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Betting on Town: A tough start but lots to be optimistic about this season

Opinion
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Professional sports trader and lifetime Town fan Rob Hogger shares his views on the upcoming Premier League season and his predictions for the opener against Liverpool.

Town players celebrate promotion to the Premier League on a bus
It's been 22 years since Town played their last Premier League gameAlamy

So here we are, 15 long weeks after securing promotion back to the promised land on that beautiful day versus Huddersfield.

It has been over 22 years since we last kicked a ball in the Premier League. A quarter of a century almost, and what will be, 8,134 days since we last kicked a ball in the greatest league in the world.

Here's how I think we'll get on.

Most fans would agree that after a strong start in the summer transfer window, things have dropped off; however, I would not say that is cause for concern...yet.

Business takes time in any walk of life, especially football. As a newly promoted club, we do not want to be pushed around, and the hierarchy will not allow it.

As we get nearer the end of the window, the knock-on effect from transfer activity worldwide will enable us to get more players in. I do not doubt that. So please, no one panic on that front.

For those of you who remember 2000, who would have thought players like Venus, Clapham, McGreal, Jermaine Wright, and Scowcroft would be regulars all season on a team that finished fifth?

This time, people are unsure about players like Burgess, Taylor, and Chaplin cutting it in the Prem could be pleasantly surprised; let's hope so.

Maybe we have the weakest squad on paper, but as the saying goes, football is not played on paper. If it were, we'd have finished about 10th last season.

We might just have the best team spirit in the league, with Hladky the only regular leaving. That spirit and momentum can, and I think, will count for a lot, which is why I am so optimistic.

Let's not forget Paul Scholes has us to finish in the top 12.

And, of course, then we have our manager, Kieran McKenna.

The salary we have given him would suggest he's one of the best managers in the Premier League, and when that turns out to be the case, that will be worth a handful of points on its own.

As the song goes, he knows exactly what we need – no matter the situation, which will stand us in good stead.

Pre-season has seen defensively sound displays; if we can carry that forward with the attacking patterns of play continuing, I think we can survive and survive well.

There will be tricky times, and Ipswich will undoubtedly take a few hammerings from the bigger boys, but I predict we will more than hold our own against the rest.

One thing is for sure: whatever happens, all Ipswich fans need to enjoy the ride. The 22-year wait since last time is a testament to that.

My prediction for the season: A comfortable 15th.

As for the Liverpool game: This is a baptism of fire if there is ever one, and despite a raucous crowd, it's a big ask. A draw would be amazing. I think Ipswich will score, but despite playing well, I'm going for 3-1 to Liverpool. Sorry.

About Rob

Rob is a professional sports trader from Ipswich who's been following Town for over 30 years. Betting on Town covers ITFC through the lens of a betting professional, before and after every Town game.

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Farage more trusted than Starmer in East of England, latest poll finds

News
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is more trusted to represent the UK internationally than PM Keir Starmer among East of England voters, new polling reveals.

Why it matters: The findings highlight a significant decline in trust for the main party leaders in the region less than a year after the general election.

The poll, conducted by communications agency PLMR and Electoral Calculus, shows Farage ranked highest among named leaders at 19% in the East of England, ahead of Sir Keir Starmer (13%), Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (6%) and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey (5%).

Nigel Farage
Nigel FarageAlamy

The bigger picture: One in three voters (33%) in the region responded "none of the above" when asked which political figure they would trust most, suggesting a broader decline in overall trust in UK political leaders.

By the numbers: The same poll indicates Reform UK would become the largest party in the region if an election were held tomorrow:

  • Reform: 21 seats

  • Conservatives: 10 seats

  • Labour: 4 seats

  • Liberal Democrats: 2 seats

  • Greens: 1 seat

In contrast: Nationally, Farage and Starmer are tied at 16% among those who named a preference, highlighting a more polarised national picture, with the Reform UK leader building more trust with voters in the East of England specifically.

What they're saying: "This polling highlights a significant decline in trust for the two main party leaders among East of England voters when it comes to representing the UK on the international stage," said Tim Miller , Managing Director of PLMR Genesis , the East of England branch of PLMR.

Reform and Nigel Farage have seemingly been able to capitalise on this and it's now translating into voting intentions, with the Party set to overtake Labour and the Conservatives in the region with the largest number of seats – a seismic political shift.

Between the lines: The poll suggests Reform would make strong gains across the region, potentially taking seats from both major parties:

  • Suffolk: Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket from Labour

  • Essex: Braintree from the Conservatives and Thurrock from Labour

  • Cambridgeshire: North East from the Conservatives and North West from Labour

  • Norfolk: North West from the Conservatives and South West from Labour

Tim Miller on a backdrop of Ipswich from above and political party colour overlays
Tim Miller of PLMR GenesisOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

The national outlook: The survey of 5,180 adults showed Reform securing 25% of the vote share nationally, compared to 23% each for Labour and the Conservatives. This would translate to 227 seats for Reform, 180 for Labour and 130 for the Conservatives.

The bottom line: "If Labour wants to keep Reform at bay, hold onto the gains they made in the East of England and remain in government in four year's time, the Party needs to focus on getting their message across more clearly to voters and instil confidence in their domestic agenda," Miller concluded.

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