Here you can chat about everything and anything related to ITFC and other football issues. This forum also hosts the now Internationally famous TB.com ITFC match previews which contain insightful pre-match thoughts, previous highlights, news links relating to Town, form guides and other bits and pieces. Feel free to discuss meet ups/travel plans in here as well.
Whisper it quietly but are things on the up at Portman Road ? Two games played, Two wins, Two clean sheets and actually through to the second round of a cup competition for the first time under MM, the footballing world has gone mad !! The Midweek victory at Luton was similar in many ways to the Birmingham game in as much as we had to rely on a gritty, workmanlike performance rather than free flowing, sexy football. It was also similar in the way the game panned out, very little in it in the first half before Town got to grips with things after the break to get on top and see the job through. One of the most pleasing things for me was the way David McGoldrick and Bersant Celina linked up, they looked on the same wave length from the off and combined so well for the opening goal, of course another big plus is how well our academy was represented on the Night with no less than Five graduates doing themselves proud, there have been loads of grumblings over the last few months about how kids don't get a chance under Mick but that is so far off the mark, clearly last season they just werent ready, that certainly seems to have changed now with Nydam and Woolfenden the latest youngsters to burst onto the scene. Of course it isn't just on the pitch where things seem to be improving, season ticket sales starting to increase again was good to hear as was the news that we finally got that new striker in, he may not be the type of player we were all expecting but hopefully he will be a big success in the Blue of Ipswich Town so welcome Martyn Waghorn. At the time of writing we await Thursday nights second round draw to see who we are paired with, lets hope the draw is kind to us.
I must admit last season I said on more than One occasion that Mick and the fans had grown so far apart that there was no way back and it was a matter of time before the inevitable happened, however I have to say that having been on the terraces at Kenilworth Road and indeed last weekend at home to Birmingham that could be complete tosh, of course I didnt take into account the fickleness that exists within the world of the average football fan, suddenly there are positive comments towards the manager and we even got a chorus of the "Oh Mick McCarthy" song on Tuesday evening, so far I have not heard a single anti Mick comment and I am so pleased about that, of course it can change in an instant but there is little doubt in my mind that if we keep this positive start going all will be forgotten and much of the bad feeling will be a thing of the past. Of course it is very early days to make any bold predictions but with so many players still to come back and so much more room for improvement I have a sneaky feeling we could just surprise a lot of people this time around, I think the bookies are mad to have us at the price we are to go down, our squad is a lot better than many give us credit for but as I say very very early days.
This weekend sees us head to North to Barnsley, always a very good away day although results have not been great on my previous visits to Oakwell, that has to change sooner or later. The Summer break has seen the Tykes squad ripped apart in truth and they are going through a bit of a rebuilding period, again it is a bit early to pass judgement but it does look as if Barnsley could be scrapping it out to retain their Championship status come next May, an opening day defeat at Bristol City was followed up by a 4-3 win at home to league Two Morecambe, the winner coming in the 95th minute. This is another game where Town can definitely get something from it and I would not be at all surprised to see us string Three wins together to keep the feelgood factor going, Mick has some big decisions to make with his starting Eleven too as Didsy & Celina put in sterling performances to stake a claim to be in the starting Eleven for Saturday, while new signing Martyn Waghorn will also be keen to get himself into the action, what a lovely problem to have for a change. COYB'S
The Opposition – Barnsley
Barnsley have spent more seasons in the second tier of English football than any other club in history.
Barnsley FC was established in 1887 by a clergyman, Tiverton Preedy, and played in the Sheffield and District League from 1890 and then in the Midland League from 1895.
They joined the Football League in 1898, and struggled in the Second Division for the first decade, due in part to ongoing financial difficulties.
In 1910 the club reached the FA Cup final, where they lost out to Newcastle United in a replay match. However, they would then reach the 1912 FA Cup Final where they would defeat West Bromwich Albion 1–0 in a replay to win the trophy for the first and only time in their history.
When the league restarted after World War I, the 1919–20 season brought some significant changes to the league. The principal difference was that the First Division would be increased from 20 teams to 22. The bottom team from the previous season was Tottenham Hotspur and they were duly relegated. The first extra place in the First Division went to Chelsea, who retained their place despite finishing 2nd bottom and therefore in the relegation places. Derby County and Preston North End were rightly promoted from the Second Division which left one place to be filled. Having finished the previous season's Second Division in 3rd place (1914–15), Barnsley expected to achieve First Division status for the first time, but The Football League instead chose to call a ballot of the clubs. Henry Norris, the then Arsenal chairman, had recently moved Woolwich Arsenal north of the River Thames to Highbury, and needed First Division football to attract fans to their new home. He was later to admit some underhand dealings, allegedly including the bribing of some member clubs to vote for Arsenal's inclusion. They duly won the vote and Barnsley were consigned to the second tier of English football for another 8 decades.
During the years preceding and following World War II, the club found themselves sliding between the Second and Third Division.
When the Northern and Southern sections of the Third Division were replaced by national Third and Fourth Divisions for the 1958–59 season, Barnsley were still in the Second Division, but went down to the Third Division at the end of that season.
