Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
So, Where Do We Stand?
Written by BackTheBlues on Monday, 9th Oct 2017 14:11

It’s a bizarre situation I find myself in as an Ipswich fan at the moment.

On the one hand, we have 18 points from 10 games, including four straight wins, we are eighth in the table, only six points off first place and have a game hand.

We’re joint top scorers in the league, have been involved in two seven-goal thrillers already and have beaten all the teams we have faced in the bottom six – which last year would have been draws or worse (Rotherham). And most of us would have taken this given the chance pre-season.

But, on the other hand, we have lost five out of the last seven, have the sixth worst defensive record in the league and haven’t beaten any ‘decent’ teams – in fact we haven’t beaten anyone above about 15th place at the time of playing.

We were complete outclassed by Fulham and had lucky early wins where better teams would have been out of sight before half-time (Barnsley).

So where does that leave us? Undoubtedly this year is an improvement, we are scoring goals for fun, we seem to be trying to play good, attractive football and the squad appear to have the 2014/15 play-off spirit that served us so well that season. That alone should have brought the crowds back to Portman Road – but it hasn’t!

The hangover from the worst 18 months of football I can ever remember is still looming large, damp performances against the likes of Bolton (even with the 2-0 win) and constant snipes at fans by McCarthy (“I’ve made a living out of ignoring people…”) have left a rather bitter taste in many fans mouths… still!

This next month of football is going to be hard, make no mistake – flying Sheffield United, the old enemy Narwich, who could be above us by that point for the first time this season depending on results, Burton Albion and League leaders Cardiff.

It’s not make or break – but it is early season defining – pick up above six out of the 12 points available and we have cause for a little bit of excitement.

Pick up anything less than six points and the crowds at Portman Road will get worse, the apathy will increase and the questions from last season will come back.

There are more positives. McCarthy is playing the kids! Mr Evans has spent about £2 million on players! We have done all of this without half our senior squad available!

Other football fans ask me if I’m ecstactic, how things are going so well and I must be loving this season. I reply with a very cautious answer at the moment, “Let’s just wait and see."

I think there is potential for something fantastic at Portman Road this season, but the next month will have a major impact.




Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

JohnyJohnson added 19:40 - Oct 9
An entertaining season awaits, I will be surprised if we are not challenging for playoffs still in new year, so many inconsistant teams in league. Really hope MM sticks to his guns with the positive attacking football, the players are obviously relishing the new freedom. Looking forward to Huws and Webster getting match fit. Who knows what this season will bring? Time for Norwich to hit another bad run starting this month. COYB!
0

RegencyBlue added 20:28 - Oct 9
Well we are clearly doing better than most people expected us to do at this stage, particularly with the injuries we have had. Having said that we don't look anything like a top six side to me and finishing anywhere above mid-table would be an improvement.

As far as crowds go, as I have said before, it has taken ten years of Evans ownership to get us to this state and its going to take more that ten games to get those who have been driven away by high prices, lack of investment and poor entertainment to even consider coming back to PR anytime soon.
2

oldegold added 23:06 - Oct 9
If anyone needed to realise the "potential" at Portman Road should have been there for the play off in May 2015 when the ground was packed to the rafters..30.000...and the place rocked.
Certain traditions have been lost along the way, namely the Ipswich way of playing football and having a non-communicative president.Had the last 10 years been managed better then we would have been plying our trade in the Premiership in place of the various WBA,Stoke City,Crystal Palace,Swansea City etc.
Some young players are playing but are quickly jettisoned once the proper blokes come back so let's not get carried away..young players under the current management have no real place.
The home defeat against Bristol City was a case in point of how tactically limited our manager is and incapable of stepping up to the mark.
We are a mid-table class at the most who have lost their way in the travails of time and it is galling to see youngsters sporting Man Utd and Chelsea tops around Ipswich but you can hardly blame them as the football in these last years has been dreadful and it won't be long before McCarthy reverts to type as he did in the last home game.
7

RoyalAscotBlue added 08:32 - Oct 19
On the edge of a precipice... And if we lose on Sunday then we go into free fall.

The early season luck (that's all it ever was) has run out. All we can hope for is survival in this league this year, and then a new manager to bring football back to Portman Road next season. Who remembers that? Football! Where players pass the ball, on the deck, in an attempt to score goals... Ahhh those were the days.
0
You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024