BFTG - Ipswich

[P!ssed Off]

Really I thought Blackman won his fair share of headers in the first half, flicking them on down the right hand touchline, was just no one getting on the end of them most of the time.

Me too. I saw him win quite a lot. As shown by Whoscored.com's 62% Aerials Won for him.
http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/829910/Live

Don't trust those stats, says cooper didn't win any aerials when that is all he did when he came on and attributes Cummings header off the line to obita.

More likely it attributes Obita's first half clearance off the line to Obita and does not attribute Cummings header to anyone.

[P!ssed Off]

I don't get all of the negativity. I mean we fielded a very young team against a very experienced top half side in this league...and won! We kept a clean sheet, we had 2 academy youngsters make their debuts and from the sounds of it everyone left everything they had on the pitch today. Was is it because it didn't remind people of Barcelona?

Everybody reacts differently to the same event. So if people are disappointed in what they saw today, that we got 3 points and kept a clean sheet today I won't argue with them, but...........

We had one shot on target, our only real chance, and spent the whole of the 2nd half defending.

A good performance imo, but you'd have to be fairly simple to fail to comprehend why some were less than impressed at the entertainment on offer.

[P!ssed Off]

Pog - 7.5, won lots in the air

Which game were you watching?

Not the game we were watching. I took interest in that aspect of Pog's game, and I don't believe he won a single challenge.

He won two headers within the first couple of minutes, so you obviously weren't paying much attention at the start at least.

[Libertine]

I don't get all of the negativity. I mean we fielded a very young team against a very experienced top half side in this league...and won! We kept a clean sheet, we had 2 academy youngsters make their debuts and from the sounds of it everyone left everything they had on the pitch today. Was is it because it didn't remind people of Barcelona?

Everybody reacts differently to the same event. So if people are disappointed in what they saw today, that we got 3 points and kept a clean sheet today I won't argue with them, but...........

We had one shot on target, our only real chance, and spent the whole of the 2nd half defending.

A good performance imo, but you'd have to be fairly simple to fail to comprehend why some were less than impressed at the entertainment on offer.

Ok, then I am fairly simple. Because of injuries we put out a very inexperienced team, many of whom had single digit totals for professional appearances, and we won plus we kept a clean sheet. If people can't get excited about the future of the club getting a win in a home opener against a very solid and experienced side, with a good manager leading them, then maybe they should start following Chelsea or Arsenal because nothing this team will do will ever be good enough.

So the message those fans want to send the kids is, you won but you're still shit?

[Libertine]

But like I said originally, everyone is entitled to their opinion. For me it is I have immense pride in, and I am very happy with and for, this group of players getting this victory regardless of how it played out on the pitch. For many of them it is the culmination of almost a lifetime of hard work to get to here and being successful once they got to this point. Soon enough we will be getting some more experienced players back from injury and for this group of very young players to show they can do the job when needed is nothing but very positive.

[P!ssed Off]

We had one shot on target, our only real chance, and spent the whole of the 2nd half defending.

A good performance imo, but you'd have to be fairly simple to fail to comprehend why some were less than impressed at the entertainment on offer.

Ok, then I am fairly simple. Because of injuries we put out a very inexperienced team, many of whom had single digit totals for professional appearances, and we won plus we kept a clean sheet. If people can't get excited about the future of the club getting a win in a home opener against a very solid and experienced side, with a good manager leading them, then maybe they should start following Chelsea or Arsenal because nothing this team will do will ever be good enough.

So the message those fans want to send the kids is, you won but you're still shit?

We had one decent chance which came about through a defensive error, and spent the last 50 minutes defending, barely touching the ball. Against Ipswich (not that good a team), managed by Mick McCarthy (not that good a manager).

Not sure why you're dressing it up as the best thing the club's ever done. A good 3 points imo, but no, I thoroughly disagree with your argument that "nothing this team will do will ever be good enough."

[If you still hate Futcher]

Pog - 7.5, won lots in the air

Which game were you watching?

Not the game we were watching. I took interest in that aspect of Pog's game, and I don't believe he won a single challenge.

He won two headers within the first couple of minutes, so you obviously weren't paying much attention at the start at least.

For one of them Pog wins the header, flicking it into the left channel and then has to chase it down forcing the Ipswich defender to slice his clearance and win is a throw.

Can't believe the negativity on here, were forced to field a very young and inexperienced side but there was a cohesion and definite pattern to how we played. We started off trying to play short but Ipswich pushed on the CBs and fullbacks meaning that we had to go long with Blackman being the target man and he won his fair share in the air and looked OK with the ball at his feet.

Likewise, Akpan wasn't as bad as is being made out. There was one occasion in the first half where he lost his man and Cummings had to come across and clear (I can only arms that's what SC was referring to with Hector) and the shinner in the 2nd half but these are countered by the numerous times he was well positioned to cut out a through ball or running back to clear/block when others were tiring toward the end. He also tried to get the ball down and play it to feet whenever possible.

The throw-ins were OK too, we delayed the ones at the end of each half as we were running the clock down. The only "poor" (for want of a better word) one was a mix up between Cummings and Obita toward the end of the game

At the time I didn't agree with the switch to 5 at the back as it just gave territory and meant the ball just kept coming back at us but Cooper did really well when he came on.

