Hello folks!

ITFC_Keane
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 30 Dec 2009 02:00

Hello folks!

by ITFC_Keane » 23 Nov 2014 19:52

Hello from a wet Ipswich, where everything looks vaguely menacing in the deep, dark Suffolk countryside.

Nearly half-term so I thought I'd touch base. What's happening with your lot? Lower-mid table is not where I envisioned you when you beat us earlier in the season. Is it creeping mange? We've had that quite a lot in recent times. We've normally cured it by getting someone in on loan.

Cult heroes there are many at Portman Road at the mo, but none more cult than two ex-Readingnistas, namely Hunty and Tabby. Hunty, looking just like Frodo Baggins has trapped his coat pocket in my car door unseen before I set off on that midweek away trip to Bolton at the end of each match, is reborn. We knew he probably couldn't last a game at his age, but he's proving us wrong AND is terrorising younger defences! As for Tabby, he may look like Richard Madeley's mini-me, but Christ the bloke tries his heart out and has been a revelation in the centre! He's helping our kids, Teddy Bishop and Lukey Hyam, become the midfield men they were born to be.

I saw the game v Cardiff on the telly Friday (our pub landlord's a Royal and he wants to see more of Cummings apparently) and thought you just needed...a spark. Couldn't put me finger on it. Good performance, plenty of intensity but no real silver lining. That said, if you suddenly fancy pensioning off a few more of your team our way, we won't say no.

Good luck; see you at PR in 2015!

AthleticoSpizz
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 25163
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 19:49
Location: A Hicks Hoof from Coley Park

Re: Hello folks!

by AthleticoSpizz » 23 Nov 2014 20:38

Tabby carrying on where he left off here, by the sounds of it, it puzzled a few when he was released as he was one of the decent performers in what was (and as is now lol) a struggling team. Nobody could ever fault his effort, and from what we were told, he was a good influence in the changing room.

Got sent off at Wembley without even getting on.

Hunty splits opinion here, personally I liked him. Came from Brentford as a bit-part player, ended up as a regular in what was our most successful team ever. Again, great work-rate and created a few for us....even scoring the winning goal (that probably wasn't) v Roy Keanes' Sunderland...much to RK's chagrin.

Cannot understand a word he says tho

(Shaun) Cummings is just on his way back from lengthy injury and since his nervous early days, has never let us down. I agree with your landlord, the guy needs a decent run in the team (which for various reasons has thus far been, and will probably continue to be, unlikely).

I'm sure that some of our more "learned" posters will appraise you on the players that we would gleefully offload to you right now!!! :lol:

User avatar
Green
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 29039
Joined: 29 Jun 2012 13:28

Re: Hello folks!

by Green » 25 Nov 2014 14:39

Hi ITFC_Keane, welcome to the board.

paddy20
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1253
Joined: 18 Apr 2007 17:50
Location: Wokingham

Re: Hello folks!

by paddy20 » 25 Nov 2014 16:54

Hi there

What do you think of Mick Macarthy? He's an old friend of mine back in his Man city days. I've also got Tabby's shirt from Wembley - must be a bit of a collectors item as he was the only player at Wembley to get sent off having not kicked a ball. You are lucky to haver him I think.

There are a few you could have from our lot but it seems you do best taking our old players that performed well at Reading. Unfortunately there aren't many of them left at the moment!

I think personally, I can say this is one of our most disappointing seasons for a long time. The manager doesn't seem to connect well with the fans, and our football is totally unpredictable. We also have new owners that are a complete mystery to us all as they have hardly been seen at the club and have made no contact since the takeover.

Fancy a manager swap???

handbags_harris
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 3794
Joined: 10 Jul 2005 12:57

Re: Hello folks!

by handbags_harris » 25 Nov 2014 17:54

Afternoon Tra'or Boy. Am I surprised by our league position? Absolutely not. This season has panned out pretty much how I expected it to, a mid-table season of transition was all I hoped for given our complete lack of activity in the transfer market in the summer as a direct result of our previous consortium figurehead playing real life Championship Manager. No surprise that a certain Mr Drenthe was dropped like a stone the moment Adkins had the opportunity to do so, and it seems Pogrebnyak is heading the same way.

