Ipswich Town v Blackpool
Saturday 11th April 2015 - 15:00
Portman Road
Opening Thought – Jamma
Aside from his favourite ‘The Championship is a bonkers league’, one of Super Mick’s most frequent quotes in recent weeks has been ‘It’s how many points we have on May 2nd that counts’. So often has he said it that I’m sure you can probably hear his distinctive Yorkshire tones even as you’re reading this! But never has the sentiment rung so true as over the last couple of fixtures. It was generally accepted, Mick included, that the draw against table-topping Bournemouth was a point gained towards our top 6 objective. But 4 points from 6 against Watford and Bournemouth has quickly become 1 point from 6 against Bournemouth and Huddersfield, not making for nearly such good reading. It is hard to explain quite how we could go from a creditable draw with arguably the best team in the division to an error-ridden defeat against an out-of-form side struggling for confidence who had had 24 hours less to recover. Players and management were saying all the right things in the build-up, about not taking Huddersfield for granted, but there seemed to be an air of complacency about us. It is almost as if we prefer playing against the teams towards the top, when the expectations are lowered, than with the pressure of facing the so-called ‘lesser’ sides. I said pre-match that we could take comfort from the lack of top six teams in our run-in. But, with the setback at the John Smith’s Stadium, we have now lost more matches against clubs in the bottom 8 than against our fellow promotion challengers.
For the reasons above, a visit from basement dwellers Blackpool may hold more fear for us than it otherwise should. We have seen previously how Town have struggled to break down teams towards the bottom, with Wigan and Reading proving particularly stubborn opposition at Portman Road. Now that the inevitable has finally been confirmed, with the Tangerines’ relegation sealed over the weekend, this could provide a challenge of its own. The onus will be on the Blues to impose their game, in much the same way as they did against Bournemouth, and not allow Blackpool to build any momentum. With the rest of our promotion rivals seemingly all hitting form at just the right time, it is tempting to think that we may need to win all five of our remaining fixtures. While this may prove to be the case, it has been too much of a ‘bonkers’ season to rule out our chances just yet. I have lost count of the number of times that I have been all set to turn my back on our prospects, only for us to be drawn back into contention again. How many of us predicted after the Middlesbrough game that we would claim 7 points from the following three matches, for example? We may have left ourselves with a lot to do but Ipswich Town never like to do things the easy way after all...!
The Opposition – Blackpool
Blackpool Football Club was founded on 26 July 1887.
Blackpool's home at that point in time was Raikes Hall, and on 13 May 1896 they were accepted into the Football League, but were relegated two years later and did not re-join the League again until the 1900/1901 season. At this time, Blackpool merged with local rivals ‘South Shore’ and moved to Bloomfield Road.
During the ten seasons that followed, Blackpool could finish no higher than twelfth place.
The outbreak of war forced the cancellation of League football for four years, during which time regional competitions were introduced. When normalcy resumed, in 1919–20, Blackpool had appointed their first full-time manager in the form of Bill Norman, who guided the club to fourth-place finishes in his first two League seasons.
Blackpool remained in the Second Division until they were promoted to Division One for the first time at the conclusion of the 1928/29 season as Champions of the division.
Blackpool lasted only three seasons in the First Division. Two third-bottom finishes were followed by a last-place finish, and the club returned to the Second Division.
Joe Smith was appointed Blackpool's sixth manager in August 1935, a role in which he remained for the next 23 years.
Blackpool finished the 1936–37 season as runners-up in the Second Division and were promoted back to the First Division.
Two seasons of Division One football were played before the Second World War intervened. Blackpool sat atop the table at the time the abandonment occurred.
Post-war, Blackpool reached the FA Cup Final on three occasions, losing to Manchester United in 1948 and Newcastle United three years later, and winning it in 1953, captained by Harry Johnston.
In 1955–56, Blackpool attained their highest-ever League finish: runners-up to Manchester United, despite losing their final four League games.
Mid-table finishes in 1961–62 and 1962–63 (and an appearance in the League Cup semi-finals during the former) were offset by another lowly finish of eighteenth in 1963–64. Much of the same ensued over the following two seasons, before relegation finally occurred in 1966–67.
Les Shannon was installed as manager for the 1969–70 season. In his first season, he succeeded by guiding the club back to the top flight as runners-up behind Huddersfield, but they were immediately relegated again after one season in the top flight.
