Reading v Ipswich Town
Friday 9th September 2016 – 20:00
The Madejski Stadium
Live on Sky Sports 1
Opening Thought – Jamma
A lot has happened at Portman Road since I penned my Opening thought for Preston two weeks or so ago. Back then, there was no inkling that Daryl Murphy was on his way to Newcastle, not to mention that every Ipswich fan’s favourite son Jonny Williams would be returning for a fourth loan spell. Mick McCarthy was questioned about how news of Murphy’s imminent departure had affected preparations for the Preston match. We were always going to feel the absence of a player who was so integral to the way we play, not just in terms of his goals, but for his hold-up play, the way he brought others into the game and his tireless running and defensive work. Daryl may have divided opinion at times, but to have gone down amongst the top 10 leading goalscorers in Ipswich Town’s history says a lot about his contribution to the club, and I trust supporters will reciprocate his sentiments on leaving and thank him for his service. But we have to move on, and Brett Pitman did an admirable job against the Lilywhites in staking his claim to become our new main striker. He led the line well, winning plenty of headers and linking up effectively with Freddie Sears and Grant Ward in the wide positions. Town weren’t as fluid in possession, and didn’t create as many chances, as in the derby the previous weekend. But we were solid at the back, with Tommy Smith in particular impressing on his return to the team, and saw out a deserved 3 points. Ward was again the matchwinner, as he scored a goal out of nothing with another sumptuous strike. We may not have been able to bring in a direct replacement for our big number 9 in the transfer window, but Grant Ward has so far shown that he could have a similar role to play to the Murphy who so often proved the difference in 2014/15. Given the array of creative options now at our disposal in midfield, with Tom Lawrence added to the likes of Williams, Teddy Bishop and Conor Grant, the goalscoring chances should only keep on coming. It will be fascinating to see how McCarthy accommodates all of this attacking talent into his team, and who will get the nod up front in the wake of Leon Best’s arrival.
The way the fixtures have panned out sees us go to Reading on a Friday night at exactly the same point of the season as this time last year. I was therefore interested to refer back to my thoughts in the corresponding preview, which reflected a similarly mixed set of feelings amongst supporters. We were actually two points better off twelve months ago, and looking forward to a League Cup 3rd round tie at Old Trafford. But a disappointing top-of-the-table defeat to Brighton just before the international break had provided a reality check, and tempered expectations somewhat. Not wishing to blow my own trumpet, of course,
but I said ahead of the game against Reading that we may end up looking back at it as a decisive point in our season. While I certainly didn’t envisage the 5-1 mauling that we got in Berkshire, that night did prove to be something of a watershed moment in the Blues’ campaign. Despite reacting well with victory at Elland Road the following midweek, we then failed to win any of our next eight matches in league and cup, including drab 0-0 draws at home to Huddersfield and Cardiff. A chastening 90 minutes at the hands of the Royals had undone all the hard work we had put in up until then and, having curbed our expansive approach as a result, we were playing catch-up from that point on. And so we make the return trip to the Madejski Stadium a year on, with Sky TV clearly hoping for a similar level of drama after picking the game for live coverage again. It’s up to us to make sure there is no televised repeat, as we look to kick on from a decent start to the season.The Opposition - Reading
Reading were formed on 25 December 1871 and originally played their matches at the ‘Reading Recreation Ground’. The club then moved to Elm Park for 102 years, between 1896 and 1998. In 1998, the club moved to their latest home, the new Madejski Stadium.
The club holds the record for the number of successive league wins at the start of a season, with a total of 13 wins at the beginning of the 1985–86 Third Division campaign, and also the record for the number of points gained in a professional league season, with 106 points in the 2005–06 Football League Championship campaign. If their fans are to be believed, this is akin to a major trophy win, as they insist on singing a special song about said achievement when taunted by opposing supporters that ‘You’ve never won…ahem, very much’! Bless.
Reading finished eighth in their first ever season as a top flight club.
Reading were elected to the Football League Third Division South in 1920.
In more modern times, Reading were promoted to the Second Division as champions in 1986 under the management of Ian Branfoot, but were relegated back to the Third Division in 1988.
The appointment of Mark McGhee as player-manager in 1991, shortly after the takeover by John Madejski, saw Reading move forward. They were crowned champions of the new Division Two in 1994. 35-year-old striker Jimmy Quinn was put in charge of the First Team alongside midfielder Mick Gooding and guided Reading to runners-up spot in the final Division One table, only to be denied automatic promotion because of the streamlining of the Premier League from 22 teams to 20.
In 1995, Reading looked to have booked their place in the Premier League only to lose against Bolton Wanderers in the play-off final. Quinn and Gooding's contracts were not renewed two years later, after Reading had slid into the bottom half of Division One. Their successor, Terry Bullivant, lasted less than one season before being sacked in March 1998.
1998 also saw Reading move into the new 24,200 all-seater Madejski Stadium, named after chairman John Madejski. Tommy Burns had taken over from Terry Bullivant but lasted just 18 months before being replaced by Alan Pardew, who had previously been reserve team manager before being released. Reading returned to Division One for 2002–03 after finishing runners-up in Division Two. The following season, they finished fourth in Division One and qualified for the play-offs, where they lost in the semi-final to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Alan Pardew moved to West Ham United the following October and was replaced by Steve Coppell.
Reading won the 2005–06 Championship with a league record 106 points (there we go again!
