Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town 
Saturday 1st October 2016 - 15:00
Portman Road
Opening Thought – Jamma
In the build-up to Tuesday night’s game against Brighton, the focus was on our distinct lack of goals. With just eight goals to our name in nine matches – and four of those on the opening day – the question was how we were going to break down one of the league’s most stubborn defences. It was hard to argue with Charnwood’s pre-match logic: with the Seagulls hardly living up to their undoubted attacking potential over recent games, if they weren’t going to nick it by a single goal the smart money was on another 0-0. And so it shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise when a second successive goalless draw was played out at Portman Road. On paper, this would appear to have been a decent enough result. Before the season, I had Brighton down as potential champions, being perennial play-off challengers and having come within goal difference of automatic promotion in 2015/16. So, in many ways, 0-0 was the best we could have hoped for, particularly with no fewer than three strikers out injured. And yet, as increasingly seems to be the case these days, the Blue Army were split in deciding whether or not it was a good point. Town may have made most of the running, and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession. Brighton, for their part, appeared content to sit back and invite us on to them, knowing that there would be a reaction from our limp display at Leeds. But we couldn’t really expect to get anything more from the game, having mustered the sum total of two efforts on target. It’s all well and good saying that we have now gone unbeaten at home against the might of Norwich, Villa and Brighton but, when all’s said and done, it would surely be preferable to have had two wins and a defeat from those fixtures, and have 3 additional points on the board. This is looking like being the conundrum for the Blues this season: with so little to choose between many of the clubs in the Championship, our destiny could be determined by just how much we are prepared to ‘go for it’ when a match is finely poised.
The two teams’ approach to the game will be of particular interest this weekend, as we welcome the surprise package of the season so far, Huddersfield Town. One thing Tractor Boys and Girls can surely be agreed on is that they wouldn’t have expected the Terriers to be coming to Suffolk top of the league. Our feathered friends did their best to ensure that this would be the case on Wednesday night, of course, but David Wagner’s side can’t be begrudged their position after a stunning start to the campaign. Having replaced Chris Powell last November, the German has had time to get his ideas across at the McAlpine – no, Galpharm – wait, John Smith’s – Tetley Tea Stadium (I may have made that last one up). But, after 10 wins from 32 outings in 2015/16, culminating in a 5-1 mauling at home to Brentford, there was nothing to suggest that he would mastermind such a meteoric rise this term. Wagner came with a reputation as Jürgen Klopp’s trusted sidekick at Borussia Dortmund but, beyond the inevitable high-energy game reminiscent of Klopp’s ‘gegenpressing’ style, he has also added a vibrancy to the team, with a clutch of youngsters making up the core. The onus will once again be on Ipswich as the home side to get on the front foot, but we will also be wary of Huddersfield’s pace and threat on the break. This may ironically suit Town, who could prefer to be faced with opponents who press forward as opposed to standing off and letting us make the running. Overlooking the fact that the Blues haven’t scored in their last two home matches and the Terriers have been goalless in their last two away trips, this has the potential to be an entertaining clash, and a chance to get the supporters back on side.
The Opposition – Huddersfield Town
In 1910, just three years after being founded, Huddersfield entered the Football League for the first time. In November 1919, a fundraising campaign was needed to avoid a move to Leeds. Citizens of Huddersfield were asked to buy shares in the club for £1 each, and the club staved off the proposed merger. The team went on to reach the 1920 FA Cup final and win promotion to Division One.
In 1926, Huddersfield became the first English team to win three successive league titles, a feat that only three other clubs have been able to match. Huddersfield Town also won the FA Cup in 1922 and have been runners-up on four other occasions. During the club's heyday, on 27 February 1932 the club achieved a record attendance of 67,037 during their FA Cup 6th round tie against Arsenal at Leeds Road. This attendance has been bettered by only 13 other clubs in the history of the Football League.
After the Second World War, the club began a gradual decline, losing its First Division status in 1952. They returned to the top flight for the last time (so far) in 1970 but were relegated two seasons later and have since meandered through the lower three divisions. Before the start of the 1969/70 season, Huddersfield Town adopted the nickname "The Terriers".
In 1998, the club attracted the attention of local businessman Barry Rubery and, after protracted takeover talks, he took over the running of the club, promising significant investment as the club sought Premiership status. However, the club did not make it back to the top flight and fell two divisions. The club was sold by Rubery to David Taylor and, under Taylor’s ownership, slipped into administration.
