| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason 09:13 - Sep 23 with 5461 views | DJR |
Whenever there is adverse reaction on TWTD, I always like to ask myself "What would Stuart Watson say?"
Well here's his measured response after the Blackburn game.
"I've seen some comments along the lines of 'this performance proves that the 5-0 win against Sheffield United papered over the cracks'. The glass-half empty brigade now suggest that some kind deflections and the Blades being in disarray made that a gift of a result.
Personally, I don't buy into that at all. Everything wasn't broken during a frustrating four-game winless start when the squad was still very much in a state of flux. And everything wasn't suddenly rosy after a confidence-shot side were ruthlessly put to bed late on at Portman Road. The truth, as so often is the case, is somewhere in between.
What more did this game at Ewood Park tell us? In truth, I don't think an awful lot. How can you make any real judgement on a game affected so much, from start to premature finish, by the weather?
In the first half, when the conditions were testing but playable, Town were far from free-flowing but still able to test the keeper three times. They stood up to a series of long throws and corners too. On another day, it would have been set up nicely for the subs to make a difference against tiring legs and the 'classic away day display' headlines to be written.
I'll come onto the second half events shortly. Ultimately though, Ipswich are what they are right now; a relegated club with a talented group of players for the level collectively finding their feet, both on and off the pitch, under a bit of pressure."
As I've said before, I can't imagine there are many (if any) local journalists who come close to Stu. We are lucky to have him.
EDIT: I didn't mean to slight Phil. I was referring to journalists who work in the "printed" media.
[Post edited 23 Sep 11:51]
|  | | |  |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 14:33 - Sep 23 with 801 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 14:22 - Sep 23 by Hugoagogo_Reborn |
Sitters, whilst I understand your frustration (I have Darkhorse on ignore), please don't forget that Phil has asked once again only a few days ago that people don't resort to name calling and abuse.
You are too good a forum member to lose. Are you really going to let some silly internet troll jeopardise your forum membership?
No offence intended. [Post edited 23 Sep 14:23]
|
I think Sitters makes a fair point in this instance! |  |
| |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 14:38 - Sep 23 with 768 views | Hugoagogo_Reborn |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 14:33 - Sep 23 by The_Flashing_Smile |
I think Sitters makes a fair point in this instance! |
He does have a point, but this easy resort to abuse is above so many of us, Sitters included. We should just use ignore and not engage with silly attention seekers. If we don't, then aggression breeds aggression and I really believe that it alters the general mood of the forum.
For instance, on Sunday, a fun post about a Phil Ham memoir and a really lovely post about what TWTD means to us set a nice tone, and subsequently, Sitters post about the Gaza strip ended up with people talking really positively and informatively about the history behind the conflict.
I just think think that we can all collectively make this place somewhere that trolls gravitate to, by responding, or gravitating away from, because we ignore their ridiculous attempts at incitement. |  |
| |
| Oh god, not sure why, but... on 15:16 - Sep 23 with 691 views | Dyland |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:33 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
I’ve made my mind up over Mark Ashtons 35 year career, not 1 game.
Which is more ‘balanced’?
McKenna is a great coach, adjusted for age etc, it’s looking like he’s far from a great manager, but with the resources, he wouldn’t need to be to have a great season.
I’ve never said we can’t be relatively successful, and there’s huge talent in the group.
I’ve said for a long while, this isn’t elite, this isn’t progress, this isn’t a strategy and vision for long term success.
And all I get back is drivel. Personal attacks avoiding all the points, revisionism pretending last year didn’t happen or like you and Stuart, 1 game is instructive, 44 games are NOT.
You can’t make it make sense, because it’s devoid of logic, it’s pure emotion form people who indexed their self esteem not to the club, but to two employees.
The club was more important. The consequences too severe.
It’s £200 million - consequences. Once the parachute money is gone let me know how you service the liabilities, no wonder we have so many loans.., no money, no squad if we aren’t promoted.., and all you care about is ego, validation, not dating what you think in case it’s not popular.
