The Official Ipswich Town v Bristol City Match Day Thread 11

[havanatopia]

"Your football is s---!" they shouted. "Your football is s---! Mick McCarthy, your football is s---!" Ipswich fans last season.

McCarthy shook hands with his opposite number, Kenny Jackett, and began the long walk from the benches on the halfway line to the tunnel in the far corner of the stadium. As he walked, the fans he passed intensified their volume, booing him all the way. Near the entrance to the tunnel, one man unleashed a ferocious staccato, first violin to the swelling symphony of catcalls around McCarthy.

"W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er!"

McCarthy, chin stiffened, eyes focused forward, didn't react. He simply strode down the tunnel and into the dressing room before the heavy, blue doors shut firmly behind him.

Whether at a World Cup or in the Premier League, he imposes principles from above. He makes a point of shaking the hand and learning the name of everyone at the club. He insists that his players be polite at all times, that they greet visitors to the club with courtesy. His staff are fiercely loyal; his personal assistant, Francesca Manning, bristles when we discuss the intensifying dissent in the crowd. Yet the team aren't scoring goals, and they aren't winning games.

That was last season. 

Ipswich Town is a most peculiar football club. If you didn't know their history, you might be tempted to consider them one of those provincial English oddities, an entirely unremarkable team drawing regular crowds of loyal locals but attracting little attention from anyone else. But the past is littered with rueful ex-footballers who underestimated Ipswich in a similar manner and paid the price.

In 1962, Alf Ramsey won the league with Ipswich. In 1978, Bobby Robson won the FA Cup, and the UEFA Cup followed in 1981. This was after poor results had the fans calling for his head, but chairman John Cobbold's response was to award Robson a new contract.

"There is no crisis at Ipswich until the white wine runs out in the boardroom," he said at the time.

In 2001, their first season back after a five-year absence, George Burley had Ipswich in the Premier League title race until they ran out of steam in the final weeks of the season and slipped to fifth. It has been some time since there was anything to celebrate at Ipswich.

In spite of a poor season last year McCarthy has finished in respectable upper half positions in his previous seasons managing Ipswich on a very meagre budget and with the club regularly posting a loss for the year as most if not all clubs do in the Championship not on a parachute back up. He received a lot of abuse last season. But like I recall Sean O'Driscoll saying on many occasions he repeats the mantra of 'I do not read the press'.

He goes on to say, "But reading it is just self-defeating. Why would you want to read or listen to peoples' comments if they're being critical? It's a bit like social media, which I'm not on, either. So if you see somebody say they're Mick McCarthy on Twitter -- or 'Twitter,' as I like to call it -- then it's not me."

Mick McCarthy is easily the longest serving manager in the Championship having been appointed in November 2012. 

Mick McCarthy and Eric Blair have something in common. Well I think they do. They both take solace from walking the banks of the River Orwell, a majestic and hypnotic body of water. Eric Blair was so enamoured with it that he took its name and became George Orwell taking much of his writing inspiration from his time meandering its course. The River Orwell flows entirely within the county of Suffolk. It is only about 20 km long and flows from the River Gipping to the River Stour estuary. The Orwell enters the North Sea at Harwich, near the port of Felixstowe. And of course the Orwell flows through Ipswich that place that is proud to have produced two of Englands better managers, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson but the club remains a peculiar place. Is it perhaps because Ipswich is said to be the longest inhabited town in the United Kingdom? Perhaps the people are just, well, more grounded, obscure, happy and sad and satisfied with it all than words can convey?

Mick is no mug. Inspired perhaps by his solitude or the fresh air where he allows himself the luxury of inner patience with all the nonsense of short term clamours for change at the first sight of failure. Ipswich have form for holding on to a manager and this season, at least so far, it seems that patience by owner Evans might pay off. Playing Ipswich at Portman Road might just provide City with their toughest challenge of the season to date. How many people would have said that at the start of the season? Not I. And that is what makes this division so challenging, so stressful, so exciting and oh so unpredictable. 

To all those hardy souls going to Suffolk today do enjoy the trip. There is certainly plenty to see in the fair county and the town itself has much to offer; if ye shall seek ye shall find. Aldburgh for fish and chips might be a bit far out of town but just reward if you do; the best in Britain.

