Like most successful managers Mick shows loyalty to his players and gets it back from his players in spades. Those calling for the captain to be dropped had better not hold their breath. Perhaps Bart is not ready to return so there is no harm in publicly backing Gerken ahead of Tuesday's match. Parr has been unlucky not to play so far this season due to injury and the previous good form of Knudsen. One would like to see Parr start tomorrow and some fresh legs, more numbers and more tenacity in midfield.

All I can say is whatever the team this is already a massive game for us.

Another performance like the last two and I will start getting seriously worried!

A right full back is still required. It was the case while Carlos played there and it is still the case. For a few moments Friday I was wishing that MM could bring Carlos on, that's how bad it got. At least Carlos had pace and got forward. At present we offer no threat down the right hand side. In addition Manager's are targeting our right flank with pace and finding success. Unfortunately Tommy Smith provides little cover for Chambers as he has a weak right foot

Come on MM you know it makes sense to get someone who is a natural RB.

Gerken is out of tomorrow's clash with Leeds Utd so I've heard. He's believed to be suffering from a bad back....

As the Master said in the old Kung Fu TV series 'Time for you to leave'

A 'knee jerk reaction'!?! - So 8 goals conceded in 2 games isn't that? true enough not all Gerken's fault as the majority of the team played badly (not as bad as Mick's 'gung ho' tactics though) but what did Bart do so wrong for him to be dropped?

Although in my opinion neither keeper is good enough for a promotion aiming side, Bart is probably the better and as said pre-season a position that should have had a microscope on it...that might have meant biting into that £8M - and the club wouldn't want to do that.

Sid the Swan do you really believe that MM reads the posts on here?

Fair assessment on Gerken.

When he was at Colchester he was raw, but had potential - since he has been here, in fairness he has almost always had a somewhat makeshift defence in front of him i.e no permanent, or indeed competent RB, as we all know - this been ongoing for far,far too long.

Skills, such as commanding your area, taking crosses and organising a back four are all skills / improvements that should, and could, be 'coached' into most players.

Is the problem totally with Gerken ? - or have we failed him on both not providing him with a settled, confident, back four - and indeed 'coaching skills'.

The back four @ Reading were worse that 'rabbits in headlights' - not for the first time either - but this time against a team out to punish, which they did with some style.

Agreed, a team needs a good keeper behind them - but we have problems over and above the one position.

Garden (not my choice!)
Chambers Smith Berra knudson
Bru skuse coke
Fraser

Murphy mcgoldrick

Let Fraser be the play maker behind Murph and Dids.....


I'm assuming sears is injured

Brilliant Mick, same old predictable loyalty to the deadwood in the squad. So we are going to be missing our top goalscorer against a decent Leeds team, and alas we are retaining a goalkeeper who only touches the ball when he picks it out of the net or our hideous non-football playing defenders and centre midfielders pass the ball back to him because they haven't got the ability to pass forwards.

Take a look at the top clubs ahead of us this season- Brighton have Stockdale in goal, Cardiff have Marshall, Boro have Konstantopoulos, Birmingham have Kuszczak, Burnley have Heaton, Hull have McGregor and QPR have Green and Smithies. Ipswich have Gerken and Bialkowski!!! They are a country mile behind those goalkeepers in terms of quality. When we are under the cosh, I can barely remember times where I've come away from games and thought Gerken/Bialkowski earned us that point or 3 points. A good goalkeeper can help a successful team to gain an extra 8-10 points per season, and our goalkeepers just don't cut it.

"I don't believe in knee jerk reactions"- hang on a minute MM. The defence hasn't just been a shambles since Friday. Smith and Chambers have been a liability for the last few seasons. You just cannot play Tommy Smith at right centre back, he is too uncomfortable in possession and has no right foot. Luke Chambers is worse than Drissa Diallo was at right back and for some mad reason, MM fails to see the underlying problem. We will be so predictable tomorrow and beyond with a defence of Chambers, Smith, Berra and Knudsen. Every team playing us will take advantage of the right side of our defence, and it just seems so many teams have really quick left wingers who will continue to mug off Chambers week after week.

