Here you can chat about everything and anything related to ITFC and other football issues. This forum also hosts the now Internationally famous TB.com ITFC match previews which contain insightful pre-match thoughts, previous highlights, news links relating to Town, form guides and other bits and pieces. Feel free to discuss meet ups/travel plans in here as well.
Just as I started the last preview by saying that Town's anonymous performance against Bristol City had been undistinguishable from any number of away days this season, so could Saturday's similarly tepid encounter with Cardiff have been mistaken for countless other home displays at Portman Road. All the familiar hallmarks were there: a slow start, which could easily have resulted in us going behind inside the first five minutes, a goal subsequently gifted to the opposition, growing impatience – if not plain uninterest – in the stands and, most notably of all, an inability to take advantage of a promising situation. On too many occasions already in 2016/17 have Ipswich Town embodied the expression 'We could have played all night and still not scored' – the clash against Nottingham Forest being the prime example in recent times. For this failing to come back to haunt us again was bad enough, but in the context of a home match against a relegation-threatened team who had been reduced to ten men was surely not acceptable. As laughable as Sol Bamba's sending off was, it shouldn't distract from the reality that it presented a golden opportunity for the Blues to go on and secure victory. But that never materialised, and in fact Cardiff looked the more likely to nick the 3 points, with three decent chances in the dying stages. This is where I have some sympathy for Mick McCarthy, though. While many will insist that he again didn't set up adventurously enough, with two defensively-minded midfielders against a bottom-three side, he arguably did all he could to get the win once the game was underway. Other than Jonny Williams – whose absence remains a mystery – he introduced his most forward-thinking options from the bench, with Teddy Bishop, Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman more than capable of providing a matchwinning contribution between them. And yet, one or two forward runs notwithstanding, there was still no spark to ignite our attacking play. This brings us back to the question of confidence, which appears to be sorely lacking throughout the squad at the moment when trying to break down our opponents.
Our form over the last six games, of two wins, two draws and two defeats, is firmly that of a midtable side, which, lying 7 points from the play-offs and 5 points above the drop zone, is exactly what we are. In isolation, the results from our last six outings are not overly alarming, particularly in such an unpredictable league as the Championship. Indeed, our record over that period is identical to play-off-chasing Birmingham, who have followed up two impressive wins on the back of draws with Huddersfield and fierce rivals Aston Villa with two deflating losses, the latest a 4-0 lesson handed out by a shell-shocked Newcastle on Saturday. This slight drop-off in form has shown just how quickly fortunes can change in this most 'bonkers' of divisions. Prior to those two setbacks, Birmingham had been flying high, looking to cement their place amongst the promotion challengers. Compare that to another of their Midlands neighbours, Derby, who have strung together six wins on the bounce to leapfrog them into the top six. In the same way as the Magpies proved to be dangerous opposition on the back of their own two defeats, Gary Rowett’s team will be expected to produce a reaction, as they seek to restore some pride at our expense...
The Opposition – Birmingham City
Birmingham City were founded as Small Heath Alliance in 1875, and from 1877 played their home games at Muntz Street. The club turned professional in 1885. In 1892, Small Heath, along with the other Alliance teams, were invited to join the newly formed Football League Second Division. They finished as champions, but failed to win promotion via the test match system. The following season, promotion to the First Division was secured after a second place finish and test match victory over Darwen. The club adopted the name Birmingham Football Club in 1905, and moved into their new home, St Andrew's Ground, the following year. Matters on the field failed to live up to their surroundings. Birmingham were relegated in 1908, obliged to apply for re-election two years later, and remained in the Second Division until after the First World War.
Birmingham won their second Division Two title in 1920–21. In 1931, manager Leslie Knighton led the club to their first FA Cup Final, which they lost 2–1 to Second Division club West Bromwich Albion. Though Birmingham remained in the top flight for 18 seasons, they struggled in the league.