In 1965, Barnsley were relegated to the Football League Fourth Division for the first time, winning promotion three years later. They went down to the Fourth Division again in 1972, and this time stayed down for seven seasons, finally returning to the Third Division in 1979.
Two years later, they went up again and quickly established themselves as a decent Second Division side throughout the 1980s, although they still failed to clinch that elusive First Division place.
At the time of the creation of the FA Premier League in 1992, Barnsley had been Football League members for 94 years, before finally clinching runners-up spot and automatic promotion and gaining the top flight place that they had spent 99 years trying to win.
Barnsley lasted just one season in the Premier League but did not go down without a brave fight.
In the following years Barnsley were not as successful, with relegation to Division Two in 2002 and administration both threatening the existence of the club.
Barnsley had the distinction of playing in the last play-off final at Wembley before the stadium was closed for redevelopment, and in 2006 won in a play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, to earn promotion to the Championship.
The team struggled in their first season back in the Championship and in the 2013/14 season were relegated back to League 1.
On Sunday 3 April 2016, Barnsley won the Football League Trophy after a win over Oxford United at Wembley.
On 29 May, Barnsley gained promotion back to the Championship with a win over Millwall at Wembley Stadium in the League 1 playoff Final.
Barnsley performed well last season finishing in 14th place with 58 points.
Barnsley Last 5 Matches – Currently in 23rd place with 0 points
Barnsley 4-3 Morecambe FC
Bristol City 3-1 Barnsley
Rotherham 4-0 Barnsley
Rochdale 0-2 Barnsley
Barnsley 0-1 Huddersfield
Ipswich Last 5 Matches – Currently in 5th place with 3 points
Luton Town 0-2 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town 1-0 Birmingham City
Charlton Athletic 6-1 Ipswich Town
Colchester Utd 0-1 Ipswich Town
Gillingham 2-1 Ipswich Town
Fixtures of Interest
DERBY VS WOLVES
LEEDS VS PRESTON
MIDDLESBROUGH VS SHEFF. UTD
Marko's Caption Contest
Superb first week of caption entries. Well done indeed. Really hoping the two results so far bring out some more humour from you lot. Have a pop at this........
Sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother, Trev.
The sombre mood will continue around 4:45 on Saturday as ITFC are defeated 2-1, with Waghorn scoring.
Ref caption:
Was that a penalty, ref?
Was that a corner, ref?
Was that offside, ref?
Is that a foul, ref?
Should he be sent off, ref?
How many minutes left, ref?
Very good preview again many thanks to all concerned. As long as we keep another clean sheet I will be very very happy. The confidence and invincibility feeling will run through the club. If we can keep it tight maybe only one goal would be enough to win. Im obviously not expecting to go the whole season without conceeding but the longer the better.
Im praying for a comfortable win and for some strange reason i can see us winning,but not wishing to jinx things my guess is a 2-2 draw.
Much appreciated match preview - early days, but good to be able to be both positive and cautiously optimistic. No reason to suppose the early momentum can't be maintained against Barnsley, who have lost a number of last season's quality players. That said, it'll inevitably be another tough encounter - they all are. Hopefully we can keep it tight early doors, ride out any early pressure and then impose our game.
Going for a 1-2 win for us.
Caption:
Dickie Bird: 'Hey, Parky, have you got one of those free pens?'
Parky: 'P*ss off you moron, or your middle wicket's in for a severe kicking!'
Pessimistic as ever, still don't trust our defence.
Also not sure Mick knows out best attacking combination. I certainly don't. Injuries & illness, late signings and friendlies against poor opposition means we are all equally in the dark.
2-1 defeat.
Andym wrote:Pessimistic as ever, still don't trust our defence.
Also not sure Mick knows out best attacking combination. I certainly don't. Injuries & illness, late signings and friendlies against poor opposition means we are all equally in the dark.
2-1 defeat.
A man efter my Own heart Andy. Im over the past mand a season pessimistic but i think we have nothing to fear.
Ohiotractorboy wrote:How did the points shake out from last week marko?
Sorry, Ohio, just saw this. Due to some of the people helping with some scoring being on holiday, the first Don Cup table will be after the third week, buddy.
Safe journeys to all Tractor boys and girls heading off to Barnsley. (And, hopefully, a happy return!).
Caption2:
DB to Parky: Is flogging life insurance on daytime TV up there with interviewing Muhammad Ali, John Lennon and Madonna as a career highlight, Parky? Must be close!'
Parky: 'One more wind up from you pal, and your missus will be collecting yours! '
Far too much positivity at the moment.... after beating Brum and League 2 opposition we surely couldn't ride this wave of euphoria and beat Barnsley. A draw with some positives would be fine and keep things grounded. We're not f**king Barcelona.
CAPTION 1:
Dicky Bird: 'I can see why you're smiling, Parky. I can smell the fragrant Lady Mary on you from here"
Parky: ' Not so lucky, Dicky ....Scampi Flavoured Nik Naks" .
CAPTION 2:
Parky: " Dicky, we're Barnsleys most famous fans. Who are Ipswich's most famous fans?"
Dicky Bird: "Oh ... that's a struggle. There's Keith Deller, that Cant from PlaySchool...."
Parky : " ...bit harsh, Dicky. Thought he was OK on that show" .
Barnsley v Ipswich Town 
