Football Season Guide

There appears to be a genuine feel-good factor at the division's longest serving club this summer. Ipswich boss, Mick McCarthy has not been given the riches that predecessors, Roy Keane and Paul Jewell enjoyed but the former Wolves supremo has quietly evolved the squad over the close season and provided genuine competition for places - something the Blues have not had for a number of years. McCarthy successfully managed to secure the permanent signings of Jay Tabb, David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy, who all impressed on loan last term. McCarthy will be hoping that continuity and team spirit will give the Tractor Boys a chance of challenging in the top half of the table having been struggling at the wrong end of the division for the last few years. McCarthy greatly improved Ipswich's defensive backbone last term and their renewed solidity may give them a chance as playoff dark horses.