Hello again....the Ipswich view

[ArnoldLayne]

Unfortunately I can't make it along tomorrow night - think it's the first BHA away trip I've missed in the last ten or so which is a shame.

Good to see you people having a good season - just shows what a decent Championship boss can do with patience, training ground coaching and resources to bring players in. Hughton is an excellent choice at this level and looking forward to see you going up with Newcastle.

We've had a very inconsistent season - injuries haven't helped, lack of investment hasn't helped and selling Daryl Murphy on the last day of the summer window without a replacement definitely didn't help.

However, we are where we are as we simply haven't been as good on the pitch than the last few seasons.

You'll probably have see our rotten display at Lincoln but actually just before and since then we have stuck with a new identity, new players and the confidence is beginning to come back - our last two performances have shown that.

We have some real injury problems at centre back for tomorrow - Christophe Berra, Steven Taylor, Adam Webster (great young player) and Tommy Smith are all out.

However, we have Tom Lawrence and David McGoldrick fit and firing up front - without doubt our best two technical players who play with their heads up.

I'm expecting a 3-1 Brighton home win - in a lot of ways it's a bit of a 'free' game for us on the back of the win at Villa.

I just hope we continue the last two performances, see it as a chance to pit our wits against the division's best and build some more confidence and begun to build a new identity.

All the best
AL

PS : Not that anyone is bothered, but I'm a Mick McCarthy fan. He can come across arrogant and has never really bonded with Ipswich fans but he is working on buttons and string. You can get a lot worse than Mick in that context.

 

[LlcoolJ]

Unfortunately I can't make it along tomorrow night - think it's the first BHA away trip I've missed in the last ten or so which is a shame.

Good to see you people having a good season - just shows what a decent Championship boss can do with patience, training ground coaching and resources to bring players in. Hughton is an excellent choice at this level and looking forward to see you going up with Newcastle.

We've had a very inconsistent season - injuries haven't helped, lack of investment hasn't helped and selling Daryl Murphy on the last day of the summer window without a replacement definitely didn't help.

However, we are where we are as we simply haven't been as good on the pitch than the last few seasons.

You'll probably have see our rotten display at Lincoln but actually just before and since then we have stuck with a new identity, new players and the confidence is beginning to come back - our last two performances have shown that.

We have some real injury problems at centre back for tomorrow - Christophe Berra, Steven Taylor, Adam Webster (great young player) and Tommy Smith are all out.

However, we have Tom Lawrence and David McGoldrick fit and firing up front - without doubt our best two technical players who play with their heads up.

I'm expecting a 3-1 Brighton home win - in a lot of ways it's a bit of a 'free' game for us on the back of the win at Villa.

I just hope we continue the last two performances, see it as a chance to pit our wits against the division's best and build some more confidence and begun to build a new identity.

All the best
AL

PS : Not that anyone is bothered, but I'm a Mick McCarthy fan. He can come across arrogant and has never really bonded with Ipswich fans but he is working on buttons and string. You can get a lot worse than Mick in that context.

Cheers. Have no problem whatsoever with MM. Seems a sound bloke and a good mate of Hughton's by all accounts which is good enough for me.

 

[Diablo]

Happy if you have the score right. 3-1 Brighton will do us nicely !!!

 

[Seagull Mags]

Unfortunately I can't make it along tomorrow night - think it's the first BHA away trip I've missed in the last ten or so which is a shame.

Good to see you people having a good season - just shows what a decent Championship boss can do with patience, training ground coaching and resources to bring players in. Hughton is an excellent choice at this level and looking forward to see you going up with Newcastle.

We've had a very inconsistent season - injuries haven't helped, lack of investment hasn't helped and selling Daryl Murphy on the last day of the summer window without a replacement definitely didn't help.

However, we are where we are as we simply haven't been as good on the pitch than the last few seasons.

You'll probably have see our rotten display at Lincoln but actually just before and since then we have stuck with a new identity, new players and the confidence is beginning to come back - our last two performances have shown that.

We have some real injury problems at centre back for tomorrow - Christophe Berra, Steven Taylor, Adam Webster (great young player) and Tommy Smith are all out.

However, we have Tom Lawrence and David McGoldrick fit and firing up front - without doubt our best two technical players who play with their heads up.

I'm expecting a 3-1 Brighton home win - in a lot of ways it's a bit of a 'free' game for us on the back of the win at Villa.

I just hope we continue the last two performances, see it as a chance to pit our wits against the division's best and build some more confidence and begun to build a new identity.

All the best
AL

PS : Not that anyone is bothered, but I'm a Mick McCarthy fan. He can come across arrogant and has never really bonded with Ipswich fans but he is working on buttons and string. You can get a lot worse than Mick in that context.

Nice post and a good report on your current status..... considering the lack of investment I think MM is working miracles, Villa losing ruined my acca last week but fair play a very good result (I hear it was snatch and grab but they all count)

I recall last season MM saying he would love to do Brighton a favour and beat Middlesbrough so top man in my eyes!

 

[ArnoldLayne]

Nice post and a good report on your current status..... considering the lack of investment I think MM is working miracles, Villa losing ruined my acca last week but fair play a very good result (I hear it was snatch and grab but they all count)

I recall last season MM saying he would love to do Brighton a favour and beat Middlesbrough so top man in my eyes!

