Just think had bloody Mick picked a more positive side during Jan/Feb and March, we would probably be top!! Thats the frustrating thing!!
I think we'd have more points on the board Spanish but the other side of the coin is we could be 15th with this lot! Good work tonight
Yes and no. I'm not frustrated being in the top six that's for sure. I hear what you're saying though mate
Go to the bookies and put a bet on, they said. It'll be fun, they said. Fast forward to 90 minutes, just into stoppage time, and I don't think you would have seen a happier face at Portman Road. 2-1 Town win, Sears to score first. Potential winnings of a handy £170. Imagine my delight/rage when Daryl Murphy created a bit of space for himself and slotted home just minutes before full-time. Not that I should be unhappy, really. This was, by all accounts, an impressive display. A game of bite, hard work, and determination. A classic McCarthy side, you could argue. I even think we had a spell where we passed the ball rather competently and dominated possession for a bit. I've levelled criticism at this team, perhaps a little impulsively, that this team go missing in the big, 'must win' games so far in this calendar year. Two wins out of two home games makes for welcome reading, albeit against an already-relegated Blackpool and mid-table Cardiff, but the latter came into this game undefeated in their last seven away games. Dare I say it, but we're looking more like the September-December outfit that displayed the type of nous and endurance to stifle teams and pick up three points. Cole Skuse, a player who I think gets a lot of undeserved criticism on here from some people, capped off another disciplined performance with a rare goal. His presence in the middle can often go unnoticed, and while he isn't the sort of player that chips in with goals and assists, he is an undoubted assured presence in the middle of the park. It was also good to see both Jonathan Parr and Stephen Hunt return from injury and get a chance in the starting line-up, with Parr playing his heart out and impressing, while Hunt struggled to exert any dominance on the field and looked very rusty. His eventual substitution arguably should have happened sooner. Also credit to Sears for his threatening play and pace up front and another assured Berra performance at centre-back. I know someone on here said he was the best centre-back in the league, I probably wouldn't go that far but he's certainly top tier. A very good atmosphere at the ground too. Even when we were pegged back to 1-1 from some sloppy marking, the fans kept behind the team and, I'd like to think, help inspired them to three points. Three games to go and we're in a good position. Obviously it's a downgrade from December, when we were looking a credible challenger for the automatic slots, but it's a vast improvement on what was realistically expected of this team at the start of the season. A lot of people outside the ground seemed to think one win from the remaining three games would do it, but I'd swing more towards 4/5/6 points. The match against Wolves will be tough, mostly because it's on television and we have an awful record in televised games, not to mention Wolves are doing well. Aim for a draw? A win at home to Forest is more feasible, especially as their late, unlikely attempt to reach the play offs has been well and truly blunted. Spanish's Siesta Summary: I lost £170 because Murphy scored. Town played well, back to earlier season form? Skuse, Sears, Berra and Parr good, Hunt underwhelming and rusty on return. Good, supportive atmosphere. Great position in table now, we should aim for draw vs Wolves and win vs Forest.
