PL Ipswich Town (h) post match thread

[Blue Steel]

Can anyone provide a link to the full match replay anywhere online? City+ is still down!

 

[give it to gordon]

ITFC fan here - I come in peace! Just wanted to share some thoughts on Saturday and our visit to the Etihad.

First off really impressed by the Etihad as a stadium, which will only improve when the expansion of the other end stand is complete. Been to Old Trafford many times, and it is in a dire state. Much like our older stands at PR - although we keen them in better nick than your rivals. I was in the upper tier right in the gods. But great view.

Thanks for our goal and moment! It was bedlam in the away end. But we then shot ourselves in the foot with multiple errors - including from ex-player Muric. But you hit the cross bar square on twice so score was probably right. Delap was good for us and a beast. But he was isolated. We also didn’t turn moments of threat into actual chances. But we’re still in transition with lots of new players coming in, including Philips.

McKenna is the real deal, and he felt our game management cost us the errors.

Do you think we’ll have enough to stay up?

I was really impressed with Lewis and Savinho. I hadn’t got the hype around Lewis, but he is sublime and all over the pitch. Halland is a beast, and sadly Town are going to learn that in the top flight, you get punished by errors.

Anyway a good day out. This video from the main Ipswich fan site is worth a view, sense of the away day itself but also come good analysis of City from the press box:

To be honest I haven't a clue if you will stay up. The pl is a fucking mess teams getting docked points for trying to compete against the 3 red tops +1.

It's going to be tough for you, Delap needs to remember it's a football match and not try to be a hard man kicking everyone.
Cut out the mistakes and that will help !.

But who knows Everton, Leicester look like being docked points at a time when utd were allowed to be 75million over ffp or whatever its called now. It's going to be a mess as the pl presses the self destruction button.

I like Ipswich town use to go a few times back in the 2010's on a freebie.

Good luck for the season

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Can anyone provide a link to the full match replay anywhere online? City+ is still down!

Their IT people will have to be working like maniacs on that. They've got “customers” now (not just supporters).

 

[ITFC Guest]

I think right now it's 50/50 if you stay up. Ask me again at Xmas.

You talk about Fulham as if they're fucking Blackpool a bit like Luton fans last year. I suspect you're going to have your eyes opened a little when you play the "easy teams". The gap between the Championship and the PL is a chasm you've not fully appreciated yet. Wait until just after Xmas when yellow cards and injuries stack up and you have to go deep into your squad, then well see what you've got.

You played a City team at about 80% fitness, most 1st teamers have had no pre-season post Euros. Also without the Leagues two best players from last year, Foden and Rodri and still got bummed. After you scored with your only shot, we took our foot off the gas when you camped in your own box the entirety of the 2nd half by which time, the game was already won. If the 2 efforts that hit the woodwork go in, they often do here, it's likely 6 or 7 and a proper good hiding.

Just for your Info people leave early all the time when the result is not in the balance and partly because the transport infrastructure is fucking garbage unfortunately and quite frankly you're small fry on the big stage. Not meant to be disparaging but it's a fact.

As for the WWYWYWS, cheats and
still wont sing chants , oh do fuck off it's so small time.

I should say well done on selling out your allocation and you were loud and proud which is admirable. Just like our away support is and always has been as you will witness later this season. Unfortunately there is no silverware or plaudits for "best singers".

I think you make some valid points here.

Man City were not at full flight, and we still lost 4-1 and you hit the bar twice, and I’m talking square on!

I also agree too many Town fans are taking Fulham for granted, and the relegation mini-league won’t perhaps include them, Palace, Brighton or Bournemouth. We need Everton to continue to implode along with Leicester. The video I shared does talk about looking ahead to Fulham a lot, and danger it’s positioned as a must win, when we’ve basically got a brand new team.

As for the atmosphere, some of the Town chants and leaving early - all covered in the video below. I don’t think Town fans really see City as plastic as United. We know swathes of you have been where we’ve been. But I think Town fans are a little surprised by the atmosphere in the PL so far. Liverpool away fans were dead quiet - we’re used to Leeds and Sheff Weds! Even QPR.

