I'm not confident, have a feeling we may go through a mild bad patch. Draw tonight, draw Saturday...but then pick up again after that
What a poor first half. Rotherham have just taken the Accrington blueprint from Sunday - close Ipswich down all over the pitch, with added physicality - and watch us shapelessly kick aimless long balls up the pitch. Even with two out and out strikers on the field, we have no bite up top and aren’t winning anything. We are being dominated in midfield. Where is the structure? Where’s the initiative from our players? Why are we lacking composure on the ball? Sort it out Lambert.
I have to say....two down as it stands and it comes as no surprise, I have watched 5 or 6 games this season and thought we looked a poor side in most of them games, just fortunate that the sides we were playing were much poorer!
85 mins gone and we have had two friggin shots all game, it's a disgrace, no creativity at all. Sorry but don't rate Jackson at all, doesn't get involved enough for me. Rowe is not good enough either!!
Agreed - we’ve rarely been dominant this season. Against the likes of MK Dons and Gillingham, we’ve scraped through with gritty wins. When you’re on a run of good form, as we were, and you win the odd scrappy game, that’s often cited as a mark of champions. But if you’re winning games by the odd goal, while looking a bit fortunate, well that’s not sustainable. It helps that we have one of the best squads in the division, which we still do on paper, but sooner or later teams are going to figure you out. Accrington Stanley and Rotherham have done that. Close down our players, watch them hit aimless long balls, and win the midfield battle. This Rotherham side got relegated with us last season and they better equipped for Championship football. Lambert has some explaining to do. He threw a barely-fit Nsiala and a barely bothered Dozzell in the line up on the weekend. They both struggled. He fielded Judge up front on Sunday, who looked lost. He’s opted for a barely fit Keane tonight, who’s been ineffective. He’s so wedded to two up top and his withdrawn, defensive diamond formation that opposing teams have sussed us out. As bad as Sunday was, this match has been worse. We need a change in approach otherwise opposing teams’ game plans are going to be simple and they’re going to be effective.
It was nice while it lasted. But it seems our annual collapse is well under way. 2 games barely getting a shot on target. A result of our game plan being "be better than the other team", no long term thinking has been invested in the squad. Still, our start has brought us time to sort it out. Don't like to think we're a one man team but this result evidences how important Norwoods presence is. And maybe it's well timed, gives something for Lambert to take to Evans as proof he needs January signings.
Not seen anything of the game tonight, but the reports here are very disappointing. This time I couldn't say there was a lot to argue with the team sheet. It's not about Norwood or any individual. We've got enough good results already without him contributing goals. We will just have to keep getting behind the players out there and wait and see what plays out between now and January.
Just back from the game,very disappointing in all aspects.Felt very much like last Season where we had little clue and no clear plan. Sort it out Lambert!
Just got back from the game and although it was 2 0 we were flattered because it could have been 5 or 6, they were better in all departments than we were more athletic, more skillful, and their giants outmuscled us easily in fact their keeper could have stayed at home. Holy looks dodgy and let the ball through his hands and legs for their first goal, the midfield is powder puff without the ball and devoid of creativity with the ball, therefore the front players get no service, Keane spent most of his time making sure his hair was in place and I'm not sure if he touched the ball during his time on the pitch, Rotherham were far better organised and all things considered looked a far better side, sure they kicked and pulled and wasted time but there was only going to be one winner. I have Never thought we've looked a top side this season and to be honest been lucky to meet some very poor sides so far. So the last 2 games have yielded 0 points, conceded 4 goals, and scored none, we desperately need a win on Saturday.
Garbutt is not a left back. If we are going to play with a flat back 4 then Kenlock needs to come back in with Garbutt in front of him. With the squad we have, I do think 3 at the back is the way to go but it needs to be the same 3. I would start every game (where possible) with Wilson, Wolfy & Chambers with KVY & Garbutt as wing backs
First,thanks for all the reports, I couldnt watch or listen last night - prob a good thing, sounds as tho it was another very disappointing game. But, as some have pointed out... We have never looked at top team, streets ahead of the pack - big wake up call We are thin on the ground in important positions, especially relying on Norwood to be 100% fit. Change of approach and formation now needed Surely Woolfy should start & Downes if fit? Confidence has taken a knock - we need to wallop Southend-by-Sea...cant believe I am writing this - by 5 goals! We are still up there - but other teams clearly have their strategy against us well thought thru....not rocket science is it? Injured players slowly coming back, so need a strong lead, a clear strategy/game plan, back to our passing game and above all ther ight players in the their right positions ffs! What a shame for the 20,000 plus who went on a Weds night, 20K...let that sink in! A clear marker for Lambert & Evans to do the right thing after Xmas - that's assuming he/they have a game plan for ITFC future.
Spot on for me scg, there's no sense in saying everything's ok when it isn't, that's like saying on a wet miserable day that its good because yesterday was nice, no need to panic either we just need to look carefully at our last two games and learn where and why we were outplayed. We are in the top group on merit along with some good sides like Posh, Coventry, and Oxford etc and I'm sure some others will come out of the pack, so its back to basics with players expected to carry out their responsibilities their position demands and if its beyond them they have to go. On that subject I would drop Holy and give Norris a run, Holy early on came for a punch and almost missed it completely, then a horrendous error for the first goal, and then Chambers waiting for him to come and collect and he refused to move resulting in Chambers having to give away an attacking throw in, I think he needs a wake up call.
Agree entirely with all of this. Being at the top teams will up their game against us and have nothing to fear. That's a big factor. But Lambert should know this. I have said at times this season we would get walloped in the Championship when we've won. I think we are there more by the lack of quality in the division than our own quality, but with determination anybody is capable of turning us over. We need to strengthen in January because whether we run away with it or need a bit extra to even make the play offs, we need another half dozen quality players in this squad to build on the hard work that has gone on already and become a genuinely decent side.
There are similar records in the Cups and on telly. But all it really tells us is that we have been **** for quite a while! You could probably pick any subset of results of choice and the defeats and goals against column would be heavy.