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Originally posted by JWM:

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Originally posted by ROTF:

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keep it up and we may well see you next season yet!

...I'd prefer to do what we did in 60/61 and 61/62 - go up and win it

I'm too young to remember that! But my father-in-law speaks about it with pride. And all with knee-length canvas shorts, Brylcreemed hair and footballs as hard and heavy as an anvil. Those were the days! And 1978, of course!

James

The boys of 62 meat Captain Mick from 78



Ray Crawford and Ted Philips - simply the best.

I see that, like 30 years ago, almost to the day, Bristol Rovers are playing a FA Cup Fifth Round match at home, on a dismal February Saturday. Sadly, unlike 30 years ago, it's not ITFC they're playing...

James

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
I see that, like 30 years ago, almost to the day, Bristol Rovers are playing a FA Cup Fifth Round match at home, on a dismal February Saturday. Sadly, unlike 30 years ago, it's not ITFC they're playing...

James

Just as well ... I remember it well. Robin Turner only scored 3 goals in his entire career and 2 were in that match. Then big Al (Alan Hunter) did an atrocious back-pass in nipped the Rovers centre forward to score and the ref gave off-side, must of been the only time in history we got a lucky break. Next round I went to see as win 6-1 at the Den and I feared for my life - those were the days.

But today was a fine performance, we not only beat Blackpool 2-1, but we found a new star - Velice Sumulikoski - one of the best Macedonian midfield players that I have ever seen grace the turf at Portman Road - what a brilliant goal. John Walters chipped in with yet another. Alan Lee hit the bar. Dickov looked a mile off-side to me when he scored the Blackpool consolation goal and I was not alone, the linesman thought so too and had his flag raised, but the referee decided to give the goal. Still it couldn't mar a thoroughly professional performance by the boys in blue.

Don't know if any Tykes are Naim forum member, but superb result and great to see Barnsley in the quarter finals - personally I hope you win it. From personal experience over the years, I can't speak highly enough of Barnsley fans, so I'm sure all ITFC fans will be happy to congratulate the Tykes on that great result.

ATB Rotf

We played OK against the most difficult opponents we are likely to meet this season. Stoke are a much better side than Watford in terms of playing football. We're not quite ready yet - Ref was pathetic sent Jim to the stands for retrieving the ball and giving to Alex Bruce to take a throw - he stepped just outside the technical area. Although the Ref was inept he didn't influence the result - we had our chances, but couldn't take them.

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18

..Stoke took 4 points of my mackems last season and we were lucky to get that many ....I forcast last August that they would go up this season (along with WBA) Stoke are (or at least were) a HUGE bleedin' side ..ironically I think they would be likely to come a real cropper in the Prem if they did go up (WBA would cope better in my humble opinion)

....As for the Tractor boys (now that the away jinx has been put to rest)I see no reason to recant on my original prediction of them making the playoffs ..a nail biting summer ahead methinks ROTF!

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I see no reason to recant on my original prediction of them [ITFC] making the playoffs

Well we're sixth at the moment, but it'll be tight and I'm not keen on play-offs ... perhaps because we're useless at them (with one notable exception, of course).

We played well today - especially in the second half and were the better side, but just couldn't make it count against a gutsy Southampton (no way will they be relegated). Good goal by David Norris - he looks a great acquisition.

I'm unsure about the Premier League - I wouldn't fancy us to beat Fulham and I think a lot of teams would overpower us, we play very nice football with lots of short quick passing, but we struggle when teams play in-your-face football (e.g. Watford, Burnley, Stoke [though Stoke play a lot of good football too])

It's very tight around the Premiership drop zone; though I still think the teams that occupy the bottom three positions will be the ones for the drop - possibly Bolton instead of Reading.

Ironically, in the Championship, I think we are a better team than Bristol City - though I can't deny they are doing well and looking a good bet to go up.

I think if we get a fully Nugent then we may have a decent run-in to the end of the season.

ATB Rotf

PS I enjoyed hearing the Blackpool result on the car radio.

It'd be sad if the Us went down because having two good East Anglian teams (Ipswich and Colchester) in the Championship is great.

Couldn't go tonight - watched some rubbish on TV called Champions League, it's not the same as the real Championship, lots of players with very difficult to pronounce names (except some guy called Fred). As for the Tractor Boys, we love playing in the Championship, that's why we're getting the kind of results that will keep us there.

Ipswich 1 Blades 1 -

you certainly are making it hard for yourselves.
scotty

And it's getting harder ...

I had to work in York yesterday, so stopped off at Oakwell on the way home. Once again we played well and moved the ball about well and the score-line didn't reflect the game.

We dominated the first half-hour and when we were 1-0 (Paulo Counago knocking home after the keeper parried Velice Sumulikoski rocket) it looked like we'd go on for a comfortable win.

However, I guess the Tykes were never going to go down without a battle and their equaliser late in the first half inspired them. I thought Macken fouled our goalie on their second goal. Then we took the game to them and hit the bar twice and had a stonewall penalty not given. And then horror of horrors, the referee awarded them a mysterious penalty for something only he saw. Howard got his hat-trick from a bizarre fluke goal.

