 | News
Comment | Norwich Release Camp
at 03:03:38
No. It's Andy Marshall all over again. Decent keeper but not as good as Henderson, and no better than Loach. Has not exactly endeared himself to Town fans over the years with his ridiculous time-wasting antics, and has proven himself to be an utter git everywhere else. Please God no, it'll be a disaster. |
| News
Comment | Ross: Ground Should Not Be Sold
at 18:55:22
Thanks Alasdair Ross for speaking up on this issue. The history, traditions and future survival of the club are worth more to the community than just another quick buck for the developers. What a shame that the local parliamentary representative cannot stand up for his constituents on such an important issue. |
| News
Comment | Scotland's Contract Settled
at 01:10:54
May not have the legs any more but could still show our current crop the way to goal. Great finisher, would crucify them in League One. Good luck Jason, it's been a pleasure. |
| News
Comment | The Ex-Files: John McGreal
at 23:47:43
Spot-on Talbs, a centre-half who could really play, what would he be worth nowadays? For me one of the best Burley signings and much underrated. Classy to say the least. Would be great to see him back one day, If Col. U. can do it the Ipswich way, why can't we? |
| News
Comment | McCarthy Delighted to Be Back But Admits to Having a Big Job on His Hands
at 12:59:33
Lots of this speculation about which players will be shown the door is premature to say the least, and in some cases unfair. Chopra is out of shape and has undoubtedly been out of order in recent times, if (and it's a big if) however MM can get him fit and focused he's still a very handy player. JET has all the talent in the world but just doesn't know what to do with it. He's the one I think has potentially most to learn from MM, and who knows with some strong guidance and, yes, the occasional kick up the backside, could be a very important player for us. Certainly not someone you just discard without giving it a good go first. If you ignore the last couple of dire team performances, no-one can question Martin's attitude on the pitch, just his end product. Again, with the right coaching, he could be very useful, although his contract situation may well see him leave sooner rather than later. The most unfair comments IMO are about Carlos, yes we all know he is out of position (often literally) at right-back but he has been one of our most consistent performers through some awful times and always gives 100%. Lumping him in with the non-tryers is wide of the mark. Good management is all about getting the best out of the players you have and with little change possible, at least until January, MM is going to have to show us what he is capable of and do just that. |
| News
Comment | McCarthy Set to Be Named New Town Boss
at 23:09:38
If this is true it will be interesting to see how he plays with the available players. Our only target man is Murphy, so one would presume he'd be back in his natural position up front, alongside either Campbell (in the short-term) or Chopra (if he can still fit into his shorts), or maybe this is the chance that Ellington has been waiting for? MM also seems to like his wingers, but we only have one really, Carson, who has hardly been on fire this year. With Murphy potentially up front does this also mean that Carlos may be back on the wing with Martin on the left? Very interested also to see what he thinks of JET and where (and if?) he can get the best out of him. As for full-back, the poor bloke is going to have a coronary given his previous preference for 'defenders' over wing-back types as we haven't got any, besides possibly Ainsley.
A big welcome if it happens to MM and I for one will put aside my preconceptions and give him my full support. I have no doubt that the majority will also do the same as always when a new man comes in. Many of us may not see him as a typical 'Ipswich" manager but the guy has undoubted quality and most would agree that he is exactly the type of guy who can hopefully give our lot a much-needed kick up the backside. Mick McCarthy's Blue and White Army ??!!! |
| News
Comment | Holloway Now McCarthy's Main Rival
at 18:10:50
Wow. Now this would be amazing. A truly good guy from what I've seen who would also make my visits to PR much more enjoyable than of late in terms of the football on show. Don't want to get my hopes up though! |
| News
Comment | Town Topic: Who Next for Town?
at 13:47:03
Can someone dig out the Megson Memorial Cupboard and lock him in it until interviews are over? Ta. Don't want anything left to chance. |
| Blog
Comment | 2+2=5
at 12:26:14
Certainly we've got a long way to go in this country, as demonstrated admirably by the senior national side over many years. Maybe St. Georges' will help, who knows.
On a club level though, progress can be made but needs continuity. We started the season playing some good football (Blackburn, Watford) after PJ stated that he wanted to improve and emphasise our passing game this season, but then we give the ball away, concede a couple of silly goals as a result and everything changes. PJ comes out with his 'we can play football, but only in the right areas' statement i.e. lump it out from the back, and we're back to square one. This is in contrast to Rodgers, Poyet, Martinez, and dare I say it, Burley, for example, who back the players and the system, give it a chance to bed in and then reap the rewards. Like our transfer policy, this is another area where we seem to be lurching from one extreme to the other in search of a short-term fix. This club needs consistent coaching and selection from the youths upwards to improve, and we have surely learned by now that simply throwing more players at the problem doesn't make it go away.
