| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street 23:01 - Aug 4 with 1889 views | Mullet |
There is no greater sight than Portman Rd in the sun. Above the whole North Stand a great man’s words asking “What is a club?” In the 9 years and a few days since his passing, covering the majority of Marcus Evans’ time here, what better rhetoric could there be? I thought the whole ground, but the North especially were magnificent as Paul Hurst’s team, (and then the man himself) were roared onto the pitch in a moment better captured by our own Constable than the likes of Lowry, such was its beauty and quintessential Suffolkness, whilst the first whistle was yet to be blown and the canvas remained blank.
What looked on paper and turf, like our biggest goal threat not in the squad, seven defensive players and Sears out wide, with a lone striker and a single central midfielder was received as you’d expect in #ANewEra. That opening four minutes before the goal was one long crescendo. Jonas second guessed the overlap as Sears cut inside on the left and unleashed a cross we’ve rarely seen from him to punish Rovers. Mogga will be furious with the fact that it was Edwards of all people, popping up at the back post to nod home a looping header as easily and unexpected and avoidable as that.
Blackburn are every bit Mowbray in form and function. I mean no offence when I say they are gritty, hardworking, and brimming with quiet determination that we know all too well will bring them success. Happy to take a yellow when necessary, I thought there was a telling difference between them as a settled team of league 1 players who had already proved their right to be in the Championship compared to many of our team. We can point to the Blades and Millwall as teams “used to winning” and having fabled momentum, but with things so often unsettled this early on, they continued that trend.
It was Chalobah who drew two of those yellows and he was the Ipswich player that was in the middle of everything. You don’t dye half your hair gold if you don’t want to get noticed and he spent 90 minutes wanting the ball, or wanting to do something with it. He’s a Rolls Royce of a player, but he’s still got the L plates on and sometimes had the hazards flashing too as he stalled and cruised through play.
Frustrated with his colleagues movement and vision, too often his passes missed their mark and his priority of keeping the ball meant he was turning back to Bart as the game went on. It was hard to know what Hurst will make of/from this.
Having Skuse next to him and Chambers behind him should talk Trev through games enough to harness that potential, but around them were a lot of raw players. Hardly surprising that as we sizzled in BBQ weather our team looked undercooked throughout when Blackburn made any great attempts to consume us.
The informal 4-2-3-1 was fragile when they countered our pressing. Teams will note how Town were too easily reduced to playing as 2’s, 3’s and sometimes individuals all game. Harrison started really brightly but there was no way he could bear down on their back five all afternoon like he was. And with Edwards marked out as a goal threat it was disappointing how easily we folded in the middle and let our biggest threats stay isolated. Blackburn were wily enough to recognise these soft spots and exploit them for both goals.
I don’t think it was a foul when the livewire Harrison went down in the box, it looked like the defender got the ball first. But the counter that led to a soft free kick sparked off another round of questions. Chalobah seemed to let his man drift at the back post. Two glances headers saw a double claw away from goal by Bart, but the highly rated and now highly paid keeper had no chance as Donacien looked out of place to deflect the ball down for Graham to smack home gratefully.
Spence took several lumps, and while it might be easy to pick up on the continuation of his suspect positioning I did wonder how he felt playing RB, with the man Hurst had openly called a RB in the press just a couple of days ago. If Jordan was looking over his shoulder all game, he might have been seeing double by the time Blackburn doubled the lead.
Honesty and openness off the pitch, might have been evident in filtering down on it. Overloading us and then a brilliant overlap down our right by the visitors meant Donacien was stranded, Chambers looked slow to close the massive gap and Chalobah too far away as Dack slipped an easy tap in and Rovers in front.
It was a galling and gutting moment. Downes seemed too often to be a single central midfielder, too far away from Harrison, too close to Skuse to really make the most of the space he was clearly told to press. He did so quickly and aggressively, but there was a large swathe of the game where Town were second best on and off the ball.
The forced change of Woolfenden meant perhaps we were closer to the team many expected and again reduced the already thin level of experience we had on and around the pitch at this level. But one of the biggest positives was how keen we seemed to learn.
Graham gave young Luke an education from the first tussle and although he ended the game limping and crumpled in the centre circle as others covered for him, he and the team as a whole grew into the occasion. He and we will learn from that.
