Ipswich - some observations

[Sheff de party]

A very frustrating night at Portman Road With a game we really, really should be winning. I’ve been to 6 I think this season and watched 3 on the box - same old story. Dominate possession, can’t score enough goals.

1. If we don’t score by crosses, we don’t score.

2. Blaming O’Connell for not being technically gifted enough to work these bizarre free kick routines is like blaming Henderson for not scoring enough goals. Don’t put him there if he can’t do it!

3. Fleck shows flashes of brilliance which only show how much we need him, or someone like him. He’s simply not doing enough at the moment.

4. I know some people disagree, but I’m afraid I simply cannot see what Clarke offers. He is lacklustre, dopey or just lazy - one of those. And he mainly gets in the way. Coming on after 65 every week when you’re not getting a game and not running yourself into the ground is unacceptable if we’re not winning.

5. Our play is so good until the final ball, but we hesitate, make poor decisions and don’t look like breaking teams down.

6. We’re doing the best with what we have.

7. Aggressively shouting at fellow fans for not clapping the team off is embarrassing. It’s also likely to cause the ultimate embarrassment - fighting amongst ourselves. If you don’t like people leaving early, tough luck!

8. Duffy is our only real creative outlet. Norwood is the best passer in the team by a mile however.

Enjoyed watching us for long periods today, but we simply have to win these games to go up I think. Still, a decent day out!

 

[FTPE]

One quick point, we have 3 technically gifted players around the dead ball... why use a creative free kick that ends up with JOC having to be the player to produce some magic.
Its no criticism of him, I'd just rather one of the other 3 took some responsibility.

 

[S40BLADE]

Well summarised my man. I also think we're to reliant on Billy.

 

[Lane Ender]

One quick point, we have 3 technically gifted players around the dead ball... why use a creative free kick that ends up with JOC having to be the player to produce some magic.
Its no criticism of him, I'd just rather one of the other 3 took some responsibility.

We’re a top half championship side no more.

 

[FTPE]

Well summarised my man. I also think we're to reliant on Billy.

I thought Billy was really good today, he didn't take his 2 half chances but the rest of his game was decent.
That said, that just proves your point, we rely on him taking those half chances too much.

 

[FTPE]

We’re a top half championship side no more.

At our best, I've only seen one team better than us this season.

 

[BritishSteel]

If it is any help to the team I can give them some pointers.

I can offer my experience of "getting into the box " a bit quicker and " shooting on sight ".

Mrs Steel is not very happy about it but at least I am consistent , and maybe consistency in both areas is what is required.

 

[Lane Ender]

At our best, I've only seen one team better than us this season.

We know what we want but its not going to happen.

 

[bartman]

A very frustrating night at Portman Road With a game we really, really should be winning. I’ve been to 6 I think this season and watched 3 on the box - same old story. Dominate possession, can’t score enough goals.

1. If we don’t score by crosses, we don’t score.

2. Blaming O’Connell for not being technically gifted enough to work these bizarre free kick routines is like blaming Henderson for not scoring enough goals. Don’t put him there if he can’t do it!

3. Fleck shows flashes of brilliance which only show how much we need him, or someone like him. He’s simply not doing enough at the moment.

4. I know some people disagree, but I’m afraid I simply cannot see what Clarke offers. He is lacklustre, dopey or just lazy - one of those. And he mainly gets in the way. Coming on after 65 every week when you’re not getting a game and not running yourself into the ground is unacceptable if we’re not winning.

5. Our play is so good until the final ball, but we hesitate, make poor decisions and don’t look like breaking teams down.

6. We’re doing the best with what we have.

7. Aggressively shouting at fellow fans for not clapping the team off is embarrassing. It’s also likely to cause the ultimate embarrassment - fighting amongst ourselves. If you don’t like people leaving early, tough luck!

8. Duffy is our only real creative outlet. Norwood is the best passer in the team by a mile however.

Enjoyed watching us for long periods today, but we simply have to win these games to go up I think. Still, a decent day out!

We aren't athletic enough in the last 20 mins. We noticeably tired yet we brought on an unfit sub. . Bizarre reply. First half was a lesson on how not to create chances. Ipswich were awful and we matched them for much of the game .

 

[Tazzy]

After the last few years we now go into games thinking we can win i am the same .But You have to remember we have been in this lg for 1 and half seasons we are not going to win them all lets build a team first then look at going up. Id hate us to do a Fulham cant but a win must be so depressing

 

[BritishSteel]

We know what we want but its not going to happen.

Terrorist attack on the millions at Swillsborough ?

 

[GrayBlade]

We’re a top half championship side no more.

As long as we remain a top half Championship side with a bottom 8 budget i think that it’s hard to complain too much really. We are overachieving and if we managed to get into the playoffs it would be a tremendous accomplishment all things considered.

 

[Lane Ender]

As long as we remain a top half Championship side with a bottom 8 budget i think that it’s hard to complain too much really. We are overachieving and if we managed to get into the playoffs it would be a tremendous accomplishment all things considered.

