, Massimo Luongo, and Leif Davis – have elevated the team without causing any disturbances to their team spirit. According to Woolley, McKenna’s style of play is a combination of two entertaining football legends. He explains, “They play an aggressive and energetic brand of football, similar to Bielsa’s Leeds and Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle, especially when playing at home.”
The relentless pressure that characterizes Bielsa’s style is also present in McKenna’s Ipswich team, with a focus on attacking and scoring goals reminiscent of Keegan’s successful teams in the 90s. However, Woolley argues that Ipswich has not shown any of the weaknesses typically associated with these styles of play. Despite playing an exciting brand of attacking football, the team has proven their resilience and ability to overcome challenges. They were able to come back from being behind in recent games against Watford and Cardiff, demonstrating their determination and ability to handle difficult situations.
According to Woolley, the majority of Ipswich supporters are feeling optimistic about winning on Saturday and are hopeful that their dry spell will finally come to a close. However, he also adds that if it meant securing promotion, a large percentage of fans (around 95-96%) would be willing to sacrifice two losses against Norwich.
Ipswich fans may find the idea of having more important matters to focus on appealing, while Norwich supporters may look back fondly on it. Carrow Road is still dealing with the aftermath of the challenging Covid period, during which the Canaries were promoted as Championship champions twice, only to suffer a humiliating relegation from the Premier League.
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Woolley’s colleague from BBC Radio Norfolk, Chris Goreham, states that Norwich’s most recent promotion was earned without the presence of fans. However, their return has only witnessed a disappointing relegation from the Premier League and a mediocre performance in the Championship for the past year and a half. This has resulted in four years of not being able to support a consistently successful team in person for Norwich fans. As a result, the fanbase is eagerly searching for a new beloved player to rally behind. The upcoming derby match could potentially be the perfect platform for one to emerge.
Norwich, led by coach David Wagner, have a reputation for being inconsistent and prone to conceding goals. However, they are currently only three points away from a playoff spot and have improved in recent matches with four wins in their last six games. Despite Ipswich being the favored team, Norwich may surprise everyone and continue their winning streak without much fanfare, although according to Goreham, not many Norwich supporters are anticipating this.
According to him, Norwich City supporters take pride in their recent success in derby matches. The last time they experienced a loss was before the launch of the iPad, before Harry Kane’s professional football debut, and before Ed Sheeran began college. This record is currently at risk and losing it would be a significant disappointment for City fans, but they are prepared for the possibility.
Source: theguardian.com
