Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough preview and matchday thread

[ashfordblue]

Let's get fooking Smith out he's like a bloody cart horse, Kudsen is absolutely useless he's got a hell of a lot to learn about being a decent left back, he stands off his opponent as does Chambers, why oh why do they not get stuck in to the wingers, let them know who's boss, I still think we are knowwhere near promotion with this squad, the workhorse was Pitman, if we had a few more like him and Fraser we would do a lot better, in January bring better left and right backs, but first get rid of Smith he's a liability

[James Scharmann]

Got my 2nd Town prediction of the season spot 2-0 to Boro

[J4ck22]

Got my 2nd Town prediction of the season spot 2-0 to Boro

Well done mate, we're all really happy for you

[lucy]

Got my 2nd Town prediction of the season spot 2-0 to Boro

Oh well done James that's very clever choosing us to lose!

[James Scharmann]

Got my 2nd Town prediction of the season spot 2-0 to Boro

Oh well done James that's very clever choosing us to lose!

Not my fault I know my football, only other prediction got right this season was 3-0 to Man Utd. So not to bad I guess

[marko69]

You are probably the most passionate of ITFC fans on this forum, James......., you deserve the points for the correct prediction. We all just know that if ITFC had've scored you would've posted your customary "SEAAAAAARSSSSSSS, GET IN, 1-0!" I do love those posts along with match time commentary, "Sears off, Pitman on"......, "Skuse yellow card"......., great stuff.

Didn't see the game unfortunately, took me feckin decades to get home with that "thorn in my fkn side" bridge being shut. Shyte result, but hoping the play was decent. I'll read the reports when the attending people can be arsed to write them; I understand if they don't appear for a few days.

[ipswichtownNo1]

You are probably the most passionate of ITFC fans on this forum, James......., you deserve the points for the correct prediction. We all just know that if ITFC had've scored you would've posted your customary "SEAAAAAARSSSSSSS, GET IN, 1-0!" I do love those posts along with match time commentary, "Sears off, Pitman on"......, "Skuse yellow card"......., great stuff.

Didn't see the game unfortunately, took me feckin decades to get home with that "thorn in my fkn side" bridge being shut. Shyte result, but hoping the play was decent. I'll read the reports when the attending people can be arsed to write them; I understand if they don't appear for a few days.

I didnt attend tonight but watched it on the box marco. From reading the posts so far i must have been watching a different game. I thought first half town coukd have been 2-0 up if not for some great goalkeeping and should have been leading early doors in the second half at least. Gerkin for me was great tonight , made 3 super saves but i feel he should have got out to claim/ clear the first goal which was a close range header at far post but knudson should be defending better there.I dont feel the negative comments towards smith are justified, had as good a game as anyone but got caught out once which cost/ allowed a shot on goal. Rest of team put in solid performance and as said earlier should have been ahead if not for boro keeper. Only negative for me tonight apart from the result is left back . Also the so calld workhorse pitman is just that. He missed a golden chance but didnt get it on target, why does he get such acclaim when smith gets slated. Rest of the team can feel hard done by imo.

[ipswichtownNo1]

Got my 2nd Town prediction of the season spot 2-0 to Boro

Oh well done James that's very clever choosing us to lose!

Get over it, james is a realist and not a rose tinted supporter. I had town to lose 3-0 but heart always wants them to win.

[ipswichtownNo1]

Can we please do some work on our keepers
kicks out of the goals!

In what way? I dont get where you are coming from.

[arana peligrosa]

Took a while to calm things down, but end product : beaten by a team who will feature more prominently in the end of season promotion race than (what) we can hope for.

Saw some reports that Middlesbrough played a little cyncial at times and weren't afraid to rough it out and maybe some of our players couldn't match them, but in the end they had that little extra class - not to mention determination - that saw them through as eventual winners.

Seen it mentioned elsewhere tonight that we're simply not of the same level as the team that overcame us today. Doubtless stating the obvious, (and) going in to the game they already occupied the auto promotion places and may have been favorites to take the game before start of play. Sure we matched them for 45 minutes but the greater strength took over second period and once we went behind, it was going to be an uphill battle.

