Premier League - Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Ipswich Town vs Manchester City




Sunday 19th January 2025 – 16:30



Portman Road








Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike



I don't know what it is with us but whenever we are offered up a great chance to make some gains on our relegation rivals and boost our survival hopes we seem to choke. A fantastic batch of results Wednesday evening saw virtually all of the teams down and around us lose, you couldn't have asked for a better outcome as we climbed out of the drop zone without kicking a ball. It set the scene perfectly for our visit of Brighton & Hove Albion Thursday evening, I think we all went into the game expecting a rip roaring Town display to follow on from the previous Home game that saw us put high flying Chelsea to the sword, we have after all finally found a formula that seems to suit the players and results suggest it works. What we witnessed unfortunately was anything but rip roaring.

My concerns were raised fairly early doors, sitting in the pub and reading the line up had me suddenly feeling rather more negative, yes we all have our idea of who should and shouldn't start and it is obviously easy to voice opinions when things don't go right but I wasn't overly happy with who had been selected. The opening Fifteen Minutes did nothing to erase my concerns as we looked way off it and hardly touched the ball as Brighton passed it around at will and with purpose without really hurting us.

Thankfully midway through the opening half we finally started to get a foothold in the game and looked like we were taking control and seemed on the front foot. A couple of chances came our way which sadly we could not take but the expectations were raised. The very impressive Nathan Broadhead was very much to the fore of most of the good things we did, while Wes Burns also had some bright moments despite missing a chance that he really should have done better with. Getting to half time all square was ok and we looked in a good place so it is hard to explain quite what that awful Second half was all about.

What followed after the break was woeful in truth, we offered nothing, created nothing, lost our way, and looked totally out of our depth, Brighton on the other hand used every trick in the book to win the game, rolling around at every opportunity, winning fouls that were just not fouls, they were far more streetwise in every aspect of the game. They clearly changed it up at half time while we did nothing different to counteract it and it paid off handsomely for them. They had found a way to nullify our only threat in Liam Delap who was so isolated at times that he was about as ineffective as I have ever seen him, Hutchinson was running up blind alleys time after time, he will never pass a STD on to his partner, that is for, sure because he doesn't pass anything.

We had no drive or control in Centre Midfield and when we did get forward, which wasn't often we did our best to pass it backwards time after time, I lost count of the backward passes but it was crazy. Defensively too we looked a bit off it, Davis and Walton both had dodgy moments while Greaves and Woolfenden also looked shaky when put under the pressure. Both the Brighton goals were soft and could have been avoided but as is often the case we are our own worst enemies. The changes when they finally came did little to change things but One thing I just don't get is going Two down and taking off your only goalscorer, take a chance, bring Hirst on to partner Delap, there's nothing to lose in that situation, we just seem so adverse to trying something different, yes we switched formation but it could have been so much more,

I think as it stands our Home form is going to see us relegated if we don't start picking up wins in games that look winnable, they are running out fast and the feeling is we are going to need to win about Five home games to keep us up and a couple more "Chelsea like" shocks may be required. Seeing us drop back into the relegation zone is so frustrating as we had a real chance of making ground on everyone, sadly it was not to be.

We now have a game against the current Champions which in reality doesn't suggest we will pick up anything from this One either, maybe a Month ago we would have had a real chance but they do seem to be getting their act together again at just the wrong time for us, their team is still littered with an abundance of world class talent that on most days should brush us aside, of course you just never know but going on the Brighton showing it doesn't look too hopeful.

I think first and foremost we need to get the team selection right, again we all have our own ideas but for me it's a no brainer, you go with your best players, irrespective if they have had the odd off day, we are bringing new players into the club so use them, there will be very little pressure or expectation on us Sunday and that may just suit us, this is why I think we look more capable away from Portman Road as we are never really fancied to win and the onus is on the opposition to take the game to us.

