| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC 23:46 - Apr 25 with 1638 views | unstableblue |
Someone coined Pragmatic FC earlier - love it - but that doesn’t quite cover Town this season
The reaction of fans to this season is a bit weird, and that’s really come out again today on this board - aren’t the facts from today that town played a very good team in strong form, town were ineffective against the WBA challenge for 55mins, deserved some criticism, but defended well and still carved out two clear chances, then took control of the game for most of the second half. And a draw was a fair result. We had more possession, more shots (13) and more big chances (4). Greaves, OShea, Furlong and Walton played really well. Jaden improved us. Burns was very rusty. But we secured a really important draw in a tough game, to really put us in the driving seat.
Yet on this board the weird relationship some fans have with the season has them describing feelings “I can’t stand watching us”, “I’m not enjoying this season”, “we’re awful again” etc etc
Some myths to be busted
We aren’t as good to watch as the 23/24 promotion, that’s true. We have an ability to put in a dud display (Pompey away, Charlton home) on occasion. BUT at times we’ve been bloody good to watch. And we’ve scored some cracking team and individual goals. We’ve had sublime halves of football throughout the season. And have put in strong full match displays including Norwich (twice!), Coventry (twice).
We aren’t as effective this season as the 23/24 season in attack (albeit have higher individual goal scorers, similar shots on target per game, similar XG, higher total big chances this season with two to go,) our pragmatic style has better defensive and possession stats this season.
23/24 was a well gelled, incredibly likeable group, who came under the radar, rode their luck, and built a great momentum, that stumbled along a bit at the end
24/25 is a team who’ve not fully clicked consistently, that has some dud transfers, but many that have bloomed, who are really pragmatic against opponents who treat us not as underdogs but a team to go deep against and play up to.
No one can enjoy this season as much as 23/24; but in context we’ve still played some bloody good football with great individual goals.
In some ways this achievement is just as laudable given the squad shift, transfer duds, and the prem relegation hit.
Furlong, Walton, Matusiwa, Clarke, Philogene, OShea, Taylor… have been great.
With many others improving and giving great moments, McAteer, Nunez, Kipre.
Let’s celebrate it… and get it over the line. [Post edited 26 Apr 0:21]
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 00:08 - Apr 26 with 1427 views | vilanovablue |
Exactly this. |  | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 00:14 - Apr 26 with 1414 views | BlueBadger |
I agree with all this but it's 'flair' not 'flare'. |  |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 00:20 - Apr 26 with 1393 views | unstableblue |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 00:14 - Apr 26 by BlueBadger |
I agree with all this but it's 'flair' not 'flare'. |
Thanks BB, updated
It was interesting comparing the season stats
Obviously our defensive stats are stronger
But we have also been almost as attacking - it’s just that we condense it perhaps into a half! Or 30mins of FLAIR… rather peppered through a performance
We were outplayed in 23/24 on a number of occasions. But we’ve had perhaps more dud performances this term. | |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 01:04 - Apr 26 with 1332 views | armchaircritic59 |
I can see where they are coming from, as a fan of fast paced, front forward, one/two touch, pass and move football, which most certainly is not what we've witnessed over the past season, or the previous one for that matter, though that was to be expected.
I think I can see what's been happening here. KM's taken stock of our rather chastening experience in the PL last season and has gone full dress rehearsal on a more pragmatic approach to the next one, which of course everyone hopes is next season.
I guess everyone sees things differently, and look for different things. One things for sure, the majority of this seasons players, should we get back to the PL, will either be bit part players or not here at all. That will go for Coventry and whoever else goes up. None are remotely good enough to use the same squad in the PL next season. Whatever happens, it's going to be a very interesting summer indeed. |  | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 01:23 - Apr 26 with 1309 views | quad |
I'm not sure it is true we aren't as good to watch as the 23/24 promotion.
Maybe attacking wise, but we've certainly improved defensively. |  | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 01:52 - Apr 26 with 1298 views | TripSwitch |
I think the truth is a lot more simple than this complex analysis in that KMs tactics, team set up and game plan are most effective when the other team comes to attack and leaves space to attack into at pace.
