Tractor-Boys.com

Ipswich Town v AFC Bournemouth




Sunday 8th December 2024 – 14:00


Portman Road








Pre-Match Thoughts - Bluemike



Another game against a team from our Mini League has come and gone and again it ended up with Town unable to record a much needed win, a win which at the time could have seen us rise to the heady heights of Fifteenth, sadly it was not to be as we again struggled to muster up much of a fight, in truth it was for me about as bad as we have been this season given the fact we were at home and the importance of the occasion. It was all the more frustrating as once again the opposition certainly didn't look any great shakes themselves and yet they found a way to grind out the win and leave Suffolk with Three priceless points.

Kieran Mckenna chose to go with Omari back in the number ten role where he is far less effective and leave goal scorer Sammy Szmodics on the bench, it was certainly something I found difficult to absorb, especially after the excellent showing from Hutchinson last time out when playing wide, I guess it must be part of the process. Another thing that baffled many was the non appearance in the squad of Cameron Burgess, nothing has been confirmed but you would have to assume he was carrying an injury or something seeing as he was awarded MOTM last time out, or it could be the process states we are not to have CB's on the subs bench.

I felt the first half was pretty even in truth, Two poor teams with little quality to light up a dour and bitterly cold evening. Palace started slightly the better before we started to at least get a foothold in the game but there was little for either set of fans to get too excited about with chances at a premium at both ends. Eze had palace's best chance but fired tamely at Muric while Town's only real effort of note came just before the whistle with Harry Clarke seeing his deft near post header saved on the line by the alert Henderson. I think it was fair to say that both teams were happy to go in level and both would have been thinking it was there for the taking.

I thought the opening 10-15 minutes of the second half was Town's best spell of the game, we looked more "on it" and definitely livelier, we had lacked energy in the opening 45 minutes, a couple of chances came our way with Delap's header being comfortably saved after good work from Hutchinson & Burns, then just as it looked like Town were going to take control of proceedings we gift them another sloppy goal, Jacob Greaves stumbles at the crucial time to allow Mateta to run in on goal, with harry Clarke and Two other defenders bearing down on the striker Muric chose to rush out which paved the way for the palace striker to lob the ball over him and into the unguarded net. It was a bitter blow which in the end proved to be enough to see off a disappointing Town team.

Try as we might we could not find a leveller and as we pushed forward it opened the way for palace to hit us on the break which they nearly did a couple of times. Town thought they had found a precious equaliser in the dying moments but Greaves towering header came back off the far post and somehow evaded the advancing Nathan broadhead with the goal gaping, it pretty much summed up what for me was a bitterly disappointing evening where Town had little fluidity and certainly seemed to lack energy. I always try to watch the whole game back as you see things you sometimes miss and I have to say Jens Cajuste & Sam Morsy played so well under intense pressure with palace outnumbering them in Midfield, while at the back Darragh O'Shea put in a very good shift. Sadly there was some who need massive improvement, Wes Burns, jack Clarke and this version of Omari Hutchinson just weren't effective at all.

The result coupled with others elsewhere now see's Town firmly in the bottom Three and in a position whereby a win doesn't even take us out of the drop zone, that has to be concerning given that we have won once all season and also the fact we have some real tough games coming up towards the end of the month. The next Two against Bournemouth & Wolves simply have to glean minimum Four points for us to keep in touch, all is not lost but the time for excuses and believing in a failed process is over, it is all about results now, no matter how we get them we just have to find a way because the current way isn't getting results.

Thankfully we only have to wait until Sunday to try and right a few wrongs, by the time we play a few others will have already played and we can but hope that Villa & Man City can take care of Southampton & Palace respectively while you would think Liverpool would be victorious in the Merseyside derby, that set of results and a Town win against a tricky Bournemouth side would have things looking so much brighter where the league table is concerned, then we can sit back Monday night and hopefully watch the Hammers kick Wolves off the pitch to help our cause next weekend.

Injuries are certainly not helping and I have no idea what the line up will be but we simply have to be more on it this time, we cannot allow another winnable home game pass us by, lets pick the right players in the right positions and at least give ourselves the best possible chance, Three at the back worked at Spurs so why not again ? Try something different and stop being predictable. I like many others crave a win to settle nerves and dispel some of the concern that is definitely creeping into my thoughts. Kieran has found a way in the past, albeit at a vastly different level, we need to him to weave some magic here for sure. COYB'S.



The Opposition – AFC Bournemouth - Honours



League


Championship

Champions: 2014–15
Runners-up: 2021–22

Third Division South / Third Division / League One

Champions: 1986–87
Runners-up: 1947–48, 2012–13

Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two

Runners-up: 1970–71, 2009–10
Promoted: 1981–82
Play-off winners: 2003

Southern League

Runners-up: 1922–23


Cup


Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy

Winners: 1983–84
Runners-up: 1997–98

Third Division South Cup

Winners: 1945–46




The Manager – Andoni Iraola







League Table as at 06.12.2024







Form Guide





Ipswich Town


2 Nov Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Leicester City

10 Nov Tottenham 1 - 2 Ipswich Town

24 Nov Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Manchester Utd

30 Nov Nottm Forest 1 - 0 Ipswich Town

3 Dec Ipswich Town 0 - 1 Crystal Palace



AFC Bournemouth


2 Nov Bournemouth 2 - 1 Manchester City

9 Nov Brentford 3 - 2 Bournemouth

23 Nov Bournemouth 1 - 2 Brighton

30 Nov Wolverhampton 2 - 4 Bournemouth

05 Dec Bournemouth 1 - 0 Tottenham


Head to Head







Match Referee – Michael Salisbury









IPSWICH TOWN 2 AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1

Bournemouth win for me unfortunately. I just can't see where our next win is coming from and edorcially if he continues to pick the team that doesn't contain our strongest 11.

will be watching this one (and the next few) live from the Philippines, which will hopefully give me time to see and digest more than I normally do.

