So How Do You Feel Now

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

At the start of the season, all of us had hopes and expectations for the coming season, what with the improved (sic) squad and all that.
I just wondered now what the feeling is about the 2 following questions:

1) How has the season panned out compared to your expectations?
2) What do you hope for next season?

My answers:

1) Did not expect to see us make any further progress, but certainly didn't expect regression. Thought we would once again finish 6th, and with the new personnel did not expect to see the quality of football played to degenerate into 'hit it and hope'
2) A new owner

[nicscreamer]

I wont answer for myself Rossi, as I have seen it all with Town over the past 40years. I will instead answer for my 13 yr old son who has only seen town in the championship.

His overriding feeling about Ipswich is now - Bored. Bored of dull football, bored of not scoring, bored of lack of excitement, bored of his friends taking the mickey out of him for supporting Ipswich when he should support Spurs who are more local to us.

His hopes for next season - At least a little bit of excitement. Fun, some passion to get the blood flowing.

Actually, that pretty much all I want too.

[number 9]

I think it's perfect timing for this thread. I have to admit, I'm feeling rather dejected and somewhat indifferent now with such a disappointing season. With the additions of Fraser and AMN, I thought for sure we'd score more goals. It's surprising to see Murphy not scoring...I thought he would have overcame his drought by now. Sears also isn't scoring which many have said is more to do with being played out of position. Bishop's and McGoldrick's injuries certainly haven't helped either. I anticipated our defence wouldn't be as solid due to Ming's departure, but I didn't think Berra would have such a poor season.

I honestly hope something changes for next season. I want to see us playing good football regardless of making the playoffs. Some have questioned supporters for their lack of belief during the 'down times', but FFS how much longer do we have to endure the crap? If it means setting a target and revaluating our style of play, I'm willing to wait if there's significant improvement. But if things stay the same, I think a lot of fans will find other things to do with their time.

Unfortunately, the Championship will be even harder to get out of next season with the teams coming down.

[barmy billy]

At the start of the season I felt more enthused than for many a year. My only hope was that MM would sign a good attacking midfield supremo to complete the jigsaw. What a pipedream that was. I didn't expect Murphy to repeat his heroics of last season, although I hoped he would weigh in with more than he has done. Sears has also disappointed, but what do you expect when he is stuck out wide the whole time.

As for next season: It's make or break time I'm afraid. Unless we want to regress, a large investment of cash and a new manager will make a world of diffference.

[Watership Down]

I guess the teams who are ahead of us retrofitted their squads and improved their play whereas Ipswich never really signed the players to take us over the top with the returning players not performing to their capabilities. Unfortunately nobody has a crystal ball and who knows how certain players are going to perform when the season kicks off. There are so many unknowns in football and I don't profess to have the answers. It's no surprise that Burnley, Middlesboro, Brighton, Hull, and Derby are among the teams most likely to challenge for promotion.

[bluepeter]

Boring is easy to latch onto.
We have the squad and capability to win and win well.
MM doesn't tell the lads to go out and be boring but once labeled fans of other teams pick up on this.
I was like a dog with 2 dicks after winning at Brighton and expected us to step up and challenge.
We have been unlucky with injuries and MM has not been given funds.
We did brilliant business with Bournemouth,picked up two quality players plus funds and I had high hopes when we topped the league early doors.
MM and TC now have the chance to blood a few of the youngsters and get the confidence running through the squad.
MM knows what he has and knows what he must do.
Lets hope the fans and ME back him.

[Bluemike]

Well it is certainly a good question to ask so here goes.

1) How has the season panned out compared to your expectations?

Prior to the start of the season I hoped and expected us to be in and around the play off race which by and large we have been until the last Three weeks, I hoped for us to sneak into the top Six and firmly believed we had a team capable of doing so, in fact I still believe our team was good enough to get in there. There is no one single reason as to why we look like falling short, for a start we have had terrible luck with injuries, that is not an excuse, it is fact, to lose Didsy & Bishop for virtually the whole season and then to be robbed of Fraser for over 4 months has ripped any creativity we had out of the team.

Another thing I certainly did not envisage was some of big players all having average seasons at best, Berra has gone backwards, Murphy was never going to replicate last season's goal tally but he has fallen short of the 16-18 I thought he would get, although the service at times has been dire to non existent, same with Freddie sears, works his socks off but in front of goal he has been wasteful and not on his game, to play slightly wide in a front Three should not really be used as an excuse as he is a attacking player, he has not really been played as an out and out winger much at all. Kevin Bru has for me been a bitter disappointment, I expected improvement but he has not even stood still, Chambo has stood still at RB and is often targeted by opponents which he struggles to deal with.

