| Its the best of times its the worst of times 15:22 - Aug 13 with 1670 views | Bromley_Blue |
Since relegation from the Premier League I don't think any Ipswich fan anticipated this summer and start of the new season going as it has. Signing players has proved so far to be very difficult and on field performances are not those you would expect of the bookies favourites for winning the Championship. (I don't think any Ipswich fan expected a return to the Championship to be easy).
I was at last nights match amongst the home fans, with a fair few Ipswich fans who weren't part of the 497 away ticket holders, in the West Terrace. The general view was a good point on Friday and hopefully the match against Bromley would help in getting the squad up to speed and hopefully some good attacking moves leading to a few goals. In the end the match highlighted plenty of issues but a bit like the transfer activity (or lack of) it seems we are already at an early cross roads where things in both areas need to be addressed quickly if Ipswich are going to have a positive season. Stealing from another TWTD poster and I forget exactly where I read it so apologies that I cannot attribute the quote but it summed up exactly how I feel. I am scared of Ipswich not being good and being mid table obscurity or worse. The last few seasons have been very positive. There were some good things last night Finley Barbrook did a good job in midfield and it was good to seem him play back at Bromley when I last saw him in the FA Youth Cup alongside his twin brother who was released.If I was being really harsh I would have liked to have seen some more passes forward from him but the lack of a decent forward option is something I will return to later.
On the left we have a difficulty where it should be really strong. Jack Clarke and Leif Davis should be a left handside that dominates this division. Clarke was guilty of doing a bit too much when he should be releasing the ball earlier. However I think both players really want to be in the same space. Clarke wants to start those cutting into the right runs from almost exactly where Davis wants to be crossing the ball. There was some interesting stuff with Davis underlapping and playing high up more inside at times and this could create some interesting opportunities also both players just need to understand each other better so they can maximise each others impact on the game I still think this combination can come good. The player that seems to naturally work best with Davis seems to be Broadhead who naturally comes inside more giving Davis that space but again last season sometimes opposition knowing Davis was going to overlap on the outside made it easier for Premiership level opponents to exploit the space left behind. I think the current partnership could work better with Clarke coming in to make room on the outside for Davis' amazing distribution and also when Davis comes inside and then offering a passing option for Clarke or moving back outside drawing defenders away or being an option for a reverse ball from Clarke. On the right side Ogbene had a decent game but should have offered a bit more and too often his crosses were too deep. This also seemed to be a pattern with our corners too deep and too little variation.
Young had a good game Kipre looked solid and I wanted Woolfenden to show some more aggressive passing as very often he was left with plenty of time and space as Bromley primarily looked to block passing lanes rather than press on. Up front though, where do you start. When Al Hamadi was signed I expressed some concern having seen him on loan from Wycombe at Bromley but I had not followed his move to Wimbledon where I understand he did well. At the time of the signing despite some reservations I trusted the process. That trust is over he is truly woeful and offers nothing I think his overall poor play limited Barbrook Humphries and Chaplin to play quick attacking link up balls through the middle knowing that Al Hamadi was guaranteed to mess up. I note a current Wycombe strike Kone has gone to QPR for about £2.7 million that should have been our option but again it might have been difficult to attract the player if he wasn't sure of his role considering Hurst and Akpom.
This moves on to the transfer activity always going to be a difficult window as we are after premiership ability and or potential whilst being in the championship but we seem short in a number of areas and Townsends unfortunate injury has made that situation worse. We need quality and numbers through the door. I would ideally want a left back another striker and two midfielders (one defensive and one more attacking and on top of that another wide option as both Broadhead and Hutchinson look likely to go. I am very surprised by Hutchinson's attitude as with a different approach I think fans would have wished him well. I think we overpaid for him and for a player that can't go round the right hand side and cross with his right foot the fact someone is willing to pay north of 35 million is staggering but I suppose that's the market.
I still think this can be an excellent season for Town the opportunity needs to be seized right now.
I am also slightly concerned by the lack of ownership and senior leadership communication with the fans I hope this is because they are busy on transfer activity for the club.