One question for you? Do you think the thrill of victory and goals has been diminished somewhat due to your continued and massive success?!? Leaving at 80mins is alien to us.

For those coming to Portman Road you’ll love it… club is very ingrained in what is a sleepy Suffolk Town… tractors arise!

Enjoy the rest of the season.

 

[Gingers Dad]

It’s a good point, and to be honest we’ve just spent a £100m net in this window ourselves. This is the level we’re at now. (Note: Amazing result for Maresca yesterday - didn’t expect that).

To be fair on the video I thought it was complimentary to City and the Etihad, and thought the young journalist in the press box gives a brilliant insight to Savinho and Lewis:

Yep I liked the video. Some of us City fans are just prickly when it comes to people mentioning money. Like we're the only ones who spend any.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

I don't know about anyone else, but before a ball was kicked this season I was looking forward to this campaign even more than in previous years. The players look well up for defending the trophy. Normally our first few games are a grind because of the precision football we play - it takes until November/December before we get fully into our groove. This season we look slicker than usual with our wide players causing mayhem for defenders and Erling refreshed. More than that, we look like a happy team!!

 

[Grassland Blue]

Their IT people will have to be working like maniacs on that. They've got “customers” now (not just supporters).

It's the same with other things too, not just football supporters becoming customers.
In transport, passengers becoming customers.
In the NHS , patients becoming customers and so on.

This way of thinking removes emotional attachment and just treats people as something to make a profit from.
A very sad state of affairs.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

ITFC fan here - I come in peace! Just wanted to share some thoughts on Saturday and our visit to the Etihad.

First off really impressed by the Etihad as a stadium, which will only improve when the expansion of the other end stand is complete. Been to Old Trafford many times, and it is in a dire state. Much like our older stands at PR - although we keen them in better nick than your rivals. I was in the upper tier right in the gods. But great view.

Thanks for our goal and moment! It was bedlam in the away end. But we then shot ourselves in the foot with multiple errors - including from ex-player Muric. But you hit the cross bar square on twice so score was probably right. Delap was good for us and a beast. But he was isolated. We also didn’t turn moments of threat into actual chances. But we’re still in transition with lots of new players coming in, including Philips.

McKenna is the real deal, and he felt our game management cost us the errors.

Do you think we’ll have enough to stay up?

I was really impressed with Lewis and Savinho. I hadn’t got the hype around Lewis, but he is sublime and all over the pitch. Halland is a beast, and sadly Town are going to learn that in the top flight, you get punished by errors.

Anyway a good day out. This video from the main Ipswich fan site is worth a view, sense of the away day itself but also come good analysis of City from the press box:

I don't really know if you have enough to stay up. I think playing at the Etihad is a daunting prospect for any team and I wouldn't like to judge on that single game so I'll have to wait until I've seen you a few more teams, but I think there were positives. Your goal was well crafted and, I believe, the result of weaknesses in our approach spotted by your coaching staff in preparation for the game and this will bode very well for the future if you approach games with this detailed preparation and are capable of putting your plans into action. Unfortunately you immediately underwent a torrid period after your goal in which you conceded 3 quick fire goals and the game was effectively lost. I was rubbing my hands together and looking forward to 6 or 7! That wouldn't have been unusual at the Etihad in the first weeks of the season, and we did rattle the bar a couple of times soon after, but I did admire the way you stuck at it, with great determination and never lost your shape. In the second half you looked quite good on the counter. A good number of teams have come to the Etihad and crumbled completely under the onslaught. So I wish you luck, it will be a difficult season ... but here's hoping. And you won't have to face KdB and a certain Norwegian monster every week! So I think there are grounds to believe that there are (at least) 3 weaker teams in the division, and that's all you need, at least this season.

 

[Vienna_70]

I’ve just read in The Athletic that Saturday was the earliest in a Premier League game that four goals were scored, since City beat Watford 8-0 in September 2019.

 

[Shirley]

I think you make some valid points here.

Man City were not at full flight, and we still lost 4-1 and you hit the bar twice, and I’m talking square on!

I also agree too many Town fans are taking Fulham for granted, and the relegation mini-league won’t perhaps include them, Palace, Brighton or Bournemouth. We need Everton to continue to implode along with Leicester. The video I shared does talk about looking ahead to Fulham a lot, and danger it’s positioned as a must win, when we’ve basically got a brand new team.