Losing to teams like Manchester City will not relegate us, it's more the likes of Brentford, Bournemouth, Leicester, Southampton, Palace, Fulham and Brighton which will shape our destiny and we've not beaten any of them. Keeping this one respectable is the best we can hope for, that's my take on it anyway, this is then followed up by a trip to Anfield of all places which just shows how important it was to get something out of the Brighton game, losing could soon become a habit again which will only end One way. So come on Town, when the chips are down we have occasionally pulled off a massive surprise and this would be a fantastic time to do just that, it's that sort of shock that is going to be needed from here on in to keep us in the race.

Sadly I just feel this is going to be too much of a tall order for us but what I do want to see is a much better display than that of the second half against Brighton or we are in for a real drubbing. COYB'S.



The Opposition – Manchester City - Honours




League



First Division / Premier League

Winners (10): 1936–37, 1967–68, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
Runners-up (6): 1903–04, 1920–21, 1976–77, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2019–20

Second Division / First Division / Championship

Winners (7): 1898–99, 1902–03, 1909–10, 1927–28, 1946–47, 1965–66, 2001–02
Runners-up (4): 1895–96, 1950–51, 1988–89, 1999–2000
Promoted third place (1): 1984–85

Third Division / Second Division / League One

Promoted third place (1): 1998–99


Cups


FA Cup

Winners (7): 1903–04, 1933–34, 1955–56, 1968–69, 2010–11, 2018–19, 2022–23
Runners-up (6): 1925–26, 1932–33, 1954–55, 1980–81, 2012–13, 2023–24

Football League Cup / EFL Cup

Winners (8): 1969–70, 1975–76, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
Runners-up (1): 1973–74

FA Charity Shield / FA Community Shield

Winners (6): 1937, 1968, 1972, 2012, 2018, 2019
Runners-up (9): 1934, 1956, 1969, 1973, 2011, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023


European


UEFA Champions League

Winners (1): 2022–23
Runners-up (1): 2020–21

European Cup Winners' Cup

Winners (1): 1969–70

UEFA Super Cup

Winners (1): 2023


Worldwide


FIFA Club World Cup

Winners (1): 2023




The Manager – Pep Guardiola








League Table as at 17.01.2025







Form Guide





Ipswich Town



21 Dec Ipswich Town 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd

27 Dec Arsenal 1 - 0 Ipswich Town

30 Dec Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Chelsea

5 Jan Fulham 2 - 2 Ipswich Town

16 Jan Ipswich Town 0 - 2 Brighton





Manchester City




21 Dec Aston Villa 2 - 1 Manchester City

26 Dec Manchester City 1 - 1 Everton

29 Dec Leicester City 0 - 2 Manchester City

4 Jan Manchester City 4 - 1 West Ham Utd

14 Jan Brentford 2 - 2 Manchester City





Head to Head







Match Referee – Sam Barrott







IPSWICH TOWN 1 MANCHESTER CITY 2

[Shed on tour]

Really can’t see us getting anything from this game and if we perform like we did in the 2nd half last night could end up being on the end of a hammering. Really couldn’t understand some of the team selection against Brighton and can but hope McKenna does a better job at it for this game.
Will go for a 2-0 City win but fear it could be a lot worse if we perform poorly again.

[Blue Wilf]

Great turn around on the preview after last night, Mike. City will beat us by a distance unless we so something different or do what we do best when at the top of our game. Sadly, anything other than humiliation in the next 2 games would be a bonus but we live in hope. I just can't see us getting enough points to keep ourselves up so lets just hope that others are worse than us in the run in. That is our only hope. My sadness (and annoyance) comes from the fact that we could easily be up where Palace and Man Utd are in relative safety if we had changed directions in games - for me, to not learn that lesson when we are approaching February, and it has been glaringly obvious to a few of us on here, is unforgiveable.

[TODD66]

I feel it going to be one of those Dr Who type games to watch, from behind the sofa through the fingers as I wait for the 'monster' to do its worst on the plucky but ultimately doomed locals!!

Can't see anything but a City win I'm afraid.

[Ricco]

Can't see anything but a City win I'm afraid.

