East Anglian Daily Times

LAST PREDICTIONS RECAP

In my last set of predictions, I had Ipswich down for five points from their five games against Aston Villa (L), West Ham (L), Everton (D), Brentford (D) and Leicester (W).

Were it not for last-gasp goals and VAR controversy, the Blues would have got those last two results and I’d have been bang on. As it was, they ended up with just two points from the block of fixtures – the home draws against Villa and Leicester sandwiching three straight defeats.

Time to get the crystal ball out again...

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

When: Sunday (2pm)

Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Town did the double over Spurs the last time they were in the Premier League (2001/02). Kieran McKenna’s men are ranked as 10/1 outsiders to end a 10-game winless start to the campaign this weekend though.

Reasons to be fearful: Tottenham have won seven of eight games at their impressive 62,850 home so far this season, scoring 22 and conceding just four. They're the Premier League's top goalscorers.

Reasons for hope: First choice central defensive duo Micky van der Ven and Cristian Romero are both injured, there have been ‘Spursy’ losses to Brighton and Crystal Palace recently, while last night's Europa League game at Galatasaray was far from ideal preparation.

Stu’s prediction: I'd have fancied Town to get something if this was at Portman Road. On home soil, I think Spurs’ class will ultimately show. 3-1 Tottenham.

MANCHESTER UNITED

When: Sunday, November 23 (4.30pm)

Where: Portman Road

Loads of narrative in the dugouts.

Kieran McKenna grew up a Man United fan, was assistant boss there and, if reports were correct, was seriously being considered for the main job back in the summer.

Erik ten Hag clung on to his job after winning the FA Cup, but was recently sacked after a 2-1 defeat at West Ham left the team 15th in the table. Ruud van Nistelrooy is currently in caretaker charge, with the post international break trip to Portman Road penned in for Ruben Amorim’s first match at the helm.

Can the Portuguese, who has had remarkable success at Sporting Lisbon, get an instant tune out of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho and co?

Town could have Jacob Greaves, Axel Tuanzebe and Jack Taylor available again by the time this one comes around. And they’ll take confidence from the fact United have failed to win in six of their seven away games away from Old Trafford so far this season (W1 D4 L2).

Stu’s prediction: This will be the first game at Portman Road since Leicester and the crowd will be up for it. I honestly think Town can get something – I’ll go 1-1.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

When: Saturday, November 30 (3pm)

Where: The City Ground

Having been in a relegation scrap for much of the last two seasons, Forest have been a surprise success story at the start of this campaign.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side currently sit third in the table. They’ve only conceded seven goals in 10 games, while striker Chris Wood has already bagged eight times. Winning 1-0 at Liverpool was a major scalp. The likes of Nikola Milenkovic, Elliot Anderson and Callum Hudson-Odoi are earning major plaudits.

Some cause for Town optimism is that the East Midlands side have dropped points at home to Bournemouth, Wolves and Fulham this season.

Stu’s prediction: On current form, I’ll have to go with a narrow Forest win – 1-0.

CRYSTAL PALACE

When: Tuesday, December 3 (7.30pm)

Where: Portman Road

Palace ended last season on fire under new boss Oliver Glasner, winning six of their last seven to secure a top-half finish. Michael Olise was subsequently sold to Bayern Munich for £50m, but the sought-after England duo of Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze stayed on at Selhurst Park.

It therefore came as a surprise to see the Eagles start this campaign without a league win in eight. A 1-0 home victory against Tottenham ended that streak and was followed up by a 1-1 draw at Wolves last time out.

Four of their five defeats have come by just a single goal. The South London club are yet to concede more than two in a game and are into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Key duo Eze and Adam Wharton are currently sidelined. It remains to be seen if they will return in time for the trip to Suffolk.

Stu’s prediction: This will be the first midweek game at Portman Road in close to nine months. There’s always something special about nights under the lights. I’ve got a sneaky feeling this could be when the first victory comes – 2-1 to the Blues.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

When: Sunday, December 8 (2pm)

Where: Portman Road

The Cherries are looking to progress again following Premier League finishes of 15th and 12th. Adoni Iraola has certainly got his easy-on-the-eye side creating plenty of chances.

There have been huge wins against both Arsenal and Man City at the Vitality Stadium, but also defeats at Leicester and West Ham.

Stu’s prediction: A similar sort of challenge to the home game against Fulham. Could end the same way – 1-1.

OVERALL VERDICT

Once again, I’ve gone for five from five. A point a game is what Town have got to be aiming for. The first win has got to come in this next block... doesn't it?

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The Blues will head to North London at 2pm on Sunday, November 10th to face Ange Postecoglou's side. This'll be their first ever visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in 2019.

