Tractor-Boys.com

Ipswich Town v Liverpool FC



Saturday 17th August 2024 – 12:30


Portman Road








Pre Match Thoughts - Mike



I don't know about anybody else but I have had to pinch myself several times these last few weeks to get a sense of reality and understand just what we, as a club, have achieved these last Two Years, it really does take some comprehension and understanding to take in the level of success we have been blessed with. I think it is safe to say that only a few Town fans truly believed a double promotion was likely given how tough the Championship can be at the best of times but when you factor in who we were up against last season it really was miraculous to go up automatically. Even as the season edged towards the last few weeks the talk was that we would probably just fall short and have to endure the drama of the play off's and this after a season of reading comments from fans of Leicester, Leeds, Southampton, Norwich and anyone else who fancied making themselves look stupid that we would fall away, hilarious.

I think we as fans all had different times of the season where we thought "hang on a Minute, we can actually do this" I know exactly where my "moment" arrived and that was when in the 97th Minute at home to Southampton Jeremy Sarmiento toe poked home the winner in crazy crazy scenes to secure a vital 3-2 win against all the odds, never in my lifetime has Portman Road been so loud as it was in that moment and we have had some of the world's greatest teams play at Portman Road over the years, it was phenomenal and oh so emotional, a never to be forgotten highlight of my time supporting the greatest team in the world.

Of course the job still had to be done and thanks to positive results at both Hull & Coventry Town set themselves up to finish the job in front of their own adoring, and dare I say it, expectant fans as already relegated Huddersfield Town came to try and spoil the party. Let's be honest, this was only ever going to finish One way and from the moment Wes Burns fired the Super Blues ahead it was job done, Town were heading back to the top table and all the riches that comes with it, Premier League Football was back in Suffolk. Omari Hutchinson put the cherry on the cake which allowed the celebrations to start in the stands for real and what followed in the ensuing hours within the Town will go down in our history alongside all our other finest moments. The fans turned out in their Thousands to hail their heroes as the streets of Ipswich were lined with flags etc and watching it all back still raises the hairs on my neck.

Our joy was soon turned to concern however as stories started to emerge of our great leader being wanted by several top flight clubs, it clearly wasn't without foundation and without going over old ground I think his departure was a lot closer than the club were letting on. Thankfully, and for whatever reason, Kieran McKenna decided that this is the place for him to continue his unbelievable story and we are in a much better place than we could have been going into the coming season. I think it is safe to say that Ed Schwartz and the genius that is mark Ashton played an absolute blinder in getting Kieran to commit to a new long term deal.

Once the euphoria and celebrations had calmed down it was back down to business for Ashton and co with the small matters of Stadium upgrades and a squad build to contend with. Now I have to say when I watched the tour around the stadium with Mark Ashton it really hit home just what a mega task we have on our hands, it is colossal, over One Hundred individual projects which all pretty much have to be completed by the 17th August. If I am honest I cannot for the life of me see it getting done but hey, this is Ashton at the wheel so it probably will be and how fantastic will the old stadium look, and not before time too.

I think if we are all honest it is what gets done on the pitch that we fans are really interested in, new signings always excite the fans and this time around it will have even more meaning given we are now back in the Premier League, already at the time of writing we have smashed our transfer record, and some, with the acquisition of Omari Hutchinson, Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap all dwarfing that which was paid for a certain Matteo Sereni back in the annuls of history. Add to them the signings of Keeper Arijanet Muric, Defender Ben Johnson & Defender Conor Townsend, that takes our number of new faces to Six with hopefully a few more much needed faces to arrive.

I think the squad would have looked much healthier had both Nathan Broadhead & George Hirst not picked up fairly serious injuries in pre season which has kind of made the process that much harder but I am hopeful we have a few irons in the fire, several names have been bandied about and you never really know what is true and what is tosh, which to be fair it's normally the latter.

