Ipswich Town v Bolton Wanderers
Saturday 22nd September 2018 – 15:00
Portman Road
Pre Match Thoughts - Mike
The Wait Goes On
The wait for that elusive first win of the season goes on after Town had to come from behind against a very impressive looking Brentford side to claim a precious point and in doing so keep our unbeaten home run going, as pleasing as that is Draws don't glean you the points required to climb up the table but taking into account the quality of the opposition we have faced so far at Portman Road it has to go down as One of the few positives to come from the opening Eight games. Once again we saw Paul Hurst tinker with the side, making no less than Five changes from the team that performed so woefully at Hull Four days previously, with that in mind maybe it was needed if only to shake up a few people.
The game itself was a tale of Two halves for Town, I can't think of an opening Forty Five minutes which can compete with just how bad this was from a Town perspective, the formation was billed as 3-5-2 but Jesus it was hard to know who was playing where, the players certainly didn't seem to have a clue and all too often were pulled and dragged out of position, there was no shape at all to our play, we failed to string passes together, we resorted to sending it long to Jackson who really struggled for any service at all, while in front of goal we were by and large anonymous. Brentford were passing it around and through us for fun and must wonder how on earth they went in at the break only One ahead.
While the second half was anything but vintage from Town it was most definitely a Hundred times better, switching back to our more familiar 4-2-3-1 and introducing Edwards & Nolan seemed to rejuvenate us and we went about trying to take the game to Brentford which to be fair is no easy task. Town's offensive play was far greater and looked threatening at last, Kayden Jackson suddenly looked a different player and after he hit one against the bar he got his maiden Championship goal with a deft near post header from a super Chalobah cross. Jackson then had a golden chance to win it for the Blues but in injury time his composure deserted him and he fired just wide of the upright but all in all it was a much more even contest and showed Town can play against the better teams, yes it was still a bit more direct than perhaps we would like but needs must to the situation in hand. I think most Town fans would have taken a point prior to kick off and at half time we were looking at a comfortable defeat so in that respect it is most definitely a point gained, take it and move on.
Keeping it settled
One of the main criticisms being aimed at Paul Hurst right now is his tendancy to change the starting line up too much, I read somewhere that we have used something like 24 players already, more than any other club in the Championship, yes it sounds a lot and of course it is but it is not to be expected when you have signed a dozen new players ? I think a lot of the changes are justified and there are several reasons for that. Hurst started the season giving players like Ward, Sears and Spence a chance to show their worth, he showed faith in them which for me is good management, when it became apparent we had better waiting in the wings he changed it. After the opening game against Rotherham we signed Toto Nsiala & Jon Nolan, again it makes perfect sense in bringing them into the team, after all that is why we signed them, it was not our fault it dragged on as long as it did. Tayo Edun then gets a red card at home to Villa, another change out of Hurst's hands and one he didn't want given how Tayo had played. Cole Skuse then picks up an injury at derby and has to sit out the game at Sheff wed, nothing Hurst can do about that, he also wanted to take a first look at our biggest priced signing so Kayden Jackson was drafted in at Hillsborough, is that a crazy or weird decision ? Not for me it isn't, after all everyone was crying out for change and wanted Two strikers on the pitch.
A ridiculous decision saw Nsiala given a Red card meaning he too had to sit out Three games, step up Matt Pennington, yet another enforced change which was unavoidable, next up Norwich and the big call from Hurst was to drop Bart, massive decision but 100% correct, one change nobody in their right mind would complain about when taking Bart's form into account, we also had the arrival of the messiah Jon Walters, everyone was wanting him in and got their wish, another daft change ? You decide. I think everyone can see where i am going with this, people can create a reason to bemoan the boss which they have done but reality says it really isn't so hard to explain why we have made so many changes, it is no great mystery and if a team is finding it's way with formations etc and with so many new faces it has to happen. However, now is the time to start getting to know that best formation and starting Eleven, while I am cool with what has happened so far it can't continue to be swapped about forever and some continuity needs to be established.
