 | News
Comment | Humphreys Wycombe Young Player of the Year
at 13:27:45
Speaking of loanees, does anyone know how Elkan Baggott has been getting on? He's certainly the right size for a centre-back and I thought he did pretty well in the few games he played for us?
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| News
Comment | McKenna: We Were at Full Stretch Even Before Red Card
at 11:20:04
Next season we need to build a defence that are capable of defending as a priority, and also get some physically stronger players into the club who won't be so easily dispossesed by Premier League opponents. Our 'best' results this season have come when we've defended deep and hit teams on the break (a model that Forest are having some success with) because when we try to play out from the back we're caught out time and again, especially down the left. All too often there are easy passes played into the box at pace and we're nowhere near them.
I have no idea how he's doing wherever he is now, but someone with the size of Baggott might help? Perhaps we can build a settled team of 'stronger' players that would be better equipped should we come back up again? |
| News
Comment | Morsy: The Margins Are Fine, We Have to Grow and Get Better
at 11:25:09
While it's clear that Muric is currently in a disastrous run of form, he's not the reason why we're losing so many games. I agree he isn't good, but the whole team are struggling with the constant changes, injuries and lack of attacking ambition. The sprit has been ruined by wholesale axing of the players who go us where we are, and yes I know we were in the third division two years ago, but the aim was to get to where we are now, and those players would not be getting worse results than we're currently seeing. Woolfy, Burgess, Harry Clarke, Chaplin, Burns etc all earned their chance.
Defensively we're poor in all respects; we don't stop crosses and we don't attack the ball in the middle. We've discarded players who were living their dream and replaced them with, in some cases, serial failures. Our midfield lacks creativity or ambition to attack.
We're probably going to be relegated, but at least go down showing some fight. Go for it in games; attack to opposition from the off. We'll still lose many games, but we might just win enough to finish at the top of out mini-league at the bottom. If we continue to play how we are at the moment we'll lose anyway. Just go for it. Please. |
| News
Comment | Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton - Highlights
at 09:55:34
While it's clear that Muric is currently in a disastrous run of form, he's not the reason why we're losing so many games. I agree he isn't good, but the whole team are struggling with the constant changes, injuries and lack of attacking ambition. The sprit has been ruined by wholesale axing of the players who go us where we are, and yes I know we were in the third division two years ago, but the aim was to get to where we are now, and those players would not be getting worse results than we're currently seeing. Woolfy, Burgess, Harry Clarke, Chaplin, Burns etc all earned their chance.
Defensively we're poor in all respects; we don't stop crosses and we don't attack the ball in the middle. We've discarded players who were living their dream and replaced them with, in some cases, serial failures. Our midfield lacks creativity or ambition to attack.
We're probably going to be relegated, but at least go down showing some fight. Go for it in games; attack to opposition from the off. We'll still lose many games, but we might just win enough to finish at the top of out mini-league at the bottom. If we continue to play how we are at the moment we'll lose anyway. Just go for it. Please. |
| News
Comment | Clarke Set to Join Blades On Loan
at 11:09:55
Harry is the player (along with Wolfenden) who gets the most unwarranted flack from the online mob, mostly from 'fans' with no apparent Suffolk heritage I've noticed, though most of them have got profiles clutching a bottle of Stella. Coincidence? No idea, but it's ill-informed at best. Last season in particular the way we were set up often left HC exposed and out of position, but that was our chosen plan, and obviously it worked. Both HC and LW are decent players who clearly love the club and give total commitment on the pitch. Because both are defenders and someone has to be blamed for every goal conceded, they have been the target of the mob, but, as I've pointed out many times, we still conceded goals when we could perm any four from Mills, Burley, Hunter, Beattie, Butcher and Osman as our defence, and nobody could ever have called them out for stealing a living? Personally I think both of them add a lot to the team on match-days (and probably in training) and yes, there are things they could do better, but the same could be said of all of our current defenders.
I get mystified by why they're singled out, other than possible some weird jealousy? |
| News
Comment | Maresca: Delap Can Be an Important Player For England
at 08:46:32
Personally I really rate Delap because of the thigs he did in the first few months of the season, but I'm slightly concerned that he's now concentrating more on being 'physical' rather than being a skilful player who is not going to be intimidated. It's a fine line, but I think he's spending too much time trying to rough up opponents rather than getting possession and beating people; those early-season runs were a sight to behold, and we want to see more of it. |
| Blog
Comment | An Imperfect Ten
at 16:36:22
It was always the way that some of our 'supporters' would have to have someone to focus on for spite, and strangely it's often been the more 'local' players who have caught it. I can recall the challenged-chap who sat near me in the old West Stand many years ago yelling at Mick Lambert for being 'crap', even though good old Mick wasn't actually on the park (or even in the squad) and he was actually shouting at Arnold Muhren. These days Clarke H and Woolfie are the main targets for the on-line experts because we sometimes concede goals when they are playing. I have found myself pointing out that we also conceded goals when we could perm any four from Burley, Mills, Hunter, Beattie, Osman and Butcher as our defence, but that doesn't seem to compute? |
| News
Comment | Clarke Own Goal Given to Wissa
at 14:02:15
Having looked at the 'sending off' tackle many times from a few angles, there is absolutely no way that was a foul? HC clearly got his foot to the ball and it was out of shot before their player went over his leg. If that's going to be given as a foul, then football is finished as a competetive sport for anyone who loves a challenge.