In a nutshell we are not really that far away from where I hoped we would be, a handful of points that were thrown away at the likes of Brentford, Forest & Bolton and at home to Wolves would see us in the top six now, the terrible home performances against the lower teams would not even matter had we hung on to leads in the dying seconds of those games, it is that close.

The big downer for me and what I did not expect was for MM to go so defensive and direct in his approach to the second half of the season, he clearly believes he is playing to the strengths of the available players but we are now getting sussed out big time, this is what comes from trying to go over 3 years without really spending anything and while I can understand why it has been that way there comes a time it catches up with you, that time is now. I also did not for one second envisage Town fans turning on Mick when the first blip of his tenure here arrives, for me he is a victim too and as Charny said on a thread elsewhere he is the best we are going to attract given our circumstances.



2) What do you hope for next season?

A massive question this one. First and foremost I definitely hope beyond hope we still have Mick McCarthy as our manager, he has done a great job and I see this difficult time as a blip, however for this to be the way forward I also want to see Marcus Evans now entrust in Mick with the financial backing and support he deserves, it doesn't take mega millions but a kitty to bring in 3 or 4 quality players would be an enormous help.

Do I want Marcus Evans to remain our owner, well yes I do provided the above criteria is met, if he is adament that we are going to spend nothing again then maybe it is time to seek a change, that in itself is hard to admit as I believe ME has been the saviour here and I get why the last few seasons he has chosen to be tight with the purse strings, that time has to end now. The spending we require would almost certainly see the negative and boring football diminish, lets face it we weren't seeing at the start of the season so we know we can have a different approach under MM.

I also hope we see the emergence of some of the kids, this takes time and Bryan Klug is starting to reap some rewards, it would be a damn shame to have to go back to square one with a new manager now, we need to resist any offers that may come our way for Andre Dozzell as we clearly have a star in the making at PR. If we can get the cash injection from ME then a serious and more attractive challenge for the top six at least next season would be a realistic target.

[herforder]

Like most, I was excited at the prospect of continuing last sseason's momentum. Trusting MM's judgement on those players brought in pre-season, particularly the Frazer and AMN loans, and anticipating further strengthening in January to help secure at least a play-off place. Not to do so would represent backsliding. The addition of pace and width would, I believed, move us on from the Plan A option. No doubting, that had Frazer/Bishop/McG not spent so much time injured, then we would probably have achieved that.

For next season, those in power need to accept what all supporters know: we've reached a critical crossroads. Getting out of reverse gear requires some realistic investment to improve quality, not quantity. Without it I only anticipate a slow decline, with no improvement in the standard, or entertainment value, of the football being played, leading to supporters' increased frustrations. So, ME front-up, and let us know your intentions!

[herforder]

Double strike - deleted!

[ipswichtownNo1]

Im still looking forward to the playoffs!! Seasons not over yet!!

[derick_ipsw]

Someone did a poll on here at start of season, where do you think we will finish? Can someone dig that up and the truth will out itself. I said top 10 and over achieved last season. Pretty much nails I think!!
We need to change the way we play or change the manager. He has done a job of stopping us getting relegated with gradual improvement. He has taken us as far as his style of football can take us I'm afraid.

[bluepeter]

MM's record of taking championship teams to the premiership is proven.Even 1 year there would swell our coffers and even get the parachute payment.
We have to get there end of.

[arana peligrosa]

#1 Despite the often sub-standard performances and scores the fact remains it's still possible for a play-off finish with enough games left. Let's not kid ourselves the chances are between slim and non-existent, but point being seem to recall saying back last pre-season the team would be there or thereabouts for a top six opportunity. We realized the automatic promotion places were out of the question but a finish between say the fifth and tenth positions would seem most probable. Two factors here : League and Cup progress and with the latter, we just about gave up before either contest was underway and didn't give a sh*t about future progression - you would kind of hope for a run in the competition or to make the later rounds, but on both occasions, (Manchester United / Portsmouth) the players - and McCarthy included - decided they would take no further participation. Remember reading at the time someone suggesting why we even bother to enter any competitions outside of the league such is the contempt invariably displayed.

Say again the league focus has seen us over achieving this season and one last time you have to question how we have found ourselves within distance of the top six for the majority such is the general mediocrity of the team and string of embarrassing scores and unacceptable performances. While McCarthy's abilities were questioned even last season by a select few I was prepared to allow him another season to produce something again or even go one better (than an eventual semi-final loss to Norwich in the play-off games) but I have seriously lost patience with the individual in question particularly in recent weeks and the level of garbage that has been witnessed by a great many at this club.