The name Birmingham City F.C. was adopted in 1943. The club won the Football League South wartime league and reached the semi-finals of the first post-war FA Cup. Two years later, they won their third Second Division title. Bob Brocklebank, though unable to stave off relegation in 1950, brought in players who made a major contribution to the club's successes of the next decade. When Arthur Turner took over as manager in November 1954, he made them play closer to their potential, and on the last day of the 1954–55 season they were confirmed as champions. In their first season back in the First Division, Birmingham achieved their highest league finish of sixth place. They also reached the FA Cup final, losing to Manchester City.
Birmingham became the first English club side to take part in European competition in 1956. They were also the first English club side to reach a European final, losing to Barcelona in the 1960 Fairs Cup final and to A.S. Roma the following year.
In 1963, they lifted their first major trophy, the League Cup, when they beat their bitter rivals Aston Villa in the final.
Sir Alf Ramsey briefly managed the club before Jim Smith took over in 1978. With relegation a certainty, the club sold Trevor Francis to Nottingham Forest, making him the first player transferred for a fee of £1 million. Smith took Birmingham straight back to the First Division, but a poor start to the 1981–82 season saw him replaced by Ron Saunders. Saunders' team struggled to score goals and in 1984 they were relegated. They bounced back up, but the last home game of the 1984–85 promotion season, against Leeds United, was marred by rioting, culminating in the death of a boy when a wall collapsed on him. This was on the same day as the Bradford City stadium fire, and the events at St Andrew's formed part of the remit of Mr Justice Popplewell's inquiry into safety at sports grounds. The club lacked stability both on and off the field and by 1989 Birmingham were in the Third Division for the first time in their history.
In April 1989, the Kumar brothers, owners of a clothing chain, bought the club. A rapid turnover of managers, the absence of promised investment and a threatened mass refusal of players to renew contracts was relieved only by a victorious trip to Wembley in the Associate Members Cup. Terry Cooper delivered promotion, but the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) put the Kumars' businesses into receivership until publisher David Sullivan bought it for £700,000. After a poor start to the 1993–94 season, Cooper was replaced by Barry Fry, followed by the return of Trevor Francis.
Francis introduced players with top-level experience such as Manchester United skipper Steve Bruce. In his second season, the club narrowly missed out on a play-off position, followed by three years of play-off semi-final defeats. By October 2001, lack of progress had made Francis's position untenable and he was replaced two months later by Steve Bruce, who took them from mid-table into the play-offs, where they beat Norwich City on penalties to win promotion to the Premier League.
Birmingham's first top-flight season for 16 years finished in mid-table.
In July 2007, Hong Kong-based businessman Carson Yeung bought 29.9% of shares in the club, making him the biggest single shareholder. Bruce left in mid-season to become manager of Premier League rivals Wigan Athletic. His successor, Alex McLeish, was unable to stave off relegation, but achieved promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. In 2011, a second victory in the League Cup secured qualification for the Europa League. With relegation back to the second tier, McLeish resigned in June 2011 to join Aston Villa. Successor Chris Hughton narrowly failed to reach the knockout rounds of the Europa League and the play-off final before, with the club in financial turmoil and under a transfer embargo, leaving for Norwich City in June 2012. He was replaced by Lee Clark.
Under Lee Clark, Birmingham twice retained their divisional status, albeit through a 93rd-minute goal in the last match of 2013–14 to avoid relegation on goal difference. After a continuation of the poor form from the previous season, Clark was sacked in October 2014, to be replaced by Burton Albion manager and former Birmingham player Gary Rowett.
Last season, under Rowett's guidance, Birmingham finished in 10th place with 63 points.
The Manager – Gary Rowett
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
A look back to a thrilling 4-2 win in the 14/15 season:
Birmingham Last 5 Matches - Currently in 7th place with 31 points
Newcastle Utd 4-0 Birmingham City
Birmingham City 0-3 Barnsley
Brentford FC 1-2 Birmingham City
Birmingham City 1-0 Bristol City
Huddersfield 1-1 Birmingham City
Ipswich Last 5 Matches - Currently in 17th place with 25 points
Ipswich Town 1-1 Cardiff City
Bristol City 2-0 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town 3-0 QPR
Ipswich Town 0-2 Nottingham F.
