Tag Archives: Ipswich Town Football Club

Match Review 19/11/2016 Ipswich Town 0 – 2 Nottingham Forest

Football is now an international trade: reference the strange-but-true fact that more countries are members of FIFA than of the United Nations. And what used to be true at a global level is now true of the local too. From the unfashionable and now firmly pro-Brexit East Midlands of England, Nottingham Forest won the European Cup twice in 1978-80. They did so with teams consisting almost entirely of British players, inspired by the distinctive English eccentricity of Brian Clough.

Now Forest are owned by a Kuwaiti businessman, who is currently trying to sell the club to an American. The team is managed by a Frenchman and they had prior to this game (according to the BBC sport website) selected first team players from an astonishing and record 19 different nationalities so far this season; conceding 30 goals and amassing only 16 points in the process. Forest fans have been in open revolt for many months and recently the players were, apparently, on the brink of refusing to train.

For anybody seeking simplistic solutions about how best to resist or accommodate globalisation, in football or anything else, this match had a clear message. The Dis-United Nations of Forest strolled it. Despite Ipswich having two thirds of the possession by the end of its 94 minutes, the game was decided after 17 seconds.

A Scot, a Dane and two Englishmen in the Ipswich back four all contributed to gifting Forest possession and a clear shot on goal, quicker than it takes to say Britt Curtis Assombalonga. That is the name of Forest’s Congolese opening scorer and at least in this match, a fine number 9. It was the quickest Championship goal of the season and Ipswich never recovered. Much of their subsequent possession in the first half was spent literally tracking the ball up and down the half way line, like a squad of table footballers who can do nothing to escape the shining rod down their backs.

When that wasn’t happening all that Ipswich managed were a few variably effective corners; yet even those were interspersed by brief but far more dangerous Forest moments, buzzing around Ipswich’s goal. It was 19 minutes before Lawrence mustered an Ipswich shot, wide from a free kick; and 30 minutes before an actual Ipswich threat when McGoldrick’s beautiful mazy run from the right hand wing took him into the Forest box, drawing a fine save from the banana-hued Forest keeper Stojkovic. His bright yellow defiance proved a beacon for the rest of his team, now growing in confidence, and in the 37th minute they nearly scored again from one of their own infrequent but far more threatening corner kicks.

So it was hardly unexpected for anybody in the crowd when on 44 minutes Nottingham Forest doubled their lead; although it obviously did come as a massive surprise to Knudsen and Berra, left back and left half in the Ipswich back four, who appeared to lack the ability to talk to each other in any meaningful way. Together they charitably donated Forest the ball once more, on the edge of the Ipswich box. Cue further pathetic, ineffectual scrambling across the whole blue backline before true Britt’s second of the game, with a deft glancing close range header, from just about waist level.

Ipswich’s Anglo-Irish icon Mick McCarthy needed a second half miracle, and did his best to prompt one by at half time bringing on a Welshman in Williams, and a Mauritian in Bru. McCarthy had started with a fiercely attacking line up and refreshed that with these two quick and skilful players. The cosmetic effects were immediate and a succession of half chances ensued, arising often from incisive and more direct running at the Forest defence by both substitutes.

Corners, crosses and even a few shots followed. Pressure mounted and several six yard box scrambles saw Forest legs, chests, heads, ankles, knees and shoulders pump, lunge or unwittingly deflect the ball to safety. An Ipswich goal apparently threatened: although to be honest, it never felt like one would actually happen. Even the Ipswich penalty appeals, and there were two decent shouts, were shrouded with an air of fatalism. It was hardly a shock to see Kasami thunder a shot against Bart Bialkowski’s right hand post in the 63rd minute; and although it rebounded to safety further out than the original strike Forest always threatened a third.

They didn’t manage it but by the end of the game they had secured 8 attempts on target. Ipswich despite 65% possession, had managed only two. Mick McCarthy must be hoping for a new flurry of trade deals in the January transfer window, or he is in genuine danger of being shipped out himself. For once again on the final whistle it was the international language of booing which rang around the half empty Suffolk grandstands.

