Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough
Sunday 6th May 2018 – 12:30
Portman Road
Just a quick few words from me, firstly, to everyone that participates on the forum ...... thank you! It may not be the biggest Town supporters site, but I hope it still has a place for you as a supporter of the club.
To Mike, Andy, Marko, Trev and Colin ......... what can I say? Without your involvement and contributions each week, I wouldnt bother with the site and I suspect quite frankly these forums wouldn't exist.
Like Mike mentions below, the 2018/19 season is something to look forward to and I suspect it will have as many twists and turns as this season delivered.
Please have a great Summer (I unfortunately have a Winter to deal with) and safe travels if you are going on holiday.
cheers Dave
Pre Match Thoughts - Mike
So here we are at the final game of the 2017/18 season, to say it has been a troubled season is somewhat of an understatement, it has been a season which has seen the exploits of the team often overshadowed by the whole Mick McCarthy situation, at times the Football has paled into insignificance and yet it is the Football played at times that has been one of the main causes of the unrest that has prevailed for much of the campaign. Who would have thought back in August that things would end so acrimoniously, I remember being at Millwall's Den stadium on that hot August Summer evening having just watched Town win 4-3 to make it Four wins on the spin and I was thinking to myself maybe we may just be in for a decent season again, how wrong I was and while we still kept ourselves in contention for a while it was evident that the cracks were appearing and things would very soon turn sour. There is little to gain in dragging up the whole MM situation again but what is clear is that something had to change and change it has, clearly it will go down as a season of disappointment but in reality we are probably going to end up where many saw us being before the campaign commenced. I think it is fair to say that injuries have played a big part in this last Nine months and things would have been a bit better had we not been hit so hard but how much it has cost us we will never know.
As One chapter closes another begins and while we are usually non existent when it comes to being in the news during the close season I think this time it has to be different, we have the excitement of appointing a new manager and with that undoubtedly brings change in other areas, some players will no doubt depart and hopefully a few new faces will arrive at the club to freshen things up. I think the next Four weeks or so are massive for ITFC and Marcus Evans has to get it right, I was one of the fans who was impressed with his "Interview" and I believe the guy to be genuine, he may not have said anything of Earth shattering proportions but what he did say appeared to be from the heart and not from an asset stripping crook who couldn't care less about the club, I didn't see that at all. We all have our own ideas as to who we would like to see in the managers chair and some of us will be pleased while others could be disappointed but we need to pull together, we need untiy and the club can return to something of a sound footing, disharmony has ripped the club apart at times and it needs to stop, the atmosphere at home to Villa was superb and this was followed up with a wonderful day out at Reading, those days can return and the feeling at the Madejski was what I want to feel at away days, sticking together is the key and giving the new incumbent a chance, whoever it may be. Season ticket sales are already showing signs of improvement and the kids coming through from the academy give hope to better days ahead, these are just Two things that have already brough a bit of a feelgood factor to the club in recent days, let's keep the momentum going and build on it, we have a crucial part to play.
The game at Reading was a really enjoyable contest and not just for the obvious joy at the result, Barcelonaesque Football it may not have been but it was still a very good game to watch, open and end to end, chances at both ends and of course that final Twenty minute goal rush which saw us take the home side apart, it was a well deserved three points having dominated the opening Forty Five without reward and then having repelled the efforts of reading in the First twenty minutes of the second period we really did get the job done. It should not go unnoticed that some of the passing Football at times was really refreshing to see too, playing out from the back with a confidence rarely seen shows we do have the players to do it, the new manager needs to have this as his approach and the fans will be accepting of defeat from time to time. The Full debuts of Ben Folami & Luke Woolfenden were a highlight for me, I really like the look of this Folami, already you can see he has a football brain and he could be like a new signing for us already, Woolfenden too looked far from out of place and although he will obviously have greater tests to come through he did himself proud, the players around him guided him through and showed what a great team spirit we have within the squad, of course this was no more evident than when Freddie Sears finally ended his goal drought with the Third goal, the whole team, Bart included running to join in the celebrations, people can say what they like about the ability of some players but they are as genuine as you can get and most games this season they have given everything and played for one another. It was a great way to end our away day travels.