Overall I really enjoyed the game and was pleased with the way we tried to play the ball about. Unsurprisingly we tired through the second half and were hanging on but Ipswich were always going to play more direct as it reached the end.

[Libertine]

Ok, then I am fairly simple. Because of injuries we put out a very inexperienced team, many of whom had single digit totals for professional appearances, and we won plus we kept a clean sheet. If people can't get excited about the future of the club getting a win in a home opener against a very solid and experienced side, with a good manager leading them, then maybe they should start following Chelsea or Arsenal because nothing this team will do will ever be good enough.

So the message those fans want to send the kids is, you won but you're still shit?

We had one decent chance which came about through a defensive error, and spent the last 50 minutes defending, barely touching the ball. Against Ipswich (not that good a team), managed by Mick McCarthy (not that good a manager).

Not sure why you're dressing it up as the best thing the club's ever done. A good 3 points imo, but no, I thoroughly disagree with your argument that "nothing this team will do will ever be good enough."

And where did I say, or even imply, that?

Like I said everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine is that Saturday's game was nothing but positive because our kids showed they can do the job when called on to do so. And we will be a much stronger team for it when our more senior players return from their injuries.

[P!ssed Off]

Well I think calling the game "nothing but positive" is just plain incorrect tbh.

As for "our kids showed they can do the job", it was the back 5 that did the job to a great extent. Of those 5, 3 are 25 and 1 is 29, Gunter, Pearce and Federici are massively experienced; Cummings less so but let's not forget we won the league with him as a 1st choice full back.

I'll be generous and count 'kid' as under-24:
Hector (22) had a very good game. As for the other kids, Obita (20) and Akpan (23) really weren't great in CM. Jake Taylor (22) took his goal very well and ultimately scored the only goal of the game, but he was hardly superb tbh and the wing is not his position as others have noted.

The subs had minimal impact on the result in all fairness.

Don't get too carried away on the basis of this one game is what I'm saying.

[Libertine]

Those subs you discount came on at the most critical time of the game, the point at which we conceded the equalizer against Wigan, and had the composure to help see this game out.

If getting 3 points isn't anything but positive I must ask has the FA started giving a 4th point for style? Under the circumstances (the team ravaged by injuries and putting out an extremely inexperienced squad) the 3 points were huge.

I just think people finding a lot of fault with this game, and result, are being a bit hypercritical. But like I said everyone is entitled to their opinion. I stated mine, you stated yours, so I have little else to say.

[melonhead]

Dreadful game. We didn't have a shot in the second half and the goal the only effort in the first. Couldn't have complained if Ipswich had equalised or even won that - certainly had two very good chances in the second half.
Still a win is a win and Ipswich are a well organised side if somewhat limited so a decent result but Christ it made for poor entertainment.

I found it very entertaining you miserable sod.

+1 bossed first half, thenshut out the second.perfect

[melonhead]

Thought hector was pretty poor today

And that's the last time I ever read one of your posts

[melonhead]

Pog I thought was awful. He didn't win a single heading challenge the entire game

He'd won two within about ten seconds of kick off you clown

[melonhead]

Well, if the stats prove me wrong then fair enough. Perhaps he had a bad patch where it went wrong a few times together before he sorted it out, I just remember getting a bit frustrated with it at one point.

The frustration wasn't so much Blackman as such, but federici keep pumping the ball long to the same place every time. Their left back was a big lad, strong, physical and decent in the air and so it was always going to be difficult for Blackman to win quality headers

and yet he won more than his fair share, getting the ball down well time and again, when under pressure

[melonhead]

Pog - 7.5, won lots in the air

Which game were you watching?

Not the game we were watching. I took interest in that aspect of Pog's game, and I don't believe he won a single challenge.

Utter nonsense
U see only what u want to

[melonhead]

All positive for me

Feds. 7
Gunter 8
Pearce 7
Hec 9
Cummings 8
Obita 6
Akpan 6
cox 6
Taylor 7
Blackman 7
Pog 7

Hec mom
Cummings gr8
Edwards decent

To win that, with no midfield, and a team of kids and I nobodies is nothing short of incredible.

Brave subs by nigel too

[brighton_royal]

I'd love to see Tshibola have a game in midfield. I've been very very impressed by him when I've seen him play. Strong, fast and skilful. Like a young Yaya.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Mentioned on the other thread, thought Nige got the subs spot on. Edwards gave us some much needed energy, and Cooper just headed away anything that came near him.

[boycey]

Go on the pitch celebrating the goal? Spontaneously?

[Bristol Paul]

Rating:
Feds - 7, good distribution, and looked pretty solid
Gunter -7, much improved crossing, now zips them in rather than floats them
Hector - 8, MotM
Pearce - 7, very solid
Cummings - 7, very solid

Blackman -6, got frustrated today, but I think he is finally turning into a good player for us
Akpan - 4,as per everyone who watched the same game as me
Obita - 6, ok - i know he prefers centre midfield, but he proved last season he's a left back
Taylor - 7, ok, but +1 for the goal

Cox - 7, great movement off the ball, and makes us look dangerous going forward - as someone else said, the missing link.
Pog - 7, led the line well


when we get our midfield back we might be quite good

Subs were all good. Putting Edwards on for the last 15 minutes is tactical genius, he's going to win a fair few points for us from the bench alone.

That's a bit optimistic from you so early in the season?