League 1 - Shrewsbury Town vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Steve and Jo]

Possession ( in either half of the pitch ) doesn’t win games , GOALS do !

Glad you mentioned that, i'm sure we all know that. Kieran knows this. He said it also.

This season is all but over, players will be playing to show the manager what they have for remaining games. Totally share your frustration Hallam, believe we all do. It's frustrating as hell because apart from goal scoring we are no doubt as good as any team in this league. Lots to improve on for next next season but the biggest part of the backbone of the team is there.

Whether Jackson stays or goes for me isn't the main issue. Sure sign him up again but need more of a striker who sniffs out goals also but also Get the scruffier parts of the game sorted. Get the set plays and the bobbling in off the backsides goals also, and that includes Midfielders and the Defenders contributing

Still excited for next season

[Steve and Jo]

Burgess has cost us this win, so unnecessary.

Our back three were brilliant until the sending off.

Why? The lad struck it beautifully. Nothing to do with Burgess. Obvious second yellow.... but getting a bit bored of dominating games and coming away with less than 3 points. Its simple, we should have put rhe game out of reach.

From our point of view, why are we tryingto score the perfect goal every time. Do we need 15 passes to walk the ball in when the opposition can hit one or score from a set-piece.

If we want to get promoted..... can we learn a few lessons from this division.

It has everything to do with Burgess, had he not got himself sent off Thompson wouldn’t have been defending the high ball which he could only get the weakest of headers on straight into the path of Shaun Whalley the goal scorer. Had Burgess still been on the pitch he would have cleared his lines just as he and Woolfie had done all afternoon. I’ve not seen the highlights yet but I’m sure they will reflect my comments.
I’m not sure why Penny didn’t take Burgess’s place and leave Thompson wide as he was far too small to play the role Burgess had played all afternoon.

Yes of course but the lad still stroked the ball well. Understand what you say but fact is the game should of been dead and buried before then. Burgess made a total c*ck up. He'll know this, hopefully he'll learn but we got to finish games off also. Then rash play like Burgess insistent isn't as much of an issue though obviously not clever from him

[MasseyFerguson]

I share the frustration at our seeming inability to put these games to bed. The damage to our season was done earlier in the year. We are playing good football and dominating matches but, as others have noted, we don't seem to score scruffy goals. Pretty football is lovely but stick the ball in the net from time to time for goodness sake.

It is clear that KMcK knows this. He has said it often enough. If the current bunch cannot deliver, I'm sure he will get players in who can. We will need to be more of a goal threat next season and I'm confident KMcK will sort that out.

[Charnwood]

Why? The lad struck it beautifully. Nothing to do with Burgess. Obvious second yellow.... but getting a bit bored of dominating games and coming away with less than 3 points. Its simple, we should have put rhe game out of reach.

From our point of view, why are we tryingto score the perfect goal every time. Do we need 15 passes to walk the ball in when the opposition can hit one or score from a set-piece.

If we want to get promoted..... can we learn a few lessons from this division.

It has everything to do with Burgess, had he not got himself sent off Thompson wouldn’t have been defending the high ball which he could only get the weakest of headers on straight into the path of Shaun Whalley the goal scorer. Had Burgess still been on the pitch he would have cleared his lines just as he and Woolfie had done all afternoon. I’ve not seen the highlights yet but I’m sure they will reflect my comments.
I’m not sure why Penny didn’t take Burgess’s place and leave Thompson wide as he was far too small to play the role Burgess had played all afternoon.

Yes of course but the lad still stroked the ball well. Understand what you say but fact is the game should of been dead and buried before then. Burgess made a total c*ck up. He'll know this, hopefully he'll learn but we got to finish games off also. Then rash play like Burgess insistent isn't as much of an issue though obviously not clever from him

He certainly did that very well no question of that whatsoever. Just a shame they only got into the game after we handed them the initiative, but hey, at least we have next season to look forward to like not before for a long time.