Sorry, but I just cannot see us scoring on Sunday - KM is stubborn and I can't see any detour from the "process". Hoping that we'll at least keep a clean sheet. 0-0

Need anyone to carry yer cases Gary?

One encouraging sign for this fixture, we’ll have an extra days rest than Bournemouth. Also, they’re playing Spurs tonight which will probably be a physical game.

If we’re able to prevent Bournemouth from playing their attacking style of football, we just might scrap a 1-0 win or a draw at the worst.

Regardless of who starts or what the formation is, the players will have to put in a strong performance.

If all are healthy, here’s my preferred line up:

Muric

Johnson O’Shea Greaves Davis

Morsy Cajuste

Hutchinson Szmodics Broadhead/Chaplin

Delap

My team........

...,.............................Muric ..........................

...................O'Shea....Greaves.......Burgess......

Johnson.......Morsy........Cajuste...........Davis....

Hutchinson...............Delap............Szmodics.......

Bingo Mike, that's mine also.

Would be mine too, but I’ll be surprised if McKenna will see it the same way, lol

Need to attack this from the start. Can't believe there's no home wins all season, there's been the opportunity but just couldn't take the chances provided. Bournemouth may be a stronger more talented club name from years before and they'll likely cause us problems but once more it's a home advantage over an opposition name we should be taking points from.

Some seem contest to allow relegation rivals in hope they'll slip up while we struggle if only to save ourselves but somehow think we need focus on our own objectives and not rely on others. All these dropped points and missed opportunity are going to bite hard by end of season if we don't pick up quickly and simply improve or garner better results in the time ahead then we have done thus far.

ITFC 3 Bournemouth AFC 1

Feel we really need to win tomorrow. The gap to 17th place is now 4 points and although on paper that doesn’t sound much when you have only won 1 out of 14 then it seems a lot bigger. Really can’t afford to lose either of the next 2 games otherwise with the remaining fixtures this month we could find ourselves even further away from safety come January.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 06, 2024 11:09 am

My team........

...,.............................Muric ..........................

...................O'Shea....Greaves.......Burgess......

Johnson.......Morsy........Cajuste...........Davis....

Hutchinson...............Delap............Szmodics.......

Mine too! That spurs away formation worked so well.

I’m not hopefully of points today, tough game and as I have said before I feel we can get results against anyone but only if we are at our very best, we really struggled against palace - they pressed us well and we couldn’t get on the ball enough.

I will just keep the faith and annoying being here in the prem.

Half pissed and raring to go !!!! COYB'S

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:43 pm

Half pissed and raring to go !!!! COYB'S

Had a pint then

Burgess, Johnson, Taylor, Szmodics and Chaplin start.

mendipblue wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:44 pm

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:43 pm

Half pissed and raring to go !!!! COYB'S

Had a pint then

Lol and some

4 changes, Johnson, Taylor, Burgess & Szmodics in

No Greaves on bench, he clearly came back to f**king early, it was obvious

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:52 pm

mendipblue wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:44 pm

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:43 pm

Half pissed and raring to go !!!! COYB'S

Had a pint then

Lol and some

4 changes, Johnson, Taylor, Burgess & Szmodics in

5 with Chaplin

I'm liking the starting line up,Cajuste & phillips on the bench,Szmodics is starting hallelujah ,obviously would of preferred Cajuste to start but he took a knock against palace.will go for a draw but you never know if the team are going to be fired up for this,weather may effect the game,the ball might even fly in the Bournemouth goal without any intervention from our players.

We can see what McKenna thought of some of the performances against Palace. Only real surprise is Taylor replacing Cajuste assuming Greaves is injured.

Good opening few mins, keep it up boys.

Taylor justifying his selection in the first based on the first 15 mins. Johnson looking a little vulnerable at RB.

1-0 chaplin

Interesting to see Taylor included.

Look. We have a number 10 playing in the 10 slot and a right winger playing on the right wing. What a surprise that we've scored first!!

Another one justifying his selection, nice one Conor assisted by Burgess also one of the five changes today.

We certainly look up for this today and the odd bit of luck on our side too, although I couldn’t see much wrong with our disallowed goal which looked like “six of one and half a dozen of the other”.

Definitely a good opening 30 mins.

Burgess saved Morsy’s blushes on 35 mins, that could have been really embarrassing for our captain.

Johnson is getting roasted time and time again. Hutchinson needs to give him help. Need to win back some control in the 2nd half otherwise this is going to end badly.

Pleased to hear the HT whistle after Bournemouth worked hard to get an equaliser in the past 10 mins.

Some really good first half performances especially Burgess, Taylor and Delap who works so hard all over the pitch including some good defensive work especially defending corners.

Good first half pleased for Chappers but it's going to be a long second half.COYB.

Greaves will have trouble getting back in the team the way Burgess is playing at the moment.