Ipswich Town v Fulham
Saturday 26th August 2017 – 15:00
Portman Road
Pre Match Thoughts - Mike
We may have tasted defeat for the first time this season but I think it is fair to say every single Town fan was immensly proud of the efforts of our "Kids" at Selhurst Park on Tuesday evening, a team with an average age of under 20 years old did the club, the Fans, the Town and themselves proud with as good a performance as we have seen for many a long day, for near on 70 Minutes there was nothing to choose between our U20'S and Palace's team of Premier League and International players, only the classic running out of gas effect denying us the chance of a real Cup shock but most fans, like myself, didn't feel it was defeat at all, in fact it felt more like a moral victory and totally vindicated the decision of Mick McCarthy to go with a much changed side, I won't say weakened because as it turned out it really wasn't. So many of the youngsters who took to the field really have put themselves to the forefront of the gaffers thoughts for the long haul ahead, we all knew about the emergence of Flynn Downes already but we also now know he can "mix it" with Premeir league standard players too, we knew Tristan Nydam was a promising Central Midfielder, we now know he is also a very capable Left back who acquitted himself superbly, Luke Wooldfenden had showed what he can do at Centre Back alongside skipper Chambo against Luton but we now know he is also a solid Right back too. Speaking of Centre Backs and Pat Webber has to gain a mention, a Left sided CB who looked so assured and composed was something I took from the evening, but to be fair to all the younger players Ben Folami, Shane McLoughlin, George Fowler, Adam McDonnell and Ben Morris all look to have promising careers ahead of them and may well have a part to play as the season unwinds.
There was much ridicule aimed at Marcus Evans when he released his "Five point plan" towards the end of last year, most were of the opinion it was all just hot air to appease a fan base that was rapidly losing faith with the owner and Manager etc, Look a little closer at the Five points now and it really does not look quite so silly, in fact it is hard to dispute any of the points, things do take time, Rome was not built in a day but as we all know the majority of Football fans want success immediatley although to be fair we have been encamped in the Championship for a fair old while now, so take a look at this plan again and see if you feel we are moving forward on all the points raised.
* To provide a significant ongoing financial commitment to the Club’s Academy, enabling a steady flow of players into the first-team
* To provide a sustainable and competitive squad salary budget
*To make annual investment funds available to purchase players in the early stages of their career and to assist in their development
*Maintaining a stable management and coaching team
* To develop a team to play attractive and exciting football
I don't see anything within those points that makes me think hang on a minute that's not happening, the Academy is most definitely being invested in and we are now seeing the benefits of this, only this week Tristan Nydam and Flynn Downes have been named in the England U19's squad, we already have Ben Morris & Andre Dozzell as regular representitives for their country and that is a great achievement for a club of our standing, I don't see this category One nonsense as being important at all, after all how many Norwich Kids do we see in these squads ? Weren't we supposed to be losing all our best Kids to them up the road ? It isn't happening. Our squad salary budget is known to be very competitive too, I think Adam Webster and Emyr Huws certainly come into mind with Point Number Three as we look to sign players who we can hopefully develop form a fairly young age. Sticking with Mick & Terry has been key, the turnaround in fortunes is clear for all to see, had we opted for change there would no doubt have been much upheaval in back room staff and playing staff and this invariably takes time so Point number Four is spot on. The last point is a no brainer, the football so far this season has been much more attractive and enjoyable and there is much more to come when we get all our players back fit, I really have not seen too much "hoofball" at all this season and the excitement is returning to our match days again, of course there is still a long way to go but as far as I am concerned it cannot be denied that this "Five Point Plan" is being adhered to.
We end the first month of the season with a very real chance of winning all Five League games, who would have dreamed that Fifteeen points could possibly be on the board by the end of August, it would be a fantastic achievement by everyone concerned and it could happen, confidence is high and we are on the crest of a wave, and all this with a decimated squad, players know that soon they will be fighting to keep their place in the team and that can only be a good thing, I was so pleased to hear that Bersant Celina is unhappy at not being in the starting Eleven, we need players to be hungry and to earn their place. Standing in our way is Fulham who it has to be said have had a disappointing start to the season, they are still to register a win but have drawn on Three occasions, it got worse in Midweek too as League One Bristol Rovers dumped them out of the Cup at Craven Cottage, they are going to be a wounded animal for sure, for me they were the best footballing side I saw last season bar none and gave us a lesson at Portman Road, BUT, we are a different team these days and win, lose or draw I just know they won't find us such a walk over this time around and will have to play well to take the points back to London, let's go into the International break with a League table we can't stop looking at for Two weeks !!!! COYB'S!
