Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town Match Preview

[number 9]

Sorry folks, it ain't happening this season. We'll be lucky to draw with Bolton, and Watford's a no brainer. At least ME/MM now know exactly what it's gonna take to compete for promotion next year. To be honest, I hope we don't even make the playoffs now because we'll just be let down again. I know...I can hear it now..."at least we had a chance" and "you would have took 8th"...and all that rubbish! Oh well, COYBs!

[Bluemike]

I am a big fan of MM and I havent forgotten where we were and how quickly we as a club have improved since his arrival, unfortunately many have, however I do concede that he really HAS to change it Tuesday and not just tinker with the same players, quite how i would change it I don't know but I do know that no way on gods earth will MM go 3-5-2, that just won't happen so no point in even discussing it. Not only do we have the issue of Chambers maybe being moved to CB etc but we now have Mings looking like a spent force and as much as we were all frustrated with him in recent games the kid is burnt out right now, he has come so far in his career in a short space of time, maybe we even need to look at Matt Clarke as getting a chance ??

The strikers pretty much pick themselves, it wasnt Freddie's best game today but he nad Murphy look by far the best pairing while Didsy will probably play a part from the bench. that leaves the midfield, Skuse will start, whatever anyone thinks of him that will happen, personally I would play Bishop in the middle with him and Anderson & Connolly on the wings, can't see it happening but that is what I would go with.

[herforder]

Concern is - despite assertions to the contrary from within the squad - that confidence is taking an inevitable hit. Signs are already there, particularly in defence: previously the rock upon which performances were built. Increasingly nervous collectively, and with individual performances dipping significantly, this affects the whole team who, in attempting to compensate, ultimately neither defends well enough at crucial times, nor creates effectively from midfield.

Not in the least optimistic, but I hope MM makes the obvious defensive changes on Tuesday; on current form, there's nothing to lose!

Thought Parr and Bishop did well today - trying to be positive going forward. Should Parr drop back on Tuesday, who replaces him wide left?

[marko69]

Everyone has their opinion but suddenly certain people know more about management than mick. Getting bored now!

Maybe we do know more than MM at times, he admitted after the game he got it wrong and takes the blame on this occasion.

Spot on. But will he think of mixing it up a little? I very much doubt it. Thing is , no need to argue that mick has done a fantastic job but now hes been found out has he got what it takes in his locker to use the squad to push on in a new direction?

At the moment, the club are only going in "One Direction" so maybe Harry Styles could get a game?

Joking aside......, I genuinely think it's slipped from Mick's grasp now. Draw Bolton, gubbed by Watford......, confidence will be too low for anything special. Saw very brief highlights. I believe Tommy Smith should be sold to Kidderminster Harriers Reserves.

[J4ck22]

Hard to be confident at the moment and a good finish is very quickly slipping away. I didn't see or listen to the game today, but Mick has definitely got to try something new. However confidence will be shot after today and our defence really doesn't seem up to it at the moment, sloppy goals all over the place.

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

I can only copy what I said last night on the different forum that is:

' Not my intention to dampen your optimism but how can we remain positive with:
1. Skuse being nailed-on starter every game and playing full 90 minutes regardless of circumstances.
2. No wingers in 4-4-2 system...... or shall I say Jay Tabb being a 'winger'.
3. Central back in Chambers playing as right back.
4. Smith still playing despite having had bad two last months '

Almost all of that today so can we be really surprised with the proceedings?

It's really hard for me today to stay calm, to hide my anger, to not be utterly dejected but I'll try to make a reasonable appraisal though it's not easy.
When I saw our line-up today I thought : 'here we go again'. No changes that we've been crying for. Same old, same old.

We may have played well in the first half but I'd say it was more down to shaky Middlesbrough defence. They got rallied in the 2nd half and we had no bloody ideas how to hurt them. Why? Because our midfield is so f***ing pisspoor. There is a thread from regarding Skuse from last week. Tell me more he's valuable player in 4-4-2 system. He would be more suited to 4-3-3 otherwise he's horribly useless.

Chambers? Bless him. Fantastic skipper, the best one since Matt Holland. The painful truth is that he can't operate the ball. Just hoof it forward and see what happens? Is it a good full-back? I'm not a football manager. Mick knows far better than me all things Ipswich squad but I can't and won't understand what his reasoning is with Chambers.

Smith...... there is long catalogue of horror mistakes he's been doing ever since the Derby games. Still a starter though, still 90 minutes every game and still terrible performances. Absolutely shyte ! What the f**k has gone wrong with him? Today was yet another shocker.

