| An interesting night in the stands 09:09 - Jan 21 with 3208 views | homer_123 |
I've posted before about the group in front of me that spend the entire match on their phones betting - well, they were not there last night.
However, a fair few fans around where we sit were quite vocal last night and what they were talking about I overheard two or three groups bemoaning on the way out after the game.
Now, this comes with the caveat that we could have gifted a goal to Brizzle last night quite easily, so in some regard I 'can' understand their thinking.
In short, a lot of talk/ moaning about 'playing out from the back'. Slow, pedestrian, fraught with danger. Kipre in particular was coming in for some scathing criticism. As was O'Shea - now that's obvious because when we play out - it's these two.
A fair few were just wanting us to hit it long, get the ball up the pitch ASAP. In addition, one chap was almost losing his marbles over the fact that we attack down the wing (left or right), can't progress so we come back and recycle - he was going apoplectic.
The final comment, and this was the comment I heard two other groups mention on the way out, in addition to the above, was this: "I'm here to be entertained, that's not entertainment!".
I understand we all views things differently but it does amaze me, still, that people seem to not understand how and why we play the way we do.
I was sat there hearing the chap behind me shout at Kipre to 'hit it long' (like Kipre is going to hear it or follow his advice) - and I'm wondering if he's watching the same game. We have Clarke hugging one touchline, Burns the other - both with chalk on their boots. Azon in the middle (ie nowhere near each other) against a back 5 (first half this was). Add to that both Matsi and Jens were deeper (as we are looking to play through the line) - so, again, not near the front three at the time Kipre has the ball.
What, exactly, would the point be to hit it long at that point. Burns nor Clarke were running in behind and if we played to Azon, who's he going to bring into play?
Now, I've got nothing against a nice long ball (see Burns to Azon cross field ball, lovely and Azon unlucky with his shot) and it's important to be able to mix our play up and I think we have got better at this.
I posted the other day about expectations and how we, as fans, need to temper them. We aren't going to roll everyone over every week, we aren't always going to play great football (first 15 last night, I thought we were sloppy with our passing for example).
But how could anyone come away from PR last night and not be entertained. Two really well worked and taken goals, could easily had a couple more. Decent opposition who didn't make it easy but we also didn't give them too much of a sniff.
Maybe I'm being harsh or just focusing on the negative (these were a minority of fans I will say) but if you can't go and enjoy that at PR last night, I'm not sure what the point is? [Post edited 21 Jan 11:25]
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| An interesting night in the stands on 10:32 - Jan 21 with 376 views | Meadowlark |
This thread is a bit of a pile-on against people who might have a different point of view. Heaven forbid that that might be possible on this forum.
But seriously. I do sometimes worry when we do that passing around the back stuff. It comes from nearly 60 years of watching Ipswich, and it's hard not to be a little concerned. We were taught not to fanny around with the ball in our own area and save that for the other half of the pitch, and we've often seen the dire results if a mistake is made. It takes a while to get used to this new way of playing even after seeing our team doing it so succesfully for a few seasons. So don't be so hard on my fellow dinosaurs. We're coming around, but it takes a while.
As for the passing to and fro across the opponents penalty area from one wing and back again I cannot help but agree that this is NOT an entertaining way to play. I don't think Ipswich are very guilty of this trait, although we do sometimes try to walk the ball into the goal when someone could've had a shot. But watching Prem games on TV some of the games have become mind-numbingly boring because of this very trait. It's all about possession of course, but it doesn't make for a good spectacle.
Football is a game of opinions.
I enjoyed the match last night, particularly as Bristol came to play football.
We'll win this league! |  | | |
| Sure but I think you miss the point...? on 10:45 - Jan 21 with 353 views | Dyland |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:32 - Jan 21 by Meadowlark |
This thread is a bit of a pile-on against people who might have a different point of view. Heaven forbid that that might be possible on this forum.
But seriously. I do sometimes worry when we do that passing around the back stuff. It comes from nearly 60 years of watching Ipswich, and it's hard not to be a little concerned. We were taught not to fanny around with the ball in our own area and save that for the other half of the pitch, and we've often seen the dire results if a mistake is made. It takes a while to get used to this new way of playing even after seeing our team doing it so succesfully for a few seasons. So don't be so hard on my fellow dinosaurs. We're coming around, but it takes a while.
As for the passing to and fro across the opponents penalty area from one wing and back again I cannot help but agree that this is NOT an entertaining way to play. I don't think Ipswich are very guilty of this trait, although we do sometimes try to walk the ball into the goal when someone could've had a shot. But watching Prem games on TV some of the games have become mind-numbingly boring because of this very trait. It's all about possession of course, but it doesn't make for a good spectacle.