Cheers ye'all.

p.s. thanks to ESPN for much of the story on Mick.

[Natchlander]

great read as always ... love my saturdays with posts like this!

[...]

This has got either 1 or 3 points for City WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

Likely we will leapfrog Ipswidge into the playoffs.

City going like a steam train under Johnson.

Probably win the playoffs, and be in the Prem next season.

Johnson gets another transfer window, completes his masterpiece and actually DOES get us into the Europa League.

"Shit!!!!!!"

 

tfj

[BigTone]

9 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

"Your football is s---!" they shouted. "Your football is s---! Mick McCarthy, your football is s---!" Ipswich fans last season.

McCarthy shook hands with his opposite number, Kenny Jackett, and began the long walk from the benches on the halfway line to the tunnel in the far corner of the stadium. As he walked, the fans he passed intensified their volume, booing him all the way. Near the entrance to the tunnel, one man unleashed a ferocious staccato, first violin to the swelling symphony of catcalls around McCarthy.

"W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er!"

McCarthy, chin stiffened, eyes focused forward, didn't react. He simply strode down the tunnel and into the dressing room before the heavy, blue doors shut firmly behind him.

Whether at a World Cup or in the Premier League, he imposes principles from above. He makes a point of shaking the hand and learning the name of everyone at the club. He insists that his players be polite at all times, that they greet visitors to the club with courtesy. His staff are fiercely loyal; his personal assistant, Francesca Manning, bristles when we discuss the intensifying dissent in the crowd. Yet the team aren't scoring goals, and they aren't winning games.

That was last season. 

Ipswich Town is a most peculiar football club. If you didn't know their history, you might be tempted to consider them one of those provincial English oddities, an entirely unremarkable team drawing regular crowds of loyal locals but attracting little attention from anyone else. But the past is littered with rueful ex-footballers who underestimated Ipswich in a similar manner and paid the price.

In 1962, Alf Ramsey won the league with Ipswich. In 1978, Bobby Robson won the FA Cup, and the UEFA Cup followed in 1981. This was after poor results had the fans calling for his head, but chairman John Cobbold's response was to award Robson a new contract.

"There is no crisis at Ipswich until the white wine runs out in the boardroom," he said at the time.

In 2001, their first season back after a five-year absence, George Burley had Ipswich in the Premier League title race until they ran out of steam in the final weeks of the season and slipped to fifth. It has been some time since there was anything to celebrate at Ipswich.

In spite of a poor season last year McCarthy has finished in respectable upper half positions in his previous seasons managing Ipswich on a very meagre budget and with the club regularly posting a loss for the year as most if not all clubs do in the Championship not on a parachute back up. He received a lot of abuse last season. But like I recall Sean O'Driscoll saying on many occasions he repeats the mantra of 'I do not read the press'.

He goes on to say, "But reading it is just self-defeating. Why would you want to read or listen to peoples' comments if they're being critical? It's a bit like social media, which I'm not on, either. So if you see somebody say they're Mick McCarthy on Twitter -- or 'Twitter,' as I like to call it -- then it's not me."

Mick McCarthy is easily the longest serving manager in the Championship having been appointed in November 2012. 

Mick McCarthy and Eric Blair have something in common. Well I think they do. They both take solace from walking the banks of the River Orwell, a majestic and hypnotic body of water. Eric Blair was so enamoured with it that he took its name and became George Orwell taking much of his writing inspiration from his time meandering its course. The River Orwell flows entirely within the county of Suffolk. It is only about 20 km long and flows from the River Gipping to the River Stour estuary. The Orwell enters the North Sea at Harwich, near the port of Felixstowe. And of course the Orwell flows through Ipswich that place that is proud to have produced two of Englands better managers, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson but the club remains a peculiar place. Is it perhaps because Ipswich is said to be the longest inhabited town in the United Kingdom? Perhaps the people are just, well, more grounded, obscure, happy and sad and satisfied with it all than words can convey?

