Ipswich Town vs Reading Match Preview

[J4ck22]

Lets see if you think its not a big deal by next Sunday when we're out of the top six. Im sorry but I would have to disagree with you, we WE'RE that bad today...as we were at Rotherham. I think we are running out of steam and how many players saw fit to hoof the bloody thing today? Why bring on defenders whdn the game is crying out for attackers with pace. It was utter crap today. Mings failed to close down their winger (he spent moet if thd game just wandering around , wtf does he think he is, seriously?? Whilst our GK needs to seriously review why he didnt get within a country mile of quite a tame shot.

I seriously don't see it. This happens every bloody time we lose. You're questioning why Parr (a proven wide threat) was brought on instead of Stewart (played 30 mins all season) or Connolly (Total random Irish league player)? It seemed the more logical choice. Pace doesn't make any difference when a team parks the bus like Reading did. We came at them for the whole game and unfortunately nothing came off. I'm sorry that I can't see the complete catastrophe that today supposedly was, but somehow after this whole mess we're in, I remain optimistic that we might JUST escape relegation.

Lol yes ok I accept your point of view.

But it will be a bloody catastrophe when dtopnout of the top six having had not so many weeks ago a gap between us and 3rd place and some 7-8 points between us and teams in 7th / 8th.

If we've been doing do well since the turn of the new year where have all these points evaporated to?

Everybody is dropping points though. We're barely any further off top than we were at the start of the day, so if we're in the sh*t then so is everybody else above us.

[hallamblue]

For one reason or another MM is obsessed with playing a back four of Chambers, Berra, Smith & Mings if all are fit and clearly this confines Parr to the bench.

Most if not all fans would prefer to see an extended run given to a back four of Parr, Chambers, Berra & Mings with Smith used as back up, however for reasons known only to him McCarthy seems reluctant to try this other than when forced to.

Given recent results which has seen us drop from our end of year position of 2nd just one point off the lead and 10 points clear of Norwich, to a position which feels akin to "hanging on".....I think our leader is definitely going to have to ring some changes and freshen things up.

He did it for the midweek game against Sheff Wed after the horror show at Rotherham, hopefully he can do it again after today's disappointing performance.

I think your comment of "hanging on" is what ive been trying to allude to when referring to our drop in form
( confidence?) Its how the players will be feeling which I think will be key now.

How many times do we see the team making a late run of good form to sneak into the top 6 , invariably to get promoted - usually against the better performing team over the greater part of the season who have sat in or around the top 3 or 4 for mostbof the season!

Town have to date, had a fantastic season. But we are IMO in danger of seeing it all melt away and to FEEL like failure, because we have been in or around automatuc automatic promotion for so long. Mentallly we are on a downward spiral ( again my opinion - ive played sport to a high level all my life life and the pyschology involved in a game is massive ). I think the players may well feel it is slipping away. They have gone from second , with a gap between 3rd , to now "hanging on" to stay in the play offs - yes , we ard still only a few points off top two, BUT it wont feel like that

[Charnwood]

I'm not convinced that you're looking at the right measures J4ck, this is not just about what's happened in the Championship today, it's more about the worrying trend that's been setting in since the end of 2014, when were sitting just 1 point off the league leaders and 10 points clear of the first team outside the play offs (7th).

After a run of pretty average fixtures played so far this year, we're now 5 points off the leaders and only 2 points clear of the team sitting 7th.

Clearly if this trend continues, it won't be long before we drop out of the play off zone and into the chasing pack, which I think would be quite demoralising considering that not long back automatic promotion looked a realistic target, and the play offs looked "almost a given".

I don't understand why you can't see this trend as worrying, and presenting a problem.

