ITFC FIXTURE TABLE 2013-14

ITFC 1 LUFC 2

Home loss today against Leeds United. I could only listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Suffolk when ITFC did well for the first 30 minutes and took the lead with a good goal from McGoldrick. Leeds equalised with a slightly lucky rebound getting to one of their players who finished well. Leeds then played better than Town and when Leeds took the lead with their second goal there was little response from Town. In the end Town applied pressure with a succession of corners but in reality never seriously threatened getting an equaliser. Very disappointing….

There is talk about Town’s problems now as their good early game promise seems to be fading fast. To me I have to ask questions of Daryl Murphy and Luke Higham. I do not think either have given enough end product to Town and for some while now. No doubt both are good footballers but Town need strikers to make and take chances and midfielders who can make things happen and these two have not done enough in my opinion in those key areas. Last season when Mick came to Town’s rescue it was the defence that needed attention and that was improved but now we need goals and strikers who will get goals and hopefully midfielders and others who can chip in with the odd goal or two every so often. Bring on Antony Wordsworth and give Frank Nouble a proper chance!

Town have had tough games to start but there are only 2 or 3 teams that will be less hard (slightly easier) to play than others in what is a highly competitive Championship league. Town themselves are becoming a soft touch as they flatter to deceive by playing well for periods but then playing poorly in spells. This will not work for success in the Championship and after the last few seasons Town have had, everyone at the club should know that. Consistent hard work has to be standard with the odd glimpses of real quality for success in the Championship. Once again Town need to wake up quickly and “smell the coffee” now and recover by putting the hard yards in otherwise we are destined for another poor season!

COME ON YOU BLUES!

Next game is away at Birmingham next Saturday…go for it Town!
(for all Town’s fixtures see post on new season’s fixtures 2013/14)

We are now 3 games through the new 2013/14 football season for ITFC and an encouraging start in the SkyBet Championship..played x2 and lost x1 (2-1 Away vs Reading) and won x1 (3-0 H vs Millwall). Lost disappointingly to Stevenage in the Capitol Cup but manager Mick tried some team changes which didn’t work for that game but showed the new players they will need to do better to get a place in the regular first team!

The 3-0 home win vs Millwall was pleasing with Skuse and Higham impressing the manager (Mick McCarthy!) and fans both. Scorers were Cresswell (via an own goal..), Smith and Anderson. Millwall didn’t play well and are in some disarray after their manager of last season Kenny Jackett left and new manager Steve Lomas finding it hard to get support from all Millwall fans. Town did well away at Reading with Jay Tabb scoring against his former club. That was always a tough fixture away but after these 2 opening games the Town team and us fans can feel optimistic about the games ahead. We all need to take games one at a time and not to get complacent or over confident and support one another!

Hopefully I will soon post a fixture list here.
The next game is on Sat 17 Aug away vs QPR-another tough away game…COYB!! Go Town!

The Championship for 2013/14 season starts tomorrow! The summer holidays for ITFC are over. I hope the whole team and management and staff have had a decent break and that pre season preparations have gone well and that everyone is looking forward for a good season ahead for Town.

As ever there have been several player changes.Out go JET/Chopra/Martin/Drury that I know of and there are probably a few more gone I don’t know about! Jay Tabb and Daryl Murphy signing new contracts and Christoph Berra and Cole Skuse and Ryan Tunnicliffe and Dean Gerken coming in. There are others but I can’t remember them off hand! The only disappointment I had was the failure to sign Richard Stearman. Anyway Mick Macarthy has a good squad (albeit with some injury problems already!).

The first game of the season tomorrow is tough- away at Reading…..looking forward to it!

COME ON YOU BLUES COYB…… GO TOWN