Ipswich Are Awful Every Season But We Struggle Against Them - Notes for Derby Tuesday, 31st Jan 2017 05:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums. “We have plenty to be pleased about considering our start to the season”, “Think about how far we have come since Nigel Pearson was here”, “I always said this is a free season after we were near the bottom three when Pearson left. Anything in the top half of the table this season will be a bonus.” “I reckon this season there are six better teams than us.” Derby arrive at Portman Road two points and three places off the play-offs, having held Leicester to a 2-2 on Friday night in the FA Cup. Many fans are equivocal about their chances of making the top six in what has been a rollercoaster campaign. “We have to improve vastly to make the play-offs”, “We need to see this season as a learning curve. We may be able to sneak into the play-offs but apart from a few players we don’t have the quality to make the step up”, “Play-offs are a possibility this season although I’m not taking that for granted.” “It’s a miracle we are ninth given how bad we were at the start of the season”, “After nine games, we were in the bottom three and looking at a relegation battle. The fact that we are even talking about play-offs is a testament to how well Steve McClaren has done with an utter mess of a squad.” Steve McClaren“McClaren has done an amazing job given the chaos he inherited”, “We are in a better place that we were under the nightmare that was Nigel Pearson, never forget that bit”, “He now needs a period of stability to coach good habits back into the side and time without expectations to build confidence.”  Steve McClarenThe 55-year-old returned as Rams’ manager after Pearson was dismissed last October with the side languishing just above the relegation zone. McClaren himself had previously been let go by Derby in May 2015 after just under three seasons in charge. For many fans this is a question of unfinished business. “McClaren has inherited a sub-par version of his 2014 side”, “He is still trying to sort this team out. He has a bunch of players far more badly matched that the Nigel Clough team he inherited last time and his best striker is on loan at Fulham. Give him time to get the team aligned and sort it out.” “McClaren has been working wonders. He has picked up 33 points from 16 matches”, “He will sort us out. He has a clear identity and style he wants but too many of our squad do not suit it and are probably overpaid not to suit it”, “He needs to get to the summer and bring in his replacements.” “The biggest problem we have is the short-sightedness of the manager.” A minority of Rams fear he is trying to simply reinvent a team and system which ended up falling short in all three campaigns. “Time and again his one-dimensional tactics are costing us”, “You can’t be that predictable.” The Preferred System“A great many seem unable to move on from 2013/14”, “We will go and get Chris Martin back from his loan spell at Fulham and stick with 4-3-3 until the end of time, and we will be the only club in the Football League that can only play one system”, “The ball does not stick up top without Chris Martin.” CarsonBairdKeoghPearceOlssonJohnsonBrysonHughesInceBentRussell
The shape and tactics of Derby’s starting XI (above) for Friday night’s FA Cup game against Leicester are a throwback to McClaren’s previous time in charge, born at half-time in our 4-4 draw in October 2013 and preferred despite having spent millions on additions like Matej Vydra and Jacob Butterfield. The system they use relies on two pivotal players, a holding midfielder and a striker who should operate with his back to goal and link play with the four breaking midfielders. George Thorne is their best holding player but he has not recovered after being injured against us in last May’s encounter. Chris Martin was hugely successful as an attacking focal point, but he is currently on loan at Fulham after falling out with Pearson earlier this season. Goals have been more of a problem than keeping clean sheets, with the side’s run of good form last year built on a series of low-scoring victories. “We have been riding on the back of our excellent defence for a while now, this isn’t good enough.” The back four and keeper are a solid unit and Richard Keogh is seen as a good footballing defender. The system relies on overlapping full-backs but Rams feel that theirs could be more adventurous. “Without Will Hughes, we miss a player who can dictate play.” The midfield trio which began against Leicester (above) is seen as Derby’s strongest. Bradley Johnson is a decent holding player but is less effective stationed further forward. Craig Bryson’s industry needs Chris Martin to act as a foil. CarsonBairdKeoghPearceOlssonDe SartHughesBrysonInceBentRussell