Hurst might have got it wrong with his selection, he might simply have been outdone by an older, wiser adversary too, but his use of subs were clear and you got the feeling his instructions were too. Fulham fans were raving about Tayo Edun and immediately he came on and once Freddie got in the middle and he took up the left wing slot the drive forward and intent was revitalising. It might be negative to see the most potential in other higher-placed teams’ youth based on today, but it’s also logical.
Edwards who opened the scoring, spent the last 15 minutes or so getting free and opening up Blackburn. Mogga could have thought they had done enough as he swapped out former loanee Samuel, Dack and Graham. The best of their attacking threat and looked to shore up a lead and team fairly in control all game. It wasn’t an undeserved lead celebrated by a loud away end whose extra consonants and elongated vowels seemed to be distorted in their chanting of what sounded like “yellas” and they were correct to bring a bit of Northern soul with their renditions of being “onto something good” until our Welsh winger got going again.
Morris did really well to skip down the line and cut in with a fine effort, thanks to Gwion taking a halving from a strong tackle and watching from the turf as the youngster carried on to goal. Edwards also put in a great run, flick and a Ronaldo-lite chop to turn his man, where all game there had been two or three before firing a shot at the keeper. The best game with the injury time equaliser.
I don’t think Edwards expected Jonas to slam the ball the at him rather than to him. It’d been a feature of Town’s passing deficiencies all game, but with most of both sides expecting a floater, the Dane drilled one the other way. It came back to Edun from the good work of Edwards and what was surely a cross, nailed on the point as Mogga met disappointment for a second time surely. Bouncing and skipping into the goal as Town fans did the same out of all four stands moments later.
There were moments where Town could have got more, and probably didn’t deserve too. A cross overhit, or stifled as Skuse looked to head home. Shots fired at either keeper forced fairly comfortable saves, whilst Harrison got free rarely, he was played by the defence but advantage wasn’t on a couple of occasions. Blackburn were also denied by a comedic scramble on the line and they too went clean through when Chambers made an even cleaner challenge. It was the linesman who made a bad call, and the captain overheated in his reaction. Another day and Town might have been reduced to ten, not just from that moment, nor Chalobah‘s naive tackling or Woolfenden’s injury.
The Lancastrians that supplemented 18 thousand Blues with maybe a thousand of their own might well feel gutted to be denied at the end by such a freak goal. However, Town for once epitomised making their own luck in a good way. It was a bullet to the gut from little, but as any victory bled out the afternoon the vast majority inside Portman Rd who started the afternoon happy must end it that way too.
With a potential new defence and recognised central threat behind Harrison likely to join before Rotherham, it’s going to be a fun game next weekend at least of spot the difference(s). It might have been a dream start that was quickly cut short for Hurst and Doig, but there was enough to be happy about in amongst the concerns and quandaries that August will be long enough to get us moving and able to plot the course of this new team, so we can see just how much has changed within and not just cosmetically.
It was fun.
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| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 05:57 - Aug 5 with 1719 views | powinswitch |
‘‘Twas nice to approach the ground amongst clearly optimistic supporters. I think your point about us playing as 2s and 3s was particularly pertinent, and will hopefully be improved with new additions and more time on the training ground.
We are a work in progress, but with reasons to be cheerful - part one. |  | | |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 08:49 - Aug 5 with 1589 views | Mullet |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 05:57 - Aug 5 by powinswitch |
‘‘Twas nice to approach the ground amongst clearly optimistic supporters. I think your point about us playing as 2s and 3s was particularly pertinent, and will hopefully be improved with new additions and more time on the training ground.
We are a work in progress, but with reasons to be cheerful - part one. |
Cheers. It was hard to take in all the quick negativity that still hung around and came to the surface when Blackburn scored and then took the lead.
I’ve seen comparisons with Diallo for Donacien scrolling through social media, Sears slated despite his lovely assist, Bart and his new wages used similar to Mick, who even got a special “he’ll be loving this in the Sky studio” somewhere in front of me too. I think a lot of people are still hanging their own fantasies and bias on every little thing whatever happens. Which is a shame.
They might be individual moans too in the heat of the moment, but collectively I thought the way the ground went dead so quickly was a bit disappointing. As fans, had been excellent generally leading up to the game, but maybe the #ANewEra mentality tipped way too far in one direction for some. Chalobah seemed to be a ready made scapegoat too at times.
