Ipswich vs Brighton Hove Albion Preview & Matchday Thread

[ipswichtownNo1]

So once again MM misses a chance to take 3pts with his negativity. Sears comes on for 35 mins and Best goes off. Surely if you want to win the game first and for most you keep Best on and lose maybe Lawrence. MM enough is enough. Has anybody got any contacts with the papers to set this boring tw*t up, because that's the only way we will ever get rid of him. Pearson, Bruce they are available, please ME sack this boring pri*k!!

I think everyone is well aware of your feelings towards Mick but thats getting a little personal. Maybe we should go for Big Sam

[Bluemike]

Two things for me about tonight's game, firstly it was a Million times better than Saturday and secondly we played some decent stuff at times and deserved to win the game. I wanted to see a battling Town performance the like of which we have become used to and thankfully that is what I saw, to limit a team of Brighton's quality to not a single shot on target is no mean feat. The defence was once again very solid and not unduly troubled all game with young Emmanuel particularly impressive all evening, I don't remember him making a single wayward pass or error of any description, Chambers in the centre had his customary couple of mishaps but nothing too serious and by and large looked far more assured.

The first half hour was pretty even although it was us that looked the more likely, Jonathon Douglas having goal chalked off for offside which on this occasion seems to be correct while Skusey had a decent shot well saved by Stockdale at the second attempt. Jonas Knudsen also tried his luck with a long range effort which didn't trouble the keeper. All brighton had to show for their first half was one looping shot which sailed harmlessly over the bar. Pleasing for me was that we actually tried to get the ball and down and play a bit, admittedly it didn't always come to anything but the intent was there, Lawrence was looking our most dangerous player going forward with Best again winning his share in the air although not quite so dominant as Saturday, it has to be said the Kevin Bru was also having one of his better games.

The second hald was much the same although a lot of our good approach play was not ending with attempts on goal, the introduction of Sears for Best saw us lose any height we had but Freddie was making some decent runs down the channels and causing their defence a few nervy moments. I had said yesterday that we needed to get our fullbacks pushing on more and supporting the attack and this was something else that pleased me, Emmanuel defintely gives us that while Knudsen played his part in getting forward too. Strangely enough for much of the game it was Douglas that was the extra man in the box and he was unlucky with one header at the back post which he just failed to get proper contact on. I think it was a testament to how we had worked our socks off that Brighton were time wasting and looking for a point well before the sending off of Dale Stephens.

Of course we still have issues to resolve, most notably the fact we can't score goals, this has to be addressed if we are to win games, but people should not be fooled because it was another 0-0, this was against a good team who are near the top of the table and on a good run, in boxing terms we won on points. There are positives in the fact we can play football and that we had a kid at RB who for me was probably just our MOTM ahead of Tom Lawrence, I wanted to see us bounce back and I think by and large we did, still a way to go but I think most Town fans were expecting a comfortable loss tonight. To have played Norwich, Villa and Brighton at home and not lost any of them is ok, it needs to be backed up with wins when the likes of Rotherham come to town.

Bart (6) Emmanuel (8) Chambers (6) Berra (7) Knudsen (7) Ward (6) Bru (6) Skuse (6) Douglas (6) Lawrence (7) Best (6)

SUBS :- Sears (6) Bishop (6) Grant (6)

[Mr.Punch]

That was pretty positive bluemike, I didn't feel quite that happy. Top or bottom, we should have beaten a poor Brighton side that offered about as much as we did in attack - nothing!
This looked like a 0-0 from early on and MM's distinct lack of interest in trying to win games is perplexing, we didn't even put them under pressure when they went down to 10 men.
I agree with your overall assessment of the game but felt so frustrated by our lack of drive. We could and should have won the game.
Although Emanuel did well, he was terribly indecisive in the first half, not knowing wether to push into acres of space down the right. He mostly hung out just inside their half and on one occasion turned and looked at MM, maybe to ask permission?
The team seem scared to 'give it a go', why not take a few risks in the oppos half? we give it away anyway.

This game just amplifies the points that Stuart Watson makes in HB's post. Something has got to give, it's just not fun any more.

[arana peligrosa]

Invariably take a look in on a rival forum for post-game reaction and it amazes me how one minute it's all one way traffic regards berating the team and manager and how poor it may have been, then twenty minutes later it's one of the better results of the season and we in fact played well and there were certain positives to take away ?

