MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Sutekh » 26 Feb 2019 11:58



When : Saturday 2nd March, 3pm
Where : Portman Road, Ipswich,
Capacity : 30,311
Away Stand : One side of the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand
What might I see in the area : Lots of equally depressed supporters milling around aimlessly harking back to the good old days and trying not to think too hard about going to Accrington and Fleetwood on a Tuesday night

The shambles continues. Reading take their dreadful away record to Ipswich for the battle of the hopeless.

It takes something quite special to play league games away from home in the second division of the English league and manage to win just once. Still there have been a few draws to be had so it’s not as bad as it could be in that time but 1 win from 26 attempts is rather impressive.

Ipswich, as we know, have had a bad time of it this year and it looks odds on that the longest current serving members of the second division will end their 17 years service and return to the third division for the first time in 62 years.

The form of the home side is as wretched as Reading’s with just one win in their last 12 league games (however it should noted that that one league win was at home against Rotherham something which Reading failed miserably to match last time out). On the upside for the Tractor Boys they are on a run of 3 undefeated after three 1-1 draws and they have also scored in 9 of their last 10 home games.

Reading will be up against it as Ipswich will probably see this as the last chance saloon a win would just about keep their slimmest belief in a miracle alive while a defeat would set them 12 points adrift of safety and really all but extinguish their life in the top divisions. So Reading will have to conjure up something resembling a fight and win the right to play the way they want as turning up and sitting back and playing deep with slow passing just isn’t going to cut it.

Ipswich have both manager Paul Lambert and defender Jonas Knudsen suspended. In addition Emyr Huws, Tom Adeyemi, Grant Ward, Freddie Sears and Jack Lancaster all have long term injuries.

In Reading’s camp Bodvarsson was added to the injury list before the Rotherham game but there’s no indication as to the severity of his problem so perhaps he might be in contention but at any rate I can’t see much change in the personnel from the last couple of games.

I think Reading really need attack Ipswich from the off and therefore also use that as their best form of defence (well while there is no midfield “bite” anyway). Play with both Barrow and Harriott who are rather quick so play with width and make Ipswich do the worrying.

Referee

Darren England is due to take the mantle for this one, still searching for his first Reading success.



Previously

06 Oct 2018 > West Bromwich Albion 4-1 Reading
25 Aug 2018 > Aston Villa 1-1 Reading
13 Jan 2018 > Hull City 0-0 Reading

Historically

This will be the 30th league visit to Ipswich Town. Of the previous 29 games Reading have won 8 and lost 16 scoring 38 and conceding 52 in the process.

Current from there isn’t particularly impressive with 1 draw earned from the last 3 trips so at least you could say another Reading win is about due.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket and travel to the game
  2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
  3. Ring/text a mate for updates
  4. Use an iFollow subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

Victor Meldrew
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Victor Meldrew » 26 Feb 2019 12:06

Generally not a happy hunting ground for us.
Two games stick in the mind, one when the famous five had been signed by Burns (how many has Gomes signed?) and the other when it was the hottest day I have ever known at a football match in England.

Ipswich have the worst goal against record in the division (we even scored two in the home game) so hopefully the manager won't be tempted to pack the side with centre-backs.

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Old Man Andrews » 26 Feb 2019 12:10

Martinez

Yiadom (RWB)
Miazga
Moore
Blackett
Richards (LWB)

Ejaria (RW)
Baker
Swift
Harriott (LW)

Oliveira

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John Smith
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by John Smith » 26 Feb 2019 14:16

Callum Harriott is in Guyana. I'm guessing he won't be playing on Saturday.

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Hendo
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Hendo » 26 Feb 2019 14:19

John Smith Callum Harriott is in Guyana. I'm guessing he won't be playing on Saturday.


Why? He might be there for personal reasons and will return in time to be included in the match day squad. Its only Tuesday.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by The Enfield Royal71 » 26 Feb 2019 14:20

If we lose, shall we call time on this season? Are we as good as down?

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Old Man Andrews » 26 Feb 2019 14:21

We aren't at all. Still plenty of games left to play, its not panic stations yet.

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Hendo
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Hendo » 26 Feb 2019 14:23

The Enfield Royal71 If we lose, shall we call time on this season? Are we as good as down?


No.

If Rotherham lose as well, everything remains the same (us being outside the relegation zone) with one game less

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by John Smith » 26 Feb 2019 14:25

Hendo
John Smith Callum Harriott is in Guyana. I'm guessing he won't be playing on Saturday.


Why? He might be there for personal reasons and will return in time to be included in the match day squad. Its only Tuesday.

Well we would be training today and tomorrow I'd imagine. Hardly a short hop is it.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by URZZZZ » 26 Feb 2019 15:47

Martinez

Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
Blackett

Rino
Kelly

Ejaria
Swift
McCleary

Oliveira

Walker, Gunter, McShane, Richards, Baker, Harriott, Bodvarsson

If Rino still unfit, Baker in and Barrow on the bench, if Bodvarsson still unfit, Loader on

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Mid Sussex Royal » 26 Feb 2019 16:19

This one is hard to call; if you believe Lambert they are amazing every week yet their form is just as bad now as it was before he became manager.

