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Wigan Athletic v Ipswich Town



Saturday 17th December 2016 – 15:00



DW Stadium








Jamma's Opening Thought

Following our latest fruitless away day against Birmingham, there remain more questions than answers surrounding Ipswich Town in 2016/17. Why is it that whenever there is a match with ‘nothing between the two teams’ we always come out on the wrong side? Why do Town only seem to start playing once they have given themselves a mountain to climb? And, most pressingly of all, where do we go from here to salvage our season? Taking these increasingly difficult questions in order, we are all well aware, four years into his tenure, of Mick McCarthy’s favoured strategy of setting out to defend a point as opposed to taking the game to the opposition. Interestingly, he said as much in his post-match interview on Tuesday night, admitting that ‘we should be keeping it tight and pushing for a late winner, not trying to salvage a draw’. Comfortable 3-0 wins of the like against QPR have been the exception rather than the rule under Mick and, coupled with the competitive nature of the Championship, that means that the vast majority of matches are going to be decided by fine margins. Previously, it has been controversial refereeing decisions – see disallowed goals against Wolves and Norwich or contentious penalties against Reading – or pieces of individual brilliance – Tom Lawrence’s stunning strike at Hillsborough one instance of a match-defining moment which has gone our way. In more recent weeks, though, the difference tends to have been caused by defensive errors. At St. Andrew’s, as on plenty of other occasions in 2016, these lapses meant that we left ourselves with an uphill task just to get back into the game. Which brings me on to my next question: why do we tend to have to go behind in a match before we see the Blues’ true capabilities? This probably ties in with McCarthy’s mentality above, of playing it safe to start with, before looking to exploit any opportunities to convert a point into all three. When the first part of that plan doesn’t succeed, we are inevitably left chasing the game, more often than not involving the introduction of our more forward-thinking players from the bench. Brett Pitman, Freddie Sears and Jonny Williams all had an impact against Birmingham, and there surely has to come a point when Mick takes more of a risk from the start.

As for my third and final question – ‘where do we go from here?’ – the most immediate answer is ‘to Wigan, for a potentially crucial match in the context of our season’. As Graeme Mac said on BBC Suffolk’s coverage of the Birmingham clash, we would probably not have expected Wigan away to be such a big game at this stage of the campaign. Given that it pits the lowest-scoring team at home against the lowest-scoring side on their travels, the smart money would perhaps be on a not-all-that-appealing 0-0 draw. But, then again, given Town’s form for bucking the trend, who would bet against the Latics reversing their record of 5 goalless games from their last 6 outings…? We could really do with improving our return against the bottom 6, October’s victory against Burton the only bright spot amongst four draws. Wigan certainly won’t roll over either, and will be viewing this as an opportunity to draw another team into the mire at the bottom of the table. But, whereas a home win would close the gap between the two sides to just 4 points, a rare away success for Ipswich would give us some breathing space, and once again have us looking up the table with optimism heading into Christmas

To those heading up to Lancashire, enjoy your trip, and hopefully bring back an early Christmas present of 3 points. To those not making the journey, last-minute Christmas shopping may end up not being such a bad alternative. And to all Tractor Boys and Girls, I wish you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous 2017. Come on you Blues!



The Opposition – Wigan Athletic








Founded in 1932, the club has played at the DW Stadium since 1999, sharing the stadium with rugby league club Wigan Warriors.

They previously played at Springfield Park for 67 years.

Wigan Athletic played in the lower Leagues until 2nd June 1978, when they were finally elected to the Football League after 34 attempts and near misses over the preceding 46 years, including one controversial but headline-making application in 1972 to join the Scottish League Second Division.

They gained their first Football League promotion under the management of former Liverpool player Larry Lloyd in 1981–82, when a points tally of 91 saw them join the former Division Three for the first time, beginning a 10-year spell in English football's third tier, until they were relegated for the first time in the club's League history in 1992–93.

