 | News
Comment | Carrick: Mixed Feelings
at 10:17:56
Don't be so disappointed Michael, you have a big home game up next against Leeds that you'll want to be taking very seriously. |
| News
Comment | McKenna: Proud of the Performance in Brilliant Game
at 09:26:49
3 wins & we're up.
If Leeds draw one of their games (Middlesborough & QPR away, then Southampton at home), we could even lose 1 of the 3 & still go up win 2 wins; unless Southampton win all 5 of theirs.
COYB
|
| News
Comment | McKenna: Proud of the Performance in Brilliant Game
at 00:45:09
Nearly all the talk is still about Leicester & Leeds, but by the time we next kick off in the league, Southampton will have played 3 more games. They are at home to Preston, away to Cardiff & then away to Leicester, so the way things are going they could pick up 9 points there ... which would put them 1 point AHEAD of us, but with only 2 games left, to our 3. They may well have overturned our goal difference advantage in doing so too.
That would severely impact Leicester's chances too of course, and they would still have to go to Leeds on the last day. |
| News
Comment | Leaders Leicester Lose at Plymouth
at 07:26:32
Given the recent nervy performances & points dropped of the top 3, the playoffs are looking particularly treacherous now for whoever misses out on automatic promotion. Southampton must be really kicking themselves over the loss to us, as with their 2 games in hand, they'd be right in the mix had they held on to win that game.
The fact that Southampton are still in with a chance is good news for us though, as they have to play both Leicester & Leeds still, knowing if they win both, automatic promotion is still a real possibility for them. Leicester have to play West Brom too.
Our run in is not easy; Hull & Coventry away would be tough games at any point in the season, so a win at home to Middlesbrough today could be crucial.
Do we hope Norwich have 2 or 3 wins before we play Hull & thus effectively end Hull's playoff chances (season) by then? Maybe.
We will be cheering on Coventry to beat Man Utd in the cup semi, to leave them distracted & possibly avoiding heavy tackles before the final.
All of these 'small margin' factors can come into play now, which could influence the end of the season, what league we play in next season & perhaps the next 5 seasons ahead.
The other scenario, which is out of our hands, is the beneficial prospect of Leicester going up, as well as us. The Premier League is unbelievably tough & will be even tougher next season than it is this one. Having a rival that is under a transfer ban & likely to start the season with a 6 point+ deduction could be the difference in staying up or going down in our first season back. Ideally, from a strategically selfish perspective, they would get the other promotion slot & leave Leeds do battle with Southampton, West Brom & Norwich in the playoffs.
Yeah I know I'm thinking way too far ahead, but I can't help it; I'm thinking fixtures, tactics & league permutations nearly every waking moment these days; my work is suffering, my family time neglected & my sleeping time has reduced significantly too! COYB
|
| News
Comment | McKenna: We Take the Positives From the Performance
at 07:00:35
There's no doubt that all 3 sides are looking a bit edgy now, and more 'expected' points will be dropped by all before the season ends. Beating Southampton was a massive result, as they are not out of it yet, & would be right in the mix had they managed to win that game.
But as the manager always says, we can't be wasting our energy looking at the table too much & the results of other teams; we have to concentrate on our own games/performances & get as many wins as we can. Automatic promotion is still in our hands.
Having said that, our last 2 games have felt a bit flat & jaded, scoreless in both, and lacking somewhat in that second half attacking flurry that has been the hallmark of our season; that sense that we will always come back & score a winner in the last few minutes, even if we've gone behind.
The Middlesborough game is massive now; I had felt that we would need to get 6 points from these 2 home games, as the next 2 are away at Hull & Coventry, which will be a real challenge. I think we'll have to get a minimum of 6 points from those 3 games now for automatic promotion; so a draw, even an apparent 'good away draw' is not going to be enough, unless we win the other 2 imo.
I really hope it doesn't come down to goal differnce in the end. |
| News
Comment | Leicester and Leeds Drop Points
at 09:21:06
#Nomore - They're unbeaten in their last 4 though, and have drawn with Leeds, West Brom & Preston in the last 3, all clubs in form, having been ahead in the first 2 of those, so they will be no pushover.
If we are seeking to finish in the top 2, we should be winning this game, but they are a 2nd season parachute payments side, with some very dangerous players, so it will be a very good result of we get the win. |
| News
Comment | Leicester and Leeds Drop Points
at 05:41:12
Leicester & Leeds surprisingly dropping points is great, but the Southampton win over Coventry was an important result too (apart from it helping Norwich); it keeps them in with a chance (unlikely, but a chance) of automatic promotion which gives them something important to still be playing for when the face Leicester in that 'game in hand' in just under a fortnight, & still possibly when the go to Leeds in the final game of the season.