The achievements of last season will see Ipswich Town once again gracing stadiums like The Etihad, The Emirates, Old Trafford, Anfield & Stamford Bridge instead of dour visits to the likes of Oxford, Bristol City & Blackburn, to name but Three, not the greatest of away days by any stretch of the imagination. Seeing some of the biggest club names in world football walking out at Portman Road is something I cannot wait for and while we have made our home something of a fortress in recent times it has to be accepted that defeat will inevitably be more frequent, that is going to take some getting used to again.

We don't have to wait long for one of the big boys to make the visit to Suffolk as the fixture computer has treated us to a nice easy start, Liverpool open the season on the opening day before a trip to the Etihad the following week. much is being made of the departure of Jurgen klopp and the distinct lack of new signings coming through the door at Anfield but their squad is already bursting with quality and we have one hell of a task on our hands to start the season with a positive result. That said it could be argued we may just be meeting them at the best time, a new manager in place with new ideas and a possible change in style, players may take time to adjust, add to that the big boys will no doubt have had players away at the Euro's and Olympics etc which may see some of their star players playing a little bit of catch up, we can but hope.

I think we all have to realise that every weekend no matter if it is at home or away, or if it is against Arsenal or Southampton it is going to be very hard, every game will be a real test, every point we put on the board will have to be earned and some, nothing is given to us in this the hardest Football League in the world but this is what we all yearned for, this is the culmination of Two and a half years of hard work, dragging this iconic club up from the ashes and building something to be proud of once again, Gamechanger bought this club for a reason, massive potential !!! Add to that a history only some can dream of with a sleeping fan base that can be a match for most.

So here we have it, at 12.30pm Ipswich Town will walk out onto the hallowed turf of Portman Road to start writing the next incredible chapter, the watching world will be eyeing our every pass and every kick, they will be just waiting to say "we knew they would go straight back down again" and all that cobblers, so let's go and give it One hell of a go, after all what do we have to lose ? I have a sneaking feeling we may just surprise a few people along the way, survival is the target, anything more is one hell of a bonus. What an opening weekend fixture this is, Liverpool FC are the opposition, one of the greatest names in not only English Football but World Football too, what a lovely way to start if we could produce a massive shock. Enjoy the game, Enjoy the Journey, and most of all let's stay right behind the boys as One all season and not forget the magic moments we have been spoilt with over the last Two seasons. IPSWICH TIL I DIE.


The Opposition – Liverpool FC - Honours



League



First Division/Premier League

1900–01, 1905–06, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1946–47, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2019–20

Second Division

1893–94, 1895–96, 1904–05, 1961–62


Cups


FA Cup

1964–65, 1973–74, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2021–22

Football League Cup/EFL Cup

1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1994–95, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2011–12, 2021–22, 2023–24

FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield

1964*, 1965*, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1977*, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986*, 1988, 1989, 1990*, 2001, 2006, 2022 (* shared)

Football League Super Cup

1985–86


Continental


European Cup/UEFA Champions League

1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1983–84, 2004–05, 2018–19

UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League

1972–73, 1975–76, 2000–01

UEFA Super Cup

1977, 2001, 2005, 2019


Worldwide


FIFA Club World Cup

2019




The Manager – Arne Slot








League Table as at 12.08.2024








Head to Head







Match Referee – Tim Robinson







IPSWICH TOWN 1 LIVERPOOL 3

Brilliant preview for the season ahead Mike. For me one of the key things you said is “let’s stay behind the boys as one all season”. There is no doubt that we are going to lose a lot more games than we have in the last 2 seasons put together. Some of the defeats may be heavy as well and this is when the need for the fans to stick with the team is even more important.
I’m just going to enjoy the season whatever happens as tbh I didn’t think I would see the club back in the top division in the remainder of my lifetime.

Town 0 Liverpool 2

Very nice start to previews back in the Prem, Mike. All of a sudden, it feels very close and I am getting a bit nervous! We have had such a sh*t 20 odd years and then the two most amazing years - something we only ever dreamed of and here we are. I still think there will be a bit of me that misses the constant winning and fantastic moments (Southampton was one, Leicester away last season - Sarmiento's last minute equaliser) and so many others but maybe, just maybe, this incredible group can create a few more of those moments for us. Here's hoping and I am going to try my hardest to enjoy the ride - win, lose or draw. Whats the worst that can happen? We go back down with a squad that can get us right back at the top of the table again! Football is fun again! Thank you Gamechanger, Mark Ashton and Kieran for that - we will be forever grateful. Enjoy the season, folks - COYB's!'

