| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective 07:54 - Oct 18 with 1251 views | Dyland |
Firstly, there's another team on the pitch. Boro are good, with some really good players, and they got their tactics spot on. We had to be bang on our game to get a result and we weren't. One could stop there tbh :)
It didn't help that our two red hot form players, Davis and Philogene, had off nights, the former having some good moments but also ones of sheer rubbishness. So frustrating for the lad who by his own reckoning has his mojo back. And Billy? Does he have a home sick problem?! Add to that Matusiwa who was a 6 at best, rather than his recent 8s.
Cajuste, except for one great run, looked lethargic. No closing down, no bite. Wandering around out of posession and how he didn't release Egeli in that break only he can say.
Is/was there a problem with our prep with evening away games? Or can we put it down as a one off? The more superstitious may point to the manager of the month curse, and our record after international breaks. So frustrating after building some momentum.
It was entertaining, notwithstanding the infuriating mistakes from a Town perspective, and it ebbed and flowed nicely for the neutral.
Sliding doors. If we put away the penalty it's a different game (man oh man does George need to find some form, see below); if Kipre doesn't manage a once in a lifetime self nutmegging keystone cop own goal (from a set piece gifrted by more slapstick defending) it's a different game. Maybe.
Our subs look excellent. Nunez could've replaced Cajuste earlier, even at half time? Some on here regulalry bemoan McK's lack of plan B tactically, which is way too simplistic because our formation and systems are pretty fluid. But a valid criticism imho is the timing of subs. Last night we made the whole change early enough but as I say, maybe one of them could have been sooner. And you'd have also thought Azor will be getting a start soon...?
Leadership, leadership. Oh, Samy Samy. I like O'Shea despite his ponderous play when inviting the press (it is obviously not nearly as bad as this but it does invoke memoric shudders of watching Toto, Luke et al under Lambert), he's a good defender and props for a marvelous headed goal. But the end of the match! Furlong needs berating for keeping on passing it back maybe, but grasp the jeffing nettle ffs! GET THE FOOKING BALL IN THE BOX! The time was literally up when it finally went in so no chance of a second loose ball and a bit of luck. Extremely poor.
Boro deserved the win in the end but except for Hirst's poor form and some unusual (hopefully) abberations from Davis and Kipre for the first goal it could have been different. I am still confident rather than hopeful we can get it right and have a good season.
COYFB. |  |
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:24 - Oct 18 with 1145 views | Steve_M |
Yes, good point about there being another team on the pitch and Boro are in a good place at the moment in terms of confidence and belief.
I was very disappointed that, when Boro stepped it up around the 30 minute mark, we failed to go with them. Time and again we were left massively exposed as they broke and didn't seem to know how to counter it. Cajuste had the sort of game that made me have questions about him coming back in the Summer, SWE is a promising player but didn't look ready for that sort of game last night.
With McAteer off the pitch, Hirst is definitely top of the scapegoat list at the moment, he's not going to help that with such a poor penalty and he's not playing particularly well but it's definitely in the myopia and screaming abuse stage with some of our fans.
I understand why we want to persist in trying to play across the back but with Furlong/DOS/Kipre on his wrong foot and Palmer it's incredibly slow and painful and we just invite pressure by playing it so slowly. I'm not sure it's working well enough for us at the moment, it was telling yesterday that - as against Norwich - we were better once we mixed it up a bit more. At the end though, with seconds left, painfully tapping the ball across the middle of the pitch for Furlong to look scared on it was never going to bring an equaliser.
On top of that, our Summer transfer buiness still leaves plenty of questions: are we strong enough across the front line? have we got enough depth in central midfield? how long will it take Azon and SWE to get up to speed in this division? what did we sign Akpom to do?
Our away performances this season haven't been good enough, they need to improve if we are to look like an automatic promotion team rather than merely a play-off one. And we need to be much better at the parts of the game when we're not playing well, managing those moments stops us giving such tediously bad goals away as the first last night and makes for a different second half. [Post edited 18 Oct 8:29]
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| Oh, we are a playoff team for sure on 08:32 - Oct 18 with 1107 views | Dyland |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:24 - Oct 18 by Steve_M |
Yes, good point about there being another team on the pitch and Boro are in a good place at the moment in terms of confidence and belief.
I was very disappointed that, when Boro stepped it up around the 30 minute mark, we failed to go with them. Time and again we were left massively exposed as they broke and didn't seem to know how to counter it. Cajuste had the sort of game that made me have questions about him coming back in the Summer, SWE is a promising player but didn't look ready for that sort of game last night.
With McAteer off the pitch, Hirst is definitely top of the scapegoat list at the moment, he's not going to help that with such a poor penalty and he's not playing particularly well but it's definitely in the myopia and screaming abuse stage with some of our fans.