The same was said of the Tottenham and Chelsea games. So while I agree, it's a funny division, and we have competed with most teams we've faced, it only takes a bit of luck here or there and games change.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

If we can't beat Brighton at home, why would anybody think we can beat MC a mere 4 days later?

So I'm expecting a heavy defeat - but if that is to be the case I'd at least like to see us try something a bit more adventurous rather than continually playing just one up front.

How brave are you, Mr McKenna? Why don't you try a 4-4-2 with Delap and Hirst both up front, and play a higher midfield than usual? City will only play a maximum of 3 up front - a back four should be able to handle this better on their own rather than crowding the defensive area with 8 or 9 players all getting in each others' way.

[Ricco]

If we can't beat Brighton at home, why would anybody think we can beat MC a mere 4 days later?

I know right? It's like not being able to win at home against Leicester... and then thinking you could win away at Tottenham in the next game. Crazy right?!!

Why don't you try a 4-4-2 with Delap and Hirst both up front

Why are you even bothering to think about tactics if there is no chance? Or are you calling yourself crazy?

[ITFC2024]

Walton

Godfrey O'Shea Greaves Davis

Morsy Cajuste

Philogene Hutchinson Broadhead

Delap

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Why are you even bothering to think about tactics if there is no chance? Or are you calling yourself crazy?

It's a shame that you didn't take the time to read and digest what I had written, rather than see an early opportunity to have a go (which you seem to do often). I wrote the following:
So I'm expecting a heavy defeat - but if that is to be the case I'd at least like to see us try something a bit more adventurous rather than continually playing just one up front.

Surely being more adventurous implies playing more than one up front and playing the midfield higher up, which implies a change of tactic? Whatever I think of the outcome of the game is irrelevant in this context. I think a 6 year old would have grasped that, to be honest.

[hallamblue]

I’d go with


Walton

Godfrey O'Shea Greaves Davis

Morsy Cajuste

Philogene Hutchinson Broadhead

Delap

[Ricco]

It's a shame that you didn't take the time to read and digest what I had written

Likewise, and then you'd have seen I agreed that I couldn't see anything coming from the match, I simply said don't rule it out so soon.

rather than see an early opportunity to have a go (which you seem to do often).

Only because you're far more entertaining when you're arguing! The 2% of your posts when you're not are far less interesting

[Bluemike]

Haaland a doubt for the game, that would be a big bonus should he be missing

[Charnwood]

Haaland a doubt for the game, that would be a big bonus should he be missing

Probably trying to work out how he’s going to spend £500k a week for the next nine and a half years.

[JohnnyB]

Predicted 0-0 draw.

I will be right for about 13 mins

[shabba]

Struggle not to bite at some of the comments from
Certain people, there’s a reason nobody plays 442 - ie not a single manager currently doing well plays it. It might come back one day but it was designed back in a time when the goal was to get crosses into the box for big lads to head in. That’s dead now, especially when alot of teams have 2-3 big center backs to defend - and basically make those chances very unlikely to result in a goal.

As I say, remember football at this level is full of experts - ie the people who have risen to the top level by getting past other people Who aren’t as tactically skilled as them.

Not saying it’s impossible 442 won’t come
Back sometime but nobody bas worked out how to do it ad yet. You usually end up getting totally Over run in the middle of the park as you have too many players sat out wide and other team has extra men in the middle.
It’s simply not dynamic enough.

Anywaaaaaay - very tough game this, will just take it for what it is - as I’ve said before if we finish above bottom we have over achieved, the fact we are still in the mix for safety is fantastic.

I avoided commenting on the Brighton thread as I don’t want to seem a knob, but let’s say my view on how competitive we should be against teams who have squads like Brightons is different viewpoint to others.

[hallamblue]

Brighton are a gobshyte outfit full of shythousery of the highest order. I hope we never try to emulate them and you can ve sure that had McKenna been their manager, they wouldn't have adopted the tactics they did against us the other night.