Our final day opponents are Middlesbrough who have already secured their play off spot so in truth there is little riding on the game, except of course the small matter of finishing above the scum to be crowned top Dogs in East Anglia, all we can do is win and hope they don't, of course if they lose at Hillsborough we just need a draw and while it really isn't anything to crow about by finishing in mid table it would be nice to eclipse them especially when you look at the resourses they have had at their disposal compared to us so in a sense this is a game we really need to go out and win. With the possibility of Boro resting a few for the play offs I think we can get the win that would end the season in a positive way so I will edge towards an odd goal victory for Town.
I would just like to say a big thank you to those that do bother to read my ramblings each week and it has been a pleasure to help Dave (Frosty) out with the previews in his hour of need, I can't pretend it has been easy every week given how things have gone because it hasn't, it is always easier when things are going well, so I hope you all have a fab Summer and here's to a much improved 2018/19 season, the beginning of a new era and hopefully the resurgence of our beloved Ipswich Town Football Club, the best in the land.
The Opposition - Middlesbrough
The club turned professional in 1889, but reverted to amateur status in 1892. They turned professional permanently in 1899 and after three seasons, they won promotion to the First Division, where they would remain for the next 22 years.
In 1903, the club moved to Ayresome Park, their home for the next 92 years.
Over the next few years, their form fluctuated greatly, rising to sixth in 1907–08 before dropping to seventeenth two seasons later. The club rose to their highest league finish to date, third, in 1913–14. The First World War soon intervened and football was suspended. Before league football resumed, Middlesbrough won the Northern Victory League, but the team were unable to maintain their previous form and finished the 1919–20 season in mid-table. They remained in the First Division for the next few seasons, but were relegated in 1923–24 after finishing bottom, ten points adrift of their nearest rivals.
Three seasons later, they won the Division Two title. Their tenure back in the top flight lasted only one season, and the club were relegated. They were promoted at the first attempt in 1928–29, winning another Second Division title. The club remained in the First Division until 1954.
Middlesbrough climbed to fourth in the last full season before the Second World War and were expected to challenge for the title next season, but the war intervened. After the war, the club was unable to recover the form of the previous seasons and hovered around mid-table and exited in the early rounds of the FA Cup. Soon afterwards the team began to falter, eventually suffering relegation in 1953–54. This was the start of a 20-year spell outside the top division.
Over that period, Middlesbrough maintained reasonable progress in the Second Division but were never serious contenders for promotion. After a fourth place finish in 1962–63, the club endured a steady decline and were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history in 1966.
New manager Stan Anderson returned the club to the second flight at the first attempt. Middlesbrough would not finish below ninth during the next eight seasons. By 1974, Jack Charlton had taken over as manager and guided the team back to the top flight.
The club experienced severe financial difficulties during the mid-1980s. In the 1984–85 season. In April 1986 the club had to borrow £30,000 from the PFA to pay wages. The final game of the season saw Middlesbrough relegated to the Third Division once more. That summer, the club called in the Provisional Liquidator and shortly afterwards, the club was wound up and the gates to Ayresome Park were padlocked. Without the £350,000 capital required for Football League registration, a new rule, it seemed inevitable that the club would fold permanently. However, Steve Gibson, a member of the board at the time, brought together a consortium and with ten minutes to spare before the deadline, they completed their registration with the Football League for the 1986–87 season. Following the registration came both a change of club crest and a change of the official company name to Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Club (1986) Ltd.
Over the next two seasons, Middlesbrough gained successive promotions into Division Two and then into Division One. The next season though, they came straight back down to Division Two. Despite constant promotion and relegation, Middlesbrough were founding members of the FA Premier League for the 1992–93 season.
