 | News
Comment | Premier League Clubs Eyeing Davis
at 14:02:56
West Ham would love to get Aaron Cresswell 2.0 off us, but I'd rather see him go to Newcastle if he's going anywhere. Hopefully he's fully bought in to what we're working towards here, but £20m is probably double our biggest ever sale (Mings?) - going to be hard to turn that down. Hopefully if we're in the PL too there's less incentive to jump ship, but let's see! I'd be having him in my fantasy team next year if he does go, put it that way! |
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Comment | Cardiff Match on Sky
at 10:24:47
Was just about to bemoan other teams around us not being on Sky and having the same problem, but then seen Southampton are on Sky at both Bristol C (13th) and West Brom (16th) in the next week. I'll get back in my box...
Interesting to look at Southampton's results - if we're brutally honest they've barely had a tough league game in about three months, played us, Leicester and Leeds in August before they got going. No wonder they're flying at the minute. 9 games between 10th Feb and 9th March has to take its toll on them. One of those being Liverpool who hopefully Klopp puts a full team out for, they smash them and Southampton realise they're not invincible and fall apart.
Leeds v Southampton last day of the season looks TASTY. |
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Comment | Head of Recruitment Linked With Former Club
at 17:22:39
WubbleU - seriously? When under Marcus Evans' leadership would we ever have been front of the queue for players we have now? Could we be wrong, but only seniors that pre-date Gamechanger, and I assume the new recruitment team, are Woolfenden, Jackson and Donacien? Surely the current crop is stronger than the years of signing the sorts of players we did. Surely you also didn't get that excited when we signed players like Nsiala, Balint Bajner (!), Paul Digby, Kevin Bru, Spence, Jon Nolan, Gwion Edwards etc. The calibre of players we wouldn't even dream of signing now goes on and on... |
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Comment | Brighton Winger Sarmiento Set For Town Loan
at 11:03:56
Am I the only one thinking Broadhead becomes the new Hirst, at least in the short term? Would Sarmiento (if signed) not be a like for like replacement for NB, meaning we're shifting Broadhead up top? Sounds like Ladapo is well out of favour now (even when Jackson went off against Stoke, Hutchinson came on instead and we shuffled the pack.
An exciting window ahead and easy to get negative. I'd expected us to only get 9 points from the 7 December games and we got 12, still not far off the two-per-game that is the promotion benchmark. We're three points ahead of that from 26 played so far. Sunderland and Leicester are tough, but the games spread out and get easier after that. Southampton have some difficult games ahead too. Let's get behind the boys... me included! |
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Comment | Ipswich Town 2-2 Rotherham United - Match Report
at 07:43:40
People waiting for attendances to get sub-15k in the hope that'll be enough to get rid of MM? Might take a while. Pretty sure most clubs count season ticket holders in the attendance even when they don't turn up, so even though ST numbers are down on last year, still probably a minimum of 12,500/13,000 "in attendance" even if PR was completely empty!
Stevenage cup game shows what people really think - 6,500 was it? ME not willing to spend, and not going to be helped by falling gate revenue. Got to make it cheaper and more exciting football. Even when we were winning last year we were "winning ugly". Need to get shot of MM before January, or spend the Mings, Cresswell and Murphy cash on some real quality. Teams in our division splashing £5m on a player fairly regularly, and we're just pleased it's not a loanee!! |
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Comment | McCarthy: Winning Football Will Bring Back Fans
at 10:03:02
Oh dear, Mick. Whilst there'll be a percentage of fans who are just there to jump on the March and April playoff bandwagon, the vast majority are staying away due to the style of football, not the results.
Some of the best games I've been to as an ITFC fan, we've actually not won (as bad as that sounds) - one in particular sticks out is a 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough (2010 or 2011) which was a really open, high quality game. One of the most entertaining 90 minutes I've ever seen at Portman Road - didn't want it to end.
Some of the other games I remember fondly - beating Gillingham 4-3 at home, a 6-4 vs Crewe a few years back, and beating Crystal Palace 4-3 at Selhurst Park. The common theme? GOALS!
