Who will line up for Ipswich versus Fulham?

Article by e-Ipswich Town's Daryl Curle

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The start of the new season is now only three weeks away and the atmosphere around Ipswich Town is certainly positive. Town boss Mick McCarthy has stated that the whole squad will start with a clean slate, indicating that any player coming into form through the pre-season period will enhance their chance of starting in the first eleven when competitive play gets underway. Two friendlies have already been and gone, a 4-0 win over in Ireland, at Shelbourne, and a 0-0 draw on more familiar turf, at home to Premiership outfit West Ham, so is it possible to start guessing who will line up in a blue shirt on the 9th August, at home to Fulham?

Starting in goal, the strong candidate to start is Dean Gerken. Playing 39 times in a Town shirt last season, and making the number one shirt his own in front of Town fan and ex-England Under-21 international, Scott Loach, it would be a sensible bet that Gerks will start between the sticks once more. Loach has since moved on from the club, transferring to newly promoted Rotherham United, with former Notts County keeper, and once Town loanee, Bartosz Bialkowski finally signing for a small undisclosed fee. Bialkowski played in the friendly against West Ham and pulled off an acrobatic save, much to the admiration of the home crowd, but it looks likely that Bialkowski will have to wait for his chance despite his intentions of not sitting on the bench.

Looking at the defence and it would be very surprising if McCarthy mixed it up from the success of the back four last season. Obviously, Aaron Cresswell has left the club, despite playing at Portman Road during the week, in West Ham colours, so who will replace him at left back? Tyrone Mings on many occasions has been backed by McCarthy to stand up and replace Cresswell whenever the ex-Tranmere man was to move on, but Jonathan Parr, a free signing from Crystal Palace, will be very unlucky to miss out on the starting eleven considering his international experience for his native Norway. The centre-back positions pick themselves, and should injury hinder neither player, then Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra shall surely start. Finally there is the right-back position. The favourite must be Luke Chambers, club captain. It is possible however that youngster, Elliot Hewitt, may return from his loan spell out at Gillingham last season. He should play a larger role this season, but August may come too soon, unlike last season, for the former Macclesfield full-back.

The midfield poses the biggest headache where team selection is concerned. Without any new signings, it looks as if Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam will renew their centre midfield partnership. Towards the end of the last campaign, McCarthy used then Crystal Palace loanee Jonny Williams, or Joniesta, behind the striker, and he may want to find a player to fill that role once more, with Williams looking very unlikely to return to the club. Anthony Wordsworth could be a player who could take up the position. A player who has creative spark, and is not afraid to play the ball forwards, Wordsworth could finally play a larger role in the squad since his small fee transfer from local rivals Colchester United, having signed in January 2013. Looking in the wide positions, both Cameron Stewart and Stephen Hunt have signed contracts this summer, with the latter having already played for the club last season. Stewart has the ability to run at a player and hug the touchline, something that Town fans have been dying to see in a winger for a long, long time. Hunt however is a McCarthy-style player, a real battler who will throw himself in the action, scrapping to win the ball at all costs. Paul Anderson has played a full season in an Ipswich shirt now and is somewhat of an unsung player. Providing defensive cover for Luke Chambers, who is naturally a centre-back, the wide midfielder often warmed the bench last season, despite chipping in with goals.

The striking positions should be filled by last season’s top scorers, David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy. However, McGoldrick is returning from a long-term injury, and it is looking increasingly unlikely that he may not make the start of the season. Therefore, either Frank Nouble or Paul Taylor look likely to go upfront and partner Murphy. Nouble finished the previous season in strong form, changing the perspectives of many fans who had once seen him as lazy. Taylor had been transfer-listed at the same time, although he has managed to wriggle his way back into his manager’s plans, looking in red-hot form in training on several YouTube videos. A similar player to McGoldrick, it could be Taylor’s chance to prove his £1.5 million transfer tag. Youngster Jack Marriott could also feature, although similarly to Elliott Hewitt, the young striker will probably be more involved with the squad as the season goes on.

McCarthy will almost definitely add to his squad before August 9th, with the wide and striking positions most likely to be strengthened, although if Town are to field a 4-4-2 formation, I think the following will start against Fulham, barring no squad changes:

Ipswich (4-4-2); Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Parr, Anderson, Skuse, Hyam, Stewart, Murphy, Taylor.

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