The Opposition - Fulham
Fulham Football Club based in London was founded in 1879, they will be playing in the English Football League Championship for the first time in 13 seasons after their relegation from the ‘Top Flight’ last season. They were the oldest established football team from London playing in the Premier League.
The club has spent twenty-four seasons in English football's top division, the majority of that in two spells during the 1960s and 2000s.
Fulham have never won a major honour, although they have reached two major finals. In 1975, as a Second Division team, they contested the FA Cup final for the only time in their history, losing 2–0 to West Ham United. Fulham reached the 2010 Europa League final, which they contested with Atlético Madrid in Hamburg, losing 2–1 after extra time.
The club has been in the Football League playing in various divisions since 1907.
In modern times Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed bought the freehold of the club for £6.25 million in summer 1997. Micky Adams was fired by Al-Fayed in the aftermath of a poor start. He installed a two-tier management "dream team" of Ray Wilkins as First Team Manager and Kevin Keegan as Chief Operating Office, pledging that the club would reach the Premier League within five years. After an argument over team selection, Wilkins left the club in May 1998 to hand over the full managerial duties to Keegan, who steered the club to promotion the next season, winning 101 points out of a possible 138, after spending £1.1 million to sign Paul Peschisolido from West Bromwich Albion who was top scorer and captained by Chris Coleman – then the most expensive footballer outside the top two divisions of the English league.
In 1999, Keegan left Fulham to become manager of the England team, and Paul Bracewell was put in charge. Bracewell was sacked in March 2000, as Fulham's promising early season form dwindled away to a mid-table finish. Frenchman Jean Tigana was put in charge and, having signed a number of young stars (including French striker Louis Saha), he guided Fulham to their third promotion in five seasons in the 2000–01 season, giving Fulham top flight status for the first time since 1968. Fulham once again amassed 101 points out of a possible 138 in their scintillating title run, which was crowned with an open-top bus parade down Fulham Palace Road.
They are the only team to have twice reached 100 points in a season.
For the next 7 seasons they mainly achieved lower mid table positions in the Premier League.
Roy Hodgson was named as the new manager of Fulham on 28 December 2007, and took up his contractual duties on 30 December
In the 2008–09 season, Fulham finished seventh, their highest-ever league placing, earning qualification for the inaugural UEFA Europa League, the second time that the club had entered a UEFA competition.
2009–10 was arguably the most successful season in the club's history. They were eliminated from the FA Cup in the quarter-finals for the second year running, and finished twelfth in the Premier League. In the inaugural UEFA Europa League, however, Fulham reached the final, meeting Spanish club Atlético Madrid at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. In their first European cup final the Cottagers were beaten 2–1 in extra time, having drawn 1–1 after full-time. The achievement of taking Fulham so unexpectedly far, beating famous teams like Hamburg, Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Basel in the competition led to Roy Hodgson being voted the LMA Manager of the Year by the widest margin in the history of the award. The home match in the round of 16 was arguably Fulham's greatest result in the history of the club. Despite losing 3–1 in the first leg at Italian giants Juventus and falling behind minutes into the second leg at Craven Cottage, Fulham scored four goals with no reply from Juventus.
At the end of the season, Hodgson left Fulham to manage Liverpool.
On 29 July 2010, Mark Hughes was named the successor to Roy Hodgson, signing a two-year contract with the club. Hughes resigned as manager of Fulham on 2 June 2011, having spent fewer than eleven months at the club. The Whites had an encouraging finish in 8th position and qualified for the Europa League via Fairplay.
On 7 June 2011, Martin Jol signed a two-year contract with Fulham, becoming the successor of Hughes. Fulham's Premier League form in the 2011–12 season was mixed, with the continuing away-record hangover of previous seasons dragging on.
