ITFC 1 QPR 3

On Saturday 12/01/14 Town lost at home to QPR which was a very disappointing result.
It was 0-0 at half time and Town were matching QPR and had chances and were generally playing well.
Again though the second half was not good overall for Town. All three goals for QPR were avoidable and were the result of Town’s mistakes.

Niko Kranjcar for QPR scored their first and he got the ball from a throw in opposite the Town penalty area and was allowed to go into the box by 3 Town players! His shot was good, low and right in the far corner to beat Gurken. No doubt it was a great finish by Krancaer but why did the 3 Town players (Chambers,Taylor and Higham I think) allow him into the box and past them with no challenge? It was both poor defending and a great finish! After the game manager Mick praised the finish but it was only made possible by 3 Town players being beaten easily by Kranjcar. No doubt about it that was poor defending and Town were punished!

The next goal was a mistake by Town goal keeper Dean Gurken who fumbled a QPR shot from Charlie Austin and Gary O’Neil was on hand to score from 2 yards out, an easy goal but the QPR player was in the right place at the right time to score from the rebound with no Town defenders reacting and blocking or clearing the fumbled rebound!

As if that wasn’t enough the third goal was a backpass error from a long QPR punted clearance upfield. Unfortunately Tommy Smith miscontrolled his backpass to Dean Gurken and Traore came flying in to get the ball and easily score past Gurken!

The three goals were all made by errors from the Town but the QPR scorers were clinical and ruthless!
Unfortunately Town were neither clinical or ruthless and some good chances they made were squandered through lack of a clinical finish EXCEPT for the consolation Town goal at the end of the game scored by Tommy Smith!

Smith’s goal was a great finish on the volley from a corner! Well played Town and Tommy for getting that goal back which showed some fighting spirit and was a fantastic finish!

So overall Town were well beaten by quality from QPR but all 3 opportunities were handed on a plate to QPR by three bad defending mistakes from Town.

The Town side was much changed again from the last game against Preston with much more of a first team feel and there are some positives to be had from the game as Town played well for some periods.
Unfortunately Murphy and EbanksBlake were injured and not in the squad.

Featured game on the BBC Football League Show

This was the featured game on BBC Football league TV show and what a shame Town couldn’t take that opportunity to showcase themselves better. It was good to see more of a Town game on the show but unfortunate Town didn’t impress more!

The other games were very interesting to watch with Leicester winning easily and looking good and Burnley too! This Championship is a tough one though as seen by Sheffield Wedneday 6 Leeds 0.

Next for Town…

Town have their FA Cup replay away at Preston on Tuesday before another away game at Millwall next Saturday. Both these games should be winnable for Town. Preston are a good side but the Town first team should be good enough to win the replay. In the first game many first team players were rested to allow other squad members to play and it didn’t work well.

Millwall will be tough to beat because although they are in poor form and lost on Saturday they have new manager Ian Holloway in charge and he is good and they were unlucky to lose that last game! Town though should win if they put in effort and are ruthless!

There is no doubt the games in this new year 2014 will not be easy for Town in the Championship, but Town do have good players and they will need to work hard and be ruthless to win against the other good teams in the Championship. Come on man up Town players and I will keep shouting for you to do well! COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!

ITFC 1 Preston 1

This FA cup game ended in an unsatisfactory draw for both sides. Of course this suited Preston much more than Town. In brief Town had made 6 changes and Preston had a couple. The changes for Town didn’t really work as is obvious from the score and this report will highlight why.

Two of Town’s changes were due to injuries to Murphy and Smith (in came Ebanks-Blake and the defence was reshuffled & Tyrone Mings was in but out of his preferred position). The rest of the changes were to give the squad players a game and try & rest other first team players. In came Wordsworth and Tabb in midfield (along with Luke Higham) and Scott Loach was in goal with Carlos Edwards back too.