Also I don't suppose he reads this but taking advantage of being able to walk home from a Town game for the first time I thought I would stick around to see the players and management team leave and just get a bit more of an idea of reaction body language but was also just a bit curious. Apologies for doorstepping Mark Ashton. I want to keep the faith and trust the process but I am concerned and didn't think I would be feeling like this as the season starts. On to Sunday and my sons first away game at Preston the week after (Bromley doesn't count) bloody expensive train ticket but should be a god day out. Thanks for reading. [Post edited 13 Aug 16:03]
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| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 15:32 - Aug 13 with 1593 views | bsw72 |
Paragraph breaks would help - my eyes aren't what they used to be so struggled with paragraph (chapter?) 2. |  | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 16:29 - Aug 13 with 1443 views | blue_curacao |
What did you say to Mark Ashton? And how did he respond? | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 16:33 - Aug 13 with 1413 views | lazyblue |
We got relegated, it was always going to be a big change . I don’t understand how anyone can think it would be any different as relegation will always cause problems. | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 17:16 - Aug 13 with 1327 views | Bromley_Blue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 16:29 - Aug 13 by blue_curacao |
What did you say to Mark Ashton? And how did he respond? |
I was fairly direct about the need for further signings & he was fairly direct back about what did I know. I was surprised by his reaction but maybe he is just as frustrated as anyone else. I should have been more polite I didn’t swear or anything but I should have asked a question in a different way. | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 17:40 - Aug 13 with 1264 views | blue_curacao |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 17:16 - Aug 13 by Bromley_Blue |
I was fairly direct about the need for further signings & he was fairly direct back about what did I know. I was surprised by his reaction but maybe he is just as frustrated as anyone else. I should have been more polite I didn’t swear or anything but I should have asked a question in a different way. |
Interesting. I sense a lot of frustration from McKenna and it sounds like MA is frustrated too. Personally, I think it is another reflection of how big the gap is between top of Championship & PL, and how difficult it is to bridge the gap. I feel like everyone is doing their utmost but a lot of it is out of our control. | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 18:20 - Aug 13 with 1175 views | TheBoyBlue |
I think people are reading far too much into two games (one of which will be one of the hardest this season, the other an early-season game between two sets of reserves that could have easily gone the other way) and a season in a division we never imagined we'd be in that soon.
Let's just see how things unfold. | |
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| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 18:57 - Aug 13 with 1105 views | Bromley_Blue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 17:40 - Aug 13 by blue_curacao |
Interesting. I sense a lot of frustration from McKenna and it sounds like MA is frustrated too. Personally, I think it is another reflection of how big the gap is between top of Championship & PL, and how difficult it is to bridge the gap. I feel like everyone is doing their utmost but a lot of it is out of our control. |
I agree I think it’s incredibly difficult. It really requires an established premier league club, and due to promoted sides being relegated they are all in effect established, really working hard to mess up. Spurs & Man Utd tried their best to mess it up & it looks like Wolves are trying hard this season. If all the promoted clubs get relegated again then there is in effect a ‘Super League’ | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 18:59 - Aug 13 with 1092 views | Bromley_Blue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 18:20 - Aug 13 by TheBoyBlue |
I think people are reading far too much into two games (one of which will be one of the hardest this season, the other an early-season game between two sets of reserves that could have easily gone the other way) and a season in a division we never imagined we'd be in that soon.
Let's just see how things unfold. |
I think that’s a fair point. It’s just we haven’t looked great in those two games I hope I am getting across I am not panicking I am just surprised that with the early Delap money & knowing for sometime we were relegated I expected us to be better set up at this stage. I am hopeful it will all come together. | | | |
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| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 22:13 - Aug 13 with 827 views | peterleeblue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 17:16 - Aug 13 by Bromley_Blue |
I was fairly direct about the need for further signings & he was fairly direct back about what did I know. I was surprised by his reaction but maybe he is just as frustrated as anyone else. I should have been more polite I didn’t swear or anything but I should have asked a question in a different way. |
I sense your frustration.
However I think its a sign of the times that you have quite openly admitted you hung around to dish out some abuse to Mark Ashton and no one has actually called you out on that.
Blimey short memories indeed. Yes you should have asked the question in a different way. |  | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 22:20 - Aug 13 with 771 views | ITFCSG |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 22:13 - Aug 13 by peterleeblue |
I sense your frustration.
However I think its a sign of the times that you have quite openly admitted you hung around to dish out some abuse to Mark Ashton and no one has actually called you out on that.
Blimey short memories indeed. Yes you should have asked the question in a different way. |
Asking a direct question is hardly abuse innit | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 22:22 - Aug 13 with 753 views | peterleeblue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 22:20 - Aug 13 by ITFCSG |
Asking a direct question is hardly abuse innit |
and of course
I am sorry I spoke
Ok lets re phrase how about "give Ashton a hard time" | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 23:33 - Aug 13 with 613 views | jasondozzell |
With the best will in the world, all the introspection and hysteria since yesterday has been nuts.
Frightened of mid table obscurity? The club has been totally transformed since those days (and indeed at points mid table obscurity was what we dreamed of!)
We've just bought an ex Ajax 10 million pound midfielder and have secured the loan of another from Napoli who has played Champions League football too.
The days of Danny Rowe have long gone.
I have to say I think a big problem is people (understandably to a degree) returned to the club as a result of the success and just aren't used to real football because we've been spoilt by the last few years.
It isn't fantasy football. It isn't a game. You can't just write off players because of one game. Ali is a promising young striker who we took a punt on. The club has outgrown him in some ways but if you asked KM about him I think you'd get a very different answer than from some so called supporters scapegoating.