Wigan struggled in the fourth tier of English Football, finishing well down the table, and average attendances fell to 1,845 by 1995.

Local entrepreneur Dave Whelan acquired the club in 1995, providing funds to move into the JJB Stadium, now named the DW Stadium in his honour.

Through Whelan's business connections in Spain, he attracted three Spaniards to the club – Roberto Martínez, Isidro Diaz, and Jesus Seba – who became known as 'The Three Amigos'.

Whelan appointed John Deehan as manager during the 1995–96 season. Deehan took the Latics within two points of a play-off place in his first season, and the following year Wigan Athletic became Division Three champions.

In the summer of 2001, highly-regarded young manager Paul Jewell took over the reins. His first season in charge saw mixed results, but Jewell's second season in charge was far more successful. Wigan Athletic went on a run to the quarter-finals of the League Cup, and won the Division Two championship, securing promotion to the second tier of the English Football League for the first time in their history.

After losing their first ever game in Division One, Wigan Athletic confounded expectations to go unbeaten for the next 17 games and finish seventh in Division One.

The following season , in the last home fixture, the Latics won promotion to the top division of the English football for the first time in their 73-year history by finishing second in the League.

The club's first ever Premier League season (2005-06) saw a 10th place finish, which remains the club's highest ever league placing.

Over the next four seasons, Wigan struggled for Premier survival, with a number of managers taking the helm over this period.

Wigan appointed Roberto Martínez, then manager of Swansea City, as manager prior to the 2009–10 Premier League season.

At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, Wigan fell to the bottom of the league by the end of February. However, despite remaining in the bottom three for the majority of the season, the Latics managed to retain their Premier League status on the last day of the season.

In the 2011-12 season, Wigan reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history and went on to beat Manchester City 1–0, with a goal in injury time, earning a place in the following season’s Europa League. Unfortunately for Wigan, this season also ended their eight-year spell in the Premier League and they became the first team to be relegated and win the FA Cup in the same season.

On 14 June 2013, Dave Whelan revealed that a deal had been agreed with Owen Coyle to become the new manager of Wigan Athletic, replacing outgoing manager Roberto Martínez, who left for Everton. Coyle left the club by mutual agreement on 2 December 2013 having won seven games out of twenty-three. Uwe Rosler replaced him on 7 December.

On 9 March 2014, Wigan beat Manchester City in the 6th Round of the FA Cup to reach the semi-final at Wembley for the second successive year, where they played Arsenal, and lost on penalties after normal time and extra time resulted in a 1–1 draw. After finishing 5th in the Championship, Wigan lost their Championship play-off semi-final to Queens Park Rangers.

Rösler was sacked in November 2014 with the club in the relegation places, and was replaced by Malky Mackay. Whelan resigned as chairman on 3 March 2015, remaining as owner but handing over the chairmanship to his grandson David Sharpe. The following month, with Wigan in danger of relegation to League One, Mackay was sacked and replaced by former Wigan captain Gary Caldwell, yet the team ended the season with relegation.

Over the following summer the club underwent a transformation, with the majority of the playing staff that had been relegated leaving and a raft of new signings arriving.

The club soon found themselves challenging for promotion in the play-off places by mid-November. Following an impressive run of form in the second half of the season, in which the side lost only once in 23 matches, the club effectively sealed promotion at the first attempt.

In October 2016, Caldwell was sacked as manager and replaced by Warren Joyce.



The Gaffer – Warren Joyce









Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev



A look back to a couple of seasons ago, when Town came back from Wigan with all 3 points:





Media Watch - K L Blue

Mullet's Blog:

http://www.twtd.co.uk/blogs/21620

Tommy Smith:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38288349

Last Monday's verdict:

http://www.sudburymercury.co.uk/sport/m ... _1_4812598

MM on the transfer window:

http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswichstown ... _1_4818880



Form Guide




Wigan Athletic Last 5 Matches - Currently in 23rd place with 18 points



Wigan Athletic 0-2 Newcastle United

Aston Villa 1-0 Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic 0-1 Derby County

Huddersfield 1-2 Wigan Athletic

Barnsley 0-0 Wigan Athletic




Ipswich Last 5 Matches - Currently in 17th place with 25 points



Birmingham City 2-1 Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town 1-1 Cardiff City

Bristol City 2-0 Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town 3-0 QPR

Ipswich Town 0-2 Nottingham F.




