A man called Ironside

There seems to be a clear division amongst Rovers supporters over the contribution made by Joe Ironside. It’s time we talked about what the problem might be.  

First things first, I have always thought Joe represents a model professional. He conducts himself well, rarely argues, despite being kicked continuously by the opposition, and never seems to berate or criticise those around him. In the circumstances you could understand if he was prone to being miffed or surly. Credit to him that he isn’t.

Something has changed this season. His goalscoring rate, never prolific since he joined us, has fallen still further. Furthermore, none of the players who previously provided assists for Joe are currently playing for us: Omari Patrick and Josh Davison have left and Connor Jennings is injured. When Joe scored from open play against Cheltenham at Prenton Park last season, it came from his reaction to a misplaced back-pass. That in itself perhaps tells us something about the sort of opportunities he needs.

Ironside appears to be at his most dangerous as the final part of an attacking movement, particularly when operating in the penalty area and receiving balls from the flanks. Yet Tranmere often seem to be using him earlier in the move, asking him to win the first ball, hold it up and help create attacks for others. As a result, he is frequently doing the work of getting Tranmere up the pitch rather than being in the penalty area when the final ball arrives. Little wonder, perhaps, that he is not scoring much.

That isn’t to say that Ironside shouldn’t be asked to hold the ball up or bring others into play. That has always been part of his game. During his time at Doncaster he was noted for precisely that ability to get close to defenders, hold the ball up and link play, but he also scored 30 goals for them, including 20 league goals in 2023/24. The question isn't whether he can perform that target-man role. It is whether Rovers are giving him enough opportunities to become the finisher after he has done it. 

While Ironside is nominally Tranmere’s centre-forward, the attacking structure increasingly appears to use him as a focal point rather than the principal finisher. He competes for that first ball and brings other players into the attack, while others are getting into the shooting positions. Dylan Jones is the clearest example. He has three league goals this season, while Tom Ince and Zane Okoro have two each.

Perhaps that gives us a clue as to how we might get more from Ironside. Pace isn't his greatest asset, so asking him to win the first ball and then race forward to get on the end of the attack is unlikely to play to his strengths. Dylan Jones can provide the pace and movement to take that attack forward, giving Ironside time to move into the penalty area and become the target for the second phase. The statistics certainly suggest Jones is finding those positions: he is currently recording 2.9 shots per 90 minutes and 0.73 goals per 90. 

And that is where Tom Ince and Charlie Whitaker come into the equation. Ince currently leads Rovers for chances created, with Whitaker also prominent, suggesting that the side already contains players capable of providing the creative part of the equation. Rather than asking Ironside to shoulder so much responsibility for starting attacks, perhaps the aim should be to get the ball from Ironside into those players, and then get him into the box for what comes next. 

There is a slight contradiction in the way Tranmere appear to use Joe Ironside. His strengths suggest a striker you want on the end of an attacking move, yet he is frequently being asked to help start one. Pair him more closely with the quicker Dylan Jones, allow Tom Ince and Charlie Whitaker to shoulder more of the creative responsibility, and Ironside has a better chance of getting into the penalty area rather than watching the attack develop ahead of him.

Whether you call that 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1 or something else almost becomes secondary. The important thing is putting players in positions that make the best use of what they do well.

I suspect that Joe is as frustrated by all this as we are watching. He is too professional to complain or moan; instead, he gets on with doing what has been asked of him. Maybe the question isn't why Joe Ironside isn't scoring enough goals. Maybe the question is why we aren't using him in a way that allows him to. We have to learn to speak football again.