Born For A Purpose

ITFC 1-1 Peterborough November 23rd 2012

Don't drink & drive

Saturday morning I read on twitter that Larry Hagman, who played J.R. Ewing in Dallas had died. Like all soaps the Southfork plot lines are a little bit far fetched, the most famous being who killed J.R? Paul Taylor added the latest episode to our own soap opera that is ITFC after he had been arrested following an alleged assault on door staff at the Robert Ransome after a late night brawl. The only good news is that the incident took place in October during the international break before Mick McCarthy’s arrival!

Talking of MM’s arrival leads me to the news of our new puppy Rudie who was born on November 1st, the day of his appointment. Rudie’s a black Labrador and I didn’t think naming him Mick was a good idea, perhaps Triggs might have been more appropriate - Roy Keane’s golden Labrador made famous following his world cup fall out with the then Irish manager McCarthy in South Korea!  Rudie aka “Santa's little helper” (Sharon has spent the Christmas present funds to buy him) can’t come home for another four weeks by which time we should be out of the bottom three!

We also signed Tyrone Barnett this week on loan from Peterborough, although he wasn’t allowed to play against Posh, hopefully we’ll get to see him on Tuesday against Forest.

The match was played in terrible conditions with driving rain falling throughout the ninety minutes, this along with two nervous, non confident teams made for an uninspiring game. Ipswich were really bad in the first half and gave away another poorly defended goal after just eight minutes, Lee Tomlin unmarked in the box had the relatively easy task of beating keeper Stephen Henderson.

Town were loads better in the second half, frankly they couldn’t have been much worse. Fifteen minutes after the restart posh’s goalscorer Tomlin gave the home team a lifeline when he needlessly tripped Lee Martin in the box. DJ Campbell scored the resultant penalty to lift the Town fans. We had two good chances to increase the lead after that, Campbell just failed to get on the end of a good low cross from Bradley Orr and Danny Higginbotham had a good looping header tipped over the bar four minutes from time. Peterborough did manage a couple of efforts themselves and having been a big critic of him I’m pleased to say that Henderson pulled off a couple of decent saves.

So after five games in charge under McCarthy we’ve now got seven points, equal to the amount from the first thirteen matches of the season.

Following the match Sharon and I got soaked walking to the Lord Nelson, although disappointed not to be greeted by a roaring fire the Adnams was good and more than made up for it.

Ghost Ship at the Lord Nelson

A bag of chips to round off the evening

The Playlist

Rudie

Born For A Purpose by Dr Alimantado - “Like a doctor born for a purpose, Rudie can’t fail”

The Keeper

Leicester 6-0 ITFC November 17th 2012

I cannot think of a time when I’ve been quieter at a football match, its not as if I’m usually up and starting songs or anything like that but I sat through ninety minutes at The King Power Stadium and hardly muttered a word, just shocked I guess. Perhaps there was a realisation of how bad we really are! 

I have to say that I’m disappointed Mick McCarthy has stuck with Stephen Henderson in goal, I personally don’t rate him at all and on Saturday he gave the worst performance that I can ever remember from a Town keeper, including Agent Marshall! In fact he was so bad that I felt sorry for him. I blame him for most of what went wrong especially in the first half an hour in which he conceded three goals including a penalty.

In fairness the Foxes looked a good side but when you’re three nil up early doors you’re bound to play with a bit of confidence, flair and freedom. Enough said.

Oh well that heavy result aside it was still not a bad day out! Leicester is not a bad run and the journey home although 140 miles was far less painful than the 5 mile trip after Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road a few weeks ago.
I still think that McCarthy will sort things out but it may take a few weeks before we can start to see some progress and get away from the drop zone.

The Playlist

The Keeper by Chris Cornell - Not much else to talk about!

Two Princes

ITFC 2-1 Burnley November 10th 2012

It might look gloomy but......

Scoring his fourth goal in seven games DJ Campbell is doing his bit to get Ipswich out of the soup. His 87th minute winner gave us the first win at Portman Road since March 31st and we are now heading in the right direction, well at least we're off the bottom.

The size of the crowd for Mick McCarthy's first home game in charge was a bit disappointing, just 16,297 turned up. I'm sure that our loss mid week at Selhurst Park, a five nil hiding from Crystal Palace must have put a few people off. I’m glad that I decided not to go to that one! There's a lot of negativity about and not everyone is convinced that McCarthy can save our Championship status, to be honest I get the impression that some fans are almost willing us to get relegated.

Let us not forget

A new formation with Carlos Edwards in midfield

The first half was goalless but Daryl Murphy got things going after he break when he stood his ground against Clarets keeper Lee Grant to back head the ball in to the net much to the annoyance of the visitors who surrounded the officials claiming Grant was fouled. Although Town kept Europe's top goal scorer Charlie Austen quiet for much of the match Burnley managed to level things up after eighty minutes. Danny Higginbotham's scored an own goal when he jumped with Sam Vokes, the flicked off his head and dropped in off the underside of the bar. 