Interesting blog, thanks. |
| News
Comment | Jewell: Loanee Situation Not Ideal
at 17:13:30
.....and the main reason we can't get a foothold in this division is that so many players come and go every season, and that's just those under contract. Throw in a load of short-term loans every year to paper over the cracks in the squad and the turnover is enormous. Until we break this cycle nothing will improve. Higgy, Wellens, Campbell, Murphy, these are all decent players but we can't sign them permanently because (a) we can't afford the wages or (b) their clubs don't want to sell them in case they need them. So why can we not identify targets in advance who we can actually sign as opposed to those we would like but have no hope of getting? It has nothing to do with their age, every team needs a blend of youth and experience, but rather with their contractual situation. Other clubs seem to manage it to a reasonable extent so why can't we? I'm afraid the answer to this question lies in the boardroom as much as with the manager. And it is disingenuous to suggest that we have no money to spend; we spent a shed load of it on Taylor when his position is one of the few that we already have well covered. Groundhog day, repeat till fade. |
| News
Comment | Jewell: Loanee Situation Not Ideal
at 11:04:39
Bullard is never going to play twice a week regularly, so then it would be Bullard or Drury as the more creative type, plus Hyam or Kourouma as the more defensive partner, with Stevenson covering Martin in the attacking role. Drury could also cover JET on the right, or Carlos could play there with Hewitt at right-back. Left-side we still look one short though, with only Josh there at the moment presuming Martin plays in the middle. Nice one Sindre, no problem with your English at all, puts many native posters to shame. |
| News
Comment | Chambers Impressed By Hungry Town Squad
at 12:54:30
Good signing on a free. If he plays the ball out from the back that will be something we've missed for years (since Mogga, McGreal, Venus etc.?) 3 year deal looks promising too.
Still think we're a bit short left-side of midfield; Wight should have the chance to cover Cresswell at left-back but with no Murphy we're down to Martin, who is much more effective in the middle. Davies may be the man to do the Murphy job, up front or wide left as required, so that would just leave the goalie and Kourouma and we look pretty well set. |
| News
Comment | Leadbitter Turns Down Town Offer
at 17:28:28
I really hope we finally learn from this. Should have gone last summer when it became obvious he was unlikely to sign. Instead we've wasted a season treading water where another player could have been establishing themselves, and the will he/won't he chirade of the past couple of months has been ridiculous; he has taken everyone for a ride. Overall his time at the club has been a massively expensive disappointment for such an undoubtedly tidy player, and I'm glad that the club can finally move on. |
| News
Comment | Town Topic: What Could Improve Matchdays at Portman Road?
at 13:06:12
Music at the ground has been a problem for years.
1. Stop playing 10 seconds of this pop hit followed by 10 seconds of another, it drives me mad and no-one can get into any of it before it switches.
2. Play some more ITFC-related stuff: Edward Ebeneezer, Ipswich Calypso, Ipswich Get that Goal, Keep Right On, Blue, Teenage Kicks etc. Yes they're old but at least relevant, and I'm sure there are more modern ones I've forgotten/never heard. Just rotate and drop one in now and again.
3. My Way would be great, but the Sinatra version is a bit funereal, so either pitch it up on the decks, or try the Pistols version(!) The Shirley Bassey version is also a good alternative, as is the Nina Simone, both being a bit more lively. Not hard to pick a suitable one.
5. The old version of Singing the Blues is a bit rubbish, but at least people could clap along/sing along to it. The new one has removed these two integral features and made the whole thing pointless.
4. Ditch the goal music (again). Nobody needs to be prompted as to when to cheer. Kills all the atmosphere stone dead. Awful, tacky etc.etc. If you must do it, at least wait a bit so we can enjoy ourselves, and TURN IT DOWN A BIT!!!!
Can't comment on half-time entertainment as I'm normally in the bar, but in that respect get some more staff, more beer taps, get the staff to pre-pour a few, change the barrel BEFORE half-time etc.. Compared to many grounds the bar service takes forever. That bar in North Upper could also really do with being much longer to avoid everyone queueing five deep for ten minutes. |
| News
Comment | Smith Keen to Stay at Town
at 23:57:38
Has come on leaps and bounds this season and has given some excellent performances after a nervous start. Just ask Kenny Miller. Everyone complains about journeymen has-beens but when one of our own comes through the ranks they are immediately written off if they make mistakes (Trotter, anyone?) Still young for a centre-half and improving by the day. Players like Tommy should have the chance to be the future of this club. Sign him up before someone else does. |
| News
Comment | Leadbitter Should Be Fit for Posh Clash
at 15:17:40
Unless he's going to be here next year I can't see much point in playing him when giving Hyam or Stevenson games would be much more beneficial in regards to next season. Like Norris last year he's had a sudden upturn in form as his contract draws to a close and it's all looking horribly familiar. Start looking to the future and let's move on. |
| News
Comment | Frans Would Love Town Return
at 00:20:49
My first, and therefore all-time favourite Town player. Would be a dream come true to have him back at ITFC. What a player. |
| | La_Paz
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