Parkin has broken ...

[Bluebird]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

[Kheffan]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

should i be finding this funny?.

[Bluebird]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

should i be finding this funny?.

Bloody strange people you Welsh!

[Earl Blue]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

[Kheffan]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

should i be finding this funny?.

Bloody strange people you Welsh!

[Dubai Blue]

So we need to get in someone by close of business Thursday. Marcus Stewart anyone ?

[the-mole]

Well we have lost our top goalscorer so far this season!!!

Yes be hasn't been a massive hit with the fans but then who has this season??? So it is up to Proudlock, Forster and Bowditch to step up to the plate and start getting those goals!!!

[uefacup81]

I'll agree there, we can't go into the busy christmas period missing a striker in what is already a small squad. It's imperative that we get someone in before the thursday deadline - MS would be interesting - but he'd be another Scowie. Knowing joe though, it'll all come to nothing.

[Bluebird]

Scans have revealed that Sam Parkin has broken his ankle and the Town striker could now be out of action for up to four months.

The 24-year-old frontman limped off the pitch in the early stages of last night's defeat by Reading and had x-rays of the damaged joint this morning.

"The ankle is broken and we will know more about where we go from here later this afternoon," said Town physio Dave Williams, breaking the news to the Club website.

"The specialist, Mark Bowditch, wants to take another look at the scans and will then decide on the course of action.

"It could mean that Sam has an operation which would mean up to four months on the sidelines or he could set it in plaster and secure the joint which would cut down the return date to perhaps two months.

"The danger with the plaster option is that any movement of the ankle while it's healing could cause the ankle to fracture again while surgery would obviously fuse the joint and stabilise it.

"We will obviously be guided by the specialist and if he decides on surgery it will be well into the new year before Sam is back."

[nieros]

Not good with our already tiny squad.

May not been the best, but leading goal scorer and frankly wouldnt wish a broken ankle on anyone.

That being said maybe get to see some others having a chance now.

[Gaz]

So we need to get in someone by close of business Thursday. Marcus Stewart anyone ?

In a word NO

[hallamblue]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

...in a perverse kind of way, it may be the best thing to happen to him this season!

I know that sounds daft...but I think he needs to take a back seat for a while and make a fresh start next season (with all guns blazin)....he may get the odd cameo run out at the very end of this season.

He's had too much "expectation" heaped on him from the supporters - who will naturally compare him to what was by any stretch of the imagination - a very potent strike force last season. He's never IMHO had any time to truly settle in at Ipswich !

[Gaz]

He'll come back and be great next season, I hear he's a great finisher in league 1

[Bluebird]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

...in a perverse kind of way, it may be the best thing to happen to him this season!

I know that sounds daft...but I think he needs to take a back seat for a while and make a fresh start next season (with all guns blazin)....he may get the odd cameo run out at the very end of this season.

He's had too much "expectation" heaped on him from the supporters - who will naturally compare him to what was by any stretch of the imagination - a very potent strike force last season. He's never IMHO had any time to truly settle in at Ipswich !

Thats pretty much what i've been telling myself, but I'm starting to wonder if he really is sh*t?

He may be a goal scorer, but he hasn't shown much talent as a footballer!

[hallamblue]

his ankle, and will be out for between two to four months!

Pointless debating how sh*t he is now.

...in a perverse kind of way, it may be the best thing to happen to him this season!

I know that sounds daft...but I think he needs to take a back seat for a while and make a fresh start next season (with all guns blazin)....he may get the odd cameo run out at the very end of this season.

He's had too much "expectation" heaped on him from the supporters - who will naturally compare him to what was by any stretch of the imagination - a very potent strike force last season. He's never IMHO had any time to truly settle in at Ipswich !

Thats pretty much what i've been telling myself, but I'm starting to wonder if he really is sh*t?

He may be a goal scorer, but he hasn't shown much talent as a footballer!

Exactly !...so if ITFC buy this player having got a full dossier on his attributes , they SHOULD know exactly what they have brought into the Club. It is therefore IMO, the coaching staff's job to play to Parkin's strengths...not try and mould him into something he, inherently isnt !

If Parkin is a "goal poacher" then it is up to the team to get the ball to him in a way that he can "do his job".

In his time as manager here Bobby Robson had a way of getting the best out of the players he had playing for him ie playing Eric Gates just off the front two strikers...he wasnt a target man...he wasnt an out and out striker ...but Robson found / created a "role" for him. Joe should be looking to do the same for SP !

[Bluebird]

...in a perverse kind of way, it may be the best thing to happen to him this season!

I know that sounds daft...but I think he needs to take a back seat for a while and make a fresh start next season (with all guns blazin)....he may get the odd cameo run out at the very end of this season.