[number 9]

I have to side with the worriers. In fact, I've been worrying since the Rotheram loss. I said a few weeks ago, teams have figured us out. I don't have to watch every game live to figure that out. It's great to stick behind your team when things aren't going well, but it's another thing to entirely ignore your team's downfall. Just as we don't have the right to beat every team we play, MM doesn't have the right to always know what's right. Of course, MM obviously knows something's wrong, but sometimes it seems like he's not really bothered. I mean, he always has next year right? Well the majority of us are tired of waiting for next year, and we want more than just avoiding relegation! Agree with Hallam completely...we're throwing away our best chance in 10 years to be promoted, and it's making me sick to the stomach. IMHO...

[arana peligrosa]

We always allude to 'Its ok we dropped points, because other teams did also' but in the bigger picture it just makes the situation worse than it already is. It's tough not to reiterate what's already been mentioned but fact of the matter being we gave away another fine opportunity today and should have pounced on others mistakes. That we didn't, and that we once again underperformed and let the supporters down won't go away overnight. Are the players scared of something ? Are they in fear of pissing their pants if there's a tangible opportunity of a place in next seasons premier league ? I wish I knew what the answer were.

I didn't rate the two recent additions. Yes it's early days and they're only going to be around for a short time while others make their way back in, but they were already castigated by many before they even started a game. Sure need a center forward that can contribute and Murphy apart, we just don't have it right now. McGoldrick will return soon but even then it don't appear no great reward. Should have got in that Murray kid if the rumors were to be believed as I thought at least he could produce something here and would have been an interesting acquisition. Maybe it's not too late to make a move but the greater time will be spent looking at the weeks ahead as the season draws to another finish and we continue to give away games and points to damn opposition teams we should be overcoming. We've come a long way and endured arguably the best season since Royle so why p*ss it all away at this stage.

[JonnoTown]

If we win the next 2 games that's 4 wins in 5. Promotion form.

It's a big week for us. But no point getting upset about dropping out the play offs when we're still there with plenty of games to play.

We were never going to win 5 games in a row.

We lost a game of football, that's all. Glad we have Tuesday to recover.

[Bluemike]

I can understand the worriers frustrations, after all we get used to it after every defeat, the end of the world is nigh. But jack is right with a lot that he says, all teams are dropping points and looking not to drop out of the top six, take it from me Bournemouth are on a far worse run than we are while watford are so inconsistent too, a win on Tuesday will give us 9 from 12 and as someone said that is promotion form, stop bloody looking at the result yesterday as the only one that counts, it isnt. We are always going to lose games and you need to get used to it. The thing with your point about where we were a few weeks ago Charny is true but I think at the time we all said we were in a false position and punching above our weight. I tell you what I bet Norwich going to Blackburn and Bournemouth going to Forest on Tueasday evening aren't gimme's, we have to concentrate on what we do, Norwich have won Four in a row and still havent caught us !!! It will change again. I aint giving up on the dream for sure, I like to think I am a little more measured in my thoughts and reactions to defeats.

[Charnwood]

I think it's great that some of you guys always look for the positives cos that's the way I've always chosen to my life, however there are times when you have to stop and take a reality check, and in terms of our football team that reality is that we should have done better in our recent games against Brighton, Wigan, Rotherham & Reading. These games have yeid just 1 point whereas with just 6 points we'd be sitting top of the league this morning. Whilst I don't want to knock what's been achieved so far, getting six points from those four games shouldn't have been beyond us, especially if we have aspirations of playing in the Premier League.

It maybe that we just have to accept we aren't quite there yet, and still have a way to go before we're ready to make a serious promotion challenge. That may well be the thinking in the Boardroom where the top men decided not to give McCarthy the financial backing he needed in the January transfer window to do what Derby County did in their "Drive for the Line".

Derby were in a similar position to us yesterday trailing to Sheffield Wednesday but with new blood Ince, Bent & Lingard they were able to overcome stubborn resistance and eventually wore the opposition down whereas we seem to have lost a bit of that killer instinct especially in front of goal.

I know a win on Tuesday will keep us in the promotion race, and I know others will have bad days etc, but life is all about taking opportunities and I just have a feeling we've not done all we should to have taken all ours recently, and that usually leads to regrets.