Mings..... nowhere near his excellent form from first half of the season. He was rumoured to be a subject of 8-10M transfer move LOL !!!!!

Midfielders...........Skuse and Tabb ... plus Bishop playing as a 'winger' ..... as for Tabb when was the last time he made a decent delivery from the set-piece? And despite being thoroughly useless in that case he's still our delivery man.
Murphy and Sears ...... they can't do miracles when they aren't provided with passes from midfielders. Just hoof it to them and see what happens

Wood...... utter donkey ! Give me Frank Nouble anytime ! But to be honest this is laughable that Mick waited for the 3rd goal to be conceded just to bring on another striker.

We might get something out of the Bolton game but next week at Watford is going to be another massacre. Shall I be still positive if we continue with the same odious set-up?

Yes we're very much in shout for the 6th place but there is same old story as is DEPENDING ON OTHERS. We were excellent at New Year, sitting firmly 2nd, something really strong to build on but we decided against bolstering the midfield.

13 league games since the New Year and we have lost 7 of them. Mick has certainly been found out but the worse thing is that he refuses to make any changes.

I'm really dejected tonight. Not only with the Micks decisions. Just with the clubs vision too and we're blowing up our best chance for a decade to get out of this league. If only we had Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson in charge who loves his club.

[JonnoTown]

I don't think anybody really believed we were getting in the top 2 after previous results and for me it's been about 6th for a while.

I got on a plane to Spain yesterday and was miserable with the result, but on landing found out wolves and Brentford both dropped points.

This now feels like a win for us. 4 points behind would have been very tricky, but we now have a home game Tuesday and Brentford travel to Blackburn.

We were never strong enough for the top 2. Yes it's disappointing from where we were but it's given us a bench mark for the playoffs. 9 games to go and 1 point off.

We all wanted an exciting finish and we're going to get it.

Forget about borough, their class showed yesterday.

Let's win Tuesday.

[Dazzz67]

Just a quick question following today's drubbing, I have great faith and belief in MM & TC, especially what they have done with the club/team, decent additions for budget prices, I really appreciate what they have done. But does anyone feel our owner needs to throw a bit of money his way to get some real quality in rather than do on the cheap? I am not knocking our players but feel they are struggling in this final quarter. Obviously we have to stay within financial regulations set out but surely we do have some room for this. I just feel in this final quarter we would of benefited from quality and depth in our squad to ensure we finish in top 6. Now we are hoping we make it rather than know we will.

[Bluemike]

The scoreline flattered Boro, it was hardly a drubbing, we had 22 attempts on goal, granted a lot didnt work the keeper but a drubbing it wasnt.

[hallamblue]

Just when will MM /TC retudn to that winning formation of 4-3-3


its no coincidence that since he didteched that for the old fashioned 442 that we gave struggled to win or keep clean sheets in games.

Where are the wingers we have on our books?

why do we persist with players playing out of position?

where was the strengthening in the Jan window when we were 2nd in the league? Every one of the top sides did except us!


We've essentially thrown away the best chance we'veehad in over a decade to get promoted.

[Charnwood]

I don't think anybody really believed we were getting in the top 2 after previous results and for me it's been about 6th for a while.

I got on a plane to Spain yesterday and was miserable with the result, but on landing found out wolves and Brentford both dropped points.

This now feels like a win for us. 4 points behind would have been very tricky, but we now have a home game Tuesday and Brentford travel to Blackburn.

We were never strong enough for the top 2. Yes it's disappointing from where we were but it's given us a bench mark for the playoffs. 9 games to go and 1 point off.

We all wanted an exciting finish and we're going to get it.

Forget about borough, their class showed yesterday.

Let's win Tuesday.

Sorry Jonno, but I'm not finding this very exciting at all, in fact I'm finding it quite miserable.

Looking back I'm pretty sure that in the first half of the season we just over performed and flattered to deceive. In my opinion the truth albeit hurtful is that we're just not quite good enough and still have someway to go to compete with the very best in The Championship.

Playing well for half a season isn't enough, this league is won and lost over 46 games and that's a long haul that we don't seem equipped for.

When you look at our midfield it's an amazement that we are where we are, we have limited creativity, no width & no attacking midfield player who scores goals, and it's too much to rely on Murphy's goals alone to get us promoted. Just thinking about it, I don't think we have any midfield player who's scored more than one goal this season which is ridiculous for a team chasing promotion.