I’ll be candid. It’s sad. The club needs voices, leadership, direction, not apathy, pretending 44 games don’t count and second to a really poor Plymouth - as measured over the subsequent 2 seasons, in the third division, is as good as it gets.
We’re better than that.
It’s like some of you want Morecambe every week just for the ‘win’
Have some ambition.
One question fascinates me.., can McKenna ever justify his champions league contract, during its length?
Tell how that’s possible. Or how we ever put the club in that position, after ONE fantastic, generational season in the EFL.
It’s the lack of difficult decision making and vacuum of leadership we’ve exhibited under Mark, and what typified his entire 35 years in the game.
Good.., but miles off elite.
It would have been REALLY hard to let McKenna go, but there’s a reason nobody else would pay him that, because as he proved, he’s not anywhere near that level. Maybe one day.., maybe not.., but a huge risk ., and it has already failed.
It looks every inch that Sam, Mass, Chaplin, Burgess deserved more credit than they ever got - McKenna, probably a little less.
You can coach systems, tactics, even quality to a degree.., you can’t coach desire, will to win.
That’s what we lack - we aren’t losing games through lack of ability, or even tactics, it’s through not having the will to win.., and players that have it, like Nunez - get splinters in conditions like a swimming pool, in favour of pure footballer Jens.
Even Pep and Arteta have completely moved away form that style, far more diverse, direct, flexible.
We have a double pivot.
If it doesn’t work.., more double pivot.., if that fails.., a bit more of the double pivot.
Sorry. We’ve been worked out.., McKenna has one style.., and Sam who could take the ball with 5 Rottweilers at his heels, and retain possession, isn’t here to make it work.
Some of our successs was in spite of McKenna not because off.., sorry that makes you feel bad, personally I think the clubs future is FAR more importnst than how you and Stuart and Phil for that matter feel.
It’s time to adult. We’ll win at the weekend, but every result at this level papers over the cracks.
How are Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland getting on spending less than we did??
Let me guess.., wrong type of rain.
It’s pathetic. |
"The club needs voices, leadership, direction, not apathy, pretending 44 games don’t count and second to a really poor Plymouth - as measured over the subsequent 2 seasons, in the third division, is as good as it gets."
Let me get this right.
You think finishing second in L1 was better than the following season?
 |  |
| |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 18:02 - Sep 23 with 538 views | hunters_headers |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 09:31 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
Wow, I mean he’s right, you can’t judge four games. But you can judge 44!!
Another who seems to have revised last season, and £150 million spent, multiple seasoned internationals signed, to a figment of imaginations.
All because it doesn’t fit his own emotional investment. In something which long since stopped being form or a blip.
I’m sure this group will come together, but the flaws will remain.., and apologists like Stuart are doing serious harm to the club long term.
When we needed agency, accountability and scrutiny, they provided parroting, inertia and looked the other way.
We spent £200 million, in that context even if we do well at this level, it’s really poor, anything. It elite, the recruitment has no context to our shame or leadership traits, and we lack a basic desire to compete.
There were two teams, playing in the same conditions, one wanted to win more the other.
That’s not a free pass. It’s damning. It’s instructive. Guess what. In our remaining 40 games many will be oamhed through a UK winter with the wrong type of rain.
It’s instructive of a group who are the opposite to 23/24.
They genuinely thrived in adversity, welcomed it, embraced the challenge.
This group, one or three of them pull out of tackles and don’t fancy it when it’s tough, at its worst, and I’m sorry, but that what this league is, if you can’t do that, you can’t be successful.
And that’s on McKenna 100% - selecting footballers, playing across the back in those conditions.
They won a red card with a 30 yard straight ball !!
We were trying to play through Jens.., who can’t do this Nast half as well as Nunez can.
Piss poor revisionism from Stuart and all the media, including in here.
It’s way off what journalism should be.., it’s index my job and my career to that of Mark Ashton and prey.
It doesn’t work…, Sheff Utd was the outlier and we didn’t even play well then - poor first half. Quality da ed the day.
