Davefevs

When they get promoted, let’s assume it’s this season, all their fans will be expecting momentum, more quality signings (they expect to buy top 6 quality players according to their forum), etc. However, I’m not sure their fans are quite prepared for 1) the cost of top 6 quality players both in fees and wages, 2) their place in the pecking order (low) and 3) how Championship FFP differs from Lg1 FFP. They are able to ride Owner investment in Lg1. They can’t in the Championship. They’ll be wondering why they can’t buy themselves a place in the PL, they could buy Lg1 success. So, what will we say….welcome to real life under Ashton, good luck trying to get rid of those players who aren’t good enough but are on inflated contracts, more inflated because they’ve just had a promotion wage-rise.

Probably not his best week, his father died last week too.

Must’ve landed on a snake then, because he’s gone downwards. Yes, think call was from his agent and SL had contacted the agent.

I agree. Think the term is “itchy chin” ??? I think you’re right too. Think I’ve posted before that (the story is) Cook tried to talk himself out of the job during the actual interview. You can just imagine MA giving it the big ‘in - “the club is centred around me, you’ll report into me, etc”. Just like Cotts in Dec 15, when Ashton returned to do the hatchet job, Cook will know the writing is on the wall for him. It wouldn’t surprise me if his heart isn’t truly in it (which is poor form on his part). He’s been really quiet in terms of signings (not easy to grab the limelight from Ashton admittedly), and you wonder if the apathy is rubbing off on the pitch.

Pretty sure SL did the Sunday morning zoom with Nige. Can’t believe MA wasn’t involved though. But there’s no way SL wasn’t aware MA was off at that point either. I get the impression that SL was getting much more hands-on early in 2021…probably once Maggie had read Kid’s post on here. ? He seemed to be back running the show at the point of Nige’s appointment

The Athletic has some interesting articles (I only read the football stuff, mainly EFL only), but it has some absolute crap writing too. I wouldn’t pay £60….I don’t mind the £1 p.m I currently pay to get the odd article behind a paywall. I will cancel as soon as my latest offer runs out. I’d say it’s trying to be an online “FourFourTwo” of old, but fails spectacularly.

If you recruit based on being mates with the agent, then you are taking a big gamble. The Celina transfer really interested me. Ashton initially tried to get him early in the summer before he’d spoken to Cook about it (from MA’s lips, not conjecture on my part). Celina’s agent - ICM Stellar Sport, have several Ipswich players, especially new signings with them. Why would you go after a player without speaking to the manager? Trying to get onside with the fans early on, the fans liked Celina when he was here, many fans anti-Mick McCarthy because MM thought he didn’t do the basics so didn’t play him. Fans are a sucker for a flair player. It fell through over a heart issue (now resolved). When he did sign on deadline day, surely they’d already recruited plan B? Just like Szmodics and Palmer all over again! But then, again from MA’s lips, Cook had to really convince Celina he could fit into Cook’s playing style. So a vanity signing for the CEO who they didn’t scout (if they scouted at all - they have no recruitment Dept) to a specific manager system requirement. But, I have no sympathy for Paul Cook for allowing this to happen, just like I didn’t with Lee Johnson. You just have to say no, and be prepared to stand up to the CEO even if it means leaving your job. LJ had enough credit in the bank to force the issue with SL, and if not backed could go and get a job elsewhere. I don’t think any recruiting clubs would look badly on a manager saying he left because the CEO tried to force players on him. Most would think it showed prudence. I don’t think Cook will have any credit in the bank with Ipswich’s new owners, especially as the CEO and Chairman are mates and the Chairman and CEO worked to get the new Owners to invest. But Cook still has a lot of credit in football, and I’m sure prospective employers would look on him favourably if he called out Ashton. However, in both Johnson and Cook’s position, who turns down a player? That’s their downfall.

Assuming Dasilva comes back in, it’s gonna be interesting to see how he does. I’m a big fan of Dasilva. I don’t think he’s a poor defender either, but the one thing I’ve noticed is that it looks like he’s been asked to defend quite narrow / stay a bit closer to Atkinson (perhaps whilst he settles in). Versus Swansea that meant Laird had loads of room when they sucked Pring infield and then switched it out right quickly. Yesterday I noticed we squeezed their right / our left half of the pitch quite quickly, so they didn’t play down that side very often. But conversely, I don’t think we did the same defending our right side. We were a bit slow in getting our shape. Unlike v Swansea where it was Laird (RWB) causing issues, yesterday it was Earl (LWB)…as we didn’t get quick pressure on the passer and left Vyner a bit exposed, especially in periods of play when the ball was being turned over. Vyner did pretty well yesterday to deal with that. So, I think generally we have a few teething problems to sort out, nothing major. Preston played with WBs like Cardiff, but played them very differently. Luton will more than likely play a back 4, and I think that might suit us.