The 1996–97 season was compounded by a deduction of three points imposed just after Christmas, as punishment for the club's failure to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn, which ultimately resulted in relegation. At the same time, the club managed to reach both the League and FA Cup finals for the first time, but lost out in both. Despite being in the second tier they were again runners up in the League Cup final the next year.
Middlesbrough were promoted back to the Premiership at the first attempt in 1998. They continued to stay secure in mid-table the following season.
Bryan Robson left the club before the start of 2001–02 season, having served as manager for 7 years, and was replaced by Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren. The following seasons saw Premiership security maintained as Middlesbrough slowly improved and were seen as a tough side to beat when playing at the Riverside Stadium. During McClaren's reign, Middlesbrough achieved their highest Premier league placing of 7th in the 2004–05 season.
The 2003–04 season was the most successful in the club's history as they finally won a major trophy after beating Bolton in the League Cup final.
Middlesbrough reached the 2006 UEFA Cup Final in Eindhoven, following two comebacks in the rounds preceding it, but lost to Sevilla. Following the cup final, McClaren left to head up the England team, and captain Gareth Southgate took over, despite not having the coaching qualifications, but he was allowed to continue after receiving special dispensation. Southgate's first two seasons saw the club finish in 12th and 13th places. He oversaw the club reaching the quarter finals of the FA Cup for three seasons, but the club was relegated to the Football League Championship on the last day of the 2008–09 season.
Despite starting the 2010–11 campaign as promotion favourites, the club endured a disappointing start to the season securing only 1-point in 5 away games. Having slipped to 20th in the Championship following a home defeat to rivals Leeds, Gordon Strachan resigned on 18 October. A week later, Tony Mowbray was confirmed as the new manager. Having staved off the threat of relegation, Mowbray successfully transformed Boro's fortunes, eventually guiding them to a top-half finish.
Following a poor run of form of 2 wins in 12 games in the 2013–14 campaign, on 21 October 2013, nearly 3 years after his arrival, Tony Mowbray left the club with immediate effect. Aitor Karanka, a former Spanish defender and assistant coach at Real Madrid became the new Middlesbrough manager on 13 November 2013, signing a two-year contract. He became the first non-British manager at the club.
Boro had a good 2014/15 season finishing in 4th place. After beating Brentford in the playoff semi-finals they meet Norwich in the Championship promotion final …. Sadly the budgies coming out on top on the day.
The next season, Middlesbrough were promoted back to the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship in 2015–16, drawing 1–1 with Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day of the season.
Last season Boro struggled in the EPL, only managing 5 wins which ultimately saw them relegated back to the Championship after only one season.
The club appointed former Leeds United manager Garry Monk as manager in the off-season. Expectations at the club were high, having spent close to £50 million in the transfer window on player purchases, in order to mount an immediate promotion challenge back to the Premier League. Such a promotion challenge did not materialise under Monk's management, as on 23 December 2017, it was announced that Monk had left the club, with Middlesbrough ninth in the Championship and underachieving. They appointed Tony Pulis as manager three days later on Boxing Day, who himself had been sacked by West Bromwich Albion a month earlier.
The Manager – Tony Pulis
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Form Guide
Ipswich Last 5 Matches currently in 13th place with 59 points
7 Apr Brentford 1 - 0 Ipswich Town
10 Apr Ipswich Town 1 - 0 Barnsley
14 Apr Nottm Forest 2 - 1 Ipswich Town
21 Apr Ipswich Town 0 - 4 Aston Villa
28 Apr Reading 0 - 4 Ipswich Town
Middlesbrough Last 5 Matches currently in 5th place with 75 points
7 Apr Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Nottm Forest
10 Apr Sheffield Utd 2 - 1 Middlesbrough
14 Apr Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Bristol City
21 Apr Derby County 1 - 2 Middlesbrough
28 Apr Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Millwall
Fixtures of Interest
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY VS NORWICH CITY
LEEDS UNITED VS QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Match Referee – David Coote
IPSWICH TOWN 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
freddie sears