As for the atmosphere, some of the Town chants and leaving early - all covered in the video below. I don’t think Town fans really see City as plastic as United. We know swathes of you have been where we’ve been. But I think Town fans are a little surprised by the atmosphere in the PL so far. Liverpool away fans were dead quiet - we’re used to Leeds and Sheff Weds! Even QPR.

One question for you? Do you think the thrill of victory and goals has been diminished somewhat due to your continued and massive success?!? Leaving at 80mins is alien to us.

For those coming to Portman Road you’ll love it… club is very ingrained in what is a sleepy Suffolk Town… tractors arise!

Enjoy the rest of the season.

Leaving early has been quite a topic between City fans over the years..

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

I think you make some valid points here.

Man City were not at full flight, and we still lost 4-1 and you hit the bar twice, and I’m talking square on!

I also agree too many Town fans are taking Fulham for granted, and the relegation mini-league won’t perhaps include them, Palace, Brighton or Bournemouth. We need Everton to continue to implode along with Leicester. The video I shared does talk about looking ahead to Fulham a lot, and danger it’s positioned as a must win, when we’ve basically got a brand new team.

As for the atmosphere, some of the Town chants and leaving early - all covered in the video below. I don’t think Town fans really see City as plastic as United. We know swathes of you have been where we’ve been. But I think Town fans are a little surprised by the atmosphere in the PL so far. Liverpool away fans were dead quiet - we’re used to Leeds and Sheff Weds! Even QPR.

One question for you? Do you think the thrill of victory and goals has been diminished somewhat due to your continued and massive success?!? Leaving at 80mins is alien to us.

For those coming to Portman Road you’ll love it… club is very ingrained in what is a sleepy Suffolk Town… tractors arise!

Enjoy the rest of the season.

Yep, the number of early leavers is a mystery to me.

 

[Vienna_70]

I think you make some valid points here.

Man City were not at full flight, and we still lost 4-1 and you hit the bar twice, and I’m talking square on!

I also agree too many Town fans are taking Fulham for granted, and the relegation mini-league won’t perhaps include them, Palace, Brighton or Bournemouth. We need Everton to continue to implode along with Leicester. The video I shared does talk about looking ahead to Fulham a lot, and danger it’s positioned as a must win, when we’ve basically got a brand new team.

As for the atmosphere, some of the Town chants and leaving early - all covered in the video below. I don’t think Town fans really see City as plastic as United. We know swathes of you have been where we’ve been. But I think Town fans are a little surprised by the atmosphere in the PL so far. Liverpool away fans were dead quiet - we’re used to Leeds and Sheff Weds! Even QPR.

One question for you? Do you think the thrill of victory and goals has been diminished somewhat due to your continued and massive success?!? Leaving at 80mins is alien to us.

For those coming to Portman Road you’ll love it… club is very ingrained in what is a sleepy Suffolk Town… tractors arise!

Enjoy the rest of the season.

Fulham can’t be great. They lost to the rags.

 

[shnaghaicityfish]

Is this all about Euston being completely restructured for the ridiculous HS2 project, or is it about Avanti drivers being on strike for months and months?

Blamed on “engineering work on Platforms at Piccadilly”. Quite a few platforms were boarded off Saturday

 

[Kinkys Left Foot]

I think you make some valid points here.

Man City were not at full flight, and we still lost 4-1 and you hit the bar twice, and I’m talking square on!

I also agree too many Town fans are taking Fulham for granted, and the relegation mini-league won’t perhaps include them, Palace, Brighton or Bournemouth. We need Everton to continue to implode along with Leicester. The video I shared does talk about looking ahead to Fulham a lot, and danger it’s positioned as a must win, when we’ve basically got a brand new team.

As for the atmosphere, some of the Town chants and leaving early - all covered in the video below. I don’t think Town fans really see City as plastic as United. We know swathes of you have been where we’ve been. But I think Town fans are a little surprised by the atmosphere in the PL so far. Liverpool away fans were dead quiet - we’re used to Leeds and Sheff Weds! Even QPR.

