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No Time to Panic Yet
at 12:49:39

Well written young man. In 1966 Ramsey's team drew their opener against Uruguay and in 1990 Sir Bobby's team drew against Ireland and Holland and narrowly defeated Egypt in the group stages. Tournament football is all about getting through the group and building momentum. A team can often stumble across a successful system or line up. All is not lost as you say.
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Where Did It All Go Wrong for Paul Hurst?
at 15:00:50

Pretty much as I see it. His public comments regarding players not being as good as he had been led to believe was just pathetic man management. As you say, his abandonment of identity for the Norwich game was, in hindsight, the real signal he was out of his depth. Well written Herbs.
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Mick McCarthy: Shrewd Pragmatist or Tactical Dinosaur?
at 19:21:09

Well written Dan. I really hope Mick can show more attacking intent with his creative players fit. His team at Sheff Weds gives hope as it seems he could have gone with Douglas or started with the inconsistent Bru but he didn't - all in a tough fixture away from home. I worry that Bishop is not really perfoming yet and this could be an opening for Douglas again. However, Williams may well be the choice to replace Bishop. Those who say the team selection in next few games will be indicative of longer term intent are spot on. Fingers crossed for positivity as I really want Mick to take us forward.
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How Much Do We Need to Rip Up to Start Again?
at 21:32:55

As always Steve, well thought out comments. The loss of Fraser for such long periods has been a tremendous blow. He offers the pace, skill, direct threat and workrate that is needed. Squeezing Pitman, Sears and Murphy into the starting 11 is an error, I agree but our problem lies in the midfield. You linger on the Magilton era and whilst it is his management that is your focus, it is a player in his mould that we lack. For all his technical ability, apparent comfort on the ball and updoubted contribution to the team, Skuse just not want the ball like Magic did and he rarely controls games. Combine that with nobody in the centre of the park wanting to get beyond the strikers a la Wark or even Holland and our midfield just doesn't offer enough threat. Add to this an almost non existent threat direct from free kicks (when did we last score one?) and we just wont compete with the best in this league. Mick will be busy this summer but again I agree, he is the best man for Town with Mr Evans current approach to finances. Nice blog. Thanks
Blog
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A Happy New Year for ITFC
at 16:19:54

Well said Steve. It is hard for expectations not to grow but a play off place should be the minimum come May from this position. I still get cold sweats when I think about Darren Currie's miss at Leeds and there will be agonising moments to come I'm sure.
Blog
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A Retrospective: August to December 2014
at 23:01:50

Christmas holidays for the teaching fraternity Mullet! As always, an intelligent, thoughtful read from you. I share that one nagging doubt if we lose Murph or Didz for any length of time it could be like Shefki a decade ago. Sammon offers hard running and worries tired legs but in the event of an extended absence of M or M, he would not be enough.

t,
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Time for a Change?
at 21:45:20

Well written young man! Ipswich fans of your age have had precious little to cheer about and it must be soul destroying to hear people of my age harp on about the past. Let's hope Mick and his squad can provide us all with some new memorable moments. Enjoy!
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Marcus Evans and Mr John
at 18:45:18

A very well written blog Harry. Every fan is impatient and wants immediate success but much that Evans has done since the disaster of Keane and the debacle of Jewell has pointed towards stability and incremental progress being the modus oparendi of the club. A return to the 70s Ipswich will, as you say, never happen. Those Were The Days. However, trust between manager and chairman and a solid relationship based on mutual respect is a great platform. Kudos to Marcus Evans for not taking the cash on offer and to you for an astute analysis.
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Beginnings
at 19:41:27

Good effort. as I teacher myself, I wish the students that I have could write as well as you have done! Great stuff.
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Nowhere Fast
at 12:46:20

After the disaster that was Keane and Jewell, the stability that Mick has brought to the club is very welcome. I like the fact that he has made us solid and like you, I remember all too vividly the sight of Reo-Coker meandering back not giving a toss at Leicester last year - an all too clear indication of a lack of commitment. In my opinion, Mick has got us to the stage where we are 2-3 players short of a good squad and a team that could genuinely push for a top six spot sometime soon. The departure of Tunnicliffe came at completely the wrong time for us. He was just starting to show why he has been so highly rated and I had high hope for him for the remaining games. It will be a big summer for us I think - not necessarily in terms of the amount of players coming in but more the quality and creativity of those signings as well as hoping that we can keep hold of McGoldrick, Smith and Cresswell for another season at least. For the time being at least, I am happy going to games at least knowing we will be competitive and not expecting to be embarrassed by a lack of heart.
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Pig Tales - An Old Story Brought Bang Up to Date
at 20:42:23

Enjoyed that! Surely though there was room for a mention of some "stuffing" in there to go with all of the porky talk? We endured a fair few of them under PaulPig I seem to remember!
Blog
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Safe to Stand?
at 13:17:48

A well written blog which deals with the sensitive issue of Hillsborough and the re-introduction of safe standing areas very clearly and with the respect it deserves. I would certainly be in favour of designated safe standing areas in modern grounds. I understand that there are a sizeable proportion of the crowd who enjoy the game most whilst standing up and if this can now be done safely (as proven in some other Leagues) then I don't see the objection. Currently we have the crazy situation where, having paid for a seat, some are then forced to stand in order to see the game. This affects those of more mature years and children in particular who either find standing quite difficult or are too small to get a decent view. Football is for everyone and safe-standing areas would make everyone happier - giving those who want to stand the option whilst leaving those who want to sit able to see the game. Might even improve attendances a little too.
Blog
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Was It Worth It?
at 18:52:21