To be honest, where performances are concerned last season was such an insipid, turgid affair, a lot less enjoyable than this season has been IMO. Last season was one of possession-based football with virtually no cutting edge which was solely down to a midfield trio/quartet/quintet (delete as appropriate) being so desperately one-paced and one-dimensional, with no real option up front other than to go with a disinterested Pogrebnyak or a generally ineffective Le Fondre. It comes as no surprise to me this season that, despite the results not improving, the performances have looked more menacing. And we're creating chances as well. Many on here forget that there were many games last season where we completely failed to test a keeper, or barely register a shot on goal even. This season, at least we look like we can score because we create chances, and that for me comes directly from the personnel the manager has been able to introduce in the form of Murray, Mackie and most effectively for me, Cox and Norwood. Notwithstanding that, our injury list in the opening weeks of the season was horrendous, at Middlesbrough I think we had 14 players unavailable (although I believe that figure included the likes of Drenthe). Up until now we've been without McCleary, Karacan, Danny Williams, Guthrie*, Ferdinand and Robson-Kanu, for the vast majority of the season, all of whom you could argue are first choice players, so in their place we've had players like Jake Cooper, Mikkel Andersen, Aaron Kuhl and Ryan Edwards step in and give it their best shot. Sadly it hasn't been quite up to the standard for most of the time, although Mikkel Andersen and Jake Cooper gave what I thought were excellent performances up at Hillsborough in a game where they had just one shot on target from memory.

So, while form is poor, 8 defeats from 12 at the moment, if Adkins is given decent backing in January his record in the transfer market so far has been pretty good with improvement in performance and potency with each player signed. Nobody can argue that Wayne Bridge, Danny Williams, Ollie Norwood, Jamie Mackie, Simon Cox and Glen Murray haven't improved the side when they have played (ignore Royston Drenthe, he was a Zingarevich signing done without Adkins's knowledge). Based on that, I'm hopeful Ferdinand will bring some positive influence to the defence when fit, and should Adkins see fit to sign defenders in January I have no qualms in suggesting now that they will add to the defence rather than detract from it.

With regards collective performances, well as I say they've actually been better in general terms than last season, but we are being let down by quite horrendous mistakes in defensive areas. Off the top of my head I can think of the following that can be directly attributed to individual errors being punished:-

Huddersfield 0-1 - Akpan/Hector
Huddersfield 0-2 - Gunter
Millwall 2-2 - Federici flap
Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 - Cooper handball
Wolves 1-1 - Pearce
Wolves 1-2 - Obita
Wolves 2-3 - Blackman
Brentford 0-2 - Kuhl
Bournemouth 0-1 - Hector
Bournemouth 0-2 - Hector
Bournemouth 0-3 - Obita
Cardiff 0-1 - Pearce
Cardiff 0-2 Hector/Pearce

And it is arguable that many more could/should have been prevented had the cross from our right been stopped at source where Chris Gunter is woefully inadequate IMO. In contrast, while not flawless, Jordan Obita looks a far more capable left back and IMO is rapidly growing to become one of the best left backs in the division, easily. On top of defensive mistakes, Mr Adkins needs to take a fair proportion of blame for some of the results with his team selection and setup which all too often leaves us lightweight in the middle and exposes the defensive line. The defence has made some catastrophic decisions but had they been adequately protected the decisions wouldn't have had to have been made in the first place. I look specifically at the Wolves home match where we were comfortable at 1-0, Wolves looking jaded and unlikely to create, yet we bring off Akpan and introduce Guthrie, and we concede three goals. Brentford we start without that enforcing presence, we concede three goals. Bournemouth too. It'll be interesting to see how we do in the coming weeks because the only player capable of playing that role is Hope Akpan who is now out for a few weeks with a dislocated shoulder. Regardless of the merits of his standard of play, he for me is a first choice player to offer some defensive protection. Without him we are even more vulnerable than we are with him.

