Wind back the clock two games ago, we were top of the league, had just drawn Man Utd in the cup and this was OUR season. Brighton and Reading however have certainly brought us back down to earth with a MASSIVE thud. Eight goals shipped in two games does not make pretty reading. We are at least posing a threat at the other end but getting the balance right is going to be key. Although we deserved to lose, was it a 5-1 game at Reading? No it was not. They had six shots on target, scoring five. I'm not going to read too much into the 5-1 scoreline it was a freak result and happens. Infact, sometimes such a heavy loss may force the managers hand more so than a 2-1 / 2-0, so that's the one positive I'm getting from that. The other, is we haven't lost three in a row under Mick and I will be amazed if that happens again to us all season. Mick has some selection headaches ahead of tomorrow's game. I thought Murphy looked non-existent second half, Knudsen/ Chambers a joke and Douglas a passenger. Sears wide right? Lets hope Niles is back fit and Sears goes uptop. What will Mick do? Keep faith with many, or time for 3/4 changes? Could it be time for Malarczyk to make his bow? Will Parr be deemed fit to play and could he line up? Could Tabb/ Coke lineup at CM ahead of Douglas, who at his age I cannot see playing three 90 minutes in a week. Unfortunately for us we also have little preparation time for Birmingham Friday. Leeds have a fully fit goalscoring Chris Wood ( shame he wasn't able to show us his full capabilities on loan ) and I wouldn't be surprised to him having a game akin to Connor Sammon for Rotherham vs us last season and scoring. I don't think Elland Road has ( like Reading ) been the happiest hunting ground for us in recent years but I'll go for a tighter more hard faught scrappy 1-1 draw to get a point on the board and set up Friday's showdown with inform Birmingham ( that is another very awkward looking game ) Thoughts? COYB.
I think Woods is certain to score against us - but i'll plum for an entertaining 2-2 draw, with the trusted duo of McG (pen) and Murphs tto score
Judging from McCarthy's post-match comments against Reading, he seemed to lament the fact we were 'too open' and 'too attacking', which possibly implies a more cautious style of play. He has also come out and said not to expect any 'knee jerk reaction', which indicates he's going to keep the faith with most of the players. To start with, I hope McCarthy gets back to fielding wingers and strikers in their natural positions. Let's see Miles and Fraser on the wings (or maybe even Oar given a debut) and ensure Sears is back up front in his natural position, preferably alongside McGoldrick. I think Malarczyk at right-back would be a good shout and possibly Parr at left-back, with Smith dropped for Chambers in the middle. However, taking into account McCarthy's comments, I think he will field the usual back four of Chambers, Smith, Berra, and Knudsen. Hopefully Bart can come in for Gerken though, that would go a little way to giving me a bit of confidence heading into the game! Anyway, I digress. It'll be another tough game, but I can see us sneaking this one 2-1. McGoldrick and Fraser to get the goals.
Afternoon Ipswich fans, Feel free to join in with our thread. Be nice to get a balanced view http://www.not606.com/threads/the-breakfast-debate-leeds-utd-v-ipswich-town-match-thread.311031/
With Gerken starting in goal again I'm not as optimistic as usual. Can't see there being too many changes made, maybe Bru for Douglas and AMN for Sears who may not make the squad due to a tight hamstring. Murphy will probably start up top with McG and Pitman will be the sub. Will still go for a 2-1 win but I'll probably spend most of the game cacking myself every time the ball goes near our box, I've got no confidence in Gerks whatsoever.
So the starting line-up is probably going to be: Gerken Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen Miles, Douglas, Skuse, Fraser McGoldrick, Pitman (maybe Murphy if he's fully fit?) I really feel we need to make a change at the back. Fair enough if Bart doesn't feel ready to step between the posts because of his personal problems, but I don't feel confident with Gerken in goal and we cannot overlook the defensive errors either. Put simply, if eight goals conceded in two games doesn't inspire some sort of change, then what will? Presumably another poor defensive display. I really hope Parr gets some game time tomorrow night.
Leeds seem to be the draw specialists: a hallmark of a team that has limitations and, crucially, is aware of them and plays to the strengths they do have. We're like a yo yo, the question is are we going to continue t plummet or are we going to stabilise and soar back up? Probably not at Leeds, MIcks gonna want a tight, disciplined, solid performance after the 8 goals that have flown past us. Draw written all over it in theory so I'll go 1-1.
Thats actually quite unfair. We have been very unlucky to not have more points on the board. Should've beaten both Burnley and Bristol City at the very least. With our only poor performance coming against Brentford on the weekend but even then we were the better team in the second half. We are unbeaten in the league for a reason but we aren't finishing teams off at the moment.
Not feeling confident with Mick bound to keep faith with most of the same players to make up for the Reading game. Would love Bart, Parr and Bish/Bru (even Coke) to come in (Smith, Douglas, Gerken to drop out). The midfield two just doesn't work with both Skuse and Douglas being too similar. We are still missing a natural right-back and a midfield playmaker. Sears will be a huge loss (if missing through hamstring strain) as he and Fraser have been our two best players thus far. Can't see us getting anything other than a scrappy draw at best here but hope to be proved wrong!
Really surprised Gerks is starting it makes me wonder if all is well with the Bart situation?A bigger blow than that is we haven't got Sears, I would take a draw now.
I think most of the players will have a point to prove, so I can see Mick's logic in not making wholesale changes. In saying that, I have been disappointed in Douglas so far, but I suppose it is still early days. So, other than the enforced change of Sears not being fit, I'd play McG and Murphs up top, and believe it or not, I'd actually stick Tabbs on the left to give Knudsen cover. Malarcyk will only be cover until someone gets an injury, so, fingers crossed Smith pulls a hamstring warming up.
As mentioned above I'm sure we won't be as open and attacking as against Reading so a hard fought 1-1 would be my prediction. Can't see us keeping a clean sheet but if we could sneak a 2-1 victory that would do wonders for us leading into the Birmingham game. No doom and gloom from me. Last Friday was just one of those games and agree with Westy that the score line may have done us a favour in terms of how we go about our business tonight. COYB!!