Football is a game of opinions.
I enjoyed the match last night, particularly as Bristol came to play football.
We'll win this league! |
My point anyway!
" I enjoyed the match last night, particularly as Bristol came to play football."
That's the difference Larkers. To me the ridiculous thing is people moaning and groaning, and even losing the plot, after the match when we've won, not conceded, and it's been a decent game. The criticism is against fans with absurd expectations and entitlement. |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 10:51 - Jan 21 with 345 views | NthQldITFC |
| An interesting night in the stands on 09:45 - Jan 21 by homer_123 |
Guy losing his marbles was early to mid thirties I'd day.
The others 40's and 50's maybe. |
Bang goes half my theory then.
Maybe masturbation is still pertinent? |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 10:54 - Jan 21 with 342 views | Pendejo |
High risk, high reward, that's how KMcK phrased it wasn't it?
His "playbook" requires the "#9" to put 90 minutes of effort into 60-70 minutes. That "dilly dallying" with the ball at the back is a virtual time out for the man at the front.
As Meadowlark states most of us were schooled in a no nonsense approach at the back and our style does make me nervous. I've been watching Town for 49 years, too young to really appreciate the Robson years for how remarkable they truly were, enjoyed Lyall and Burley years but KMcK has earned our patience with his process.
Even people in my friendship circle had lost faith, one even used the phrase fraud and others didn't particularly argue with that. (If they're reading, no not naming you)
Given the budget, experience, squad it "should" be us with the cushion Coventry enjoy, but the fact we haven't, isn't that positive proof that the Championship is healthy?
More concern for me, last night, was that our lowest home attendance for 4 years? |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 10:56 - Jan 21 with 346 views | grow_our_own |
We've conceded the fewest goals in the Championship this season. It's not even close. It's by four clear goals. Integral to that is how we play. We don't let the game become "chaotic" (in McKenna's words). If we don't have controlled possession, or can't see a way forward, then we reset, and pass backwards until we do. We build and start probing again rather than give the opposition a transition. So many goals are scored in football on the transition and we minimise them. Sure we scored a few more goals last time we were in the Championship, we scored 50 after 27 games in 2024:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
vs 47 this year:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
But look at the the goals conceded. 34 in 2024 vs only 24 this season. So our attack isn't quite as good (although close), but our defence is massively better. Our goals were more spread around in 2024 vs mainly from left-wing this season, but our defence is much, much better. Teams play to their strengths. In 2024, we knew our defence wasn't good enough to keep clean sheets so we tried to outscore. This season, there's a better balance between attack and defence. We aren't taking as many risks, but if we go up, we'll be much better prepared defensively for the demands of the Prem. Fans need to understand what McKenna is building. |  | | |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:58 - Jan 21 with 331 views | Lesta_Tractor |
Not a criticism of the way we play, it's obviously working for us given where we are in the league, but I do find games a bit boring now.
I think that's just modern football rather than anything we're doing though. |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 10:59 - Jan 21 with 327 views | positivity |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:56 - Jan 21 by grow_our_own |
We've conceded the fewest goals in the Championship this season. It's not even close. It's by four clear goals. Integral to that is how we play. We don't let the game become "chaotic" (in McKenna's words). If we don't have controlled possession, or can't see a way forward, then we reset, and pass backwards until we do. We build and start probing again rather than give the opposition a transition. So many goals are scored in football on the transition and we minimise them. Sure we scored a few more goals last time we were in the Championship, we scored 50 after 27 games in 2024:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
vs 47 this year:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
But look at the the goals conceded. 34 in 2024 vs only 24 this season. So our attack isn't quite as good (although close), but our defence is massively better. Our goals were more spread around in 2024 vs mainly from left-wing this season, but our defence is much, much better. Teams play to their strengths. In 2024, we knew our defence wasn't good enough to keep clean sheets so we tried to outscore. This season, there's a better balance between attack and defence. We aren't taking as many risks, but if we go up, we'll be much better prepared defensively for the demands of the Prem. Fans need to understand what McKenna is building. |
agree with almost all of that, except stoke have conceded the fewest goals (and hoping they get a clean sheet tonight!) | |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:01 - Jan 21 with 313 views | grow_our_own |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:59 - Jan 21 by positivity |
agree with almost all of that, except stoke have conceded the fewest goals (and hoping they get a clean sheet tonight!) |
Teach me to make assumptions about teams outside the top six. Thanks for keeping me honest pos. | | | |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:02 - Jan 21 with 301 views | positivity |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:01 - Jan 21 by grow_our_own |
Teach me to make assumptions about teams outside the top six. Thanks for keeping me honest pos. |
i'd be more than happy with them ending the day in the top 6! | |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:04 - Jan 21 with 297 views | ITFCson |
Try and block out the noise/comments from those around you if you can. A big chunk of fans don't understand football and feel the need to shout something without educated thought. The amount of times fans shout 'shoooooooooot' when it falls to a player 35 yards out. In fact I always shout 'Dont Shooooooot'. But that has been happening for decades and will continue to happen. Those of us with a better football IQ understand how we play a certain way and why we do it. Football has evolved and continues to evolve, we are not the only team playing a certain style. | | | |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:09 - Jan 21 with 274 views | Ipswich24 |
There really are some muppets in our fan base.