Lastly, a word for you chaps - you look in decent nick, looking like a clear contender for the playoffs. Solid, big, strong, you gave us a bit of a battering at our place which we stood up incredibly well to. That match proved our young squad that played that day can do kitchen sink rearguard, but on another day you could have walked away with all three points. And your ticket prices are hideous, just like Norwich.


ITFC_Keane
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 30 Dec 2009 02:00

Re: Hello folks!

by ITFC_Keane » 25 Nov 2014 19:41

A few replies - Paddy20, I'm ashamed to say I didn't rate Mick when he first came. I thought he'd be yet another football 'dinosaur' of the type we've had with Paul Jewell and Joe Royle, both of whom were given more money to work with than Mick's had.

Our football is high-pressure, chase-it-down-harry-and-hoof stuff at times. Bournemouth away on Saturday showed us up as not a clean, sexy football unit, as the Bournemuff players tippy-tapped, tricked and out-passed us, and should've beaten us. But we're like rottweilers; once we get our teeth in to a team, we don't let go easily. Bournemouth are probably the best team I've seen so far (shame their fans are starting to believe their own publicity as well, they were uncharitable and snidey) and Wolves the worst (no fight, no passion and I think they might slip down a fair bit more before May). There's no real standout team in this league, and I think that should give teams like us some hope of achieving.

Handbags - our ticket prices are based on the first number in our owner's head. He wanted £35 for my mate's son (17) to attend the Wolves game the other night. £35!! Robbing baskets.

I'm interested by Nige's willingness to play kids; this will pay dividends in the longer run. I like a good passing team and you are certainly better at this than us. I think building slowly is better than paying through the nose for journeymen; Nigel certainly benefitted from this approach with Southampton, and I'd hope for better fortunes for the Royals in the second half of the season, based on the little I've seen of you (Football League Show highlights and the odd game on Sky or t'internet). You've had your fair share of injuries this season and deserve a decent run playing your first choice XI.

Best of luck.

under the tin
Member
Posts: 985
Joined: 15 Jan 2010 09:21

Re: Hello folks!

by under the tin » 26 Nov 2014 10:05

Adkins' use of the kids is borne out of necessity, nothing else.

The Russian regime was a disaster.
A whole load of vanity signings on totally unsustainable wages sanctioned by a regime that did not have the money to bankroll it.
20 odd years of building by John Madejski, from Elm Park to the Madstad, from Division 4 to the top flight. Nearly wrecked completely.
From thumbing our noses at Pompey for chasing the dream, then finding they could not pay their electricity bill, to having to sell our top scorer in the summer in order to pay a tax bill.
RFC are now suffering from acute Zigic syndrome. High earning show ponies running down lucrative contracts. We have several.
We now have a new Thai consortium in FULL control. We know as much about them as we did the previous lot.

handbags_harris
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 3794
Joined: 10 Jul 2005 12:57

Re: Hello folks!

by handbags_harris » 26 Nov 2014 12:56

UTT, I'd take a minor exception to the "whole load of vanity signings" part. As far as I'm aware only Pogrebnyak and Drenthe were the Zingarevich marquee signings, signed on mind-boggling wages. All other signings made during the TSI era were sanctioned by the manager, some of which can very firmly be placed in the "high earning showponies" bracket.

That is not to discredit the rest of your post which I personally agree entirely with.

