If Cardiff are second best in this Division the it's a poor reflection on the Championship.Tedious again.
I went tonight and nobody can knock the players effort and application for the entire 90 minutes, Cardiff are a team of giants with even their front players towering over our defenders which meant Sears and Cellina got nothing in the air but made Bamba and Co look shaken on the ground. We had the majority of possession in the first half but couldn't make it count while Cardiff did nothing at all after the first 10 minutes. The second half saw Cardiff have the upper hand but created nothing, then from a free kick on their right the ball was amongst a ruck of players before falling to Zohore who blatantly handled before toe poking into the net. I don't understand why we played two small players up front against the biggest defenders I've ever seen, surely Waggy and one of them would have been better? But overall a good performance from Ward, all of the defence, in fact everyone did a shift.
Seems like we were unlucky, the defence performed well, and players like Hyam, Ward, and Sears warranted their inclusion with decent displays. Having said that, and to echo fieldmarshall's sentiments, why we went with smaller, less physical players up top against Cardiff's backline surprises me. To reflect our lack of bite up top, that's now one home goal in the last five games. Waghorn's goalless drout continues, despite the assists he notches up. We lack something up front, and I think it's an incisive, pacey player. We do have one at the club, his name is Ben Morris and McCarthy hasn't given him a chance yet, despite the fact play offs is realistically beyond us and we won't get relegated. McGoldrick is injured again and apparently out for the remainder of the season, which just typifies his unreliability. I think he's a technically competent player, but too slow and not the type of goal threat he was two / three years ago. I also believe he is one of the highest earners at the club, so I cannot imagine it would be financially feasible to offer him a contract extension given his age, lack of form, and injury record. Regarding the remainder of the season, I'm looking at the fixture list and I don't know how many Town games I'll attend. Maybe Villa and Boro (on the last day of the season), but yet again my excitement and passion for an Ipswich Town season has largely dissipated with the familiar feeling of disappointment and apathy.
Judging by the pathetic crowd last night your apathy is felt by most of us Nuggets, I don't doubt for a moment the team spirit, togetherness, and work ethic of the team, it was shown in spades last night but what we lack is quality in the crucial area of goal scorer, Cardiff paid millions for Madine and Danny Ward because that's the going rate for a proven Championship striker, while we on the other hand scratch around like a hen hoping to unearth something worth having. I don't care who the manager is they come and go but while Evans refuses to invest in his failing company we are going nowhere with ordinary players and unambitious management , and the most shameful aspect of this decline is that nobody but us appears to give a damn.
Good report & feed-backs, sounded like a decent shift from everyone. Just Lady Luck and 12" height difference!
It's exactly this mate, couldn't have put it any better myself. I get the fact many want Mick gone - however Mick or no Mick, I don't see results picking up anytime soon. Like or hate Mick he's been given F all as a budget. I don't think he'll be here for one second next season - 99.9% convinced this is it with this relationship. Therefore, the new manager will get a budget - which is probably going to be up say 10% from last seasons... what's that going to achieve!? All I will say, is if Evans were to significantly back the new manager - it's a bit of a cheek and harsh on McCarthy. I don't think he will do that though, just making the point. If Mick goes, the footy will certainly improve - not difficult. Lets just get through these games and see who is going to be in charge next season.
We dont normally have 4 giants in defence. All our full backs were missing last night. 2 centre halves started at full back and another came on as sub and slotted in at full back. Our line up/ squad last night was badly weakened by injuries and illness. All that matters is getting the 3 points.
From seeing a few highlights. We need to be playing Sears up front in a 2, yes he's a player who has looked shot of confidence but his movement is superb and I'm not saying that is something you can't coach but it's something it doesn't look like Mick coaches. It looked like he made all the right runs and moved the defenders around creating space and getting into the box. None of our other strikers do this, they're all quite static which makes them easy to mark. It's also clear that a pattern is emerging under Mick, when new players first come to the club they usually show good form and then it's apparent they get it coached out of them and Waghorn has unfortunately fitted into this...will he be the next Sears?
Said exactly the same re Sears before mate - he was superb 14/15 with Murphy in devastating form and used as a battering ram. Remove that element, Sears isn't good enough at this level.
A point well made Westy the Sky commentator during the Budgies match said that MM had spent £3M in 5 years at PR and brought in £14M+, the Budgies had spent in excess of £100M during the same period. Now I'm sure MMs remuneration cushions the disappointment a little but how must he feel watching no account managers get decent annual transfer budgets while he has virtually nothing, why should he volunteer for more of the same? If he wants a genuine shot at the Prem common sense should tell him it's not going to be at PR.