Very Very good write up
.indeed its a new chapter ,but in a way I think the pressure isn't as great as the last two seasons ..Those two seasons we had to be in top two or a play off place for it to be a successful season ..we have done all that now and some achievement it has been..for this season to be a success .we only need to finish fourth from the bottom !! And I've no doubt we will..up the town..a new era dawns ..

Great pre season review Mike. Thank you for that.

It will be at about sticking together on and off the pitch this season. I know we’re going to get thumped in some games , and it’ll be a challenge personally for it not to pull me down if we go several games without a shot in goal or even a goal, let alone points on the board. So let’s try to go with the flow- I’ll try too anyway.

It feels surreal that the first club to play at Portman Road in our new PL season, is Liverpool FC.

As a 16yr old me and my friend ( we’d only just started going to games together) were staunch Liverpool fans. I could name every Liverpool player, but struggle to name a single Town player in those days. But I remember standing at the front of the North Stand with the sway of the LFC fans singing you’ll never walk alone …. Stevie Highway, Crazy Horse, Keegan, Toshack et el, heady days. But I was hooked on the game and quite quickly my love for Town grew, and I “converted” to a Blue! So here we are, and I’m a true Blue, and have been for over 5 decades. The rest is history!

I won’t be torn between The two sides Saturday. There’s only one team now, but unfortunately I think it’ll be a baptising of fire…

Town 0 Liverpool 3


COYBsssss

I'm as disappointed and underwhelmed by the transfer activity as the next person, particularly as KM stated at the end of last season that he wanted to get the squad for the PL assembled asap - something has gone terribly arwy with this and I think our naivety in PL transfer dealing has been our downfall this window.

However, it is what it is and we start with what we have, and I don't see any reason why we can't spring a surprise and win this one. Ipswich 2 - Liverpool 1

I think thd dingle biggest problem regarding our player recruitment is convincing the better players to join a newly promoted club. The fear of immediate relegation is what is preventing us getting some if these better players over the line I think.

rossi wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 14, 2024 8:56 am

I'm as disappointed and underwhelmed by the transfer activity as the next person, particularly as KM stated at the end of last season that he wanted to get the squad for the PL assembled asap - something has gone terribly arwy with this and I think our naivety in PL transfer dealing has been our downfall this window.

However, it is what it is and we start with what we have, and I don't see any reason why we can't spring a surprise and win this one. Ipswich 2 - Liverpool 1

I like your optimism Gary and pray you are correct, are you gonna give the Prediction League a go this season?

Excellent preview!!

I'm also going for 3-1 to Liverpool. I'm quite scared to see how big the step up is going to be, its made worse by the fact we have a top 6 team in the first 2 matches.

It's scary when you look at the quality these teams have, even if we signed some of their bench players we would all be thrilled and saying what a great player we have on our hands etc.

Hard to predict how Liverpool will line up as they have alot of good options - especially in that front 3. It's a worry as they play 3 in midfield and 3 upfront so could over-run us in midfield.

Will also be interesting to see the town lineup.

really amusing
https://x.com/paddypower/status/1823630648558452796

shabba wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 14, 2024 10:56 am

really amusing
https://x.com/paddypower/status/1823630648558452796

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 14, 2024 10:06 am

rossi wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 14, 2024 8:56 am

I'm as disappointed and underwhelmed by the transfer activity as the next person, particularly as KM stated at the end of last season that he wanted to get the squad for the PL assembled asap - something has gone terribly arwy with this and I think our naivety in PL transfer dealing has been our downfall this window.

However, it is what it is and we start with what we have, and I don't see any reason why we can't spring a surprise and win this one. Ipswich 2 - Liverpool 1

I like your optimism Gary and pray you are correct, are you gonna give the Prediction League a go this season?

nah, Mike - you know what my predictions have been like over the years, I might have got one right last season but that's about it. Besides, my work commitments over this coming season are going to leave me little time for much else apart from going to games.