No idea at all, Kipre has been immense nearly all season, he made an error last night but even world class players do every now and again. I agree earlierbin season we were to slow and ponderous, but I have noticed in recent weeks the intensity increasing, quicker passing, more movement as players have settled into KM method of playing. Thought we looked so much more of a threat with Burns in the side.
We pretty much controlled that game from start to finish. Perfect professional performance, what's not to like!!! |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:09 - Jan 21 with 274 views | homer_123 |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:32 - Jan 21 by Meadowlark |
This thread is a bit of a pile-on against people who might have a different point of view. Heaven forbid that that might be possible on this forum.
But seriously. I do sometimes worry when we do that passing around the back stuff. It comes from nearly 60 years of watching Ipswich, and it's hard not to be a little concerned. We were taught not to fanny around with the ball in our own area and save that for the other half of the pitch, and we've often seen the dire results if a mistake is made. It takes a while to get used to this new way of playing even after seeing our team doing it so succesfully for a few seasons. So don't be so hard on my fellow dinosaurs. We're coming around, but it takes a while.
As for the passing to and fro across the opponents penalty area from one wing and back again I cannot help but agree that this is NOT an entertaining way to play. I don't think Ipswich are very guilty of this trait, although we do sometimes try to walk the ball into the goal when someone could've had a shot. But watching Prem games on TV some of the games have become mind-numbingly boring because of this very trait. It's all about possession of course, but it doesn't make for a good spectacle.
Football is a game of opinions.
I enjoyed the match last night, particularly as Bristol came to play football.
We'll win this league! |
Yes, differing opinions are important.
My observation, I suppose, is two fold.
1. I'm not sure why fans can't see that the way we play works, even if it sometimes means we gift opportunities - it's been this way since KM joined us, delivered two promotions and is on course to deliver a third.
2. Entertained? I cannot fathom why anyone wouldn't enjoy last night, even if you had a different view of how the game could be played. | |
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| Arf, that is brilliant on 11:20 - Jan 21 with 244 views | Guthrum |
| Arf, that is brilliant on 09:35 - Jan 21 by Dyland |
Basically, he wants the season before last. It will never happen again. Ever. People need to grow up and get real.
As you say, we are really starting to purr and it's a lovely thing to see. Added to that last night a deent opposition who had the odd sniff that was generally well snuffed out. It was entertaining and anyone who says otherwise is frankly a fannyface. |
People forget also that the two promotion seasons were exciting because of what happened in the last few weeks of each - amazing winning runs and last-minute victories (not to mention other teams' disasters) allowing us to scrape into 2nd place in a fierce competition where we were very much the underdogs. Even the thumping victories mostly came in the period from February onwards.
This time around, after a slow start, things are building steadily with no real dramas. Everybody expects us to dominate. We haven't had our usual winter slump to set up the tense run-in. Even our greatest rivals, Coventry, were smoothly doubled. That same tension and jeopardy is not there, just a faintly expenditure-entitled expectation that we should somehow be even more sparkling.