[number 9]

I share the frustration at our seeming inability to put these games to bed. The damage to our season was done earlier in the year. We are playing good football and dominating matches but, as others have noted, we don't seem to score scruffy goals. Pretty football is lovely but stick the ball in the net from time to time for goodness sake.

It is clear that KMcK knows this. He has said it often enough. If the current bunch cannot deliver, I'm sure he will get players in who can. We will need to be more of a goal threat next season and I'm confident KMcK will sort that out.

Spot on!

[mendipblue]

Well that was a shame. In total control but did not kill the game off. It has happened far to often unfortunately hence why we are not in the top 6. KMC is the future and he will get us promoted maybe not with the current squad, I can think of 6 players that can go and won't be missed. So hopefully the recruitment behind the scenes will make us more clinical and move us to the next level.

[BlueBalls]

Who are your 6 Mendip?

[mendipblue]

Harper, Edwards, Carroll, Norwood, Piggott and Holy. Also Thompson as a none required loan. I think we will sign Bonne , Bakinson and Celina.

[BlueBalls]

I'd keep Norwood personally, otherwise I agree with your departures but as much as I like Celina i dont think we'll be able to afford him.

I'd also consider moving Chaplin on. I'd dump Thompson in a heartbeat and probably wouldn't bother with Bonne either.

I'd keep Bakinson.

[hallamblue]

I’d ditch Norwood . He’s a pub player who prefers a fight than sticking the ball in the net it seems. He’s 31/32 yrs old and likely to be entering his final season (s) …. There’s just too much baggage with him now ( for me , anyway )

I’d only keep Jackson of the four strikers .

Of the other two loanees , only Bakinson has made an impression ( again a personal view). I’d be very disappointed if we didn’t sign him , and if we did sign Thompson who don’t think I’d any better then what we already have . However that’s not to say the left side is good enough coz it isn’t .

[saint jude]

Seen highlights, caught reaction on here, TWTD and the opposition's Blue and Amber fans page. An array of views to say the least. Some of the fans they got over there took a certain pleasure in denying us. Just move on for fucks sake.

Their goal near the end, Van Basten Whalley or whatever the kid's name be, it were class. Walton doesn't get beat often but was helpless to keep a shot like that out he could hardly have been expecting.

The sending off swung it their way it's safe to say. We had our chances in the first period and probably should have been further ahead by just the one goal but kind of self destructed in the last quarter. Still, it's been what, 14 League Games and only one defeat, whether you're in favor of McKenna or not it's been a near incredible run.

Walton and the defense seem Championship level, the strikers are sadly of League Two caliber. Kind of suggests why we're going to be stuck in this same damn division for another year.

Always try to remain optimistic about any last hopes of a promotion but got to realize now it's not going to be. We've procured leaps and bounds since getting rid of McCarthy, Hurst, Lambert, not to mention a certain owner, but for all the changes certain deficiencies remain.

Certain "attacking" options have to leave in the summer, there's no ambiguity in the issue.

[number 9]

If we continue to play with one striker, it’s obvious we’ll need a somewhat prolific goal scorer or two. We also need more goals from midfield. The problem is can we attract those sort of players to league one football?

Have to say I’ll be bitterly disappointed if we don’t strengthen in those areas. In Ashton and KM I trust, but surely next season promotion is a must!

[AzzurroMark]

Just trying to work out if KVY is injured? I guess he is but certainly think he could give us that forward thrust down the left side!

[shabba]

Possession ( in either half of the pitch ) doesn’t win games , GOALS do !

Glad you mentioned that, i'm sure we all know that. Kieran knows this. He said it also.

This season is all but over, players will be playing to show the manager what they have for remaining games. Totally share your frustration Hallam, believe we all do. It's frustrating as hell because apart from goal scoring we are no doubt as good as any team in this league. Lots to improve on for next next season but the biggest part of the backbone of the team is there.