Fixtures of Interest



BRISTOL CITY VS PRESTON N.E.

CARDIFF CITY VS BARNSLEY

NOTT. FOREST VS WOLVES

Q.P.R. VS ASTON VILLA (SUNDAY)



The Don Cup Competition





Sorry chaps, usual Christmas time rush in my trade, late nights. I'll get the Cardiff and Wigan captions scored and added to the Fulham preview.

Have a go at this:







Match Referee – Keith Stroud







Final Thought – Bluemike

Following Tuesday night's disappointing result at St. Andrews, this game takes on even more significance as we are definitely now starting to look down rather than up!! It could even be argued that even at this relatively early stage of the season this game could be billed as a six-pointer and a must win affair. That may sound a bit dramatic and I don't really see it that way myself but I know of MANY who see it exactly like that. Being nine points off the play-offs and only five above the drop zone, how can you really argue with it?

I said a while back we would most likely try to limp along until the January transfer window and then maybe bring in one or two. I think the time has gone for maybe – it is now essential we bring in fresh blood or we will be in for a long hard second half of the season. A Murphy-type striker is a must, while I suppose a good box-to-box midfielder who chips in with goals would not go amiss either, but would they be played even if we had one? Some have said a big no thanks to a Murphy return. While that may not be the long-term solution, I would jump at the chance of a return of a fully fit Murphy to dig us out of this hole we find ourselves in. We just miss his strength, power and presence at the top end of the pitch. Nobody is bullying defenders as he does.

Next up is a trip to fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic, who, like us, find scoring goals hard to come by, so this should be a classic. At least my insomnia could be cured for a few hours. I hate saying it is a must win but I do feel it is at the very least a must not lose. We have to keep teams below us from picking up all the points. Yes, it has got to that stage at the moment. God knows why but I believe we will nick this one by the only goal of the game to give us a little respite over the festive period.

On that note, I would like to wish all my fellow Town fans, especially those here on Tractor Boys, a very happy Christmas with your families and loved ones. I hope you all have a fab time and lets also hope that Town can add to the celebrations at this time by getting some decent results. Now that would be a present worth having. *****MERRY CHRISTMAS*****




WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 IPSWICH TOWN 1

Wigan 3 - 1 ipswich .
Caption comp:
Those sunglasses are fooling no one, we now know william wallace is a wigan fan, FREEDOM!!!

We can't beat teams in the relegation zone, plain and f**king simple. Maybe a worse team than ourselves but make no mistake about it, will provide little difference on the day itself.

Maybe they'll surprise us and play well and register a comprehensive victory... but No, let's not be under illusions with the way this season has progressed.

McCarthy to remain in place, Evans to turn a blind eye wherever he finds himself in the world, team continues to fall further behind..

Would hope to be proved incorrect, but been let down too often too many times by this squad and manager to realistically expect anything different. Furthermore, who's going to score the goals that provides us with any chance of victory (?)

Wigan Athletic 2 Ipswich 0

The DW looks like Saughton Prison in Edinburgh.





Excellent preview. For the record, I completely understand some of you finding it in yourselves to travel to watch the club week in, week out, (and midweek) it's like a drug, addicted to the banter and the stuff on the field. BUT, where you all find the effort to write up such in depth views when it's essentially a pretty darn Shyte period, it's admirable.

Not to sound like a total erse but I feel this really is going to be a win for Ipswich on the road. Yes Wigan are striving for points too, but I feel Mick will get a performance from the lads in this one. If it's a draw, fine, so be it......., if a defeat, I'll ponder the possibility of a relegation battle.

