For the first time this season, I am beginning to question if we are good enough. I had us down for a 2-1 defeat tonight as my belief in the team is not as 'great' as it was back in August. What exactly is not quite right, I don't know, but I have felt that something has been missing in all the games I have seen this season (all 6 of them)
With apologies KEMP, I don't mean it personally, but can I just say I really don't care how Ipswich are doing. What bothers me is, despite our embarrassingly strong squad at this level, we are four points and seven goals from the top, with six teams in between. Excluding today, we also are on a dreadful run of six points from six games against teams that average 16th in the league (only one of which is in the top half). This is simply not good enough. We are slow on the counter-attack, wasteful with chances, concede regularly despite restricting opponents to very few shots, are shaky defensively and incoherent in attack, but also we are barely a threat from set pieces, very little threat from the wings and can't break teams down in the middle. So you have to ask yourself, what are we good at? So far, I can only identify some relatively decent retention of possession around the halfway line and a couple of guys who can take their opposite man on. We have some very big names at this level who just simply aren't playing like a team. Even if we draw by some miracle today, this won't change. Something needs to be sorted, rapidly.
I should clarify - our players are more than good enough. Our team, otoh, looks pretty dreadful at the moment.
Admittedly I only have Radio commentary to go by, but it sounds like Turner has been our only good player. IMO the attacking changes backfired, here comes Grabban. Time for a hat trick?
The defence is the main problem. Whitaker shouldn't be any where near a football field. Martin isn't good enough to play CB. We have pace in barrow loads up front but no clinicle edge to any of the strikers. The midfield is suited to breaking up play than creating. And I'm not in a good mood right now.
Boro tonight have been the complete opposite of us recently. They've dominated the game and dominated the scoreline as a reward, something we haven't been able to do. Well this is now a thrashing... Humiliating...
oh dear - nearly humiliating now. Only surprised we have not had a visit from the ugly sisters tonight, but i am sure they will along soon enough.
I can;t remember a game where virtually every player has had a poor game. Turner might be the only exception. Even the attacking subs have had no impact. Strange.
Got a tenner on them getting automatic...not that it takes away from tonights disappointment. Not many would argue with a change, surely. Even at this early stage. Unfortunately the man who should be in charge just took the reigns at Bolton.
Not sure about Lennon, but I think our squad would be near-perfect for Tony Pulis. Harsh to start talking of replacements just yet though, our best run under Neil came after the abomination away at Wolves, so here's hoping this can be the catalyst for another positive run.