I see no quick fix to our goal conceding unless MM either makes Chambers take some anabolic steroids to enhance his speed around the pitch, or there is a switch around in the back four which I have given up on hoping for. I've watched the likes of Fulham, Brighton, Charlton, Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham all spend decent fees on defenders during the transfer window. There was over £100m spent by Championship clubs in the transfer window and we contributed a measly £358,000 to the total on a left back who currently only seems useful for a long throw a right sided centre back who could well be a decent prospect, but is unfortunately fighting for a position against MM's two favourites. Ironically those two favourites are the very reason we will not get promoted this season if they remain in the team.

My God the doom merchants on here!!

Take a chill pill everyone, it will all turn out OK......We're Ipswich and that should be enough.... for any man....or woman

Onward and ever upward.............COYB!!!!

Mick you just might find that Plan B is better than A, unless you try we'll never know.

Blueboy. laughable comments.
I've resurfaced??? I think you've been missing the whole time we were signing Didsy's new contract, Murph's new contract, Mings departure for £8m with Fraser and Pitman coming the other way, AMN coming in from Arsenal, 2 new defenders (who will certainly take time to adjust) and then the great start we had to the season. Only now when we have two bad results to you come back out of the woodwork to spout your vitriolic and unjust criticism of the manager, coaches, players, owner, and club in general.

Get back under your rock and leave SUPPORTING Ipswich to the Ipswich supporters.

bohslegend ......... your last post tells me, and all decent posters, what kind of person you really are.

Please don't read my posts in future, because I prefer not to have any liaison with you, or your kind.

I wonder if you will EVER come from under your rock, and 'financially' support the Club as i have for almost half a Century ... ????. I am certainly entitled to comment, and have an opinion.

Stay on the planet you are on - which surely isn't this one ..... !!!

As a final gesture - Cards on the Table, in terms of both our GENUINE and WORTHWHILE commitment to the Club ...... ANYTIME.

Suggest you do that before so called 'spouting off'.

algarvefan ........... gave you a plus for that - for being optimistic - just hope you prove to be correct, wish I could share your optimism.

Personally, I think it's eye opening and reality time for many, yourself included.

Would be interesting to know what Bart is thinking

Blueboy you're obviously a bit slow. I've explained before how I've not only invested in the club by getting to as many games as possible given that I live in another country, but I've also invested in the hotels, car hire companies, restaurants, bars and tourist trails of the fine town if Ipswich in doing so. As a fan of the club I invest heavily in merchandise every season.. Jerseys, t-shirts, hats, scarves, etc etc, and all in all this will probably add up to the same amount you spend on your season ticket which you seem to wave at anyone who disagrees with you as a symbol of your smug self-righteous vitriol towards the manager and the team. I'm extremely excited by the possibility of us being successful this season. You on the other hand fear this because then you'll be finally proven completely wrong.

bohslegend ........... you're the slow one I'm afraid - my 'season ticket' is of insignificance to my other financial input to the Club.

Equally so, I spend considerable time in another country - but I still buy my Season Ticket.

Compare both our committments to the Club @ ANYTIME, as I previously challenged you to - before you even dare to tell me to 'go elsewhere'.
And, I'm not asking you - I'm telling you, once and for all.

Real keyboard warrior aren't we Blueboy. Brave man threatening me sitting in your onesy in front of your laptop. I can assure you that you wouldn't try it on on front of me. Now go and have a kit-kit.

Really ?? ......... another example of your pathetic way of responding.

My challenge to you is / was in no way threatening you - merely challenging your input / worth to the Club compared with mine. Therefore, in so doing, asking you to quantify your right to tell me to 'go elsewhere'.

Your insults are pathetic - shame you can't / don't realise it.

Words, or your recent physical threat (how pathetic), - will cause me to lose not one single minute of sleep - and is duly treated with the disdain it deserves.

Shame is, you don't / can't even read and understand a post as written - therefore please DON'T BOTHER.