Southampton are 'only' 9 behind Leeds, but with 2 games in hand AND a head to head game with them to play, so it's not over. The way Leicester have been playing & dropping points, means they can't rule out catching them either, IF they go there & win.
All we can do is concentrate on our own games & pick up as many points as we can; one draw or defeat does not mean we've blown it, as each round of games seems to throw up at least 1 surprise, however, we could really do with taking 6 points from our 2 home games, tonight & on Saturday. |
| News
Comment | McKenna: We're Pretty Stretched
at 15:42:20
Massive game tomorrow night to be dealt with first; 3 points there would set up up nicely for another home game against Middlesbrough, so a win has to be expectation if we are to stay on track for a top 2 finish.
Then we get the break ahead of the away games to Hull & Coventry; hopefully the extra time will allow Burns at least to be back for consideration as a starter. Hutchinson has been brilliant for us, but we really have missed the pace, directness & quality ball in from Burns since his injury; having those 2 options to replace each other would be massive for the last 3 games.
I'd love to see Hirst coming on for Moore in the 70th minute, before the end of the season too. |
| News
Comment | Morsy: Our Biggest Strength Has Been How We Bounce Back
at 11:06:31
We lost, but we did get one good result from the game yesterday, Morsy didn't get booked, when he easily could have.
He's on 13 bookings where 15 will result in a 3 (THREE) match ban, so a yellow card yesterday would have left him on eggshells for the next 5 games; he'll still have to be very carefull & somewhat lucky to get through such tough, key ties without being booked.
For those who don't know; the slate is wiped clean once a team finishes in the playoffs, BUT a yellow card in the 90th+ minute of the Huddersfield game, if he has picked up a 14th in one of the previous 4 games, will see Morsy get the 3 match ban, which would then carry into the playoffs, IF we happen to miss out on automatic promotion. |
| News
Comment | Wagner: My Players Wanted it More
at 17:50:48
The better team on the day won, but also, the better manager ON THE DAY won, which was surprising - to be fair to Wagner, he did a number on us ... Today. |
| News
Comment | McKenna: Burns Scan News Positive
at 17:42:22
Today's game would have really suited him; if we are ulttimately consigned to playing them again in the playoff semis, having Burns fit will make a real difference. |
| News
Comment | McKenna Nominated For Manager of the Season
at 16:09:19
Had the season been over & Leeds had won the league, there may be some question over whether KMcK would get it, but seeing as it isn't, there can be no doubt over him winning it.
As for the player, I tend to agree with Orraman; we are the team of the season over all division. Leif has been amazing, but so too have Summerville, Szmodics & Dewsbury-Hall, so it is a tough one to argue one of those 3 off the shortlist |
| News
Comment | McKenna: We'll Have to See How Kieffer is Over the Next Few Days
at 11:59:56
It's no coincidence that our 'poor' run after Christmas was in the period after Hirst got injured & before Kieffer Moore came on in the second half against Preston; if he is out for a few weeks it will be a major blow our automatic promotion hopes.
Both Hirst & Moore can score important goals at Championship level, but their overall value to this side, in McKenna's preferred style & formation is way beyond that.
Both can knock seven shades of s### out of 2 seasoned centre halves for 60+ minutes, they can win ball high up the pitch & retain possession despite strong phyiscal challenges, before cleverly laying it off to runners coming from deep. This is a massive part of our game which really suits the 6/7 options we have to play in the 3 attacking roles behind the centre forward, not to mention our fullbacks or midfielers.
They can offer a focal point for our attacks & a much needed relieving outlet to find in periods when we are under defensive pressure. Both play the role excellently & allow those around them to perform to best of their abilities. In short, it has been a key position for our success this season (and last).
Ali Al Hamadi has exceeded expectations in the Championship minutes he has played so far, & was inches away from scoring his 5th goal with us yesterday. He is strong, direct, driven, hard working, & he knows where the goal is; these are excellent qualities in a young forward, and he is only going to get better.
However, he is a very different style of forward to the other 2 mentioned above, and so should not have too much pressure placed on him to replicate the type of play that we have seen from the other 2 mentioned above. Apart from his natural game being different, we have to acknowledge his lack of experience playing against Championship (& Premier League) quality defenders, as well as his age.
There is not going to be too much point in hitting high balls up to him, like we would with the other 2, but balls out wide or in behind for him to run on to will see his directness & pace causing problem.
I thought McKenna did brilliantly in switching the attacking play when the subs came on yesterday; short, snappy, balls to feet through the middle (Taylor was immense) really used the qualities we had on the pitch & put Southampton on the back foot - great awareness & tactical management yet again.
