Ipswich fans will be licking their wounds this summer after defeat in the Play-Offs to their arch rivals Norwich City. The summer has been a busy one, and manager Mick McCarthy has made three signings in the week leading up to this match. Trialists Giles Coke (Sheffield Wednesday), Larsen Toure (Arles-Avignon) were both secured after impressing in pre-season, with Jonathan Douglas making the switch from Griffin Park to Portman Road on a one-year contract after four successful years.
Those three join Jonas Knudsen (Esbjerg), Brett Pitman (AFC Bournemouth) and Josh Yorwerth (Sheffield Wednesday) as new arrivals, with Ryan Fraser and Ainsley Maitland-Niles arriving on loan from AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal respectively.
Leaving Portman Road this summer on free transfer were Stephen Hunt and his brother Noel, Darren Ambrose, Paul Anderson, Anthony Wordsworth, Omar Sowunmi, Jack Marriott, and Elliott Hewitt. However, the departure missed by most fans is defender Tyrone Mings, who left for newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth for £8 million, a club record.
After Saturday's match, they face Stevenage in the Capital One Cup at Portman Road on Tuesday, followed by further home matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Gaffer
Mick McCarthy was appointed Ipswich Town’s manager in November 2012 and his side has made a steady improvement since then. Like Brentford, they reached the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs last season, but were beaten by arch-rivals Norwich City, who were eventually promoted to the Premier League.
After a stellar international career with the Republic of Ireland, he started his playing career at Barnsley, before moving to Manchester City, Celtic, Olympique Lyonnais and Millwall. It is Mick’s third decade in management, which began at Millwall in 1992, with spells at Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Republic of Ireland national team.