It will be fascinating and for Ipswich fans, nerve-wracking, to see whether the club’s owner Marcus Evans, international trader in tickets, events and knowledge, himself largely tax exiled from England, decides whether Mc-exit is now his only hope of making that elusive Premiership fortune…

Match review by Grant Bage

Twitter Feed

Match Review 29/10/2016 Ipswich Town 2 – 2 Rotherham United

IPSWICH TOWN 2 ROTHERHAM UNITED 2 29 OCTOBER 2016

Only one statistic matters in football: the number of goals scored by each team. From there flow all the other numbers that really count: points, prizes, promotions and premature sackings. Ask Alan Stubbs, who knows that to his cost. Stubbs was Rotherham’s manager for the first 13 league games of this season, in which the Millers managed to amass a mere five points alongside an appalling goal difference of minus 18. By the middle of October Stubbs had been sacked and Kenny Jackett brought in.

A few games back Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich team was enduring similar woes, at the other end of the pitch. A stretch of five leagues matches had yawned without yielding a single goal. For many other games before that spell, this season and last, Ipswich fans had also endured single figure totals for (even the most optimistic) goal efforts; whilst the shots or headers actually on target, could often be counted on the fingers of only one hand.

Statistically therefore this game threatened to be awful. But what do numbers know? Not much apparently because for a neutral spectator (and I know because I went with one) this was a reasonable spectacle, topped by an exceptional goal. Ipswich scored in the third minute, Lawrence taking much preparatory thought before drilling (or was it scuffing?) his free kick from the right bye-line to Rotherham’s near post. Deliberately drilled or carelessly scuffed, Freddie Sears didn’t care; and he deftly flicked the ball in for a rare first half Ipswich goal. Yet three minutes later Rotherham were level. A corner from their right wing was headed away by Webster, nodded back by Taylor and Rotherham’s Danny Ward, having been played onside by Ipswich’s off-balance captain Luke Chambers, gratefully swivelled on the edge of the six yard box to prod home from close range. 1-1 it was after seven minutes and despite sustained spells of neat Ipswich passing, and the occasional Rotherham threat from Halford’s titanic long throws, that would remain the score until just after the second half had started.

Having perhaps pulled a muscle catapulting those long throws, Halford was replaced after 35 minutes. Not that anybody really noticed as his team mate Vaulks simply stepped up to continue the fast bowling. It was his immense looping lob that, having nearly reached the penalty spot, so baffled Ipswich’s centre halves in the 48th minute that they ran into each other a fraction before its arrival. Their momentary confusion allowed Ward to nip in and volley the ball delicately past a helpless goalkeeper, to claim his second close range goal of the afternoon.

Barely suppressed panic bubbled amongst the Ipswich players and barely suppressed rage amongst some of the fans. Both increased incrementally as second half minutes ticked by, punctuated by successful time-wasting Rotherham tactics, and episodes of inept refereeing. Mick McCarthy sent on Williams and Best for Bishop and Ward in the 66th minute, and in the 83rd minute replaced the impressive young full back Kenlock with the thoroughly old fashioned centre forward Luke Varney. By then it was too late, at least for some of the Ipswich crowd. From the 80th minute small, disparate groups from different parts of the North Stand started to sing discontent. By the 90th minute their words were clearly audible in every corner of the ground and to all the players: ‘Mick McCarthy, your football is shit’.

Which is where we come back to statistics of which, it is famously and unfairly repeatedly said ‘there are lies, damned lies and statistics’. The statistics on this match were clear and honest. Ipswich had 66% of the possession, practically double that of Rotherham. They managed 17 shots of which 5 were on target, and had 5 corners. In all cases again these figures were practically double those of their opponents. McCarthy had picked his most attacking side for many months and they had played attractive passing football, creating a slew of first-half half-chances, against opponents who were resolutely organised and had run themselves into the turf. Yet it is only goals that matter and in this case amazingly, not even goals. In the 94th minute and just as the referee was clearing his throat for the final whistle, McGoldrick volleyed a stunning low drive from over 25 yards out. Even the agile and competent Lee Camp could do nothing about it. The scorer celebrated, the singing stopped, the crowd cheered, the goal stood, the kick off was taken, the whistle blew and the booing recommenced: all in the space of a few fractious seconds.