This season when no longer the underdog and facing teams in a compact defensive shape McKennas system isn't as impressive and it's more of a grind. It's no coincidence we've shone in the few games you could argue we were underdogs Vs teams who took the game to us and committed men forward in numbers. Coventry home and away, Norwich away.
This is not a problem unique to Ipswich, it's hard to beat sides who come for a point and play on the counter attack and if you do manage to overcome them, it's rarely a win by 3 or 4 goals. |  |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 07:40 - Apr 26 with 1114 views | urbanpenguin |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 01:52 - Apr 26 by TripSwitch |
I think the truth is a lot more simple than this complex analysis in that KMs tactics, team set up and game plan are most effective when the other team comes to attack and leaves space to attack into at pace.
This season when no longer the underdog and facing teams in a compact defensive shape McKennas system isn't as impressive and it's more of a grind. It's no coincidence we've shone in the few games you could argue we were underdogs Vs teams who took the game to us and committed men forward in numbers. Coventry home and away, Norwich away.
This is not a problem unique to Ipswich, it's hard to beat sides who come for a point and play on the counter attack and if you do manage to overcome them, it's rarely a win by 3 or 4 goals. |
Yes, this. And I think that while promotion has obviously been the primary intent, I think a lot of this season has been building new defensive capabilities and tactics of play better suited to the premier League, so it can progress rather than be a complete about turn and learning a new game in pre-season.
Unless a club turns his head, I think the plan was always for McK to stay another year in the prem with the new changing room and to build this new strategic system to a position of safety and leave with his job done. |  | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 07:46 - Apr 26 with 1087 views | LeoMuff |
For me pressure is not conducive to playing good football and this team has had significant pressure put on from day 1, 23/24 the opposite - almost no pressure until we knew we had a chance.
Being unfamiliar and not having connections is not conducive to good football 23/24 had played together the season before this one was re built are relegation.
For me this team is far better defensively, however not as good going foward but with some top championship players in Philogene and Clarke. |  |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 08:00 - Apr 26 with 1047 views | WeWereZombies |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 00:14 - Apr 26 by BlueBadger |
I agree with all this but it's 'flair' not 'flare'. |
Azon shoots like he's wearing a pair of flares... |  |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 08:04 - Apr 26 with 1025 views | CaptainAhab |
Some good points here, I've found the criticism this season baffling at times. Some very entitled fans.
In 23/24 we played some of the best attacking football I've ever seen, swashbuckling, fast and free flowing. But we were full of confidence off the L1 promotion season and we were viewed by other teams as easy pickings. They got into us and allowed us the space to play the game we wanted to.
This season is the polar opposite, we're a big scalp and teams will sit deep and strangle us. It's simply not possible to play the sort of football we used to, yet some fans still expect us to be 70's era Brazil.
It will be another incredible achievement if we can get promoted again and bloody hell we should enjoy it. | | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 08:12 - Apr 26 with 994 views | Churchman |
Great post.
Yes, while the last promotion side was more exciting to watch at times and more of a cohesive team, it wasn’t all high days and holidays. Spirited they may have been but over the winter period, for example, we won 1 in 9 games and that’s about what we deserved. Wins came in runs a bit like the season before.
Not this time. A win is followed by a draw etc looking at the pattern. Good half/poor half. It strikes me that the team is half formed and has relied heavily on individual performances at times and a solid defence.
The point you make about how the opposition have played is very relevant. The sensible teams have set up to defend, pinch a goal and scuttle away with at least a point. It’s been successful at times too. Those that have gone toe to toe have mostly suffered, Middlesbrough being a notable exception.
Yes, let’s get the job done.
Edit: and unlike last time I believe plenty of our players can play at Premier League level. In particular most of the defenders including the keeper, Matusiwa, JP and JC, possibly Nunez. [Post edited 26 Apr 8:17]
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 09:42 - Apr 26 with 874 views | Bluespeed225 |
Good post. I mentioned after the Norwich game that a promotion this season would be a greater achievement that 24'. The lessons learned last season, will take us, hopefully, into a Sunderland/Leeds of this season, and onto a stable footing for the future. It hasn't been exciting a lot of the time, but the player changes over the summer have been a really difficult transition, combined with losing the heartbeat of that 24 side. New captain, midfielders, even keepers coming in and out. The stadium work for Prem regs' is done, the training ground almost there, a huge undertaking to get us to another level. Our much maligned recruitment is still playing catch up with Prem regulars, the 'B' clubs etc. We can cope with The Cobbold for a while yet. BUT, this summers signings have to be right to cope with , as we saw last year, a different game entirley. COYB! | | | |
| THIS - I wonder if you put a show reel on 10:31 - Apr 26 with 798 views | unstableblue |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 01:23 - Apr 26 by quad |
I'm not sure it is true we aren't as good to watch as the 23/24 promotion.