I understand why we want to persist in trying to play across the back but with Furlong/DOS/Kipre on his wrong foot and Palmer it's incredibly slow and painful and we just invite pressure by playing it so slowly. I'm not sure it's working well enough for us at the moment, it was telling yesterday that - as against Norwich - we were better once we mixed it up a bit more. At the end though, with seconds left, painfully tapping the ball across the middle of the pitch for Furlong to look scared on it was never going to bring an equaliser.
On top of that, our Summer transfer buiness still leaves plenty of questions: are we strong enough across the front line? have we got enough depth in central midfield? how long will it take Azon and SWE to get up to speed in this division? what did we sign Akpom to do?
Our away performances this season haven't been good enough, they need to improve if we are to look like an automatic promotion team rather than merely a play-off one. And we need to be much better at the parts of the game when we're not playing well, managing those moments stops us giving such tediously bad goals away as the first last night and makes for a different second half. [Post edited 18 Oct 8:29]
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In both the positive and negative sense. I still think we can challenge autos in theory, but there are a lot of uknowns and unanswered ifs for that to happen. It's so very Ipswich :) | |
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:35 - Oct 18 with 1085 views | cbower |
Excellent post. In total agreement. |  |
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:36 - Oct 18 with 1080 views | TractorJack |
Re Furlong, think it was a mistake not using Young as one of the subs especially after we got one back, you knew they were going to sit off. You couldn't ask for someone better to chuck some crosses in. |  | | |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:38 - Oct 18 with 1061 views | cbower |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:24 - Oct 18 by Steve_M |
Yes, good point about there being another team on the pitch and Boro are in a good place at the moment in terms of confidence and belief.
I was very disappointed that, when Boro stepped it up around the 30 minute mark, we failed to go with them. Time and again we were left massively exposed as they broke and didn't seem to know how to counter it. Cajuste had the sort of game that made me have questions about him coming back in the Summer, SWE is a promising player but didn't look ready for that sort of game last night.
With McAteer off the pitch, Hirst is definitely top of the scapegoat list at the moment, he's not going to help that with such a poor penalty and he's not playing particularly well but it's definitely in the myopia and screaming abuse stage with some of our fans.
I understand why we want to persist in trying to play across the back but with Furlong/DOS/Kipre on his wrong foot and Palmer it's incredibly slow and painful and we just invite pressure by playing it so slowly. I'm not sure it's working well enough for us at the moment, it was telling yesterday that - as against Norwich - we were better once we mixed it up a bit more. At the end though, with seconds left, painfully tapping the ball across the middle of the pitch for Furlong to look scared on it was never going to bring an equaliser.
On top of that, our Summer transfer buiness still leaves plenty of questions: are we strong enough across the front line? have we got enough depth in central midfield? how long will it take Azon and SWE to get up to speed in this division? what did we sign Akpom to do?
Our away performances this season haven't been good enough, they need to improve if we are to look like an automatic promotion team rather than merely a play-off one. And we need to be much better at the parts of the game when we're not playing well, managing those moments stops us giving such tediously bad goals away as the first last night and makes for a different second half. [Post edited 18 Oct 8:29]
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You've just added to Dyland's already excellent post with even more top stuff. That's quite an achievement. Good work Steve. | |
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:46 - Oct 18 with 1019 views | Westcountryblue |
We were arrogant in the way we set up away from home.
We should have been more compact, more organised, aggressive and put the likes of Hackney into the stands. Instead, we allowed him to trot around like the butcher's dog.
We are not top 2 quality at the moment and McKenna needs to address his tactics and the way we set up away from home.
If it wasn't for Palmer, we might be digesting losing by 3 or 4 goals last night. |  | | |
| Good call on 08:49 - Oct 18 with 1005 views | Dyland |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:36 - Oct 18 by TractorJack |
Re Furlong, think it was a mistake not using Young as one of the subs especially after we got one back, you knew they were going to sit off. You couldn't ask for someone better to chuck some crosses in. |
Valid questions of McK, constructive criticism innit.
I'm unusually phlegmatic this morning. | |
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| Not sure it's arrogance on 08:54 - Oct 18 with 960 views | Dyland |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:46 - Oct 18 by Westcountryblue |
We were arrogant in the way we set up away from home.
We should have been more compact, more organised, aggressive and put the likes of Hackney into the stands. Instead, we allowed him to trot around like the butcher's dog.
We are not top 2 quality at the moment and McKenna needs to address his tactics and the way we set up away from home.
If it wasn't for Palmer, we might be digesting losing by 3 or 4 goals last night. |
Naievety maybe? Semantics, but I agree the underlying problem was a lack of aggression and intensity. This is part of my prep question because our midfield didn't look especially 'up for it', whatever that means or says. | |
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 09:13 - Oct 18 with 918 views | RIPbobby |
We need an injury for this team to find an identity. At the moment we are seeing the players the managers hopes will do a job, but if one of those changes is forced then we might find something special. Over the years we have seen injuries lead to a great side.
