Massively important with for Ipswich as the run home is very tough. Should they avoid defeat in some games they'll be in a better position still.

Monday they host Southampton then away to Norwich which is very tricky. Host Watford, Boro then away to Hull and Coventry and finish hosting Huddersfield. 

Leceister lost and Leeds drew, so Ipswich move top of the Championship. Luongo a full game and Burgess came on late for Ipswich.

O'Neill out for the rest of the season with a "Ligament injury" according to FotMob. Hopefully it isn't an ACL and he's available for June WC qualifiers. 

In League 1, Portsmouth won 3-1 and are 5 points clear at the top with 6 games to go. They are 11 points ahead of 3rd, so just about assured of promotion. Kusini Yengi was a late substitute, but his rival for the Striker spot got 2 of the 3 goals.

https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2024/march/29/riley-mcgree-and-marcus-forss-ruled-out-for-season/

Fuck it!! So we've got McGree & O'Neill both battling to be ready for the WC qualifiers in June!! Here's hoping Hrustic & Bos aren't too bad & can play a few club games before June. 

Time to pick Irankunda, he will run rings around any current aussie winger. Fucking use him and stop putting midfielders out there. 

Yep. Makes me cringe seeing Metcalfe and Bos trying to play winger roles when brilliant Irankunda not even in Roos squads. Kid looks world class

To be fair didn't Metcalfe play as a winger for St Pauli? 

Think he gets moved between AM and winger at club but he doesn’t convince me at all for Roos. Bos is great as LB but not as NT winger either 

If Arnold has any sense left Irankunda will be in his near future plans

Ligament damage for aiden oniell sounds ominous :(

Definitely the best time for these injuries. It doesn't appear we'll jump South Korea in rankings so the next qualifiers are great to rotate. We ought to start Yazbek and Nisbet and many other fringe players. 

Would rather a tough opponent in the next round anyway

Australia is so sacrilegious when using young players. They're so afraid and think you need Aussie DNA, experience and years of team culture. Well, look around at the world's best footballers right now, most are u25 and there are plenty of u23's who are up there. Lamine Yamal and Endrick are playing for Brazil and Spain but Irankunda isn't good enough for Australia? Like they won't even use him at U23 level and focusing him on U20 level like the two tournaments aren't months apart and they literally chose 5 other U20 players for the WAFF tournament. Realistically, team culture can be taught but Irankunda's attributes can't be taught. 

Great news is that Strain is starting. Baccus bench. Triantis starting in midfield against Rangers while Miller is still out and Boyle returns on the bench. All 3 AA on bench for Hearst with Nieuwenhof of course absent.

I thought Yazbek was good on debut, however Nizzy was a bit underwhelming - probably first game nerves. Nieuwenhof should hopefully be back soon for Hearts & come into contention for his debut as well. Irankunda has to be introduced into the set up - I can just see him running onto balls from Hrustic down the right, crossing into Yengi/ Iredale to score. I'd also like to see a back 3 of Burgess, Souttar & Circati next time. 

I was thinking of how many brazillians peak before 25 and decline quickly compared with how many late bloomers we have. Mooy started dominating at 25, jedi took till mid to late twenties, nisbet a bit before he peaks and goodwin is still peaking

Any idea why? Do brazillians play a gazillion more hours at youth level and then burn out whereas we are underdone in our early 20s?

Yeah interesting. Perhaps youth keeps those Brazilians swift and agile and then they slow down as they get older. Not to say they can't play well at an older age. It seems a lot of Brazilians come in at a younger age, have 7-8 years and by then the next one at 19 is ready to replace them.

I reckon young Brazilians play so much in their local leagues and have been kicking a ball since birth. 

Conversely perhaps our players get better as they enter full time professional leagues at a higher level with lots of training and matches. 

https://twitter.com/AwayDays_/status/1774100383817732181?t=Qe_jR6rEi5NYpB3nm7SgPQ&s=19

Triantis takes out two teammates with a single free kick. 

Hopefully won't see Hrustic again. He will be torn apart in the next round of qualification.  

He wasnt torn apart last time it was the final round of quals and he is likely to improve as he is entering his prime

Mo Toure on bench. 

That's huge! Late Olyroo selectee?  Definitely my personal pick with Alou Kuol. 

Goodwin and Ryan starting 

This is a great video about your question. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrGyoMPNAr0

That is actually peak Triantis.

Officially Jordan Bos will be out for 2-3 weeks.

Mo Toure on the pitch for the first time in months. Great news!

Reports AZ won't meet Ryan's renewal wage demands as they look to also promote their youth keeper St some point. With Ryan available on a free there will be many suitors. MLS being suggested. I really wonder what he still wants to do with his club career? Has he won a trophy? Champions with Bruges perhaps? Anywhere but Spain. 

Socceroos goalkeeper Maty Ryan is expected to leave AZ Alkmaar on a free transfer at the end of the season. The 31-year-old is entering the final months of his contract and AZ plan to promote their younger keeper to first-choice next season. [
@AZAlertss