Ipswich Town v Norwich City preview and matchday thread

[Ando]

They have a better team than us, but its a two horse race and the laws of probability say we must bloody win at some point! 2-1 to town a brace from Sears.

Caption: delia demonstrates to the players they are not the only ones who can be blowing at full time as she performs Alex neal's win bonus.

[derick_ipsw]

Caption: Norwich fan, when I said "BLOW ME" Ipswich have scored Delia ....I did not mean.....

[marko69]

I think people (here and TWTD) are giving narwich a bit too much credit. Remember they were relegated last year, they have injuries and haven't played that well against Sheffield Wed or Bristol. Add to that a manager who is a bit naive and yet to win over the majority of the budgies.
One thing Town do have is spirit and that counts for a lot in derby games, especially at home with what I hope will be an awesome atmosphere.
Will we see a Chambers fist pump? I hope so.

Excellent post.

COYB!!!

[derick_ipsw]

I would bring back Smith for this game. Webster has struggled what with the goal at Brentford and the penalty at Wolves. Smith's experience is essential in these games and he poses a goal threat from set pieces. If he goes 4-3-3 I would play Varney & Pitman along side Murphy, or 4-4-2 Pitman beside Murphy Varney wide left Douglas and Skuse centre Mid, Ward wide right. Sears needs dropping. Just a thought.

[Shed on tour]

Just can't see us getting the win tomorrow.
Sounds like it was an improved performance at Wolves last Tuesday but the fact is we have still failed to score a goal in our last 3 games and it is difficult to see where the goals are going to come against the scum.

Town 0 Inbreds 2

[marko69]

I would bring back Smith for this game. Webster has struggled what with the goal at Brentford and the penalty at Wolves. Smith's experience is essential in these games and he poses a goal threat from set pieces. If he goes 4-3-3 I would play Varney & Pitman along side Murphy, or 4-4-2 Pitman beside Murphy Varney wide left Douglas and Skuse centre Mid, Ward wide right. Sears needs dropping. Just a thought.

Smith goes a tad "Delaney" in derbies though.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Well I'm here in San Fernando, Philippines, and does not look like there will be enough bandwith here today to stream the game live, so will just have to listen on Player. Hope all of you there enjoy the game.

It's high time we got the upper hand over the budgies - they have been better than us for far too long and the law of averages demands that fortunes have to change some time. But sadly, not today I fear - I just cannot see us getting even close.

Town 0 - Budgies 2

[Bluemike]

Well its the day of the big one, hopefully time to right some wrongs, time to get the bragging rights back and most of all time to show just who is East Anglia's finest. Clearly the odds are stacked against us what with all the parachute money for repeated failure but despite that we have a chance, everything goes out of the window on Derby day.

We need to make PR as hostile and as loud as we can, we all have a part to play and it can make a massive difference, we need to be that 12th man. All we can ask is for every man in a Blue shirt gives their all, 110% and nothing less, contest every ball, go in for every header and every tackle, total commitment to the cause and we can ask no more. Sing your hearts out for the lads, it could just be our time. COYB'S.

[Tangfastic]

Good luck, Town ...

This won't define our season, but would be great to see some smiling Town faces ... and equally some dejected City fans making their way back to Norfolk.

It's about time we got this monkey ( and Canary ) of our backs. NCFC fans are getting a bit too cocky and complacent in being top dog in our neck of the woods. Time to change that.

Happy enough with a draw and good steady performance, but I'll stick my neck out and go with a 1-0 win .... it's got to happen someday.

Caption: SKY TV football pundit " .... and we'll go from Marcus Evans prison cell who's indicated Ipswichs score with his middle finger to Delia Smith who's indicated Norwichs zero scoreline with her mouth .... over to the touch line for an interview with triumphant, fist- pumping captain, Luke Chambers ..... "

COYB

[lucy]

1-1 which I'd glady take right now

[Charnwood]

1-1 which I'd glady take right now

Nothing less than we deserve Lucy. Our disallowed goal from Douglas was good and should have stood and the foul on Murphy should have produced a penalty.

With the lift we must have got from the late equaliser just before half time there's no reason why we can't win this.