On another note I am so looking forward to Jack Clarke starting on Tuesday. A much better player than those give him credit for. |  | | |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 09:23 - Oct 18 with 883 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
Well said, the performance overall though was as frustrating as the queue to get in! |  |
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| Interesting on 09:46 - Oct 18 with 810 views | Dyland |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 09:13 - Oct 18 by RIPbobby |
We need an injury for this team to find an identity. At the moment we are seeing the players the managers hopes will do a job, but if one of those changes is forced then we might find something special. Over the years we have seen injuries lead to a great side.
On another note I am so looking forward to Jack Clarke starting on Tuesday. A much better player than those give him credit for. |
I'm not disagreeing per se but can you substantiate that? "Over the years we have seen injuries lead to a great side."
EDIT: And I know you're not wishing injury on a player, rather saying that enforced change can be a silver lining. [Post edited 18 Oct 9:48]
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 09:52 - Oct 18 with 787 views | waveneyblue |
Excellent post.
Sums it up really nicely. |  | | |
| Interesting on 10:05 - Oct 18 with 740 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Interesting on 09:46 - Oct 18 by Dyland |
I'm not disagreeing per se but can you substantiate that? "Over the years we have seen injuries lead to a great side."
EDIT: And I know you're not wishing injury on a player, rather saying that enforced change can be a silver lining. [Post edited 18 Oct 9:48]
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He makes a fair point.
KM loved hutch in the 10 role, it took a wes injury to force him to play hutch on the right and the rest is history.
Similar to hladky wasn't it.. Walton started, got injured hladky played and kept the shirt.
Edmundson got injured we played Burgess.... |  |
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| Walton-Hladky is a great example on 11:06 - Oct 18 with 646 views | Dyland |
| Interesting on 10:05 - Oct 18 by FrimleyBlue |
He makes a fair point.
KM loved hutch in the 10 role, it took a wes injury to force him to play hutch on the right and the rest is history.
Similar to hladky wasn't it.. Walton started, got injured hladky played and kept the shirt.
Edmundson got injured we played Burgess.... |
nft | |
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 11:43 - Oct 18 with 542 views | billlm |
Good post, but more hopeful than like I was confident,
Bit of a gutless team away from home big problem, but did hinge on a penalty and own goal,
Probably would have had the draw and classed as a good result,
Hopeful, |  | | |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 11:47 - Oct 18 with 520 views | LankHenners |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:24 - Oct 18 by Steve_M |
Yes, good point about there being another team on the pitch and Boro are in a good place at the moment in terms of confidence and belief.
I was very disappointed that, when Boro stepped it up around the 30 minute mark, we failed to go with them. Time and again we were left massively exposed as they broke and didn't seem to know how to counter it. Cajuste had the sort of game that made me have questions about him coming back in the Summer, SWE is a promising player but didn't look ready for that sort of game last night.
With McAteer off the pitch, Hirst is definitely top of the scapegoat list at the moment, he's not going to help that with such a poor penalty and he's not playing particularly well but it's definitely in the myopia and screaming abuse stage with some of our fans.
I understand why we want to persist in trying to play across the back but with Furlong/DOS/Kipre on his wrong foot and Palmer it's incredibly slow and painful and we just invite pressure by playing it so slowly. I'm not sure it's working well enough for us at the moment, it was telling yesterday that - as against Norwich - we were better once we mixed it up a bit more. At the end though, with seconds left, painfully tapping the ball across the middle of the pitch for Furlong to look scared on it was never going to bring an equaliser.
On top of that, our Summer transfer buiness still leaves plenty of questions: are we strong enough across the front line? have we got enough depth in central midfield? how long will it take Azon and SWE to get up to speed in this division? what did we sign Akpom to do?
Our away performances this season haven't been good enough, they need to improve if we are to look like an automatic promotion team rather than merely a play-off one. And we need to be much better at the parts of the game when we're not playing well, managing those moments stops us giving such tediously bad goals away as the first last night and makes for a different second half. [Post edited 18 Oct 8:29]
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Yeah agree with OP's assessment and think your 4th and 5th para here speak to something. Furlong is a solid defensive right back but clearly not as comfortable or progressive on the ball as pretty much anyone else we've played there under McKenna. No wonder we're not getting Walle Egeli into these games as much as we should. It's been pointed out on other threads but does seem a waste of Young's talents to have essentially relegated him to back-up LB. Obviously the Townsend injury put us in a tough spot but not sure we've dealt with it particular well on evidence so far.