In reality with the squad we have I think we'll have done well to finish 8th which is about what I expected at the start of the season and is progress over recent years.

I'm happy to give Mick another season or two to build on what he has so far, and of course I'll happily take a play off place this season if he can perform a bit of magic, but I certainly won't be holding my breath waiting.

[marko69]

Sort of feel a bit sorry for Daryl Murphy. He's had the best season of his career, which at one stage, would've had him dreaming of EPL football....., but it's sort of went a tad balls up, and it's not his fault. Pretty sure some d1ckhead will mention open goal sitters v Brentford, BUT THAT ASIDE, I feel for the lad.

Big win on Tuesday, couple of Murphy goals,..... back in the game.

[number 9]

Sort of feel a bit sorry for Daryl Murphy. He's had the best season of his career, which at one stage, would've had him dreaming of EPL football....., but it's sort of went a tad balls up, and it's not his fault. Pretty sure some d1ckhead will mention open goal sitters v Brentford, BUT THAT ASIDE, I feel for the lad.

Big win on Tuesday, couple of Murphy goals,..... back in the game.

I don't think Murph will be with us next year. We'll also be lucky to hang on to Bishop and Mings...although Mings' price will have gone down significantly.

[Bluemike]

I don't think anybody really believed we were getting in the top 2 after previous results and for me it's been about 6th for a while.

I got on a plane to Spain yesterday and was miserable with the result, but on landing found out wolves and Brentford both dropped points.

This now feels like a win for us. 4 points behind would have been very tricky, but we now have a home game Tuesday and Brentford travel to Blackburn.

We were never strong enough for the top 2. Yes it's disappointing from where we were but it's given us a bench mark for the playoffs. 9 games to go and 1 point off.

We all wanted an exciting finish and we're going to get it.

Forget about borough, their class showed yesterday.

Let's win Tuesday.

Sorry Jonno, but I'm not finding this very exciting at all, in fact I'm finding it quite miserable.

Looking back I'm pretty sure that in the first half of the season we just over performed and flattered to deceive. In my opinion the truth albeit hurtful is that we're just not quite good enough and still have someway to go to compete with the very best in The Championship.

Playing well for half a season isn't enough, this league is won and lost over 46 games and that's a long haul that we don't seem equipped for.

When you look at our midfield it's an amazement that we are where we are, we have limited creativity, no width & no attacking midfield player who scores goals, and it's too much to rely on Murphy's goals alone to get us promoted. Just thinking about it, I don't think we have any midfield player who's scored more than one goal this season which is ridiculous for a team chasing promotion.

In reality with the squad we have I think we'll have done well to finish 8th which is about what I expected at the start of the season and is progress over recent years.

I'm happy to give Mick another season or two to build on what he has so far, and of course I'll happily take a play off place this season if he can perform a bit of magic, but I certainly won't be holding my breath waiting.

Exactly Andy and we have only played 37.

[arana peligrosa]

I wasn't expecting much from the trip there but never imagined we would let in four goals. Yes they're a useful team, Yes they're not in a false position, but thought if there were to be a defeat, the margin of loss would be by one or two goals.

Guess we say never mind, and move on to the next game, but it's becoming more of a concern as the weeks go by. Just can't seem to reverse the slide since December, and while we may pick up a win here and there, we are slowly losing more ground on the top six by each passing week. If they offer a play-off place now we'll take their hand off, but can we even obtain that ? Apologize if makes for depressing reading, but try to be realistic about where we find ourselves - and just where it may end.

[hallamblue]

Do you know what, whatever happens over the remaing 9 games, we've had a fantastic season on a shoestring budget. Christ weve been in the top 6 most of the season, competing by and large very, very well against Clubs who essential have been given millions for PL failure. MM/TC are the right people to take us forward and they are re building this Club on two levels concurrently. The best is yet to come.

[larrylamb]

Do you know what, whatever happens over the remaing 9 games, we've had a fantastic season on a shoestring budget. Christ weve been in the top 6 most of the season, competing by and large very, very well against Clubs who essential have been given millions for PL failure. MM/TC are the right people to take us forward and they are re building this Club on two levels concurrently.

The best is yet to come

.

Given the way that ME decided not to provide funds to strengthen the squad (or MM decided not to ) or our total lack of money..(which i can not quite understand given we get bigger crowds than Bournemouth for example yet they appear to be making FFFP rules while spending a considerable amount more than us) and the money given to clubs that come down , i tend to think that this is a good as maybe it will get for the foreseeable !!

