Ipswich Town star aiming at retirement

Sone Aluko has been experiencing various aspects of football as his playing career comes to an end, including viewing Ipswich Town games with the club’s analysts when he is not part of the matchday squad.

The 34-year-old is still registered to play for the Blues, having last started in their 2-1 FA Cup loss to Maidstone United last month.

He has only played two minutes in the Championship this season, and it is unclear what part he will play in the latter months of the season.

Regardless, he’s had the opportunity to work closely with manager Kieran McKenna and assistant Martyn Pert, which he regarded as a ‘fantastic’ experience.

“Their work ethic is second to none,” he went on to say. “Their willingness to allow me to ask questions and learn from them.

“In terms of analysis, I watch the majority of games when I’m not playing with the analytical crew at the top of the stadium.

“I’m learning so much about football this late in my career. I can’t say enough good things about what they’ve showed me.

This role isn’t entirely new for Aluko, who has spent a lot of time on the bench in recent months. He appreciates being able to assess games from afar, but prefers to do so from a higher vantage point.

The ideal position is right in front of the press box at Portman Road, where the analysts watch the game and devise a strategy for the second half.

“It’s something I’ve naturally been doing before, but I prefer the view up there,” he said.

“When I return to the dressing room at halftime, many of the players, particularly the attacking players, will ask me how I’m watching the game, what changes I believe they could make, and what tweaks they could make.

“For me, it made sense to go higher and further away from the game. You have a better tactical understanding of the situation.

“There was a change. The analysts said, “You might as well come and watch it with us,” and the manager began asking, “What do you think?” How do you view it?

“It just became a natural evolution, and I’d say it happened organically.

“The analysts are doing their work. They’re on their iPads and computers. They are coding the games, set pieces, and so on.

“That’s exactly how it is. It’s not an official role they want me to take; it just happened organically.”

Ipswich’s propensity to come from behind has been well established. If their first-half performances are poor, McKenna is adept at making the necessary adjustments to turn the game after the interval.

Aluko provided an insight into what goes on in the changing room at half time, although he stressed that it changes from game to game depending on the situation.

“Like any coach, you’re going to make some adjustments,” he said. “The opposite team will make a few tweaks.

“You’ll notice some things if we attack in a certain way or find a weak area, but sometimes you just have to run harder, suffer for longer, and the game will alter. We’re a really fit team, so sometimes it’s simply getting through the phase.

“Half time varies based on the game; I would not claim there is a particular formula.

“Typically, he [McKenna] would go through footage with his coaching staff, the players will discuss what they’re seeing and how they can improve things, and then he’ll come in.

“Sometimes it’s the buildup. ‘Okay, we’ll change this and play the left side’, or ‘the spare player is on the left side and there’s just two on the last line’. This might be anything.

“It depends on the other team’s play, but usually it’s a tactical change and motivation to say, ‘come on, let’s go for it again.'”

“Most of them work through it from Monday to Friday, so a lot of the time, the boys know what they need to do.”

McKenna surprises you with a lot of ranting in the changing room, popularly known as ‘the hairdryer treatment’.

Aluko believes the Northern Irishman’s calm demeanor on the field extends to the half-time break, which benefits the club’s players.

“After you’ve shouted, the lads ask what they need to do,” he said. “It’s always been the case, even back when there were hairdryers; you’ll need some information afterwards.

“His personality type is to get to the point fast and efficiently. He is always calm and measured, therefore he doesn’t see the need for it, and neither does our squad.

“We’re a very motivated bunch, so you never feel like we’re not working hard enough or attempting to tackle. It’s a squad that, with or without a manager, watching a training session makes you think, “These guys must not like each other.”

“We’ll tackle, run hard, and we’re quite competitive. He hasn’t had to push that side since he arrived, maybe once or twice.

Aluko is uncertain about the future.

“It’s something I’ve thought about, but I’ve not made a decision yet,” he said. “When that time comes, I’ll be in a better position to make a definitive decision, but I’m still considering many options. “I’ll save that for another day.”