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Thoughts on the Southampton match ...

Discussion in 'Ipswich Town' started by Nuggets, Jan 14, 2015.

  1. Nuggets

    Nuggets Well-Known Member

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    For me, that was one of the worst games of football I've watched lately. I was actually looking forward to the news afterwards!

    We were defensively sound, and well organised at the back, as usual, but that was aided by some frequent backpassing, cautious play in general, and a Southampton side that seemed quite content to sit back after they scored. Obviously a side sitting third in the Premier League are going to be streets ahead of us, in terms of on-pitch quality, but it thankfully wasn't a massive disappointment for us. Kevin Bru had some good moments and Tyrone Mings put in a decent shift and, as I said, the defending was sound.

    That, unfortunately, is where the positives run out. As I mentioned before, we looked nervous. Rather similar to the Derby performance last weekend, we were erratic on the ball and inconsistent with our passing. We lacked creativity in wide midfield and did not have much presence in the centre either. Luke Hyam had a terrible game tonight, he gave away the ball on numerous occasions. Stephen Hunt, offside chance aside, looked anonymous and clearly lacks pace. Darren Ambrose struggled to put his stamp on the game and his crossing was awful. Daryl Murphy barely had a sniff and David McGoldrick put in another largely selfish performance, although at least he did try and make chances for himself. I've said it before, but Balint Bajner isn't cut out at this level.

    I was not expecting much against Derby and Southampton in ways of results, despite being the home side in both games. Because they are two teams on the ascendency with some talented individuals. But, in terms of attacking performance, I cannot recall two games where we had so few opportunities to score. It looks like an easier run of fixtures coming up, although we cannot afford to take any team for granted in this division. I just hope Mick McCarthy can address the evident problems with consistent creativity we have in the final third.
     
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  2. johnnywarksmoustache

    johnnywarksmoustache Well-Known Member

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    We desperately need some pace in Midfield and out wide and this performance tonight only underlines this fact. I thought Hyam had his worst ever game in a Town shirt tonight and he looked lost and out of his depth for the whole game. Ambrose played well before tiring second half and Bru had some really good moments but again lacks the pace we need in Midfield. McGoldrick needs to get back on track as he was poor with his decision making and he looked like he was playing for himself instead of the team. Hunty was unlucky as his goal should have stood and the officials got that wrong along with many other things! I thought Soton looked pretty ordinary but they didn't need to up their levels which is a testament to how poorly we played. I'm not bothered by losing but more bothered by the manner in which we lost without a whimper! I think the paper thin squad is showing signs of fatigue and we now have to bring in some players to freshen things up. We are still in a fantastic position in the league and this is certainly not the time to start panicking but the warning signs are there! On the whole it's a disappointing under par display from the lads tonight and they will know more than anyone that they will need to put the last two games behind them with a win at Millwall,
     
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  3. Castro Sito

    Castro Sito Well-Known Member

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    Agree that it was a crap game and that it was similar to Derby performance. We actually had more shots on target than Derby btw and as someone else pointed out, Southampton defence is very very good. Man U didn't have a shot on target when they played them recently.

    A bit of perspective needed I feel.
     
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  4. Castro Sito

    Castro Sito Well-Known Member

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    Agree about Hyam and McGoldrick. Both poor in this game and Derby.

    We were much better when Parr went RB and Mings came on. Smith didn't do too much wrong tonight but I'd still have Chambers and Berra centre.
     
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  5. Spanish

    Spanish Well-Known Member

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    Sorry Castro but that is BS, no perspective needed, our passing/movement and decision making was piss poor, that is mainly down to us and not the opposition!!
    If we dont bring in some creativity i think we will miss out, too one dimensional and teams will suss us out!!
     
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  6. Nuggets

    Nuggets Well-Known Member

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    Agreed Warky, pace is needed. Unfortunately Hunt and Ambrose are not the pacy type of players we need. We still have Cameron Stewart to stake a regular claim for first-team football, but he's going to need match fitness and to avoid a recurrence of his injury problems. Alex Henshall has pace, but fortunately little end product, from what I've seen of him.

