Now, this may seem a rather negative post and approach to take, but i've been reading a lot of peoples posts over the last few weeks, especially ones which paint an extremely rosy picture. Yes, we are in the play off positons and unbeaten in 9 games, but, we've only won 3 of those, scored more than once in only 1 of our last 6 games (away to donny), not won in three home games against lowly teams, and oter than McG and Murphy, no one has scored more than two goals!! We have some tricky games coming up (QPR, Reading, Leeds and a resurgent Bolton) and if we lose a couple of those (or even draw them all) then we could quite easily be finding ourselves in the bottom half. There is only a 6 point gap between us in sixth, and Bournmouth who are ten places below us in 16th. The point i'm trying to make is, even though on the surface it looks like we're doing fantastic, i don't actually think we are doing that great...it's just that fortunately everyone else around us seems to be beating everyone else. We need to step up, and start winning more games if we want to stay in the play offs. We're now starting to get into the serious end of the season when the table starts to take more shape and all the "big-boys" start flexing their muscles and the rest of the teams slowly fall to the wayside. I seriously hope we can maintain our push for the play offs, but unfortunately have my serious doubts and think we will slowly fall away into no-mans land - especially after seeing how poor our fringe players are. Here's hoping i'm proved wrong...
All valid points stretchy, but a huge thing you have forgotten to mention is that we are a very, very hard side to actually beat, Mick has given this squad a new found belief that they can compete with the best in this league and i can't remember many games this year where we haven't actually deserved anything out of the game. to be fair though over the christmas period we have on the whole been quite poor, but then again QPR have struggled recently and hopefully with them getting stuffed by the toffees it will have knocked the stuffing out of them.
Stretchy, I have considered putting up a similar post myself. Thoughts I have kept to myself where re-iterated on the BBC commentary for the cup game on Saturday so at least it seems there is some substance to my views. We lack players, especially in the centre of the park, who are willing to make a forward pass and this is where i feel we are potentially going to come to harm. Everything is very safe and steady. As Guru has said we are solid and hard to beat and it works to a degree. Im not sure if it will work throughout a whole season though. The reason I have not put up a post or made many comments is the fact that although we are not playing as well as I think we could/ should we are a billion times better than we have been in previous seasons and alot better than where I was expecting us to be at this stage. Im not sure if I am being greedy with my expectations. MM has worked with basically a nothing budget and has managed to right most of the wrongs inherited from the mistakes before hand. I may not always feel entertained but at least i dont feel humiliated either so its definately progress and really thats all we can ask for.
My biggest concern is the strength in depth, to be fair we haven't had a lot of injuries this season to our main men, so that hasn't come into the equation, but i would worry for example if Cressy/Didsy got a bad injury. The championship is a weird league, sometimes its more important not to lose than it is to win the game. hopefully in this transfer window we can look at the creative side of the squad to help us out for the run in.
Not doom and gloom, JWM, just taking off the Blue tinted spectacles for a moment, taking a step back and viewing the situation for what it is, still potentially very fragile. Maybe instead of a facepalm you could provide a rebuttal to stretchy's points. However, a dip in form that has seen us move up table can't be half bad. We are very hard to beat, unbeaten in 8 championship games is no mean feat for any team. The top 3 in the unbeaten run table accoring to Statto is 1. Birmingham (10) 2. Ipswich (8) 3. Forest (7) we have Ebanks-Blake yet to 'unleash', yes we can't expect too much too soon from him but I think a McGoldrick - SEB partnership will not be a sight many championship defences will want to see. We know McGoldricks form comes in spurts. Taylor is slowly showing he can provide that creative spark on the wings. For all the goals we haven't been scoring we've not been conceding that many either, it's just frustrating we can't seem to hold on to a 1-0 lead. Depth is a problem and IMO we will 'burn out' before the season comes to an end and finish 9th or 10th, but for many that was the minimum requirement for this season so it is no disaster. Although, given our current league position I hesitate to write this season off, I believe we should all be looking towards next season to be our serious promotion challenge.
Yes we are probably in a false position but why can't we just enjoy it rather then worry about slipping back? This team is performing above expectations and now it's up to Evans to open the chequebook and back Mick. I see this as a golden opportunity after years of dross and now is the time for Evans to show some ambition! ask any Town fan at the start of the season and they would more likely say that a top ten finish would be more than acceptable and I think that is where we will finish!
Wtf. What are they expecting. Run away with the league and champions league in a season or 2. I can't add anymore to what's been said. Hard to beat? For certain. Entertaining maybe not. Never did any harm to the boring boring Arsenal under George graham. Lack of depth Yes. As proved Saturday. Hopefully mr Evans will loosen the purse strings a little and let Mick bring a couple of new faces in.
Personally I will still be happy with a top half finish this year. I'm with JWM, I'm just enjoying our current position. I really don't have any complaints about the team or Mick at the moment because we are doing much better than I was hoping for. I guess it's easier for me to say though because obviously I don't spend as much time or money following the team as some others here.