“The need for a midfield player remains.” The starting line-up (above) for the win over Reading had Middlesbrough loan signing Julien De Sart in the holding role in place of the suspended Johnson. He is highly-rated technically, but has struggled with the pace and intensity of the unfamiliar English game. “Our midfield was completely overrun at Leeds. We were unable to keep the ball.” Will Hughes was greatly missed in Derby’s 1-0 defeat at Elland Road on January 13th. He’s the one midfielder who can create and dictate play and Rams are concerned that he may miss our game with a tight hamstring. “Only Wigan have scored fewer goals than us this season. Think about that.” Darren Bent’s poaching and finishing have been praised but Matej Vydra has been used as a bench option and needs a strike partner to be effective. Rams believe new arrival David Nugent will suit their system when fully fit. “How many corners have we conceded from?” One major area for concern is set-piece defending. “We got done twice by Leicester corners where our defending was a joke”, “Reading scored from a free header from a corner”, “We are poor on corners time after time, when will we ever learn?” Derby 2 — 2 Leicester (FA Cup Fourth Round)“A replay it is”, “A good performance and a fair result”, “Leicester’s pressing made sure we never settled into a rhythm and we always looked vulnerable from set-pieces and crosses”, “After riding their early second half storm I thought we would hold out but I forgot about our defending corners.” Darren Bent miskicked a clearance into his own goal on eight minutes to give the Foxes the lead but he equalised 13 minutes later with a fine header from a Hughes cross. Craig Bryson put the Rams in front on 40 with a run and finish, but Wes Morgan headed home an equaliser on 86 from a corner. Many Rams felt that the loss of their most important midfielder on 63 minutes changed the course of the game. “We lost a lot when Hughes went off”, “Hughes going off probably cost us the win”, “We ended up sitting too deep in the second half and rode our luck but deserved the draw overall.” Derby 3 — 2 Reading“Big, big win today”, “Job done”, “That’s a big old win against one of our play-off rivals and much needed after a terrible Leeds match”, “Our equaliser came against the run of play but it changed the game completely”, “Instead of capitulating we turned the game around and were the better side.” “Reading are going past our midfield like it isn’t there.” The visitors went ahead courtesy of a John Swift finish from close range on 16 minutes and the Royals were in control until Darren Bent found the net on 36 with Derby’s first effort on goal. “A goal against the run of play but I will take it.” “That rarest of things, a Rams comeback.” Tom Ince put County ahead on 63 after being played in by Craig Bryson and Will Hughes added a third 11 minutes later. The unmarked Yacou Meite headed a goal back from a corner on 80 before Jordan Obita was given a second yellow card in stoppage time. “Once we started playing football and pressing Reading they went to pot”, “We didn’t get going until we changed our game plan and decided to press Reading”, “These free headers we give from corners are becoming a worry. We don’t have enough players who are capable of winning balls in the air.” Leeds 1 — 0 Derby“Christ, that was awful., too slow, too weak and not much teamwork on display”, “We made this so easy for Leeds”, “An abysmal performance, utterly abject”, “Men against boys”, “This has to be up there as one of the most awful performances we have had, including the ones under Pearson.” Chris Wood scored what proved to be the winning goal just before the interval, heading home a Pablo Hernandez corner. Leeds dominated and Rams felt that only the Whites’ inability to finish kept the score line respectable. Bradley Johnson was dismissed for a second yellow card on 89 minutes. CarsonBairdKeoghShackellHansonDe SartBrysonJohnsonInceBentCamara