No sense in trying to rectify what can't be altered. They won, maybe deservedly in the end, but there'll be other teams in the weeks ahead that aren't so robust (as Middlesbrough) and points can be picked up elsewhere.

[Bluemike]

The way I saw it was that we gifted them the win last night despite having more than matched them for the first 55 minutes in which we had 3 great chances to take the lead. I agree with IpswichtownNo1 in that but for 2 cracking saves from their keeper we could well have been 2-0 up at HT and then in the first couple of minutes of the second half Pitman somehow missed a clear cut header a few yards out to again give us the lead. Unfortunatley after that silly errors in inocuous areas of the pitch hurt us badly, AMN with a poor header and Knudsen being his normal self set them off on breaks from which they scored.

I was disappointed with us second half as we failed to keep up the effort and endeavour of the first half, we also let these errors creep into our play and that is ultimately what cost us the points. Unfrotunately they had a player in Adomah that caused us problems throughout the game and that is no slight on Chambers because he does it every week, just a very good player. I also don't get the usual boring digs at our keeper again, he made some great saves once again to keep the scoreline down after the break, I also fail to see what Smith did that was so bad ? For me we need to be looking at Knudsen, unfortunately the guy is bloody crap and cannot defend to save his life, he does the odd good thing but by and large is rank awful, Parr has to be a better option in every department.

To sum it up, it was disappointing but certainly no need for any in depth enquiries, we lost to a team that will most likely be going straight up and all this after more than matching them for nearly an hour. We are where we are and we will lose games, that is our frist defeat in Seven so we now neen to put together another run like that and we will be fine. I think what last night told us is that we are a fair way off even thinking about top Two but top Six is well within our capabilities. It is time to go again.

[Bluemike]

Got my 2nd Town prediction of the season spot 2-0 to Boro

Oh well done James that's very clever choosing us to lose!

Not my fault I know my football, only other prediction got right this season was 3-0 to Man Utd. So not to bad I guess

You contradict yourself, you have only predicted 2 Town games correctly and sit 18th in the prediction table and yet you proclaim to "know your football" ?

[J4ck22]

Agreed about Knudsen, he was awful and hasn't really shown that he's capable this season. The only goals that come from his throw ins are opposition ones as they're that bloody useless. His defending was also poor for the first goal as well. Smith I thought could have done a bit better with the second, but I think it was more fate that allowed Nugent to somehow squeeze that in on his weaker foot so can't really stay mad at him.

Everyone else was pretty average really, other than Gerken who had another brilliant game in my opinion. The first goal really killed us, heads dropped and confidence was lost and it looked clear to me that we weren't coming back into it.

Oh well. Wasn't our night, so on to the next one eh?

[Tangfastic]

The way I saw it was that we gifted them the win last night despite having more than matched them for the first 55 minutes in which we had 3 great chances to take the lead. I agree with IpswichtownNo1 in that but for 2 cracking saves from their keeper we could well have been 2-0 up at HT and then in the first couple of minutes of the second half Pitman somehow missed a clear cut header a few yards out to again give us the lead. Unfortunatley after that silly errors in inocuous areas of the pitch hurt us badly, AMN with a poor header and Knudsen being his normal self set them off on breaks from which they scored.

I was disappointed with us second half as we failed to keep up the effort and endeavour of the first half, we also let these errors creep into our play and that is ultimately what cost us the points. Unfrotunately they had a player in Adomah that caused us problems throughout the game and that is no slight on Chambers because he does it every week, just a very good player. I also don't get the usual boring digs at our keeper again, he made some great saves once again to keep the scoreline down after the break, I also fail to see what Smith did that was so bad ? For me we need to be looking at Knudsen, unfortunately the guy is bloody crap and cannot defend to save his life, he does the odd good thing but by and large is rank awful, Parr has to be a better option in every department.

To sum it up, it was disappointing but certainly no need for any in depth enquiries, we lost to a team that will most likely be going straight up and all this after more than matching them for nearly an hour. We are where we are and we will lose games, that is our frist defeat in Seven so we now neen to put together another run like that and we will be fine. I think what last night told us is that we are a fair way off even thinking about top Two but top Six is well within our capabilities. It is time to go again.