Clint Dempsey scored a club record 50 Premier League goals for Fulham between 2007 and 2012
In the 2012–13 season, Fulham ended a seven-match winless run by beating Swansea City 3–0 away at the Liberty Stadium on the final game of the season on 19 May 2013. Fulham finished the season in 12th place.
Shahid Khan took over as chairman in July 2013, but after a poor start to the 2013-14 season, having only amassed 10 points from 13 games, Martin Jol was sacked as manager on 1 December 2013, with Rene Meulensteen taking charge as Head Coach. Meulensteen was subsequently replaced by Felix Magath on 14 February 2014, but remained under contract with Fulham until four days later, when Fulham confirmed the sacking of him along with coaches Ray Wilkins and Alan Curbishley. They were eventually relegated after a 4-1 defeat to Stoke City on 3 May.
Magath lasted in the manager’s role until 18 September 2014, when he was dismissed due to poor early season results, and Kit Symons took over as Caretaker Manager until his appointment was made permanent on 29 October 2014.
Under Symons, the Cottagers finished last season with 52 points and in 17th place on the ladder.
Kit Symons was sacked as Fulham manager in November 2015. It took 49 days to find a replacement, the club using Peter Grant and Stuart Gray in the interim, before appointing Slaviša Jokanović on 27 December 2015.
Fulham finished the 2015/16 season in 20th Place with 51 points.
Last season Fulham made it to the playoffs , finishing in 6th but didn’t go any further losing to the 3rd place finisher in Reading.
The Gaffer – Slavisa Jokanovic
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Daryl Murphy features from an opening game, a few seasons back
Media Watch - K L Blue
Rotherham keen to keep Moore
https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/32148
MM on the youngsters performance
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41022851
Youngsters keen to build on Palace display
http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town ... -1-5159724
Stuart Watson on the positives from the Palace game
http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town ... -1-5159733
Form Guide
Ipswich Last 5 Matches - Currently in 2nd place with 12 points
Crystal Palace 2-1 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town 2-0 Brentford FC
Millwall FC 3-4 Ipswich Town
Barnsley 1-2 Ipswich Town
Luton Town 0-2 Ipswich Town
Fulham Last 5 Matches – Currently in 19th place with 3 points
Fulham FC 0-1 Bristol Rovers
Fulham FC 0-1 Sheffield Wed
Leeds United 0-0 Fulham FC
Reading FC 1-1 Fulham FC
Wycombe 0-2 Fulham FC
Fixtures of Interest
BRENTFORD VS WOLVES
CARDIFF VS Q.P.R.
NOTT. FOREST VS LEEDS
Marko’s Caption Contest – THE DON CUP
Excellent first four weeks of captions in the 2017/18 DON CUP competition. And the first league table is down below there. Scores first though.
Birmingham
Frosty (Pies) 5pts
Jamma123 4pts
IpswichtownNo1 (Mevans' BS) & Shed on Tour 3pts
Blueblood (Nik Naks), Bluepeter & Tangfastic 2pts
Barnsley
Herforder (daytime insurance) 5pts
Barmy Billy, Nicscreamer & Shed on Tour 4pts
Tangfastic (playschool) 3pts
Ando 2pts
Millwall
Bluemike 5pts
Shed on Tour 4pts
IpswichtownNo1 3pts
Nicsreamer & DerickIpsw 2pts
Brentford
Ohiotractorboy & Tangfastic 5pts
Herforder 4pts
Nicscreamer 3pts (Brian)
Number 9 & Bluepeter 2pts
LEAGUE TABLE
SHED ON TOUR 12
HERFORDER 10
NICSCREAMER 10
TANGFASTIC 10
BLUEMIKE 8
FROSTY 8
OHIOTRACTORBOY 8
BARMY BILLY 7
IPSWICHTOWNNO1 7
BLUEPETER 6
BLUEBLOOD 5
DERICKIPSW 5
ANDO 4
JAMMA123 4
NUMBER9 4
QUASAR 4
WATERSHIP DOWN 4
AYLESBURY BLUE 2
PATTHEGIMP 1
Have a go at this……..
Match Referee – Paul Tierney
IPSWICH TOWN 2 FULHAM 1