Ipswich-v-Preston (Sylvan-EbanksBlake)

Unfortunately Town did not start very brightly but I think this is for 2 reasons.Firstly the new players haven’t played together before and fairly soon after the start Town changed their planned 3-5-2 formation to 4-4-2 in order to combat Preston’s 4-4-2 formation and overall this did not suit this new Town team.

So Town looked to Nouble & Ebanks-Blake up front but Ebanks-Blake’s debut for Town ended badly after 27 minutes when he pulled up with a potential hamstring injury and was subbed off. However it gave Town the chance to get our best player of the season into the game,namely David McGoldrick. In fact McGoldrick then scored to give Town the lead from a penalty.

Preston though are a good side and although a league below Town, they are challenging for promotion to the Championship and have a good manager in Simon Grayson. The Town new/fringe players just didn’t gel or perform well enough on the day and Preston scored through the very experienced Kevin Davies.

It was disappointing to me that the Town players who were given their chance didn’t take it and play as well as I think they they can. However on the bright side I hope they react positively to this as they now know they will have to work harder and play better to get regularly into the Town first team. Preston played well and so it was a tough game for the Town team. It is now vital these fringe players react positively in this way and do not brush off their poor performances and expect to get back in the first team without giving the manager a good reason to do include them.

I will add personally I was surprised Wordsworth didn’t do better as I still think he is potentially a very good player who has had a bit of a rough time at Town. I am also surprised Jay Tabb didn’t do better either as I believe him to be a quality player-am I wrong?! Mick Mills on the BBC Suffolk Sport radio commentary wanted manager Mick to fine Luke Higham for too many backward passes and I agree with our “legends'” assessment! Come on Luke, be more positive and make more forward passes and forward runs!

I’m sure this game has given manager Mick and all discerning Town fans a better indication of Town’s current strengths and weaknesses and how these need to be fixed to maintain a realistic promotion challenge for ITFC.
The team will need strength in depth if they are to seriously mount a promotion challenge for the rest of this season.

Next….

Well there will be a cup replay against Preston and the winners of that will play Nottingham Forest.
I’m sure Town will go to Preston with an improved squad and want to win the game badly after the draw at home. I certainly hope so!

I remember the good old days when Town won the FA Cup in 1978.

ITFC FA Cup winners 1978

Well, before the cup replay,next Saturday Town start again to play the reverse fixtures of the start of the season with a game against QPR. That should be a good game. For most fans getting promotion to the Premiership is the priority for Town and I believe this is definitely possible if Town work hard for the rest of the season and play to their full potential and are ruthless and resilient in their match play! Town have been unbeaten for a few games now but just managed draws. Now Town need to get some wins in! GO TOWN…We all agree ITFC are magic….Oh when the Town, go marching in…..Let’s make some noise for the Town!

SUPER BLUES…

Match reports

As usual the Xmas New Year period is a busy period for football and Town have had 3 games I haven’t mentioned yet.

Firstly the away game at Doncaster was a good 3-0 win for Town. Very good! I’m not sure there is much more to say about that! Except to say that it was a good late Christmas present (on Boxing Day) for the team and fans.
There are no easy games in the Championship and travelling a long way for games isn’t easy but these are the types of games Town have to get points from in order to have a promotion play off challenge.

Secondly on the Sunday after Town were back on the road with another away game against Bournemouth. This ended in a 1-1 draw. Bournemouth by all accounts played well so it was a good point for Town.

The next game was played yesterday, a home game against Charlton and this ended as a 1-1 draw. This result was quite disappointing for me and many fans, as Town led for most of the match and missed a penalty which would have most likely sealed the win for them. The conditions were bad with heavy rain & wind but Town played well in the first half and yet not so well in the second half when Frank Nouble came on for Murphy and Taylor on for McGoldrick. It is good to see Taylor back in the side.

Still, for me, that was definitely 2 points lost and I hope the team realise this. I’m sure they must be disappointed as well as the fans and I hope they will try harder in the New Year! This may sound tough but everyone knows winning games is not easy in this league. Being tough and ruthless and winning ugly should be part of a successful team.