We Need This One
This weekend sees us at home again, this time to Bolton Wanderers who many will see as being there for the taken and while they have started the season as one of the surprise packages I too am looking at this one as a win at last, we really do have to get the Three points here, if only to instill a little bit of belief into the doubters who see Eight games enough to start heaping pressure on the manager and players. I expect Bolton to be down among the teams battling for survival so these games are massive in the context of how the league table will end up, lose this and god knows what the fall out will be but I have a pretty good idea. The Trotters have already been victorious at West Brom & Reading so travel quite well but we are unbeaten at home against better teams than this and while nothing can be taken for granted I firmly believe we will secure our first win and with it Three valuable points, anything less doesn't bare thinking about, especially when you have a glance at our October fixtures. Keep the faith. COYB'S.
The Opposition – Bolton Wanderers
The club was founded by the Reverend Thomas Ogden, the schoolmaster at Christ Church in 1874 as Christ Church F.C. It was initially run from the church of the same name on Deane Road, Bolton, on the site where the Innovation factory of the University of Bolton now stands. The club left the location following a dispute with the vicar, and changed its name to Bolton Wanderers in 1877. The name was chosen as the club initially had a lot of difficulty finding a permanent ground to play on, having used three venues in its first four years of existence.
Bolton were one of the 12 founder members of the Football League, which formed in 1888. Having remained in the Football League since its formation, Bolton have spent more time in the top flight (Premier League/old First Division) than out of it.
The period before and after the First World War was Bolton's most consistent period of top-flight success as measured by league finishes, with the club finishing outside the top 8 of the First Division on only two occasions between 1911–12 and 1927–28. In this period Bolton equalled their record finish of third twice, in 1920–21 and 1924–25.
On 28 April 1923, Bolton won their first major trophy in their third FA Cup final, beating West Ham United in the first ever Wembley FA Cup final. They followed this up with two further FA Cup Final victories in 1926 & 1929.
From 1935 to 1964, Bolton enjoyed an uninterrupted stay in the top flight.
The years of the Second World War saw most of the Wanderers' playing staff see action on the front, a rare occurrence within elite football, as top sportsmen were generally assigned to physical training assignments, away from enemy fire. However, 15 Bolton professionals, led by their captain Harry Goslin, volunteered for active service in 1939, and were enlisted in the 53rd Bolton Artillery regiment. Only Goslin would not return from the war.
On 9 March 1946, the club's home was the scene of the Burnden Park disaster, which at the time was the worst tragedy in British football history. 33 Bolton Wanderers fans were crushed to death, and another 400 injured, in an FA Cup quarter-final.
Bolton Wanderers have not won a major trophy since 1958, when they overcame Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
While Bolton finished 4th the following season, the next 20 years would prove to be a fallow period. The club suffered relegation to the Second Division in 1963–64, and were then relegated again to the Third Division for the first time in their history in 1970–71. This stay in the Third Division lasted just two years before the club were promoted as champions in 1972–73. Hopes were high at Burnden Park in May 1978 when Bolton sealed the Second Division title and gained promotion to the First Division. However, they only remained there for two seasons before being relegated, and then slipped back into the 3rd Division at the end of the 1982/83 season.
Bolton failed to win promotion in the 1983–84 season, and would remain in the Third Division for another three seasons. In 1986 Nat Lofthouse was appointed President of the football club, a position he would hold until his death on 15 January 2011. At the end of the 1986–87 season, Bolton Wanderers suffered relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history, but won promotion back to the Third Division at the first attempt.
Bolton reached the Premiership in 1995 in the Division One play-off Final. The same year Bolton progressed to the League Cup Final, but were defeated by Liverpool. Bolton were bottom for virtually all of the 1995–96 Premiership campaign and were relegated.
The club won promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt thanks to a season in which they achieved 98 league points and 100 goals in the process of securing the Division One championship. Unfortunately yet again, Bolton were relegated after only one season in the top flight. This season also marked the club's departure from Burnden Park to the Reebok Stadium.
In 2000–01 Bolton were promoted back to the Premiership after winning the play-off final. Bolton struggled in the following two seasons, but survived in the Premiership.
Bolton reached the League Cup final in 2004, but lost to Middlesbrough. Nevertheless, the club finished eighth in the league, at the time the highest finish in their Premiership history.
