Ipswich/Norwich: Bleak times in East Anglia

[Dazza]

Before the start of the season few would have predicted that between them Ipswich Town and Norwich City would have already lost 18 League games between them and that both sides would be sitting in the lower half of the Championship table. Already both of East Anglia’s premier clubs are outsiders for even a play-off place.

Neither side are in serious threat of relegation but this sort of mid-table mediocrity isn’t what the fans have been used to in recent seasons. While both clubs have struggled to hold their place in the Premiership elite since its inception, they have often been among the sides making a decent cut at promotion. Ipswich have become almost perennial play-off contenders, although they have had huge disappointments over the years.

Norwich came down with high hopes, if that isn’t a contradiction, because they made such a good fist of the last third of the Premiership campaign. The Canaries held on to prize assets Dean Ashton and Robert Green but the team just hasn’t fired as yet. Whatever the good intentions, it must be difficult to get motivated for games at Crewe and Brighton after locking horns with Chelsea and Manchester United.

Ipswich missed out in the play-offs yet again- five times since 1997, the Tractor Boys have been denied and just once the team made it to the Premiership. This sort of thing has a draining effect on a club both in terms of motivation and the loss of key players to clubs in the top flight. This summer Darren Bent, Kelvin Davis and Tommy Miller left for the Premiership, soon to be followed by Shefqi Kuqi.

Among the players remaining, there are those who have been through several failed promotion campaigns made all the more galling by falling just short of automatic slots. The squad has been shorn of some depth by departures since the team came out of the Premiership making Joe Royle’s task even harder. Just a few injuries can bite deeply at Portman Road.

Though these two clubs are big rivals, for most football followers they are welcome visitors to the Premiership. The home crowds give tremendous support to their respective teams and both clubs have a reputation and tradition of playing decent football. Their presence in the top flight spreads the pattern of top level football beyond the conurbations and occasionally they shake up the established order.

Neither club is out of the hunt yet. Although catching Sheffield United and Reading seems a forlorn hope, play-off berths are not out of the question. (although Ipswich fans may question whether it’s worth it). Norwich especially, have the attacking weapons to frighten any defence in the division is Ashton and Darren Huckerby hit form.

Both sides have to tighten up the defence though. Only 2 teams have let in more than Ipswich’s 31 and Norwich have also been unconvincing at the back. Just about all Ipswich’s defeats have been against top half teams but Norwich’s loss to Millwall was a desperate result.

The run of games up to the New Year are now critical if either East Anglian outfit is to challenge for the play-offs. If they continue their current mediocre form for the next 7 games, mid-table mediocrity will be the fare for 2006. Neither club’s fans deserve that after the disappointments of the last few years.

[azbedwell]

where is that from?

[hallamblue]

probably the Doomsday book !!

[phily bon bon]

A very good piece.

[James the Brains]

bleak times in East Anglia? my arse. both teams are having poor seasons but the times are by no means "bleak". If you want bleak, take the 5th biggest city in England and have a look at the fortunes of its two clubs. City in the relegation zone of League 1. Rovers in the bottom half of League 2. and not a top-flight season between them for 25 long years. Now that's f**king bleak times.

[Dubai Blue]

Perhaps we should merge ........

Sell off Carrow road for property development........

Sell Ashton & Green for decent money .............

Pay off Worthington's contract ..............

Send Delia back to the kitchen where she belongs .....................

Build a new 50,000 seater stadium just North of Ipswich ................

And mount a new challenge to the premiership.

[hallamblue]

Perhaps we should merge ........

Sell off Carrow road for property development........

Sell Ashton & Green for decent money .............

Pay off Worthington's contract ..............

Send Delia back to the kitchen where she belongs .....................

Build a new 50,000 seater stadium just North of Ipswich ................

And mount a new challenge to the premiership.

Hmmm has it's merits ...but wot colour kit should we wear !! sorry girlie question I know - but it IS important when you consider I dont have my peas and sweet corn together on the same plate !!

[TODD66]

Perhaps we should merge ........

Sell off Carrow road for property development........

Sell Ashton & Green for decent money .............

Pay off Worthington's contract ..............

Send Delia back to the kitchen where she belongs .....................

Build a new 50,000 seater stadium just North of Ipswich ................

And mount a new challenge to the premiership.

Hmmm has it's merits ...but wot colour kit should we wear !! sorry girlie question I know - but it IS important when you consider I dont have my peas and sweet corn together on the same plate !!

Now its only fair that we merge the kits...............

