Certainly not impossible to make up that gap, but important to note that Sheffield have a fourteen goal difference on us so it's essentially six points.

Interesting that Hull make ten changes and hold Arsenal, whilst we made changes and were outplayed twice by Portsmouth.

A crucial couple of weeks coming up. Top five look decent. Whilst Cardiff are also contenders, Sheffield invested in January. It's going to be tough but we still have a chance. A couple of defeats could push us out of contention. A couple of wins however would see us back with a chance. Interesting times.

I'm sorry but we will not beat hull even at home they are too strong. We are going to struggle to make playoffs anyway we should be aiming for top 2 but will never will while evens is tight with his money time go I think m.m and evens

The only reason we are watching the top 6 disappear over the horizon is lack of investment. I would have thought with the money on offer in the premier league these days it even makes fiscal sense to Evans. We need better players.... Only one way of getting them

If the required number of points to finish 6th is 75 (which is about the average) we need 27 points from 15 games. Difficult to achieve but not impossible.

not impossible to achieve final play-off place, but i think we will fall short. Such a shame really!

Hammers, hammers, hammers...........you do realise this is bound to cause "fractiousness" don't you?

Been said many times before, but we really must have 3 points against Hull, because today we drop another place nearer mid table mediocrity.

I guess 'boring billy' will set out for, and be well happy with, a single point yet again.

Hull could well expose our square peg / round hole back line scenario - let's just hope not, shall we ... ??

Certainly more confident with Bart between the posts.

I predicted 10th at start of season . I think that's where our squad is at. We do not have the quality in our squad to make top 6. Last year was an over achievement. Sad Fact is some investment last January was best chance of going up. Now we need big investment or a miracle! Last week was some of the most dull one dimensional football I've seen for a long while. I hope we have a go against hull on Tuesday!

I agree, 9th-10th is about the best we can expect with the lack of additional investment.

Birdie82 - accidentally pressed a down arrow. Have pressed plus too, as completely agree with your post. Sorry for that.

Tuesday nights game is now a must win game otherwise we could be out of sight within a few weeks.

Interesting of note Preston seem to be in a good run of form too...they could also be in with a shout of the play-offs after being in the bottom half for yonks. As for us the Hull game after a bit of a break could be a very big game, IF we lose then we need another good month or so as per Nov/Dec to get back in the mix but with key players out and the pressure of the 'business end' I'm not sure we're capable of it.

.....the debate must be had....George barleys record ...7,4,5,3,3 (promoted) 5 th in premier league .....Micks 15,14,9,6..if we don't get in play offs will this be progress???....fascinating quote from Wikipedia when discussing what went wrong when in charge of Ireland,... In particular, his persistence with several players and tactics that some perceived to be inadequate did him damage, .....not playing the same record are we Mick......wake up and smell the coffee ...don't be a one trick Mick!!

@cornish - Micks has finished 3 seasons with us 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 so not sure where the 15 came from on that list but know what you mean in comparison to Burley (that team played a dam more exciting passing football than the tosh on show under MM).
The more I think of it the more I come to a conclusion that our owner has lost the ambition (won't go any further as no doubt a poster will pop up saying 'even when we haven't even had a game we're/I'm moaning').

Play-off place still possible but why do I feel are are treading water ?

lets consider the facts , our current 1st 11 includes a left back who has potential but this is his 1st season in england , we cant expect him to be a top 6 left back in the league. Our centre backs are both left footed , its not a natural balance but they are accommodated , neither of them on this seasons form are top 6 players , yet would never be dropped due to them being trusted by mick , which says everything about back up in these positions , there is not any. Our right back is a league 2 rightback , is just madness playiny him , he offers nothing , the modern game warrents pace ,composure and an attacking threat.
Left mid , on loan player who will play half the games , no back up. Right mid on loan player who is suffering with our playing style. Sears plays wide and is wasted , pitman is a sub when he should of earned the right to de-thrown murphy whos form this season has been poor. Players signed ,coke douglas toure none are top 6 players , add in the players oar and parr released with no replacements apart from pringle ,who is a centre mid player but wont play there with us and you have the reasons why 12th place is what we will get ,and with these players that would be an overachiever of a season. Mick has lost the plot ,we are weaker ,he has no idea how to play players in a position,his hoof to win 2nd ball is just not up to scratch. We cant retain possession or pass to a teammate , yet the fool gets a new contract. Sterile boring and i fear next season we will go full curcle and face relegation under MM.

Crikey doom merchants......remember we are aiming to continue the record of 17th straight home win on a Tues night.

McCarthy's style will NEVER be the right fit for Ipswich Town Football Club - and neither were his two predecessors.

This Club has had a reputation of playing some exceptional football over the years, and justifiably became an ITFC trademark. Along the way we have had some good Managers who encouraged, and totally believed in just that. That has ALL changed over recent times - we are so renowned now, we actually warranted a very small insert in The Football League Magazine last week, whilst many lower clubs commanded full pages. Such is our current stature in the game - and unbelievably, some still wonder why .. !! - it's so blatantly obvious, to those who care to take off the 'blue tints' in the interest of reality.

Another aspect that concerns me, is the fact, that there is a distinct lack of cohesion between the Owner / Manager, and the Supporter (paying public). An example of point:- Does anyone really know what the truthful ambition / direction of this Club currently and genuinely is ... ??? .... I have to say personally, that I haven't a clue, and can only assume, along with some wishful thinking.

We were in a mess when MM took over at Portman Road - and we should be thankful for the resulting action saving us from relegation, no question about it.

But, he will not take us further - and is there any intention from above of him being expected to do so .. ??

Who Knows .. ?? I know less about the Club now, than I have done in the past 50 years. Maybe I'm not alone ...... !!!! - walls of almost silence spring to mind, except for an element of spin - at appropriate times.

James Alabi scored a beauty for Chester today.

Hull's a must win game imo.

Here's another thought. Why would these players bust a gut to gain promotion........only to be released or sold and replaced with players who have true PL quality?

And with Fraser and skuse out the grab will grow , real lack of depth and ambitions at the club

And with Fraser and skuse out the grab will grow , real lack of depth and ambitions at the club

The Tuesday night record of winning will certainly end against hull they will have far too much for us, hope to be proved wrong though.

Cant see us doing hull and all because we did not spend a bit on new players the club will pay for it in april when the early bird season ticket deal comes out. Round where i sit 10 long term season ticket holders have said if micks still in charge next season they will not renew. 10 years ago we where getting 20'000 plus every home game

I think the sad reality is, by the time we take on Huddersfield we'll be 10th given that Preston are at home to Charlton. We haven managed a decent 90 minutes of football since the end of December and quite honestly, deserve nothing more than we're getting at the moment. Hull dominated us at their place. I see the same happening again.

If I see any more long ball football at PR this season, I'm going to start bringing a tennis ball canon to games to launch balls onto the pitch in protest ala the Borrusia Dortmund fans.