Tony Pulis has talked about whether Ipswich Town is the greatest promoted team in the history of the Championship.
- Ipswich Town is not considered one of the best promoted Championship sides in history, according to Tony Pulis.
- The Tractor Boys aim for back-to-back promotions to the Premier League, a feat not achieved since 2015.
- Kieran McKenna’s leadership at Ipswich has been key to their remarkable rise in the football ranks.
Although praising Kieran McKenna’s team, Tony Pulis asserted that Ipswich Town is not among the best promoted teams in Championship history.
This season, Ipswich is vying to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
The Tractor Boys, who finished second in the third division the previous season, are also aiming for consecutive promotions from League One to the top division.
With three games remaining, the Suffolk team is still in the running for the title. Neither team has accomplished that since Bournemouth in 2015 under Eddie Howe.
Their fate will be decided by their matches against Hull City, Coventry City, and Huddersfield Town. Leicester City, Leeds United, and Southampton are also opponents.
Tony Pulis gives Ipswich Town verdict
Ipswich, in Pulis’ opinion, is not quite at the same level as some of the greatest teams in league history to be promoted to the Championship.
He has, nevertheless, complimented McKenna and CEO Mark Ashton for their efforts in improving conditions at Portman Road.
According to Pulis via OLBG, “No, they’re not [one of the best promoted sides to ever play in the Championship].”
“Wimbledon excelled under Dave Bassett, Swansea under John Toshack, and Watford advanced through the divisions under Graham Taylor.
“Kieran McKenna has performed admirably at Ipswich, but many other managers have done a far better job.”
Not that he hasn’t done a fantastic job.
“They have new owners who support McKenna, and even though Kieffer Moore is only on loan, signing him must have cost a lot of money.”
“He would have been desired by most of the Championship!
I know Mark Ashton to be a good lad as well. At the football club, everyone has made progress in the right direction.
“They’re a fantastic club, and Norwich City gets a lot of support from them too.”
Ipswich’s promotion battle
When McKenna took over at Ipswich in December 2021, the team was mired in League One’s middle of the table.
After finishing second in the table with 98 points during his first full season with the Tractor Boys, he led the team to automatic promotion to the Championship.
One point behind Leeds in second place, Ipswich is presently positioned third in the second division standings.
But the Suffolk team still has a game left against the Whites, and a win there could put them back in the automatic promotion spots.
Ipswich may be beginning to sense the pressure of a promotion battle as they have lost their last three games.
McKenna’s team will next travel to the MKM Stadium to play Hull on April 27.
Ipswich’s rise has been remarkable
Ipswich has evolved so much in the last few years that it is challenging to draw parallels with comparable teams from earlier eras.
The ability of teams to compete is now greatly influenced by money.
Ipswich has spent money, no doubt about it, but not a whole lot, and not nearly as much as their other opponents who will automatically advance.
When McKenna joined the Suffolk team more than two years ago, no one could have predicted the team’s return to the Premier League given where they were at the time. He deserves all the praise for his part in their ascent, even if they don’t quite make it this season.