Town remain in sixth position in the play off places but they have made their play off promotion challenge harder for themselves by not beating Charlton. Mick is saying publicly that a draw was a fair result. Of course Mick McCarthy is doing really well for Town following the very difficult last couple of seasons.

The Town are developing into a good side and while all fans have been dreaming of a return to the Premiership, maybe this could happen this season? COME ON YOU BLUES…..

Next…

Well the next game is an FA Cup game against Preston North End at home on Saturday 040114.
A good result would be an extra present for the fans as Cup games are a welcome diversion from the slog of the Championship. Town have nothing to fear but must take nothing for granted to avoid problems.

Then the week after is a home game against QPR and that should be a good game and a good test for Town and there is every reason to think Town could win if they play to their potential!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ITFC….play offs here we come! COYB

Happy Christmas ITFC

Here is some blog footy dedication:blogging Christmas greetings to ITFC on Christmas day! Have a great day all! Tomorrow (Boxing Day) the Town play Doncaster away. The best Christmas present for all fans of Town would be an away win for Town..Goodluck to Mick and the team!

Post Watford match reaction (ITFC 1 Watford 1)

Town drew last Saturday against Watford. I wasn’t there and only heard snippets on the radio as I was doing my Christmas shopping.

In the game Town went ahead with a penalty from David McGoldrick in the second half. Watford drew level after that with some confusion in the Town defence but a great finish by Watford striker Troy Deeney. Town though should have won it late on as they had a few good goal chances and notably a header from Hyam that hit the bar when it was a clear scoring chance. In the end the game was a draw and Mick overall was disappointed but accepting of a point. Mick is always pragmatic and knows rightly that one point is at least better than none! I cannot argue with that though of course I too have disappointment Town did not win. Still if Town keep picking up points then there is good reason for hoping Town can get to the play off places at the end of the season as we all know that Town are continually improving since Mick arrived as manager.

Pre Doncaster mach report

Unfortunately Stephen Hunt remains injured and won’t play. Town are having a Christmas lunch with family and in the late afternoon / evening travelling up to Doncaster, so I hope they have a great Christmas Day! Goodluck to all travelling Town fans and I think whatever Town team field for the game against Doncaster we can look for a second away win of the season! Looking forward to the match..GO TOWN!

ITFC vs Watford prematch report

Town play Watford at home at Portman Road this afternoon. Stephen Hunt is out of the squad as he picked up a late injury in training. This allows Paul Taylor back into the team. Otherwise there are no main changes to the Town squad. Big news during the week is a new Town signing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the ex Wolves forward who has worked successfully in the past with manager Mick McCarthy and trainer Terry Connor. This should really strengthen the Town squad!

The really big news ahead of the match is the fact that GianFranco Zola, Watford’s manager, RESIGNED during the week! Watford have been on a poor run of form and Zola has had enough! Very interesting decision and I hope the Watford team do not react well to this event. Zola of course was a truly world class player and now seems a very honorable manager but I hope Town just play well and win today against Watford. Perhaps if Town are lucky then Watford will be in some disarray after Zola’s departure?!

If Town are lucky with this it will be great as Town seem to have had more than their fair share of bad luck over the last few seasons. I hope Town can stay lucky this season as this would certainly help their promotion chasing chances.

So it is goodluck to all Town players and fans today…COME ON YOU BLUES!!!

Pre match comment on Nottingham Forest vs ITFC

An away game at Forest this afternoon for Town. This will be a tough match as Forest are a good side.
Apparently many Forest fans are fearful of David McGoldrick returning and scoring against them. McGoldrick has been great for Town and I would sure like him to have a good afternoon against his old club!

Luke Chambers is another ex Forest player now doing well at Town so the match will be special for him too and so I hope he and David McGoldrick have a good day against their old team!