Blackpool finished amongst the top ten teams in the Second Division for the next six consecutive seasons, under three different managers.
The 1977–78 season ended with Blackpool’s relegation to the Third Division for the first time in their history.
Worse was to follow, with Blackpool ending up in the Fourth Division at the end of the 1980/81 season, remaining there for four seasons.
After lower mid-table finishes in Division Three at the end of the 1980s, Blackpool once again were relegated to the bottom division.
On 17 April 1986, the board of directors, after an emergency meeting, put the club on the market after councillors rejected plans to sell Bloomfield Road for a supermarket site in a £35 million redevelopment scheme.
In the 1991–92 season, Blackpool, via the playoffs and Wembley final, made it back to the new Division Two. They remained in the third tier until the end of the 1999/2000 season, when, once again, they were relegated to the bottom Division.
Once again via the playoffs, Blackpool made it back to the Second Division the following year.
They also gained the first of two Football League Trophy wins in 2002, as Blackpool beat Cambridge United, and repeated the feat again in 2004 by beating Southend United.
In the 2006–07 season, Blackpool reached the play-offs and, after beating Oldham Athletic in the semi-final, they beat Yeovil Town in the final and were promoted to The Championship for the first time in 29 years.
On 21 May 2009, Ian Holloway was appointed as manager, signing a one-year contract with the club with an option of a further year. On 31 July, it was announced that club president Valeri Belokon was setting up a new transfer fund, into which he was adding a "considerable amount" on 5 August to invest in new players identified by Holloway.
Blackpool finished the 2009–10 regular season in sixth place in The Championship, their highest finish in the Football League since 1970–71, and claimed a spot in the play-offs, where they beat Nottingham Forest in the semi-final. Blackpool defeated Cardiff City 3–2 on 22 May in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium to earn promotion to the Premier League. It was Blackpool's debut appearance in the Premier League in its 18-year existence and their first appearance in English football's top flight in 39 years. Blackpool have now, uniquely, been promoted through all three tiers of the Football League via the play-off system.
On 22 May 2011, exactly 365 days after their promotion, Blackpool were relegated back to The Championship, after defeat to champions Manchester United, on the final day of the season.
On 3 November 2012, Ian Holloway decided to leave Blackpool after accepting an offer from fellow Championship club Crystal Palace. He was replaced four days later by Michael Appleton, who left League 1 side Portsmouth to take up the position. However, after being in charge for just two months, Appleton left for Lancashire neighbours Blackburn Rovers, becoming the shortest-serving manager in their history.
On 18 February, after just over a month without an appointment, the club made former England captain Paul Ince their third manager of the campaign and he lasted until 21 January 2014, eleven months into his tenure.
Barry Ferguson was named caretaker manager upon Ince's dismissal. Of Ferguson's twenty League games in charge, Blackpool won just three and finished the 2013–14 season in 20th place.
On 11 June 2014, almost five months after Paul Ince's dismissal, the club appointed Belgian José Riga as manager. He was Blackpool's first overseas manager until being replaced by Lee Clark just ahead of the return fixture back in November.
One To Watch – Gary Madine
Unfortunately, our backline obviously didn’t take in our Huddersfield preview, going by the amount of chances they seemed determined to give ‘one to watch’ Nahki Wells! So if you’re reading, Christophe, Zeki – and the rest of you! – please pay attention to this section if nothing else!
In a squad ravaged by their financial problems – and featuring a number of unfamiliar names as a result – Gary Madine stands out as an experienced player at this level. In a rare case of the ‘emergency’ loan window living up to its name for once, the striker was recruited from Sheffield Wednesday in February in a last-ditch attempt to stave off relegation. It was an opportunity which the 24-year-old was keen to grasp as well, giving him a way back into the Championship having been on loan at Coventry earlier in the campaign. After netting 4 goals in 13 appearances for the Sky Blues, Madine has matched that tally in 11 games at the higher level. He was quick to get off the mark, scoring in the 4-4 thriller against Nottingham Forest in just his second match. By no means prolific, his best goalscoring return came in Wednesday’s League 1 promotion campaign in 2011/12, as he claimed 18 strikes in all competitions. Comparable to Daryl Murphy in the way that he brings others into play, Madine is capable of causing problems with his physical presence and will be looking to exploit any uncertainty in Town’s defence.