[Bluemike]

The last time I checked Bournemouth werent 86 Million in debt.

[ashfordblue]

I am a big fan of MM and I havent forgotten where we were and how quickly we as a club have improved since his arrival, unfortunately many have, however I do concede that he really HAS to change it Tuesday and not just tinker with the same players, quite how i would change it I don't know but I do know that no way on gods earth will MM go 3-5-2, that just won't happen so no point in even discussing it. Not only do we have the issue of Chambers maybe being moved to CB etc but we now have Mings looking like a spent force and as much as we were all frustrated with him in recent games the kid is burnt out right now, he has come so far in his career in a short space of time, maybe we even need to look at Matt Clarke as getting a chance ??

The strikers pretty much pick themselves, it wasnt Freddie's best game today but he had Murphy look by far the best pairing while Didsy will probably play a part from the bench. that leaves the midfield, Skuse will start, whatever anyone thinks of him that will happen, personally I would play Bishop in the middle with him and Anderson & Connolly on the wings, can't see it happening but that is what I would go with.

Your dead right here Mike with Mings,, a change is as good as a rest so they say, we had got away with Micks formation up to the turn of the year, but it's run its course and changes are needed, certainly with Mings, bench him for Clarke it can't be any worse, and Anderson and Connolly I will go with, forget Wood I think Varney's the better option if needed, and bench Smith as well

[JonnoTown]

We're 1 point off the top 6 with 9 games to go. Come on keep the faith. This is when we need to be right behind the whole club. No point being down beat about it, that won't change anything.

Interesting reading what people have out about Murphy. Who knows if he will be here next season but you have to say since Didzy has been out, our form has dropped. I know he started to look sluggish, but I really think the partnership he had with Murphy was one of the reasons we were right up there.

My theory is Didzy will Come Back for the final 8 matches. The whole
Club will be roused, we'll hit some form, finish 6th and be the form club going into the playoffs.

[Charnwood]

We're 1 point off the top 6 with 9 games to go. Come on keep the faith. This is when we need to be right behind the whole club. No point being down beat about it, that won't change anything.

Interesting reading what people have out about Murphy. Who knows if he will be here next season but you have to say since Didzy has been out, our form has dropped. I know he started to look sluggish, but I really think the partnership he had with Murphy was one of the reasons we were right up there.

My theory is Didzy will Come Back for the final 8 matches. The whole
Club will be roused, we'll hit some form, finish 6th and be the form club going into the playoffs.

Now that would be brilliant and we'd all be very happy, and it would prove that miracles really can happen.

[Bluemike]

The funny thing is that the team that scrapes 6th spot often do win the play offs.

[Shed on tour]

We're 1 point off the top 6 with 9 games to go. Come on keep the faith. This is when we need to be right behind the whole club. No point being down beat about it, that won't change anything.

Interesting reading what people have out about Murphy. Who knows if he will be here next season but you have to say since Didzy has been out, our form has dropped. I know he started to look sluggish, but I really think the partnership he had with Murphy was one of the reasons we were right up there.

My theory is Didzy will Come Back for the final 8 matches. The whole
Club will be roused, we'll hit some form, finish 6th and be the form club going into the playoffs.

Jonno

Hope you're enjoying yourself out in Spain.

Obviously that sangria you've been drinking was a bit stronger than you first thought!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Not going pretend i was at the game, i wayched it on sky. From my point of view ipswich played very well in first half, lots of posession and im so glad bishop is back and playing, he looked at ease in midfield for someone so young. Tabb played as well as i have seen him in recent weeks and scuse got involved to good effect going forward and braking up play. I know skuse has his haters but today he played his role well. Murphy bagged another goal and his link up play, knocking down balls for sears and others was good and sears ran his socks off putting in a good performance. I feel our defence let us down today and im putting my neck on the line but mings was awful. Lost his marker for first goal, repeatedly got caught on the ball when trying to overplay, his passing was off sorts and his final ball was just floated in every time. Im a great fan of mings and he is going to be a name for the future but i think its time to take the pressure of the lads shoulders and give parr a run at LB. It seems to me that teams have him as a target defensivly and pressure him into mistakes. Smith is still a thorn in the side and the way he was turned for the third was class by bamford but he should be doing better. One thing i didnt expect was MM putting his hands up to the error of going 4 3 3 at 3-1 down. First time ive not seen the stubborn side of him refusing point blank we are struggling. Maybe he may start looking at the defence now and drop smith and play a right back in the right back position? Overall bitter sweet today. Best ive seen for a while first half then back to normal second half. It is frustrating as we have a squad who can easily challenge this year but i think MM team selection and tactics are somewhat plain strange at the moment. Take leeds for example, not starting with murphy and sears.