And so it ended Ipswich 2 Rotherham 2: by Championship standards a pretty entertaining game and no losers on the pitch. Just multiple losers and much sadness off it, in both dugouts and every stand. For Rotherham’s fans and player, sadness about the three points that might have been; and for significantly vocal sections of Ipswich’s home crowd, for the lack of goals and ambition that had prevailed, in so many dull and graceless games before this one.

Though to be absolutely fair and journalistically accurate that dearth of goals and ambition had not actually been visible to me, in this particular match; that around 15,000 other people had also watched, and which a few hundred had booed.

Lies, damned lies and statistics eh?

And whilst we are on that theme, Paddy Power are offering 19/10 for Rotherham to beat Preston on 5 November, at home. Based on the Millers’ last two displays, and on Preston’s, those are decent odds. Ipswich meanwhile face more Yorkshire grit and steel when they travel to Sheffield Wednesday. 11-1 against a 1-0 away win is a tempting offer. Mick McCarthy might even put a tenner on himself to do it – were it allowed of course!

Grant Bage

Twitter Feed

Match Review 01/10/2016 Ipswich Town 0 – 1 Huddersfield Town

The reason we follow football is its unpredictability: the sense, even the expectation that something extraordinary can happen during any game. One of the main reasons people bet on football, on the other hand, is the predictable opposite; a belief that by looking at results and knowing lots about teams, players and patterns we can accurately forecast the future – have a bit of fun – and occasionally make some money.

So instead of spending hard earned cash on tickets, train fares and pre-match chips and beer, why didn’t the 16,000 or so football fans who turned up on Saturday put a tenner on two simple and incredibly predictable bets, given both teams’ recent form?

Going into this match Ipswich hadn’t scored in three games and only managed three goals in the previous six before that. So the fact that even against the Championship surprise-package leaders, Huddersfield, they could manage only a single shot on target during 97 minutes of play…should perhaps have come as no surprise?

Huddersfield were just as predictable, odds-wise. Their seven previous league wins this season had all been with 1-0 or 2-1 score lines. Ipswich’s total lack of goal power and Huddersfield’s sensational start could not have shouted any louder: THIS GAME IS GOING TO FINISH IPSWICH 0 HUDDERSFIELD 1. And SURPRISE…it did! The odds on that result, looking back, were incredibly generous at 8-1 against; but this reporter still didn’t see it coming. Wasn’t it highly unlikely that Ipswich would prove as toothless as they had been against Brighton, Leeds or Villa (for the first 90 minutes?) Surely Mick McCarthy would swap things round and play two strikers, next to each other, from the start? There must be a reasonable chance that a feral seagull, bored of scavenging in the nearby docks, would one day swoop down on the pitch to peck out an opposition goalkeeper’s eyes, resulting in him slamming a goal kick into his own net?

Weirdly, none of these things actually happened. Ipswich’s only shot on target had to wait until the 65th minute. Freddie Sears has fathered more children in 2016 (one) than he has scored goals (nil) but at least he forced Huddersfield’s promising young goalkeeper Danny Ward into a save. His only hand warming of the afternoon. The shot was greeted with rapturous and ironic applause by the long-suffering Ipswich fans, many of whom booed their team off at the end of the game.

Huddersfield, on the other hand, epitomised what a winning team looks like. From Ward in goal through the powerful Schindler at centre half, via Hogg in midfield and progressing onto the agile Wells and Kachunga up front they played swift, simple and highly mobile football. In the 5th minute Hogg should have headed his team in front, instead nodding the ball down into the ground at close range, from where it bounced into the Ipswich goalkeeper’s hands.

Then in the 29th minute Kachunga left that goalkeeper’s right post quivering as a powerful and instinctive shot cannoned back out into play, rather than whistling into the net. But there would no final reprieve and in the 57th minute, following an utterly needless gift of a corner from Ipswich’s captain Luke Chambers, Huddersfield finally took the lead. An excellent and fiercely struck cross from Mooy was powered by Schindler’s flicking header into the top corner of the net, before Ipswich had even recovered from giving the corner away; let alone thought about preparing to defend it.