COYB.

[lucy]

The noise and atmosphere is electric

[Charnwood]

The noise and atmosphere is electric

I thought there'd be a bigger attendence than 23350, maybe the impact of Sky Tv , that said I'd expect the real fans to prefer being at the game v watching it on the telly.

[Dubai Blue]

Just for the record, the foul on Murphy wasn't a pen. Looked like Murph pulled up just after the challenge where there was no touch. Was surprised to see him stay on, looked like he had pulled a thigh or hamstring.
Great result though. We had a couple of chances at the end but then so did they.

[lucy]

FT: 1-1 happy with that

[arana peligrosa]

Is the game over, and it was a drawn game at the end of it all ?

Don't possess much further information other than the attendance that was given away on an above response and got to say that was a disappointing number if correct.

Would have wanted the win obviously, it's f*ck knows when since we saw (last) victory over these .... but honors shared and something to take into subsequent fixtures.

[marko69]

Don't possess much further information other than the attendance...........,

You MUST be using a device to write that ^ post that has Google available. You have information about the entire effin solar system at your fingertips, Saint.

Wouldn't describe it as a "great" result but it is certainly a decent result. Webster & Berra looking like headless chickens in the middle of defence at critical times?

[Ohiotractorboy]

Is this two games in a row that a goal was taken away by a bogus offside call? Lost 4 pts if that is true

[Bluemike]

No need for long previews today as every man and his dog would have seen the game, suffice to say i thought we can feel hard done by in only taking a point, I felt we did ourselves proud today against a team that whether we like or not are pretty decent. The fiorst half in particular was all Town and quite how we found ourselves behind was so unjust, for me we bossed it, apart from a few minutes after they undeservedly took the lead with their only real attack of note I felt Town took the game to them. For the second time in a week it appears we had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside, it was ahrd to tell at the time but all the so called experts are saying it was onside, once again the luck goes with the scum.

The second half was more even but again I felt we more than matched them in all departments, both team had chances, Berra has a header off the line, they hit the post and there are chances at either end after that. It loks like Murphy was brought down for a penalty, in fact Klose has by all accounts admitted "he got away with one" if so we have a second piece of real bad luck.

All in all I am proud of the boys tonight, I felt if it was judged like a boxing match we clearly got a unanimous decision but that is just me, I wanted a performance and we got one. My positivity is rising after this weeks Two games, twice we have played well and I feel we should be sitting on 6 points instead of 2, our luck will change.

I thought Ward had a super gmae as did Berra, by and large the defence stood firm, lets face it a tram like Norwich are alwyas going to have a chnce or two but aside from that we defneded weel, Chambo & Knudsen stood firm when targeted. The Midfield battled hard and won the first half for sure, more even in the second whiole Murphy was up against a top player in Klose and by and large got the better of him.

If we have to find a negative or two I felt runners from midfield did not get up quick enough to latch on to the numerous flick on's that Murphy won, while Bru's delivery is sh*te beyond belief, we need Conor Grant back and quick, maybe Bishop & Varney could have been intorduced a little earlier but that is splitting hairs.

A decent performance and a good point when we possibly deserved more, what is pleasing for me is that it is two very good efforts in a week against toguh opponents, I feel there is much more to come and a lot of reasons to be positive, what we MUST do is put Preston to bed and this point will become even more impressive. A big well done to the fans who did their job and made it an electric atmosphere, didnt even hear the Budgies once. COYB'S.

[Mr.Punch]

The game showed that they are not quite as good as they think they are and we are not as bad as some people think!
I'm happy with the draw, although with just a bit of luck we could have won - in fact Hoolahan amongst others, said we should have won.
Hoolahan, what a difference he made. If he'd been wearing a blue shirt we would have won. I just hope Bishop can step up into that role for us.
Cracking atmosphere, the town crowd were great and the budgies quite subdued I thought.

[lucy]

I'm not so sure after watching it back on TV that Murphy was pulled down. It looked like his leg gave way under him.

[marko69]

Thanks for the review, was needed here as this man and the wife's cat had unexpected visitors! Perfect timing!

