**** sake. did i say he actually IS a gangster??? this is probably the most boring argument that's ever taken place on these boards so lets leave it there.
i assume bastia haven't pulled out, so at least we get one serious match out of the tour and the games against nice and celta vigo should be decent tests. little worried that we haven't played at least one side from league one or two - that would be a better barometer to gauge 'where we're at' in my opinion.
Think the last three games are still confirmed, problem as i see it is we'll get less out of them by going into them a bit cold, seems that the tour has been pretty good for team spirit though.
Ah, that explains all the extra cycles on the road - Ipswich players going to away friendlies. Silly me was thinking it was down to the weather.
just thought i'd check and yep, i was right - our first team play more friendlies (even with two teams pulling out!) than ipswich do this summer
officially, ipswich's first team face (or have faced): west ham united (top flight opponent - finished 13th in prem) colchester gillingham southend leyton orient (some real thrillers in there warky and if you want to include west ham as top class, even though it was their first friendly of the summer that's up to you) and city: dereham braintree sampdoria - cancelled livorno - cancelled vallée d'aoste bastia (top flight opponent - finished 10th ligue 1) nice (top flight opponent - finished 17th ligue 1) celta vigo (top flight opponent - finished 9th in spain) arguably better fixtures for what is to come in terms of the nitty gritty of championship football, but hardly top class, whereas city face three top flight sides in the next two weeks. most teams line up a glamour tie as their final game of pre season. leyton orient certainly tick all the boxes... i think it can be argued that neither club have given themselves the best preparation for the upcoming season looking at those games.
not being funny, its not who you play its what you get out of it is what matters. take last season for you guys, you played some cracking sides but it done jackshit for your season.
Nail on head Mick wants to play against teams that are more likely to replicate the style of the opposition that we are likely to face in the season. Just very good common sense from a very good manager.
Funny you should say that after taking the piss out of Dereham and Braintree! Talk about having your cake and eating it!
sorry, but when did i take the piss out of braintree and dereham? I took the piss out of how you guys were ****ing yourselves silly after RVW was gifted 2 goals, thats all.
I missed that, was it on 'canaries player'? To be serious, we were hardly that excited, just pleased for him. Many of us still think there's a good player in there with the right system. It could well be this season. I'll certainly be delving in the archives to pull up some of your derisory comments about him if that should be the case.