Thanks Mike. Pretty much lost to a better team.

The Knudsen issue keeps raising its head. I think Mick is protecting him a bit thinking he might just need a bit more time to adapt..... but I feel for Parr. The guy deserves a run in the team.
That's my main beef if anything.... Mick protects the back 4 or 5 selection. I can understand you need to keep a settled defence due to maintaining understanding between defenders, but there must come a point where you must make some kind of change. If there is no way in for back up defenders then that impacts a bit on squad competition.
Anyway.... no big drama in losing to the top side as long as we keep the spirit.

[marko69]

Finally saw some highlights. As they were only highlights I won't say too much. I will only comment on the goals themselves. The second goal was a tad embarrassing with, as you say J4CK, knudsens pretty Shyte long throw instantly leading to the Boro attack. (He's no Rory Delap) ...., and then when Nugent receives the ball, at pace going forward, Smith had no chance really..... Any contact would've been a foul in today's game, and it was a pretty decent finish if I'm honest.

But holy f*ck, the first goal......, and I can see 100% where Ashford is coming from. Tommy Smith? Tommy, according to reports has had some great games and he has improved, but "liability" means he is potentially liable to cause a disaster. And that was a text book Tommy Smith mistake. He might as well have not been there at all when the Boro player crosses. Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Ok Knudsen should've read the cross and defended that better (whilst trying not to be killed by the goal post ) but my GOD, that player/ball should've been dealt with (with ease) by Tommy out on the wing; the ball should never have been crossed. Poor, lethargic defending. Fairly sure Tommy will look at that and raise his hands and say, "Sorry lads, I could've been stronger there."

BUT, before people lose their wigs, I've only commented on the goals......, maybe Tommy played an overall decent game of football. Berra looked a bit ropey for one Boro chance and was lucky the Boro player missed.

Both keepers looked like they were up for it and had decent games.

[verulam]

Watched the game on TV and thought we did OK first half. Second half Boro were more up for it and the difference in class began to
show - not surprising when you look at the money they have spent on the likes of Nugent and Downing - even Mick sounded more than envious in his post match interview!
I think Knudson needs to be rested and lets bring Parr back in. Knudson may well yet make the grade but he is struggling a bit at this level and we don't seem to be able to capitalise on his long throw-ins (three on the trot went straight to Boro players with not at Town player in sight ).
On the plus side we played a side that will probably end up in the top two and it was not a total disaster. Indeed, when you consider that virtually all of our truely creative midfield is currently sidelined or just returning to fitness (Fraser, McGoldrick, Bru and Bishop) I think that there is still cause for optimism and a top six finish can be achieved.

[ashfordblue]

Finally saw some highlights. As they were only highlights I won't say too much. I will only comment on the goals themselves. The second goal was a tad embarrassing with, as you say J4CK, knudsens pretty Shyte long throw instantly leading to the Boro attack. (He's no Rory Delap) ...., and then when Nugent receives the ball, at pace going forward, Smith had no chance really..... Any contact would've been a foul in today's game, and it was a pretty decent finish if I'm honest.

But holy f*ck, the first goal......, and I can see 100% where Ashford is coming from. Tommy Smith? Tommy, according to reports has had some great games and he has improved, but "liability" means he is potentially liable to cause a disaster. And that was a text book Tommy Smith mistake. He might as well have not been there at all when the Boro player crosses. Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Ok Knudsen should've read the cross and defended that better (whilst trying not to be killed by the goal post ) but my GOD, that player/ball should've been dealt with (with ease) by Tommy out on the wing; the ball should never have been crossed. Poor, lethargic defending. Fairly sure Tommy will look at that and raise his hands and say, "Sorry lads, I could've been stronger there."

BUT, before people lose their wigs, I've only commented on the goals......, maybe Tommy played an overall decent game of football. Berra looked a bit ropey for one Boro chance and was lucky the Boro player missed.

Both keepers looked like they were up for it and had decent games.

