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Keane: First Goal Crucial
Keane: First Goal Crucial
Tuesday, 23rd Mar 2010 23:38

Boss Roy Keane thought his Town side started slowly and crucially conceded the game’s first goal in the 2-0 home defeat to Plymouth.

Keane said: "We were a bit sluggish. The first goal was always going to be vital and we didn't get it.

"The players got a bit frustrated and to give two bad goals away didn't help. We gave them a helping hand and got punished for our mistakes.

"We huffed and puffed but became a bit predictable. The word tonight is frustration, rather than anger.

"Had Plymouth opened us up and scored good goals it would be one thing, but we gave two bad ones away.

"There will be the usual over-reaction but we have to remember it was our first home defeat since September.

"We had good opportunities but didn't hit the target. That was frustrating and has been a problem all season. We don't score enough goals and are liable to give bad ones away."

Plymouth boss Paul Mariner unsurprisingly enjoyed his evening back at Portman Road: "It was a special night. I got a tremendous reception from the fans and can't thank them enough.

"We had a great rapport together when I played here but, equally, it was pretty special coming back in my present role with Plymouth.

"I thought my players were unbelievable and extremely professional. There's a resilience and willingness and these lads really want to get out of this. They're peeved by the situation we're in.

"They're buying into what we're trying to do and I'm loving working with them. Everybody played their part and even the lads on the bench made an impact.

"Every game has been a six-pointer for many months but what we've got to build now is confidence. When you're at the bottom of the table that's difficult.

"I thought it was going to be our night and it turned out to be that way. We were blocking stuff and heading it away."


Photo: Action Images



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osborne1nil added 09:37 - Mar 24
Nice to see RK trying the same team for a little consistency, shame he has waited until almost the end of the season to do so.
The substitutions were a joke and the performance divided even deeper into the mire after them, simple thing was they were poor, like the performance.
Why take of Pablo and replace him with the ineffective Healey, why not go for it as you were at home and losing. He could have taken off Walters, who I have been saying for weeks now should be dropped as his performances justify. Edwards should have been replaced by Jamie Peters, who I feel this season has been very unfortunate to not have been selected regularly. He has the ability to run and cross and tackle if need be and WILL stay wide on the wing. Town tried to play the ball all through the centre when a ball down the wing was screaming out. They had a make shift defence that performed better than our fairly set one.

Why did Keane not scream at the players about keeping the ball down? Town played Plymouths game of pumping the ball in the air, when does that ever work for us?

Very, very disappointed and shows the ability of the Managers. One who has spent millions and has on paper one of the best teams in the league but has massively under performed / under motivated his players, compared to one who has very limited funds and a distinctly average team, who have been motivated to fight for their lives to remain in this division in the few months since taking control.
Never mind if its our first home defeat since September (which in itself is good), it was another very poor performance by an unmotivated team. If this carries on to the end of the season I feel that unfortunatley there will be an awful lot of 'supporters' decide not to renew whilst this weekly display of rubbish is there. I for one will renew whatever league they are in but for those who struggle to raise the spare funds to go or sacrifice other activites to attend PR may just decide whilst this rubbish is there most matches and RK are there, they won't be. I can only hope M E was there and watched this inept display! Listening on the radio on the way back after the game it was sad to hear that I couple of guys who have been watching Town each season since the 60's have not seen such rubbish in all the time they have been going and both indicated they may not renew, says it all.
Rant over, COYB.
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MickeyMills added 09:39 - Mar 24
This surely must be the final nail in Keane's coffin
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DrJeckyll added 09:43 - Mar 24
i didn't go to the game but the stats show we had 20 shots to their 9, from that it looks like we outplayed them. Some people will always judge the performance on the results, it's an emotional game for some. Like i said i didn't see the game so i will reserve judgement
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ITFC1985 added 09:47 - Mar 24
very poor performance last night, we lacked width which to be honest isnt anything new but last night it showed, i have to say Keanes decision to bring on Leadbitter and Garvan wasnt a good one we needed someone with abit of pace i think Peters for Edwards would have been a better change and maybe Leadbitter for Norris, We had 3 centre midfielders on for the last 25 minutes and it just didnt work, Plymouth were very solid defensively and we were never going to pass through them, i think the game wouldve been different if we had of scored when we were on top but that happens in football.

Delaney had a poor game (his first for ages) hopefully he'll bounce back, McAuley was solid and won everything in the air.

We have got some tough away trips coming up, but i feel we'll snatch something at Swansea and certainly get a result at Derby, maybe a draw with Reading at home and a win against Doncaster, im keeping optimistic, we will be safe i just hope its before the last game of the season because as we know against Blades is always a tough game!!

COYB!!!!
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GetInTheGameScowcrof added 10:05 - Mar 24
Last night was the worst performance I've seen this season. I don't mind getting beat by a team like Newcastle, as they outclassed us all over the pitch, but to lose 0-2 at home to Plymouth is just not good enough.