[Ricco]

Struggle not to bite at some of the comments from
Certain people, there’s a reason nobody plays 442 - ie not a single manager currently doing well plays it.

I agree with this, it can also be a tad annoying when some think that one up top is negative and two is automatically more aggressive. That's not true, our 4-2-3-1 could be described as a 4-2-4 if you're aggressive enough. It comes from mentality, not just who is on the pitch.

[Blue Wilf]

Struggle not to bite at some of the comments from
Certain people, there’s a reason nobody plays 442 - ie not a single manager currently doing well plays it.

I agree with this, it can also be a tad annoying when some think that one up top is negative and two is automatically more aggressive. That's not true, our 4-2-3-1 could be described as a 4-2-4 if you're aggressive enough. It comes from mentality, not just who is on the pitch.

I guess the point for me here is that in contrast, I get annoyed when people seeming cannot see the logic of trying a different approach rather than being totally intransigent in our tactics. If you keep banging on with 4 2 3 1 or whatever and it is not working (cos you are losing), then why keep doing the same thing and not try 2 up front even for the last 10 mins plus injury time? Makes perfect sense to me - far more sense than being 2 goals up away from home against better opposition and then continuing to try for a third when you would have been better off securing the 2 goal lead you had built!

[mendipblue]

Struggle not to bite at some of the comments from
Certain people, there’s a reason nobody plays 442 - ie not a single manager currently doing well plays it.

I agree with this, it can also be a tad annoying when some think that one up top is negative and two is automatically more aggressive. That's not true, our 4-2-3-1 could be described as a 4-2-4 if you're aggressive enough. It comes from mentality, not just who is on the pitch.

I guess the point for me here is that in contrast, I get annoyed when people seeming cannot see the logic of trying a different approach rather than being totally intransigent in our tactics. If you keep banging on with 4 2 3 1 or whatever and it is not working (cos you are losing), then why keep doing the same thing and not try 2 up front even for the last 10 mins plus injury time? Makes perfect sense to me - far more sense than being 2 goals up away from home against better opposition and then continuing to try for a third when you would have been better off securing the 2 goal lead you had built!

I agree. Your losing send it long use Delap and Hirst in the air get freekicks in the final third or hopefully pick up the 2nd ball, got to be more productive than five passes between our defenders and the goalkeeper ffs.

[Bluemike]

It beggars belief how some just don't grasp that if it ain't working you try something bloody different for Ten or Fifteen minutes, to keep doing the same damn thing all the time might be OK with some but it ain't for others.

[arana peligrosa]

Writing out the opposition honors list would have been a lot easier 15 -20 years back, in fact you could fit it on a post stamp back then but in any event we have another task to face with this one. Voted to draw, they're just not the force of last season and lost their way. Not to say they're a soft touch, they still got plenty of bite however the home advantage could see us take a result from it. Even if it has to be one point.

We're too erratic or inconsistent to expect an outright victory. Pity really as the opportunity would be there to take advantage of whatever weakness they've brought on themselves since last season. We need to win home games damn it, that's where eventual salvation will arise from should we make it.

ITFC 1 Visitors 1

[mendipblue]

My team tomorrow please

Walton
Townsend
Greaves
Oshea
Godfrey
Morsy
Cajuste
Philogene
Broadhead
Hutchinson
Delap

[hallamblue]

It beggars belief how some just don't grasp that if it ain't working you try something bloody different for Ten or Fifteen minutes, to keep doing the same damn thing all the time might be OK with some but it ain't for others.

Word

[Ricco]

It beggars belief how some just don't grasp that if it ain't working you try something bloody different for Ten or Fifteen minutes, to keep doing the same damn thing all the time might be OK with some but it ain't for others.

Wasn't my point though and I don't think it was Shabbas. I was one of the first people on here to talk about changing system and trying something different.

My issue is that it shouldn't be 442 as the variation, no one plays it for a reason. Try something different by all means, just not that.

It feels a bit like if my old man would ring me up and start criticising windows 11, and then suggesting we should try windows 95 for a while instead.

