Town boss Paul Jewell assessed the Blues’ 2011/12 fixture list after its release earlier today and says it shows what a tough league the Championship is. The Blues manager begins his first full campaign at Town with an away game at Bristol City, followed by a visit by Hull City.

Jewell said: "It just proves what a tough league this is. Bristol had a slow start last season but picked up and were on a good run when we went down there and beat them.

"Hull were in the Premier League two years ago, Southampton have played at that level and are on a roll after coming up. Then you've got Leeds, Blackpool and Coventry, all who've been in the Premier League, after that.

"I know it's a cliché but it's true, every manager will tell you that every game in this division is tough.

"The fixtures coming out is an exciting time though. Managers, players, supporters, the media, they will all be looking at the games and counting down the days to August 6th."

Photo: Action Images

TimmyH added 19:27 - Jun 17 You have to be realistic - if we had to field 11 players now we would be weaker than at the finish of the season, so in my mind we need at least another 3 players. Midfield defo needs to be strengthened as Bullard and Norris are gone, we possibly need another goal scorer (personally feel although Chopra is a good signing he isn't quite the player he used to be) and certainly need a strong central defender. PJ as others have said will probably get a better style of football back at PR but it isn't getting easier with some big money clubs coming down, but that hasn't stopped teams like Norwich and Blackpool going up recentl and Swansea too, so it's all to play for, we all start on the same amount of points!

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tractorboy2434 added 19:41 - Jun 17 Its quite simple really, we have lost several players, some in key positions, we have signed a striker but our midfield is one of the weakest in the league, we also lack pace all over the pitch, without at least four good signings we will finish lower than last year, I am doubtful whether the club actually has much ambition and I still think cash is a problem, we really need some of the quality of Koumas, Boyd and Nugent to make a difference and we all know that won't happen.

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cressi added 20:26 - Jun 17 Key players what Key players all average McCauly didnt come alive till october then your ten points adrift my view last game of last season keep Wickham and Carson and if the rest want to leave BYE BYE
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Keaneish added 20:57 - Jun 17 How is sharp a better all round player than chopra!? No chance. I'd rather a chopra at 1.5 mil than sharp at 2.3 mil!!
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tractorboy2434 added 21:30 - Jun 17 It would be nice to have a team that can compete in this league, but we have'nt so look forward to another season of mid table mediocrity
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bluearmy4life added 21:37 - Jun 17 Shame the negativity has begun already. We have got a decent manager in PJ, we grab a deal of the year in Chops and look likely to secure some more good signings? If we can land some more quality i'm sure pundits would say we could make a challenge for the top six? I think we can If we can sign 3 or 4 decent players. The one thing that may stop us progressing is the poor negative support at home and constant moaning. Its a new season a new Ipswich move on.

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churchmans added 22:36 - Jun 17 all will ride on our signings! thats all that needs saying!
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h32 added 23:00 - Jun 17 .......... isn't the Manager stating the bl##dy obvious ........... and isn't that why some of us have been saying we need MUCH more quality at the Club to achieve anything at all. Words fail me sometimes.
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h32 added 23:03 - Jun 17 bluearmy4life - another where the 'pigs fly backwards'.
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slowerball added 00:24 - Jun 18 Great story....
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TractorRoyNo1 added 00:41 - Jun 18 PJ may as well get the excuses in early, unless we cash-in on wickham and buy some quality it will be boring mid-table 4-5-1 again
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bobble added 07:41 - Jun 18 i agree this division is too tough we have to get up to the easy play 1st division where fat forwards like rooney can even play every week. if the dark lord had not set us back 3 years we would already be european champions
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bobble added 07:42 - Jun 18 i agree this division is too tough we have to get up to the easy play 1st division where fat forwards like rooney can even play every week. if the dark lord had not set us back 3 years we would already be european champions
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ericgates added 08:12 - Jun 18 Where's Keano the Clown gone? Remember, he was the wind up merchant from last summer. Judging from the negativity on this site I predict he will return, but re-encarnated in the form of Jewell the Jester or something like that!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 08:48 - Jun 18 Another new season approaching, anticipation of better things to come, so why o why are so many of you so bloody negative. We have a good manager, two proven quality players signed with more to come, some good existing guys with experience, yet some on here would be better pounding the streets of our fine town with "the end of the world is nigh" placards. West Ham are rightly the favourites (so were ,Boro last season, mmmmm), there are always teams who are not expected to do well (Blackpool) two seasons ago who surprised everyone, so there is no reason why ITFC can,t have a succesful campaign though i expect some will always find 101 reasons why. Shoot me down in flames if you want to but i,m off to the bookies to put a tenner on us for a top 2 finish, and i,m optomistic of winning!!!!!

