Practicing Survival

Ipswich Town 1-0 Le Havre (Friendly)

So what do we know about Le Havre? A port city in Normandy on the north coast of northern France, it’s probably as close to Portsmouth as it is to Paris?

One of the oldest French football clubs around, Les Ciel et Marine (The Sky & Navy) have been in Ligue 1 since 2023 and were three times national champions during their amateur years at the turn of the twentieth century.

Current Head Coach is a former PSG and Middlesbrough midfielder in Didier Digard and star players include Josh Maja (who they have just signed from West Bromwich Albion), Moroccan international Amir Richardson, who heads in on loan from Fiorentina and Mbwana Samatta, once of Aston Villa.

It seems like a strange friendly match up but with Ipswich Town progressing to the Premier League this summer, hosting a topflight club from over the water isn’t all that drastic as first thought? Is it?

Ipswich were promoted after just a season in the Championship following relegation from just one season in the Premier League after back-to-back promotions before that, but their popular Manager Kieran McKenna has since opted to take a break from the game, allowing former Bournemouth, Wolves and Strasbourg boss Gary O’Neill another pop at trying to keep a club in the top tier of English football.

O’Neill has been given some reinforcements for his project with Brazilian forward Emersonn joining from Toulouse, Daizen Maeda joins from Celtic as Abdul Fatawa heads over from Leicester. Savvy acquisitions include Issa Diop from Fulham and Kjell Scherpen, a Dutch goalkeeper playing previously in Belgium for Union Saint-Gilloise.

I’ve not been to Portman Road for a while so it’s a trip I have long wanted to chalk off, I did attempt to come here a couple of seasons ago for a friendly verses Luton Town but upon arrival found out the game was being played at Colchester so had to quickly re-route.

I’ve double checked the venue for tonight, I’m on the road mid afternoon for a three-hour drive down the A1 & A14 and I arrive with plenty of time (post quick stop at a KFC), sun kissed in warm and muggy Suffolk.

The Venue

As always I did a bit of due-diligence with parking and knowing only two stands were in use tonight, I thought I could get quite close to the ground so parked on Crescent Road, which is directly off Portman Road and only a five minute walk to the stadium, it’s for parking permits Mon-Sat or 2 hours no return but free for anyone after 6pm weekdays, you have to read the signs you see, no good for Saturday matches but perfect for tonight.

It’s a nice leafy road of large detached houses just off the scruffy looking high street at the top of the hill, I walk down the quaint Portman Road and over the traffic lights of Handford Road, the floodlights nearing of the stadium, a huge blue mural of Bobby Robson is the first thing that greets you which is on the side of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

I love the Cobbold Stand, the back of the black pitched roof is propped up by white beams, it reminds me of the 80’s and those glory days of Ipswich in Europe, Ipswich Town Football Club written in large writing on the roof, it takes me back to Match & Shoot magazines where John Wark would be standing outside in a Fisons sponsored tracksuit with an oversized bottle of Bells Scotch Whiskey for yet another man of the match performance.

I have a quick browse in the club shop to pass some time before walking around to the back of the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand where I’ll be seated tonight. Usually, I’m side on to the action, sometimes I’m even accredited in the press seating area, not tonight, tickets are sparse with only two sides of the stadium open and I’m in behind the goal.

The stand itself is two tiered, I’m at the back of the bottom tier but on row ZZ. To my right is disabled seating on a platform which obscures my view of the goal.

I’ve chosen the block in the corner thinking I’ll be out of sight with plenty of space but the players tunnel is directly to my left and there’s plenty of people squeezed in here, many getting their first selfie or autograph of recently appointed gaffer O'Neill who's happy to stand for pics below, the large two tiered West Stand is empty but for a few club personnel and media, likewise the Bobby Robson Stand opposite, the Cobbold Stand to the right sits in sunshine with a large scattering of home fans in both tiers.

The ground is homely, traditional, enclosed, it feels a bit like a smaller styled Goodison Park with the stands all connected together, blue seating, two tiered, one of the true old English stadiums still around, a place that has real character and charm.

The Game

By now the stand I’m in (bottom tier at least) and the Cobbold across the way is full, the rest of the place is empty as the two teams come out, Ipswich in blue, Le Havre in all black, the French team look comfortable in possession to a point, without really having anything threatening enough to penetrate the Ipswich back line.

Town have size and physique in Cedric Kipre at the back, the Tractor Boys are 4-3-3 and are more direct than Le Havre and look to counter forward down the wings, Maeda is busy cutting in on the left whilst young Tudor Mendel has some tricks out right, neither team however can prize opportunity in a dull first half which is slow tempo, Maeda blazing one shot over the nearest we come to even calling an attempt.

I don’t dislike what I see from Le Havre though, they play possession based football out of their defence, have no rush in getting the ball forward, I can’t quite tell whether it’s a five they play at the back, or if their holding midfielder Junior Mwanga is just dropping so deep to collect the ball? It could be four with him often sitting in? Their full backs don't really get forward enough to inspire me as wing backs?

I like the tall Amir Richardson who they have on loan from Fiorentina, a leggy central midfielder with technique, he stands out as a top player (having just been to the World Cup with Morocco), whilst in advanced positions, out left is Yanis Zouaoui, busy, with plenty of ability, but they can’t really get a player I liked having watched play for Monaco’s youth team before joining Le Havre, Joan Tincres up front is an isolated young figure.