), scoring 99 goals and losing only twice. Reading were promoted to English football's top division for the first time in their history. Reading defied pre-season predictions of relegation to finish the season in eighth. The second season was less successful and Reading were relegated back to the Championship.Reading started the 2008–09 season with a 15-match unbeaten home run. They finished fourth and qualified for the play-offs, where they lost to Burnley in the semi-final. Manager Steve Coppell resigned just hours after the game, and was replaced by Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers left the club by mutual consent on 16 December 2009 and Brian McDermott was made caretaker manager the same day. Reading eventually finished 5th in the 2010/11 Championship to qualify for the division's play-offs, in which they lost 4–2 to Swansea City in the final at Wembley Stadium.
In the 2011–12 campaign, a streak of good form in the second half of the season ensured promotion to the Premier League on 17 April 2012.
McDermott led Reading to their first Premier League win of the 2012–13 season on 17 November 2012, at the eleventh attempt. On 11 March 2013, McDermott left his position at Reading.
On 26 March 2013, Nigel Adkins was appointed manager, but could not stop Reading from being relegated from the top flight.
2013/14 saw the Royals finish the season in seventh, one point off Brighton in sixth after being in and around the play-off zone all season. Only a late goal by Brighton denied Reading a chance of returning straight to the top flight of English Football.
On 16 December 2014, Steve Clarke was appointed manager of Reading on a two-and-a-half-year deal, succeeding Nigel Adkins, who struggled to repeat the performances of the previous season.
2014/15 was a different story, however, as Reading could only muster 50 points and finished in a disappointing 19th place on the table.
Last season only saw the Royals rise two places to finish 17th place in the Championship.
The Manager – Jaap Stam
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Town got a measure of revenge for the 5-1 defeat when Reading visited Portman Road back in February:
Media Watch - K L Blue
Ian Milne on Transfer deadline day
http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town ... _1_4682575
MM planning for Jan transfers
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2016/09/01/ ... gs/303162/
QPR pulled out of transfer
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/footba ... nsfer-news
Form Guide
Reading Last 5 Matches – currently 15th place on 7 points
Wolverhampton Wanderers L 0-2 Away
Newcastle United L 1-4 Away
Brighton & Hove Albion D 2-2 Home
Milton Keynes Dons D 2-2 Home
Cardiff City W 1-0 Away
Ipswich Last 5 Matches – currently 11th place on 8 points
Stevenage L 0-1 Home
Brentford L 0-2 Away
Wolves D 0-0 Away
Norwich D 1-1 Home
Preston W 1-0 Home
Fixtures of Interest
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION VS BRENTFORD
FULHAM VS BIRMINGHAM CITY
LEEDS UNITED VS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
NORWICH CITY VS CARDIFF CITY
DERBY COUNTY VS NEWCASTLE UNITED
ASTON VILLA VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST (Sunday lunchtime)
Marko's Caption Contest
The sheep brought many chuckles. Scores as follows, including all the missing points from last week:
Scores
Nicscreamer 5pts
Bluemike 4pts
Quasar & Herforder 3pts (woolfie in sheeps clothing! )
LnP & DerickIpsw 2pts
LEAGUE TABLE
DerickIpsw 15
Quasar 12
Bluemike 12
Nicscreamer 10
Herforder 9
Blueblood 6
Frosty 5
Patthegimp 5
Ando 4
Tangfastic 4
Watership Down 3
Gold&Black 2
LoudNProud 2
IpswichtownNO1 2
ItfcTrev76 1
Shed on Tour 1
Number 9 1
This week's picture:
Match Referee – Jeremy Simpson
Final Thought – Bluemike
Well it's certainly been a hectic few days for ITFC. First it was the news that Murphy was on his way, then we had the little matter of overcoming a stubborn Preston North End, and finally we had what for us was an unusually busy Transfer Deadline Day.
Much has been said regarding the departure of Daryl and I wish him nothing but the best for his loyalty and services to Ipswich Town Football Club. He will be sorely missed, or will he?? As for the Preston game, it was far from a classic and it was far from being pretty on the eye, especially the second half, but this is what we have to do, win these type of games when things are not going all our own way. Let's not forget, though, that we did play some decent stuff at times in the first half and ultimately we deserved all three points. Grant Ward continues to look the real deal and again stood out, while Pitman came in and did very well too.
So what of Transfer Deadline Day? Some are happy, some are disappointed (surprise surprise) and a fair few are unsure. From my point of view, I was pretty content at around 7.30pm on Wednesday, when we had secured the services of Tom Lawrence & Jonny Williams to complement the arrival of Leon Best. All the talk was that there were to be another one or two late arrivals, with the emphasis very much on a striker to replace Murphy. The fact it didn't happen did leave me slightly deflated but, having had time to mull it over, maybe all is not as bad as we may think. Judging by the players arriving, MM has ideas of a different type of football and that can only be a good thing and I for one look forward to seeing how we develop as a team.
Next up is a trip to Reading FC. By a strange quirk, I watched last season’s 1-5 drubbing in a bar in Spain and that is exactly what I will be doing again next Friday evening, same bar in fact. This time, however, I am expecting to be cheering the Blues on to victory, which will top my holiday off very nicely, thank you very much. Quite what line-up we go with is anyone's guess but at least we have plenty of options at our disposal. It could end all square but I am being brave and going for a narrow Town win. The Drunken Duck better be ready cus this Tractor Boy is gonna raise the roof!!! COYB'S
READING 0 IPSWICH TOWN 1
revenge will be sweet