Outfield we can wear Blue shirts, White shorts and let me think - ah yes White socks

Goalkeeper can use the current Norwich kit as it has one great advantage over ours - it is slightly less repulsive

There you go - sorted

All very fair me thinks

[McDonna29]

Perhaps we should merge ........

Sell off Carrow road for property development........

Sell Ashton & Green for decent money .............

Pay off Worthington's contract ..............

Send Delia back to the kitchen where she belongs .....................

Build a new 50,000 seater stadium just North of Ipswich ................

And mount a new challenge to the premiership.

And importantly, the name of the team would be?....

[TODD66]

Ipswich United - to reflect the fact that the two clubs have entered into a joint venture

[toby]

Before the start of the season few would have predicted that between them Ipswich Town and Norwich City would have already lost 18 League games between them and that both sides would be sitting in the lower half of the Championship table. Already both of East Anglia’s premier clubs are outsiders for even a play-off place.

Neither side are in serious threat of relegation but this sort of mid-table mediocrity isn’t what the fans have been used to in recent seasons. While both clubs have struggled to hold their place in the Premiership elite since its inception, they have often been among the sides making a decent cut at promotion. Ipswich have become almost perennial play-off contenders, although they have had huge disappointments over the years

Interesting article but I can't agree with the statement that neither are in danger of getting relegated.

I think both teams should be seriously starting to get concerned about relegation before even thinking about any possible charge for the play-offs.

How many times have we seen teams that are "too good to get relegated" get dragged into the bottom three and then not be able to fight their way out of it?

[Bluebird]

Before the start of the season few would have predicted that between them Ipswich Town and Norwich City would have already lost 18 League games between them and that both sides would be sitting in the lower half of the Championship table. Already both of East Anglia’s premier clubs are outsiders for even a play-off place.

Neither side are in serious threat of relegation but this sort of mid-table mediocrity isn’t what the fans have been used to in recent seasons. While both clubs have struggled to hold their place in the Premiership elite since its inception, they have often been among the sides making a decent cut at promotion. Ipswich have become almost perennial play-off contenders, although they have had huge disappointments over the years

Interesting article but I can't agree with the statement that neither are in danger of getting relegated.

I think both teams should be seriously starting to get concerned about relegation before even thinking about any possible charge for the play-offs.

How many times have we seen teams that are "too good to get relegated" get dragged into the bottom three and then not be able to fight their way out of it?

I don't think our current squad are capable of "fighting" their way out of a wet paper bag!

So maybe we should be afraid

[toby]

That's exactly what I mean BB.

IF we were to be involved in a fight against relegation at the end of the season could anyone see our bunch of fairies being able to grind out some important results?

There's more fight in the "Strictly Come Dancing" production team...

[Bluebird]

That's exactly what I mean BB.

IF we were to be involved in a fight against relegation at the end of the season could anyone see our bunch of fairies being able to grind out some important results?

There's more fight in the "Strictly Come Dancing" production team...

Its along time since we have been as poor as we are right now. Given the lack of fight and guts in the team, never mind the lack of quality, it is hard to look forward with any optimism

[Kheffan]

That's exactly what I mean BB.

IF we were to be involved in a fight against relegation at the end of the season could anyone see our bunch of fairies being able to grind out some important results?

There's more fight in the "Strictly Come Dancing" production team...

Its along time since we have been as poor as we are right now. Given the lack of fight and guts in the team, never mind the lack of quality, it is hard to look forward with any optimism

every time in the last few years, when we have needed to get the bit between our teeth, we have instead given up and hidden in a corner somwhere, like when we played Southampton in the FA cup , we were on top of our game , they on the bottom of theirs, what did we do we wimped out. 1-0

[essexgirl]

Perhaps we should merge ........

Sell off Carrow road for property development........

Sell Ashton & Green for decent money .............

Pay off Worthington's contract ..............

Send Delia back to the kitchen where she belongs .....................

Build a new 50,000 seater stadium just North of Ipswich ................

And mount a new challenge to the premiership.

I'm quite happy with us just being s*** thank you!!!

[hallamblue]

That's exactly what I mean BB.

IF we were to be involved in a fight against relegation at the end of the season could anyone see our bunch of fairies being able to grind out some important results?

There's more fight in the "Strictly Come Dancing" production team...

Its along time since we have been as poor as we are right now. Given the lack of fight and guts in the team, never mind the lack of quality, it is hard to look forward with any optimism

True ...but narwich are STILL below us lol ...doesnt say much for them does it !!