Brief periods of Ipswich pressure before that fine Huddersfield goal, and in the game’s final ten minutes after it, hinted at a scrambled Ipswich duck-breaker; but it was not to be and in truth, never looked likely to come. Huddersfield, prompted by the dominant and hugely impressive midfield force of Jonathan Hogg, thoroughly deserved a win that guaranteed their retention of the Championship’s top spot.

Manager Wagner has moulded a balanced team with a relentless work-rate, which is all the more impressive given that three of this starting eleven (Ward, Kachunga and Mooy) are actually on loan from other clubs. No wonder 802 of their fans made their way to Suffolk. Good luck to them, for the rest of what may be a very exciting season. Meanwhile and to return to the subject we started on. Luck should have little to do with betting calculations. Ipswich’s next game is a potential early season relegation scrap at Blackburn Rovers, who are third from bottom and after only 11 games have a minus-8 goal difference.

Rovers have (incredibly) failed to keep a clean sheet in ANY of those 11 games. Surely therefore Ipswich might manage at least one goal against them – especially hundreds of miles away from the pressure that they have put themselves under, through a series of inept home displays?

Blackburn on the other hand will be desperate to claw their way out of trouble.
Paddy Power’s offer of 12-1 against Blackburn to be winning at half time, but the result to be a draw by full time, looks pretty attractive to me. I might even bet on it myself…

Match review by Grant Bage

Twitter Feed

Match Review 27/08/2016 Ipswich Town 1 Preston North End 0

Ipswich Town 1-0 Preston North End

Portman Road, 27 August 2016

Some games are easily forgotten and others lodge in the memory, for ever. Apart from a stunning goal, overall this game was one of the former: and by the time the second period was half way through I had almost started writing this match report, just to dare something different to happen. Perhaps the game’s tautness was predictable, given the significance of events off the pitch at Portman Road just before kick-off. Daryl Murphy, who for 6 years had grafted his way to becoming an Ipswich legend, had been left out of the line-up: he was off to Newcastle for at least £3 million.

All those pound coins piled up in the centre of the pitch couldn’t quite fill the gap though, and this was a hybrid performance from Ipswich as mentally they struggled to imagine how to play without Murphy. That’s not a counsel of despair for Ipswich supporters, it’s just a reflection of their team being in transition. And once again Grant Ward showed what a part he can play in that journey, with an astonishing goal in the 15th minute. After a free kick on the right wing,

Kévin Bru crossed and the Preston defence forcefully cleared to beyond the edge of their area. Ward took a single touch and then hit the ball just a fraction later with a deft, almost casual volleyed chip. The rest of the 21 players on the pitch, especially Preston’s excellent keeper Lindegaard, were transfixed; staring as though time had stopped, whilst the ball slowly but surely looped into the corner of the net.

Six minutes later Lindegaard did manage a vital touch, deflecting a short-range Sears effort: Sears having been played in by a beautiful long ball over the top from Pitman. Preston’s Robinson, who was persistently their most incisive threat, also shot fiercely from range in the 30th minute, only for Bialkowski’s strong hand to palm the ball over the bar. And that was about it. Despite a decent half played in speedy fashion, there had been no sustained periods of genuine quality, from either side. Preston had started 3-5-2 and it soon became clear that Ipswich, with Pitman up front in Murphy’s place, were playing a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 to counter that. The outcome from both teams was pretty, sporadic triangles in midfield, plenty of movement and occasional threats from a midfield runner arriving late into an attacking position; yet it had been hard for either side to find space.

Despite the relatively early Ipswich goal Preston seemed content to keep to that shape in the second half, only taking a more attacking stance after Doyle replaced Spurr on 55 minutes. The result was much increased Preston pressure in the last half hour but still no clear chances created. It hadn’t helped their cause to lose Jermain Beckford to injury in the first quarter of an hour. Tough stuff for 297 stalwarts who had made the trip from Lancashire. Judging from their persistent silence, most probably wished they hadn’t.