He's had too much "expectation" heaped on him from the supporters - who will naturally compare him to what was by any stretch of the imagination - a very potent strike force last season. He's never IMHO had any time to truly settle in at Ipswich !

Thats pretty much what i've been telling myself, but I'm starting to wonder if he really is sh*t?

He may be a goal scorer, but he hasn't shown much talent as a footballer!

Exactly !...so if ITFC buy this player having got a full dossier on his attributes , they SHOULD know exactly what they have brought into the Club. It is therefore IMO, the coaching staff's job to play to Parkin's strengths...not try and mould him into something he, inherently isnt !

If Parkin is a "goal poacher" then it is up to the team to get the ball to him in a way that he can "do his job".

In his time as manager here Bobby Robson had a way of getting the best out of the players he had playing for him ie playing Eric Gates just off the front two strikers...he wasnt a target man...he wasnt an out and out striker ...but Robson found / created a "role" for him. Joe should be looking to do the same for SP !

Bloody hell HB, thats a big ask for Joe right now, IMO he can't even prepare a team properly!

[hallamblue]

Thats pretty much what i've been telling myself, but I'm starting to wonder if he really is sh*t?

He may be a goal scorer, but he hasn't shown much talent as a footballer!

Exactly !...so if ITFC buy this player having got a full dossier on his attributes , they SHOULD know exactly what they have brought into the Club. It is therefore IMO, the coaching staff's job to play to Parkin's strengths...not try and mould him into something he, inherently isnt !

If Parkin is a "goal poacher" then it is up to the team to get the ball to him in a way that he can "do his job".

In his time as manager here Bobby Robson had a way of getting the best out of the players he had playing for him ie playing Eric Gates just off the front two strikers...he wasnt a target man...he wasnt an out and out striker ...but Robson found / created a "role" for him. Joe should be looking to do the same for SP !

Bloody hell HB, thats a big ask for Joe right now, IMO he can't even prepare a team properly!

I think we were always going to get a footbaling lesson from Reading last night - much as it pains me to say it BB. However, my point is, that since day one of Parkins arrival at ITFC- we have failed to play to his strengths. As a coaching issue, surely that has to be addressed.

The truth is JR has a lot of players that are mediocre - at best ! and until recently very few options for the majority of positions in the side.

We still have no decent LB, central defender to partner Bam Bam (who only two season ago would have been deemed a "squad player")..midfielders with a modicom of pace, flair and ability to tackle ..or a strike force to replace the 40 odd goals gap left by Benty / Kuqi.

If you were the manager of the squad we have and you were faced with Reading - dossier report "one of the top two inform sides ..very quick, athletic, pacy attacking midfield...unbeaten in god knows how many games...scoring goals for fun"...what would your primary objective have been for last night.

1. Damage limitation? ..and hope to nick a goal.
2. Usual 442 formation, slow pedestrian midfield, powder puff attack...geriatric paced defence ..and actually a young GK (dont forget).

Im not "defending" JR - I actually was very annoyed at his initial formation- but I wonder what Reading would have done to us if we had gone out with our usual formation ? tbh once they scored the game was over...and you could sense that Town players also felt that.

Reading will stuff better teasm than us this season - make no mistake

[Bluebird]

I think we were always going to get a footbaling lesson from Reading last night - much as it pains me to say it BB. However, my point is, that since day one of Parkins arrival at ITFC- we have failed to play to his strengths. As a coaching issue, surely that has to be addressed.

The truth is JR has a lot of players that are mediocre - at best ! and until recently very few options for the majority of positions in the side.

We still have no decent LB, central defender to partner Bam Bam (who only two season ago would have been deemed a "squad player")..midfielders with a modicom of pace, flair and ability to tackle ..or a strike force to replace the 40 odd goals gap left by Benty / Kuqi.

If you were the manager of the squad we have and you were faced with Reading - dossier report "one of the top two inform sides ..very quick, athletic, pacy attacking midfield...unbeaten in god knows how many games...scoring goals for fun"...what would your primary objective have been for last night.

1. Damage limitation? ..and hope to nick a goal.
2. Usual 442 formation, slow pedestrian midfield, powder puff attack...geriatric paced defence ..and actually a young GK (dont forget).

Im not "defending" JR - I actually was very annoyed at his initial formation- but I wonder what Reading would have done to us if we had gone out with our usual formation ? tbh once they scored the game was over...and you could sense that Town players also felt that.

Reading will stuff better teasm than us this season - make no mistake

I agree with most of the above HB, but surely Royle must take responsibilty for the way his team play with a total lack of passion, guts and fight! I can handle losing and being crap, but FFS at least let the opposition know they've played a game of football. Last night was as hard for Reading as a training ground game of five-a-side. It was simply a disgrace!