However, all that will be forgotten, as all that counts is the 4-1 score line.

Anyway I like the Championship, it is full of potential FA Cup winners and I'm looking forward to another season playing against Barnsley, Cardiff and the Squawkers - I expect we'll be up against the Swans and Donny too and we can welcome back Derby, Fulham and Bolton - oh what fun we'll have. I wonder how Bristol City will fare in the Premier League?

ATB Rotf

you can still make the play offs !

Fellow Suffolk Punchers,

Interesting article on the BBC website about the prospects for the Championship teams in the running for promotion. Basically the article asks a fan - who is also a Beeb jouno - of each of the top twelve teams a set of questions which include whether their team will be promoted and whether they are ready for the premiership.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7286488.stm

The interesting thing is how pessimistic people are, with the singular exeption of the Ipswich Town supporter!

regards,

Giles

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Originally posted by Giles Felgate:
Fellow Suffolk Punchers,

Interesting article on the BBC website about the prospects for the Championship teams in the running for promotion. Basically the article asks a fan - who is also a Beeb jouno - of each of the top twelve teams a set of questions which include whether their team will be promoted and whether they are ready for the premiership.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7286488.stm

The interesting thing is how pessimistic people are, with the singular exeption of the Ipswich Town supporter!

regards,

Giles

She's right Giles - in pure football terms we play some of the best football in the Championship, we also have the best manager. Our problem is against some of the long ball teams with an aggressive nature: Watford are main protagonists; they know how to beat us, they'll win no fans playing the way they do: Watford are quite dreadful IMHO, but they do know how to win. Contrast with the best footballing team, I've seen visit Portman Road (S*unthorpe) and it is clear that commitment to playing open entertaining football does not always bring its rewards. However, I wouldn't have it any other way.

If we were promoted we'd give it a good go. I don't think we shall be though. If we are not then I hope Watford are promoted so I don't have to watch them next year.

We beat Charlton today 2-0 with goals by Owen Garvan and Danny Haynes - we played in second gear and some of the game we played with 10 men. We have played much better than this and lost, but quite frankly Charlton were no threat and it was nice to see Town win at a canter. Although I wouldn't have minded us stepping up a gear and putting 4 or 5 past them.

Next up, away at S*unthorpe - I expect a much tougher game.

Was a looking at book today called England's Worst Footballers: Revised and Updated to Include England's Worst Managers - the Ipswich entry was one every Town will agree with - without doubt the worst player I have ever seen in an Ipswich shirt - totally useless; he unsettled the team too and was the main reason we dropped out of the premier league and landed ourselves in debt. I've been watching football for some 45 years and I have never seen a player less committed than Finidi George.

So well done that book for reminding us and I hope the current Town management takes note - we now have some money, please don't waste it on expensive players. Let's bring local players through the academy. I don't ever want to see another Finidi George in an Ipswich Town shirt.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
Was a looking at book today called England's Worst Footballers: Revised and Updated to Include England's Worst Managers - the Ipswich entry was one every Town will agree with - without doubt the worst player I have ever seen in an Ipswich shirt - totally useless; he unsettled the team too and was the main reason we dropped out of the premier league and landed ourselves in debt. I've been watching football for some 45 years and I have never seen a player less committed than Finidi George.

So well done that book for reminding us and I hope the current Town management takes note - we now have some money, please don't waste it on expensive players. Let's bring local players through the academy. I don't ever want to see another Finidi George in an Ipswich Town shirt.

The name rings a few bells,When was he at Ipswich?

Finidi was at ITFC form 2001 to 2003.

He cost £3m and a further £1m for us to get rid of him - he was on a ludicrous amount of money and nobody else wanted him - we couldn't even give him out on loan.

I saw your goals on Sunday.
A good result.

Rotf,
A nice away win for you.

Thanks munch - it was a good win and a great goal by Luis Castro Sito Rodríguez.

However, FWIW I would like to apologise to all Skunthorpe players, officials and supporters for the disgusting behaviour of Pablo Couñago. I know Jim will deal with him severely and quite rightly so. Pablo is a skilful player who I was pleased to see back at Portman Road, he scored another good goal and had a very decent first half, but his reaction at Glanford Park towards Andy Butler was totally unacceptable. Pablo knows that - he just needs to look at shirt and should know he is playing for Ipswich Town and has to behave in a fashion commensurate with the great names that have made our club respected everywhere - Kevin Beattie, the finest player I have ever seen, would never have done that to any opponent.

That aside, it was a superb game and proved that when it comes to matching ourselves against teams that play good football, we more often than not, come out on top. The lad we've picked up from Man United, Danny Simpson, was sheer class. I think he really needs to spend a couple of seasons with us to mature though.

Just off play-off place with a game in hand and a very good team to watch; what more could I ask for.

ATB Rotf

Fingers are xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I think you are in with a chance.
Ashley Cole got away with out a Red card for the way he went in with his boot and then what he did to that Ref.
He should not be in the England team next week .
He should be on a Ban for the rest of the season.
What has happened to him as a player?
He has turned into everything he was against.
Just my 2bobs worth.