User avatar
eddiegrundy
Member
Posts: 197
Joined: 22 Oct 2004 08:52
Location: Ambridge

Re: Hello folks!

by eddiegrundy » 26 Nov 2014 19:30

Ipswich have picked up a few ex-Reading lads over the years, Ingimarsson, Tabb & Stephen Hunt. Story tonight is that they're taking Noel Hunt on loan from Leeds - The Hunts reunited once again :D


User avatar
Ian Royal
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 35156
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 13:43
Location: Playing spot the pc*nt on HNA?

Re: Hello folks!

by Ian Royal » 26 Nov 2014 22:22

eddiegrundy Ipswich have picked up a few ex-Reading lads over the years, Ingimarsson, Tabb & Stephen Hunt. Story tonight is that they're taking Noel Hunt on loan from Leeds - The Hunts reunited once again :D

They weren't particularly happy about Forster or Ingimarsson were they?

handbags_harris
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 3794
Joined: 10 Jul 2005 12:57

Re: Hello folks!

by handbags_harris » 27 Nov 2014 12:35

They did like Sonko though iirc...

SCIAG
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 6517
Joined: 17 Jun 2008 17:43
Location: Liburd for England

Re: Hello folks!

by SCIAG » 27 Nov 2014 12:55

ITFC_Keane
I'm interested by Nige's willingness to play kids; this will pay dividends in the longer run. I like a good passing team and you are certainly better at this than us. I think building slowly is better than paying through the nose for journeymen; Nigel certainly benefitted from this approach with Southampton, and I'd hope for better fortunes for the Royals in the second half of the season, based on the little I've seen of you (Football League Show highlights and the odd game on Sky or t'internet). You've had your fair share of injuries this season and deserve a decent run playing your first choice XI.

Best of luck.

It's rare this season that Adkins has selected a youngster ahead of a senior player. Faith in Obita and Hector probably contributed to him not signing players in their positions (except Ferdinand). Kuhl might have played ahead of Akpan a couple of times and Tanner might have if he hadn't got injured, but otherwise he's only picked young players because he had no choice.

User avatar
Moonfish
Member
Posts: 132
Joined: 29 Aug 2014 22:54
Location: Deep Blue Sea

Re: Hello folks!

by Moonfish » 29 Nov 2014 21:22

Now even Noel Hunt is at it. 22 games for Leeds without a goal, sent out on loan, comes on for his Ipswich debut and within 10mins scores a winner in extra time. The lad hasn't even got a shirt printed yet and he's already off the mark for you! :lol:


User avatar
Irvinchangeyaname
Member
Posts: 673
Joined: 01 Jan 2005 09:28
Location: Hove

Re: Hello folks!

by Irvinchangeyaname » 30 Nov 2014 13:07

He had a shirt printed but in true Noel Hunt style he'd bled all over it and needed a replacement!

User avatar
Ian Royal
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 35156
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 13:43
Location: Playing spot the pc*nt on HNA?

Re: Hello folks!

by Ian Royal » 30 Nov 2014 14:46

SCIAG
ITFC_Keane
I'm interested by Nige's willingness to play kids; this will pay dividends in the longer run. I like a good passing team and you are certainly better at this than us. I think building slowly is better than paying through the nose for journeymen; Nigel certainly benefitted from this approach with Southampton, and I'd hope for better fortunes for the Royals in the second half of the season, based on the little I've seen of you (Football League Show highlights and the odd game on Sky or t'internet). You've had your fair share of injuries this season and deserve a decent run playing your first choice XI.

Best of luck.

It's rare this season that Adkins has selected a youngster ahead of a senior player. Faith in Obita and Hector probably contributed to him not signing players in their positions (except Ferdinand). Kuhl might have played ahead of Akpan a couple of times and Tanner might have if he hadn't got injured, but otherwise he's only picked young players because he had no choice.