Ref:

Reporter 1: Ref, the sending off, what did you actually see?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 2: Ref? The 3rd penalty you gave, was it inside the box?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 3: Ref, the disallowed goal, there seemed to be a confusion between you and the linesman, why was that?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 2: Ref, can you let us know why there was 8 minutes added on time at the end?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 1: Ref, the offside goal? Was it offside?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 1: Could've been onside then?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 1: So, none of them ref? The passage of play was caught up in some kind of time vortex?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 2: Could the 8 minutes of added on time came from incidents that happened in that time vortex ref?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 3: Could it be ref that maybe, just maybe, you are an incompetent arsehole?
Ref: (pic)
Reporter 3: No, you are, trust me!

Same tactics same midfield same players more than likley same result.

Go there to Wigan keep it tight pedestrian midfield will be Micks tactics and try to scrap a Draw with the giants of Wigan.

I saw Wigan the other night against Newcastle and they were woeful,but I expect them to beat us 2-1 or 2-0.



Another great preview btw

Hoping for a Town win buy see a terrible boring draw coming.But sod it ItFC 3 Wigan 1. COYB

CAPTION- Mick makes a subtle bid For Wigan post.

Ref. Penalty? Come on your Ipswich-No chance

You're

This game has 0-0 written all over it.

So I will go for 4-4 with bluemike doing a streak across the pitch in celebration as Town go into a 4-0 lead only for him to end up deflated (only his mood I might add) as Wigan come back to draw the game.

Noooooo.....please God no. Wigan to win by 4 if it stops any streak.

If we don't get a win against Wigan, then we
are in deep sh*t and may have to draft in a few
reserve players!!!

We might sneak it. 0-1

C' marn ' Uddersfield, do ya stuff .

weyhey len, 'Uddersfield rang rings round the scum tonight didn't they. Don't that just make for a wonderful Friday evening eh!

3-0 Ipswich. Goals from Sears, McGoldrick and Berra.

Wigan 1 - ITFC 1

Caption : Ipswich Town fan demonstrates against owner with the acronym WAFC ( Was A Football Club ). Owner Marcus Evans offers no comment.

Shed on tour wrote:This game has 0-0 written all over it.

So I will go for 4-4 with bluemike doing a streak across the pitch in celebration as Town go into a 4-0 lead only for him to end up deflated (only his mood I might add) as Wigan come back to draw the game.

LOL Shed, even at 4-0 up I would still be worried about us !!! If however we hit 5 then yes, I will do it !!!

It sounds like MM may make a change or Two so Knudsen will be back and useless Bru recalled. This could very well be the afternoon that tips me over the edge !! Hopefully we will get something at the very least, at the end of the day we weren't that bad Tuesday, maybe we will make our own luck and get the crucial decisions too. Surely, surely, surely, Williams will start this one.

If we can't win this one then it's highly likely we won't win another away game this season.

Wigan have only won two home games all season so far, 3-0 against Blackburn at the start of the season and 2-1 v Wolves in late September. They've only scored one other goal at home all season in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham, they've failed to score in seven other home games.

Given that Wigan have only scored 6 goals at home all season and Town having only scored 5 away goals everything points to a nailed on 0-0 draw, or if it's going to be a thriller 1-0 either way.

What an exciting prospect in store.

Prediction 0-0.

If we lose this then where else is there for the team to go apart from down. MM is likely to change his tactics to combat a team in the bottom 3. Where as we should be putting out our most attacking line and give it a right go!

Caption: anyone got any paint? I've forgot my hands

Caption
OK my impersonating of a Smurf is good, but your impersonating of a referee wins hands down.

Wigan 1 Town 1

hallamblue wrote:C' marn ' Uddersfield, do ya stuff .

They're doing that OK Liz, absolutely running rings round Norwich.