Very funny

"Do you want him to sing?"
"God NO"

LMAO

rossi wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 14, 2024 12:17 pm

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 14, 2024 10:06 am

rossi wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 14, 2024 8:56 am

I'm as disappointed and underwhelmed by the transfer activity as the next person, particularly as KM stated at the end of last season that he wanted to get the squad for the PL assembled asap - something has gone terribly arwy with this and I think our naivety in PL transfer dealing has been our downfall this window.

However, it is what it is and we start with what we have, and I don't see any reason why we can't spring a surprise and win this one. Ipswich 2 - Liverpool 1

I like your optimism Gary and pray you are correct, are you gonna give the Prediction League a go this season?

nah, Mike - you know what my predictions have been like over the years, I might have got one right last season but that's about it. Besides, my work commitments over this coming season are going to leave me little time for much else apart from going to games.

No worries, was worth a try lol

A fantastic preview Mike, and some lovely replies too. I can really relate to Hallam's comments about Liverpool. For me personally, Liverpool will always be one of the biggest and greatest teams ever! Just look at their honours list in the 80s, a time when I was getting into football. I think I could so easily have edged towards supporting them had it not been for Bobby Robson's incredible team of the late 70s early 80s. The Liverpool club badge must surely be one of the most recognisable in the world? You could argue that honours have been a bit more thin on the ground for some time, however Klopp's side played some exhilarating football and has left Slot with big boots to fill!

The Premier League is a HUGE product nowadays and surely dwarfs all that goes before it! I'm not saying it is better, but it is one hell of a brand. I think back to that first game at home to Man Utd in 2000 and how big that felt, especially the jubilant look on Fabian Wilnis' face after he scored. That day, Beckham was the big name of the day and to witness him playing and scoring a perhaps fortunate free kick goal, is a great memory to have. Nowadays, every club seems to be loaded with world class superstars, who will make it tough for us to even compete in the top flight. Let's just enjoy the ride and see where it takes us to, I'm sure we'll surprise a few along the way.

Quite remarkable to go from two and half, three years of looking into the abyss of League Two soccer under Evans ownership to being now a part of the very highest level elite. Not even now entirely sure how we accomplished it other than the obvious factors of hard work, consistency, new owners and manager, whole new set of players et cetera but even so it's an amazing turnaround whichever way you choose to view it.

The opposition are beatable and with a home advantage there's every chance of a victory but it's how our team performs on the day whether three points are obtainable. A first day win while not imperative would provide real morale for subsequent games thereafter and an opposition team of that nature would be some prize. Unfortunately I think they'll maybe best us when the time arises and take a victory from the trip. It provides no pleasure to prophesize a win against us for any team opposition least of all those.. but can somehow view a high scoring contest with them edging it by a one goal margin.

Would hope to be proved wrong for sure as they're the one team can't abide most but you got to add rationality to any personal feeling. Five goals in it, entertainment for all, but as much as pains to say it, just feel they'll score higher than us and we take nothing from it. Would be real relief to be proved incorrect, even a drawn contest would provide a certain satisfaction, it would signal a good opening result for us etc.

I remember being chased through ipswich by liverpool fans in the 70's after they asked for the time and we didn't answer with a scouse accent. On entering the north stand with my mate, we found it had been 'taken' (pre-tickets) and was a sea of red and white. They took our scarfs and burned them at the back of the stand. We had to climb onto the pitch and run into the west stand for safety! Year later, I took
My wife to see them at PR. We drew 1-1 and dalgliesh scored a cracker. I met him about 5 years ago and had dinner with him. I told him about my wide seeing him (as she rarely goes to football) and he remembered the goal in intimate detail - it was apparently his 100th league goal. He was a gent and posed for endless photos with people. Hanson was sitting next to me and very pissed. I said I was an ipswich fan and he said they used to go to PR and win regularly but I told him - no you f*cling didn't!! - he backed off then. I hope his health is OK - liverpool legends but I would love us to beat them
on saturday. Happy memories!