In the same way people go to cricket to see lots of runs, go to rugby to see lots of tries, football fans want to see goals, and that just isn't happening at Portman Road these days. Too much defensive football. I can't be alone in saying I would happily go and watch us lose 3-2 every week, but have given it a good go, rather than cling on for a 0-0 draw. I too had a season ticket for 14 years, and decided to jack it in because I couldn't get excited about it any longer.
It's a results business, but for the fans, it is about being entertained.
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Comment | Barnsley Youngster Joins On Loan
at 19:06:31
Surely a loan with view to permanent. Another low risk investment from MM which could be fantastic. If it doesn't work out, nothing lost. Imagine wages are cheap. Would rather have him on board than paying Stewart to rot in the reserves or out on loan, so a decent swap I'd say. |
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Comment | Manchester United 3-0 Town - Match Report
at 22:50:50
Actually went to the game tonight, unlike, I suspect, most people complaining about team selection etc on here.
Huge pitch to defend against some of the best players in Europe. Thought we did well to keep them to 3-0, although they could probably have kicked up a gear or two if they needed to.
No point in risking injuries to key players in a game which in truth we had very little chance of winning. Would take a playoff place in May (helped by 3pts on Saturday) and going out the Cup in Round 3 than getting to the Carling Cup Final and finishing mid table.
Great support from the rest of the ITFC fans - see you on the train in the morning!! |
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Comment | Douglas Agrees Terms - Report
at 22:11:18
No excuse for a pedestrian midfield this season now!
Douglas, Skuse, Toure, Bru, Hyam, Tabb, Coke and Bishop in the middle to fight it out. Then Henshall, Connolly, Maitland-Niles and Fraser for the wings.
More midfielders than we can shake a stick at! 4 quality strikers in Murphy, Sears, McGoldrick and Pitman. Just need a full back or two to complement Chambers, Parr and Knudsen and we'll be sorted! Can't wait for the season. Deep squad with bags of experience to hopefully last the pace right through to next May. COYB! |
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Comment | Varney: Blackpool Can't Be Underestimated
at 08:44:25
MM's constant 'talking up the opposition' has spread to the players now! Blackpool have had nothing to play for since about February - they are easily the worst team in the league, and it was the worst kept secret in football that the club was in turmoil and that they were losing games. Anyone who thinks they'll change their style of play and be 'carefree' now they've gone down is kidding themselves too - they've been practically down for months, so doubt they'll have any different approach.
Can't see anything less than 3-0 win today - get Murphy's shooting boots back on with a couple as he's been disappointing for me lately. Anything other than a win today and I won't believe any "we could still do it" "we might beat Wolves" hype. Must win, not only because of the fact we're at the crunch end of the season, but because this is the easiest game of the 46 we'll have this year, whether they're now relegated or not.
COYB |
| Blog
Comment | Is It All Over?
at 08:58:20
Nice article. Form aside, for me the underlying reason behind our dip in form is the lack of goals, rather than anything else people use as excuses (Jay Tabb, lack of January signings, Chambers being at right back, Smith being out of form etc). Murphy was scoring for fun before Christmas, but has only scored 6 in 2015 - hardly prolific when he is the main, and arguably only, big goal threat, and this is the single biggest difference between 2014 and 2015.
Our midfield has never scored loads of goals, and we've always been surprised by the odd goal here or there from Tabb, Anderson, Chaplow etc, rather than expecting them, so the fact they still don't score lots isn't a surprise. Sears has looked good, and scored 5 in 16 (equates to 14 or 15 goals over a full season - a good return), but for me, Murphy going from 17 in 24 (2014 - equates to a 32 goal per full season return) to 5 in 17 (13 or 14 goals) is the difference, and we've relied too heavily on Murphy to haul us up the league, and he's just running out of steam (as the misses at Leeds from the spot, and Brentford from 5 yards, prove).
As a team we've only scored once in each of our last seven games - unless you keep a clean sheet you aren't going to win scoring one, so hardly surprising the wins have started to dry up since the losses to Derby and Southampton in January removed the feeling of invincibility which was no doubt spurring the team on.
