Leeds United vs Ipswich Town Match Preview

[Charnwood]

That's just our luck at the minute DAMN SAKE

A missed penalty isn't usually bad luck, it's usually either a great save or a crap penalty.

[Bluemike]

That's just our luck at the minute DAMN SAKE

A missed penalty isn't usually bad luck, it's usually either a great save or a crap penalty.

Bit of both

[Quasar]

I am so furious...if I could explode......

[Frosty]

I am so furious...if I could explode......

......... it would be a really yukky clean up job .........

[lucy]

FT 2-1 By god we really need to pull our Socks up or we are out of the race.

[JonnoTown]

We'll never win again!

We didn't take our chances. Another typical championship game.

I hope the penalty miss is the lowest point of the season and the players realise there is a lot of hard work to get some momentum going.

I feel for the travelling faithful this evening.

[sonofwark]

That Brentford game is looking season defining...

[Charnwood]

With only 13 points taken from a possible 33 since 1st January, surely even the most positive Tractor Boys will realise this just isn't good enough for a team challenging for promotion and has gone well beyond a blip.

[superchef]

So whats gone wrong? The real Ipswich Town are starting to show No passion, just nothing! I rest my Case!

[Bluemike]

We got it wrong with the bloody team selection, two useless lumps up front, WTF was he thinking !!!! Dropping Bru FFS and keeping in Smith and Bart who looking at the goals again f*cked up yet again. Fed up tonight for the first time this season and it's Mick's fault.

[James Scharmann]

And Norwich lose to Wigan typical

[Charnwood]

Murphy has to shoulder some of the blame, had he stuck his penalty away we'd have all been feeling a little different, but in reality that's another 3 points dropped to a team in the bottom half of the table.

It could have been worse, we could have lost at home to Norwich who missed a great opportunity to pull away from us.

Crazily if we win on Saturday we're back in the mix again.

[Bluemike]

Yes saturday is the important one for sure as a win ensures we are back in the top six. I am thoroughly dejected tonight.

[herforder]

Play-offs now the realistic aim. Both Leeds goals partly self-inflicted. Previously strong defence looking increasingly suspect and prone to individual errors. Saturday becomes a must win. MM must get team selection right - starting with GK.

Consistency - the key to success. We're failing that test.

[Bluemike]

Play-offs now the realistic aim. Both Leeds goals partly self-inflicted. Previously strong defence looking increasingly suspect and prone to individual errors. Saturday becomes a must win. MM must get team selection right - starting with GK.

Consistency - the key to success. We're failing that test.

thankfully so are some of the others which is keeping us in it atm.

[lucy]

I just worry with the Teams coming up we have to play .

[Shed on tour]

Even if we win Saturday I feel we will struggle to finish top 6 now.

Our current away form is poor, 4 defeats in the last 5 and with us still having to go to Middlesbrough, Watford & Wolves it is hard to see us getting much return from those fixtures. This puts even more pressure on us to win our home games.

Would love to be proved wrong though.

[Charnwood]

We'd all love to see you proved wrong Shed, but unfortunately current form suggests you're more likely to be right with your projection. Sadly our down turn couldn't have come at a worse time.

[barmy billy]

Hopefully those that went to the match tonight will enlighten us, but it sounded as if Tabb had a bad game. I am not jumping on any bandwagon as I have never rated him and am amazed that MM picks him. Every time I have seen him play he has been poor and I just don't see anything positive that he brings to the team.

I know we have injuries, but is there really not a better option?

[marko69]

Judging by how things normally go in this league, they'll more than likely win @ Boro, Watford & Wolves.

Agree that the game V Brentford is a biggie.

[Charnwood]

Based on recent results these next few games don't look very attractive.

Brentford (H)
Middlesbrough (A)
Bolton (H)
Watford (A)
Bournemouth (H)

Even Bolton at home won't be easy.

To be honest March could prove to be a pretty nasty month, that said win three home games and I'm pretty sure we'll still be in the mix.

[arana peligrosa]

If I had known how sh*t things would turn out after new year I would have made more of being in the top two over Christmas. Unfortunately no-one can see into the future, sometimes it's just as well.