In 2005 Bolton finished sixth in the league, thus earning qualification for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history. Between 2003–04 and 2006–07, Bolton recorded consecutive top-eight finishes. Bolton survived in the 2009–10 season as they finished 14th with 39 points. This secured a tenth successive top flight campaign for Bolton.
On 13 May 2012, Bolton Wanderers were relegated to the Championship by one point on the last day of the season.
The Championship season started badly for Bolton, with only three wins in ten league matches and a second round exit from the League Cup following a loss at Crawley Town, Bolton sacked manager Owen Coyle on 9 October 2012. Fourteen days later Dougie Freedman joined the club as manager, who guided them to a 7th place finish at the conclusion of the season.
Although Freedman made a number of signings for the 2013/14 campaign, Bolton ended the season firmly mid-table, with the expectations of another promotion push not met.
The 14/15 season started similarly, failing to win any of their first 6 games and only one of the first ten. Freedman left the club on 3 October 2014 by mutual consent, with Neil Lennon taking the helm.
In December 2015, Bolton, who were £172.9 million in debt, were handed a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs over unpaid taxes, and a transfer embargo for the following month's window. On 18 January 2016, the club avoided an immediate winding-up order after their case was adjourned until 22 February to give it time to either close a deal with a potential buyer or raise sufficient short-term funds from asset sales.
On 9 April 2016, Bolton confirmed their relegation to the third tier for the first time since 1993. Lennon was removed from his position for the final few games of the season, replaced by Academy manager Jimmy Phillips.
The financial situation was somewhat improved as a takeover bid by Dean Holdsworth's Sports Shield was successful.
The 2016-2017 season provided some much-needed respite for beleaguered BWFC fans, as the club successfully achieved promotion from League One at the first attempt. New manager Phil Parkinson was instrumental in this, working despite an ongoing transfer embargo and ownership disputes between Holdsworth and Ken Anderson.
Wanderers finished their first season back in the Championship in 21st place, avoiding relegation by 2 points.
The Manager – Phil Parkinson
Past Match Video - Trev
Media Watch – K L Blue
Stuart Watsons view on Brentford game
http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-tow ... -1-5701258
PH's reaction
http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-tow ... -1-5701272
FLW view on Jackson
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/4-sho ... wich-town/
A good read
https://www.twtd.co.uk/blogs/21741/by-a ... nnecessary
Town Ladies on Derby cup win
http://www.ipswichtownladiesfc.co.uk/si ... rogression
Form Guide
Ipswich Last 5 Matches – Currently in 24th place with 4 points
21 Aug Derby County 2 - 0 Ipswich Town
25 Aug Sheffield Wed 2 - 1 Ipswich Town
2 Sep Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Norwich City
15 Sep Hull City 2 - 0 Ipswich Town
18 Sep Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Brentford FC
Bolton Last 5 Matches Currently in 12th place with 11 points
18 Aug Reading FC 0 – 1 Bolton Wanderers
22 Aug Bolton Wanderers 1 – 0 Birmingham City
25 Aug Bolton Wanderers 0 - 3 Sheffield United
1 Sep Preston North End 2 – 2 Bolton Wanderers
15 Sep Bolton Wanderers 1 – 2 Queens Park Rangers
Marko’s Caption Contest – THE DON CUP
Scores for both Norwich & Hull......, the Norwich result is scored exactly how the votes came in. Hopefully no more offence is taken.
NORWICH SCORES
Tangfastic 5pts
Derickipsw 4pts
Bluemike 3pts
Ando 2pts
HULL SCORES
Blueblood 5pts (123457 post)
Ando & Warership Down 4pts
Derickipsw & Number9 3pts
Tangfastic 2pts
LEAGUE TABLE
IPSWICHTOWNNO1 18
DERICKIPSW 17
FROSTY 15
TANGFASTIC 14
NICSCREAMER 13
BLUEMIKE 13
NUMBER9 13
BLUEBLOOD 11
ANDO 9
PATTHEGIMP 7
WATERSHIP DOWN 7
AYLESBURYBLUE 5
SHED ON TOUR 3
CHARNWOOD 1
KL BLUE 1
OHIOTRACTORBOY 1
Danielle @ Bolton
Match Referee – Stephen Martin
IPSWICH TOWN 2 BOLTON WANDERERS 1
or Pennington at RB?