#2 In the simplest terms - McCarthy's resignation. Evans won't take decisive action any time soon so that only leaves leaving on his own free will and he's got to realize he's had his opportunity and should do the decent thing and step down. The thought of another season - let alone a potential two or three years - of McCarthy in position and his long list of deficiencies is a cause for concern. Lo and behold you'll get the (obligatory) - "If it wasn't for McCarthy we'd be a third league side, he was the club savior" - but while we applaud him for his assistance in what needed to be done at that moment in time, there is no way in hell the club will ever get out of the championship league so long as he remains in position. Yes we'll have a level of stability but as for actual progression, I find it very difficult at this (exact) time to see McCarthy being the difference next year and having some wild transformation from mediocre play and negative demeanor, into overseeing Town into a consistent challenger and actual contender for promotion.

Some would like a manager (next season) with new ideas and fresh perspective, not an outdated, obsolete relic who belongs in a fuckin' museum - and to be fair that's exactly what Mick McCarthy has materialized into as we approach the end weeks of this here campaign.

You got to feel you're simply pissing in the wind here. Having a desire is all very well but it's up to the relevant authority to undertake the changes required in order for any hopes and ambitions to become reality.

[marko69]

"In the simplest terms", then you write a f**king novel? Think you've made it quite clear with the scathing attacks on Mick recently that you don't care much for him? You sound like an obsolete relic if I'm honest.

1/ Pre-season bonus questions, predicted they'd finish 8th. I'll stick with that. The match reports (usually BBC) past 5 weeks have definitely come as a shock I must add. Heat of the moment stuff from myself on a match day thread wanting Mick out etc, but on reflection, I think some of the players really need to take a look at themselves, regardless of their positions and I genuinely believe that. I know there are times where a player may be asked to play in a different role, but for FK SAKE, the media has turned it into a fking end of the world nightmare. It's actually more "spoon feeding" of today's overpaid tossers. Mick sees what they can do in training and he'll not be asking them to do stuff they can't do. So maybe pull your f**king fingers out for the manager for the next few games guys. That means you too Berra, you are IN position and you look fking Shyte.

2/ Bit cash from Mevans so Mick (or whoever) can bring in FRESH talent. And maybe Jules Niles on the payroll to kick arse in training.

[hallamblue]

A very, very disappointing season from my view point. Looking back on it now i think the following things have contributed to our poor season.

1. Injuries to our creative players which robbed us of Bishop, Didsy and Fraser for part or whole season and Bru to lesser extent but feel his hamstring injury at Brentford has seen his form be way off what it could be.

2. Lack of "response" by the Club in the January window to the injury crisis...leaving thd first team threadbare and players likely to run out of steam over second half of season - which they have duely done.

3. Lack of meaningful financial backing for the Manager. This is a biggy IMO. Despite MM saying hes happg with his squad of players, ( he's hardly likely to bad mouth his current squad, and run the risk of "losing the dressing room" , or publically criticise his boss, for lack of funds).

4. Style of play adopted by MM. In many ways this is intrinsically linked to the above factors . Mick McCarthys Wolves and Sunderland teams did NOT play predominantly hoofball. They got the ball down and attacked.
Players played out of position, has been a problem. Some of it is down to how Micks sees the team should set up, some of it due to lack of quality players........hence he's "making do"



Non BlueTinted eyes view.

Given McCarthys budget over the last 3 years, Town have had no right to have been anywhere near those Play
offs . We overachieved last season, and damn nearly did it again this season with an injury hit team, and loss of, ( or return to normal?), form of Murphy . This feat by ourvteam can ONLY have been achieved witha manager such as McCarthy, who creates and relies on close knit, workaholic type squads.

But perhaps with the influx of the relegation rewarding parachute £m's to teams dropping from the cash cow
that the PL has become, means the second tier is now a totatlly different place to compete in. And tye days of achieveing promotion on thec back of 2nd and 3rd division " hungry" players , or green horn youth, is sadly now a thing of the past?

Have we reached a watershed this coming summer? Is this the tomd were Evans has to make a big decision? Stump up ££££ and support the manager to a meaningful level, ( every professional club makes losses - we all know that, and so does Evans). Town are no different, and its actually not enough to simply just finance the season on season losses. Owners are now EXPECTED to pump more money in that the running costs .

The burning question for ITFC and Evans/ Mick, is he prepared to finance to that next level?

[derick_ipsw]

Someone did a poll on here at start of season, where do you think we will finish? Can someone dig that up and the truth will out itself. I said top 10 and over achieved last season. Pretty much nails I think!!
We need to change the way we play or change the manager. He has done a job of stopping us getting relegated with gradual improvement. He has taken us as far as his style of football can take us I'm afraid.

Still waiting for that poll. ( Not you Mach. )