Whether Jackson stays or goes for me isn't the main issue. Sure sign him up again but need more of a striker who sniffs out goals also but also Get the scruffier parts of the game sorted. Get the set plays and the bobbling in off the backsides goals also, and that includes Midfielders and the Defenders contributing

Still excited for next season

Spot on! I really don’t think we are too far away, and that we have progressed even if the league position hasn’t.

We just need that final piece of the puzzle, scrappy goals and being more ruthless. KMC has done so well and now needs his summer window and pre season to work on this last part.

We are moving in the right direction we just need to be patient.

[Tangfastic]

Burgess has cost us this win, so unnecessary.

Our back three were brilliant until the sending off.

Why? The lad struck it beautifully. Nothing to do with Burgess. Obvious second yellow.... but getting a bit bored of dominating games and coming away with less than 3 points. Its simple, we should have put rhe game out of reach.

From our point of view, why are we tryingto score the perfect goal every time. Do we need 15 passes to walk the ball in when the opposition can hit one or score from a set-piece.

If we want to get promoted..... can we learn a few lessons from this division.

It has everything to do with Burgess, had he not got himself sent off Thompson wouldn’t have been defending the high ball which he could only get the weakest of headers on straight into the path of Shaun Whalley the goal scorer. Had Burgess still been on the pitch he would have cleared his lines just as he and Woolfie had done all afternoon. I’ve not seen the highlights yet but I’m sure they will reflect my comments.
I’m not sure why Penny didn’t take Burgess’s place and leave Thompson wide as he was far too small to play the role Burgess had played all afternoon.
This game was everything but won until the sending off.

I see your point, but I don't think it's everything to do with Burgess. If we can't get that second goal then we're always vulnerable to an equaliser. It's happened before. Just getting annoying that we can't finish off teams.

[Bluemike]

It is annoying for sure and very frustrating, I do think the players give their absolute all though, maybe as someone said, we are just 2 or 3 pieces short of being the complete jigsaw, Mckenna has worked wonders for me and will only improve, his interviews are superb and always honest and on the money, he knows exactly where we are lacking and what needs improving, it will come.

[mendipblue]

I'd keep Norwood personally, otherwise I agree with your departures but as much as I like Celina i dont think we'll be able to afford him.

I'd also consider moving Chaplin on. I'd dump Thompson in a heartbeat and probably wouldn't bother with Bonne either.

I'd keep Bakinson.

I don't want to keep Bonne either, i just think the club will try and sign him. Regarding Celina, you may have a point. Chaplin can be frustrating but I would keep him. Norwood just does not have it for me. His first touch is poor, needs to many chances per goal and always wants a row with someone.

[hallamblue]

Do you think McKenna will trim down the squad size even further ? I think we’re allowed 25 seniors aren’t we ?

[Tangfastic]

Do you think McKenna will trim down the squad size even further ? I think we’re allowed 25 seniors aren’t we ?

Isn't it 22 seniors excluding the GKs? It seems to change every season though.

I would have thought we will trim it further. Plenty of squad players not getting game time and eating up the wage bill.

Could academy players like Humphreys, Baggott provide adequate cover so we could have a smaller squad and bring in a few better quality players on good money?

One of the problems is can we offload players like Pigott, Harper, KVY, etc who are still contracted to us but don't appear to offer anything? Doubt if Pigott will find a club who can offer him the same wages. So he might be hard to offload.

[hallamblue]

I’m not sure of the number for squad tbh as you say they’re always changing it .

I like the idea of trimming it snd using the likes of Baggott, Humphries, Ndaba etc …. Having read the article on Ndaba it seems he’s come in in leaps and bounds snd unlike Simpson appears to really want to make it at Ipswich - which is refreshing ! I wondered if he could do a job for us as a LWB? Therefore solving one problem or easing it at least.

One thing I am really sure about ( following the Ashton interview recently ), is He is already at work on brining in specific targets . So it looks like McKenna and he have already had discussions about who to bring in . I can see early summer signings , and I don’t think we’ll have to wait to boot some players out first .