Turned to "North Stand Chat" for an opposition perspective and all talk appeared to be about Allardyce and corruption allegations : minimal reaction from the game just played, so an indication it wasn't much of a contest.

Way I see it, on paper alone it's a score of some merit. All right, didn't get the victory or even score, but we're hampered by injuries and faced off against one of last seasons leading promotion challengers.

That said, it appeared neither team wanted it much and we created few chances and plenty of mention that it was as dull as any given game in recent memory. Injuries or otherwise we appeared too tentative and never really forced the opposing goal enough to warrant a victory. 15,000 would indicate a poor turn-out regardless of mid-week play, so once again the fans must have envisaged what kind of game it would be before time and made the decision to stay away.

[Bluemike]

That was pretty positive bluemike, I didn't feel quite that happy. Top or bottom, we should have beaten a poor Brighton side that offered about as much as we did in attack - nothing!
This looked like a 0-0 from early on and MM's distinct lack of interest in trying to win games is perplexing, we didn't even put them under pressure when they went down to 10 men.
I agree with your overall assessment of the game but felt so frustrated by our lack of drive. We could and should have won the game.
Although Emanuel did well, he was terribly indecisive in the first half, not knowing wether to push into acres of space down the right. He mostly hung out just inside their half and on one occasion turned and looked at MM, maybe to ask permission?
The team seem scared to 'give it a go', why not take a few risks in the oppos half? we give it away anyway.

This game just amplifies the points that Stuart Watson makes in HB's post. Something has got to give, it's just not fun any more.

Hey Punch, I have to say I disagree completely with you regarding Emmanuel, for me I thought he was confident, assured and very comfortable all evening, he defended well and won his battle hands down against a player who is having a good season and causing teams problems, he got forward a fair bit and gave us options in attack, it was testament to him that the more senior players were always more than happy to give him the ball and use him as an outlet, no for me he was very impressive.

Unlike Saturday at Leeds I also don't think we can accuse MM of not wanting to go and win the ame, I think it is just that we are very short of attacking options right now and we have a couple of others just not firing as we need them too but all in all I felt we did ok up until we were in and around their box.

[Dubai Blue]

With a front three that combined have less that 10 starts in a blue shirt and a reorganised defence featuring an inexperienced RB against one of the form teams in the division, I would take a 0-0 all day.

Great job MM and the team. The same or better on Saturday and I would be happy going into the break.

With our casualty list if we pick up a few points, avoid being rolled over and avoid more injuries until we get influential players back I'm happy. Especially with more clean sheets and more time for new players like Best to gain fitness.

My glass is half full for now.

[Mr.Punch]

That was pretty positive bluemike, I didn't feel quite that happy. Top or bottom, we should have beaten a poor Brighton side that offered about as much as we did in attack - nothing!
This looked like a 0-0 from early on and MM's distinct lack of interest in trying to win games is perplexing, we didn't even put them under pressure when they went down to 10 men.
I agree with your overall assessment of the game but felt so frustrated by our lack of drive. We could and should have won the game.
Although Emanuel did well, he was terribly indecisive in the first half, not knowing wether to push into acres of space down the right. He mostly hung out just inside their half and on one occasion turned and looked at MM, maybe to ask permission?
The team seem scared to 'give it a go', why not take a few risks in the oppos half? we give it away anyway.

This game just amplifies the points that Stuart Watson makes in HB's post. Something has got to give, it's just not fun any more.

Hey Punch, I have to say I disagree completely with you regarding Emmanuel, for me I thought he was confident, assured and very comfortable all evening, he defended well and won his battle hands down against a player who is having a good season and causing teams problems, he got forward a fair bit and gave us options in attack, it was testament to him that the more senior players were always more than happy to give him the ball and use him as an outlet, no for me he was very impressive.

Unlike Saturday at Leeds I also don't think we can accuse MM of not wanting to go and win the ame, I think it is just that we are very short of attacking options right now and we have a couple of others just not firing as we need them too but all in all I felt we did ok up until we were in and around their box.

Fair points and I don't want to be negative about Emanuel - I moved seats last night to Coop Churchmans end, he did not know if he should push up or hold back. It's probably MM that needs to tell him what is expected because we missed 3 or 4 opportunities down the right wing in the first half.

[Mr.Punch]

With a front three that combined have less that 10 starts in a blue shirt and a reorganised defence featuring an inexperienced RB against one of the form teams in the division, I would take a 0-0 all day.