[Bluemike]

Cant argue with anything there but our opportunity is still there for us, it hasnt gone just yet. We must win Tuesday first and foremost and then we can deal with the Norwich game next weekend. I am as disappointed as anyone about yesterday but thats life, we need to dust ourselves down and bounce back just as we did at Fulham, we can still do it.

[marko69]

I think it's great that some of you guys always look for the positives cos that's the way I've always chosen to my life, however there are times when you have to stop and take a reality check, and in terms of our football team that reality is that we should have done better in our recent games against Brighton, Wigan, Rotherham & Reading. These games have yeid just 1 point whereas with just 6 points we'd be sitting top of the league this morning. Whilst I don't want to knock what's been achieved so far, getting six points from those four games shouldn't have been beyond us, especially if we have aspirations of playing in the Premier League.

It maybe that we just have to accept we aren't quite there yet, and still have a way to go before we're ready to make a serious promotion challenge. That may well be the thinking in the Boardroom where the top men decided not to give McCarthy the financial backing he needed in the January transfer window to do what Derby County did in their "Drive for the Line".

Derby were in a similar position to us yesterday trailing to Sheffield Wednesday but with new blood Ince, Bent & Lingard they were able to overcome stubborn resistance and eventually wore the opposition down whereas we seem to have lost a bit of that killer instinct especially in front of goal.

I know a win on Tuesday will keep us in the promotion race, and I know others will have bad days etc, but life is all about taking opportunities and I just have a feeling we've not done all we should to have taken all ours recently, and that usually leads to regrets.

Part in bold, That's it in a bawbag......., err, I mean a nutshell, for me Charnwood.

[Bluemike]

If that is the case Middlesbrough should really be looking to get six points from Leeds & Birmingham, they got One, Bournemouth really need to be getting six points from Brentford & Huddersfield, they got One, so are they still in the hunt and playing well while we are not ??

[marko69]

Cant argue with anything there but our opportunity is still there for us, it hasnt gone just yet. We must win Tuesday first and foremost and then we can deal with the Norwich game next weekend. I am as disappointed as anyone about yesterday but thats life, we need to dust ourselves down and bounce back just as we did at Fulham, we can still do it.

Michael......., does this mean you "look" for things to argue about? Hahaha! Superb.

Really hoping its a win on Tuesday......., hopefully the club can also avoid allowing Norwich to release more f**king DVD's.

Saying that......., a "f**king" DVD from Norwich would be weird eh?

[J4ck22]

I definitely understand the frustrations because I feel them too, we all do. I don't always agree with Mick's decisions but I understand his logic behind it. I guess I just struggle to focus on that sort of thing when in reality we're having a very good season and I'm still fully confident that a top 6 finish is possible.

[marko69]

If that is the case Middlesbrough should really be looking to get six points from Leeds & Birmingham, they got One, Bournemouth really need to be getting six points from Brentford & Huddersfield, they got One, so are they still in the hunt and playing well while we are not ??

The difference is, I must assume that the majority of ITFC fans aren't really giving a fk what the other clubs are doing. They only give a fk when ITFC are losing...... Exactly what you are doing now. If ITFC win at home to Reading, all the Boro Bournemouth shitty talk disappears.

[larrylamb]

Christ, it wasn't THAT bad

... Reading blatantly parked the bus after scoring so no wonder we struggled to break them down despite having all of everything. Reading are a bottom club who got an early goal from nothing and used took the opportunity to grind out the rest of the game and unfortunately it worked. Not a big deal.

Strongly disagree we were that bad today , we were dire..Hoofball.!!..what most defended as a slur against the team , we most defiantly are !! , i,m with Hallam ...top six is now seems very doubtful unless MM changes in the team set up

[Bluemike]

Cant argue with anything there but our opportunity is still there for us, it hasnt gone just yet. We must win Tuesday first and foremost and then we can deal with the Norwich game next weekend. I am as disappointed as anyone about yesterday but thats life, we need to dust ourselves down and bounce back just as we did at Fulham, we can still do it.