Given we have downgraded our manager on the proviso of future progress for him and us, the notion it’d fall into place etc. It means yesterday’s result and performance might be a good thing. I’m concerned about Waghorn going because I don’t see us spending much of it, we’ve replaced Webster and two academy lads with several lower league players and got big wages off the books.
Evans really needs to prove me wrong on that front. | |
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| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 12:18 - Aug 5 with 1451 views | patrickswell |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 08:49 - Aug 5 by Mullet |
Cheers. It was hard to take in all the quick negativity that still hung around and came to the surface when Blackburn scored and then took the lead.
I’ve seen comparisons with Diallo for Donacien scrolling through social media, Sears slated despite his lovely assist, Bart and his new wages used similar to Mick, who even got a special “he’ll be loving this in the Sky studio” somewhere in front of me too. I think a lot of people are still hanging their own fantasies and bias on every little thing whatever happens. Which is a shame.
They might be individual moans too in the heat of the moment, but collectively I thought the way the ground went dead so quickly was a bit disappointing. As fans, had been excellent generally leading up to the game, but maybe the #ANewEra mentality tipped way too far in one direction for some. Chalobah seemed to be a ready made scapegoat too at times.
Given we have downgraded our manager on the proviso of future progress for him and us, the notion it’d fall into place etc. It means yesterday’s result and performance might be a good thing. I’m concerned about Waghorn going because I don’t see us spending much of it, we’ve replaced Webster and two academy lads with several lower league players and got big wages off the books.
Evans really needs to prove me wrong on that front. |
With regards to the ground gong dead on a “New Era” day, it has been a feature of us over the years that excitement doesn’t last long in the face of reality. Remember the opening day of 2008-09 - Operation Premiership under Jim - Kevin Lisbie puts us a goal up after 2 minutes but Preston come back to have the game won by half time. Keane’s first full season at Portman Road starting with a drab goalless draw against a returning Leicester City side and then followed by Neil Warnock’s Palace drubbing is 3-1 on the following Tuesday.
Hurst at least saved a point and if he proves to be as talented a manager as he is a fortunate one, then we may enjoy some good times ahead. |  | | |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 14:54 - Aug 5 with 1360 views | OldTimer2 |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 12:18 - Aug 5 by patrickswell |
With regards to the ground gong dead on a “New Era” day, it has been a feature of us over the years that excitement doesn’t last long in the face of reality. Remember the opening day of 2008-09 - Operation Premiership under Jim - Kevin Lisbie puts us a goal up after 2 minutes but Preston come back to have the game won by half time. Keane’s first full season at Portman Road starting with a drab goalless draw against a returning Leicester City side and then followed by Neil Warnock’s Palace drubbing is 3-1 on the following Tuesday.
Hurst at least saved a point and if he proves to be as talented a manager as he is a fortunate one, then we may enjoy some good times ahead. |
Think in some respects, there have been so many false dawns it is not wholly surprising, but it was disappointing how flat it went. couple of the lads in front of me went after 40 minutes and did not come back (why do some people go to games !).
Think this piece is pretty spot on - it was promising given that we are still some distance from the team that Hurst will build.
Think both Skuse and Sears will soon disappear from this team. If Chalobah is going to sit in front of the back 4 then cannot see a role for Skuse as he clearly has not got the pace for a role further forward in this type of team.
We looked far more threatening post the subs - though that may just have been that the Rovers defence tired but think Donacien worked far better with Edwards than Spence had done.
Plenty of positives and, as it was my first Portman Road game in 3 seasons, plenty to look forward to. |  |
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| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 15:00 - Aug 5 with 1347 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
It will be difficult to compare the two teams from this week to next. Partly because a lot is likely to change in terms of personnel, partly because Rotherham will be very different opposition.
I am excited that we are moving in the right direction. Edwards looks a prospect. If we can find attacking intent on the other wing (Ward) and through the middle (Nolan) and get a more solid defensive unit, it could be a very good season. We need to get playing (and effectively defending) as a team quickly. Both goals conceded were very poor from a number of our players. |  |
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| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 17:28 - Aug 5 with 1271 views | Mullet |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 12:18 - Aug 5 by patrickswell |
With regards to the ground gong dead on a “New Era” day, it has been a feature of us over the years that excitement doesn’t last long in the face of reality. Remember the opening day of 2008-09 - Operation Premiership under Jim - Kevin Lisbie puts us a goal up after 2 minutes but Preston come back to have the game won by half time. Keane’s first full season at Portman Road starting with a drab goalless draw against a returning Leicester City side and then followed by Neil Warnock’s Palace drubbing is 3-1 on the following Tuesday.