Mick is no mug. Inspired perhaps by his solitude or the fresh air where he allows himself the luxury of inner patience with all the nonsense of short term clamours for change at the first sight of failure. Ipswich have form for holding on to a manager and this season, at least so far, it seems that patience by owner Evans might pay off. Playing Ipswich at Portman Road might just provide City with their toughest challenge of the season to date. How many people would have said that at the start of the season? Not I. And that is what makes this division so challenging, so stressful, so exciting and oh so unpredictable. 

To all those hardy souls going to Suffolk today do enjoy the trip. There is certainly plenty to see in the fair county and the town itself has much to offer; if ye shall seek ye shall find. Aldburgh for fish and chips might be a bit far out of town but just reward if you do; the best in Britain.

Cheers ye'all.

p.s. thanks to ESPN for much of the story on Mick.

Condensed Version

Ipswich

Peculiar shithole full of w**kers

1-1

[...]

5 minutes ago, Natchlander said:

great read as always ... love my saturdays with posts like this!

[...]

3 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Condensed Version

Ipswich

Peculiar shithole full of w**kers

1-1

Spoken like a true Brit, European and humanitarian.

[...]

6 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Condensed Version

Ipswich

Peculiar shithole full of w**kers

1-1

When we are playing in the Europa League, under LEE JOHNSON'S stewardship, and we draw FC Venice, FC Florence, or Nice, can you confirm you will be calling these places out as 'shit-holes'?

 

tfj

[BigTone]

5 minutes ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

When we are playing in the Europa League, under LEE JOHNSON'S stewardship, and we draw FC Venice, FC Florence, or Nice, can you confirm you will be calling these places out as 'shit-holes'?

 

tfj

Venice is

[Major Isewater]

18 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

"Your football is s---!" they shouted. "Your football is s---! Mick McCarthy, your football is s---!" Ipswich fans last season.

McCarthy shook hands with his opposite number, Kenny Jackett, and began the long walk from the benches on the halfway line to the tunnel in the far corner of the stadium. As he walked, the fans he passed intensified their volume, booing him all the way. Near the entrance to the tunnel, one man unleashed a ferocious staccato, first violin to the swelling symphony of catcalls around McCarthy.

"W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er! W---er!"

McCarthy, chin stiffened, eyes focused forward, didn't react. He simply strode down the tunnel and into the dressing room before the heavy, blue doors shut firmly behind him.

Whether at a World Cup or in the Premier League, he imposes principles from above. He makes a point of shaking the hand and learning the name of everyone at the club. He insists that his players be polite at all times, that they greet visitors to the club with courtesy. His staff are fiercely loyal; his personal assistant, Francesca Manning, bristles when we discuss the intensifying dissent in the crowd. Yet the team aren't scoring goals, and they aren't winning games.

That was last season. 

Ipswich Town is a most peculiar football club. If you didn't know their history, you might be tempted to consider them one of those provincial English oddities, an entirely unremarkable team drawing regular crowds of loyal locals but attracting little attention from anyone else. But the past is littered with rueful ex-footballers who underestimated Ipswich in a similar manner and paid the price.

In 1962, Alf Ramsey won the league with Ipswich. In 1978, Bobby Robson won the FA Cup, and the UEFA Cup followed in 1981. This was after poor results had the fans calling for his head, but chairman John Cobbold's response was to award Robson a new contract.

"There is no crisis at Ipswich until the white wine runs out in the boardroom," he said at the time.

In 2001, their first season back after a five-year absence, George Burley had Ipswich in the Premier League title race until they ran out of steam in the final weeks of the season and slipped to fifth. It has been some time since there was anything to celebrate at Ipswich.

In spite of a poor season last year McCarthy has finished in respectable upper half positions in his previous seasons managing Ipswich on a very meagre budget and with the club regularly posting a loss for the year as most if not all clubs do in the Championship not on a parachute back up. He received a lot of abuse last season. But like I recall Sean O'Driscoll saying on many occasions he repeats the mantra of 'I do not read the press'.

He goes on to say, "But reading it is just self-defeating. Why would you want to read or listen to peoples' comments if they're being critical? It's a bit like social media, which I'm not on, either. So if you see somebody say they're Mick McCarthy on Twitter -- or 'Twitter,' as I like to call it -- then it's not me."

Mick McCarthy is easily the longest serving manager in the Championship having been appointed in November 2012. 