Michael......., does this mean you "look" for things to argue about? Hahaha! Superb.

Really hoping its a win on Tuesday......., hopefully the club can also avoid allowing Norwich to release more f**king DVD's.

Saying that......., a "f**king" DVD from Norwich would be weird eh?

No mate, I argue my point when I believe people talk bollocks, which is pretty often to be fair.

[Bluemike]

If that is the case Middlesbrough should really be looking to get six points from Leeds & Birmingham, they got One, Bournemouth really need to be getting six points from Brentford & Huddersfield, they got One, so are they still in the hunt and playing well while we are not ??

The difference is, I must assume that the majority of ITFC fans aren't really giving a fk what the other clubs are doing. They only give a fk when ITFC are losing...... Exactly what you are doing now. If ITFC win at home to Reading, all the Boro Bournemouth shitty talk disappears.

It seems to me a fair few are only interested in what Norwich are doing.

[Charnwood]

Cant argue with anything there but our opportunity is still there for us, it hasnt gone just yet. We must win Tuesday first and foremost and then we can deal with the Norwich game next weekend. I am as disappointed as anyone about yesterday but thats life, we need to dust ourselves down and bounce back just as we did at Fulham, we can still do it.

Michael......., does this mean you "look" for things to argue about? Hahaha! Superb.

Really hoping its a win on Tuesday......., hopefully the club can also avoid allowing Norwich to release more f**king DVD's.

Saying that......., a "f**king" DVD from Norwich would be weird eh?

No mate, I argue my point when I believe people talk bollocks, which is pretty often to be fair.

Now then Mike, are you suggesting most of my talk is bollocks!.... shame on you my friend.

[Charnwood]

If that is the case Middlesbrough should really be looking to get six points from Leeds & Birmingham, they got One, Bournemouth really need to be getting six points from Brentford & Huddersfield, they got One, so are they still in the hunt and playing well while we are not ??

The difference is, I must assume that the majority of ITFC fans aren't really giving a fk what the other clubs are doing. They only give a fk when ITFC are losing...... Exactly what you are doing now. If ITFC win at home to Reading, all the Boro Bournemouth shitty talk disappears.

It seems to me a fair few are only interested in what Norwich are doing.

I couldn't give a sh*t what Norwich do......

until they overtake us in the League table that is.... please tell me this won't happen this season?

[Bluemike]

Now then Mike, are you suggesting most of my talk is bollocks!.... shame on you my friend.

Not at all Charny, I respect everyone who posts on here regardless of if we win, lose or draw, take a look back at threads when we win, the absent names are obvious, then look at the threads when we lose, they are the ones that I cant abide.

[marko69]

I just don't get it at all. If there was ever a club that ITFC should be concerned about......, ITS NORWICH. Closest rivals,......., if the hatred in EA runs as deep as it does in Edinburgh with the Cabbage and "Them fkrs", of course people will more concerned about what Norwich do. I STILL cant stand Keith Bertschin for knocking Town out of the '83 FA Cup!

I'd place a never to be proven bet that 9 out of every 10 ITFC fans are extremely concerned about what Norwich are doing, AND next Sunday. And it is not their fault that theyll feel that way......., the lads performance against Reading is the cause. Yes they mustn't forget the good work that has gone in, no one should, ....., but every game appears to be a banana skin at the moment and butt cheeks are a twitchin'!

[Bluemike]

I would happily lose next Sunday if it meant we win most other games and finish ahead of them.

[herforder]

Folk producing a variety of stats which essentially show one certainty: any of those bucking for glory who put a consistent, winning, run together will be in the mix. Consistency is the key. We need to find some, hopefully starting on Tuesday night.

Although some watch what others do, and scrutinise their stats etc, they can in no way act as a guide for what might or might not achieve - the stats prove that! What was of real concern yesterday - apart from some poor individual performances, and our one dimensional approach - was our inability as a team to find a way to overcome a well-organsed, strong and determined side who did exactly what we would seek to do in away games.

