Anyone have any info ? My initial response isn't particularly positive. Their conference. Be interesting to see the line-ups, and how they scored their goals. Kinda hoping Ellington scored one of ours so he's off and running... !
Apparently Drury came on in the 2nd half and controlled the match. What I've seen of him I've been very impressed. I hope he has a big part to play for us next season.
In a way he's kind of an unknown entity. Think he's had time to blend in, get used to the guys and the change of pace of the game now. He has a pre season too at this level, I think he can have a positive impact on our season
Drury almost seems like the forgotten man. He had glimpses of class last season and I thought he looked decent for this standard. Now he's had a few months and 'bedded in' he could be like a new signing for us. Not many supporters mention him in our starting line ups and the like, so hopefully he can step up and add the creativity we need. Would be a lot cheaper than the millions some of our fans reckon we should spend too.
Cadiff fan in peace. Didnt Chops get both goals for you? If you get him fit & firing he could be massive for you this season.
Agreed KoPR. He did show some flashes of brilliance last season and I was extremely impressed with his very first outing. That said, he did seem to go off the boil a little after that. Agree that he could be good for us next season and might surprise a few people.
was at the game......the first 15 mins was a complete shambles & embarrassing, we gifted both their goals by giving possession away mid way in our half, Delaney, Smith, Bowyer main culprits & in my opinion had poor games. They were not alone in this though, the only bright light in the first half was Chops who was excellent all night, Ellington also IMO had a good 1st half but that was about it, Carson & Martin showed flashes of good play but were also both dispossessed at times far to easily, Edwards was still looking for the number 5 bus..! & Cresswell over committed himself to often, Healy was steady but no better, think that is all the outfield players covered for 1st half. ALB was completely flat footed for the 2nd goal although it was an excellent free kick (conceded by Bowyer). 2nd half started much better from Town and the dominance of pressure should have produced some goals. Changes at H/T were; Kennedy for Cresswell, Drury for Healy, Ainsley for Carson (Ainsley played behind Edwards), Scotland for Ellington. As above Drury certainly raised the tempo for Town and this gave Cambridge far more trouble, Edwards was able to get behind their left back on a number of occasions and did produce a couple of good crosses. Town retained possession far better but still did look very suspect on the counter attack & Cambridge came close on a number of occasions later on to snatch a winner. Other changes later in the half were; Leadbitter for Bowyer, Priskin for martin & late on Hyam got a 10min run at the back for Smith. Overall a good work out for Town, Cambridge had a couple of players that caused us problems (Numbers 7 & 10). But we look well dodgy at the back another CB is a must along with another holding CM (Hyam...?) Town will not get away with starts to games like this in the Championship; we still need a handful of new additions & quick…! COYBs
We keep having all this talk about us being desperate for a new Right Back. Personally I think Edwards is one of the best full backs we've had in years (although in need of some more practice) and everything I've seen and heard about Ainsley has been promising. I would be quite happy going into the new season with those two as our options at Right Back.