The Gaffer - Lee Clark
Yes, that was probably a very Wonga move to take over Blackpool Mr Clark
Lee Clark began his playing career for the team he supported as a boy, Newcastle United. The no nonsense midfielder was part of their youth team before helping the first team gain promotion to the Premier League and finished second two years on the trot. After 195 appearances, he joined local rivals Sunderland tin the First Division, helping them first to a play-off final defeat on penalties and then followed it up with another promotion as Champions gaining a record 105 points.
Unfortunately, after he was spotted with Newcastle fans wearing a t-shirt saying “sad makam bastards”, he was dropped from the side, never playing for them again.
He joined Fulham, once again achieving promotion and collecting a championship winning medal. After 149 appearances for the West London club, he rejoined Newcastle in a swansong season.
After retiring, he joined the Newcastle staff, as first team coach under Glenn Roeder, following him to Norfolk when Roeder was sacked by the Magpies and offered a contract at the Budgies. He was there for a little over a year before joining Huddersfield Town as manager.
In his first season at the club he helped them to a ninth-placed finish in League One. They also only lost two home league games under Clark in the 2008–09 season. In his second season in charge Clark helped Huddersfield to secure a play-off spot, although they lost to Millwall in the semi-final.
In the 2010–11 season, Clark guided Huddersfield to a third-placed finish in the league, earning them a place in the play-offs after a club-record 25-game unbeaten run in the league, this time reaching the final but losing to Posh.
Clark continued breaking records at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, extending the unbeaten run in domestic regular-season league games to a Football League record 43 games. Clark was sacked as manager of Huddersfield on 15 February 2012 following a 1–0 home defeat to Sheffield United. When he was sacked he said "I'm shocked, but when Huddersfield go up this season, I'll be celebrating like any other Huddersfield fan"
On 26 June 2012, Clark was confirmed as manager of Birmingham City, with Terry McDermott as his Assistant Manager. Clark signed numerous players during the 2012/2013 season.
Clark endured a difficult start to his managerial reign, with a draw and two losses in a row for his first three games in the Championship. Clark struggled to get Birmingham out of the bottom half of the league. Despite receiving criticism from fans for alleged poor management skills regarding public fallouts, Clark has been praised for introducing academy players into the first team squad. Clark continued the start of 2013 with his team producing good form, finishing the season in 12th place, 7 points off the play-offs.
The 2013-14 season started poorly again for Clark, as Birmingham had their worst start to a league season for 25 years.
Despite poor results in the league (including a disappointing 18 home match run without a league win) Lee Clark managed to keep Birmingham City in the Championship with an injury time equaliser from in the final game of the 2013/14 season, the result being enough to keep Clarks' team up on goal difference.
On 20 October 2014, with Birmingham 21st in the table and having won at home in the league only once in more than a year, Clark was sacked.
Clark was appointed manager of Blackpool on 30 October 2014.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Trev's Trivia
Players to play for both Teams
Billy Clarke ITFC 2005–2009 BFC 2009–2012
Michael Chopra ITFC 2011–2013 BFC 2013-2014
Media Watch - K L Blue
An article taken from ‘Footballleagueworld’
On-loan Ipswich Town forward Luke Varney bemoans poor first half showing
The man who is currently on loan at Portman Road after moving in the emergency loan window from Blackburn, scored what proved to be little more than a consolation in the second half after going 2 – 0 down in the first half away to mid-table Huddersfield.
This was his first goal for Ipswich since his move, but it did little to lift spirits as he told the club’s website “It’s a very quiet and disappointed dressing-room at the minute.”
The Tractor boys suffered a potentially fatal defeat yesterday against Huddersfield and with 5 of the 7 teams above them managing to win it has put them outside of the play off places, 3 points adrift of Wolves in 6th.
Varney also told BBC Sport: “I just felt all over the shop, it’s been so different from us. We’re normally so organised and go from a shape, but that’s our fault – we didn’t get to grips with it at all, and unfortunately we left ourselves needing too much.”
He also went on to say that he felt like the criticism from the travelling Ipswich fans was “fully deserved”.
Mick McCarthy’s side will be hoping to bounce back when they face already relegated side Blackpool at home on Saturday, in a game that is a must win if they want to keep their promotion aspirations alive.