“Just played the wrong team, haven’t we?”, “Three stooges were in midfield.” McClaren fielded the same side (above) which had just beaten West Brom in the FA Cup. Leeds targeted a weak Rams’ left flank in which “the abysmal” Abdoul Camara did little to support the inexperienced Jamie Hanson. “Leeds’ midfield looks the best I have seen this year”, “We don’t press and we see what happens.” Derby’s midfield really struggled without Hughes’s influence. De Sart made his league debut but he and Johnson “were over-run at times in the middle” while Bryson was able to create little by himself. The verdict was unanimous. “Leeds have given us a lesson. I’m absolutely fuming at this display”, “A big reality check tonight, we haven’t been able to compete”, “Without Hughes in the middle we miss a player who can dictate play and set the pattern of the game”, “That was a really a 1-0 hiding.” Goalkeepers and Defenders“Scott Carson is more than just a good shot stopper. He’s a good organiser and communicator.” The 31-year-old former Wigan keeper “is an excellent shot-stopper but his failure to dominate his six-yard box, particularly from corners puts pressure on our defence as does his kicking under pressure”.  Scott Carson“Carson has been in great form this season. I wouldn’t swap him for any other keeper in the division. The fact that we are playing Leicester in an FA Cup replay is largely down to his performance in the first game”, “He has saved us so many times this season, the best keeper we have had since Mart Poom.” “Marcus Olsson gives a good outlet down the left. It’s important to have a natural in that position.” The 28-year-old ex-Blackburn left-back “is unfashionable but has showed good fitness getting up and down the flank after being out injured”, “He stands too far off his winger when should challenge.” “The most important quality in your full-back is stopping his winger getting the ball in the box and that is where Olsson is severely lacking. He is also weak aerially and that is often exposed”, “He is great at delivering cross in the final third but less good cutting off crosses and defending in the air.” “Chris Baird uses his experience and know-how defending and is rarely panicked into mistakes.” The 34-year-old ex-Fulham and West Brom right-back “doesn’t waste many of his crosses. His deliveries in the final third are superb”, “He’s strong in the tackle and makes our back four look stronger.”  Chris Baird “Baird is good in the air, reads the game well, is rarely beaten and he is a very good experienced part of a very good back four at this level”, “He seldom looks to be positive and offers very little going forward”, “His Leicester display was his best in a Rams shirt, composed and confident in the ball.” Former Coventry right-back Cyrus Christie has not started since picking up a foot injury in November. The 24-year-old “is a very good player and better at pushing forward than Baird”, “He needs to learn when to press, cross or dribble”, “He gives Tom Ince freedom to roam, making him hard to pick up.” “Has Jason Shackell made a forward pass tonight?” The 33-year-old one-time Norwich and Burnley centre-half “kills any momentum when on the ball and might as well pass to the opposition”, “He is negative, passes his team-mates into trouble although his height is useful defending set pieces.” “Alex Pearce is my favourite player of the year so far.” The 28-year-old ex-Reading centre-half “has passing ability which is 10 times better than Shackell”, “He brings a calmness to the proceedings which rubs off on Richard Keogh and his positional play covers for Keogh which is great to see.”  Chris Baird “I don’t understand why Pearce was dropped after a 10-game unbeaten run just because Shackell played well against West Brom in one cup tie. He marshals the backline so well”, “His lack of agility against Leicester was scary. It was as if he had cement boots on”, “Never drop Pearce again, ever.” Richard Keogh“Keogh, you are a captain and you lead by example”, “His comfort in possession and ability to carry the ball forward for a centre-back is critical to how we play.” The 30-year-old ex-Coventry man and one-time Ipswich youth player and ballboy “helps our attacking momentum with great balls out from the back”.  Jordon Ibe and Richard Keogh“Keogh reminds me of a soldier running towards the enemy, all guns blazing without a care. He has had a few marauding runs lately”, “He ought to play with a huge Cuban cigar in his mouth when he makes those runs”, “He is so committed to the cause that he feels he has to do everything at times.” Central Midfielders“I’m nervous about Julien De Sart. I’m not sure he can provide the necessary defensive cover for the back four.” The 22-year-old joined this month on loan from Middlesbrough to the end of the season. “He has some vision and wants to play the forward ball but he isn’t very strong, that pretty obvious.” “De Sart needs to show that his weak horrific display at Leeds was a one-off”, “He didn’t get hold of the game at all, his passing was dreadful early on”, “He went to ground too much. He needs to stop doing this and put a stone on in weight, but he did break the lines with one pass which was sublime.” “Huddersfield fans thought Jacob Butterfield was one of the best players to have played for them. There’s a player in there, McClaren just needs to find it.” The 26-year-old “does not work hard and is soft in the tackle. He tends to run and pass sideways and struggles to find the target when shooting”. “Butterfield needs to be more aggressive. He is so laboured it is painful”, “An intelligent player but he plays negatively, so many slow and mainly sideways passes”, “He falls back creating a massive gap in midfield between him and Bryson further forward. It makes Bryson’s hard pressing ineffective.”  