Why Ipswich Town could turn into Burnley FC 2.0 | OneFootball

Kieran McKenna's side have the same tally as Vincent Kompany's Clarets team at the same stage of their 22/23 campaign

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has been named Championship Manager of the Month for September, with the Tractor Boys appearing poised to kick on after a somewhat slow start.

With 13 points from eight games, McKenna's side sit in ninth position - but have the same tally as Vincent Kompany's Burnley team at the same stage of their 22/23 title-winning season.

The Clarets secured promotion with seven games to spare that season after equalling the record of winning ten league matches in a row, while only losing three throughout.

Given the similarities between these two Championship campaigns are starting to develop, Ipswich could be about to embark on the same trajectory - and we all know what McKenna can do at this level.

Kieran McKenna's September success mirrors early Burnley FC, Vincent Kompany breakthrough

McKenna’s aforementioned Manager of the Month award could definitely be a pivotal moment in Town’s season, achieved through an impressive run that included two wins and a draw.

Perhaps the highlight for Ipswich supporters, though, was watching Jaden Philogene's season commence, even if he missed out on Player of the Month to Hull City's Oli McBurnie.

Having not scored in August, Philogene's September included a stunning hat-trick performance in a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United, followed by his fourth goal in two home matches during the 2-1 victory over Portsmouth.

Returning to McKenna’s award, it mirrors when Vincent Kompany won it for October 2022, which came after his Burnley side had endured a similarly slow start to their promotion campaign.

The Belgian’s team managed to win their opening game of the season against Huddersfield, but that was it for August, suffering an away defeat to Watford and drawing the other three.

However, by October, the Lancashire outfit had found their rhythm and continued their unbeaten run they started in September - with five wins and three draws that saw them top the table.

So, the timing of both managerial awards does suggest a similar pattern is emerging, even if the same points tally after eight games isn't enough.

McKenna's September recognition potentially marks the moment Ipswich find their full groove, just as Kompany's October award signalled Burnley's turnaround.

Yes, Burnley were also unbeaten that September - but it was only a three-game month in which they drew another two.

Kieran McKenna plays a similar way to Vincent Kompany's Burnley side

In Kompany's case, where Sean Dyche's Burnley were renowned for direct and physical football, the current Bayern Munich boss liked to play with the ball at a high tempo.

Similarly, McKenna has once again developed Ipswich into a sophisticated outfit who are capable of controlling games in the second-tier through possession. It is worth noting that the two managers really like to play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and that's how Kompany sets up his Bayern team now - after using variations of it at Burnley.

The aforementioned win against Sheffield United exemplifies this approach for McKenna, who revealed post-match it was a "real good step forward for us", combining patient build-up play with clinical finishing when opportunities arise.

In truth, the Northern Irishman's previous Championship Manager of the Month awards in September 2023 and March 2024 during Ipswich's promotion-winning season show his ability to keep this up in the Championship across longer periods of time.

Which also backs up the idea that McKenna - yet again - possesses the similar approach that allowed Kompany to guide Burnley to championship glory.

Ultimately, just as Burnley never looked back after Kompany's October breakthrough in 22/23, McKenna's recognition could mark the beginning of another unstoppable surge toward the Premier League in Suffolk.