    There wasn't much in the offside call, granted, but for me it looked offside. I don't think the officials had that much influence, in the grand scheme of things. Out of the four handball calls I remember us appealing for, one was spot on against Nathaniel Clyne (outside our area though), and a couple were 'maybes', but our claim for a penalty in the first half was pretty weak. Murphy might have had a shout when the ref flagged for handball when it appeared to hit his shoulder in the build up to a move, but we can't just make the officials a scapegoat for the loss. Bottom line is we struggled to exert any influence on the match and couldn't create enough chances. One effort on target, I think we managed throughout the 90 minutes. Fair enough, Southampton stifled United, and they're a good side across the field, heck they're third in the Premier League on merit, but I thought we should have had more opportunities, given the packed-out ground and our recent form (Derby game aside).

    Which goes back to the perspective you talk about. I'm not advocating an overhaul of the squad here, and we've done incredibly well on the resources we have. But I think the recent two matches have offered an indication that we're maybe just short of being credible automatic promotion contenders. We need creativity and pace in midfield, support up front, and maybe cover out wide at the back. Easier said than done, particularly on Mick's budget, but I believe the past week has shown us we desperately need that little bit of imagination in midfield. Bring in Jon Williams, if we can, and another pacy winger on loan. It can't harm us.
     
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  7. Castro Sito

    Castro Sito Well-Known Member

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    No I agree it's frustrating with the passing and bad decision making. I was at the Derby game and it wasn't much fun to watch.

    I'm just saying it's two 1-0 results against a couple of very good teams. We've been doing so well we were bound to get to this point eventually. Looking forward to Bish coming back and wait for it..... Skuse! Not to mention Tabby.

    If we can add some quality all the better.
     
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  8. Spanish

    Spanish Well-Known Member

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    To be honest, we have been found out the last couple of games.
    We are far too one dimensional, i honestly think we need a few additions to freshen things up, at least one creative midfielder and a striker, im not talking Sammon and Hunt types either ffs!!
    We have done great to get where we are but lets not throw that all away by sticking with what we have got, yhis squad is looking jaded and needs freshening up, we need more attack minded players with pace, not hard working cart horses!!
     
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  9. wellyblue

    wellyblue Well-Known Member

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    Agree, we missed Skuse and Tabb, Tabb was fantastic against Charlton at home does all the dirty work in midfield and does it well, usually goes unnoticed.
     
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  10. Hoppersblue10

    Hoppersblue10 Well-Known Member

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    Castro is right, perspective is needed...in our last 3 games we have lost to Derby 1-0, where the ref did effect the game by failing to send Eustace off in the 1st half.
    We have lost to Southampton 1-2 over two games.

    Firstly Derby were probably most pundits pick for being one of the teams to go up this season, so for me no real shame or drama that over 2 games we have only took a point of them, 2 points each probably should have been a fairer outcome.
    As for Southampton, I bet not more than 4-6 Prem teams will get a better home and away aggregate score than a1-2 loss against them this season.

    1 or 2 warning signs are there atm with Didsy losing form and a couple of defensive blunders costing us goals, let's hope we get back to our best on Saturday, workin our buns off and coming away from then Den with 3 points after a typical MM ITFC performance!
     
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  11. Castro Sito

    Castro Sito Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure we've been found out. if we struggle in our next two games I might change my mind though.

    Completely agree with adding a creative midfielder and also a decent foward. With Sammon going hopefully we will at least get that.
     
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  12. terrypaine

    terrypaine Member

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    Don't worry, we were carp and a draw w/have been a fair result. We're just lucky right now - it'll change soon enough.
     
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  13. Hoppersblue10

    Hoppersblue10 Well-Known Member

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    You boys certainly know how to defend though I give you that, not a snipe BTW, it is impressive and very well organised, hats off to you for that, didn't really give us a sniff over the two games.
    Good luck in the next round. <ok>
     
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  14. Bloodandskin

    Bloodandskin Member

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    Good morning boys, the hang over from the night before, dire game, how we scored still baffles me but a win is a win. All the best, would like to see you lot back in the PL, but you will need to have another game plan and a good play maker if you intend to stay up.
    See you next season, baring a catastrophe?
     