Would have taken a point if the penalty had counted, a draw at Leeds represents a decent score on paper, but once again we talk about a missed opportunity and what might have been. Yes McCarthy's team selection was a little bizarre and had Murphy been on from the start then just maybe we could be discussing at least a point taken. It's becoming more regular now where we can't simply put these things down to a blip or a 'day off', we're dropping points left and right it seems now and at such a pivotal part of the season. I'll keep faith with the manager right 'til end of season but that faith can only last for so long. If he was to leave during the summer would it really be such a bad thing ? and who could come in in his place ? Guess that's another discussion for another time.

Positivies to take from tonight : Norwich had a loss also, we beat Leeds by a big score earlier in the season, and we're still (once again) very much involved in the play-off scene.

We always say after a game like this : never mind, we'll move on to the next game, things will be better next time - it's almost like an obligation and believe next time will be better - but what if the same occurs then ?

Supporting this club sometimes is best avoided when fighting depression. I really did think for a time that we could be a premier league club by August and while that still may come to pass, the best opportunity we had ourselves (over new year) has slowly drained away and we (now) battle away in hope of a play-off place. I still believe we can do it, but not doing ourselves any favors once again. I wish I knew what went wrong (and the subsequent fall) at the time it occured.

[ipswichtownNo1]

Hats off to all you guys who are sticking by mick till end of season but for me he has lost the plot. Team selection against norwich and tonight is plain strange. Even worse he thought we matched norwich last sunday!! He needs a reality check

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

It's hard to stay calm after I've seen tonight. For the first time ever since McCarthy took over he truly angered me with his team selection. I'd day that was probably the most bizarre line-up ever. Said to my mates from Northern branch who I arrived with we might be better come back home.The line up with no pace, no creativity, no width, no invention. That proved to be the case in the dreadful first half. Apart from disallowed Varney's goal Leeds keeper Silvestri had an extremely quiet evening.
I can't question players' endeavour. They put a shift in terms of effort. However we played with zero tactical thought. Just hoof it forward and see what happens. Horrible hoofball. Long balls and looking for flick-ons.

We were a bit better and slightly more adventurous from the beginning of second half and Mings' header was well parried away by Silvestri. Seemed as if we could have snatched a winner as players were trying despite hopeless hoofballing tactics.

People will have seen goals on TV. Time for Bialkowski to be back on the bench. Gerken hasn't done anything wrong to lose his place in the team. In truth though it shouldn't have been a free-kick but for stupid Mings' dance with the ball in front of the box. Why was he doing it? Totally needless free-kick.

And then Mr.McCarthy makes a panic substitution and sends Sears on. All of sudden the game's picture changes and we become a threat. Once again Sears was our best player as he'd torment their defence with his electric pace. Good goal though their keeper made a mistake too.

Leeds' second goal ridiculous too. How on earth Sharp got so much space from Smith and Berra to convert good delivery he got. Yet another of Smith's countless f**k-ups since the start of new year

Panic and desperate attacks but hardly any tactical thought in it. Even though that was a good save the Murphy's penalty was still weak.

To be honest Leeds young midfield deserves the credit. They sensed their chance given how hopeless tacticallly we were and went for it.

Am I TURNING against McCarthy? No way as he's been our best manager for years but his baffling team selections cost us games. WHY ON EARTH DOESN'T HE PLAY WINGERS? Just because they negate his defensive philosophy?
Poor Cameron Stewart, quick skillful winger can't get a game. Young promising Alex Henshall. I saw the latter earlier this season against Derby and what difference he made then. He played quick wingers like Kightly and Jarvis in his Wolves team years ago. Why doesn't he use this system here?

The middle of midfield?? Utter despair. Can anyone imagine players like Skuse and Tabb to be key ones in any other promotion chasing teams? No ball distribution, no playmaking. The only good thing about Tabb was his desire and graft as he chased every ball. Nothing else.

Defence........ central back continues as right back and we play two left footed CB's in the middle where one of them (Smith) ought to be dropped. Nothing is getting changed and only Mick knows why.

What's his reasonable explanation in dropping three influential players tonight? Rest? If that's the case why his beloved boy Skuse never get dropped when fit? How on earth doesn't he get 'rested' when others do?

