Squeaky bum time, and player of the season (so far) - Poll
- Matt Gentleman
- Apr 28
- 5 min read
Even for a game which is by common consensus both “funny” and “old” this has been a peculiar and long season for Ipswich Town Football Club.
As I write this we sit second in the table on goal difference after 44 games. If you indulge me for a moment; that’s 3,960 spectating minutes, ~10 sleeps (although with multiple 4:30am starts in the PST time zone a Friday sleep is rarely a full 7 hours), 94 spins of the Dark Side of the Moon or, if you’re a glutton for punishment, 1,168 plays of Eddie Ebenezer.
What’s exhilarating and terrifying in equal parts is that our chances of automatic promotion now come down to a mere three hours of football, or god forbid a just few seconds of madness, or inspiration.
That being the case it seems like an appropriate moment to reflect a little on who's starred in the 25/26 iteration of a Kieran McKenna football team, and what might be next for those players.
As a way into this topic I’m going to refer to a straw poll a few of us ITFC-NASC folks conduct after each game for Man of the Match. Like all the best punditry the system is flawed, unscientific, based on conjecture rather than fact and - being subject to knee jerk post match emotion- is inherently biased towards match winning performances over consistent contributions over the course of the season.
But with that hefty caveat, here are the top 5 performers for the season to date based on our voting.
First place: Jack Clarke (5.5 * MotM awards, 128 total votes)
In a season of weirdness, it seems crazy that our top goal scorer and the clear pick for total MotM votes is arguably not even the best player in his position. Heck, he might not even be the second best player in his position if Mehmeti were picked on the left again… But this is Jack’s moment. He’s shown some silky skills, been a constant attacking threat and reliable ball carrier. Clutch penalties have been a big huge factor in him topping our MotM votes, (the importance of penalties to Towen’s season this year - both those we got, and those we didn't - merits a whole other discussion). But the fact is without his ice coolness from the spot Towen would not be threatening promotion this term. No way. So All hail Jack Clarke, King of the Championship! Is he Premier League-ready at the second attempt, though? The jury's out.
Second place: Christian Walton (5 MoTM awards, 73 total votes)
Walton, lest we forget, was our second choice keeper on opening day. There would be a certain poetry were he to end this season subbed off to great applause allowing Alex Palmer a final 5 mins on the pitch to close out the year - thereby mirroring Walton's own fate in 23/24. Where that season we discovered that Hladky, a ball-playing flair keeper, could get the team moving forward, this season Walton has been a man for our times. Mostly solid, and occasionally spectacular, bolstering a defense that had some rocky patches. Games against Coventry (h), Millwall (a), and most recently West Brom (a) stand out in particular as instances where he’s kept us in games at important junctures in the season and saved or won us key points . Ready to step up to the Premier League? Yes, as second choice, but to whom?
Third place: Marcellino Nunez (4.5 MotM awards, 58 total votes)
There was a point this year when it was unquestionably true that Towen were simply a better team with Marcellino “Nacho” Nunez on the pitch. The results spoke for themselves. Since the injury which Nodge fans gleefully pointed out would always be his downfall he hasn’t quite reached those same heights. I will argue, however, that he’s the most skillful player in our squad and the only player who consistently gets us on the front foot, and is willing to take risks to do so. He’s also fun to watch, playing the game with an impish joie de vivre, and just a smidgen of, shall we say… edge. Premier League ready? Physicality might be a concern at the highest level, but on top form he’d still pose PL defenses some questions.
Fourth place: Anis Mehmeti (4 MotM awards, also 58 total votes)
Steal of the century at GBP 3.5M, he got off to a flying start to his Town career receiving 4 MotM awards in our vote in his first 6 games. Meh-messi we christened him. How on earth did Bristol City let him go, we asked? Imperious Ashton can’t put a foot wrong we gleamed… (Don’t worry I’m not going there). Whether it’s a regression to the mean, or just a dip in performance since those early stellar performances recently he’s been more Meh-meti than his illustrious Argentinian alter ego but adds some much needed attacking purpose when we're faced by an oppo 'low block' . Can he kick on should we go up? Maybe. But if not, and we end up selling him on I’ve got confidence we’ll turn a tidy profit on the deal.
Note: with only 17 appearances Anis Mehmeti is excluded from our Player of season poll below.
Fifth place: Jack Taylor (3.5 MotM awards, 38 total votes)
This one seems like a bit of an outlier but makes sense in the context of our voting system. Jack Taylor has come into the team and put in some solid defensive performances and, occasionally, he’s been the best player on the pitch. We’ve been astoundingly fortunate this year with our midfield that we’ve been able to select Azor Matusiwa (more of him in a second) 40+ times. More often than not Jack Taylor has been the round peg for the round hole for the other midfield spot and that’s despite having more accomplished, or certainly more expensive, alternatives in Dan Neil and Jens Cajuste available. I’m going to say it - Jack Taylor isn’t a Premier League level footballer for the long haul. That said, he didn’t disgrace himself when called upon last time around. Not at all in fact. I could see him as a squad player next season in a hypothetical Towen Premier League team. If we were to stay up and have another round of strengthening he’d likely be moved on but at 27 he’s got a lot of football left to play.
*Half MoTm awards indicate shared between 2 players
So, what do you think? What about Matusiwa (very narrowly missed out on the top 5 on a MotM basis despite being hotly tipped for player of the year) , Cedric Kipre, Dara O’Shea, Jaden Philogene, Darnell Furlong or what about those Iván Azón stans - maybe he's your guy?
Now's your chance - if you're so inclined, please take a moment to pick your ITFC NASC player of the season in the poll below (this is limited to players with a minimum of 30 league appearances). Otherwise, clench those cheeks, Squeaky Bum time est arrivé.
Good luck everyone, and Uppa Towen!
Select your Ipswich Town player of the season for 25/26?
Christian Walton
Darnell Furlong
Dara O'Shea
Cédric Kipré
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