Suppose it could have been worse and individually tonight could be shrugged off, 1- Nil against the table toppers. but the form book, style of play and atmosphere around the club is pointing towards us limping very meekly to the end of the season. In a statement I hope I will have to eat as humble pie come May - Our season is over. 6 Points from the play-offs now, barring a miracle turn around that lasts to the end of the season there isnt any reason to suspect another play-off campaign.
Westy that wasn't a dig btw, just saying that now it's looking more likely than a top 8 finish and not so ridiculous
Another game where, by sheer effort,we stifle the opposition,sorry match them,in the first half,then they change it around in the second to create space for their passing game and we end up chasing shadows.Yes it can be argued they are table toppers,have spent £X zillion,but we just lack the ability to do the basics well,i.e. start off by finding a team mate with the simplest of passes rather than hoof it upfield pointlessly.Once again MM's lack of a plan B was ruthlessly exposed.
I didn't think we'd fall off this much Spanish, amazed it's got this bad. The bench tonight looks beyond hopeless. What on earth has happened to Niles? not in the 18......... jesus. No that's fine Spanish! I thought we would be better than what we are currently showing. Listened to the last 25 on the radio, didn't sound inspiring. That said, some comments on twtd suggesting we played well first half. Where Preston have come from is anyones guess fair play to them! Wheels have well and truly come off our end. Realistically, it's white flag time and we're not going to make the play offs but what the hell I'm going to have blind faith we can. Six points off ( basically seven with goal difference ) we need snookers. I guess Hudd away / Forest home / Bolton away is perhaps as good a three fixtures as we can hope to get season back on track. We need 7/9 from these fixtures and perhaps the table will look different with 11 to go. Are we likely to get them? Based on what I saw at Bristol City, no we are not but it's the hope that keeps us alive. So I've gotta believe some how or other we can bounce back. COYB.
MM said we lost to a better team with Prem quality and a front two that cost £15M, that's why we should've strengthened in January Mick, Chambers was turned inside out for 90 minutes and Knuddsen wasn't much better, hardly any ball was reaching our front players which resulted in us having two shots on target in the entire match. The good points were Pringle carrying on his performance at Bristol and the result wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, not much is it. If ME isn't going to invest in some quality then it's time for him to sell up to someone who will, why should we invest in the Club by buying season tickets if the Club is going to be financed on a shoestring again while other Clubs with serious ambition try to make things happen by bringing players in. What's the plan ME?? What's the strategy?? What's the problem?? When you want people to invest in your Companies don't you have to sell the project to them? Don't you have to demonstrate the return they can expect on their investment? If the answers yes then for Christ's sake tell us supporters the point of going to some armpit of a place in the backside of the Country where you wouldn't send your worst enemy to support our team.
I'm counting the one that hit the post in the first half and a shot from Sears late in the game that the keeper put round the post for a corner. I know Hull had about £40M worth of players in their squad last night and it showed but if ME really has no intention of getting his snout out of the free transfer trough then he should come out and say so and then the supporters would know where they stood and more importantly where the Club stands with regards to progress, at the moment season tickets are bought More in hope than expectation. What's the plan ME?
" What's the plan ME?? What's the strategy?? What's the problem?? " Based on Saturday and Milne's speech, we have a plan in place. Which is - *Hope every other club overspends, fails FFP, and receives penalties. * Wait for the academy to produce player after player. * We went trigger happy in the hope of instant success in the past - we've learn't from this - look at Derby it doesn't guarantee promotion.... That in a nutshell appears it. Mick or no Mick, that doesn't appear to change. An absolute mess at the minute. Talking of companies Fieldmarshall we got a winding up order for messing around an investor. Pure embarrassment.
" “Now we either dig in to try to push for the Play-Offs or we let the season simmer away and finish mid-table, but that’s not the sort of boys we have. “We’ll come in again on Thursday and we’ll be working hard to try to put things right by putting a run together to make the top-six. " Nice, so while people pay to watch that, you guys get to chill and laze around today. At least get the squad to a sodding pool or something for the day. Do some kind of fitness / work out.