When 44 games are dismissed and 3 or 4 are clung on to for deer life, YOU are the problem.
That’s not support. Go and join a cult and worship that. |
Surely this bloke is on a wind up, he must be from that Norfolk based club….. Surely any true Ipswich fan would not be spouting this utter nonsense, I haven’t seen one post from this person which is positive or supportive of Ipswich town fc or McKenna….. There’s only one conclusion that I can make , and that is, I just don’t understand why he even posts, unless he’s a Norwich fan |  | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 18:11 - Sep 23 with 489 views | tetchris |
Stu Watson… one of few reporters who makes ITV Anglia’s Donovan Blake look good | | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 18:58 - Sep 23 with 408 views | Hugoagogo_Reborn |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 18:02 - Sep 23 by hunters_headers |
Surely this bloke is on a wind up, he must be from that Norfolk based club….. Surely any true Ipswich fan would not be spouting this utter nonsense, I haven’t seen one post from this person which is positive or supportive of Ipswich town fc or McKenna….. There’s only one conclusion that I can make , and that is, I just don’t understand why he even posts, unless he’s a Norwich fan |
Probably so, and as such, the best reaction is no reaction. Don't give them the attention they crave. It's a bit pathetic to post reactionary stuff, and we can all just turn our backs and ignore any obvious trolling so that those who have genuine points to express can do so in a healthy, debating environment rather than encouraging an atmosphere of needlessly sniping at each other.
I'm glad people here are able to call out trolls without engaging with them. 😂 | |
| |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:15 - Sep 23 with 368 views | jasondozzell |
Stuart Watson is brilliant. He's seen it all here and his view is always considered and thoughtful.
He's spot on. We're dealing with big change and finding our feet again. It'll come good under KM. |  | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:18 - Sep 23 with 357 views | SouperJim |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:33 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
I’ve made my mind up over Mark Ashtons 35 year career, not 1 game.
Which is more ‘balanced’?
McKenna is a great coach, adjusted for age etc, it’s looking like he’s far from a great manager, but with the resources, he wouldn’t need to be to have a great season.
I’ve never said we can’t be relatively successful, and there’s huge talent in the group.
I’ve said for a long while, this isn’t elite, this isn’t progress, this isn’t a strategy and vision for long term success.
And all I get back is drivel. Personal attacks avoiding all the points, revisionism pretending last year didn’t happen or like you and Stuart, 1 game is instructive, 44 games are NOT.
You can’t make it make sense, because it’s devoid of logic, it’s pure emotion form people who indexed their self esteem not to the club, but to two employees.
The club was more important. The consequences too severe.
It’s £200 million - consequences. Once the parachute money is gone let me know how you service the liabilities, no wonder we have so many loans.., no money, no squad if we aren’t promoted.., and all you care about is ego, validation, not dating what you think in case it’s not popular.
I’ll be candid. It’s sad. The club needs voices, leadership, direction, not apathy, pretending 44 games don’t count and second to a really poor Plymouth - as measured over the subsequent 2 seasons, in the third division, is as good as it gets.
We’re better than that.
It’s like some of you want Morecambe every week just for the ‘win’
Have some ambition.
One question fascinates me.., can McKenna ever justify his champions league contract, during its length?
Tell how that’s possible. Or how we ever put the club in that position, after ONE fantastic, generational season in the EFL.
It’s the lack of difficult decision making and vacuum of leadership we’ve exhibited under Mark, and what typified his entire 35 years in the game.
Good.., but miles off elite.
It would have been REALLY hard to let McKenna go, but there’s a reason nobody else would pay him that, because as he proved, he’s not anywhere near that level. Maybe one day.., maybe not.., but a huge risk ., and it has already failed.
It looks every inch that Sam, Mass, Chaplin, Burgess deserved more credit than they ever got - McKenna, probably a little less.
You can coach systems, tactics, even quality to a degree.., you can’t coach desire, will to win.