One thing is certain Town are a much better side since they lost in their last match against Forest at the City ground last March. Town were quite unlucky on that day with 2 sendings off! Let’s hope we don’t see that again! See this link: Fog & red mist …Forest vs ITFC March 2013

Anderson and Taylor are unfortunately injury doubts for Town and it will be interesting to see the team Mick McCarthy fields this afternoon. What formation will Town play? Will Jordan Graham be playing? What will our midfield be? Well as I’ve said in my blog posts all season Town have lots of promise and they are developing a certain confidence following 3 consecutive wins. I want them though to stay focused and be ruthless! Anyway it should be a good game today, so… COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!
GO TOWN….

An away win would be wonderful! A draw would be great! Losing of course is not so good but it is not the end of the world as long as Town are positive, focused and ruthless! There is no shame in being beaten if you have done your very best. However there is shame in losing if you have not done your very best. I believe this Town squad have great potential and as long as they all do their very best game on game I’ll support them unreservedly!

As ever, I’m listening to ‘Life’s a pitch’ Radio Suffolk’s prematch preview with Mark Glenn Murphy and guests and Town legend Kevin Beattie. Thanks guys! Then I’ll be listening to the match report from Brenner Woolley and co commentator,and I will post my post match thoughts after the game.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ITFC & Goodluck against Forest

EDIT
Forest 1 ITFC 1

The match ended as a 0-0 draw. Town had one or two chances (Nouble went close) but were lucky to not get a penalty given against them when Gurken slid for the ball and the Forest player went down. While it wasn’t a great Town performance, it was good to keep a clean sheet and get an away draw against a good Forest side. Well down Town.

Here is a short video highlights of the match:

ITFC win vs Huddersfield

Well done Town for a good home win last Saturday against Huddersfield. ITFC 2 Huddersfield 1.

Match report

Town started well, but Huddersfield scored first late in the first half with a good goal.Before the goal Huddersfield were given a penalty but Town keeper Dean Gurken saved it and in a way justice was done as it was never a clear cut foul that gave away the penalty. So Huddersfield were getting up some momentum but soon in the second half David McGoldrick scored the equaliser for Town.

Mick brought on Tabb for Skuse midway through the second half but the game looked like a draw until in the last minute of normal time Town got a free kick and from that Murphy headed in for the winning goal! Well done Town for trying right to the end! In some ways it was a flattering result for Town but it is great to see Town trying right to the end of a game and they got their reward for that! Huddersfield I think, were just trying to see out the last few minutes of the game and thinking they would take a draw! It looked like they were easing up toward the end and they were punished as Town kept trying to win to the final whistle and were rewarded for their effort! Jordan Graham came on for ten minutes or so (for Nouble). His debut for Town.

WELL DONE TOWN! The last 3 games have been wins and Town are in 9th position with 29 points and just 2 places out of the play-offs. Next Saturday is an away game at Nottingham Forest.

So it has been a good start to December for ITFC and I hope the Town can keep this up through the month and over Christmas and the New Year and on! WELL DONE manager Mick & the ITFC team!

If Town can keep getting these good results then more fans will come back to support them. These results give everyone a lift and encouragement so keep it up Town!
COME ON YOU BLUES….

A great win last night: ITFC 3 Blackburn 1

Match report

A great home win for Town last night…more to come soon…

Following the away win at Charlton, manager Mick MacCarthy made 4 changes and back in came Hyam,Edwards,Nouble and Hunt. I was pleased to see this although as ever at the time it is impossible to know exactly why manager Mick did this. I was pleased because it gives the other squad players a chance and I believe in rotating squad players and to give all players a good and fair chance in the first team. Overall the Town squad is good enough to do this and it gives the manager and fans a chance to see different player combinations, systems and options. Doing this in a winning side is fabulous when it works but not so when it doesn’t of course! Later after the game Mick talked about how hard players have to work in games so he made the changes as much to rest the others and put on fresher legs. Well that is another advantage in having a squad of good players that you can do that and put out a fitter, less tired team than might otherwise be the case if the same eleven played every game.