Second rate players produce a second rate team no matter who the manager is and no amount of team spirit can turn second rate into quality, and before I renew my season ticket I want to hear from the Club with regards to the recruitment of players for the coming new season. Is there a plan of campaign? Or do we just stagger on taking on players that no one else wants and plead poverty when our lack of quality is exposed? We lost at Bristol and everyone said it was because we had a makeshift team that day which is true, but why couldn't we field a strong side? Could it be because we hadn't brought any players in apart from 2 emergency loans who hadn't played for months? It didn't stop Brighton putting 4 past them at Ashton Gate last night.
£37 for a ticket last night, if you bought it on the door. Absolutely disgusting. We are a Championship club playing on a working day evening. More specifically, we are a club which has been marooned in this division for the past 14 years. On the basis of last night's toothless performance, we're only going to extend that record. Ipswich Town used to be a 'family-friendly club'. Not anymore. I'll always be grateful that Evans bailed us out when we most needed it, but he has this club in the palm of his hand. Out of all the criticism I have of the board recently, it's the pricing out of working class, long-term supporters and families that annoys me the most. Under Evans, this club has become increasingly out-of-touch with the everyday fan. Like McCarthy or hate him, the style of football we play isn't going to entice people through those turnstiles. We don't play attractive football, so the extortionate prices just look more unjustified and ridiculous. We have a squad of players made up of freebies, loan signings, and cast-offs. There is not a chance that squad reflects the need to price our tickets so highly. 17,630 turned up last night, and kudos to all of those people. But that figure is going to fall. The 'unbeaten at home on Tuesdays' angle has been killed in its crib just as it started picking up national attention. The substitute bench reflected the complete lack of options and strength-in-depth this squad has, although I concede we've been unfortunate with injuries. More pertinently, the next three games needs to yield points, especially against Huddersfield and Bolton. Otherwise this season is a write-off.
It seems even MM has now given up after his comments on BBC.....seems the only thing that we can use as a tactic is 'Hope'........ MM: "It's not going to be easy as we've got Huddersfield away and that'll be no easy fixture, but we've got to start somewhere, so let's hope it starts Saturday." Where's the 'Yes, we can win this one' attitude?.....Isn't that what managers are supposed to do?
Bigal I am very uneasy with the direction of the club more than Mick. Sure, Mick is stubborn but I happen to think he's a good manager. Very upset at the lack of investment, the desire from those behind the club to go up. Meeting Milne I found a very uncomfortable experience with his smug face for one hour telling us we're doing the best we can bla bla bla. it wouldn't matter who was in charge this club is a right damn mess at the minute. Not impressed.
The negativity definitely shouldn't be aimed at Mick, he's doing the best job he can with what he's got. Thanks to Mick we've remained at this level and have over achieved hence the expectation now. Under someone different it could've been a lot worse. If we had a team full of quality maybe he wouldn't be the man to take us to the next level but with what we've got he's done amazingly well really. I agree the issue is with the club as a whole, ticket prices are ridiculous for the lack of entertainment. No investment in players, all the obvious stuff. Mick has an impossible job really, we're so far away from being a top flight side. Even if we were to scrape into the top 6 can anyone really see us going the whole way? With any luck a drop in attendances will make the club rethink.
But lower prices haven't put bums on seats have they? We had a poor crowd vs Preston @ £10 a ticket - magically despite " lack of entertainment " back end of last season crowds were a lot higher. Milne rightly pointed out we average around 2000 more a game than we did 2/3 years ago. If we want bums on seats it's a case of us doing better - sadly, reducing prices to £20 or so is only going to cost the club revenue so it won't be happening.
Yeah coz ME picks the team and chooses the tactics,this is Micks dross and all the negativity SHOULD be aimed at him!! He still plays people out of position to accomodate his favourites, which totally unbalances the side and i still cant see any evidence of trying to play football, hit and ****ing hope will only get you so far! Mick is a dinosaur of a manager, who is tactically inept and should be sacked with immediate effect!
Totally agree Westy, why would anyone seriously pay a tenner to watch the dross that is on offer, let alone £30+