One question for you? Do you think the thrill of victory and goals has been diminished somewhat due to your continued and massive success?!? Leaving at 80mins is alien to us.

For those coming to Portman Road you’ll love it… club is very ingrained in what is a sleepy Suffolk Town… tractors arise!

Enjoy the rest of the season.

In answer to your question I can only speak for myself and the answer is absolutely not. Anyone who has watched top flight football knows it tends to be cyclical. Right now it's our turn. The leaving early thing is an anathema to me but everyone has their reasons, I can't speak for them. I doubt it's the lack of thrill as you put it which imports some kind of arrogance. If you knew anything at all about City fans, arrogance is a trait which doesn't appear in our lexicon, you can find plenty if you want in Old Trafford, right next to self importance, indignation and deluded.

My first game was at Maine Road in 1977 against Norwich City. We finished 2nd to Liverpool that year when we probably deserved to win it. Our average crowd size that year wasnt much less than it is right now. I had my teenage heart broken by Spurs in 1981 and have fucking despised them and Ricky Villa ever since. I've watched us being turned over at Maine Road by Stockport County and the likes of Oxford United. Been to dogshit grounds at the arse end of England for mid week away games, on endless coach journeys, then freezing my tits off, soaking wet in open ended stands, spending my last few quid to watch my team play like they've been Introduced to each other in the tunnel yet screamed my lungs out for our one shot off target, so much so I couldn't speak the following day.

The last 15 years I've enjoyed the ecstacy of putting those red bastards in our rear view mirror beating them regularly, trouncing them occasionally. Of going to Wembley nearly every year, of winning trophies, of doing European aways at the big boys, and fucking winning and doing the treble topped off in Istanbul despite the organisational UEFA shitshow.

I stay until the end of every match and applaud the boys off even for the odd defeat. I look at some of our younger fans up to 20 year olds and think they've only ever known City winning stuff. They haven't earned their right to satirical songs of "never winning at home or away". They don't know the pain of forever being the nearly man of watching your hated rivals win everything and mock you for being piss poor. They've not done the hard yards of scrapping in the school dinner queue with some arrogant United fan dickhead who thinks it's OK to jab his chubby little finger in your chest and tell you "City are shit and will forever be in our shadow". Well now here we are in the sunlight and it's fucking glorious. I know it won't last forever so I'm enjoying every goal, every victory, every trophy.

So when your lot turn up and sing WWYWYWS I can say I was following my team here in Manchester (not Trafford) and beating you at Portman Road when we were shit and everywhere else the boys went.

 

[paulchapo]

I think you make some valid points here.

Man City were not at full flight, and we still lost 4-1 and you hit the bar twice, and I’m talking square on!

I also agree too many Town fans are taking Fulham for granted, and the relegation mini-league won’t perhaps include them, Palace, Brighton or Bournemouth. We need Everton to continue to implode along with Leicester. The video I shared does talk about looking ahead to Fulham a lot, and danger it’s positioned as a must win, when we’ve basically got a brand new team.

As for the atmosphere, some of the Town chants and leaving early - all covered in the video below. I don’t think Town fans really see City as plastic as United. We know swathes of you have been where we’ve been. But I think Town fans are a little surprised by the atmosphere in the PL so far. Liverpool away fans were dead quiet - we’re used to Leeds and Sheff Weds! Even QPR.

One question for you? Do you think the thrill of victory and goals has been diminished somewhat due to your continued and massive success?!? Leaving at 80mins is alien to us.

For those coming to Portman Road you’ll love it… club is very ingrained in what is a sleepy Suffolk Town… tractors arise!

Enjoy the rest of the season.

It's refreshing to see a decent knowledgeable fan from another club on here. We have one or two. Some start off okay but end up going downhill sadly.

On the game it mirrored a few we've had against inferior opposition. That's not a slight on your team but a bit like Luton you've kind of been promoted ahead of schedule I think. In games where we are coasting so easily we often get a shock wake up call and that happened on Saturday. For a few minutes after we equalised it looked like you'd collapse totally under the onslaught. If one or both of those shots that hit the bar had gone in I think you would have done. At halftime you tightened it up and we were happy to just keep.possesion and probe. The danger was we'd relax too much and get done on the break, thankfully we didn't.