Wife, not 'wide' btw - bloody predictive text will get me shot!

The great days of the North stand, 6 coppers separating the fans, bonfires and rolls of Izal.

It’s taken us six years to get back to the top flight and come Saturday we take on Liverpool to end a 22-year absence. Beating them on our Premier League return may be unlikely but sometimes the odds can be defied. Just ask any Town fan who was lucky enough to witness our relegation threatened team manage the unimaginable against the title chasers in February 1986 which is the last time Town triumphed over Liverpool at Portman Road winning 2-1. It was the day when Ipswich caught Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool cold.

Unfortunately the very last time we played them at Portman Road in February 2002 it was a very different story with Liverpool running riot and winning 0-6. Three months later they thrashed us again at Anfield on the final day of the season winning 5-0 relegating Town to the Championship.

It’s sometimes weird how the fixtures fall, our first game of the season against the same team we played last in the Premier Lesgue 22 years apart.

Let’s hope we do better on Saturday than we did last time. Let’s think 1986, before Kieran McKenna was even born.

So as it stands and assuming the Two new guys don't feature my team tomorrow would be.......

Muric

Johnson
Woolfenden
Greaves
Davis

Morsy
Taylor

Burns
Chaplin
Hutchinson

Delap

Subs
Walton
Tuanzebe
Burgess
Luongo
Harness
Ladapo
Townsend

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 16, 2024 9:40 am

So as it stands and assuming the Two new guys don't feature my team tomorrow would be.......

Muric

Johnson
Woolfenden
Greaves
Davis

Morsy
Taylor

Burns
Chaplin
Hutchinson

Delap

Subs
Walton
Tuanzebe
Burgess
Luongo
Harness
Ladapo
Townsend

You don't think KM will play a back 3, as per the start of the Nice game, but with the fluidity of Davis & Johnson being able to track back when needed? I didn't see that friendly, but just made me wonder why he started that way!

I like this bit from an interview with Leif in the EADT.

“We looked at our pre-season running stats in a meeting the other day and have topped last summer’s output by quite a bit. We outran nearly every team in the Championship last year and we’re going to try and do the same again this year in the Premier League.”

Obviously we need every player to be at the very top of their games and whatever they may lack in the skills department (compared to many PL sides), being able to harry players, close down quickly, hunt in packs maybe just what we have to do to compete.
I felt our squad would have to give everything last season in the Championship to succeed, to think that somehow (admittedly with some new additions) they have squeezed even more out of the players is amazing, and testament to KM and his fabulous back room staff.

BRING IT ON

AzzurroMark wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 16, 2024 10:08 am

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 16, 2024 9:40 am

So as it stands and assuming the Two new guys don't feature my team tomorrow would be.......

Muric

Johnson
Woolfenden
Greaves
Davis

Morsy
Taylor

Burns
Chaplin
Hutchinson

Delap

Subs
Walton
Tuanzebe
Burgess
Luongo
Harness
Ladapo
Townsend

You don't think KM will play a back 3, as per the start of the Nice game, but with the fluidity of Davis & Johnson being able to track back when needed? I didn't see that friendly, but just made me wonder why he started that way!

Yes he could very well go that way but I'm thinking it was an experiment to see how it goes initially, I think we will see it at times, nor sure about tomorrow though.

Mauswara wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 16, 2024 7:21 am

Lol, just look at the price of that progging!!

My First ever Premier League Game

So you're 30yrs or younger then lol

OMG - just wanted to say that the footy starts tomorrow and I can't bloody wait!! Won't sleep well tonight and will be it hing to get into the ground to soak it all up in the sun! I bloody LOVE football! (and that is all thanks to MA, KMc and this whole group). COYB's!

Blue Wilf wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 16, 2024 6:12 pm

OMG - just wanted to say that the footy starts tomorrow and I can't bloody wait!! Won't sleep well tonight and will be it hing to get into the ground to soak it all up in the sun! I bloody LOVE football! (and that is all thanks to MA, KMc and this whole group). COYB's!

Wish I could be there! Hope you all have a great day! We’re back!