In the summer of 2003, the Terriers came out of administration under the new ownership of Ken Davy.
At the start of the 2004–05 season, the stadium was renamed the Galpharm Stadium, to reflect the sponsorship by this local healthcare company.
On 26 May 2012, following a penalty shoot-out in the 2012 Football League One play-off final victory over Sheffield United, Huddersfield were promoted to the Championship. The shoot-out was the longest contested in the current League One play-offs format. Eleven rounds took place, with the final score 8–7 to Huddersfield and the winning goal being scored by goalkeeper Alex Smithies.
During the summer of 2012, the stadium changed its name to the John Smith's Stadium, after the sponsorship rights were bought by Heineken International.
Last season Huddersfield finished the season in 19th place on 51 points.
The Manager – David Wagner
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Highlights from the last time the two Towns faced off at Portman Road. Hopefully there'll be more goal action this time around...
Media Watch - K L Blue
MM on club form:
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/09/29/ip ... lubs-form/
MM on Leon Best getting better:
http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/30361/
MM on Jonny Williams:
http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/30360/
Things learnt from the Brighton game:
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/09/28/hu ... rned-from/
Form Guide
Ipswich Last 5 Matches Currently in 13th place on 13 points
Ipswich Town 0-0 Brighton
Leeds United 1-0 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town 0-0 Aston Villa
Derby County 0-1 Ipswich Town
Reading FC 2-1 Ipswich Town
Huddersfield Last 5 Matches Currently in 1st place on 22 points
Huddersfield 2-1 Rotherham
Reading FC 1-0 Huddersfield
Huddersfield 2-1 QPR
Brighton 1-0 Huddersfield
Leeds United 0-1 Huddersfield
Fixtures of Interest
LEEDS VS BARNSLEY
BRISTOL CITY VS NOTT FOREST
SHEFF. WEDNESDAY VS BRIGHTON
WOLVES VS NORWICH
Marko's Caption Competition
Few beauties this week, scores as follows.
Scores
Quasar 5pts
Herforder 4pts
Ashfordblue 3pts
Nicscreamer 2pts
LEAGUE TABLE
Quasar 19
DerickIpsw 18
Herforder 18
Nicsreamer 15
Bluemike 13
Frosty 10
Ando 10
Blueblood 10
Gold&Black 9
IpswichtownNo1 7
Watership Down 6
Number 9 5
Patthegimp 5
Tangfastic 4
Ashfordblue 3
LoudNProud 2
Supershred 1
Barmy Billy 1
ItfcTrev76 1
Shed on Tour 1
Try this:
Match Referee – Christopher Kavanagh
Final Thought - Bluemike
After the shambles that was Leeds, I had said I really wanted to see a true Ipswich performance against Brighton on Tuesday night and by and large I feel we got that. Once again, we restricted one of the more fancied sides to hardly a shot on target and for me we had the measure of them over the ninety minutes. Some fans are arguing the fact that again they were there for the taking and that we have let points go. This may or may not be the case but I would bet nearly all Town fans before the season had started would have been well pleased with home draws against Norwich, Villa & Brighton. I think sometimes our expectations are running away a bit, and let's not forget our defensive performances in all of these games and others have been very solid indeed.
A big plus from Tuesday night was the efforts of young Josh Emmanuel. He may still have a lot to learn but he did himself proud with a very good performance, while Tom Lawrence also drew a lot of plaudits following a very good shift. A big talking point lately is the formation that MM is persevering with despite every man and his dog seemingly in agreement that it is not really working. While most have been calling for a return to 4-4-2, I can't help wondering if we could even look at a 3-5-2?? For me, we have the players: three decent CBs, Ward & Knudsen wing backs, then take your pick for the three CMs and the two strikers. For me, it looks good. Never gonna happen, mind.
The hard games come thick and fast. This time it is the league leaders Huddersfield who come to town. Fans up and down the country are raving at what the Terriers have done so far and yet should we somehow get the win we would be a mere six points off the current leaders before the Saturday fixtures, and all this after two very tough months. Should we get a win, I really do believe it will be a more than OK start given our crippling injury list and up-and-down form in front of goal. On paper, Huddersfield should win but I am going for Town to upset the form book and grab at the very least a point. COYBs.
IPSWICH TOWN 1 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1
@ attempts at remembering their stadium name. Tetley Tea sounds ok to me. Are they out all the "cuppas"? 