Maybe attacking wise, but we've certainly improved defensively. |
Of best goals and attaching moves from the season against those from 23/24, well they’d be quite similarly brilliant
I don’t think you can argue that this season is more exciting to watch
But I don’t think it’s been as poor as so many are stating, indeed completely the opposite [Post edited 26 Apr 10:33]
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| This will be the big question that will be debated heavily on 10:41 - Apr 26 with 763 views | unstableblue |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 01:04 - Apr 26 by armchaircritic59 |
I can see where they are coming from, as a fan of fast paced, front forward, one/two touch, pass and move football, which most certainly is not what we've witnessed over the past season, or the previous one for that matter, though that was to be expected.
I think I can see what's been happening here. KM's taken stock of our rather chastening experience in the PL last season and has gone full dress rehearsal on a more pragmatic approach to the next one, which of course everyone hopes is next season.
I guess everyone sees things differently, and look for different things. One things for sure, the majority of this seasons players, should we get back to the PL, will either be bit part players or not here at all. That will go for Coventry and whoever else goes up. None are remotely good enough to use the same squad in the PL next season. Whatever happens, it's going to be a very interesting summer indeed. |
That the majority of players from this season are not good enough for prem and some could only play a bit part role.
If we secure promotion.
To your other point that everyone sees things differently - some believe that furlong, OShea, greaves, Walton, Jaden and Clarke can - I think that’s true in part. But there’d need to be Sunderland levels of wholesale change and you need the Zhaka like purchase.
One thing I disagree on you seem to state we haven’t seen fast paced and flowing football this season, I disagree - I think our transitional attacks haven been at times better than 23/24.
It’s just we’ve only done it in 20-45min patches. And we’ve had a major striker issue.
Imagine if we’d kept Delap - we’d have won the league | |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 10:47 - Apr 26 with 747 views | andyblue231 |
I've never got too bothered by whether I like this team or not because it's sort of irrelevant - if we go up I imagine there will be at least 5/6 new players it next season.
23/24 was like your first car. You'll never forget it, for all its faults it gave you a way out and moments of joy after years of feeling trapped. You can never have another first car.
25/26 is an SUV - pragmatic and effective and hopefully getting us where we need to go.
Now we'll trade it in for something fancy. [Post edited 26 Apr 10:48]
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| This will be the big question that will be debated heavily on 11:22 - Apr 26 with 723 views | WeWereZombies |
| This will be the big question that will be debated heavily on 10:41 - Apr 26 by unstableblue |
That the majority of players from this season are not good enough for prem and some could only play a bit part role.
If we secure promotion.
To your other point that everyone sees things differently - some believe that furlong, OShea, greaves, Walton, Jaden and Clarke can - I think that’s true in part. But there’d need to be Sunderland levels of wholesale change and you need the Zhaka like purchase.
One thing I disagree on you seem to state we haven’t seen fast paced and flowing football this season, I disagree - I think our transitional attacks haven been at times better than 23/24.
It’s just we’ve only done it in 20-45min patches. And we’ve had a major striker issue.
Imagine if we’d kept Delap - we’d have won the league |
Watching highlights of recent Chelsea games and then Forest on Friday evening I think it is Hutchinson who would have made all the difference this season, providing of course that we could have persuaded him to get a flu jab... | |
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| This will be the big question that will be debated heavily on 11:31 - Apr 26 with 702 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| This will be the big question that will be debated heavily on 11:22 - Apr 26 by WeWereZombies |
Watching highlights of recent Chelsea games and then Forest on Friday evening I think it is Hutchinson who would have made all the difference this season, providing of course that we could have persuaded him to get a flu jab... |
If we had Omari we would have walked this league. Got a message from a Forest supporting mate the other day who was very happy with him. |  |
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| Great post on 11:56 - Apr 26 with 656 views | unstableblue |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 10:47 - Apr 26 by andyblue231 |
I've never got too bothered by whether I like this team or not because it's sort of irrelevant - if we go up I imagine there will be at least 5/6 new players it next season.