As starts go, we've seen far worse.
We are what we are. A club with good investment and infrastructure that is still catching up with the top table after years of neglect. We're also dealing with the routine fallout of relegation from the PL. It's pretty normal. There's no doubt in my mind we have an exceptional young coach and we will be competitive.
There's been more meltdown over this week than there was when Evans handed Lambert the contract extension in the New Year at Wycombe.
Imagine if some of these glory hunters had been here when Mick told everyone to foxtrot oscar.... [Post edited 13 Aug 23:33]
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| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 07:22 - Aug 14 with 337 views | Bromley_Blue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 23:33 - Aug 13 by jasondozzell |
With the best will in the world, all the introspection and hysteria since yesterday has been nuts.
Frightened of mid table obscurity? The club has been totally transformed since those days (and indeed at points mid table obscurity was what we dreamed of!)
We've just bought an ex Ajax 10 million pound midfielder and have secured the loan of another from Napoli who has played Champions League football too.
The days of Danny Rowe have long gone.
I have to say I think a big problem is people (understandably to a degree) returned to the club as a result of the success and just aren't used to real football because we've been spoilt by the last few years.
It isn't fantasy football. It isn't a game. You can't just write off players because of one game. Ali is a promising young striker who we took a punt on. The club has outgrown him in some ways but if you asked KM about him I think you'd get a very different answer than from some so called supporters scapegoating.
As starts go, we've seen far worse.
We are what we are. A club with good investment and infrastructure that is still catching up with the top table after years of neglect. We're also dealing with the routine fallout of relegation from the PL. It's pretty normal. There's no doubt in my mind we have an exceptional young coach and we will be competitive.
There's been more meltdown over this week than there was when Evans handed Lambert the contract extension in the New Year at Wycombe.
Imagine if some of these glory hunters had been here when Mick told everyone to foxtrot oscar.... [Post edited 13 Aug 23:33]
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I was thinking about some of the poor transfers of the past Paul Digby Giles Coke etc & we are a long way from that. But success is like a drug and you just crave more. I hope this is just a little blip in an otherwise good season but I think it does have the potential to be more than that with some of the off field moves and changes as well. Also does anyone know anything about a company called Paradigm Sports Intelligence registered at Portman Road with Ashton & the CFO as directors but it’s dormant.
I remember a fairly frank exchange of views between fans and MM at Griffin Park. | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 07:25 - Aug 14 with 316 views | Bromley_Blue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 22:13 - Aug 13 by peterleeblue |
I sense your frustration.
However I think its a sign of the times that you have quite openly admitted you hung around to dish out some abuse to Mark Ashton and no one has actually called you out on that.
Blimey short memories indeed. Yes you should have asked the question in a different way. |
I didn’t know he was there. It wasn’t abusive. Had I known he was there I might have thought of a better way of asking.
I appreciate we are far from where we have been as a club. Always happy to be called out on things but the scenario was not as you describe. | | | |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 07:26 - Aug 14 with 314 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 22:13 - Aug 13 by peterleeblue |
I sense your frustration.
However I think its a sign of the times that you have quite openly admitted you hung around to dish out some abuse to Mark Ashton and no one has actually called you out on that.
Blimey short memories indeed. Yes you should have asked the question in a different way. |
im intrigued to what the actual exchange of words was.. |  |
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| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 07:39 - Aug 14 with 264 views | Bluemike31 |
| Its the best of times its the worst of times on 23:33 - Aug 13 by jasondozzell |
With the best will in the world, all the introspection and hysteria since yesterday has been nuts.
Frightened of mid table obscurity? The club has been totally transformed since those days (and indeed at points mid table obscurity was what we dreamed of!)
We've just bought an ex Ajax 10 million pound midfielder and have secured the loan of another from Napoli who has played Champions League football too.
The days of Danny Rowe have long gone.
I have to say I think a big problem is people (understandably to a degree) returned to the club as a result of the success and just aren't used to real football because we've been spoilt by the last few years.
It isn't fantasy football. It isn't a game. You can't just write off players because of one game. Ali is a promising young striker who we took a punt on. The club has outgrown him in some ways but if you asked KM about him I think you'd get a very different answer than from some so called supporters scapegoating.
As starts go, we've seen far worse.
We are what we are. A club with good investment and infrastructure that is still catching up with the top table after years of neglect. We're also dealing with the routine fallout of relegation from the PL. It's pretty normal. There's no doubt in my mind we have an exceptional young coach and we will be competitive.
There's been more meltdown over this week than there was when Evans handed Lambert the contract extension in the New Year at Wycombe.
Imagine if some of these glory hunters had been here when Mick told everyone to foxtrot oscar.... [Post edited 13 Aug 23:33]
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Absolutely spot on. | | | |
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