Not aimed at the poster you replied to but there is a view that: Home game + attacking line-up = home win As you say if only it was that simple. Comes from the same camp as: 3 forwards = more goals Its a bloody tough division. I thought we started a bit sluggish (opening 5/10) then controlled the next 25 mins, before we got sloppy for last 10 of first half. Second half we started brightly enough, then there was a spell of it being a bit like basketball, end to end, as the game stretched, and then we came in a bit strong at the end. the graphic above kinda reflect that….it shows how many passes we allowed PNE in 15 minute chunks. I do actually think our left side (Baker and Pring) weren’t that cohesive yesterday. Pring didn’t really get much change out of the very dirty Van den Berg, but I don’t think he helped himself by playing so wide, especially out of possession. Baker a bit ponderous on the ball. Weve been pretty creative from set-pieces this season, and I think yesterday’s lack of quality let us down….both from James and overuse of throw-ins.

I suspect you’ll see a couple of changes Wednesday night and we can reflect again then.

Brill post ??????

You won't agree with me and as much as I’d like us to win at AG (as I only really do home games), I honestly couldn’t give a toss where we earn our points. We can draw our remaining 20 home games if we can pick up good away results, for all I care. And…you won’t agree with this either, I drew a line under last season. He gave some poor professionals every opportunity to show what they could do before he gave up on them and played the kids, risking them in a poor environment. SL and MA ****** up, left him with a shit fest to start a rebuild. Would it be better to have won today but draw in Cardiff….both get you 4 points. Yeah, you might gain a bit of psychological advantage back at AG, but you lose a bit of confidence of your ability to win away. Swings and roundabouts. In a league system that on average you play alternate home and away fixtures I don’t put too much stock in home runs and away runs…..overall runs are more important. I’m a positive / optimistic guy and see it as two unbeaten, 4 points from 2, 7 points from 4.

How is it negligence….and on who’s part?

The ref was effing abysmal. That is one of the worst ref performances I’ve seen in recent years….completely inept. He allowed them to found us, and pulled us up everytime we breathed on them. That is unacceptable imho. He should take a long hard look at his performance today. It stank of bias. I have less of a problem if they are crap for both sides…although as professional referees they shouldn’t be bad.

Out of interest did you find today boring? A lot of posters reaction was that it was an entertaining 0-0.

I haven’t heard Cook’s interview but reading their fans quotes he seems less enamoured with the signings….apart from Morsy, who he is now looking to save him.

Think it was a tough call to change the team today….Nige explained why, Preston are big….and we didn’t dominate the aerials today….Riis did well and little Maguire jumps at you or pushes you, but the ref missed all of it (useless ####). I think Nige can rightly swap things up on Wednesday. You don’t build team togetherness and competition by swapping players out willy nilly.

Do you really expect City, an average(ish) side themselves to dominate any / many home games this season. We are not Fulham (who lost to Blackpool) or West Brom (who drew with Millwall). As fans we shouldn’t expect to dominate - that is where we get a slightly superior / entitled view from. I think we will draw quite a lot of games this season. We are in a group of 10(ish) clubs who are no better or worse than each other in reality. Luton will be a tough game. I do feel for those fans who were expecting 6 points from our two games, because they’ve lost already and we are only one game in. I have no issues with the starting line up, only just listened to Nige pre-match….Preston a big team, options on the bench, players chomping at the bit to get in the team, are motivated. I do think in hindsight that Baker’s passing stifled Pring today, but I also thought Pring played a bit too much on the wing, whereas he’d been good going in to out previously. Their wingback approach caused us more problems than Cardiff’s….I thought Earl (LWB) got acres first half because Pring didn’t tuck in to allow James and King to shuffle over and allow Massengo to help Vyner. Vyner had a good game, but they got high ball out to Earl or Riis 2v1 too often. I thought King had a good 60 mins (although right to sub him on 69 mins)….I thought James didn’t reach his standard today, thought King was the better of the pair. James set pieces v.poor today. As you say, not a disappointing point at all.

Good summary….looks like we watched a pretty similar game from opposite sides of the ground. They caused us some problems with mis-matched shapes, and we did likewise with ours versus theirs. Probably should’ve ended 1-1 in terms of chances, but I don’t think anyone can say it wasn’t two pretty evenly matched teams. Agreed.

Guess a lot of posters were at the game?

Their forum is all Cook Out tonigh.

So nice not to see 3 of 4 midfielders we are used to being cynical against us: Browne (sub) Pearson Gallagher Constant thorns in our side.

Derby fan getting salty that Troy Deeney getting mentioned more than Wayne Rooney. Jeez, they are hypocritical.

Hahahaha https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58501958 Wayne Wooney whining again.