That’s what we lack - we aren’t losing games through lack of ability, or even tactics, it’s through not having the will to win.., and players that have it, like Nunez - get splinters in conditions like a swimming pool, in favour of pure footballer Jens.
Even Pep and Arteta have completely moved away form that style, far more diverse, direct, flexible.
We have a double pivot.
If it doesn’t work.., more double pivot.., if that fails.., a bit more of the double pivot.
Sorry. We’ve been worked out.., McKenna has one style.., and Sam who could take the ball with 5 Rottweilers at his heels, and retain possession, isn’t here to make it work.
Some of our successs was in spite of McKenna not because off.., sorry that makes you feel bad, personally I think the clubs future is FAR more importnst than how you and Stuart and Phil for that matter feel.
It’s time to adult. We’ll win at the weekend, but every result at this level papers over the cracks.
How are Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland getting on spending less than we did??
Let me guess.., wrong type of rain.
It’s pathetic. |
When half the forum take you for a budgie troll, it's never a good sign. Assuming you're not for a moment, a few pointers.
Try to make only a handful of points at a time. Your posts are so long, frankly I get bored of reading them halfway through and give up. It's not conducive to sensible debate to write such long posts. How can I actually respond sensibly to so many separate points? I can't even keep track while reading through, let alone be able to address everything you write with my own responses.
I don't think anyone is making their mind up after one game. We've played 6, results haven't been great but most accept that we've had a lot of change over the summer so are a work in progress. More time needed before declaring all is lost.
In terms of last season, it's done with. Yes, it wasn't exactly great, but it's a very tough division, particularly for a double promoted side who got there at least a couple of years quicker than we hoped and didn't have enough time to grow as a result. Victims of our own success if you will.
The only real relevance it has on 25/26 is the after effects. It takes time to turn around a team low on confidence who got very used to being beat every week. The green shoots of recovery are there to be seen if you are open minded enough to look for them. The way you write, I get the impression you see everything through a very negative lense. |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:35 - Sep 23 with 300 views | Facefacts |
I will try to catch up with this whole thread when i have time and sorry if someone has already made this point but..
Stuart Watson has to say it that way as he speaks to "Kieran" every week, he cannot go into the areas of criticism Dark Horse has gone, or the EADT would be looking for another person to replace Stuart. Those asking questions including Phil are giving Kieran easy stuff to respond to. Some of us find that frustrating. But they have to do it. Phil I think got banned during an earlier regime, so Stuart and Phil and the others don't want to be sent out into the cold, suffering the same fate. |  | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:44 - Sep 23 with 258 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:18 - Sep 23 by SouperJim |
When half the forum take you for a budgie troll, it's never a good sign. Assuming you're not for a moment, a few pointers.
Try to make only a handful of points at a time. Your posts are so long, frankly I get bored of reading them halfway through and give up. It's not conducive to sensible debate to write such long posts. How can I actually respond sensibly to so many separate points? I can't even keep track while reading through, let alone be able to address everything you write with my own responses.
I don't think anyone is making their mind up after one game. We've played 6, results haven't been great but most accept that we've had a lot of change over the summer so are a work in progress. More time needed before declaring all is lost.
In terms of last season, it's done with. Yes, it wasn't exactly great, but it's a very tough division, particularly for a double promoted side who got there at least a couple of years quicker than we hoped and didn't have enough time to grow as a result. Victims of our own success if you will.
The only real relevance it has on 25/26 is the after effects. It takes time to turn around a team low on confidence who got very used to being beat every week. The green shoots of recovery are there to be seen if you are open minded enough to look for them. The way you write, I get the impression you see everything through a very negative lense. |
Good response. I don’t think this person is a troll or a budgie. They certainly seem to only focus on the negatives to the point of annoying themselves so much that they are “so emotional that they can't form coherent sentences!” (to borrow words of another poster).
There are some hard truths hidden in the rants. Last year, second half of the season especially was woeful. Recruitment has been expensively poor and these players do lack the spirit and winning mentality the old group had. Coaching-wise we don’t look like a team yet and KM isn’t very flexible. And if it doesn’t come right we will be right in the crap financially (every club that wasted its parachute payments has problems). People should be in no doubt we are gambling this season.