It'll be tough, but with this manager & the honesty of his squad we're still in there & won't give it up without leaving everything on the football field. |
| News
Comment | McKenna: One of the Games You Looked For at the Start of the Season
at 10:42:49
We are completely overachieving; the measure being squad strength & depth. The 3 sides relegated from the Premier League have numerous experienced Premier League players; we don't. These 3 are not just any regular yo-yo relegated sides either; they are far stronger than Sheffield Utd, Burnley & (probably) Luton will be next season.
Add in the club still in receipt of parachute payments, still with some experienced Premier League players & some top Championship players signed from less well over Championship clubs, and you see how up against it we were this season.
But we have a great manager, who has instilled incredible belief into a squad of players who mostly were unsung even at Championship level before the season started. Prior to them joining us, were even Morsy, Luongo, Chaplin, Broadhead, Hirst or Davis seen as TOP Championship players? Kieffer Moore may have played in the Premier League alright, but we had been overachieving for quite some time before he came in to help. |
| News
Comment | Town Gallagher Interest "Significant"
at 16:44:28
We were looking for 2 strikers in January, with Scarlett & Ladapo gone as well as us losing Hirst through injury, so I don't think it was a straight choice of Gallagher or Moore; it was likely a wish for getting both.
Al Hamadi was probably the big winner in the Blackburn decision not to sell, and hopefully he'll prove to be an even better investment for Ipswich over the next few years. |
| News
Comment | Coventry Date Set
at 17:53:04
Balls; not a good outcome for us. Was hoping it would be on Tuesday 16th, before the cup semi. |
| News
Comment | Hutchinson: I Turned Down England and Jamaica Calls to Concentrate on Town
at 09:05:28
If you were the manager of a top Premier League club, (or La Liga/Serie A/Ligue 1 etc.) with a big squad of talented young players, you would have to look at Ipswich under McKenna as one of your top loan options for next season, whether we go up or not.
The evolution of Hutchison this season has been a joy to behold. I thought he was going to be a bit of a show pony after his first couple of appearances, but very quickly we saw signs that there was more to him, as the tracking & tackling side of his game started to emerge too. He was clearly willing to listen to his coaches & work hard for the team; that's the receipe for a successful top flight career. So many hugely talented players fall by the wayside because they are too caught up in their own hype & don't want to do the grafting side of the game; Hutchison has proven himself & is reaping the rewards now. The pass to Al Hamadi for a tap in, when he had a decent chance of a first senior hat trick - a chance he completely made for himself - demonstrated a muturity in decision making, that many lads of his age don't have yet.
He will go back to Chelsea in the summer a far better & more rounded player than the lad who came here in August. We'd all love to see him here beyond the summer. |
| News
Comment | Broadhead Could Make Trip to Cardiff
at 10:58:55
I don't expect Broadhead to start, even if he is reported fit for the game, but just having him back & on the bench will give us a great boost. It's not like we don't have decent options to start on the left in Harness & Sarmiento, & now with Wes back I could even see Hutchinson given a start on that side.
As for Williams, that ship seems to have sailed. With Clarke back from injury, & the emergence of Tuanzebe as a competent attacking fullback, we are not as vulnerable at RB as we might have thought a few weeks ago.
However, an injury to Davis would be a real concern for the run in, as Williams did look a quality option for us there when he was on form pre-Christmas/December. Yes Cameron Humphreys can cover there in an emergency, or similarly Clarke could move across with Tuanzebe playing RB, but we would be significantly weakened overall either way.
Fingers crossed that he will see out the season without any problems. |
| News
Comment | McKenna: A Brilliant Way to Win a Football Match
at 07:52:59
After the missed penalty in the 97th minute -
"I think 99.9 per cent of all football teams in all stadiums would probably empty out of hope at that point and feel like the game is done." - He's right.
Of all the many skills that KMcK has as a football manager; the coaching, the formation, the tactical side of it, the movement & triangles, the targeting of potential new signings etc., it has to be the motivational element of his skillset that is the most remarkable. Everyone in that squad, whether a likely starter, or just a likely last 20 minutes player week in/week out, is utterly commited to their task & has the utmost belief in themselves & their teammates.
Even when 3-0 against Preston, with 2 goals that shouldn't have been allowed, this team came out in the second half expecting to get a result & kept pushing until the last second. I can't think of any other team with that sheer level of commitment & belief; even our previous promotion winning sides that had to come from behind more than once. The stats on winning points from losing positions this season absolutely reflect it. Unbelievable. |
| News
Comment | Moore in Team of the Week
at 14:20:40
I see Marvin Johnson from Wednesday is in there too. Even when we don't manage to sign them, the players we target invariably prove to be really good & hitting form. |
| | Len_Brennan
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 5 | | Comment Votes: | 6707 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 6712 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.