It's hard to see where you'll end up. There were signs you could be okay and I think your manager is half decent.

A lot of our fans leaving on eighty minutes has been going on for years. The game was petering out and getting away from the ground can be a pain so many would have decided to leave. Also the Villa v Arsenal game at 17:30 was a game a lot wanted to watch too.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

In answer to your question I can only speak for myself and the answer is absolutely not. Anyone who has watched top flight football knows it tends to be cyclical. Right now it's our turn. The leaving early thing is an anathema to me but everyone has their reasons, I can't speak for them. I doubt it's the lack of thrill as you put it which imports some kind of arrogance. If you knew anything at all about City fans, arrogance is a trait which doesn't appear in our lexicon, you can find plenty if you want in Old Trafford, right next to self importance, indignation and deluded.

My first game was at Maine Road in 1977 against Norwich City. We finished 2nd to Liverpool that year when we probably deserved to win it. Our average crowd size that year wasnt much less than it is right now. I had my teenage heart broken by Spurs in 1981 and have fucking despised them and Ricky Villa ever since. I've watched us being turned over at Maine Road by Stockport County and the likes of Oxford United. Been to dogshit grounds at the arse end of England for mid week away games, on endless coach journeys, then freezing my tits off, soaking wet in open ended stands, spending my last few quid to watch my team play like they've been Introduced to each other in the tunnel yet screamed my lungs out for our one shot off target, so much so I couldn't speak the following day.

The last 15 years I've enjoyed the ecstacy of putting those red bastards in our rear view mirror beating them regularly, trouncing them occasionally. Of going to Wembley nearly every year, of winning trophies, of doing European aways at the big boys, and fucking winning and doing the treble topped off in Istanbul despite the organisational UEFA shitshow.

I stay until the end of every match and applaud the boys off even for the odd defeat. I look at some of our younger fans up to 20 year olds and think they've only ever known City winning stuff. They haven't earned their right to satirical songs of "never winning at home or away". They don't know the pain of forever being the nearly man of watching your hated rivals win everything and mock you for being piss poor. They've not done the hard yards of scrapping in the school dinner queue with some arrogant United fan dickhead who thinks it's OK to jab his chubby little finger in your chest and tell you "City are shit and will forever be in our shadow". Well now here we are in the sunlight and it's fucking glorious. I know it won't last forever so I'm enjoying every goal, every victory, every trophy.

So when your lot turn up and sing WWYWYWS I can say I was following my team here in Manchester (not Trafford) and beating you at Portman Road when we were shit and everywhere else the boys went.

Very good and all true but it's in the wrong forum. Should be in Ipswich's, and Villa, l'pool and a few more.

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

Yep, the number of early leavers is a mystery to me.

Here is one possible reason. I had a choice of trains home, I chose 6.00pm from Piccadilly, meaning I could clap the team off and amble back to the station. Checked phone just before final whistle to see that train had been cancelled as had the next one meaning as soon as final whistle went I had the leave pronto to catch a 5.30 train. That said four lads sat behind me left with 15 to go of normal time, as did many others. Match was 100 minutes with added time so missing 15 plus second half injury time means missing 20%. Where else do you go and miss that much of something you have paid to see. I even think they left early before half time as well. Possible need more exits in new stand to avoid bottlenecks as I guess many people leave top tiers early for that very reason.

 

[eyalluvitt]

Ipswich centre half made his PL debut at his boyhood cloob

 

[JGL07]

Is this all about Euston being completely restructured for the ridiculous HS2 project, or is it about Avanti drivers being on strike for months and months?

Bugger all to do with HS2 as for the moment there no certainty that the line will ever reach Euston and will stop at Old Oak Common.

Also Avanti drivers are not on strike. The companies have relied on overtime and rest day working to come anywhere near to running a full service. Why cannot the train companies recruit and train enough staff to resolve these issues?

The chronic mismanagement of the rail network is not really all down to Avanti. They are a crap train operator, having said that.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

I think you make some valid points here.

If I may…

Man City were not at full flight, and we still lost 4-1 and you hit the bar twice, and I’m talking square on!