Marco: Smith was to blame for both goals, he is far too slow, he gets turned very easily, and Knudsen needs dropping and Johnny Parr taking his place, I don't give a monkeys F**k about sentiment all I say is Smith makes too many mistakes and puts too much pressure on Berra, how about putting Marlarczyk in for Smith, certainly cant do any fooking worse, it certainly needs a shake up, so Parr & Marlarczyk in for Smith and Knudsen.

[jaykay]

thought we didnt play to bad last night.looks like knudsen is the scapegoat now.strange no mention of skuse wayward header that lead to their second goal.i feel sorry for knuden in some ways,he only young and playing conference level football last year.mick should protect him by resting him.thought niles was one of our better players,put a lot of hard work in.soon as he took a breather in the second half he was taken off.their first goal was very similar to chambers chance in the first half,only difference thier keeper makes a great save.couldnt make up my mind if it was great save by gerkin from leadbetter or it hit his arm.will wait and see if mick makes changes for next game.

[marko69]

Disagree that Smith was at fault for the second goal, Ash. He couldn't tackle or it would've been a foul and he closed Nugents angle down for shooting very well......., was a quality finish by Nugent. But out on the wing for the first goal......, I have no f**king clue what Tommy is doing. It's like he was thinking about what to get his bird for Christmas or something.

[derick_ipsw]

Knusden was at fault for both goals. If he had tried to head the first it would hit him in the back and gone out, and it was his throw in that the second came from. Parr should be playing defo. Even last week at Charlton he was a liability.

[number 9]

I Fkn hate Nugent!! I hope he got booed cuz if I was there I would have booed my head off. Yes that's right, I'd boo the b*stard! I think MM has a problem with Parr... it doesn't make sense. Oh well, onwards and upwards...COYB!

[marko69]

Knusden was at fault for both goals. If he had tried to head the first it would hit him in the back and gone out, and it was his throw in that the second came from. Parr should be playing defo. Even last week at Charlton he was a liability.

Derick, wouldn't mind your honest opinion on the first goal. If you have the Sky app, go have a look at the build up to the first goal again. I mean yes, Knudsen "probably" could've done better when the ball came across......, but look at the spectator that was Tommy Smith for the cross.

The second goal, after closer look,......., right after knudsens shitty throw, he himself stood ball watching for a few seconds. I don't know though, I've been guilty of slating Knudsen but after having a more informed read about the guy; he's arguably slightly out of his depth at this level, and that's not his problem I suppose,....., it's Micks problem. Agree with 9 that there may be a problem with Parr.

[marko69]

BRIGHTON 0 CHARLTON 2???

I know it's only 30 minutes gone but all football bets can go to Fk. PI$$ED OFF!

PULL YOUR FINGERS OUT, BRIGHTON.

[marko69]

now it's 1-0 Leeds. Humph, tit phew.

If there are any kids reading, ......, do not gamble. Just be alcoholics.

[marko69]

2-0 Leeds.

Pub.

[Bluemike]

Knusden was at fault for both goals. If he had tried to head the first it would hit him in the back and gone out, and it was his throw in that the second came from. Parr should be playing defo. Even last week at Charlton he was a liability.

Agree with this, at Charlton he was bloody hopeless too.

[Tangfastic]

I Fkn hate Nugent!! I hope he got booed cuz if I was there I would have booed my head off. Yes that's right, I'd boo the b*stard! I think MM has a problem with Parr... it doesn't make sense. Oh well, onwards and upwards...COYB!

Not sure how serious you are, but that's Nugents job.... scoring. And if you boo... that's what gives players a lift.

Agree about Parr... he's hard done by.

[Charnwood]

Knusden was at fault for both goals. If he had tried to head the first it would hit him in the back and gone out, and it was his throw in that the second came from. Parr should be playing defo. Even last week at Charlton he was a liability.

That's exactly how I saw it Derek, I'll take another look at the recording on Sky but I certainly didn't put the blame on Smith watching the match live.

[lucy]

BRIGHTON 0 CHARLTON 2???

I know it's only 30 minutes gone but all football bets can go to Fk. PI$$ED OFF!

PULL YOUR FINGERS OUT, BRIGHTON.

don't worry Marko, Brighton won 3-2

[BLUEBLOOD]

Football It,s a funny old game
Burnley Hull Birmingham all lost today