But the worst-imagined future hasn’t happened and may not. The poster is far too fixated on being convinced the worst will happen. Things aren’t great, but it’s early(ish) still. [Post edited 23 Sep 19:45]
|  |
| |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:50 - Sep 23 with 240 views | blueasfook |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 14:22 - Sep 23 by Hugoagogo_Reborn |
Sitters, whilst I understand your frustration (I have Darkhorse on ignore), please don't forget that Phil has asked once again only a few days ago that people don't resort to name calling and abuse.
You are too good a forum member to lose. Are you really going to let some silly internet troll jeopardise your forum membership?
No offence intended. [Post edited 23 Sep 14:23]
|
As much as I dislike to see abuse aimed at people on this forum, and indeed dont think it befitting for anyone to resort to such abuse. I always find it sad to see human relations break down to such an extent that insults and abuse seem to be the last resort in communicating one's frustration at a fellow poster. However having carefully considered both the context to it and the reasoning behind Sitters particular response here, I am inclined to agree that said idiot should indeed "fook off". |  |
| |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 20:42 - Sep 23 with 147 views | DJR |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:35 - Sep 23 by Facefacts |
I will try to catch up with this whole thread when i have time and sorry if someone has already made this point but..
Stuart Watson has to say it that way as he speaks to "Kieran" every week, he cannot go into the areas of criticism Dark Horse has gone, or the EADT would be looking for another person to replace Stuart. Those asking questions including Phil are giving Kieran easy stuff to respond to. Some of us find that frustrating. But they have to do it. Phil I think got banned during an earlier regime, so Stuart and Phil and the others don't want to be sent out into the cold, suffering the same fate. |
I may be misremembering but didn't the EADT call for the ending of the Evans' regime?
This is certainly evidence that the EADT were no patsies.
https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/21330193.stuart-watsons-sunday-verdict-marcus-evans
https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/21329773.north-stander-dross-football-banning-journ | | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 20:47 - Sep 23 with 139 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I wouldn't invite him to a party. Puts me to sleep. |  |
| |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 21:21 - Sep 23 with 89 views | dusth |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:35 - Sep 23 by Facefacts |
I will try to catch up with this whole thread when i have time and sorry if someone has already made this point but..
Stuart Watson has to say it that way as he speaks to "Kieran" every week, he cannot go into the areas of criticism Dark Horse has gone, or the EADT would be looking for another person to replace Stuart. Those asking questions including Phil are giving Kieran easy stuff to respond to. Some of us find that frustrating. But they have to do it. Phil I think got banned during an earlier regime, so Stuart and Phil and the others don't want to be sent out into the cold, suffering the same fate. |
The reason he is called Dark Horse is because he's got form.
And, Dark Horse, there is no such verb as "to adult".
Happy Christmas everyone - Town in top six. | |
| |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 21:38 - Sep 23 with 36 views | pointofblue |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 19:44 - Sep 23 by Swansea_Blue |
Good response. I don’t think this person is a troll or a budgie. They certainly seem to only focus on the negatives to the point of annoying themselves so much that they are “so emotional that they can't form coherent sentences!” (to borrow words of another poster).
There are some hard truths hidden in the rants. Last year, second half of the season especially was woeful. Recruitment has been expensively poor and these players do lack the spirit and winning mentality the old group had. Coaching-wise we don’t look like a team yet and KM isn’t very flexible. And if it doesn’t come right we will be right in the crap financially (every club that wasted its parachute payments has problems). People should be in no doubt we are gambling this season.
But the worst-imagined future hasn’t happened and may not. The poster is far too fixated on being convinced the worst will happen. Things aren’t great, but it’s early(ish) still. [Post edited 23 Sep 19:45]
|
The other thing is the gelling argument runs then quickly considering how other sides have historically to mass turnover. See Burnley last season as an example. | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
