I’m doubtful whether McKenna can achieve another promotion but it doesn’t really matter. What really matters is whether any top clubs want him. The management team rightly or wrongly made a huge investment to keep McKenna at Portman Road and he’s going nowhere unless we get compensation for him. Ironically if he does well he’ll be in demand and if this season is a damp squib we’re probably stuck with him for the time being.
I think you must have arrived late Nuggets, the 1st half was better than this. But agree, both teams were woeful in the 2nd, apart from a nice cameo from Akpom who almost scored and Clarkes well taken pen.
Derby players went down on 90 mins. 1st 2 minutes of added time, no play. Derby have no one to blame but themselves
Bailed out by another penalty. Continues the theme of disappointing performances and results. Seems like we develop the players in everything, but there's limited focus on turning moves into goals. Still, once it clicked last time around it became a foundation for a meteoric rise. The launch pad is at a higher starting point so if it works again, there's more to look forward to. Feels like a big if now. And there's the question of how long were prepared to wait. Big risk of not winning at all in 2025 if it doesn't click soon.
We were decent first half, Gaffer, agreed. Still feel we should’ve been a couple of goals up based on the dominance and that chance towards the end that hit the post. But that second half performance was utterly poor. Maybe it’s our tags as favourites inhibiting some players. Maybe it is management instructions. But we looked completely toothless. I’ve not been a big fan of Jack Clarke, but thought he was someone who at least came on to run at defenders and try to make something happen. In our defence, refereeing was atrocious. We should’ve had a penalty for the foul on Hirst. Derby’s blatant timewasting anti-football got them the point. But I was glad to see the 13 minutes added on and the additional two minutes when they wasted time immediately from the 91st minute. Hopefully it’ll click soon, but it needs to click sooner rather than later. We’re losing ground from this slow start with an equivalent points total of one win in four. Not good enough for me.
As we all agree the referee was dreadful, dangerously so at times like choosing to ignore Travis kick on Cajuste, deffo red card offense. Letting players get away stuff, feigning being hurt after every challenge to stop the game, is killing the game. Time to review this whole field of Gamesmanship, and consider new rules and punishment.
Only seen the highlights ( not sure if that is a oxymoron?) The Hirst booking for the foul in the box was dreadful. Also seen it from the north stand via the Alex Griffin video. Incredible decision. unfortunately i am old enough to have seen the great Sir Bobby teams being kicked all over the pitch during some European games in the 70s. You would think with all the technology available nowadays they could quite happily punish players teams retrospectively, that would eventually stop it one would hope.
I thought Travis was a c-unit all afternoon-a pity Morsy wasn't still playing for us as he'd have sorted him out!
The standard of refereeing is a symptom of VAR. Whenever there is VAR not stopping the action is favoured. Minute details are scrutinised. It has filtered down and our officials have lost the ability to make decisions to manage the game, read the body language of players, use their gut feeling and common sense. In the past refs could make subjective decisions to diffuse tension and in the interests of playing football and fairness - to award a foul or make a booking when the other side was taking the piss kicking lumps out of the opposition or not to give a foul when a player was already on a booking. I have never seen as much bad refereeing as we have had at the beginning of this season, both for and against Town.