We could win every game between now and the end of the season and some people would still feel slightly hollow, as if it were the minimum which could be expected under our new circumstances, not a cause for exceptional rejoicing. |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:22 - Jan 21 with 240 views | aeazb1 |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:56 - Jan 21 by grow_our_own |
We've conceded the fewest goals in the Championship this season. It's not even close. It's by four clear goals. Integral to that is how we play. We don't let the game become "chaotic" (in McKenna's words). If we don't have controlled possession, or can't see a way forward, then we reset, and pass backwards until we do. We build and start probing again rather than give the opposition a transition. So many goals are scored in football on the transition and we minimise them. Sure we scored a few more goals last time we were in the Championship, we scored 50 after 27 games in 2024:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
vs 47 this year:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
But look at the the goals conceded. 34 in 2024 vs only 24 this season. So our attack isn't quite as good (although close), but our defence is massively better. Our goals were more spread around in 2024 vs mainly from left-wing this season, but our defence is much, much better. Teams play to their strengths. In 2024, we knew our defence wasn't good enough to keep clean sheets so we tried to outscore. This season, there's a better balance between attack and defence. We aren't taking as many risks, but if we go up, we'll be much better prepared defensively for the demands of the Prem. Fans need to understand what McKenna is building. |
Good analysis and I think you've hit the nail on the head, chaos is fun to watch and the lack of it is why people don't feel entertained even though objectively the guys are doing a great job on the pitch.
I admit I do feel frustrated and a little bored at times when we take the risk to break the press at the back only to turn around in midfield and recycle it back but eyes on the prize of promotion and we look well placed. | | | |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:23 - Jan 21 with 232 views | wischip |
I can't get my head around this. If you don't like the style of play and sitting 2nd in a division gunning for promotion then stop going, give up your season ticket. I'm sure there are plenty of others who would love to go but can't get a ticket. |  | | |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:28 - Jan 21 with 217 views | TractorWood |
| An interesting night in the stands on 09:31 - Jan 21 by Reuser_is_God |
Some* of our fans are utter morons.
It absolutely baffles me that people are still moaning about us playing out from the back, what have they been watching the past 5 years?
*I say some but it’s probably more like 80% |
The other 20% are class though. |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:31 - Jan 21 with 221 views | The_Romford_Blue |
For the lads stood all game betting, can you ask them how they get reception please as I’ve genuinely never once been able to connect to anything when inside the ground.
Cheers |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:32 - Jan 21 with 208 views | Bluemike31 |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:23 - Jan 21 by wischip |
I can't get my head around this. If you don't like the style of play and sitting 2nd in a division gunning for promotion then stop going, give up your season ticket. I'm sure there are plenty of others who would love to go but can't get a ticket. |
Plenty of tickets available last night and they still didn't go. | | | |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:37 - Jan 21 with 199 views | Guthrum |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:56 - Jan 21 by grow_our_own |
We've conceded the fewest goals in the Championship this season. It's not even close. It's by four clear goals. Integral to that is how we play. We don't let the game become "chaotic" (in McKenna's words). If we don't have controlled possession, or can't see a way forward, then we reset, and pass backwards until we do. We build and start probing again rather than give the opposition a transition. So many goals are scored in football on the transition and we minimise them. Sure we scored a few more goals last time we were in the Championship, we scored 50 after 27 games in 2024:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
vs 47 this year:
https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-
But look at the the goals conceded. 34 in 2024 vs only 24 this season. So our attack isn't quite as good (although close), but our defence is massively better. Our goals were more spread around in 2024 vs mainly from left-wing this season, but our defence is much, much better. Teams play to their strengths. In 2024, we knew our defence wasn't good enough to keep clean sheets so we tried to outscore. This season, there's a better balance between attack and defence. We aren't taking as many risks, but if we go up, we'll be much better prepared defensively for the demands of the Prem. Fans need to understand what McKenna is building. |
Your point about building technique for the Prem is a good one.
To an extent, we were the chaos-thriving disruptors disruptors during our two promotion runs. Chaplin popping up where defenders least expected, harvesting goals in the confusion. Burns and Hutchinson cutting inside at pace with runners to set full-back heads spinning.
But that's not really enough in the Prem. Defences are too skilful, quick-thinking and well-drilled. Teams are too sharp in the attack, able to exploit every weakness. We couldn't disrupt enough most of the time (Delap v Chelsea being a notable exception), so scoring fell away leaving the looser defence horribly exposed.
We need a stronger base to improve our chances of survival should we go up again this season. | |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:40 - Jan 21 with 197 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
I'm in the SAR upper, block 3, and hear the same week after week. There are a couple of groups just in front and just behind us that aren't there every game (so probably not season ticket holders, but take the same or similar seats when they can).
Last night for examples (he wasn't alone) one regular, younger guy (very identifiable because of the name on the back of his shirt  ) was apoplectic whenever we played out from the back, whenever a pass was misplaced, whenever we invited them on and the opposition got close, etc Matusiwa is apparently sh1t, because he can't make a pass! Anyone who has the ball within 25 meters of goal should shoot! Etc, etc.