Mick McCarthy and Eric Blair have something in common. Well I think they do. They both take solace from walking the banks of the River Orwell, a majestic and hypnotic body of water. Eric Blair was so enamoured with it that he took its name and became George Orwell taking much of his writing inspiration from his time meandering its course. The River Orwell flows entirely within the county of Suffolk. It is only about 20 km long and flows from the River Gipping to the River Stour estuary. The Orwell enters the North Sea at Harwich, near the port of Felixstowe. And of course the Orwell flows through Ipswich that place that is proud to have produced two of Englands better managers, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson but the club remains a peculiar place. Is it perhaps because Ipswich is said to be the longest inhabited town in the United Kingdom? Perhaps the people are just, well, more grounded, obscure, happy and sad and satisfied with it all than words can convey?

Mick is no mug. Inspired perhaps by his solitude or the fresh air where he allows himself the luxury of inner patience with all the nonsense of short term clamours for change at the first sight of failure. Ipswich have form for holding on to a manager and this season, at least so far, it seems that patience by owner Evans might pay off. Playing Ipswich at Portman Road might just provide City with their toughest challenge of the season to date. How many people would have said that at the start of the season? Not I. And that is what makes this division so challenging, so stressful, so exciting and oh so unpredictable. 

To all those hardy souls going to Suffolk today do enjoy the trip. There is certainly plenty to see in the fair county and the town itself has much to offer; if ye shall seek ye shall find. Aldburgh for fish and chips might be a bit far out of town but just reward if you do; the best in Britain.

Cheers ye'all.

p.s. thanks to ESPN for much of the story on Mick.

All well and good H but you haven't told us anything about Ipswich or Suffolk . 

 

Top match thread Mr H , thank you .

[...]

3 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Venice is

Venice is a shit-hole, is it?

Based on this, Ipswich must be a truly dreadful place.

Remind me never to argue reason with you.

 

tfj

[BigTone]

5 minutes ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

Venice is a shit-hole, is it?

 

Indeed it is.

[Shtanley]

Combine harvesters > Tractors

 

4-1 to city 

[ZiderEyed]

4 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Indeed it is.

Really is. As Karl Pilkington said, "It's just like London, flooded."

[...]

4 minutes ago, Shtanley said:

Combine harvesters > Tractors

 

4-1 to city 

Did you ever tell us what happened to that womans face?

[havanatopia]

8 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Indeed it is.

Starting to smell too at this time of year is it not Tone? Get your old banger Citroen BX out of there and back to the calm of the Dordogne.

[...]

6 minutes ago, ZiderEyed said:

Really is. As Karl Pilkington said, "It's just like London, flooded."

If that is Mr Pilkington of Pilkington glass - was he just not jealous?

[...]

3 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

Starting to smell too at this time of year is it not Tone? Get your old banger Citroen BX out of there and back to the calm of the Dordogne.

That is not fair now!

Lots are things that have a bad smell are the best things in life.

Lets get some proper balance to this Match Thread?

 

tfj

[havanatopia]

OK so I did post this on the 'Ipswich' thread but I think it might be more an interesting comparative read here:-

Nov 10th, 2007..

There were just over 22,000 at Portman Road for that match and a very decent City away following. They will have nothing like that attendance today. We were 1 down on 5 minutes thanks to a Jon Walters goal which hit the back of the net as soon as i got to my seat slightly late for kick off. 2-0 down on 15 with a David Wright goal and the cacophony of noise was so demoralising. But City dug in for the rest of the half thankfully only to utterly capitulate early in the second just when we all thought right, now the fight back. 3-0 on 48 minutes with a Tommy Miller penalty.. Bradley Orr was it who brought down Walters? He was sent off for that. Down to 10 and 3 down.. Some City fans had seen enough and walked out in the 48th minute! I had never seen that before. Jon Walters again on 55 and the trickle started to become a real steady flow of leavers. I had a long drive back to London to contemplate, let alone the brave souls going to Bristol, but I paid my money and I stayed hoping for one goal. It never came. 5-0 on 65 minutes by Pablo Counago and Walters got his hattrick after 72 minutes to make it a really humiliating 6-0 thrashing. City were totally outclassed. 

I want vengeance today. Bury the ghost of that nightmare City because Johnson and McAllister played that day and they must have it on their conscience. 