He could have splashed desperaty into the loan market though. And he's certainly brought on youngsters from the bench when he didn't have to.

paddy20
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1253
Joined: 18 Apr 2007 17:50
Location: Wokingham

Re: Hello folks!

by paddy20 » 30 Nov 2014 19:47

Thats another one you owe us!! (Noel Hunts goal yesterday)

Faithful Son
Member
Posts: 89
Joined: 18 Nov 2012 10:15

Re: Hello folks!

by Faithful Son » 30 Nov 2014 20:43

Irvinchangeyaname He had a shirt printed but in true Noel Hunt style he'd bled all over it and needed a replacement!


Yes flattened by Andre Bikey, in true Andre Bikey style. But Noel had the last laugh :D

ITFC_Keane
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 30 Dec 2009 02:00

Re: Hello folks!

by ITFC_Keane » 30 Nov 2014 23:03

paddy20 Thats another one you owe us!! (Noel Hunts goal yesterday)


Oh man, I went to Charlton yesterday, we were poor for 90 minutes, then our new hero Noel popped up and put one in! Second!! If that isn't a triumph of FFP and cheapness/good organization and management, then gawd knows what is.

By the by, is James Harper still playing anyone know? That season when you won the league by February, with the likes of Sidwell, Harper, Long, Doyle etc , you came down to us and did us 3-0 at PR. Best away performance I've ever seen. Comprehensive. No messing, no 'unlucky' deflections, no kidding, that was the harshest lesson I've seen at PR for years. I've always liked Harper in midfield.

Glad to see you did the Scum for us! It's caused a bit of trouble in Carrot Crunch north. Fans demonstrating, the Chief Exec getting into fisticuffs outside a restaurant and Scum fans going on and on about how sh*t Ruddy is and how they want Adams out.

Fantastic weekend. Thanks again!!!

ITFC_Keane
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 30 Dec 2009 02:00

Re: Hello folks!

by ITFC_Keane » 30 Nov 2014 23:13

Ian Royal
eddiegrundy Ipswich have picked up a few ex-Reading lads over the years, Ingimarsson, Tabb & Stephen Hunt. Story tonight is that they're taking Noel Hunt on loan from Leeds - The Hunts reunited once again :D

They weren't particularly happy about Forster or Ingimarsson were they?


Forster did Ok with us, but it was a case of not finding the right partner for him. We bought Sam Parkin from Swindon based, I suspect, on some joker watching League 1 highlights and seeing him score a couple. He was gash. Forster bore the brunt of goalscoring that season, and the poor bloke was getting on a bit and got injured after 9 games. He then came in and out intermittently, and went completely when Magilton discovered Danny Haynes and Alan Lee.

I loved Ingi. Great bloke off the field, real ambassador for the club, sadly his legs had gone. He played a few times but was criticized after a defeat away at Leicester, when he was caught out for pace and looked shaky. We ended up cancelling his contract by mutual consent, and he went back to Surrey with his family. Sonks was a star, a man mountain who could outjump the crossbar, sadly he too became injured and then we got Roy Keane and that was that...

Hope Noel turns out like his brother. Tries his heart out, never-say-die and apparently great in the dressing room as well.

User avatar
Ian Royal
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 35156
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 13:43
Location: Playing spot the pc*nt on HNA?

Re: Hello folks!

by Ian Royal » 30 Nov 2014 23:32

Forster, Ingimarsson and Sonko were all knackered by the time they left us. All top players in their prime though. I remember an Ipswich fan coming on here after you signed Fozzie and being excited about how many goals he'd score, a few of us thought he'd struggle to play 15 games let alone score 15 goals.

SHunt is a real trier and assuming he's got over his habit of thinking he's twice as good as he actually is, he's a handy player to have about. I never thought he was much technically, but his self belief meant he attacked players and often got the rub of the green because defenders hate being made to commit.

NHunt is a similar trier and will run through walls for you, but he's a bit more grounded and a more positive character in the dressing room. At least that's the impression I got. Probably won't score that many, but is a good foil for someone else and should pick up about 10 a season. Bit injury prone though.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Kev Royal, Scutterbucketz and 333 guests

It is currently 05 May 2025 09:41