The Score

At half time Ipswich make nine changes but Le Havre remain the same, the home team now have the bit between their teeth, front foot football played a little quicker through the lines, they pose more threat in forward areas, midfielder Sindre Walle Egeli is getting on the ball and making things happen, he’s combining with Jack Clarke who’s a player I’ve heard plenty about, but not watched a lot of, he reminds me of a Grealish or Maddison type and just looks to have that bit of extra special swagger about him. It’s no secret here, before the game when asking any young Ipswich fan who’s interviewed on the PA “what will the score be?” before the obvious “who’s your favourite player?” most will say "2-0" & "Jack Clarke". He’s a good-looking show pony who knows he’s a good player, but he also puts the effort in and tries to make things happen in a positive way. Busy and effective.

And because of this faster front foot football now being played opportunities arise, new signing from Leicester City, Abdul Fatawa has looked electric down the right wing since entering the field, he’s into the box and stands up for Chuba Akpom who heads a looping ball into the back of the net. First (and only) blood Ipswich.

That goal leads to a few changes in the away sides rank, all players they have available are pretty much used in the later stages, the second half spectacle dies somewhat, there are moments of things that nearly happen, Greaves has a header straight at the keeper and there’s another one by someone, somewhere along the line that almost does the same, it’s all played at the far side of the pitch so often and with the light dimming is tricky to see, but other than the goal? The biggest cheer is when the huge Issa Diop runs thirty yards to intercept a counter-attacking Le Havre break away, he simply muscles his opponent out of sight and comes away with the ball to rapturous home applause.

The Stars

Plenty on show from Ipswich who I must admit, look better prepared for Premier League football, perhaps, than they did the last time they were promoted? Squad depth is key and I feel they have a couple of decent options in every position? Leif Davis was very good bombing forward from left back in the first half, Ben Johnson offered a more composed defensive orientated option in the second, the huge Cedric Kipre played with a cigar on at centre half next to the solid skipper Dara O’Shea in the first 45, whilst in the second period, the equally huge Issa Diop paired with the left footed Jacob Greaves who is a defender I really like the look of.

In midfield Cameron Humphreys did well, picking the ball up in deep pockets, busy, crowd favourite Marcelino Nunez can certainly play a bit, he used to wear the Canary colours of Norwich City before switching rivalries at the start of last season, whilst I was really impressed with young Norwegian international Sindre Walle Egeli who was combative, forward-thinking, energetic, and could also spray a pass.

Do Ipswich have enough in attack to survive in the world’s best league this season coming? My only question, Daizen Maeda is a player I really like the look of, but those who have watched him more than me, have questioned his finesse in the final third, can he deliver double digit goals and assists? I don’t know? I like Maeda, I like the direct pace of Abdul Fatawu, and I really like the difference Jack Clarke brings the team, but although Chuba Akpom and George Hirst are very gritty good footballers, do they have the goal threat to net regularly in the Premier League? Between them all I’m not so sure? That’s not to say all aren’t brilliant individual footballers who can each do their bit.

As for Le Havre, they impressed as individuals who collectively didn’t set Portman Road alight, Amir Richardson was a tall stand out footballer who looked strong and technical in midfield, in fact ideal for Premier League football, whilst the athletic looking Yanis Zouaoui was one I knew little about, but is now one I have new found respect for. At 28 he’s probably a little late to kick on to anything better than Ligue 1 football (this will only be his third year at the level) but as a left sided footballer who can contribute in defence or attack, he certainly offers good quality and work rate which are two staples of my own football dietary requirements.

Others to do ok include midfielder Junior Mwanga who dropped deep to keep everything ticking but didn’t always pick the right pass, skipper Rassoul Ndiaye ahead of him was powerful and tidy in possession, Joan Tincres unfortunately quiet, I still think there’s a player in there somewhere with him.

The Verdict

A weird friendly to arrange perhaps? Le Havre didn’t bring any fans, Ipswich only sold 6,000 tickets and I don’t think the test was enough for Town to get much benefit from? Perhaps a better work out for the away side as they tested themselves against the pace and power of a Premier League opponent, but this was not a match up that I had on my initial pre-season bingo card, and it’s probably not a match up that will be replicated (certainly not by myself) in the future.

That said, minutes gained ahead of the season, Le Havre are an ‘ok’ French side that might, most-likely, probably struggle (they finished fourteenth in an eighteen team league last season). Ipswich are a better than 'ok' English team, that might also struggle in the Premier League, but after watching them play, after seeing what they have in depth, they might do better than first anticipated? They certainly have enough quality to survive, but they will need clean sheets and goals, if they are to do so, If they get that right, they might even surprise a few?

The Teams

Ipswich Town: Alex Palmer (Kayne van Oevelen 66), James McAtee (Darnell Furlong 46), Dara O'Shea (Jacob Greaves 46), Cedric Kipre (Issa Diop 46), Leif Davis (Ben Johnson 46), Marcelino Nunez (Fin Barbrook 46), Cameron Humphreys (George Hirst 66), Anis Mehmeti (Sindre Walle Egeli 46), Tudor Mendel (Abdul Fatawu 46), Emersonn (Chuba Akpom 46), Daizen Maeda (Jack Clarke 46).

Le Havre: Lionel Mpasi (Mori Diaw 46), Junior Mwanga (Kaito Mizuta 68), Amir Richardson (Mokrane Bentoumi 81), Rassoul Ndiaye (Ebroni Gnoan 81), Ayumu Seko (Daren Mosengo 58), Yanis Zouaoui (Enzo Koffi 68), Joan Tincres (Hakim Dongopandji 58), Vincent Sasso (Matheo Bodmer 81), Simon Ebonog (Ismail Bouneb 81), Timothee Pembele (Djibril Ouziad 68), Georges Gomis.

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 4th August 2026, Portman Road, Ipswich (att 6,669).