Lots for Mick to look at and think about methinks.

[Dubai Blue]

We have a tendency to score early in games, especially at home, and this means that teams have to open up which suits our style of play well. Yesterday we were attacking from the off and had a fair few chances to score which were spurned. Then they got a goal out of nothing, apparently due to Mings not closing down Mackie some 25 yards away from goal.

How different the game would have looked if we had taken one of those chances in the first 15.

It sounds like we had real problems breaking down a team who managed to survive our opening salvoes and fortuitously nicked a goal themselves. This won't happen often and when it does, it will always make us look bad.

I'm not overly concerned and feel that this can happen from time to time. Two issues for me stand out though:

a. People are saying Mings was not closing down, lazy, wandering around. Maybe he needs another rest?
b. MM needs to be thinking more about how to break down teams that park the bus. All top teams will have this problem late in the season, especially when playing teams that are looking for a draw. We have to work on how to deal with this. Appying pressure right from kickoff is clearly a MM tactic which works well very often but we need another plan when it doesn't.

[hallamblue]

http://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/334407/mick ... omments/#7


does he have a point? Are we about to bring someone in ?

[marko69]

Mike....., please don't think I'm being a fkn knob and singling you out, ...... But, "happily lose next Sunday"? I honestly haven't ever heard those words uttered before regarding a derby match.

I DO understand where you are coming from though........, I just couldn't ever say that regarding the cnts from Wesr Edinburgh.

[Bluemike]

So you are putting victory over Norwich above finishing above them ? Strange one if you are mate. Of course I want to beat them, I want to bloody thrash them, all I am saying is finishing above them is more important than beating them in a one off match.

[number 9]

Granted the teams around us are losing points also, but they're also scoring goals. Brentford is the only team near us that has an lower goal difference. We can't rely on Murph to score all the goals...obviously. So what should MM do? I'm not a rocket scientist, but I think maybe some more attacking football may be in the cards. I like the idea of going back to 4-3-3 with Bish behind the two front men. I also think MM should try a few new faces in MF...let's see what the likes of Stewart and Connolly can do...just a look maybe at 65 mins. I'm not that concerned about defense although they've been a bit shaky at times, but we're not getting beat 5-0. Come on Mick, let's jump start the tractor and get our boys promoted! COYBs!!!

[marko69]

So you are putting victory over Norwich above finishing above them ? Strange one if you are mate. Of course I want to beat them, I want to bloody thrash them, all I am saying is finishing above them is more important than beating them in a one off match.

I still don't get it though. No one has made the "either/ or" reference regarding beating them or finishing above them, apart from you!! Of course everyone wants to DO BOTH!

The point I was trying to make that (for me) it's a natural thing to be "bothered" about what Norwich are doing. You come on here and say, "people are more interested in Norwich"......, from a fans perspective, I don't see anything wrong with that.

If MICK was more concerned about Norwich,....., now that'd be a problem.

[arana peligrosa]

Murphy apart we don't have any real goal threat. Hunt was a flash in the pan, McGoldrick hasn't been as effective as before - when he is involved - and the new players such as Varney for example, some aren't expecting much. If Murphy gets injured or in any way out of action, goals could become few and far between. It's almost as if we're dependant on one player alone to lead the way sometimes. One last time, I think McCarthy could have done a little better by way of the loan window particularly in attacking departments.

That's just one aspect of the problem however (as once again) the team isn't consistent enough and approaching something resembling a self-belief crisis. That's not to say we're in a mess because we aren't. It's just in the simplest terms we're slowly week by week shooting ourselves in the foot and spurning chances to achieve something better and before long, if this trend continues we just may find ourselves out of the top six altogether or worse of all in a position where even a play-off spot in no longer achieveable. I only hope when McGoldrick returns he can find something near his previous stature and start getting amongst the goals one more time and he and Murphy can once again he a successful partnership.