Which brings us on to the summer recruitment. Not to go overboard and label it too strongly at this stage but I thought at the time there were question marks over it and they're yet to be answered. Why are we carrying four very able right backs? Having lost Delap so early, why is our only alternative to Hirst a player new to the country that took ages to finally get his deal over the line? Why did we spend so much on McAteer (and loan out Ogbene) to bench him for a talented yet very green youngster, with him now not even coming on as we want to put Clarke on the pitch without sacrificing Jaden? Just mentioned on another thread, did we look at the number 10 behind the striker role carefully enough, knowing that we had someone of Omari's profile playing there very well for us over the last couple of years? Why did we sign and register a veteran GK when not doing so would have left us free to bolster a more pressing position? As you say do we have the required depth and variety in midfield?
Obviously it's not a video game where you can pretty much do what you want when you want to and for all the jitteriness over the summer our recruitment wasn't far out from everyone else's in terms of timing, but I think our work in the off-season, as our owners would call it, is looking a bit of a mixed bag at present. |  |
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| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 11:52 - Oct 18 with 493 views | Che |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 08:24 - Oct 18 by Steve_M |
Yes, good point about there being another team on the pitch and Boro are in a good place at the moment in terms of confidence and belief.
I was very disappointed that, when Boro stepped it up around the 30 minute mark, we failed to go with them. Time and again we were left massively exposed as they broke and didn't seem to know how to counter it. Cajuste had the sort of game that made me have questions about him coming back in the Summer, SWE is a promising player but didn't look ready for that sort of game last night.
With McAteer off the pitch, Hirst is definitely top of the scapegoat list at the moment, he's not going to help that with such a poor penalty and he's not playing particularly well but it's definitely in the myopia and screaming abuse stage with some of our fans.
I understand why we want to persist in trying to play across the back but with Furlong/DOS/Kipre on his wrong foot and Palmer it's incredibly slow and painful and we just invite pressure by playing it so slowly. I'm not sure it's working well enough for us at the moment, it was telling yesterday that - as against Norwich - we were better once we mixed it up a bit more. At the end though, with seconds left, painfully tapping the ball across the middle of the pitch for Furlong to look scared on it was never going to bring an equaliser.
On top of that, our Summer transfer buiness still leaves plenty of questions: are we strong enough across the front line? have we got enough depth in central midfield? how long will it take Azon and SWE to get up to speed in this division? what did we sign Akpom to do?
Our away performances this season haven't been good enough, they need to improve if we are to look like an automatic promotion team rather than merely a play-off one. And we need to be much better at the parts of the game when we're not playing well, managing those moments stops us giving such tediously bad goals away as the first last night and makes for a different second half. [Post edited 18 Oct 8:29]
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I doubt we will make the playoffs. We are a pretty average predictable team. |  | | |
| Mixed bag recruitment on 13:14 - Oct 18 with 370 views | Dyland |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 11:47 - Oct 18 by LankHenners |
Yeah agree with OP's assessment and think your 4th and 5th para here speak to something. Furlong is a solid defensive right back but clearly not as comfortable or progressive on the ball as pretty much anyone else we've played there under McKenna. No wonder we're not getting Walle Egeli into these games as much as we should. It's been pointed out on other threads but does seem a waste of Young's talents to have essentially relegated him to back-up LB. Obviously the Townsend injury put us in a tough spot but not sure we've dealt with it particular well on evidence so far.
Which brings us on to the summer recruitment. Not to go overboard and label it too strongly at this stage but I thought at the time there were question marks over it and they're yet to be answered. Why are we carrying four very able right backs? Having lost Delap so early, why is our only alternative to Hirst a player new to the country that took ages to finally get his deal over the line? Why did we spend so much on McAteer (and loan out Ogbene) to bench him for a talented yet very green youngster, with him now not even coming on as we want to put Clarke on the pitch without sacrificing Jaden? Just mentioned on another thread, did we look at the number 10 behind the striker role carefully enough, knowing that we had someone of Omari's profile playing there very well for us over the last couple of years? Why did we sign and register a veteran GK when not doing so would have left us free to bolster a more pressing position? As you say do we have the required depth and variety in midfield?
Obviously it's not a video game where you can pretty much do what you want when you want to and for all the jitteriness over the summer our recruitment wasn't far out from everyone else's in terms of timing, but I think our work in the off-season, as our owners would call it, is looking a bit of a mixed bag at present. |
Agreed, though on paper, except probably for the number nine and one positions, it looks very solid. As you say, it's not a computer game, and it's not played on paper. So questions for McKenna and team I guess... | |
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| That's the spirit! on 13:15 - Oct 18 with 368 views | Dyland |
| Thoughts, a reality check, and some perspective on 11:52 - Oct 18 by Che |
I doubt we will make the playoffs. We are a pretty average predictable team. |
nfft | |
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