Sheffield Wed 1-2 Ipswich Town
Fixtures of Interest
BRISTOL CITY VS BRENTFORD
LEEDS UTD VS READING FC
NORWICH VS ASTON VILLA
Match referee – Darren Bond
Final Thought - Bluemike
Jamma was certainly right when he said it is much easier penning an article after a resounding victory. Alas that is not the case this time around as once again we fail to get the job done against lowly opposition, Cardiff the latest team to leave Portman Road with a point following a rather frustrating game. Once again, we contrived to gift our opponents a goal, Bart again at fault. As if we are not finding it hard enough as it is to win games, we seem to be in the spirit of Christmas already with these gifts we keep dishing out.
Something that has been all too evident in recent weeks is the horrible feel and atmosphere around Portman Road these days. Again on Saturday, it was as flat as a snake's belly and the noise levels would be acceptable in the local library such is the state of things these days. Of course it is a never ending circle: on the one hand, some are saying the players are giving us nothing to cheer or get excited about, then on the flip side you have those saying the fans need to lift the players from the off so it is a catch 22 situation and one that I can only see getting worse the longer we turn in insipid displays. I've read elsewhere that there were Town fans involved in full-on fighting amongst themselves after the game and, while I did not see it on this occasion, it surprises me not as I found myself exchanging words with another fan who had a different view from mine, the damn cheek of it!!
Next up is Birmingham City and they could well be a wounded animal after two thumpings in their last two games. I suspect it will be another case of MM keeping it as tight as he can for most of the game before trying to nick one on the break or something. However we choose to go about it, we really do need something from this game and/or Wigan on Saturday. I would suggest two defeats could have serious repurcussions for the manager. Oh how I would love to make the journey home on Tuesday night with three points. Somehow I feel one is the best we can hope for.
Right Brummie are having a sh*t time, don't worry Ipswich will make sure you get back on track its the same formation as the last three, so cheer up Gary its 3 pts in the bag for you mate
Certainly not going to be easy given their last Two maulings, much will depend on how we go about it, sit back and keep it tight and I think we get beaten, play with a bit bravery and we could come home with something.
I see we now have some mystery illness affecting some of our players and indeed the manager himself !! Surely there is going to be one or two changes to the starting line up at least, Douglas rarely plays Two games in Four days, was anyone else under the impression Chambers picked up his Fifth yellow of the season or do I have it wrong ? Bishop has managed to pick up injury with his Ten minute cameo appearance, turning into a right bloody sicknote.
How many can we expect to take to the second city for this fixture ? Mid-week game in December not played in the best of conditions, and with it, a team that performs to it's apparent abilities so irregularly, any chance of taking anything from any game seems few and far between.
Voted for the Midlands team to take it on the night. Probably a low scoring affair with them edging it by one goal to zero. McCarthy will set out for a point before traveling but would expect our defense to be breached at least once.
We got no recognized forwards, any attacking names are nowhere near good enough, so any hope of a goal may come from midfield. Pity is if the opposition get in front the game could be as good as over. Not so bad if the team goes down to defeat, but at least show some desire and enthusiasm with it.
marko69 wrote:Just slumped forward and hit my head off the dashboard. FUUUUCK that woke me up.
Enjoy the game tonight, those attending. Those not, enjoy the sporadic Sky News reports on Soccer Tuesday.
A contradiction in terms I think. I always enjoy the away days for the social aspect if not the football, that said we often come up with a result when we all least expect it so hopefully tonight is one of those nights, at least I get Two half days off work LOL.
Those not attending tonight may well be tuning in to Brenner Woolley and Alex Mathie on Suffolk Radio - the Frank Nouble and Glenn Penyfather of our local airways! Quivering in anticipation!
(Some might have seen Mr Nouble and JET playing for Gillingham last night. Bolton tonked them 4-0!). MM's judgement spot on.....
herforder wrote:Those not attending tonight may well be tuning in to Brenner Woolley and Alex Mathie on Suffolk Radio - the Frank Nouble and Glenn Penyfather of our local airways! Quivering in anticipation!
