Today Town play Bolton away.
What can Town fans hope for and expect? An away win!?
I’m certainly hoping for an away win for Town but there is no way this can be expected.

I am though getting sick and tired of singing the praises of the Town team and squad and for Town continually to disappoint and not get the results Town should be capable of. Am I being harsh? I don’t think so and I’ve just heard manager Mick MacCarthy on Radio Suffolk saying how he knows Town haven’t had the results he expected despite some good play in parts. Remember the away game at Derby (4-1 up at halftime only to draw 4-4 and just hang on at the end!)? Mick stresses Town must take their chances and if they don’t score then make sure we do not concede goals either!

Town have to be more consistent and ruthless too. MacCarthy stressed that the Town should be ruthless after the Wigan game and the team haven’t been consistently ruthless yet. Again I have said on paper the Town team and squad are excellent but more players need to give more on the pitch consistently game after game.
Brenner Woolley says on Radio Suffolk not to criticize Luke Higham but why not? He is a good player but he isn’t giving the team enough! He needs to be able to score the odd goal here and there and this gets back to MacCarthy’s point that the players have to take their chances. Lots of people are clamouring for creativity in the side but Higham, Skuse and Tunnicliffe aren’t so creative but Antony Wordsworth is more creative and I would want Wordsworth to play every game. Today Wordsworth doesn’t even make the squad/subs. Why is that?! Hewitt is in the squad and on the subs bench.

I’m a bit surprised Jay Tabb hasn’t been able to be more influential either. Next more is needed from the attackers Nouble and Murphy with only McGoldrick really performing. Finally thank goodness we have a good defence with Smith, Chambers, Cresswell and goalie Gurken all being good players.

Bolton have been underperforming this season so far and this is a good opportunity for Town to get at them and cause them problems.

COME ON TOWN…let’s beat Bolton…..COYB

Town team: Ipswich Town

22 Gerken
04 Chambers
03 Cresswell
08 Skuse
06 Berra
05 Smith
11 Anderson
19 Hyam
10 McGoldrick
09 Murphy
16 Tunnicliffe

Substitutes

01 Loach
02 Hewitt
07 Edwards
15 Mings
18 Tabb
34 Marriott
35 Nouble

EDIT…2 small other points:

There were x2 games after the Derby away game
Sheff Wed 1 ITFC 1
ITFC 0 Burnley 1

Finally there is some query about manager Mick MacCarthy being asked to take the vacant Ireland manager’s job….

An amazing game on last Tuesday night away at Derby.
Derby 4 ITFC 4

The result was nearly a rugby score but doesn’t tell the game story. At half time it was Derby 1 ITFC 4 so Derby had a fantastic fightback in the second half while ITFC collapsed drastically. In fact a few days later as I write this I am still shocked Town lost such a large lead and in fact they were hanging on for the final whistle at the end as Derby finished strongly.

As the football cliche goes, the game was a game of 2 halves but actually it was more a performance by 1 team-Derby. They were poor in the first half and changed dramatically to play very well in the second half. Town weren’t very good throughout and the main positive I can give is they did take their chances in the first half to score. Town overall were second best on the night and yet claimed an away draw, to get a point. Football can be very strange! Well I am concerned by this result and in many post match interviews many Town squad members say they have to learn from it and move on. My concern is Town do not learn from their mistakes. For away at Wigan manager Mick MacCarthy said the team were not ruthless and they certainly were not ruthless at Derby. So Town need to improve and start to get more consistent this season as they have been up and down in results and performances….COME ON YOU BLUES!

SAT 05/10/13

Sheffield Wednesday 0 ITFC 1

This game is proceeding as I write this post and Town have just scored by Paul Anderson after 10 minutes..GO TOWN!
Well…guess what?! Sheff.Wed have just equalised-3 minutes later!
Now Sheff Wed 1 ITFC 1

COME ON TOWN (NB Town players..a football game lasts 90 minutes or more! LOL!)..
I will keep listening on the Radio to the Town commentary and update this post at the end of the match.

COYB!

Well the game finished as a draw: Sheff Wed 1 ITFC 1

Again this is an away point but again Town threw away an opportunity as Sheffield Wednesday haven’t won a game this season and are at the moment one of the weaker teams in the Championship. It seems to be the way this season to get an away point and hope to win at home. This is not a bad formula if Town can do it!

Mick MacCarthy praised the team for their effort and I do too. It may be a frustrating season for Town who undoubtedly have lots of promise and have yet to fulfill that potential! Now is the international break so I hope the squad can get a little rest and recover and get ready to do well after the mini break.

COYB!!!!

(2 weeks time is the next game at home to Championship leaders Burnley..bring it on!).