Great job MM and the team. The same or better on Saturday and I would be happy going into the break.

With our casualty list if we pick up a few points, avoid being rolled over and avoid more injuries until we get influential players back I'm happy. Especially with more clean sheets and more time for new players like Best to gain fitness.

My glass is half full for now.

My glass is half empty for now.

I, for one, would not be happy with another 0-0 on Saturday. Unless of course, we put the opposition under pressure for once, for prolonged periods of the game.

[marko69]

My glass is empty, get to the fkn bar you bawsacs.

[marko69]

With a front three that combined have less that 10 starts in a blue shirt and a reorganised defence featuring an inexperienced RB against one of the form teams in the division, I would take a 0-0 all day.

Great job MM and the team. The same or better on Saturday and I would be happy going into the break.

With our casualty list if we pick up a few points, avoid being rolled over and avoid more injuries until we get influential players back I'm happy. Especially with more clean sheets and more time for new players like Best to gain fitness.

My glass is half full for now.

My glass is half empty for now.

I, for one, would not be happy with another 0-0 on Saturday. Unless of course, we put the opposition under pressure for once, for prolonged periods of the game.

You may get your wish about not wanting a 0-0. A Huddersfield win is the likely outcome in my mind. Playing quite well at the moment. They ain't top of the league for playing sh*t.

[Bluemike]

My glass is empty, get to the fkn bar you bawsacs.

On saturday my glass was not even half full, or empty for that matter, it was smashed up the bloody wall. After last night it is most definitley half full, still room for a lot of improvement but not nearly as bad as some forums would have you believe.

[herforder]

My glass is empty, get to the fkn bar you bawsacs.

On saturday my glass was not even half full, or empty for that matter, it was smashed up the bloody wall. After last night it is most definitley half full, still room for a lot of improvement but not nearly as bad as some forums would have you believe.

.....or the post match comments/rants on Suffolk Radio!

[Andym]

I haven't posted since before the Villa game. I was going to but once the insults and accusations started flying I decided not to.

That game (Villa) was one that I enjoyed mostly. I thought we edged the first half but after the break it was all Villa. For a5 minutes we hardly touched the ball. We gradually came back into it and really went for it at the end. Overall a fair result, and an enjoyable game to watch.

The Brighton match was a bit of an oddity in some ways. Individually I thought we played well but we were never going to score. And that's an issue worth exploring in my opinion.

Brighton never threatened. It might be that they came for a point but I doubt it. I think that overall we didn't really let them play. Let's give ourselves credit for that.

Bart had little to do. The back 4 were fairly solid. I agree with the comments that Emmanuel sometimes hesitated on the ball but he managed to get out of trouble every time to his credit. He'll only improve by playing at this level and overall he coped well. Both ull backs defended well and got forward. No complaints there.

Skuse & Douglas. Both ok but more about them later.

Defensively sound. All good. We are already this season managing lots of clean sheets - something I think has been lacking in the last 2 years. The Radio Suffolk commentaries for the past 2 seasons contained comments like "uncharacteristic defensive mistake by Ipswich" so frequently that it became apparent there was nothing uncharacteristic about it at all. But this season is looking much better.

Looking at the other end of the pitch: Lawrence was very impressive, a really good acquisition. Lots of energy, running and passing. An excellent performance, possibly me man of the match. Bru was only just behind him. He has his detractors on this forum and I can see why, but even Bluemike grudgingly admitted he did ok. But he was more than ok. He got the ball, he might run a few yards forward with the ball at his feet but is always looking for a pass - nearly always forwards too. Occasionally they didn't come off but I though he was excellent. Ward had a decent enough game and Best will be a real asset if we can keep him fit.

So why did we not possess a real goal threat? I think we all know the reason. It's the system. 4-2-3-1 doesn't work unless you have a striker who can hold it up and have a midfield who support.