City started the match in 4th and Ipswich in 6th. They must have wondered how on earth we were above them in the table; I sincerely hope we feel the same about them at 5pm today.

By the way Trundle was an unused sub with Byfield and Sproule up front.

Edited September 30, 2017 by havanatopia

[...]

3 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

OK so I did post this on the 'Ipswich' thread but I think it might be more read and an interesting comparative read here:-

Nov 7th, 2007..

There were just over 22,000 at Portman Road for that match and a very decent City away following. They will have nothing like that attendance today. We were 1 down on 5 minutes thanks to a Jon Walters goal which hit the back of the net as soon as i got to my seat slightly late for kick off. 2-0 down on 15 with a David Wright goal and the cacophony of noise was so demoralising. But City dug in for the rest of the half thankfully only to utterly capitulate early in the second just when we all thought right, now the fight back. 3-0 on 48 minutes with a Tommy Miller penalty.. Bradley Orr was it who brought down Walters? He was sent off for that. Down to 10 and 3 down.. Some City fans had seen enough and walked out in the 48th minute! I had never seen that before. Jon Walters again on 55 and the trickle started to become a real steady flow of leavers. I had a long drive back to London to contemplate, let alone the brave souls going to Bristol, but I paid my money and I stayed hoping for one goal. It never came. 5-0 on 65 minutes by Pablo Counago and Walters got his hattrick after 72 minutes to make it a really humiliating 6-0 thrashing. City were totally outclassed. 

I want vengeance today. Bury the ghost of that nightmare City because Johnson and McAllister played that day and they must have it on their conscience. 

City started the match in 4th and Ipswich in 6th. They have must have wondered how on earth we were above them in the table; I sincerely hope we feel the same about them at 5pm today.

Lee Trundle, by the way, was an unused sub with Byfield and Sproule up front.

Vengeance?

This is a side to you we have not previously seen.

I suppose no-one is a complete saint ................

[Major Isewater]

5 minutes ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

Vengeance?

This is a side to you we have not previously seen.

I suppose no-one is a complete saint ................

Except this man .

 

[reddogkev]

COME ON YOU REDSSSS, GET YOURSELVES INTO THE TOP 6 AND DAMN WELL STAY THERE!

Expecting City to scrape a 1-0 win, thanks to a bundled ball over the line, probably off of Flint or Diedhou's backside in the 71st minute.

[Edge1981]

5 minutes ago, reddogkev said:

COME ON YOU REDSSSS, GET YOURSELVES INTO THE TOP 6 AND DAMN WELL STAY THERE!

Expecting City to scrape a 1-0 win, thanks to a bundled ball over the line, probably off of Flint or Diedhou's backside in the 71st minute.

Oh how I would take that result right now! 1-1 for me with Reid grabbing a late equaliser 

[ashton_fan]

I think we're still a bit fragile away from AG, will be more than happy with a point

[Gert Mare]

A conservative draw for me. Ipswich are no mugs. 

[Loosey Boy]

Take a point and move on.

[Nogbad the Bad]

8 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

Except this man .

 

And his grandson.

 

[BigTone]

32 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

Starting to smell too at this time of year is it not Tone? Get your old banger Citroen BX out of there and back to the calm of the Dordogne.

It will be a tad on the bugle.  However, white wine & stinky cheese in the Doggydoo ..................... nice idea

Edited September 30, 2017 by BigTone

[pongo88]

An aximious post as always @havanatopia . The only thing that has changed over time, is that last year your posts were much more interesting than the actual City performances. This year the football is often as good as the match day intro

[Malago]

Worryingly, I have a good feeling about today.  2-1 to the Pride of Bedminster.

[Buster Footman's T shirt]

47 minutes ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

When we are playing in the Europa League, under LEE JOHNSON'S stewardship, and we draw FC Venice, FC Florence, or Nice, can you confirm you will be calling these places out as 'shit-holes'?

 

tfj

When we are playing in the Europa league; based on recent vagaries of various cup draws, there is a high probability of playing Gillingham.....

[Alessandro]

Again I'd be happy with a draw.

But I think the players will believe they can win this one. 