Anyway, again I listened to the game on the radio and amazingly Luke Hyam scored his first goal this season! That is exactly what the Town needed eg goals to come from midfielders. Carlos Edwards got a goal and Frank Nouble also. In reply another ITFC ‘old boy’, Jordan Rhodes, scored for Blackburn against his former club. The match wasn’t a classic and Town still need to improve but 6 points and two wins from the last 2 games is great and pushed Town up to eighth place.

Great win for Town then and signs that Town are getting better still and we can start to hope to improve enough to get into the play off places this season!

Next match is another home match -this time against Huddersfield who are I think one place below Town and playing well right now.

GOODLUCK to Town team against Huddersfield! COME ON YOU BLUES!

PS…
Crazy bad luck for several championship managers who have recently lost their jobs due to poor recent results eg Dave Jones from Sheff Wed, Dave Flitcroft from Barnsley and Owen Coyle from Wigan. The Championship is a tough ruthless league for everyone at the top, bottom and throughout!

Away win for Ipswich Town FC

Great result on last Saturday as ITFC won away at Charlton by a single goal. Charlton 0 ITFC 1

Match report

I listened to the game on BBC Radio Suffolk and Town started very well with four chances in the first five minutes and a goal! Town’s early pressure led to a good headed goal from a corner from Tommy Smith.

Town managed overall to control the first half but they really could have done with another goal as Charlton slowly started to get better and threaten Town. Another goal did not come and Charlton had a much better second half but thankfully Town did not let them score and claimed their second away win of the season with the valuable 3 points.

The match was not a classic at all but it was great to see Town start well and be positive. As I stated in my pre match comment/post David McGoldrick and Tommy Smith put in good performances. Jay Tabb was quite good too and overall all the rest of the Town players did alright. It is a much needed good result for Town which can give confidence for the team and supporters for the next match this Tuesday at home against Blackburn.

I have to commend the Town squad for getting the win and keeping a clean sheet even though the performance level did drop as the game got into the later stages. THIS IS MUCH BETTER TOWN & WELL DONE!
It has been disappointing with recent Town games when they have done well but conceded goals and not held on to at least a draw.

I think it fair to say we haven’t got the best balance yet from the Town squad and team and we haven’t seen the best they are capable of but there are good signs around the Town squad and team. It is great if everyone plays well but that won’t happen every game and at those times Town need to dig in and hold on to get something they deserve from the game and not make mistakes and throw results and points away. A bit more confidence and consistency is needed from the Town squad but they do have great potential, and this is a far better season than the previous one!

So well done Town and keep it up and goodluck for your next match – COME ON YOU BLUES!!!

ITFC away at Charlton today Sat 30/11/13

Well, last week Town had a poor result and poor performance losing 2-1 to Leicester at home. Luke Hyam lost his place for a spot on the sub bench so the midfield was Anderson, Tabb & Tunnicliffe. No sign of Skuse? Is he injured? Wordsworth was a sub on the bench but didn’t play. Nouble and Taylor came on as subs for Tabb and Anderson.

The main highlight was a good early goal from David McGoldrick but of course David Nugent was a pain and ended up getting two goals in the second half for Leicester to win. Leicester are a good side and certainly in the second half were better than Town but Town still need to do better and try & fulfill their undoubted potential. It is time the team get together as otherwise it will be a mediocre (or worse) season for Town.

So today, Town need a much better performance away at Charlton.

I expect solid good performances from David McGoldrick and Tommy Smith and it is time the rest of the team up their game and the whole team put in a good team performance and get an away win! COME ON YOU BLUES…

COME ON TOWN… show us what you are made of and start to play to make this great football club a force again!

(EDIT UPDATE:-Last Thursday a new young player Jordan Graham joins on loan from Aston Villa and is on the bench today. Unfortunately, Taylor is injured and not in the squad)