The match has been moved due to Spurs' trip to Turkish giants Galatasaray in the Europa League, which takes place on the evening of Thursday, November 7th. However, it has not been selected for live coverage.

Town then return to face Man United after the international break, which is now scheduled to take place at 4:30pm on Sunday, November 24th. This will be shown live on Sky Sports as part of Super Sunday.

Ipswich's game against Aston Villa - set for 2pm on Sunday, September 29th - is the only other match that has been selected for Sky Sports coverage at this point. All others are due to stay as Saturday 3pm kick-offs.

The Telegraph reports that all three newly-promoted Premier League clubs - Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton - are interested in the 23-year-old.

Skipp has made 77 appearances in the Premier League (40 starts and 37 sub appearances) but found his chances limited under Ange Postecoglou last season.

He is contracted until 2027 at the North London club.

Stu's verdict

Blues boss Kieran McKenna will be keen to strengthen a central midfield unit currently made up of Sam Morsy, Massimo Luongo, Jack Taylor and Cameron Humphreys - none of whom have played at Premier League level.

Morsy and Luongo turn 33 and 32 respectively in September, Taylor may yet be needed in a more advanced role, while Humphreys looks set for a loan.

Town fans can look beyond Skipp's season-long loan at Norwich in 2020/21.

McKenna will know all about his qualities as a player and a person having worked with him in the Spurs youth team. He's been described as someone with good football IQ as well as 'a passer with a bit of fight'.

Like Ben Johnson, he would bring good top-flight experience but also come with a lot of room to grow. I like the idea of this signing.

Culford School in Bury St Edmunds has announced a new partnership with the north London-based club with an aim to provide "unparalleled opportunities" for pupils.

Football at Culford School has been growing and developing for the past eight years and more than 150 pupils now participate in football activities across the week.

Headteacher Claire Bentley said: "We are thrilled to partner with Tottenham Hotspur, a club that shares our values and ethos.

"This collaboration will provide our pupils with invaluable experiences, inspiring them to excel both academically and athletically."

Culford’s co-educational football programme allows pupils to access coaching, support, and guidance from a team of professionals, which will include a full-time Tottenham Hotspur football development coach from September 2025.

Tottenham Hotspur's head of global football development, Chris Acaster, said: "Culford School’s football academy has demonstrated exceptional growth in recent years, and we are delighted to bring them on as our partner.

"Our coaching team will be providing focused attention to each and every player in order to help students achieve their full potential through coaching methods developed within the Club's Academy."

In a recent Ofsted report for Culford School, inspectors said: "The sports scholars' programme is a significant strength, allowing a large cohort of pupils to learn and develop within their chosen sport.

"Pupils can compete at national and international level, while still ensuring the integrity of the pupils' academic programme."

This comes as Ipswich Town will be facing Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League for the first time since January 12, 2002, when the Blues won 2-1.

Tottenham Hotspur’s football development team impacts around 45,000 players and coaches annually and demonstrates year-on-year growth.

Technical sessions are delivered by the club’s FA and UEFA-qualified coaches who take inspiration from Men’s and Women’s First Team training methods to help develop every player that takes part on its programmes.

The duo discuss the Blues being back in the top flight, the current mood at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and overall thoughts on last season as a whole.

They finished fifth in 2023/24 under Ange Postecoglou which was his first season in charge after joining from Celtic.

The two sides first face when Kieran McKenna's men travel to North London in November, before returning to Portman Road in February.

The duo discuss the Blues being back in the top flight, the current mood at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and overall thoughts on last season as a whole.

They finished fifth in 2023/24 under Ange Postecoglou which was his first season in charge after joining from Celtic.

The two sides first face when Kieran McKenna's men travel to North London in November, before returning to Portman Road in February.

The 22-year-old has agreed a five-year contract with the Eredivisie side as part of a deal that was reported to be £6.7m (€8m).

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Parrott netted 17 goals in 32 games in all competitions for struggling Excelsior Rotterdam last season as they were relegated from the Dutch top flight.

He ends his seven-year spell with Spurs, having joined them back in 2017 as a 15-year-old from Irish side Belvedere. He made just four senior appearances for North London club.

The Republic of Ireland international now joins Maarten Martens' side, who finished fourth in the Eredivisie last season and will play Europa League football in 2024/25.

On signing for AZ, he said: "I think AZ is the perfect club for me to take the next steps in my development.

"It helps me that I already played in the Netherlands last season and am therefore used to the competition and life here."

Parrott spent five loan spells away from Spurs, including his stint at Ipswich, where he scored twice in 18 games during the second half of the 2020/21 season.