After the game Preston’s manager Simon Grayson commented “I am hoping to strengthen. I have given a list of names to the owner and I am hoping to tick some people off. It is going to be a crazy three or four days through all the divisions.” A crazy few days perhaps but without reinforcements, this could be a long season for Preston.

Meanwhile Mick McCarthy could not have been happier. In classic style he prioritised the result achieved, over the football played: “We played really well in the first half and then we stood up to a right scrap in the second half – it was a real bloke’s performance.” Epitomised perhaps by the fact that for Ipswich in the second half, it was their left back Knudsen who stood out as the persistent attacker. Having lobbed none of his Howitzer long throws at the Preston trenches in the first half, he bombarded them with six in the second half. One hundred years on Knudsen’s salvoes made that second half resemble a footballing ‘Somme’, though thankfully without the mud, blood and tragedy.

Ipswich’s next game is at Reading, on the evening of Friday 9th September. Given Town’s abysmal track record there, and the fact that several new signings have been promised, Coral’s current odds of 13/2 for Ipswich to win and both teams to score looks attractive. Preston meanwhile are at home to Barnsley on Saturday 10 September. Anything could happen including, one can only hope for their fans, more than the two accurate shots on goal they managed at Ipswich. How about at 0-0 draw at 15/2?

Match review by Grant Bage

Twitter Feed

Match Review: 20/08/2016 Ipswich Town 1 Norwich City 1

Ipswich Town 1-1 Norwich City

Portman Road, 20 August 2016

Local derbies are the games that fans look forward to most: blood, thunder and despite the best efforts of bye-laws, streets ringing with songs and awash with alcohol. More often than not though, there is precious little of the actual football that fans have paid to watch. But, for a derby between two faltering East Anglian giants, this contest was unexpectedly urbane. “You’d expect it to be a scrap, wouldn’t you?” said Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy; “But there was a lot of quality in there as well. It wasn’t just a scrap, from both teams.”

The first half also throbbed with action. For Ipswich, Douglas scored from close range within three minutes only for the goal wrongly to be ruled out for offside. Murphy was a constant threat with head, feet, strength and positioning combining to make chances for himself and others. He had a good penalty shout denied in the 11th minute and a strong looping header nestling (in the roof of the net) minutes later. Yet it was Norwich who scored first in the 25th minute with a fine goal; the sort of strike that epitomises everything it takes to succeed in the Championship. Pinto outmuscled and outran Freddie Sears on the right wing, deep in Ipswich’s half. Short passing was precisely maintained as Naismith then Howson worked the ball across the penalty area to Jerome. From the centre of the Ipswich box and in the space created by the speed of the Norwich teamwork, Jerome hit a powerful and accurate shot against the inside of the post and into the goal. It was unstoppable and for Ipswich, after such a promising start, it could have been heart breaking.

The fact that it wasn’t may have had something to do with the discipline that McCarthy instils, the incessant noise from the Ipswich fans or perhaps just the fact that the players lived up to the term ‘professional’ and did not lose their heads. But after a further scrappy 20 minutes of football, in which Norwich had marginally more of the play, Ipswich repaid the Norwich goal with an equally fine and similar effort of the own. Once more from the right it was played short to Murphy, who flicked the ball deftly left to Sears, who continued the theme and flicked left once more to Jonas Knudsen. Ipswich’s left footed Danish left back then stumped the Norwich defence, by threading through a glorious right footed shot from the edge of the area. It cut through or cut out four Norwich players; Portman Road went wild.

The second half saw no further goals but lots more entertainment and some decent quality. Whittaker was swapped for Norwich’s lively Pinto at half time, a decision soon justified by Whittaker’s ground shot bouncing up only to be headed off the Ipswich goal line by Webster. Then on the 75th minute Webster’s dreadful clearance set up Whittaker to slam the ball against Ipswich’s left post, with Bialkowski beaten. Yet Ipswich super sub Teddy Bishop, who came on for Bru in the 70th minute, also had two chances to win the game late on, within 20 seconds of each other. Both were blocked: from short range by a Norwich defender, then the goal keeper.