Chopra seems to be the real deal so far! 4 goals now!!! http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=18781&title=jewell_disappointed_with_sloppy_start
I was there last night Hoppers and I agree with everything you have said about the game We were a complete bloody shambles and the 2 goals we conceded in the first few minutes came from our school boy defending and sloppiness. We desperately need a solid defence and I have to say that every time Cambridge ran at us we looked like conceding. No excuses as this line up was our strongest and we allowed a non league side to run through us so many times! Quite frankly without Chopra we would have got a right good hiding. Based on clear cut chances Cambridge should have won 5-2 and on the balance of play they were on top. On this evidence PJ still has a hell of a lot of work to do and he should forget about buying another striker.What we desperately need is a solid defence that can DEFEND as a unit. Too many times last night we allowed Cambridge to run at us and no one closed down and put tackles in. Its blindingly obvious that Edwards is never going to be a Right Back, Delaney just isn't up to it and Lee Barratt is just not up to the standard required in goal. I came away last night very disapointed in what I had seen with the only plus point being Chopra and as the game wore on Bowyer showed his class and Drury played well 2nd half. Overall though we were just average. Fair play to Cambridge they were up for it and with better finishing should have scored 5 or 6. We only managed a few half chances in the second half in front of the Town faithfull. I know its only a warm up but the lack of defensive cohesion worries me and we don't seem to have learnt from last season. We will be hard pushed to concede 68 goals this year and stay up even with Chopra scoring regularly! A great turn out from the Town supporters (752) out of a crowd of 2,100 and its just a pity that the team didn't perform on the night. The other great thing about last night was that me and my son waited at the changing rooms at the end of the match and got the autographs of Lee Bowyer, Chopra, Leadbitter and Paul Jewell came out and signed and we had a few words! COYB
I know the scoreline and some performances werent great against a non-league side, but we all have to remember this is pre-season and about fitness and not the result! You have to remember the players are trying to regain their match fitness and sharpness, and the newbies have to gel with their new team mates.... Tommy Smith, didnt really get much game time last season, and he didn't have the best time on loan at Col U, so his confidence will be low. Miracles don't happen overnight, yes I think we do need a few more players, but I generally think so far the squad is better than last seasons, and will be better managed. Just give it time, judge them on the first game, of the season, at Bristol City...not pre-season.
Anyone who reads anything into this game is making a mistake. That said... Edwards is not the best right-back we've had in years. He's not as good as David Wright or Liam Rosenior or even Jaime Peters because he doesn't stop the cross and gets caught out of position too often. We are looking OK going forward but in terms of defenders - and this takes nothing away from the players we have - we don't have any depth in the squad because we allowed too many to leave. Ivar's out and that one could potentially be a long-term injury so what do we do now if Smith and Delaney get injured? Let's face it even if they stay fit, swap out McAuley for Smith and you're in trouble at the back.
Apart from a proven goal getter and an experienced midfielder the squad is the same as last year and still making the same basic errors! If we have serious aspirations to get promoted we should have wiped the floor with Cambridge last night. Forget all this baloney about the result not being important! We are Ipswich Town and every result should be important. There are too many that are happy to settle for mediocrity and now is the time that we should develop a winning mentality!
By the sounds of it Bowyer was a week off the pace and sloppy at the start. Delaney and Smith were shocking. Bowyer will catch up but we need a centre back more than anything else! PJ's been silent on this which worries me. Who out there is a realistic target? Can't think of many in the UK but it's a good job we've got such an extensive scouting network to fall back on I can remembe when we used to play Cambridge in this division! Dion Dublin (goofball) John Beck (madman) going past the Abbey Stadium on the train...... Oh the nostalgia
Those were the days!!!!!! 16 and drunk as a monkey Kiwomya my lord Dozzell Romeo Zondervan - gives your 'tache a run for its money Warky mk 2 **** me we weren't that bad then...
I think you've under estimated the improvements we've made since the end of last season. Scotland will be like a new striker after a full pre season and all reports suggest he is playing well so far and looks in good shape. If Jewell can get the best out of Ellington there is another 20 goal striker there for us. In Cresswell we have a young and hungry, energetic left back who can attack. Drury will have settled in and again after a full pre season with us will be fitter and stronger. And the biggest plus......no more David Norris!! I admit we are lacking in central defence with Ingimarsson injured but who cares about defending, certainly not Jewell by the looks of it!
I admire your optimism but...... We need three more players minimum, we've got time and the money so we'll get there
I was at the match and I think that Hoppersblue 10 summed it up perfectly. I was very impressed with Ellington. Chopra proved that he will score wherever he goes. These two up front then for the start of the season? Yes I think so. Drury when he came on for the 2nd half, was most impressive. Edwards at RB, blimey those pinky lacey boots he wore...Played like a woman IMO Biggest rip off from the night!... No not the £12 entrance, but the £4.50 for a cheese half pounder with last seasons burnt onions... MacDonalds on the way home it was, and the bit of stuff who served us...Portion came to mind COYB