If people could put some of this passion into being supportive, and yelling out positives when we played some great football, it would really help the atmosphere (not that it was too bad last night though - best for a while to my ears). I could even forgive some of the negative yelling, if it was balanced with positives when called for, but no - they only get excited about the negatives).
Walking out of the ground I heard very similar comments. We're too slow, played badly, and were lucky not to get turned over. Boring, uninteresting football all evening.
What game were they watching FFS, and what exactly are their expectations? It's a strange old world. | | | |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:40 - Jan 21 with 191 views | Pendejo |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:31 - Jan 21 by The_Romford_Blue |
For the lads stood all game betting, can you ask them how they get reception please as I’ve genuinely never once been able to connect to anything when inside the ground.
Cheers |
Starlink or Huawei | |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 11:41 - Jan 21 with 192 views | norfsufblue |
| An interesting night in the stands on 10:21 - Jan 21 by Bluemike31 |
Says it all when these utter morons are moaning about Kipre, who it has to be said has been exceptional in recent games, yes he had a couple of "moments" last night but are we know at the stage where no player is allowed a wayward pass once in a while ? Jesus wept. |
I have t come clean about the playing out from the back ..... I do understand and know why we do it and appreciate and applaud when it comes off..... BUT it still gives me te heebeegeebees when looks too tight. And sometimes I do question why we do it when we have comfortable control of a game... Saturday was an example of being 2 up early and we still nearly let them back into the game once through it and im thinking we don't need to take risks here just keep the ball!.
However I'm absolutely sure our manager knows exactly what he's doing and im going have continue to just enjoy this fantastic period in our history.
As a footnote I would just say i thought Azor was coming short for the ball in much more space than usual and turning ala Sam with increasing success as the game wore on. Maybe a result of the extreme hard work we foced Bristol to do. |  | | |
| An interesting night in the stands on 11:47 - Jan 21 with 182 views | BloomBlue |
Its where one E turns into another E.
When in the championship 2 seasons ago they had expectations. Maybe lowish expectation as we had been in L1 a few seasons after all. But in some of those games we came back from being a goal behind. That added additional excitement to the expectations. Teams also came to PR especially early in that season and played open football.
After relegation from the PL, too many fans are now entitled, thinking we will win 5, 6 nil every game because our players cost millions. Ignoring every team coming to be PR is playing for a 0-0, in the hope to hit us on the counter and nick a 0-1 win.
This season we are now controlling games, not allowing teams to score and 2 or 3 goals more than enough to win games. A lot of those fans I genuinely think would prefer us to be behind in games and then come back to win 3-2.
I still laugh at a few around me who earlier this season were moaning we never control games, and now moan the games are boring because we have full control of games. |  | | |
| Arf, that is brilliant on 12:01 - Jan 21 with 151 views | Steve_M |
| Arf, that is brilliant on 09:35 - Jan 21 by Dyland |
Basically, he wants the season before last. It will never happen again. Ever. People need to grow up and get real.
As you say, we are really starting to purr and it's a lovely thing to see. Added to that last night a deent opposition who had the odd sniff that was generally well snuffed out. It was entertaining and anyone who says otherwise is frankly a fannyface. |
"Basically, he wants the season before last. It will never happen again"
Well, quite. Few clubs get to have two seasons in a row as good as 22-23 and 23-24 and it was obvious to me on the afternoon of the Huddersfield game that this might be as good as it ever gets.
FWIS, last night was far more comfortable than bits of Saturday's second half where we made a few too many errors and I could understand people getting frustrated. |  |
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| An interesting night in the stands on 12:09 - Jan 21 with 122 views | Chalk_Cheese |
| An interesting night in the stands on 09:22 - Jan 21 by FrimleyBlue |
Its the sorry state of football
% of supporters v % of football fans.
Its what got moyes out of west ham.
Its hard but youve just got to ignore then. They'll never change. They go with a requirement if that requirement isn't met you'll bloody hear about it.
If you think we had what 14k die hard st holders during the bad times
So a few thousand supporters came back who are supporters
Then a few thousand football fans who liked our 22 23 football.
Football tourism is high esp when clubs start to be successful. |
Hence the attendance last night.
the football tourists where watching champions league
I get different people each game sit next to me and some of the comments are laughable.
i got in a convo with one and said " they are coached a system to play" and its the manager/coaches who set that up. So the players mainly are playing to a structure/plan 70/80 % of the time. KMc style is from the back and between the lines, stretching the defenders with our width. we use to struggle with a plan B , but i have seen some changes this season compared to last 2-3 seasons which shows we can adapt.
if we want to hoof it, we go back to Mick M days, which was his preferred style |  | | |
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