Good to hear the defence was up to speed. Since saw the City goal, can't see anyone at fault there, Berra twice tried to close down the shot, Webster maybe a bit slow advancing on Jerome, but good finish.

Absolutely brilliant piece of play by Knudsen, shimmy to the right, slotted home beautifully. Some saying lucky strike....... Suppose it could've went wide, but any shot can go wide unless it's Messi or Suarez.

And for me, Douglas is onside. Goal should've stood.

Said the two draws with Norwich and wolves would be very good, can't go back on that now. Well done ITFC.

[phily bon bon]

Agreed a very good point today. I thought they passed the ball a lot better than us especially in midfield. We could learn from their pass and movement, but that's splitting hairs. Would also have liked us not to hump it up to Murphy and try to play it on the grass.
Houlahan bossed it for me unfortunately, but considering where we are and have been for many a season you have to be happy with this display.
The commitment was clear to see, just wish we could get the rub of the green once in a while.

[Tangfastic]

Well done to the team and the fans.

Disappointing slightly we didn't win, but we showed we can compete with a better team.

I thought Knudsen was to blame for that first goal... speculative cross over to his side and he should have dealt with it better leading up to the goal. However, he kept on coming forward and drilled in a nice goal. Well done to the lad.

For me a draw was the right result, but we would have been hard done by if we'd lost. We were slightly ahead on points... but a draws a fair result.

A lot of positives for us and I hope opposition teams see NCFC as a top team to take down when they play them. If they think they can automatically be promoted... think again. They'll have to work for it in this league. I think they'll be top six , but the play-offs are a lottery so they'll have to re- adapt to the Championship pretty fast if they think they are top two and automatic promotion candidates

Was thinking the Varney subsitution was destined to be a winning goal there. Totally under- whelmed by him resigning, but if he scored the winning goal then it was a bit like Noel Hunt a season or two ago. Happy enough with that.

[hallamblue]

Thanks Mike. Cracking game and I think Town are on the up. Hopefully people will stop bigging up the scum visit they ain't all that are they!

Anyway I've copied n pasted a fans view from TWTD. Just good to read othets thoughts.

Here ya go....... Hallam X


MM has always been known as a '442 manager' but do we think the tide is turning and he's warming to 433 now?

It worked brilliantly today. Norwich played 5 midfielders with not alot of width today, so our 3 man central midfield and hard working wingers really stifled them and something MM got bang on tactically. They clearly thrive off possession so the fact we harried, hassled and pressured them into a whole load of errors and few chances is a testament to our work rate and discipline throughout.

We have the personnel for a 433 too if you ask me, more so than a 442 anyway. Our central midfielders will all thrive in a 3 man midfield, especially Skuse, who can perform his role even more efficiently, and Ward/Sears are hard-working enough for the wings, although I think we still need a LM in before the end of the month. It also allows our full-backs to get forward thanks to central midfield cover and Murphy is very well suited to that lone hold up role which he's very good at but we don't take advantage of often enough.

Knudsen seems to have hit the ground running this season and he seems intent on getting forward as much as possible which is brilliant to see, Webster had me worried a tad before the game but he has reassured me - He's a real talent, he looks class on the ball, well rounded defensively and he's only 21! Ward was, of course, stand out once again today, his work-rate is amazing and he's going to be a real asset to us, and all for a measly 500k! I've been a huge critic of Douglas's but he proved me wrong today, he played well and was quite vital in his role of 'hassling and harrying'. Bish looked really lively when he came on and keeping him fit will be vital because he could be instrumental in a midfield 3. Murph was good today, he was constantly battering and keeping their defence occupied which is what he does best, but his days of running the chanels are probably gone, but his influence can be just as important if we try and use his hold-up game. We aimed for his head alot today and he flicked alot of them on, but with no strike partner and no midfield runners getting beyond him, it was wasted, so we should probably aim to get the ball into feet, let him hold it up and let Ward/Sears/Bish buzz around him and make runs - I genuinely think he's better with his feet than his head these days.

