BFTG - Ipswich

[P!ssed Off]

What has McAnuff actually done to deserve the amount of crap he got last season and is still getting now?

Totally undeserved, he works bloody hard for the team and is a good player. I'm glad when he walked over to take a corner by the North Stand quite a few people clapped him, he in return clapped back.

It was quite a good corner tbf. Pearce was unlucky to have a foul given against him I thought.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

What has McAnuff actually done to deserve the amount of crap he got last season and is still getting now?

Totally undeserved, he works bloody hard for the team and is a good player. I'm glad when he walked over to take a corner by the North Stand quite a few people clapped him, he in return clapped back.

Pretty much spot on.

It's called fickleness.

[P!ssed Off]

For anyone reading this, and not at the match. Let me assure you that the booing for McAnuff and Pog coming on was not widespread at all.
It was almost unnoticeable for McAnuff. There was more for Pog, but still it was quite a small minority.

Thought I'd mention this in case anyone though it was a unanimous booing. btw I didn't agree with it either.

[One8Seven1]

What has McAnuff actually done to deserve the amount of crap he got last season and is still getting now?

He doesn't deserve any crap, there are just better wingers that deserve to be ahead of him now.

[loyalroyal4life]

Some big decisions made from NA today and fair play to him stamping his own. I think we are all
Shocked that Morro was given the armband but asides from that am I only one shocked that mariappa was not alongside him or even on the bench?? Is he injured, off somewhere?

Was also surprised that Gunter came in for Kelly didnt think Kelly was that bad last season and didnt think much of Gunter today!

2nd half was a really promising attacking performance and Williams in for Karacan will make us stronger in the centre. I thought HRK would play off Alfie but he seemed to swap about with Drenthe a lot from the left.

Still early days but if we play like that final 45
I don't think we will do alright come end of season!! Lets see how we go next few games which will be tough tests.

[sandman]

What has McAnuff actually done to deserve the amount of crap he got last season and is still getting now?

He doesn't deserve any crap, there are just better wingers that deserve to be ahead of him now.

[Fox Talbot]

Should have won more easily but very happy with a first day win for a change.

Biggest plus for me was Williams - good skills, big presence, the new Sidwell?? Certainly looks to put Jem and Ledge in the shade.

Like others surprised about Morro over Mariappa, let alone captain. Maybe he'll be OK at this level.

Guthrie hasn't got his range with the cross-field ball yet. Hope it works out for him better than it did for Matt Mills.

[SydenhamRoyal]

Should have won more easily but very happy with a first day win for a change.

Biggest plus for me was Williams - good skills, big presence, the new Sidwell?? Certainly looks to put Jem and Ledge in the shade.

Like others surprised about Morro over Mariappa, let alone captain. Maybe he'll be OK at this level.

Guthrie hasn't got his range with the cross-field ball yet. Hope it works out for him better than it did for Matt Mills.

It wasnt just Morrison over Mariappa. And it wasnt just Pearce over Mariappa. It was also Gorkss over Mariappa, as Gorkss was the one the bench. Also noted Akpan didnt make the bench either.

[P!ssed Off]

Gorkss over Mariappa makes it pretty oxf*rd obvious that Mariappa is not out of the team based on ability.

[Whore Jackie]

Agree, no need to boo, but he has been awful for easily 90% of games. For such a big bloke he can't jump for toffee. His first touch is shocking for such a high profile player on vastly inflated wages, and he doesn't work nearly as hard as some claim.

Well the 2nd half was half decent and should give some cause for cautious optimism. We're not really suited to playing carpet football with the likes of Pearce and Karacan in our team but on balance we edged it. Took a v good save from McCarthy at 1-1 to stop us going behind and the less said about the opener the better, shocking defending. But Guthrie generally used the ball well, Drenthe got the crowd going with some skill, typical ALF: goal and little else. HRK was absolutely dreadful and is better than that meek effort today. I liked Williams cameo, looks v decent.

Good to get a win, important to take the pressure off.

Pretty much sum up my views on today.

[Cypry]

Gorkss over Mariappa makes it pretty oxf*rd obvious that Mariappa is not out of the team based on ability.

Although Gorkks looked ok against Bristol City and he was substituted with a clean sheet - same can't be said for Mariappa against Rovers.,..

[FridaysGhost]

A great result and a worrying show of what many already know. Brendan Rodgers showed what happens when you are so tied up with a formation and way to play that you ignore the fact that your current players are unable to do that. Currently, we do have players that can go with Adkins formation and his way to play, we also have others who are not happy with it. More importantly, we don't have the Forwards required to make the system work. A great start but Wigan's acquisition of Grant Holt shows just where we are failing. We need at least two forwards to ensure promotion.