23/24 was like your first car. You'll never forget it, for all its faults it gave you a way out and moments of joy after years of feeling trapped. You can never have another first car.
25/26 is an SUV - pragmatic and effective and hopefully getting us where we need to go.
Now we'll trade it in for something fancy. [Post edited 26 Apr 10:48]
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I’d say this season is the SUV, but it is also has a turbo sports mode, but it needs recharging and only works 30% of the time - but when it does it’s joyous.
Whilst it can’t meet the thrills of your first car, you’ve grown fond of the 25/26 SUV and you are really warming to its practicality, and the joy it brings in traversing the adverse terrain of the off-road track (that’s some of our robust defending and ability to tolerate long ball, innit, wibble wibble)
For the 26/27 you’ve had a pristine garage built, and you’re in the market for a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo with a power upgrade and extended range (wibble wibble), it’s going to retain some robustness (Walton, greaves, OShea) but it has an ability for mind bendingingly quick forward motion, etc etc etc [Post edited 26 Apr 12:16]
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 12:30 - Apr 26 with 575 views | BlueBadger |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flare FC on 08:00 - Apr 26 by WeWereZombies |
Azon shoots like he's wearing a pair of flares... |
Need Big Terry Connor back to teach him to finish.
He's SO frustrating - does so MUCH right but his finishing....
Hot take - I wonder if he'd be netter suiting to being converted to a number 10.... | |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 12:39 - Apr 26 with 558 views | Vaughan8 |
I'm baffled that some people are baffled at the criticism.
Bar the Coventry games, what games have you watched and thought "wow this team are good."
The dud performances are more than occasionally. Just because we win sometimes (I.e. hull away), thay doesn't necessarily means we've played "well" and vice versa.
I feel like we've plodded through this season, not being particularly good at times but can be quite efficient.
For a team who im sure are one of, if not the, most expensive assembled squads in the league, we're just a bit meh.
We aren't as bad as some suggest, but likewise we aren't as good as some think we are. | | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 19:42 - Apr 26 with 409 views | armchaircritic59 |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 07:46 - Apr 26 by LeoMuff |
For me pressure is not conducive to playing good football and this team has had significant pressure put on from day 1, 23/24 the opposite - almost no pressure until we knew we had a chance.
Being unfamiliar and not having connections is not conducive to good football 23/24 had played together the season before this one was re built are relegation.
For me this team is far better defensively, however not as good going foward but with some top championship players in Philogene and Clarke. |
Pressure is a two way thing, not one way. There's nothing that says it can't affect you positively as much as negatively. As Graham Souness once said when he was at Liverpool, " The bigger the game, the greater the pressure, the more I enjoy it " And he most certainly did! | | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 19:51 - Apr 26 with 393 views | Blue_Moses |
Flair FC...whoooooooooooo | | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 19:54 - Apr 26 with 384 views | unstableblue |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 19:51 - Apr 26 by Blue_Moses |
Flair FC...whoooooooooooo |
Its ’Flare FC’ like your trousers | |
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| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 19:54 - Apr 26 with 382 views | Blue_Moses |
I'm not upset about the result (in fact I think West Brom deserved to win) but let's not skirt around the issue, we haven't been a great watch for a lot of this season. But it's results that count | | | |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 21:29 - Apr 26 with 319 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Myth busters for this season - Pragmatic with Passages of Flair FC on 19:54 - Apr 26 by Blue_Moses |
I'm not upset about the result (in fact I think West Brom deserved to win) but let's not skirt around the issue, we haven't been a great watch for a lot of this season. But it's results that count |
People struggle to separate performances and results, as if they only follow us through stats (not aimed at the OP). Results have been ok, well enough to still have us in with a chance of automatics, so you can’t ask for much more than that. We can play well in small spells, but our movement and understanding isn’t there compared to other teams at the top of the division. We are defensively solid in the main though. It’s an inverse to 23/24 when we scored some sublime team goals but were very porous. This year has been the season of individual worldies, at least in the earlier parts of the season. |  |
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