I wouldn't say that Skuses' past criticism was undeserved. I think its more the fact that in the last 3 or 4 games he has been a lot better and is reaping the rewards from actually looking around rather than his previous default of pass it backwards. Nothing came of for Hunt and personally Im not a fan of Parr playing in the attacking areas. He put in one great cross early in the second half but there were two or three times in the first half when an attack minded player could of scored or set some one else up to do so. He just doesn't do that role naturally. The game had the tempo I was expecting us to display on Saturday. Two of our goals came from poor defending from Cardiff (who cares - you can only play what is in front of you) and there were numerous other chances for both teams, which either met with good keeping or woeful finishing. The ref was poor/ useless and certainly his lack of control led to parts of the second half becoming a bit out of control. The first half he booked Skuse and Berra but failed to book Cardiff players for similar incidents in the second half and from Churchmans it seemed like a certain red For Fabio. I wouldn't agree with Nuggets summary but there was definitely a better feel to this game and the win means we have opened up a small gap. a result on Saturday will surely mean job done
I can understand where some of Skuse's criticism comes from because I have been critical of him in the past. He doesn't strike me as a 'Premier League quality' player, but I think he has a very important role to play in this side, similar to Michael Carrick's style of play at Manchester United and Sergio Busquets' influence at Barcelona. Now, I'm not comparing him to those players ability-wise, because that would be foolish, but it's clear that Skuse offers a disciplined and assured presence in the middle of the field. When that hinders the side is when McCarthy plays a similar-minded player alongside him, so that our play can quickly deteriorate into a negative and stagnating style. His recent performances for the side have been improved and impressive, in my opinion. Fair enough, you're entitled to your opinion as am I, but I struggle to think how you can justify disagreeing with Sears, Berra, Skuse, and Parr having a good game last night. It was a night where most of our players did well, bar Hunt, Smith (looked shaky at times again), and maybe Mings (bit wasteful on the ball at times). Yes, Parr was inconsistent attacking but how many times did he track back and win the ball with a well-timed tackle? He showed the type of determination and fight that exemplifies this team, when they play at their best.
Skuse is clearly a different man now. taken a long time to bed in, find a role (MM managing him correctly). Most impressive performances last month, but technically, mid-winter, he was woefully negative and like others gifted too many passes to opposition. But that too reflected MM's preferred tactics then. His confidence is sky high.....and I begin to like the man! What is significant in this exciting run-in is that we are discovering a rich vein of form, and two below us are wobbling.....and 4 into top 2 wont go. So, 2 teams will be gutted to miss out and just could be there for the taking come the Play-offs. Our style of play, club morale, spirit and enthusiasm might outweigh pure talent. Psychology, general fitness and the old pro Mick will spring a surprise or two! He must resist temptation to revert to defensive hoofball type! Just wish McG was in the mix........very long worrying time away from the action.
Just to clarify, I wasn't disagreeing with Sears or Skuse having a good game but I was on the fact we played well and were arguably back to pre Christmas form. We hoofed a lot and were fortunate for some of our goals and fortunate not to concede a couple more. To be fair we could have scored some more as well. It was an improved performance from the Blackpool game and we had more tempo and energy but there was a lot of aimless play and mistakes. I suppose it was a fairly typical MM era performance and your summary of Parr probably sums the team as a whole up. Determined and willing to track back/ make the tackle but rather inconsistent on the attacking front. as you say, each to their own opinions and I suppose in many ways for all the good results and determined performances its why Im not totally at ease with the ME era. We play an average team and one of the players that gets the most praise is a wideman whose main attribute is the ability to track back rather than threaten. For all the sense of doing this against a top team I just cant agree with it against the everyday teams. In some ways I know I shouldn't have complaints as MM have done miracles and we are far better than what I was expecting this season but he just has a philosophy that goes against how I believe the game should be played.
TB, spot on!! I think there are some very large over reactions, we won but please dont say we are great because great we aint!! I think much of it is relief more than anything but i cant help but think, miss out this year and thats our best chance gone, i can see us losing a few in the summer and falling away next year.
Spanish, actually I think if we miss out this season we will have another decent chance next season. Mainly as MM's mantra every game just appears to be keep it tight. Its not that fun to watch but it means we are competitive in 95% of the games we play. We never go out to batter a team.(look at the difference between us v Blackpool and Derby playing them 4 days later) but we rarely get thrashed ourselves or go on a run of games without picking up points. Its all very safe and steady.
Tb i think much depends on who we lose during the summer, keep Berra, Mings, Bish and the front two, then yes we may have another decent season, especially if we can add a couple more decent midfielders to replace Tabb and Anderson!!
" I think there are some very large over reactions " Spanish! That comment has cracked me up a little, how did it go unnoticed!