Otherwise, we f*cking won the first game of the season and I am 'Over the Moon'.

[Royal Lady]

I was the only one who had faith it seems after the first half - I could see what we were trying to, could see we were still trying to settle down and play with each other and I had every belief that we would come back - I was also in the loo when the equaliser went in. Stand out players for me were Drenthe for the whole time he was on the pitch and Williams & Guthrie in second half. We have the makings of a good team, we just need another striker I reckon and we'll be flyinggggg (nod to SDR) - where is he today btw? LOLz.

[Royal Ginger]

Just got in. There's plenty to talk about from this match, but what oxf*rd was the terrifying passing across the goal all about!?

That is a disaster waiting to happen. I know we all wanted to lose the McDermott style longball in favour of a more passing game, but there's got to be a happy medium.

Guthrie was excellent, but i''m still not convinced he's good for team morale. He was constantly shouting at Gunter after something went wrong, and had a screaming match with Morrison about half an hour in...and he's a red card waiting to happen.

Williams was an improvement on Karacan who was quite absent in the first half.

I'm a little surprised that everyone is being so positive about HRK. Lack of practice aside, I thought he was pretty awful.

Attacking throw-ins need work, and we're still not getting the ball to our strikers enough. I'd mostly put that down to a lack of movement, and too much focus on the wings. The first half was all about Gunter and Bridge. When we tried a bit more through the middle in the second half, it gave our wing moves more bite.

Mostly positives from today once we blew away the cobwebs, and 20,000+ attending was very good.

[Royal91]

First half was not brilliant, chipping balls down the channels into our wingers throats was annoying.

Guthrie was very impressive so for all the people slagging him off, you can now finally oxf*rd off and shut up. His heart is in it, as I and various others knew.

Drenthe, what a brilliant start he made. Explosive, tricky, excellent cross and someone who likes to SHOOT. FINALLY.

Williams though when he came on looks like he will be our best player. His movement and willingness to break from deep was the most pleasing thing today. We've missed a CM that can drive with pace and get beyond the striker.



A big well done today for Drenthe signing shirts and chatting to fans at the final whistle. He definitely looks to have grown!!

Our fans need a oxf*rd education as well. Constant moaning at players keeping the ball around the back four. Get a oxf*rd grip you clueless oxf*rd!!

Thank god McAnuff was dropped. He has a big part to play this season, but knowing he can be dropped is positive. Without him as capt means we can chop and change our wingers when they don't perform and we can be more dynamic in our formation.

Pog just doesn't want to be here, his body language was terrible and didn't bust a gut once when he came on. Get rid and bring in a replacement. Le Fondre I don't think he can play up front on his own throughout the season.

[Royal Ginger]

Our fans need a oxf*rd education as well. Constant moaning at players keeping the ball around the back four. Get a oxf*rd grip you clueless oxf*rd!!

That's not fair. Whilst the tactic can work fine, they weren't up to the task. Thy lost the ball far too much and put McCarthy under a lot of pressure more than once.

[Royal91]

Our fans need a oxf*rd education as well. Constant moaning at players keeping the ball around the back four. Get a oxf*rd grip you clueless oxf*rd!!

That's not fair. Whilst the tactic can work fine, they weren't up to the task. Thy lost the ball far too much and put McCarthy under a lot of pressure more than once.

You have to start from somewhere! I think Gunter/Bridge were actually pushed too far forward leaving Morro/Pearce less options at the back!!

[Royal Ginger]

Our fans need a oxf*rd education as well. Constant moaning at players keeping the ball around the back four. Get a oxf*rd grip you clueless oxf*rd!!

That's not fair. Whilst the tactic can work fine, they weren't up to the task. Thy lost the ball far too much and put McCarthy under a lot of pressure more than once.

You have to start from somewhere! I think Gunter/Bridge were actually pushed too far forward leaving Morro/Pearce less options at the back!!

I'll agree with you on the Bridge-Gunter point, and no problems with giving the passing game a go, but after the second or third almost disaster, a longer or more direct pass may have been a better choice.

[Cripple Creek]

Chillipepper - thanks very much for the excellent match report and pics. That kind of stuff is invaluable over here in Oz where I often can't access much detail about the match.
Wish I would be able to watch a few matches this season. I am, in particular, ridiculously excited about 'The Roz' and Guthrie's potential over the coming months. Admittedly it's only on the basis of one match but Williams also sounds like he could be a superb signing.
As far as booing the Pog goes...regardless of how much he is paid and how disappointing a player he has been for some I would ask those who boo to consider how they would feel if on their arrival at work they were greeted by people demeaning and belittling them. It's pretty horrible stuff.

[yappy]

Think way too much is being made of this supposed booing. I didn't hear a thing in Y23