Stat Time
Head To Head
Ipswich Town Wins..................11 (45.83%)
Blackpool Wins......................4 (16.67%)
Draws.................................9 (37.50%)
Ipswich Town Goals...............36 (ave. 1.50 per match)
Blackpool Goals....................30 (ave. 1.25 per match)
Head To Head at Ipswich
Ipswich Town Wins.................6 (54.55%)
Blackpool Wins......................0 (00.00%)
Draws.................................5 (45.45%)
Ipswich Town Goals.................22 (ave. 2.00 per match)
Blackpool Goals.....................13 (ave. 1.18 per match)
The Predicted Teams
Ipswich Town
33 Bialkowski
04 Chambers
05 Smith
06 Berra
03 Mings
14 Chaplow
50 Williams
18 Tabb
09 Murphy
15 Varney
20 Sears
Blackpool
This is the side that saw Blackpool through to Relegation this week, probably expect some changes from Lee Clark
01 Lewis
32 Hall
06 Clarke
48 O'Dea
18 Dunne
22 Cubero Loria
31 O'Hara
04 Perkins
11 Orlandi
24 Madine
12 Jacobs
Marko’s Caption Competition
IpswichTownNO1 with the 4 points. So close to being you, James. If you had've put "Bend it Like, up the arse", You'd have got the 4. Not because of the film, Bend it like Beckham......, but purely for the stupid use of the word "like" these days by youngsters......., "Bend it, like, up the arse!" would've been hilarious. Still funny though. Apologies this competition is down to my Shyte sense of humour.
ITNO1 4pts
James 3pts
Frosty 2pts
TABLE
Herforder 40
Quasar 40
Blueblood 39
FrostyNZ 37
James Scharmann 37
DerickIpsw 30
Barmy Billy 21
Bluemike 21
Supershred 13
Ashfordblue 13
Nicsreamer 12
IpswichtownNO1 12
Loudnproud 7
Floors 7
Ohiotractorboy 7
Number9 6
Jamma123 6
AndyM 5
Charnwood 4
Mr Punch 4
JimmyT 3
Morph 3
Hallamblue 2
Have a pop at this:
Match Referee - James Linington
Final Thought - Frosty
Well if there was ever a game we should win this season it’s this fixture. Not only because Blackpool have been abysmal all season with relegation confirmed last Tuesday night against Reading but we need the 3 points from this match or in my opinion our chance of the playoffs will start to become a ‘bridge too far’ if we don’t!
When you look at Blackpool’s performance in the league to date it doesn’t make for pretty reading, 25 points from 41 fixtures coupled with a minus 48 goal difference. Whether manager Lee Clark see’s out the season is open for debate, he took over at the start of November and his first game in charge was a 2-0 loss at home to us. He has been unable to stem the slide in his short tenure. During the week Blackpool fans were protesting against current Chairman Oyston who they believe has ruined the club and attendances have started falling below the 10000 mark, all in all a miserable season for Tangerine supporters.
The one risk I see in this fixture is that Blackpool have nothing to play for on Saturday so they can approach the game in a more relaxed fashion, whereas our boys will know that anything other than a win won’t be greeted overly warmly by Tractor Boy fans.
In Blackpool’s defence, they haven’t been too bad over their past 3 fixtures with 1-1 draws against Reading, Bolton and Leeds, but prior to that heavy losses against Charlton and Bournemouth.
In other fixtures this weekend, Bournemouth, Wolves, Norwich and Watford all have winnable fixtures even though they are away to Brighton, Birmingham, Bolton and Millwall respectively. Derby’s home game against Brentford is an interesting fixture from our point of view and in the only other ‘Top 6’ match to be played expect Middlesbrough at home to take care of Rotherham.
For those of you attending on Saturday, have a fantastic day and enjoy your half time Tangerines.
COYB!
IPSWICH TOWN 3 BLACKPOOL 1
and now for the Page 3 Hottie
Really good preview. 
but those hoping to see a goal glut can forget it, it won't happen. I think we will see a response after the Huddersfield debacle and a relatively comfortable home win. I too hope we go with the 4-3-3 formation and a return to the starting line up for Freddie sears, hopefully the Blackpool fans can take Chris Wood back with them and dump him on the beach with the rest of the Donkeys..
and knowing our lot they will feel charitable and let Blackpool win, 
or make one bloody hard job of beating them, we could do with an 8 nil win to boost the goal average as I'm sure it just might come down to this by the time we play Blackburn for a top 6 slot.