(Some might have seen Mr Nouble and JET playing for Gillingham last night. Bolton tonked them 4-0!). MM's judgement spot on.....
I'll be tuning in - I prefer dull Monotone Mick Mills to Mathie (he's like an assault on your ear drums). One comment - listened on Saturday and thought Mills and Wooley were really overly trying to "big-up" the performance - as if someone was in their ears before urging them to be more positive.
Mick was definitely right about JET (and especially Taylor) - but he was wrong about Nouble who was brought in by Mick for TC to work with and realise his potential. Lot of Noubles have come in and disappeared.
Off track. Go for a BCFC 1 - ITFC 2 result. Mick's reliable play-percentage approach is seriously unreliable - so got to be a victory. Nothing to do with trust in team's ability - just a win here and there to keep us in a constant state of flux.
trust Varney to play rugby in the box!!!
this can cost us the game!
i know he's a striker, but if you don't know
how to defend stay up front and wait for the
long ball. Dumb as*!!!!
I'm not convinced we're in trouble yet but it may not be too far away. Even if we only maintained our current form (that since the end of October to date) we'd still end the season with 53 points which would be well clear of relegation.
Our biggest problem is inconsistency and not once this season have we won two consecutive games. If only we could achieve this we would stand a chance of building a bit of player confidence and perhaps stand a chance of putting a decent run together. But, until this happens the players won't have confidence or self belief.
Wasn't sure whether any response was necessary as the team has let me (no, let's not be selfish, us down) so many times and the brand of play is so often unimaginative and devoid of idea that you feel you're making no impression. Birmingham's lowest crowed thus far this season perhaps tells you something, and while applauding those who traveled, were witness to another setback and missed opportunity.
There was an incident near the end where we could have been awarded a spot kick but the match official waved it away and instead gave the decision to the opposition. The greater concern is the overwhelming issue that we possess 'forwards' who can't locate the goal and seem dependant on other areas of the squad to contribute. Bringing in an adequate striker in the next transfer window is just about imperative but will Evans even move his as* to make the necessary arrangements or just sit idly by and not even show an interest.
Realized weeks back the season is effectively over and whether you want to agree or disagree that's the hard truth of it. Merely playing out a round of fixtures that are ultimately immaterial and with half the season still to arrive, that's a sad indication.
Obviously Mick McCarthy does not read these pages, but to anyone in any capacity at the club who has the ability to change something - I implore you - realize we're achieving not a goddamn thing so long as it remains as it is. And how the f*ck has McCarthy achieved the "honor" or being the longest serving manager (at this team) in the championship league up until now when so often we respond to games such as today ? Thanks for the play-off achievement but truthfully you've long since outstayed your welcome.
Not just today, not just the last week or the last year - this club's fallen behind for the best part of 12 years and we've never been able to establish ourselves as before and for that, Marcus Evans must take the share of responsibility.
Magilton, got a lot of time for him, was a great player and club servant, but stayed on too long as manager
Roy Keane - arrived in a blaze of publicity and hype but once again, remained longer than was necessary
Paul Jewell - Took the club to a cup semi-final and was doubtless brought in or recommendations for his work at Wigan Athletic, but as before, the majority of the league campaign was garbage and was one more name to add to the list of those that should have resigned or been terminated long before it actually occurred.
McCarthy - four years almost and seriously, what is he still doing at Portman Road ? Ideally should have vacated and left post long before now but the obstinate sh*t doesn't seem to want to leave and seems intent on causing further damage to this once proud club side.
As alluded to by others, don't think there's any real danger of a relegation, in that there's worse teams than ourselves (just consider one moment how poor they must be) in this league - only that there's too many deficiencies at too many individual levels to allow the club to realistically expect anything other than a lower mid-league finish.
Birmingham City v Ipswich Town
Right Brummie are having a sh*t time, don't worry Ipswich will make sure you get back on track its the same formation as the last three, so cheer up Gary its 3 pts in the bag for you mate
Quivering in anticipation!
