Paul Merson Criticises Ipswich Town After Recent Championship Results

Paul Merson has openly criticised Ipswich Town F.C. following their recent dropped points in the EFL Championship.

The former Arsenal midfielder voiced his concerns while speaking on Sky Sports after Ipswich failed to secure victories against Stoke City F.C. and Leicester City F.C. in their last two league matches.

Merson suggested that something does not appear quite right with the team, especially considering the strength of the squad assembled by manager Kieran McKenna.

Despite being widely regarded as one of the strongest teams in the division on paper, Ipswich have not managed to break into the automatic promotion positions at any stage of the current campaign.

Ipswich Struggling to Reach Automatic Promotion Spots

Throughout the season, Ipswich have remained competitive but have consistently fallen short of climbing into the top two positions that guarantee automatic promotion.

Although they are currently on a run of five league matches without defeat, the results during that period have not been enough for them to move ahead of Middlesbrough F.C. in the standings.

Ipswich currently occupy fourth place in the table, also trailing behind both Millwall F.C. and Coventry City F.C..

What makes their situation particularly puzzling is that they have rarely lost matches in recent months. Since a 2–1 defeat away to Oxford United F.C. in late November, Ipswich have been beaten only three times in their last nineteen league games.

Even with such a solid run of form, they have not managed to convert enough of those matches into victories to push themselves into the automatic promotion places.

Strong Wins Raised Expectations Before Recent Slip-Ups

Prior to their most recent setbacks, Ipswich appeared to be gaining momentum at an ideal stage of the season.

Convincing victories over Watford F.C., Swansea City A.F.C., and Hull City A.F.C. had boosted confidence around the club.

During that run, the team also recorded three consecutive clean sheets, highlighting both their attacking strength and defensive organisation.

Those results placed Ipswich in a strong position to close the gap on the teams ahead of them and potentially shift the pressure onto their rivals.

However, their failure to defeat Stoke City and Leicester City — both teams positioned in the lower half of the table — proved to be a significant disappointment.

Dropping points in those fixtures prevented Ipswich from capitalising on their earlier momentum.

Merson Questions Ipswich’s Mentality

Speaking during the Gillette Labs Soccer Special show on Sky Sports News, Merson analysed Ipswich’s recent performances and expressed his frustration with their inability to finish off matches they should be winning.

He pointed out that the remaining schedule will become increasingly demanding as the season approaches its conclusion.

According to Merson, the rapid succession of fixtures — particularly the Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday rhythm — leaves little margin for mistakes.

He also highlighted the additional pressure created by the busy Easter period, when teams often play several matches within a short timeframe.

Because of this congested schedule, Merson stressed that teams chasing promotion cannot afford to drop points against clubs struggling near the bottom of the table.

In his opinion, Ipswich’s results against Leicester and Stoke represented missed opportunities that could prove costly.

First-Half Performance Criticised

Merson also criticised the team’s approach during their match against Leicester.

He suggested that Ipswich appeared complacent during the first half, almost as though they expected the result to come easily.

In his assessment, the players seemed to believe they would simply turn up and comfortably beat Leicester without needing to perform at their best.

As a result, the first half of the match fell well below the standard required for a team hoping to secure promotion.

However, Merson did acknowledge that Ipswich showed a much stronger performance after the interval.

During the second half, the team displayed far more energy and creativity. They moved the ball more effectively and began creating a series of opportunities in the attacking third.

Despite that improvement, the earlier lacklustre display left Merson convinced that something is not quite right with the team’s overall mentality.

High Expectations for McKenna This Season

Heading into the 2025–26 campaign, expectations surrounding Ipswich and their manager Kieran McKenna were extremely high.

After guiding the club to promotion in 2024 and building strong momentum, McKenna was widely praised for his coaching ability and tactical approach.

Many observers believed Ipswich would be among the leading contenders to secure automatic promotion from the Championship this season.

Instead, the campaign has felt somewhat underwhelming when measured against those initial expectations.

Squad Strength Raises Further Questions

One of the surprising aspects of Ipswich’s season is that the current squad appears stronger than the group that earned promotion in 2024.

Several key players from that successful side have either moved on, experienced dips in form, or been replaced by players with greater experience and higher profiles.

In many cases, the club has recruited individuals with the ability to perform at a higher level than the League One players who helped carry Ipswich into the Championship.

Given those upgrades, many supporters believed the team would continue progressing and compete more consistently at the top of the division.

Drop in Fluency Compared to Previous Success

Another noticeable difference this season has been the team’s playing style.

During their earlier rise under McKenna, Ipswich were widely admired for their energetic and cohesive football.

The team played with intensity, quick movement, and a strong collective identity that made them difficult to stop.

This season, however, that level of fluency has not been as evident.

Although Ipswich remain competitive, their performances have sometimes lacked the same sharpness and rhythm that defined their previous success.

Promotion Expectations Still High

Despite those issues, many observers still believe Ipswich should be capable of finishing in the automatic promotion places.

Given the club’s recent progress and the quality of the squad, finishing in the top two was widely considered the minimum expectation.

Even securing second place would have been viewed as an acceptable outcome if it meant a direct return to the Premier League.

However, after 37 matches, Ipswich remain outside those positions, raising concerns about whether the team has lost momentum under McKenna.

Rivals Deserve Credit

At the same time, it is important to recognise the performances of other clubs competing near the top of the Championship.

Both Middlesbrough and Millwall have enjoyed impressive campaigns and deserve significant credit for their consistency.

Despite beginning the season with less hype and fewer expectations, those teams have managed to climb above Ipswich in the table.

Their strong form has made the race for automatic promotion even more competitive.

Final Stretch Could Define the Season

With nine matches remaining in the campaign, the final stretch of the season will be crucial for Ipswich.

The results during this period will determine whether the club can still secure promotion or whether they will need to rely on the play-offs.

Beyond the immediate objective of reaching the Premier League, the remaining games may also shape how McKenna is viewed moving forward.

If Ipswich finish strongly, this season could be remembered as a temporary dip during an otherwise impressive rebuilding project.

However, if the team continues to struggle to convert performances into wins, questions may arise about whether McKenna’s early success created expectations that are now difficult to sustain.

Either way, the final weeks of the Championship season will play a decisive role in defining both Ipswich’s promotion hopes and the long-term perception of their highly regarded manager.