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StochesStotasBlewe added 08:58 - Jun 18 h32, didn,t you know that pigs can fly backwards in Suffolk, cheer up old friend, enjoy the summer, perhaps take up fishing to chill you out a bit, then you,ll be ready for the new season with bounding enthusiasm.
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itfcjc added 10:38 - Jun 18 The championship is tough but if Naarij can do it then we can
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Bergholtblue added 14:42 - Jun 18 I do find this negativity a bit disappointing, after all we haven't kicked a ball in pre season training yet. There again, this blind optimism is also equally surprising. Yes we have a good manager, but as most said about Keane 'give him time' . PJ has only been here half a season, he may need tie also. Yes we have bought a quality striker in Chopra, but if we want him to get the 25+ goals we would love him to get, he must get the service from midfield. Bullard came in and showed us what we had been missing in midfield for a long time. He has not been replaced. Norris has gone, and love him or loathe him, I can't see anyone in our present line up who will get 11 goals next season. So before we all jump off the Orwell Bridge or start buying road maps to to the Premiership grounds, lets wait until the start of the season

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dommyboyblue added 15:32 - Jun 18 I for one cannot wait for the new season and who are starting 11 will be!! COYB
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Talbs77 added 17:47 - Jun 18 I think we need to hold off the mid table predictions for the moment. I feel the signings we ahve already acheived and the ones lined up show a clear statement of intent of what pj wants in his squad, a blend of experienced, premiership players along with the youth players we already have at the club. During RK time, all we were linked with and signed were sunderland/irish players which became frustrating for the fans because as of yet, none of them have been sucessful. In my view we now have a real streetwise manager who has a nose for a bargain (Chopra £1.5M) and, much like Warnock, knows how to get teams out of this league. BTW I have a very good source who has told me Tuesday will be another big transfer day for the club.....

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h32 added 11:52 - Jun 19 pinewoodblueboy - maybe you still have to learn that life is all about REALISM.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 15:27 - Jun 19 Don't get me wrong I like PJ and wish him great sucess. However, I think (?) PJ like Keane has only got one team promoted to the top league. Chopra for £.15m sounds ok but it's much like Chopra for £3m two years ago or Chopra for £5m four years ago and probably Chopra on a free transfer in two years time if the CEO forgets he will be out of contract. ie) they get cheaper as they get older Talbs77 added 17:47 - Jun 18 In my view we now have a real streetwise manager who has a nose for a bargain (Chopra £1.5M) and, much like Warnock, knows how to get teams out of this league.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 17:28 - Jun 19 h32, when i tried to be realistic a few months back, you posted that i, and others with similar views accepted failure etc, now you say i need to learn about realism, guess i can,t win whichever way i look at things, still, when i collect my substantial winnings, i,ll buy you a very large glassful of whatever your tipple is.
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h32 added 22:25 - Jun 20 pinewoodblueboy - I'll keep you to that - I'm not expecting to get pi#sed for a while yet though, on that happening. Give you full marks for delusional optimism though - if I'm wrong I'll be in the chair, and admit I was totally wrong - with pleasure. Again not expecting to cough up for that just yet either.
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