[hallamblue]

I think we were always going to get a footbaling lesson from Reading last night - much as it pains me to say it BB. However, my point is, that since day one of Parkins arrival at ITFC- we have failed to play to his strengths. As a coaching issue, surely that has to be addressed.

The truth is JR has a lot of players that are mediocre - at best ! and until recently very few options for the majority of positions in the side.

We still have no decent LB, central defender to partner Bam Bam (who only two season ago would have been deemed a "squad player")..midfielders with a modicom of pace, flair and ability to tackle ..or a strike force to replace the 40 odd goals gap left by Benty / Kuqi.

If you were the manager of the squad we have and you were faced with Reading - dossier report "one of the top two inform sides ..very quick, athletic, pacy attacking midfield...unbeaten in god knows how many games...scoring goals for fun"...what would your primary objective have been for last night.

1. Damage limitation? ..and hope to nick a goal.
2. Usual 442 formation, slow pedestrian midfield, powder puff attack...geriatric paced defence ..and actually a young GK (dont forget).

Im not "defending" JR - I actually was very annoyed at his initial formation- but I wonder what Reading would have done to us if we had gone out with our usual formation ? tbh once they scored the game was over...and you could sense that Town players also felt that.

Reading will stuff better teasm than us this season - make no mistake

I agree with most of the above HB, but surely Royle must take responsibilty for the way his team play with a total lack of passion, guts and fight! I can handle losing and being crap, but FFS at least let the opposition know they've played a game of football. Last night was as hard for Reading as a training ground game of five-a-side. It was simply a disgrace!

youre being "kind to me" arent you BB - I can tell !

JR does appear to have lost the ability to motivate the players- they looked like a team devoid of "normal play pattern"..but we do keep seeing a diffrent team / formation game on game dont we ?

Whether this is because JR is tinkering with different formations, trying to get the best possable combination from a mediocre squad ..or dealing with the effects of injuries - or that he truly doesnt know what is his "best 11" I dont know.

The consequence appears to be a side that week in / out, plays without a settled formation or pattern of play. Since we have players that can only play in a certain roles, well - or conversly when asked to play in a different role - do so very poorly, ie Richards @ LB...Parkin as lone striker
..and unfortunatley we have far too many players in the squad that simply cant "cut it" week in /out in this division, for reasons such as age (too old ..too young) or just sheer inability to play in more than one position moderatly well.

The team looked last night , like a team that either, hadnt got a clear "team objective" or that it simply didnt have the ability individually or as a team to produce individual tasks Joe asked of them !

[SashaBlue]

well least this will show those Childish "Anti Parkin Twats" how important our top scorer is, when noone else scores.

[hallamblue]

well least this will show those Childish "Anti Parkin Twats" how important our top scorer is, when noone else scores.

yes you are probably correct - the only thing that concerns me now is does this now pave the way for Town to accept a "resonable offer" for Garvan in the Jan window...in order for Joe to buy another Striker to cover for Parkin ???

[SashaBlue]

well least this will show those Childish "Anti Parkin Twats" how important our top scorer is, when noone else scores.

yes you are probably correct - the only thing that concerns me now is does this now pave the way for Town to accept a "resonable offer" for Garvan in the Jan window...in order for Joe to buy another Striker to cover for Parkin ???

sorry, i have calmed down now, i am just sick and tired of people slagging off one individual whenthe whole team does bad, just like Pablo, despite finishing Top scorer one season he was still not good enough GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[hallamblue]

well least this will show those Childish "Anti Parkin Twats" how important our top scorer is, when noone else scores.

yes you are probably correct - the only thing that concerns me now is does this now pave the way for Town to accept a "resonable offer" for Garvan in the Jan window...in order for Joe to buy another Striker to cover for Parkin ???

sorry, i have calmed down now, i am just sick and tired of people slagging off one individual whenthe whole team does bad, just like Pablo, despite finishing Top scorer one season he was still not good enough GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

dont worry ...its called "being an Ipswich Town supporter" - you'll learn to cope with it as time goes by [ displays nervous twitch of left eye and contorted neck movements ] !!

[SashaBlue]

yes you are probably correct - the only thing that concerns me now is does this now pave the way for Town to accept a "resonable offer" for Garvan in the Jan window...in order for Joe to buy another Striker to cover for Parkin ???

sorry, i have calmed down now, i am just sick and tired of people slagging off one individual whenthe whole team does bad, just like Pablo, despite finishing Top scorer one season he was still not good enough GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

dont worry ...its called "being an Ipswich Town supporter" - you'll learn to cope with it as time goes by [ displays nervous twitch of left eye and contorted neck movements ] !!

i have been a season ticket for 15 years now, so i had my fair share of up's and down's but if i moan (and i do) it is about the whole team not unfairly picking out individuals,