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Comment | Marriott Nets Twice as U21s Hammer Charlton
at 08:39:32
Amusing listening to people hoping MM leaves. Any other manager with the team we have would have barely scraped into the top half. Our team isn't bad by any means, but when you look at the quality of the other teams who come to PR, and the way their midfields control the game, it puts it in perspective that we have overperformed this year, and it's been a joy to watch.
Not sure ridding ourselves of MM is the answer though. Do we want to go back to the Roy Keane / Paul Jewell days of being completely unable to sign anyone, and having a team of players like Kevin Lisbie, Ivan Campo (yes, we used to sign aging loanees back then too) or have the likes of Sonko, Andy Drury or Ryan Stevenson on the bench as 'impact subs'? Some people have very short memories - our team is miles better now, even if it is arguably still not quite the finished article! |
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Comment | The TWTD League Calculator 2014/15 - Five Matches Left
at 08:25:54
Sadly even with a few surprise results, best I have us at is 7th. We have won big games this season, where most have expected us to lose or draw (Watford away, for instance) so a result at Wolves isn't unthinkable, but too many times we don't turn up in big games and don't have that fight, passion or determination (Bournemouth played us off the park, Norwich home and away, Boro away) to rise to the occasion.
Very frustrating, as even when top of the league with 20 games to go, I honestly thought it would end up like this. Murphy's form in 2014 propelled us up the league and masked our shortcomings, but he's only got 5 goals in 2015, and without a free scoring midfield like the others in the chasing pack (Bradley Johnson 13 goals for Norwich, Leadbitter 12 for Boro, Matt Ritchie 12 for Bournemouth) we're relying on Sears (who has been excellent, but can't do it all on his own) and very little else. Still rooting for us to do it - would love a day out at Wembley more than anything - but the realist in me says it'll be Wolves v Watford and Derby v Boro in the playoffs, with us and Brentford falling short. |
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Comment | Middlesbrough 4-1 Town - Match Report
at 15:20:07
Sadly all too inevitable today. Really need to buy an out and out winger, or at least give Stewart or Henshall a go as something different. Think the criticism levelled at Tabb and Smith has been unfair, but agree Tommy certainly wasn't at his best, particularly for the last goal. Would drop Mings, Smith and Tabb. Play 4-3-3 like we did so successfully earlier in the year on Tuesday and give Bolton something to consider... |
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Comment | The Straws I Am Clutching At Are Running Out - Notes for Middlesbrough
at 10:19:14
Every game is now a 'must win', and think there are pockets of every team's fanbase who think they are running out of steam, but that's normal nerves as things get towards the business end of the year. Imagine a month or so ago Bournemouth fans thought they'd have been 10 points clear heading into the last 10 games, but that hasn't happened either, so everyone is having a bit of a bad patch. The pros must get nervous too, especially some of the older ones who know this may be their last chance to get to the Prem!
Being honest, I would take a draw, but when you are playing catch up we've really got to look to throw caution to the wind a little bit. Murphy and Wood with Sears in behind. Let's really go at them, and make sure bl**dy Leadbitter doesn't score!!
COYB |
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Comment | McCarthy Makes Four Changes
at 20:38:40
Why are most of you so negative? in 11 games in 2015, Murphy's only scored in 3, and has certainly been a shadow of his pre-Xmas self lately, so a bit of a breather isn't the end of the world. Why not give two players with a lot to prove a go in Wood and Varney? Seem to remember everyone slating a certain Noel Hunt before the Millwall game, but he shut you lot up pretty quick with two goals!
I was as cross as anyone following the Norwich debacle on Sunday, but a draw tonight puts us back in the top 6, with it still all in our hands. No, it hasn't been the free flowing, high tempo stuff of late we are all hoping for, but I for one would take unpretty, scrappy football resulting in a top 6 finish, than sticking keep banging our heads against a brick wall putting the same XI out each week. We've got a strong squad, and once McGoldrick et al are back from injury, it'll give us even more options.
COYB |
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Comment | Town Charged By FA
at 21:38:46
The FA should be charged for failing to control the entry standards to be a linesman. Penalty my eye, and Lee Martin winning the ball and getting sent off. Hmmm interesting decision Mr. Linesman... |
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