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  15. Mad ads666

    Mad ads666 Well-Known Member

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    outthought,outplayed,outclassed. i thought we were awful and from anyone wanting to watch some footy last night must've wondered how the hell we are where we are. i';m hoping it was nothing more than an off night. Warky Hyam did look awful.Dids needs to not only recover his top form but remember he's got more guys around him. Hunty ran his socks off for little and should've had his goal,Ambrose until he ran out of steam looked good.Barts kicking from backpasses was terrible. Ty looked good when he came on and from that brief appearence easy to see why he's sought after.
     
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    Last edited: Jan 15, 2015
  16. FBI

    FBI Member

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    Agreed on a lot of the stuff that's been said already, so no need to retrace others' footsteps. Hyam disappeared, Bru is promising but still made too many mistakes through inexperience, Bajner has something but, again, shows lack of match experience, Shunt's great but can only play at that pace for an hour and McG was bloody awful yet again.

    And it's McGoldrick that really worries me: he looks like a little boy lost at the moment. His confidence seems shot, his body language is terrible and he doesn't seem to know where he should be. He spent too much time out on the wing, crossing to a hole where he should be, or back into midfield doing the same thing and only really showed one moment of spark in the box toward the end of his time on the field. I feel for him; he's been held up as totemic but, having gone off the boil and seen Murphy lauded, he's descending even further down the slope. The guy desperately needs a rest to rebuild his head but there's nobody reliable to step in - we don't have a Rhodes type waiting in the wings to step up and stake a claim so of course MM has to keep on putting McG in alongside a clearly drained Murphy. Mings' introduction changed the game but, if Stewart, Noel Hunt and Bajner are the alternatives to the first choices, we are at severe risk of sliding out of the playoffs altogether without substantial improvement in squad depth - and fast.

    On the upside, MM's comments about Southampton's defensive record were spot on - 15 goals conceded against much better teams than ours and, although they weren't great, it wasn't entirely terrifying for next season, assuming we get promoted, if we can pull out a 2-1 aggregate against a side just off the top of the Premier League, brimming with confidence coming off the back of beating Manchester United.
     
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  17. Mike_Holmes1990

    Mike_Holmes1990 Well-Known Member

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    Just watched the game on IPlayer (I dislike working evenings). I think its a testament to how starved I am of seeing a live game that I watched the whole thing.

    Another disappointing game that really would have been better if Southampton hadn't have scored, however, bar that fantastic finish from Long our back line never really looked as stretched as you would expect playing 3rd in the premier league.

    McGoldrick needs dropping to the bench, his desperation to score results in selfishness, lack of cohesion upfront and ultimately the opposing goalie taking a goal kick. It then means that Murphy has to work harder for his chances when McG's creativeness/footwork should be making space for Murphy/someone else. Begs the question if his head was turned irreversibly after all? (As another side issue, who was the last player we've lost to a long term injury that has actually come back the same standard of player?)

    Having McGoldrick on the Bench gives us the added benefit of having somebody on the bench that or opponents might actually be nervous about coming on.

    On to Millwall and - touch wood - we'll all be feeling better at 5pm.
     
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  18. Hoppersblue10

    Hoppersblue10 Well-Known Member

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    I am going to have a little moan about our substitutions last night, not the best, Bajner is clearly out of his league at this level, & we may not as well have given Stewart a run as he was played to deep.
    Would like to have seen either Stewart or McQueen or both 20mins up top at the end as we had not looked like scoring all night so had nothing to loose by trying them out. Just think their pace & different style of play may have given Saints something to worry about.
     
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  19. San Diego

    San Diego Sir Mediator
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    Maybe not the best Hoppers but we didn't have a full strength squad to choose from. I think we have enough to maintain our consistency until the end of the season but I'm not against bringing in better quality either.
    We should always look to improve after all.
    I do think that some people are overreacting slightly after the FA cup game which in all honesty was contested as well as can be expected with who we had available even if it wasn't great to watch.
     
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  20. johnnywarksmoustache

    johnnywarksmoustache Well-Known Member

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    I agree SD we just need to get back to doing what we do best and Win!
     
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