I've backed Keane all season, but last night has just pushed me over the edge! I've never been so angry watching Ipswich, and I'm afraid to say I booed the team off the pitch.

Why is Colback used in dead ball situations when Leadbitter isn't in the side? I've not seen him put a good cross in yet! I felt we missed Garvan's distribution last night. Everything was through the bloody middle. Walters was continually drifting inside from his wing, and to be honest, it's about time he got dropped. I know he's our Captain, but he's been crap recently.

Pabs did well last night, but I understand taking him off instead of Murphy, as Murphy will stick the ball in the net if you give him a chance. Replacing him with Healy was a wrong decision, I'd of brought Wickham on, at least that would've given us a bit of clout up front.

Rosenior has got to come back for David Wright, he looked very poor and slow last night. Felt sorry for O'Connor at left back as he had no help from left midfield (Walters) all night.

I can't see us picking up many points from the rest of the season either, even Doncaster will get a point at PR.

I'm afraid to say but I'm the latest member of the "Keane Out" club. The players have got to pull their bloody fingers out though, and take account for themselves too. Not bloody good enough.

PS

A poor old 80 year old lady had to hear me use some foul language last night, and I apologise to her!
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BeattiesBeerGut added 10:38 - Mar 24
Its ridiculous. We win a couple of games and Keane is a God leading us back to the promised land. We lose one due to our season long habit of not scoring and he is an blithering idiot who needs to go now ! ITFC stats from last night : possession 55% v 45%. Shots on goal 11 v 4. Shots off target 9 v 4.
People need to get a sense of perspective. Until we get a couple of reliable strikers we will be firmly entrenched in the lower or middle reaches of the second tier of English football.
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hype313 added 11:07 - Mar 24
Awful, Atrocious, arduous. This club is going nowhere fast, who's to blame?? I don't know if it's the players, the manager or the owners?? Keane said yesterday in the star that " the fans can see the improvements" really?? on what?? Andy dunn said in the sunday's that Keane management style will never work which is why he will never be regarded for any of the top jobs, I tend to agree.
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Norwichbeater added 11:07 - Mar 24
beattiesbeergut i presume u weren't there last night. I am a keane supporter and have been going to footy for 35 years. U can say wot u like about stats and possession however i have to hold my hands up and say that was 1 of the worst 1st half perfomances that i have ever seen!!
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PaulMariner added 11:09 - Mar 24
Rubbish, get him out for gods sake!
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BeattiesBeerGut added 11:20 - Mar 24
I don't get to go to many games as I live in Scotland and its a bit of a commute :-)
I get match reports from my brother and he tells of a marked improvement this (calendar)year as opposed to last (in general, not referring to last night).

I just think people might think it through before calling for RK's head. This is what is would mean if we did it now :
- Big payoff to RK.
- Instability at crucial part of season (currently getting about 1.5 points game which will easily keep us up).
- Do we have a ready replacement ? (will Curbishley want to trade fishing/gardening for a relegation battle in the 2nd tier I wonder ?).

The time to look at this is in the summer perhaps. I think Mowbray will be sacked by Celtic post-season and would like to see him here as he gets team to play our way.
-

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MightyPaz added 11:26 - Mar 24
I've backed Keane all season but am starting to get a bit concerned by the progress.

The players look tight, and it takes a special leader to get them through this sort of thing.

Keane himself says he needs to learn lessons, but I'm wondering if he has the character to do this. He only seems to empathise with players like himself, and there are no players like him around.

I'll back him to the end of the season, but a good review needs to happen over the summer, another season like this won't be good enough.
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CheersThanksTa added 11:30 - Mar 24
Lets survive and get someone new in then??!!??

At this rate I cant see us surviving. Scrape home against Scunny and Barnsley, woeful against Watford and Plymouth. Still have Reading , Forest and Newcastle to play, cant see many points from those. Another two wins is the absolute minimum.

Some of the players are poor(not in the friggin pocket though), as a result the quality of football is poor and the manager seems to be clueless(certainly in the transfer market- Murphy aside). Cant be doing with all this "believe" nonsense. When my team are humbled by a very average team such as Plymouth, who are second from bottom, AT HOME, then Ive had enough. Shocking
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Brockleyblue added 11:33 - Mar 24
The team for the rest of the season should be:
G: Murphy
RB: Rosenior
LB: Wright
CB: MacAuley
CB: Delaney
RM: Peters
CM: Leadbitter
CM: Garvan
LM: Colback
F: Murphy
F: Counago

And if needed bring Walters and/or Norris on as subs at some point. It really isn't rocket science Roy.
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Bluroo added 12:01 - Mar 24
Calm down doom mongers, were as safe as houses. Bit of a write of season, but a building one and the signs are next season will be an improvement. All this 'sack Keane' when we draw or lose and 'the sun shines out of Keane's backside' everytime we win is wearing a bit thin. Yes we lost a game but the team has still been on an upward curve since Keane's new methods and players started to bed in.