Jacob Butterfield“Craig Bryson was much better against Leicester because he got further forward and harassed them, exactly what a player of his style should be doing.” The 30-year-old ex-Kilmarnock man “was back to his energetic best, he was the legs in midfield, getting in the oppositions’ faces. Keep it up, Craig.” “Bryson was useless at Leeds. He got brushed off like a little boy and was utter dross”, “He played like a child, weak and his passing was all over the place. He is lost without Hughes and without Chris Martin to play off”, “Bizarre that he performed best in the most difficult game against Leicester.” Bradley Johnson“Johnson isn’t perfect in the holding position but at least he gets stuck in.” The 29-year-old former Canary “has to play for his strength, experience and aerial prowess”, “He gave Leicester too much space and was under pressure from their pacier players”, “Execution isn’t exactly his best asset.”  Bradley Johnson attacking a Forest fan“Bradley’s passing is awful when under pressure. It’s not sharp or quick and usually is telegraphed”, “I worry when he plays further forward as he lacks the athleticism to break beyond our striker”, “He doesn’t get forward enough and is useless with the ball at his feet when played in an advanced role.” Will Hughes“If Hughes goes off we can kiss the Leicester game goodbye.” The 21-year-old youth product “is the glue that holds us together. Without him our midfield does not have the faintest clue what to do”, “His composure makes such a difference to us”, “God knows where we would be without him.”  Will Hughes“It was noticeable how negative we became after he went off, clearing our lines rather controlling possession and failing to press Leicester further up-field”, “For all his passing, vision and creativity, his defensive play is also really something”, “It looks like he will be missing for Ipswich, not good.” Wide Midfielders“Ikechi Anya is a nuisance and an asset to any side at this level. He’s persistent, brave and forward thinking.” The 29-year-old former Hornet “is good going forward but he can also tackle and he works on his defensive duties”, “His ability to stay wide and try to beat his man helps stretch defences.” “Who on earth was responsible for buying Abdoul Camara?” The 26-year-old ex-Angers man “is one of the softest players I have seen play for us. His positioning is terrible and he loses the ball”, “He is no help to his left-back”, “We moan about Russell running into players. This guy takes the biscuit.” “You can see how much we missed Johnny Russell at Leeds. Our left side has no protection without him.” The 26-year-old ex-Dundee United winger “injects energy into the side and puts a proper shift in. If his touch was a tad cleaner he would be a very hot property”, “Terrific industry and work-rate.” “Russell helps our balance by working hard going forwards and backwards”, “The Leicester game had his full repertoire of endeavour, cutting edge and also the lack of a cutting edge”, “His passing is fast and accurate but he can’t buy a goal, I feel for him”, “He always tries to make something happen.” Tom Ince“Tom Ince is a different player under McClaren”, “I would have offered to drive him to another club before Steve took over. Now he is vital to us”, “Skilled, committed and gives his all.” The 24-year-old ex-Hull midfielder “can frustrate many fans because he tries to make things happen and he is one-footed.”  Tom Ince and Chris Martin“The new Tom Ince looks a threat going forward”, “One of the few match-winners in our squad that can come up with a magic moment out of nothing”, “His game is about getting into decent positions for us to counter-attack effectively”, “He will track back but he’s not necessarily the best at doing it.” Strikers“David Nugent is a shrewd buy. We have always needed a similar player to Martin so that we don’t have to change our style of play.” The 31-year-old arrived from Boro this month but a knee injury has seen him feature just once off the bench. “Nugent knows his ways around and is pretty mobile.”  