I also agree too many Town fans are taking Fulham for granted, and the relegation mini-league won’t perhaps include them, Palace, Brighton or Bournemouth. We need Everton to continue to implode along with Leicester. The video I shared does talk about looking ahead to Fulham a lot, and danger it’s positioned as a must win, when we’ve basically got a brand new team.

Sadly, City only really see two kinds of teams:

1) Those that press us and have a go, which is usually the Top 6 who need points, and want 3, and

2) 10 man defences who try to hit us on the break, because we only play with 2 defenders when going forward, and they’re often 10-15m inside the opponents half!

Early on, you were having a go, trying to be the former, but once you scored, you didn’t become the latter quickly and efficiently enough, and we’d put 3 past you before you knew where you were!

The PL is very unforgiving and the key is your HOME form and stealing draws away from home. 40 points…figure it out! Win 9 or 10 at home, Nick a couple of wins away from home and draw a few and you’re home free!

By Christmas, the League will be 3 mini-leagues: Top 8, middle 5 or 6, bottom 6 or 7. The key, of course, is not losing to the other members of that 5 or 6 competitors and taking away THEIR opportunities for 3 points.

Every season, teams in the bottom 3 nick 1-3 points from Top 6 opponents…sadly, even City are not immune to this!

Hang in there with a chance until March-May and you never know what can happen. You’ve had a shit few opening fixtures, but you lost 2 games almost everyone else will lose, too, and it’s a long old season, so keep your chins up!

As for the atmosphere, some of the Town chants and leaving early - all covered in the video below. I don’t think Town fans really see City as plastic as United. We know swathes of you have been where we’ve been.

Thanks!

But I think Town fans are a little surprised by the atmosphere in the PL so far. Liverpool away fans were dead quiet - we’re used to Leeds and Sheff Weds! Even QPR.

Sadly, the Etihad was not designed to keep noise in, but allow air and light through!

That said, if you were here for what we consider a “big game” (no offence intended), you wouldn’t recognize the place! Indeed, early season games are notorious, as are games where we go up by a few early one!

We have, in most areas of the stadium, an older fan base, and our “singing sections” are split in three parts…small sections either side of away fans and the other end of the stadium. This often doesn’t help the timing of songs and chants, either, which is why the fan groups are working so hard to develop a larger, standing/rail, devoted singing section in the new stand going up opposite where you were.

The Police have made it clear away fans HAVE TO be where they are now, and in cup games when we can take over the entire lower level where you were, a lot of the people who want to slide in behind the goal aren’t singers!

In short, come back for a Top 6 game that is meaningful, or a meaningful Champions League game, or even a regular League game where we are behind or pushing for a winner in the second half, and you’ll see the difference.

And, I hate to say it, we are spoiled. We sit back, watch some of the best football in the world, and wait for us to score! I know, I know, but it’s been our reality for a few years now. 40 something games unbeaten at home now!

Lastly, and I cannot stress this enough, you will enjoy City fans on an Away Day, especially if they leave the game as a 3pm Saturday game that allows easier travel! Good, well-natured signing, sprinkled with some good humor!

One question for you? Do you think the thrill of victory and goals has been diminished somewhat due to your continued and massive success?!?

Absolutely!

Leaving at 80mins is alien to us.

Few things there…for some, those 10 minutes make a 30+ minute difference in getting away from the ground, many have a distance to their parking spot to try to get on the road, older fans try to get a head start, and the public transportation links are sometimes a bit like the Wembley (Etihad South ;-) ) Tube Station!

This season, City have even started to put on a new slate of buses to help 55,000 people trying to get away from a Victorian street system with one main road and a tram station that never has enough trams!

City fans complain about the usual 5,000 who leave early, too, but do few games are a competition at 80 minutes, they rarely miss anything. Personally, I learned my lesson at Wembley against Gillingham! I gave my brother the nod to leave, he shook his head and frowned, we stayed and were crying like babies a few minutes later! Never again!!

For those coming to Portman Road you’ll love it… club is very ingrained in what is a sleepy Suffolk Town… tractors arise!

Enjoy the rest of the season.

You, too!