Samy might as well take up tiddlywinks! |
| News
Comment | McKenna: Greaves and Johnson Suffer Knocks
at 15:22:04
I'm afraid that my take is that it's far too easy for opponents to work the ball into our box from our left-hand side because the left back stands off too much and midfield don't have the legs to cover. We have to work on ways of stopping those pases into the area rather than blaming the defence all the time? |
| News
Comment | West Ham United 4-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
at 09:24:34
There are aspects of our defensive play that really worry me, not just in this game but in several other matches up till now as well.
Firstly, we really don't seem capable of stopping crosses coming in from our left; Leif is everyone's hero, but he doesn't close down quick enough in my opinion. He's a great player going forward, but we have to stop the constant stream of crosses from that side.
Secondly, neither of the centre-backs attack the ball when they should do? I am a big fan of Wolfenden and for all his supposed weaknesses, he cuts out a lot of balls into the box. Harry Clarke has similar attributes, and if his legs are now fully functional, his spirit alone makes him valuable. It was far too easy for WHU on too many occasions today to just wander into our goal-area unchallenged, and similar things have happened in previous games.
Thirdly, lack of dynamism in midfield. When we were relegated from the Championship it was a feature of the season that opponents could wander through our midfield at will, and I think we need better legs and more physicality in that department. I've been impressed with Taylor; give him a chance.
Delap looks to be the pick of the summer signings, but he needs someone to work near to him. Omari has been a bit of a let-down so far this season, but I agree that his best position is wide right. Szmodics through the middle seems a better bet to me.
Let's get the team spirit back; remember the Burley days and learn the lesson. |
| News
Comment | McKenna: Phillips Back in Training
at 15:49:02
Does that mean Harry Clarke is available too? I'd like to see what he can do now the achilles injuries are sorted. I think he adds a lot to the squad. |
| News
Comment | Delap at Town But Move Not Close
at 13:40:43
At this rate, Hull City will have been promoted last season :-)
(for the avoidance of doubt, this is a joke (almost)). |
| News
Comment | Town Confirm Hutchinson Signing
at 08:32:57
I'm impressed that this apparently went to late evening on Sunday 30th before being announced, which presumably implies a bit of brinkmanship going on with negotiations? This has the hallmark of Mark Ashton all over it; I think Chelsea might have had their proverbial trousers lowered on this one? Our club is in exceptional hands. |
| News
Comment | Morsy: Our Biggest Strength Has Been How We Bounce Back
at 09:28:32
It's only an observation, but Sargeant didn't 'slip' as Morsy believes for the free-kick that lead to their goal; he deliberately chucked his leg out sideways to try to win a free kick, and he did exactly the same thing in the second half which the ref fortunately spotted and didn't award anything (I believe he should be booked for doing that?)
However, Sam grabbed his shorts right in front of the ref for the first free-kick and I think that's what the foul was given for? |
| News
Comment | Brighton Winger Sarmiento Set For Town Loan
at 15:21:53
What we actually need is a 'target man' rather than an out-and-out striker, though of course someone who could fulfill both functions would be amazing. For those old enough to remember Paul Mariner at his best, he was the ideal front man in a team that was full of goals anyway; someone who could dish it out to centre-backs as well as hold the ball up. |
| News
Comment | Kinetic Academy Coach On New Town Signings
at 15:26:37
Corinthian were renowned for their gentlemanly ways, hence the term 'Corinthian Spirit'. They amalgamated with another, similar club called Casuals just before WWII. In the early days (pre 1900), Corinthian supplied several players for England, and on some occasions the entire England team. |
| News
Comment | Town to Celebrate Promotion With Christchurch Park Event
at 13:25:56
So a free bonus event by the club to celebrate with supporters. Absolutely marvellous gesture by ITFC, and I guarantee that some of the more 'eccentric' fans will bring alcohol, flares and pyrotechnics and then complain bitterly about stewards being kill-joys if they're stopped because they're not snowflakes or bed-wetters and they've got profile pics clutching cans of Stella and everything. |
| News
Comment | Barnsley Spurn Chance to Close in On Blues After Defeat at Exeter
at 09:08:38
It's not inconceivable that Ipswich, Plymouth and Wednesday could all end up on more than 100 points, which would be ridiculous. I don't think they all will, but still possible and imagine if whoever finishes third doesn't go up? Our goal difference is certainly worth an extra point at this stage; it's going to be VERY tight... |
| News
Comment | Woolfenden: We're Comfortable Playing Out From the Back
at 13:11:32
Actually, Paul Cooper didn't often lump the ball forward. He very often used to throw it out overarm a considerable distance up the pitch, which allowed the midfield to get on the ball in space. He was a class act. And he once gave me an extra bread-roll for my soup in the Marquis at Layham, so top man :-)
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 0 | | Comment Votes: | 87 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 87 |
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