David Nugent playing for former club Middlesbrough“We wanted an out-and-out goal scorer. Nugent is also a proven promotion-winner”, “I can’t wait for him and Bryson to start combining together with their clever movement.” Whisper it quietly but at the time of writing (Sunday night), Rams have said nothing about his scoring record against us. “Matej Vydra isn’t a left winger, He’s a striker that works in a two. That’s it. Like that he’s useful, if not he is useless.” The 24-year-old ex-Hornet “looks lost and lacks confidence. It’s a shame Pearson had a chance to sign him before he was sacked. He doesn’t suit us at all, we need to cut our losses.” “Vydra’s only attributes are pace and supposedly finishing. He doesn’t have the strength, first touch or awareness to hold the ball up.” He has played out wide as a bench option recently. “I would love him to rediscover his Watford form. There’s a good player there but he doesn’t suit our system.” Darren Bent“He scores when he wants, he scored when he wants, in your goal and our goal, he scores when he wants!” Rams were quick to forgive the 32-year-old ex-Villa and Town striker for his early own goal blunder in the Leicester game. “Well done Darren for keeping a positive attitude after screwing up.”  Darren Bent“Bent has done a brilliant job, a consummate poacher with the ability to come on and score that goal just when you need it”, “We won’t go up with him as our number nine”, “He’s in the right place at the right time but has no acceleration. His knowledge and wiles are feared, not his power and pace.” The Strange Case of Chris Martin’s New Contract“This is a bizarre situation. Surely Fulham will want his loan terminated now”, “Dirty and sly but it is bloody genius”, “This is an utterly bizarre bit of football politics. I love it”, The pantomime goes on”, “Even by our incredibly high standards, this situation is very weird”, “This is the best news this year.”  Chris MartinRams were cock-a-hoop at the news that their striker has penned a new three-and-a-half-year deal despite being on loan at Fulham. Martin also commented that “he is looking forward to playing for Derby as soon as possible”. The 28-year-old scored in the Cottagers’ FA Cup win over Hull on Sunday. Fulham have given no indication that they will cancel his loan but Rams are hopeful. “Our top scorer for the last three seasons is coming home. I will drink to that”, “Fulham fans are in uproar. He does not want to be there. We have just lit the touch-paper and are sitting back watching the sparks fly.” Rams’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Mick has brought a couple of new cloggers to welcome us to Ipswich. We should take no chances”, “We will go to Ipswich and pass the ball and move so quickly that they will be kicking fresh air”, “Ipswich would have injured Hughes anyway, the dinosaurs, so it’s no disaster if he misses that one.” With 62 per cent predicting an away win and 10 per cent forecasting a victory for the Blues, the East Midlanders are travelling in confident mood. Very few goals are anticipated, with 1-0 and 2-0 away wins the most popular scores. Top marksman Tom Ince is widely predicted to be their first scorer. “Nil-all. They are dreadful. We are crocked.” Much of their pre-match discussion has been around the problem of Will Hughes’s likely absence. A trio of Bradley Johnson anchoring the midfield and Craig Bryson and one of Jacob Butterfield or Julien De Sart further forward is widely expected. “Looking forward to Tuesday but I hate Ipswich as a place and stadium”, “You can just imagine Mick McCarthy’s team orders is we start De Sart in the holding role. The lad will be lucky if he doesn’t get snapped in half. Mick will be feeding that Jonathan Douglas raw meat all weekend.” “Lincoln versus Ipswich, a team of ogres booting the ball in the sky hoping it lands in the goal against a team taking risks, creating chances with good team play, composed and confident passing. Yep, Lincoln look by far the better team”, “Ipswich were bloody awful, lazy, sloppy and embarrassing.” “I’m still incredibly annoyed that Ipswich broke George Thorne [who was injured in a challenge late in our final game of the season in May]. We would have been in the Premier League if they didn’t”, “Or if we had rested our first XI in a meaningless game the week before the play-offs started.” WebsitesThe busiest Rams’ message-board is the knowledgeable and busy Rams Talk while there are some informed articles worth reading on RamZone.
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