If I had the chance I'd like to ask Evans or McCarthy what the clubs vision is. Lack of transfer activity last January, team selections are bizarre and systematically results keep worsening.

We were 2nd in the league at New Year and two months later we play Varney upfront. Comedy !

Very downbeat and resigned tonight. For the first time ever Mick has let me down. And now he tells us in his post-match interview how he's 'pissed off'. It's his decisions, his team selection and tactic has cost us yet another game. I have always been one of his staunchest fans but I'm not going to blindly accept every his decision. Just want him to change his apprehensive approach.

Perhaps some people may be scolding me and telling 'keep the faith as the season isn't over'......... That faith? What should it be based on when team selections are bizarre to say the very least?

[Bluemike]

Excellent report mach and many thanks for the txts etc last night, always good to hear from someone who is actually there instead of pretending to have been there.

I pretty much agree with every word of it, like you I am one of MM's biggest fans and will not be changing from that, however in the last two games he has f*cked it up beyond belief and then to insult us with his after match comments makes me angrier still. Much of our success was down to having a small, close knit squad who all worked for each other, suddenly we bring in Chaplow, Varney & Wood and I feel we are losing what we had, I dont think the injuries we have at the moment have helped us there and no doubt that is why he has brought these donkeys in.

As for team selection you have to be nuts to drop Murphy, Sears and Bru and yet he did it !!!! We absolutely have to go back to the 4-3-3 which served us so well and got us to the top of the league. We also must bring Gerks back in, Bialkowski ios costing us points every week and Smith offers nothing but panic and errors, if he didnt wear the shirt again I would be happy, I would rather see Matt Clarke play to be honest. Like you it baffles me why Stewart, Henshall and now Connolly are continually overlooked ??? Having slept on it I am still as pissed off as I was last night.

The only thing I will say Mach and I am getting a bit fed up of saying it now, but a win saturday will see us back in the top six and in the fight, BUT we have to want it again and we need to bloody well go for it.

[marko69]

Thanks very much for that match report MPB. The entire scenario sounds a big bit more serious than many might think.

Someone has already said this, (maybe Charnwood) and it sounds a tad dramatic, but Saturday could well be the most defining game of the season.

[number 9]

Thanks for the honest report Mach! Yes, the downfall that many of us feared due to lack of transfer activity, change of tactics and utilization of our fringe players has certainly came to haunt us. The question is, how will the players and MM react? Silly question, but they'll have to ask themselves if they really want to be promoted this season...because at the moment it appears they don't or don't know how.

However, as a few of you have said...a win against Brentford (I think we will win) will get us back in the hunt. Unfortunately, we need more than a win. We need consistent improvement for the rest of the season or we won't be going up. That's a fact!

COYBs!!

[Bluemike]

Thanks for the honest report Mach! Yes, the downfall that many of us feared due to lack of transfer activity, change of tactics and utilization of our fringe players has certainly came to haunt us. The question is, how will the players and MM react? Silly question, but they'll have to ask themselves if they really want to be promoted this season...because at the moment it appears they don't or don't know how.

However, as a few of you have said...a win against Brentford (I think we will win) will get us back in the hunt. Unfortunately, we need more than a win. We need consistent improvement for the rest of the season or we won't be going up. That's a fact!

COYBs!!

Sorry but I disagree with you, for me it is the transfer activity that many craved that is f**king it up.

[number 9]

Thanks for the honest report Mach! Yes, the downfall that many of us feared due to lack of transfer activity, change of tactics and utilization of our fringe players has certainly came to haunt us. The question is, how will the players and MM react? Silly question, but they'll have to ask themselves if they really want to be promoted this season...because at the moment it appears they don't or don't know how.

However, as a few of you have said...a win against Brentford (I think we will win) will get us back in the hunt. Unfortunately, we need more than a win. We need consistent improvement for the rest of the season or we won't be going up. That's a fact!

COYBs!!

Sorry but I disagree with you, for me it is the transfer activity that many craved that is f**king it up.

Sorry but I disagree. We were stuttering before the transfers came in, and the transfers who did come in are donkeys! I should have said 'lack of quality transfers'.

[Bluemike]

We had won 3 out of 4 before the latest three came in, now they are getting game time we have lost two in a row.