This was a fair result for two teams that purely on this showing, should be in the Championship’s top ten. Given the money that Norwich have spent that won’t be good enough and it will be Mick McCarthy who will be most pleased, based purely on this game, with his summer signings. Grant Ward, newly arrived from Spurs, won ‘Man of the Match’ from the TV pundits and despite fading in the last 20 minutes, Ward was again outstanding in defence and creative in attack.

On 27 August Norwich are away to Birmingham, who like Ipswich have five points and have made a reasonable start. Ipswich are at home to Preston who, having lost two consecutive league games at home, may be lacking confidence. Paddy Power’s offer of ‘evens’ for Norwich to win in the Midlands is very unattractive – but 23/10 for another away draw against a team in Blue might tempt you. 7/2 for an Ipswich win and both teams to score at home to Preston looks reasonable. Ipswich don’t keep many clean sheets, despite having in Bialkowski one of the finest current goalkeepers in the English Championship. If the rest of their defence can match his efforts, over the season they may yet catch Norwich.

Match reviewed by Grant Bage.

Twitter Feed

Match Report: 6/8/2016 Ipswich Town 4 Barnsley 2

Ipswich Town 4 v Barnsley Match 2

Portman Road, 6th August, 2016

Bathed in Suffolk’s finest August sunshine, Ralph and I sauntered to Portman Road meditating upon why we loved football. New seasons and opening fixtures are always special, of course. For one day only and for every single club, supporters authentically can dream ‘this year – could be our year’. That new signing, this fresh formation, a crafty combination of youth and experience and hey: miracles can happen!

Only for most of us they don’t and by 45 minutes into Ipswich Town’s new season, they definitely hadn’t. Ipswich’s starting eleven contained attractive, attacking players. Unfortunately they were still squeezed into the dull and narrow 4-4-2 system that last season bored the Portman Road faithful, and many opposing teams, into sullen submission. It was a stifling first half but Barnsley were the brighter. Despite nine signings they looked every inch the side still on that amazing run, starting in the depths of League 1 at Christmas 2015, and ending in Wembley promotion glory some six months later. Indeed Barnsley should have led at half time, but for a wasted close-range header from Bradshaw straight at the goalkeeper; then a stunning reflex, strong wristed save by Ipswich’s excellent Bialkowski. Diving low to his right somehow, in the 43rd minute, he punched out Bradshaw’s six yard slam-and-dip shot for a corner.
Cue half time Ipswich yawns. Then adventurously and out of character, came two McCarthy substitutions. Home wishes were granted (groan) via second half debuts for permanent signing Grant Ward (from Tottenham) and year-long loan Connor Grant (from Everton). Within a minute the 4-3-3 formation paid off and Ward reacted coolly to slot home from inside the box.

Three minutes later Barnsley captain Hourihane deservedly pulled The Terriers level from close range before Ward, with another right foot shot ten minutes later, hit a second from 15 yards out. That was closely followed by a McGoldrick penalty, created by Murphy’s excellent run in the box. Still Barnsley refused to give in and a powerful header into the far corner, from a fine Hourihane free kick, saw Watkins reduce the deficit. Then and perhaps inevitably, given the carnival that had been the second half, Grant Ward completed a debut second-half hat-trick. From the edge of the Barnsley area he telescoped a sweet shot, so low into the corner that Barnsley’s goalkeeper could only assist it into the net, via an outstretched left hand.

Despite the result and far fewer summer signings than Barnsley, Ipswich looked markedly the less coherent side. They cannot rely on another hat-trick miracle next week at Brentford on 13 August and will quickly need to graft the right combination of their squad’s younger midfielders and defenders, with their more experienced attackers. Meanwhile if Barnsley can pick up a win in the next couple of games, starting at home to Derby next Saturday, there is no reason why they shouldn’t maintain their momentum from last year: at least whilst the August sun shines.
Betting
Ipswich are currently 15-8 to win away at Brentford, where they have struggled to win in recent seasons despite playing well. Man to watch – Daryl Murphy with two great assists against Barnsley.
Barnsley’s 2-1 to beat Derby home, which given their two goals and further chances against Ipswich, is well within their capability. Man to watch – Bradshaw who won’t want to miss any more chances and was unlucky not to score on Saturday.

Match report by Grant Bage