| When optimists start to turn… 22:44 - Dec 2 with 576 views | Chris_ITFC |
That’s when the bubble is near to bursting. No, not the stock market, but Ipswich Town.
I consider myself one of the most optimistic. I shoot down the moaners. But boy, for all the madness of the equaliser, I’m heading home worried.
Blackburn didn’t sit deep, it was quite the opposite of our usual excuse. Yet we were so bad, so devoid of ideas, so predictable, and Kieran’s wonderful system that has brought us so much success now looks SO RIGID. Players stick to such set positions, with zero movement, and passes that are so telegraphed. If we know what’s about to happen, so do the opposition analysts, managers, players.
Quite bizarrely, the best thing about our system used to be Leif. He was the whole flipping purpose of the system! Yet that’s the only thing we’ve changed - such an athlete and crosser is forced into a narrow central role - and when he does get wide, Clarke and Philogene want to occupy the same 5x5 yards of grass. We’ve literally fecked ourselves.
I actually don’t blame the players, or all the changes. The system and patterns of play look so rigid and so choreographed now, I don’t think it matters which 11 are out there.
My worry is that poor performances probably result in things being even more drilled and choreographed on the training ground. Trouble is, we’ve got a set of attackers who thrive off freedom.
Even this morning, I was shooting down moans. But after a week of travelling and watching, we feel fundamentally flawed by the thing that made us so good, and I don’t see it getting much better quickly.
The remaining optimism is telling me we could still be 6 months from the Premier League - and that thoughts scares the life out of me! |  |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 22:47 - Dec 2 with 534 views | BrockleyBlue78 |
Nice post. We’d be starting from a weaker place than summer 2024 if we do get promoted with this squad. |  | | |
| When optimists start to turn… on 22:50 - Dec 2 with 486 views | Nutkins_Return |
Leif is shattered.
It's all so slow and obvious. If you do your homework on us you know what is coming.
And yep...I'm half glass full with us. And I still back McKenna to get it right, we just need to see some performances. [Post edited 2 Dec 22:51]
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| When optimists start to turn… on 23:05 - Dec 2 with 406 views | Chris_ITFC |
| When optimists start to turn… on 22:47 - Dec 2 by BrockleyBlue78 |
Nice post. We’d be starting from a weaker place than summer 2024 if we do get promoted with this squad. |
Absolutely. I think we’d basically be buying a new XI again, maybe Leif and Azor aside.
Seems like a nice problem to have right now though! | |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 23:07 - Dec 2 with 372 views | BrockleyBlue78 |
| When optimists start to turn… on 23:05 - Dec 2 by Chris_ITFC |
Absolutely. I think we’d basically be buying a new XI again, maybe Leif and Azor aside.
Seems like a nice problem to have right now though! |
Can we recruit a couple in January who are both able to get us promoted AND good enough for the prem?! | | | |
| When optimists start to turn… on 23:08 - Dec 2 with 361 views | FrimleyBlue |
Always so negative. Don't be like old frimmers. |  |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 23:12 - Dec 2 with 318 views | Hugoagogo_Reborn |
Kudos for making the trip. More than I did, from the comfort of my armchair and the TV.
Today was pretty abject. Only a fool would say otherwise.
There is definitely talent in this squad,.but I think there needs to be an end of year shuffle. Some of these players are not earning a bench place. Is that tactics, or attitude?
There are some great youth players we could try. I struggle to understand why the likes of Elkan and Cam are here and not on loan, when they are effectively being left to rot on the sidelines. The club needs to do better for them, as a minimum. |  |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 23:22 - Dec 2 with 238 views | Chris_ITFC |
| When optimists start to turn… on 23:08 - Dec 2 by FrimleyBlue |
Always so negative. Don't be like old frimmers. |
I almost mentioned you! You know how belligerent and annoying I am at disagreeing with the negativity more than anyone. But I’m wavering after everything I’ve seen this week.
We’ve seen every combination of players, yet everything looks the same. | |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 23:28 - Dec 2 with 207 views | Chris_ITFC |
| When optimists start to turn… on 23:12 - Dec 2 by Hugoagogo_Reborn |
Kudos for making the trip. More than I did, from the comfort of my armchair and the TV.
Today was pretty abject. Only a fool would say otherwise.
There is definitely talent in this squad,.but I think there needs to be an end of year shuffle. Some of these players are not earning a bench place. Is that tactics, or attitude?
There are some great youth players we could try. I struggle to understand why the likes of Elkan and Cam are here and not on loan, when they are effectively being left to rot on the sidelines. The club needs to do better for them, as a minimum. |
I never thought I would be in a position to say this, but this McKenna team is currently less than the sum of its parts.
I suspect (and possibly hope) it’s caused by tactics, which again feels bonkers to write. | |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 00:24 - Dec 3 with 111 views | Hugoagogo_Reborn |
| When optimists start to turn… on 23:28 - Dec 2 by Chris_ITFC |
I never thought I would be in a position to say this, but this McKenna team is currently less than the sum of its parts.
I suspect (and possibly hope) it’s caused by tactics, which again feels bonkers to write. |
Therein, I think, lies the problem.
I hope the gaffer can work out the team dynamics and get us running at full capacity soon. | |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 00:53 - Dec 3 with 56 views | Ryorry |
I'm usually an optimist too.
But when none of your lucky clothing or rituals are working, you know there's a problem Houston :( |  |
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| When optimists start to turn… on 01:10 - Dec 3 with 37 views | Churchman |
I do not want McKenna replaced or the players slaughtered. As usual, I see the usual suspects and plenty of new ones calling for McKenna’s head, moaning away and loving every minute of it. Time of their lives. Not me. I’m just bitterly disappointed.
But views on to what I see. Not on tonight’s game, but seen the previous three (only the home one live)
If I was the opposition, however short we were talent wise, I’d relish playing Ipswich. Any of you who played even the bottom of the pile Sunday rubbish like me will know why. You know that if you but into them early, be brave and don’t concede early, at least a point is yours. Soft teams however talented are there for the taking if played right.
Why? Collectively our team has no bottle. They are not all putting in the hard yards. You have to earn the right to play by doing the basics. We are not doing that. Why? I just don’t know. Maybe the mix of characters is wrong, maybe the players are fed up with playing well and getting dropped? Maybe they feel locked into a system that isn’t them?
Rotation works for the top six, but not the ham and egg championship. Do the players get on? Do they have each others backs? Are they scared to let go and play? Are we lacking a true on field organiser? Maybe bits of everything, but something isn’t right. If it was, McKenna wouldn’t be making strange comments about not getting over Friday.
Unlike so many experts on here, I’m not one. I might have played a little and watched a lot but that only means I can offer an unqualified view.
It’s a long season. Who knows but a team worthy of the players’ ability (and if you’ve seen them close up you will know they are far better than most in this division) looks a mile off at the moment. Saturday and Stoke next week? Hope (probably forlorn) rather than expectation.
If the supporters could do one thing on Saturday, it’d be to get behind the team instead of abusing it, but we all know after the last few games thats not going to happen beyond the first misplaced pass or error and I’m sure the players do too.
I still believe in patience. Let them get on with it. Who is out there who is better and would they want to come here and fit with what the club is trying to do? [Post edited 3 Dec 1:13]
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