Villa definitely on top in the first half and probably deserved to lead. The first team I have ever seen who have tried to physically intimidate us so blatantly since we've had McCarthy as manager.

However, despite losing two centre backs we stood up to it and played very well second half capped with a late winner.

Villa fans not happy.

 

[Nixonator]

PS : Not that anyone is bothered, but I'm a Mick McCarthy fan. He can come across arrogant and has never really bonded with Ipswich fans but he is working on buttons and string. You can get a lot worse than Mick in that context.

Have to say, despite your horrible form and although I can empathise with a lack of progress, I was still surprised many were turning on MM and the walkouts etc.

With the lack of investment there, you could have easily been in real trouble with someone else less experienced at the helm.

I wish you luck after our game (which I don't expect to be easy whatsoever), especially in your home fixtures against dirty and the toon.

 

[stss30]

Your strikers do concern me and we've had a notable lack of clean sheets recently, so reckon our front men will have to take their chances on Tuesday.

 

[Sheebo]

Unfortunately I can't make it along tomorrow night - think it's the first BHA away trip I've missed in the last ten or so which is a shame.

Good to see you people having a good season - just shows what a decent Championship boss can do with patience, training ground coaching and resources to bring players in. Hughton is an excellent choice at this level and looking forward to see you going up with Newcastle.

We've had a very inconsistent season - injuries haven't helped, lack of investment hasn't helped and selling Daryl Murphy on the last day of the summer window without a replacement definitely didn't help.

However, we are where we are as we simply haven't been as good on the pitch than the last few seasons.

You'll probably have see our rotten display at Lincoln but actually just before and since then we have stuck with a new identity, new players and the confidence is beginning to come back - our last two performances have shown that.

We have some real injury problems at centre back for tomorrow - Christophe Berra, Steven Taylor, Adam Webster (great young player) and Tommy Smith are all out.

However, we have Tom Lawrence and David McGoldrick fit and firing up front - without doubt our best two technical players who play with their heads up.

I'm expecting a 3-1 Brighton home win - in a lot of ways it's a bit of a 'free' game for us on the back of the win at Villa.

I just hope we continue the last two performances, see it as a chance to pit our wits against the division's best and build some more confidence and begun to build a new identity.

All the best
AL

PS : Not that anyone is bothered, but I'm a Mick McCarthy fan. He can come across arrogant and has never really bonded with Ipswich fans but he is working on buttons and string. You can get a lot worse than Mick in that context.

Thanks for the post - you're always a good poster here mate..

One question, who do you expect to deputise at CB? And what are their experience? Or will it be a player or 2 out of position?

Thanks

 

[ArnoldLayne]

Thanks for the post - you're always a good poster here mate..

One question, who do you expect to deputise at CB? And what are their experience? Or will it be a player or 2 out of position?

Thanks

Spence and Knudsen playing 60 minutes at centre back on Saturday and had never played there before.

Depends if we stick with 5-3-2 or 4-4-2

Luke Chambers will definitely be one centre back.

Tommy Smith is playing in the U23s tonight so doubt he will be the other one.

We may either play three centre backs in Knudsen-Chambers-Spence and the two kids at full back/wing back in Emmanuel and Kenlock.

Down to the bare bones but they will only get better playing in games like this.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I have a lot of time for Mick McCarthy - a real football man, and generally pretty much calls it as he sees it.

 

[AmexRuislip]

When living in Honington, I used to go and watch Ipswich play, if I couldn't make it to watch the Albion, for whatever reason.
I travelled with an out and out nut of an Ipswich fan on the coach that picked up fans along the way to Portman Road.
Always welcomed on the coach by the fans with banter prevailing, even though when Albion were playing them away, the blue scarf did have its use, apart from when the Seagull appeared.
Hopefully MM will see you right, apart from Tuesday night

 

[Two Professors]

Good luck for the rest of the season,after tonight!Hope somebody will give MM a bit of cash to splash-you might follow us up then!

 

[Yoda]

One thing with your consistently inconsistent form will mean either a Brighton win or a draw. How many matches in a row is it now where you haven't had the same result twice in a row?

 

[Machiavelli]

Thanks for the post - you're always a good poster here mate..

One question, who do you expect to deputise at CB? And what are their experience? Or will it be a player or 2 out of position?

Thanks

He's my favourite non-Albion poster. Welcome back Arnold Layne, and thanks for the astute analysis.

 

[greyseagull]

I love Mick McCarthy and Mick loves making tea. These six seconds always cheer me up.

 

[soistes]

Good luck for the rest of the season,after tonight!Hope somebody will give MM a bit of cash to splash-you might follow us up then!

Not immediately after tonight! Maybe after tomorrow night..

 

[Two Professors]

Not immediately after tonight! Maybe after tomorrow night..

Whoops!

 

[The Oldman]

As someone who lived in Suffolk during the Bobby Robson years, I have a very soft spot for Ipswich. Saw some tremendous football at Portman Road. I also like MM. A very honest man plus he has TC with him. So good luck Town for the rest of the season. Would love to see you going up next season.

 

[Nixonator]

edit: wrong thread

 

[Exile]

Mick McCarthy is by miles my favourite (other) Championship manager.

Just seems a thoroughly DECENT bloke.