[Blue Wilf]

It beggars belief how some just don't grasp that if it ain't working you try something bloody different for Ten or Fifteen minutes, to keep doing the same damn thing all the time might be OK with some but it ain't for others.

Wasn't my point though and I don't think it was Shabbas. I was one of the first people on here to talk about changing system and trying something different.

My issue is that it shouldn't be 442 as the variation, no one plays it for a reason. Try something different by all means, just not that.

It feels a bit like if my old man would ring me up and start criticising windows 11, and then suggesting we should try windows 95 for a while instead.

Whatever, Ricco. A change of formula to 442 or anything else is still preferable to pissing around in your own penalty box with 10 minutes to play. Just keep on playing the same is pointless as you may as well lose 0-3 as lose 0-2 - even 10 mins at 442 would have shown willingness to try - it still can work even in todays game as there is always the chance of a poor bounce or a deflection - the point is making a change, regardless of what the change may be. Just cos most teams don't play 442 nowadays does not mean it is obsolete and has no merit - it just means that you have more chance of getting a better job if you play it out from the back cos it is 'Pep' like despite most teams giving away pointless goals through their insistence in trying to play that way.

[Ricco]

Like I said, no issue with a change, I'm a proponent of being proactive. I just don't want to see 442 for many reasons, there are myriad of better ways to try something different.

If you're going to tell me about changing it up, you may as well tell it to a brick wall and save us both the time... I know. I agree.

[hallamblue]

Almost all teams seem to play 3-4-2-1 or occs 4-3-3.... these days. So maybe the 3421 formation is the modern take on 442 .
It shouldn't mean you can adopt a two striker attack for a owriod of time in a game. Who knows ows it might even catch the opposition out . Football is over coached and sterile in so many ways these days. None more so than in the PL. There's zero spontaneity now.

[shabba]

Thing is we do mix it up sometimes, small tweaks, and the formation has changed to 343 and made as a lot more solid - at the expense of the attacking play.

I think the problem is the teams in this league are just way above our level. I watched two games today and the speed and range of passing/movement is way above, just better players used to playing a quicker game.

We have some players at that level and when they up the speed it’s good, but often it’s a bit too slow and we are likely just a bit scared of what teams can do to us.

Also on the kick it long, there is a place for it - but most of the time you end up being under pressure 10 seconds later, ie the ball just keeps coming back.

[Blue Wilf]

Thing is we do mix it up sometimes, small tweaks, and the formation has changed to 343 and made as a lot more solid - at the expense of the attacking play.

I think the problem is the teams in this league are just way above our level. I watched two games today and the speed and range of passing/movement is way above, just better players used to playing a quicker game.

We have some players at that level and when they up the speed it’s good, but often it’s a bit too slow and we are likely just a bit scared of what teams can do to us.

Also on the kick it long, there is a place for it - but most of the time you end up being under pressure 10 seconds later, ie the ball just keeps coming back.

No w that is true - they are better than us generally. I am not asking particularly for 442 or anything else (although it would be worth a try imo!) but surely that is why KM gets paid the big bucks yet I watch every week and I simply don't see it. If others do then enlighten me please cos I have been watching this game for the best part of 60 years and an inability to adapt to a game situation (in whatever way that may be) was as necessary in the 1960's and 79's as it is today - we just don't do it!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Struggle not to bite at some of the comments from
Certain people, there’s a reason nobody plays 442

If you disagree with me, that's fine - that's what a forum is all about, and I'm a big boy, I can take criticism and challenges and they don't bother me at all. But, please, do me the courtesy of addressing me directly or by name, not by making childish snide remarks. You clearly think you know more than those on this board who are calling for changes in approach, but it's no accident that our wins this season have come about playing a system other than the 4-2-3-1 (the "modern" formation) that you seem to advocate. If 3-4-3 gets us wins, why should not 4-4-2 also, or 4-2-4, or 2-3-5? We'll never know if it's not tried.