Sometimes wish McKenna would make early subs like this more often. It worked wonders for us in League One, we blew sides away like we did for the last half hour tonight.
Bloody awful and brilliant in equal measure. First half and part of 2nd too many players half a yard off the pace. Though credit Bristol I thought they limited us, interestingly and Mckenna highlighted this at the end of the match they effectively pressed us in the middle of the park which worked well but I've not seen teams do that against us, most usually either high press or have a low block. Whatever it was it worked. Too many mistakes on and off the ball from the defenders tonight, I thought Woolfenden was the only one who had a half decent game and he wasn't brilliant and gave the ball away so says a lot for the others. Definitely need to improve both full back positions in the summer (a new RB and competition for LB). It felt like Morsy held it together for the whole team until the subs came on, he was head and shoulders above anyone in that first half. I thought Luongo was fairly anonymous, as was Harness, Chaplin was trying some really intricate things and failed badly each time. Hutchinson wasn't getting anywhere, he didn't play badly but was always crowded out and when he did find space didn't make the right decision. I also think tonight highlighted how Moore is different to Hirst and therefore how much we do miss him. Moore has been outstanding and has in my mind been the main reason we're still in the title race but tonight with how Bristol set up it didn't do us or him any favours, I feel someone like Hirst would've stretched the game more and created more space for others. This did happen more when Al Hamidi came on. The subs absolutely changed the match, all 4/5 contributing. Burns was outstanding, for all the praise Hutchinson has got recently let's not beat about the bush Burns still remains one of our most influential and important players. His directness, pace and power does so much damage and for a winger even if he's not having a great game the full back is worked hard. He's probably the most consistent wide player I've seen at PR. I thought Taylor came on and played well, similar to alot of his performances earlier on in the season and could potentially push for a start ahead of Luongo who I have to say hasn't looked as consistent of late. What a season. But I think we're going to need at least 7 points out of our next 3 games to have a chance as we've got a tough run of fixtures in April.
What a game. Once again, missed the winning goal as needed to start my journey home but who cares. Another win 78 points from 36 games and we’re still not top or clear in 2nd which is bonkers. Too many players lacked sharpness from the start tonight (apart from Morsy who was head and shoulders our best player in the 1st half). My problem with Harness is that he wants to play the right sided number 10 roll which is where Chaplin plays. Caught infield way too many times. Moore took a knock and was ineffective for the 1st time since he rejoined - hopefully fully fit for Saturday. I’ve said it before, the amount of late goals we score is no accident, the conditioning and hunger from the players is 1st rate. Finally, great quadruple sub from McKenna. Burns and Taylor were both excellent and for the winning goal, not sure how but Sarmiento out jumped 1 of their defenders. Very happy tonight (this morning now) but would love a nice comfortable home win without any stress but that’s not the Ipswich way
PTC,before I read your post I thought.....I bet he praises Wolfendeni was correct, he was **** like the rest, just admit it, not half decent, ****!!; Burgess was much better than Wolfenden. There you go tho, we will have to agree to disagree on our Wolfenden thoughts but he would scare the living **** out of me in the premier league, where as Burgess would be fine..,IMO!!
I'll stick with the opinion of our esteemed manager thanks, given the number of appearances he's made under him. I don't think he deserved any particular praise last night but out of the 4 was the only one who didn't get caught out off the ball all night the other 3 made some very poor mistakes in that regard which led to goals.
I think Wolfy made several poor mistakes last night, one nearly cost us a goal early on. Didn't cover himself in glory for their first goal, get them blinkers off!! Tbh km has no choice, the backups ain't up to much but no way is he good enough for premier league, he will get torn to shreds, too slow, too ponderous, too over confident in his ability, that is actually bang average. Like I have always said, he is better suited as deep lying midfielder, I think that would be his perfect position!! I could see him adapting to the Busquets role very well.
A rare mid-week trip to Portman Road for me (courtesy of a complementary ticket and a lift). Ultimately, a brilliant result with a team that has character, commitment, and perseverance in abundance! When Bristol scored both their goals, we immediately levelled things up within a couple of minutes. When we scored our second equaliser, you could just see the shoulders slump from all the Bristol players. As others have said, first half we were flat. We looked a bit tired out there and couldn't break down what was a very well-coached Bristol City defence. They clearly came here to play for a point - no shame in doing so at a team as in-form as us. Hutchinson was being doubled up everytime he got the ball and kept having to come back to receive the ball, leaving too much turf ahead of him. Moore was weirdly ineffective. Harness and Chaplin were anonymous. Luongo looked knackered. Tuanzebe had a poor game. I thought our two centre-backs were solid, if a little apprehensive on the ball. We just couldn't find that killer through ball and our long passes were all over the shop. Second half, things switched on for us when Burns and Al-Hamadi came on. Burns' power and direct running turned the game and, for me, he was our Man of the Match. Although Al-Hamadi missed a penalty (and it was a poor attempt), his pressing was much more notable compared to Moore and he took his goal well (albeit all he had to do was redirect Davis' shot). Morsy had a good game. Davis, aside from his error for their second, had a good game. Again, worth reiterating, what a team we have. We weren't at our best, but when we had to score the goals - we were ruthlessly efficient (missed penalty aside). Hopefully we can rest up properly for the early kick off on Saturday.
I wasn't able to watch last night but if the highlights are anything to go by, it must have been an exciting win, with the subs coming on - and earlier than usual which I like - and we turn the game round. I am not a fan of Harness starting games, best employed coming on as a sub, but with Burns on fire, Hamadi's strength and pace, Taylor playing well too, and of course Captain Marvel leading the way. It could have been 5 goals by the end. And what a part the fans played, big shout for Nuggets and co, a huge difference to get the team over the line. We are the Come-back kids!
That was a fantastic win! I see everyone here saying that our lads weren't sharp enough or off the pace in the first half but I think you have to give credit to Bristol for that in the way they sprung into the press as soon as we crossed into their half. Hutch was constantly doubled up on and had no space to do anything. Axel didn't make enough overlaps to help that situation. Second half they tired a bit and the reason why Burns looked so much better than Omari was because he wasn't getting the same double team treatment and had only the one player to beat most of the time. I liked that the ref allowed the game to flow but I think he was a bit too lenient on some calls. Pring should've got a yellow for the penalty tackle. In Al-Hamadi's post match interview he seemed genuinely shocked at the positive attitude and drive of this team. Saying that late in the game he looks around at Morsy and Chappers and he just sees them going ' calm down, we've got this' What is happening with this team is something special, not sure many players would want to leave right now. You'll be hard pressed to find what we have anywhere else!
I thought Morsy was outstanding last night.Always willing to get stuck in,accepting the ball in really tight spots,motors his way out of trouble and rarely wasting a pass.He is the driving heart of this team.
I thought the starting line up was wrong, we were flat, listless, and wasteful with poor passing, but once the subs came on we were back on song with wide players getting behind the two lines of defence and getting balls into the box, all the things we werent doing in the first half. Tuanzebe was tired out probably because he hasnt played much, Luongo was off it probably because of his illness, Hutch was largely inneffective on the right as was Davis and Harness on the left and Moore was not really involved due to the lack of service. So 3 points after a nerve jangling match and if its tight Chaplin must take the penalties, not one of our best performances but we move on.
Agree Bristol did a good job on us, not seen a team press like that but it was really effective...we didn't really have an answer for it until the subs came on. As fieldmarshall said though not sure we had the players in the starting line up to stretch Bristol, we lacked players to get in behind which looked like what was needed. That's the difference between Hirst and Moore (in Hirst favour)