Hurst at least saved a point and if he proves to be as talented a manager as he is a fortunate one, then we may enjoy some good times ahead. |
I like to think I see a lot of different grounds and home crowds at different points of excitement, dread, mediocrity and apathy and I think we're generally "above average" but there was such a contrast from that build up to during the game, it seems to reflect the social media content too in recent years.
A few probably needed bringing back to earth with a bump, so there might be a greater good in that result and performance that it comes now and not after a couple of wins. | |
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| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 17:35 - Aug 5 with 1253 views | OldTimer2 |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 17:28 - Aug 5 by Mullet |
I like to think I see a lot of different grounds and home crowds at different points of excitement, dread, mediocrity and apathy and I think we're generally "above average" but there was such a contrast from that build up to during the game, it seems to reflect the social media content too in recent years.
A few probably needed bringing back to earth with a bump, so there might be a greater good in that result and performance that it comes now and not after a couple of wins. |
I understand the club hyping things up, after all getting people like me back into the ground has to have been a primary consideration in the change of manager/approach. Result yesterday no bad thing, if it gets expectations onto an even keel. It was always a 2 year rebuild | |
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| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 17:37 - Aug 5 with 1244 views | Mullet |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 14:54 - Aug 5 by OldTimer2 |
Think in some respects, there have been so many false dawns it is not wholly surprising, but it was disappointing how flat it went. couple of the lads in front of me went after 40 minutes and did not come back (why do some people go to games !).
Think this piece is pretty spot on - it was promising given that we are still some distance from the team that Hurst will build.
Think both Skuse and Sears will soon disappear from this team. If Chalobah is going to sit in front of the back 4 then cannot see a role for Skuse as he clearly has not got the pace for a role further forward in this type of team.
We looked far more threatening post the subs - though that may just have been that the Rovers defence tired but think Donacien worked far better with Edwards than Spence had done.
Plenty of positives and, as it was my first Portman Road game in 3 seasons, plenty to look forward to. |
I can only see another manager who sees and rates Skuse given how he was protected for yesterday and not looked at against WHU.
It is amusing to see a lot of the revision towards three of the most Mick players now Chambers is keeping the armband and Knudsen is attracting Boro's interest and all of them put in good displays yesterdays, when the team didn't.
Chalobah is far too raw for the whole season and needs developing. Skuse's only time out will be if those injuries come back where they haven't previously or age catches up with him. Looking at how Hurst sets up and operates, I can't imagine we'll see two kids often in a competitive fixture for 90 mins as the midfield fulcrum. Skuse is a mop and will also benefit with having proper outlets on the wings like we had with Tabb/Anderson/Mings et al. and the briefer periods and weaker sides with Fraser/Lawrence in etc.
I actually thought Donacien was someone we should give a few games to. Especially when people have talked unfavourably about Jonas in relation to Cresswell and Mings. Full backs stepping up need time to improve. | |
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| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 17:41 - Aug 5 with 1234 views | Mullet |
| It’s opening time down on Fascination Street on 15:00 - Aug 5 by Nthsuffolkblue |
It will be difficult to compare the two teams from this week to next. Partly because a lot is likely to change in terms of personnel, partly because Rotherham will be very different opposition.
I am excited that we are moving in the right direction. Edwards looks a prospect. If we can find attacking intent on the other wing (Ward) and through the middle (Nolan) and get a more solid defensive unit, it could be a very good season. We need to get playing (and effectively defending) as a team quickly. Both goals conceded were very poor from a number of our players. |
To be Devil's advocate for a moment. What suggests from yesterday it was the "right direction" when we were so far away from being a team (understandably so)?
Do you believe these signings will remedy most if not all of those pretty quickly or we have enough there already and it's just a case of letting the pieces fall into place with additional reinforcements on their way?
I'd say Hurst must know what a job he has on his hands looking at the narrative of his press talk, and yesterday exposed a lot of it in public. Where he and we then go is way off in the distance still. | |
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