Ipswich Town column: New additions still needed but 1-1 draw with Southampton showed we are not too far away

It was nice to be back at Portman Road. I think many of us needed the break towards the end of the last campaign, but I felt ready and excited to be back at the place we all call home.

I was also glad we managed to get a point – our first at Portman Road this year!

It was a half decent game overall. Both sides huffed and puffed and a 1-1 draw was probably how it deserved to finish, although I'd argue Town looked the team more capable of winning it.

I've seen mixed reviews on the performance from fans, but I was relatively happy with it to be honest.

We look like a side with an abundance of talent within the ranks, but we just haven’t clicked yet – that's probably exactly what we are.

I know 10 out of the 11 starters on Sunday afternoon were signed in previous seasons, but this is still a group who hasn't had a lot of time shared on the pitch together, which I think has radiated in the way we've been performing so far.

It reminds me a little bit of when Kieran McKenna first took over. The talent is there, but it just needs time. Time to build partnerships, time to build a way of playing and the dreaded saying of 'time to gel'.

I was nervous going into the game, but I left the ground feeling that maybe we aren't a million miles away from where we need to be after all.

Transfer wise we still need more. I always felt we'd lose more players than initially thought this summer, but I’m surprised with just how many we've allowed to let go without replacing them.

I think we may be talking about the void of Sam Morsy a lot this season and although I see some attributes in Azor Matusiwa to suggest he could play that role, the leadership side worries me, as does the quality of depth in that area.

A lot of other clubs are still set to do some big business this summer and I think that will be the same for us.