Nice blog! There are lots of Town fans (like me) who don't have an affinity with the Suffolk area but still, for often inexplicable reasons, have a lifelong love for the club. I make the trek from Yorkshire to Portman Road only once or twice per season but go to about a dozen away fixtures with my boy. The atmosphere at away games is, in my opinion, so much better than home games and the fans often more united. Were you the guy sat behind the goal on the very edge of the Town support about 20 rows up who moved seats during the last 20 minutes and talked to me and my young son? I seem to recall you said you watched local football in Wales somewhere!
Blog
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Can Town Fashion Passion Again at Portman Road?
at 18:51:42

We share many parallels Pessimistic! I am also from the Liverpool area and started supporting Town in the early seventies when all my mates were Liverpool or Everton supporters. I was there at Goodison in the Upper Tier and watched the Evertonians rain the cushions down onto the pitch after they were given a footballing lesson by a briliant Ipswich side. We had some success at Goodison but almost none at Anfield where my dad was a season ticket holder. Oddly, our first victory there came in 1995 on our way to relegation but I still celebrated wildly amongst the Liverpool fans in the Main Stand alongside my dad. I was told in no uncertain terms to sit down as we were still crap and doomed to relegation! Nice blog, I enjoyed some memories! I too hopw that Mick McCarthy can help bring back some level of success so that my boy (now in the Yorkshire area) can hold his head up high as a Town fan.
Blog
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Different Types of Strikers: A Plea for Patience with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
at 11:25:31

A good analysis of the situation with regards to JET. You are quite right, he offers something different and certainly has goals in him. He is a confidence player and as the team (and also the fans) become less fearful of losing, the times when JET's dribbles, flicks and (sometimes) high and wide shots do not come off will similarly become less frustrating and more tolerable for all. MM wil, however,l not tolerate any perceived lack of commitment and for this reason JET must learn to use his physical presence much more effectively. It is no coincedence that Murphy has looked more of a threat recently - putting himself about a great deal more. This came about after Barnett arrived and Murphy realised he needed to give more for the team. Ditto JET. He clearly has the skill, no question. What Mick will demand is total commitment to the cause each and every game.
News
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Town Topic: Welcome Paul!
at 16:07:35

Like any appointment to Ipswich Town, I wish Paul Jewell the very best of luck. Is he the right choice? - as others have said, time will tell. However, I hope that supporters will show patience more akin to the first few years of the Burley and Robson eras and allow him the time to build a team as opposed to demanding success too quickly. First steps for me have to be to get some natural width into the team with a modicum of pace. One genuine wide midfielder who wants to take a man on and/or a more creative influence in the centre of the park would set PJ's team in the right direction. Finally, less chopping and changing and a bit of continuity would not go amiss in team selection. An interesting time to be an Ipswich fan!
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Town Topic: Welcome Paul!
at 10:05:18

Well written and a definite logic to a coherent argument. I agree, a striker (and I like Chopra myself - excellent movement) plus a creative midfielder (there are quite a few possibilities on a free too - the bloke from West Brom who was on loan at Barnsley (Texeria???) for instance) are the only essentials for me too. People go on about cover at centre half (Smith / Eastman / Brown and Bruce?) and at left back we have O'Connor (Civelli has played there I believe as has Peters). Right back maybe more problematic as I don't really feel we have a recognised right back (is Peters the one?) at the moment but loans and free transfers are possibilities here too. Get behind Roy and the team - don't forget fan support is also a part of team spirit!
News
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Stead Linked With Huddersfield Return
at 13:30:02

Just imagine if this move happens and Stead teams up with Rhodes and they score a hatful of goals - oh how the moaners and groaners will just love that! Stead will be one of our higher wage earners and if we can get £400,000 + for him then this will be OK for a player who will leave for nothing in 12 months time and is likely not to figure that often in the starting eleven. Wholehearted 100% effort but flatters to deceive in my opinion. We get lulled into thinking we have some kind of aerial presence and ability to hold the ball up with Stead in the team and this just isn't true. His control is too often lacking and he cannot head the ball at all. You have to ask yourself why a player who has been touted as top quality and has gone for biggish money on a number of ocassions hasn't stayed with any one club more than a couple of seasons - answer - inconsistency and not quite good enough. If he goes, then good luck to him but he is not the answer and not the man to help us challenge at the top of the Championship.
Blog
Comment
Stead Linked With Huddersfield Return
at 13:30:02

Just imagine if this move happens and Stead teams up with Rhodes and they score a hatful of goals - oh how the moaners and groaners will just love that! Stead will be one of our higher wage earners and if we can get £400,000 + for him then this will be OK for a player who will leave for nothing in 12 months time and is likely not to figure that often in the starting eleven. Wholehearted 100% effort but flatters to deceive in my opinion. We get lulled into thinking we have some kind of aerial presence and ability to hold the ball up with Stead in the team and this just isn't true. His control is too often lacking and he cannot head the ball at all. You have to ask yourself why a player who has been touted as top quality and has gone for biggish money on a number of ocassions hasn't stayed with any one club more than a couple of seasons - answer - inconsistency and not quite good enough. If he goes, then good luck to him but he is not the answer and not the man to help us challenge at the top of the Championship.
News
Comment
Wickham: I\'ve No Intention of Leaving Town
at 14:35:19

UrbanAchiever - it's "punctuation" not "puntuation" if we are being pedantic!
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