Which brings me back to Skuse / Douglas. Both of them are reasonable players. But I would argue that either they are good enough to do the job on their own, allowing us to play a second striker, or if not we should make it a priority to find someone who is. I still think Skuse lacks something, as does Douglas in a deep position.. They don't demand the ball from the back 4 - which possibly added to Emmanuel's occasional hesitancy. Despite the common criticisms, we didn't hoof it much. Lots of good passing. And we didn't lack creativity; the front 4 all played well, moving the ball quickly. It was simply a lack of numbers up front that makes us toothless. The substitutions didn't help. I wouldn't criticise the decisions because I think tiredness was a major reason for them. But they highlighted a couple of issues for me. When Sears came on, he did ok but as a lone striker you can't afford to run the channels like he does if there's no one else in the box. I would only ever play Sears centrally, and never a lone striker. We are of course very short of strikers due to injury, but I'm talking long term. Also, Bishop showed his shortcomings. He's only young and hopefully he will improve. But every time he got the ball he ran with it until he lost it or made a poor pass at the end of it. He's exciting to watch and got us a couple of free kicks when fouled. But he must learn to release it quickly and accurately.

So the match was a bit of a non event as a competition, neither side looking like scoring. The people either side of me were falling asleep at times. But there were positives; good individual performances, some decent passing. But let's try one defensive midfielder and 2 strikers....

As a final comment, I do get pissed off with those around me who moan every time we pass it sideways or backwards. Possession is an important part of the game and if there is no other option, it's the way to play. The same fans also groan when we play the long inaccurate ball conceding possession. I just think "Make your bloody minds up, what DO you want?"

Disappointing attendance and the lack of goals / excitement won't do much to bring the fans back. But I've been pretty satisfied with the last 2 home performances.

[marko69]

As a final comment, I do get pissed off with those around me who moan every time we pass it sideways or backwards. Possession is an important part of the game and if there is no other option, it's the way to play. The same fans also groan when we play the long inaccurate ball conceding possession. I just think "Make your bloody minds up, what DO you want?"

Yip! Happens at Easter Road as well, Andy, and I think exactly how you are thinking.

Here is what I done at one particular game when I had two random twats behind me. I completely made up a fictitious game (that never happened) that Hibs played. They were saying, "Unreal, Stevenson can't cross a ball to save himself, and he passes back, then sideways......"
I turned around and said, "Yeah you are flippin too right, mate. Reminds of that game here against Crewe Alexandra, think it finished 1-1, but if Stevenson hadve got that cross in, would've no doubt won. Remember that game?"
Mostly always they say, "oh yeah, yeah, we were at that game, yep, remember it well."
Just complete A-holes.

[hallamblue]

Some very points there Andym. I wonder if Bishop is being influenced by Williams style of play....trying to get the free kick outside the area?

I felt Emmanual did really well and it must have been on his mind how he got slaughtered last season vs this lot. So early first half caution understandable for me. He more and.more as the game went on I thought and for has to start Sat.

This one up front farce bloody crazes me because it is NOT effective. the wide men are to far away from Best.....or Sears or whoever plays up front to have any chance of creating anything. MM being his stubbornness self will undoubtedly continue with the same tactic though.

COYBs

[Bluemike]

Very good post Andy and I pretty much agree with all of it (don't faint)

I must admit I didn't see too much hesitancy in young Emmanuel's game, thought he was super on the night. like you I too thought Lawrence had a fab game and his running at the defence caused them problems. I thought Douglas was quite a handful Tuesaday, for me he was the extra man getting into the box on several occasions.

Kevin Bru lol, I am not the biggest fan by any means but yes he had a good game, that cannot be denied but I rarely see him have two in a row and this is the problem, for me I would not be starting with him at all, although injuries dictate at the moment.

Like you it drives me bloody crazy how the team are moaned at fopr hoofing it and yet if we play it safe across the back or back to the keeper they are moaned at even more, I do at times think a fair few of our fans are pretty well you know lol.

[Andym]

Very good post Andy and I pretty much agree with all of it (don't faint)

I must admit I didn't see too much hesitancy in young Emmanuel's game, thought he was super on the night. like you I too thought Lawrence had a fab game and his running at the defence caused them problems. I thought Douglas was quite a handful Tuesaday, for me he was the extra man getting into the box on several occasions.

Kevin Bru lol, I am not the biggest fan by any means but yes he had a good game, that cannot be denied but I rarely see him have two in a row and this is the problem, for me I would not be starting with him at all, although injuries dictate at the moment.

Like you it drives me bloody crazy how the team are moaned at fopr hoofing it and yet if we play it safe across the back or back to the keeper they are moaned at even more, I do at times think a fair few of our fans are pretty well you know lol.

I forgot to mention that the man who cam closest to scoring for us was...Cole Skuse. With more players forward someone could have had a tap in after the keeper failed to hold his shot.