'

0

The result was disappointing but was i entertained yes which i haven't been able to say for a very long time. There's still the same old problem with the middle of defence when players run at them. This needs to be addressed otherwise no promotion. If it was a popularity contest I'd pick aToTo every time but he's just not up to it the same with Wolfenden who's career seems to have gone backwards. Am i optimistic for the future yes there's definitely plenty of talent in this team but we need to gel quickly.

0

2 bad goals given away but 2 good ones scored

1

Why cant you give the ref a negative score?

0

Patience guys it's a long way to go

0

Tactical switch with Burns backfired in the second half. Effective in the first half when hugging the touchline and interchanging with KVY. Despite the result, Ipswich looked like a team wanting to play football. Evans and Harper looked hungry, confident and able in the middle of the park. Need Edmundson to be the real deal at the back too, though.

0

Who were all those strange people wearing Town shirts?

0

So good to be back in Portman Road again with a big crowd, but like so many Ipswich teams in recent times, they failed to capitalise and I’m afraid quite a few lapsed who turned up to see the new era, won’t immediately return. As the performance was flawed and lacked any consistent passages of goal threat.

So how did we do, this team of strangers, with huge expectation on their shoulder.

Let’s look at the 3 lenses for success

1. HAVE THE BETTER PLAYERS

I was quite impressed by Morecombe a team with as much squad flux as we have and their first goal was real quality. But across the Town pitch we looked to have far better pedigree. Evans is a true captain - I was very very impressed with him. Vocal, grabbing play, demanding the ball, driving us on, he was let down by the system and some team mates. Harper also good at times, but he is playing very deep alongside Evans, again more of this later. Chaplin was poor! Or was it that he never got any service in the way were set up. Piggot had moments but was completely isolated. Fraser and Burns were excellent at time, and Frasers goal was quality. Penney was pretty good, but fluffed his lines. KVY had a poor game, his confident seemed shot, I think if he is on his game we would have won… but I have high hopes for him and Burns going forward. Bonne was the hero! Norwood maybe should have scored a header at the end. Wolfenden was pretty good overall, but involved in the howler. Keeper I need to see more of. I did think Donacien did well as stand in to the unlucky Toto - bad hamstring.

2. WANT TO WIN THE GAME MORE THAN THE OPPOSITION

We were promised that we’d not leave anything on the pitch and have great desire. I think the players got slightly overawed by the occasion - didn’t step up to give outlets to Harper and Evans. Didn’t fight hard enough. But Morecombe were well organised and we just weren’t dynamic enough and as stated KVY and Penney did not get beyond their man enough. I think partnerships will grow. But I felt our energy and dynamism is a work in progress! Surely Dobras desire was perhaps needed between the lines?

3. HAVE THE BETTER SYSTEM OF PLAY AND SHAPE

Hmmmmmmm, this remains my big area of concern! Our deep 2 were very deep, so there was a huge gap Chaplin and Piggot. Chaplin didn’t seem to relish the number 10 at all. And was he and Piggot really the right choice. With KVY and Penney losing the battle with their markers it meant the supply line was poor. There was no breaking of the lines consistently. When the quality looking burns and Fraser did get forward we hurt them, similarly when Penney DID get past his man. The switch cross field from Evans to KVY was working but then KVY failed to capitalise and moves fell apart.

So overall a poor display for such a big occasion but I saw some good players, with more desire than our previous hapless team - I mean Chambo really had lost it when you compare him to Evans. But we need to start to gel, and the system has to start working or all the best players won’t progress us.

COYB

-2

Evans and Harper looked good in central midfield. Once they get used to each other I’d be surprised if there is a better pairing in League 1.

Penney was better than I expected but the final ball often didn’t come after good approach play. His pass to Woolfenden that led to the goal wasn’t great but if Woolfenden had just put his boot through the ball into the stand, rather than trying to be too clever, it wouldn’t have been a problem!

Overall there was some good football and some dire football on show. The team at times looked like the bunch of strangers to each other that they are but occasionally showed what they will be capable of once they gel.

0

Electric and still a happy ending to the start of the fairy tale? the two in the middle worked their little socks off against a brick wall..........

0