Not complaining GB

 

[Fanny magnet]

Sick of us playing our way out of dominance and into trouble by just unnecessarily passing it back to the keeper
To me that's worse than hoofing it

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

A very frustrating night at Portman Road With a game we really, really should be winning. I’ve been to 6 I think this season and watched 3 on the box - same old story. Dominate possession, can’t score enough goals.



8. Duffy is our only real creative outlet. Norwood is the best passer in the team by a mile however.

Enjoyed watching us for long periods today, but we simply have to win these games to go up I think. Still, a decent day out!

Don't agree with that one at all, he's always trying the million dollar pass, some come off and a lot don't, this is especially annoying when a shorter pass would be more effective. As for his corners, do we ever look like scoring from them. He hits every ball the same, hard and flat, when it comes off it looks great, more often than not it doesn't and looks awful. Also, think Norwoods obsession with the long ball is negating playing the short ball to Fleck and his game has since gone off. I'd drop Norwood and give Coutts (who has the best passing range at the club) a run in the team. It might take him a few games to get into it but I think it'll be worth it if we the Coutts and Fleck of last season back.

 

[Sheff de party]

Don't agree with that one at all, he's always trying the million dollar pass, some come off and a lot don't, this is especially annoying when a shorter pass would be more effective. As for his corners, do we ever look like scoring from them. He hits every ball the same, hard and flat, when it comes off it looks great, more often than not it doesn't and looks awful. Also, think Norwoods obsession with the long ball is negating playing the short ball to Fleck and his game has since gone off. I'd drop Norwood and give Coutts (who has the best passing range at the club) a run in the team. It might take him a few games to get into it but I think it'll be worth it if we the Coutts and Fleck of last season back.

Interesting points, particularly about Fleck. That could indeed be why we haven’t seen the best of him.

 

[snootyfenooty]

At our best, I've only seen one team better than us this season.

At their best Rotherham were better than us. Your point proves nothing.

 

[Hartley Hare]

I agree with most of what Sheff stated in the OP.

Today saw much pussyfooting about, which did not lead to a shot or chance being created. We huffed and puffed.

We must shoot more and do not have to walk the ball into the net to get a goal.

We seem to lack that bit of class in the final third to create and take a chance. Billy always gives a 100%, Clarke came on and didn't do much at all.

If we end the season in the top eight, with the resources we have that will be a big achievement.

It is not so bad, chatting to an Ipswich fan on the way back to town. He was very complimentary about the way we play, our fans support and grateful for a point he did not expect to gain..

HH

 

[FTPE]

At their best Rotherham were better than us. Your point proves nothing.

Yeah they were.
I mean when we are at our best
I'm basically saying we have the potential to be one of the best in the league.
We might not have the consistency but if you can say "on our day we can beat anyone" then I think it's fair to say that we are at least capable of being better than a mid table team.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

7. Aggressively shouting at fellow fans for not clapping the team off is embarrassing. It’s also likely to cause the ultimate embarrassment - fighting amongst ourselves. If you don’t like people leaving early, tough luck!

Crowd was an odd one today tbh. Great noise first half, as was the range in what we sung – large sections devoted to Basham’s Hokey Cokey song. 2nd half the volume continued, the scenes at the equaliser were great, and then...very little – surprisingly flat all that half, and very difficult to generate any singing at all.

 

[Sheff de party]

Yeah they were.
I mean when we are at our best
I'm basically saying we have the potential to be one of the best in the league.
We might not have the consistency but if you can say "on our day we can beat anyone" then I think it's fair to say that we are at least capable of being better than a mid table team.

I agree. The problem is we definitely have a top six team but arguably not a top six squad. When one of them isn’t fit, they’re replaced with someone who isn’t as good.

It’s why our subs very rarely have an impact and never turn a game on it’s head. Have we, even once, this season brought some subs on whilst losing and won?

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Sick of us playing our way out of dominance and into trouble by just unnecessarily passing it back to the keeper
To me that's worse than hoofing it

I am a big advocate of hoofball.
Long and high.
High and long.
To Deane up front.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Don't agree with that one at all, he's always trying the million dollar pass, some come off and a lot don't, this is especially annoying when a shorter pass would be more effective. As for his corners, do we ever look like scoring from them. He hits every ball the same, hard and flat, when it comes off it looks great, more often than not it doesn't and looks awful. Also, think Norwoods obsession with the long ball is negating playing the short ball to Fleck and his game has since gone off. I'd drop Norwood and give Coutts (who has the best passing range at the club) a run in the team. It might take him a few games to get into it but I think it'll be worth it if we the Coutts and Fleck of last season back.

You're spot on, Coutts' presence enables Fleck to get forward and be far more effective than he currently is. Coutts is clearly suffering, but maybe we all need to be patient and give PC the chance to get back in the swing of things. If this enables Coutts to show some of the form we know he's capable of we then have a more dynamic attacking midfield. I like Norwood, but based on previous experience Coutts, at his best, allows us to move like a well oiled machine. Just remember, PC needs patience and support, not the whingeing that some part s of our support is infamous for.