They will see this as a must win game, as anything less and they are probably down.

Just think we will probably concede very early and struggle to get in to the game until it is too late.

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John Smith
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by John Smith » 26 Feb 2019 16:20

I honestly can't see us doing anything other than winning this game. They are total and utter dross.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Hound » 26 Feb 2019 16:33

URZZZZ Martinez

Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
Blackett

Rino
Kelly

Ejaria
Swift
McCleary

Oliveira

Walker, Gunter, McShane, Richards, Baker, Harriott, Bodvarsson

If Rino still unfit, Baker in and Barrow on the bench, if Bodvarsson still unfit, Loader on


Would go for basically the same, but Baker for Kelly. Loader should be on the bench after his hat trick the other day, regardless of whether Bod is fit.


Victor Meldrew
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Victor Meldrew » 26 Feb 2019 17:08

John Smith I honestly can't see us doing anything other than winning this game. They are total and utter dross.


Beware, they were the bottom club when they came to our place weren't they?

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Forbury Lion » 26 Feb 2019 17:32

Victor Meldrew one when the famous five had been signed by Burns
wasn't it the magnificent seven rather than the famous five?
https://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/ ... er-7700922

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Sutekh
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Sutekh » 26 Feb 2019 17:46

Forbury Lion
Victor Meldrew one when the famous five had been signed by Burns
wasn't it the magnificent seven rather than the famous five?
https://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/ ... er-7700922


2 good signings in that 7.

McIntyre and Howie.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Snowflake Royal » 26 Feb 2019 17:58

URZZZZ Martinez

Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
Blackett

Rino
Kelly

Ejaria
Swift
McCleary

Oliveira

Walker, Gunter, McShane, Richards, Baker, Harriott, Bodvarsson

If Rino still unfit, Baker in and Barrow on the bench, if Bodvarsson still unfit, Loader on

Yep. Cant argue with that.

Although it would be yet another big reshuffle in midfield, particularly the attacking three. Continuity of starting XI is massively underrated these days. Meite for example,despite not having a good game against Rovrum would benefit from a run of five games in the same position with the samr players around him (hed also benefit from a more direct style of play but thats as likely as Gomes fielding the same attacking four three games in a row - zero chance)

URZZZZ
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by URZZZZ » 26 Feb 2019 19:57

Hound
URZZZZ Martinez

Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
Blackett

Rino
Kelly

Ejaria
Swift
McCleary

Oliveira

Walker, Gunter, McShane, Richards, Baker, Harriott, Bodvarsson

If Rino still unfit, Baker in and Barrow on the bench, if Bodvarsson still unfit, Loader on


Would go for basically the same, but Baker for Kelly. Loader should be on the bench after his hat trick the other day, regardless of whether Bod is fit.


Yeah, in all honesty, I did have Baker over Kelly originally, he played much better Saturday. I just think Kelly has something to offer and has been victimised this season when others have played much worse

Gomes doesn't tend to put two strikers on the bench at once and whilst Loader probably deserves it, I really rate Bodvarsson. However his injury problems do seem a problem so it may be better to move him on this summer to develop Novakovich and Loader

URZZZZ
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by URZZZZ » 26 Feb 2019 20:02

Snowflake Royal
URZZZZ Martinez

Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
Blackett

Rino
Kelly

Ejaria
Swift
McCleary

Oliveira

Walker, Gunter, McShane, Richards, Baker, Harriott, Bodvarsson

If Rino still unfit, Baker in and Barrow on the bench, if Bodvarsson still unfit, Loader on

Yep. Cant argue with that.

Although it would be yet another big reshuffle in midfield, particularly the attacking three. Continuity of starting XI is massively underrated these days. Meite for example,despite not having a good game against Rovrum would benefit from a run of five games in the same position with the samr players around him (hed also benefit from a more direct style of play but thats as likely as Gomes fielding the same attacking four three games in a row - zero chance)


I wouldn't necessarily agree with keeping the same team five games in a row if they're not performing, however I do agree that the players (in particular the wide ones) must be getting frustrated going from starting, to being on the bench, to out the squad, back to starting again etc...

I think Gomes just needs to choose two and give them 2 or 3 games in a row. After the win vs Blackburn, he should have stuck with both. But he changed both of them vs Sheffield so surely the point beckons if he changes it after a win, will he ever keep the same two wingers?

Regarding Meite, he'll never suit a passing game, just isn't technical enough, his days were numbered here when Mr Clement was wrongly sacked. He needs to go for the benefit of his own career

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Ipswich Town (a) sponsored by Noel Hunt

by Hound » 26 Feb 2019 20:26

Yes, for me it’s McCleary + 1

He does at least know his game and what he is trying to do. Unlucky not to get more than 1 assist even though his all round performance wasn’t spectacular

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