So many times over recent months we have seen Ipswich capitulate from similar positions and turn wins and draws into defeats, but not this time, it was us that came up with the goods. Breaking from our own area JET slid a neat pass to Carlos Edwards who was moved into midfield for the match, he held off two defenders and put in a lovely cross which DJ slotted past Grant into the net.

After five minutes of extra time the ref blew up and for a change we were able to celebrate a home win, the first of many more to come under the guidance of Big Mick & TC.

All Change Mick & TC at Ipswich, Sean Dyche At Burnley

The playlist

Two Princes by The Spin Doctors - Alistair Campbell is a big Burnley fan and was at the game. A spin doctor in his own right having made his name in Tony Blair’s Labour government he’ll struggle to not to give a favorable interpretation of his name sake’s winning goal.

Feeling Good

Birmingham 0-1 ITFC 3rd November 2012

A new adventure with a new manager got underway at St Andrews on Saturday. We arrived in Birmingham just before one o' clock, limping the Merc into a petrol station with only about ten miles worth of fuel left in the tank. After filling up we parked near to the ground and walked back to the city centre where Max had arranged to meet his mates for a per match drink. We eventually made it to the Trocadero, after he had led us around the Bull Ring and through New Street. By the time we had had a pint it was time to head back to the ground!

The away supporters filled with a new optimism were in very good voice, they gave Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor a rapturous reception as they made their way to the dugouts. What a difference a new manager can make, McCarthy only in the job for two days and without too much time to tinker with the team made only two changes from the side that let Chris Hutchings down so badly last week. Ironically Luke Hyam and Josh Carson, who were the only two players singled out for 

any praise v Sheffield Wednesday were replaced by Guirane N’Daw and Nigel Reo-Coker, the new boss opting for experience over youth. The only other change he made was to use a 442 formation which benefitted DJ Campbell.

We only had to wait eight minutes for the first goal of McCarthy's reign. The on loan (who isn't!) Campbell shot from a tight angle into the net giving keeper Jack Butland no chance whatsoever. Town looked a different side from the one that I berated last week, the want and desire so obviously missing of late was there for all to see. Big Mick & TC were up on their feet barking out orders and organising the team for the whole of the ninety minutes, a different approach from predecessor Paul Jewell who was often criticised for sitting down throughout a game. 

The home supporters were surprisingly quiet, it took the introduction of 6' 7" Nikola Zigic midway through the second half before we really heard them. Birmingham certainly threatened more following his introduction, in fact he could have had a couple of goals, heading wide of the post when in a decent position and was then denied by a good save from Stephen Henderson, who had his best game for Ipswich. Town held on to the end much to the delight of the traveling fans and all involved with he blue army. The three points gained equalled the total achieved from the previous two months, two in September and just one in October!

There seems to be a general malaise from the blue noses towards their team, they don't seem happy with new boss Lee Clark, who lambasted his lackluster side in his post match interview on local radio after the match. It’s strange but you can draw similarities to the situation at Ipswich until just one week ago.

The playlist
Feeling Good by Nina Simone - “It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life

for me and I'm feeling good” Sums up the start of a new era nicely.

You’ve Got A Friend In Me

I have given Marcus Evans a bit of stick in one or two of my previous blogs, questioning his commitment and his real interest in ITFC. I have also said that with his appointment of the next Ipswich manager he would show us his feelings for the club.

Well, now it's time to give him a bit of credit because in my opinion by getting Mick McCarthy on board he has just signed up the best manager that in reality we could wish for. I know about the benefit of hindsight but I feel that it may be third time lucky for ME, all the pundits are saying he has made a very shrewd signing. Lets now hope for a few seasons of stability at Portman Road as so far since the buy out we have had too many changes of tact and too many managers. It would be really good to get some unity back at the Forstress!

I'm confident that in the short-term big Mick will soon get us out of the bottom three and up the table, looking ahead he has the credentials and track record ( as did Paul Jewell) to get us to the promised land that is the Premier League. I never use to be a fan of McCarthy, thinking that he was a miserable git whose teams played ugly football. That opinion changed a couple of years ago but I don't know how or why! 

In my opinion Wolves were daft to sack him last season when at the time they looked certain to get relegated. I would have thought that their best chance of a quick return to the top flight would be to stick with him. They couldn't find a replacement and so appointed McCarthy's assistant Terry Connor until the end of the season when their fate was sealed.

TC fought a losing battle with great dignity at Wolves and has now been reunited with his old boss at Ipswich.

I listened to McCarthy's first press conference and he came across very well and very determined obviously saying all the right things. I don't think he'll take any prisoners and he will soon sort out the wheat from the chaff. I can see another busy transfer window coming up in January.

The Mick McCarthy adventure starts tomorrow at Birmingham.

The Playlist

You've Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman - Big Mick was chatting to Chris Evans on his breakfast show this morning (kudos for us already). He was very honest and quite amusing too. After the interview Chris dedicated the song to Ipswich fans.

He means business

"I'm not Merlin the Magician"

Terry Connor - Top Cat