It's quite refreshing to see a more balanced view point, although I would say it is probably a little overly negative. My view is looking at us, you wouldn't say we are a greatd team, we're really not, we don't play that sort of football, we don't play teams off the park but the way we play means that teams don't play us off the park either but by the same token we're not just a spoiling team. We aren't great, but not alot of Micks teams are, what they are is consistent, as someone said with Mick you get exactly what is says on the tin. IMO we have a fairly poor squad although this has improved with the additions of Hunt and Blake but they are yet to get up to full speed. We limit teams to few chances, make the most of our set plays and compete in every game. I can still see keeping in and around the playoffs as we will be one of the more consistent teams throughout the season, other teams will blow hot and cold, so we will be there or there abouts. And despite the some of the dire performances at the weekend, we didn't lose and after a few games getting some match fitness these players I'm sure may well step up there game. I'm fairly confident that Mick would be able to get a worst ever Ipswich 11 to finish midtable. I'd be more than happy for us to finish just outside the playoffs this season but I hope we start to play a bit more expansive football but probably more realistically I'd like to see us play some of the youngsters instead of either bringing in loans or moving players out of position, in the main I'm talking about Hewitt. As this season we aren't in danger (I hope of relegation) I think it should be an avenue we should go down!!!
Lots of good valid comments. Like SD and many others, its just heartening to see us competing with the best, tough to beat and a great spirit in the camp. I have always reckoned top 10...but as previous, would be pleased if we can keep pushing for play-offs get newbies properly match fit and end up say 7th or 8th. Lets enjoy the 2nd half...keep behind the players and sit back, relax....and ponder how far we have come!
I don't think you can be in a false position after 20 odd games TBH... maybe after 2 or 3 but not half a season....I agree that we don't have the greatest depth of quality in the squad but i do think that our starting eleven can compete with anyone in this league and as i've said before i don't really like team rotation i'd rather just play the strongest team week in week out.....so a smaller squad siuts me fine if someone comes along that can improve the starting line up thats fine but i don't want us to just go out and bring in players that are no better than what we have already just to bolster the numbers.
I have also been pondering whether to write something similar stretch, and would have to agree with most (if not all that you have said) I think it also shows the fickle nature of football support... as well as the ridiculous nature of this league If we win the next couple, naturally we will all be lauding over our successes and talk of storming the automatic spots, if we lose it will descend into doom and gloom and talk of lack of quality and need for reinforcements etc... As I see it though... We have a good squad, nothing spectacular but one that won't let anyone down, We are probably going to be doing the merry jig between 6th & 12th for the rest of the season. (Something we would have taken pre season) obviously being sat were we are currently raises expectations so we naturally don't want to see us drop down the league at any point, even if it is inevitable given the infancy nature of our squad. But this is a long slog of a season and drawing matches keeps us afloat where we are. Ultimately I don't think we'll win enough games to finish top 6... but that said we won't be losing many so will always be competitive and building on solid foundations. But for me, being within touching distance for a prolonged period is something in itself and a definite positive in the recent context of this football club
I think the problem here is simply that the minute you exceed expectations those expectations rise. We have got a solid and tight defence and reliable keeper, some honest if not outstanding midfielders and some genuine firepower in McGoldrick. Top Ten is still good but we unexpectedly have a genuine shot at getting in the play offs for the first time in almost a decade, not to be sniffed at! Mick McCarthy knows that squad is not as good as it could be in a years' time but he also knows the team we have are plenty good enough to compete with those around us.
I think we are pretty much where we should be and pretty much where I thought we would be and pretty much where I think we will end up this season, but while we are still in with a shout of an automatic promotion place we should continue to go for it...........in my opinion.
" Yes we are probably in a false position but why can't we just enjoy it rather then worry about slipping back? " Could not put it ANY better myself. We have spent 20.000 in the summer, completely rearranged our squad, all within a 1 year time period. Are we in a false position? Of course we are. We SHOULD be around 11- 17. Am I bothered that we are in a false position? I couldn't five a flying fig. Unbeaten in 9 and then such a post like this comes up. Seriously, lets just enjoy this while it lasts. It takes us back to 07/08 since we had anything LIKE this happen to our club.
How can we be in a false position after twenty odd games, it seems that we have accumulated enough points to currently be in sixth so by my reckoning that means we deserve to be sixth. We may not be playing 'sexy' football but you can win a football match in many different ways and you can accumulate points from hard fought draws or spawny last minute goals they all count. I think some people are just expecting the wheels to come off because over the last few years we haven't seemed to have any wheels on the bloody thing, but we are doing very well and long may it continue. Oh and even if we lose a few games it does not mean it's all turned to **** and rotten from the top down it just means we have been beaten on the pitch.......no need to panic.