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irishblue added 12:03 - Mar 24
As Irish man and cork man (Keane home town) I was delighted to see so many Irish lads playing in the blue and white of Ipswich. I have been an Ipswich supporter for 30 years - but I can't see for the life of me how keane has got away with this dissmal season for so long. Any other manager would have been shown the door. He has money to spend and honestly none of his signing have proved to be fanastic - well maybe leadbitter. The rest have not been a major improvement on what was there before he took over. Keane seems to want to conduct all his business through the media. All of this should be done behind closed doors.

For me - His position will have to reviewed at the end of the season. I honestly think we are worse off since he took over. Fighting relegation or mid table is not good enough for Ipswich - especially when you look at the league this year. (We should be challenging nearthe top)

Keane keeps coming out with waffle at the end of games - trying to justify crap performances. Enough words - we want actions and performances on the pitch. (IHe has had a year in the job - and we are not improving)

I hope Evans sees sense - and realises appointing a big name with a big history doesn't work all the time.

Great players don't always a great manager.

Forever a blue. COYB
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Roystheboy added 12:12 - Mar 24
What's with all this Pablo support!!! He is just not good enough why do the supporters in the Sir Bobby Robson stand boo when he is taken off!!!!

He has past his best, just not good enough.
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PaulMariner added 12:13 - Mar 24
Stay up or not Keane has to go, he has no redeeming qualities at all. The club has no future with him in charge, its so depressing.


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stiffshorts added 12:23 - Mar 24
The team lost this game within the first 5 minutes. I turned to the guy next to me and said "we won't win this, we'll do well to avoid defeat", he laughed. I had the last laugh of course.
They came out and the game was flat, no effort, hitting & hoping, poor passes, Plymouth wanted it so much more than us.
Too many wasters on the squad.
As for Roys substitutions? Told me all I need to know.
Season ticket renewal? I think not! Don't say we weren't warned, this has been the worst footballing season I can remember and I've had some!!
I've had enough.

I'll return when the football returns.................
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Mark added 12:34 - Mar 24
The first goal was only crucial because we are playing such poor football and have an inability to pose much of a goal threat, even against smaller teams at home. It wasn't just last night, the Scunthorpe and Barnsley performances were also dull and then there was a horror show at Watford. I can't see any "improvement" and Marcus Evans must be wondering what has happened to his millions!

If we are going to change the manager, soon is the time to do it so the new man can assess the squad in competitive matches before the summer. If we do not change the manager, do we really trust Keane to spend well over the summer?

Leadbitter has been our best midfielder this season, so why is he now on the bench? Was it wise for Keane to publicly critisise him over the yellow cards and then drop him? Why did Peters not appear last night after performing much better than Edwards Saturday? How happy are the players feeling right now about how they are being managed?
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Strider added 12:34 - Mar 24
For the first time in over 30 years i left early last night. I'm not one to go over the top and think that we've played well and improved after the awful start to the season, but last night was abject and unacceptable. What was most disappointing was the lack of passion and commitment to win. Looking at the stats we didn'd get a yellow card and i know i was kicking their players in the stands - you can bet that Keane would have seen yellow back in the day. The game started flat and stayed that way and would like to have seen a real leader on the pitch (Walters not doing it for me) grab the game and show the rest to get stuck in. Looked to me like a group that thinks they are staying up but can't reach the play offs and they are thinking that far to early.
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moomoosereni added 12:53 - Mar 24
I tend to agree with hype313.

Who really is to blame for all of this? Keane is definately not alone in this. Aside a couple of players last night, the rest deserved to have their next months wages taken away from them, and the money put to refunding the fans!

We need some kind of change, and of course the most likely one would be managerial. I'm not a fan of chopping and changing with the managers, never think its good for the club. Having said that, I'm also not a fan of relegation battles and poor, poor showings!
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:57 - Mar 24
Bluroo, i just knew someone would do it , how you can make comments about those who can see the dire state we are in,and go on to say you can see hope for next season, is beyond me,.Its a bloody farce this season, we have just been beaten by 2nd bottom club and you see everything coming good next season !.
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Cornwalltractor added 12:59 - Mar 24
In Keane we rust...before this team siezes up completely and bits start falling off the tractor, please please leave Mr Keane. A player maybe; a manager, no!
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:07 - Mar 24
moomooserini, i agree the players were awful, but i still ask ,why is Keane unable to motivate them, Like ive said before its either players at fault, manager at fault or both, i personally dont think we have a manager who can gel the team,and encourage the players ,the players look and play like its a chore,I cant see any signs that Keane can do what is required.
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1RWR added 13:18 - Mar 24
Mr Optimistic here is slowly coming round to the thought process of changing manager, something I've fought against all season.
I manage my own company, any problems & I get it between the eyes, no difference in football!
Get to the safety point in the table than either get rid or plan a change for next season.
Sorry Mr Keane, it just hasn't worked out, sometimes it does & sometimes it doesn't, sadly it's the former!
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