A few points on Norwich - Looked rattled after our 20minute spell, but they nicked an 'against the run of play' goal and they somehow managed to stay in the game, but we were unlucky not to win today. Naismith for £8mil? Haha. Bloke was pedestrian. Hoolahan didn't get out of Douglas's pocket all afternoon, Brady was their weak-link at LB today and quite a few times, Ward got in behind and took advantage of that and Jerome looked a handful as usual, but Berra and Webster kept him fairly quiet apart from the goal (which he took very well in fairness). They are crying out for some pacey width and another striker though, which I hope they not only miss out on, but they lose a few players too!

Atmosphere was cracking, we were really up for it, we got behind the lads and it really does make a difference, I just wish we could emulate just some of today for other league games because it would really give us a boost. Went a bit mental when Jonas scored (cracking weak footed shot btw!) which caught me by surprise, and I don't think highly of their support, but it was surprisingly crap today, I cannot believe that they were that quiet away to their rivals - They are a useless club who have never won and never will win anything, and their fans are perfect for the club - w*nkers. Especially the c*nt who threw the flare at the family section, I hope he gets banned and a good battering.

Hopefully that good performance and point will spur us on against Preston and we can kickstart something special. Proud to support Town today, love going to PR when we're all in unison and positive. Brilliant.

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

Disappointed. Yes I really am disappointed with the result as Norwich were definitely for taking.

First half wasn't too impressing in my opinion. I wouldn't say we bossed it unlike other Town fans. We restricted ourselves to too many long balls towards Murphy as we had no central midfield at all. Bru once again was incredibly poor. Headless passenger who doesn't offer anything.
From 25 min onward Norwich operated far better with the ball, fortunately though they hardly created anything apart from Jerome's goal. And why on earth Chambers gave him so much space to launch a shot?

Second half was the one which has made me disappointed. Norwich very quiet and we should have taken the opportunity to hurt them, Hoolahan and Naismith latter particularly very quiet and apart from two chances they didn't really trouble us. Once again we badly lacked a quality in central midfield and Murphy didn't have a support upfront.

Ward was by far our best player. If Bishop had played much longer and Grant hadn't been injured then..... maybe, maybe.

I can't question though players' commitment. They certainly didn't let us down. Norwich given all money they have spent should have walked past us but we matched them for the large parts.

Wolves last Tuesday perfectly good goal disallowed, Norwich today and linesman's mistake cost us again. Well I won't be dwelling over that as things like that happen in football. But I also won't be bothered at all about what oppostion feel when some awful ref's decision will go our way in the future as we are owed two goals.
Both teams could have had penalties today in all honesty.

Ward as I have said our best player today and he really kept them vigilant. Murphy bullied Klose throughout the game and that was really impressing.
Really pleased with Webster and Knudsen too. I'd been really worried for the former but he really coped well.

Pleased with the players (apart from Bru), disappointed with the result. We badly need some quality midfielder before the end of transfer window.

[marko69]

It's amazing how sometimes we don't always see the entire move pan out. I read your post MPB and thought, "Chambers? Fk all to do with him!"......., went to the Sky App and re-watched it, and you are spot on. I mean he did eventually try and block Jerome's shot, but the entire build up; he's out too far right and ball watching. It's Berra who bust a gut trying to stop that shot.

[ashfordblue]

Why oh why didn't Mick bring on Pitman for either Sears or Murphy, Murphy looked out of it 2nd half, it needed someone like Brett to come on to liven it up, still think Douglas is a waste of space, but that's my opinion only, my man of the match Ward, what a player, him and Pitman would have shredded the Scum defence, so come on Mick get some more better players in like WARD, also it was good to see the 23000 plus crowd, it used to be that and more on a regular basis a few seasons back,

On another note, I see that Jordan Rhodes has been told he's not wanted at Middlesboro any more, and can go out on loan, yeh right and who's going to pay his £43'000 a week wages in the championship,????

[marko69]

That's because Jordan is sh*te. Roy was right all along.

[Mr.Punch]

We're looking at Leon Best today - playing for u23s
And Rhodes destined for Wolves?
And TWTD saying that We are going to bring in 2 loans and 1 out of contract player