Absolutely spot on post and I agree with every word of it. I thought we played really well first half and did not deserve to be behind but we switched off for two corners and paid the price, the second one was so fortunate as the ball just missed the legs of Three Town defenders and it ends up in the net. Second half was more of what we have seen in recent weeks and we just did not step it up as we needed too. For me it is the defence that is the problem not the midfield and has been for a while, granted the midfiled could do with some flair but by and large they did ok, defensively we have become a shambles, we clearly have goalkeeper issues too as Bart instills no confidence in me whatsoever while Smith & Mings were very poor again and Chambo is finding life tough lately.

Thanks to Brentford cocking it up at home to cardiff it is still as you were and once again we have kinda got away with it, that wont be the case for much longer, it looks like a Three horse race for the sixth spot and we are still in it, it is down to who finds some form and consistency first, a win at home Tuesday night is imperative, Brentford go to an in form Blackburn so we have yet another opportunity and surely it is time we took one of them. Jonny parr our best player again today as far I am concerned. I really have no idea what this Chris Wood fella is all about, bloody donkey.

That's a terrible slur on donkeys!!!!!

[JonnoTown]

We're 1 point off the top 6 with 9 games to go. Come on keep the faith. This is when we need to be right behind the whole club. No point being down beat about it, that won't change anything.

Interesting reading what people have out about Murphy. Who knows if he will be here next season but you have to say since Didzy has been out, our form has dropped. I know he started to look sluggish, but I really think the partnership he had with Murphy was one of the reasons we were right up there.

My theory is Didzy will Come Back for the final 8 matches. The whole
Club will be roused, we'll hit some form, finish 6th and be the form club going into the playoffs.

Jonno

Hope you're enjoying yourself out in Spain.

Obviously that sangria you've been drinking was a bit stronger than you first thought!

Haha! You may well have a point but at least the glass of sangria is half full.

It will be a tense journey home
Tuesday night. I land at 11pm.

When will easy jet install wifi!!

[JonnoTown]

We're 1 point off the top 6 with 9 games to go. Come on keep the faith. This is when we need to be right behind the whole club. No point being down beat about it, that won't change anything.

Interesting reading what people have out about Murphy. Who knows if he will be here next season but you have to say since Didzy has been out, our form has dropped. I know he started to look sluggish, but I really think the partnership he had with Murphy was one of the reasons we were right up there.

My theory is Didzy will Come Back for the final 8 matches. The whole
Club will be roused, we'll hit some form, finish 6th and be the form club going into the playoffs.

Jonno

Hope you're enjoying yourself out in Spain.

Obviously that sangria you've been drinking was a bit stronger than you first thought!

Haha! You may well have a point but at least the glass of sangria is half full!

It will be a tense journey home Tuesday night. I land at 11pm.

When will easy jet install wifi!!

[herforder]

We're 1 point off the top 6 with 9 games to go. Come on keep the faith. This is when we need to be right behind the whole club. No point being down beat about it, that won't change anything.

Interesting reading what people have out about Murphy. Who knows if he will be here next season but you have to say since Didzy has been out, our form has dropped. I know he started to look sluggish, but I really think the partnership he had with Murphy was one of the reasons we were right up there.

My theory is Didzy will Come Back for the final 8 matches. The whole
Club will be roused, we'll hit some form, finish 6th and be the form club going into the playoffs.

Jonno

Hope you're enjoying yourself out in Spain.

Obviously that sangria you've been drinking was a bit stronger than you first thought!

Haha! You may well have a point but at least the glass of sangria is half full.

It will be a tense journey home
Tuesday night. I land at 11pm.

When will easy jet install wifi!!

Lucky to get seats!

[Watership Down]

I'd rather be where we are now than change places with Wigan. Losing is a bitter pill to swallow but fighting for a playoff spot is better than fighting to avoid relegation

[hallamblue]

Spot on! We are still progressing under MM, so much so expectations have rocketed having been in the top 6 for most of the season. If we make that 6th place it then becomes a four game season where form goes out the window and its down to is standing at the final whistle.

COYB's

[JonnoTown]

Still on the runway, but had to turn my phone on.

Yesssssssss!

EIEIO