They have a great front man by the name of, Kachunga on loan from Bundesliga team FC Ingolstadt 0. So far this season he's scored 9 goals, compare this with our only players to have scored more than 2 goals, Luke Varney (3) and Grant Ward (5). How the f*ck can Huddersfield manage to find a player like this whilst simply we can't.

With Huddersfield holding the ball exceptionaly well and taking 66% of the first half possession Norwich need a miracle to get back in this game.

The boo's ring loud as Norwich leave the pitch at half time, a shame we're not scheduled to play them sometime soon. Knowing our luck it'll be a few days after they appoint a new manager.

Maybe a good start to the weekend, all we need is a win tomorrow. 0-1 maybe.

Bet the Huddersfield striker is on a decent wage Charney. Good to hear the scum fans are as true to their usual form. Wtf have they got to boo about .

Firstly, thanks again for another great preview; picking the bones following a loss, yet trying to remain somehow positive takes a special skill set. Ask MM, the local media and whatever player is spammed by the PR team to spout the usual mind-numbing ramblings! Stop the effort put into unconvincing interviews, and concentrate on action on the pitch, please!

I anticipated changes against Brum which, apart from Kenlock (successful), never happened. MM seems to be indicating more to come tomorrow - we'll see! I don't want to see either Douglas or Bru anywhere near the team; and not sure about Ward either. Williams has to start, doesn't he?

A 'must win' game? Probably not quite yet, but a loss will have a massive negative impact upon already fragile confidence. But 0-0 for me, too.

Caption comp:

I've told you till I'm blue in the face, it stands for 'We Are Fuc*king Clueless''!

hallamblue wrote:Bet the Huddersfield striker is on a decent wage Charney. Good to hear the scum fans are as true to their usual form. Wtf have they got to boo about .

Probably heard that Roy Hodgson might be waiting in the wings! Either that, or they've been eating Delia's mince pies and have a bad case of wind!

Nice to see that the Norwich natives are showing their true colours - mainly yellow!

Caption Comp:
BLUE I was feeling really blue then I saw Mick McCarthy's line up .

Just made my night as the yellow scum Norwich lose again!!!
things are going from bad to worse and I'm loving it.
Oh happy days!!!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Yer right !

herforder wrote:

hallamblue wrote:Bet the Huddersfield striker is on a decent wage Charney. Good to hear the scum fans are as true to their usual form. Wtf have they got to boo about .

Probably heard that Roy Hodgson might be waiting in the wings! Either that, or they've been eating Delia's mince pies and have a bad case of wind!

Nice to see that the Norwich natives are showing their true colours - mainly yellow!

lol too right. I said to a work colleague that scum would be mid table. They're no great shakes. Huddersfield ran rings round them tonight........ask.len

apparently len is "Not worried"

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Main Discussion - Norwich City

Today, 11:04 PM
len is not online. Last active: 16/12/2016 21:49:10 len

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Joined on 06/12/2014
Posts 285
Not worried

Neil has lost 31 of his last 60 games and will either be sacked or resign.

Sit back and watch him squirm. Its a lot more enjoyable than watching his team.

©2016 Archant Community Media Ltd

Caption:


"Cost of Sunglasses - 35 quid

Paint - 3 quid

Cost of surgically removing non water based paint - 250 quid

Forgetting it's an away fixture to your rivals Blackburn and dressing in blue- priceless!"

Safe journeys to all Tractor boys and girls heading up to Wigan today. Mad, or what?

Thanks hallam for your post!
i will be worried if the town lose today against Wigan!!!
and even more worried if the misses doesn't serve me
up my favourite bangers & mash tonight!!!

You're very welcome Budgie boy!!!

No need to mascarade as a Town fan now you've been outed eh. A friend on here said he'd seen your posts on the pink un almost as soon as you started posting on here. So you were outed very quickly ..We've just been laughing at your posts ever since.



On serious note len.

Do you think your lot will make the top 6 now? I've always maintained you wouldn't. I see no reason to review that thought. I hope you keep Neil. He's out of his depth. Mick on the other hand ( despite his boring style of football) is not.