They've lost three of their last 6, once to Fulham, who are level with us.

COYR

[Fodbarmyarmy]

56 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Venice is

Sinking? 

[ZiderEyed]

How many old boys are we gonna be up against today? Gerken, Skuse, Spence? Any more?

[WhistleHappy]

57 minutes ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

This has got either 1 or 3 points for City WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

Likely we will leapfrog Ipswidge into the playoffs.

City going like a *steam train under Johnson.

Probably win the playoffs, and be in the Prem next season.

Johnson gets another transfer window, completes his masterpiece and actually DOES get us into the Europa League.

"Shit!!!!!!"

 

tfj

Loco for Johnson ... ??

(cancel the Taxi ... take the train!)

 

[Major Isewater]

20 minutes ago, ashton_fan said:

I think we're still a bit fragile away from AG, will be more than happy with a point

I would say we're  stubborn away from home . We don't look fragile at all.

Last season I agree but this one the lads have ' grown up ' and we manage games so much better.

We don't crumble against the home pressure . We  aren't so ' gung ho ' but we are coming away with points and gaining more and more confidence with each performance.

 

[Leveller]

47 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Indeed it is.

On a pedantic technicality, it must surely be shitpuddle rather than a shithole?

[Septic Peg]

Morning Hav and all. 

Great thread Hav. Mick is an absolute stalwart of the old school. I once watched his eulogy from the funeral of Mr Barnsley (can't remember the name - apologies) and Mick came across as just a genuinely decent, down to earth fella. 

Going to be horribly battered today I feel. Dreading 5pm on here. 3-1 to Town...

[jayjay]

45 minutes ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

 

Lots are things that have a bad smell are the best things in life.

 

 

 

Camembert cheese.

[Coombsy]

Just popped on the Bristol City forum and seen this on 16:10 - Sep 29 by nshearman1

I'm in Barrow Gurney now. A friend gave me his season ticket for the Bolton game as he couldn't go, you are a decent side this year, 'tight' as a number of you mention on Harry's forum summary. I think you will give us a battle but after our fireworks this week I personally think it will be more of a scrap than a football feast - but I am known as a moaner on here. Apart from those you mention, I was very impressed with young Joe Bryan on Tuesday. Your stadium is also very impressive, it seemed to me that you've managed to keep the noise and excitement of an older stadium while turning it into a modern one.

[Atyeo's lift]

Great post as always, Hav, but isn't it Colchester that is the longest inhabited town in England? Ipswich was much later.

[cheshire_red]

1 hour ago, havanatopia said:

OK so I did post this on the 'Ipswich' thread but I think it might be more an interesting comparative read here:-

Nov 10th, 2007.. Some City fans had seen enough and walked out in the 48th minute! I had never seen that before. 

Blackpool away needing a win for a PO place, started well before half time, in fact before the half hour mark

Edited September 30, 2017 by cheshire_red

[WhistleHappy]

33 minutes ago, Coombsy said:

Just popped on the Bristol City forum and seen this on 16:10 - Sep 29 by nshearman1

I'm in Barrow Gurney now. A friend gave me his season ticket for the Bolton game as he couldn't go, you are a decent side this year, 'tight' as a number of you mention on Harry's forum summary. I think you will give us a battle but after our fireworks this week I personally think it will be more of a scrap than a football feast - but I am known as a moaner on here. Apart from those you mention, I was very impressed with young Joe Bryan on Tuesday. Your stadium is also very impressive, it seemed to me that you've managed to keep the noise and excitement of an older stadium while turning it into a modern one.

Visiting Brother Ernie I expect..

[ashton_fan]

41 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

I would say we're  stubborn away from home . We don't look fragile at all.

Last season I agree but this one the lads have ' grown up ' and we manage games so much better.

We don't crumble against the home pressure . We  aren't so ' gung ho ' but we are coming away with points and gaining more and more confidence with each performance.

 

We were definitely fragile at Brentford and to a lesser extent at Birmingham and Wolves but got some points because we can also score

[ZiderEyed]

9 minutes ago, WhistleHappy said:

Visiting Brother Ernie I expect..

Whatever happened to that mural in the East End? Was it just knocked down, anyone know?

I imagine this will go down like a lead balloon with the club but wouldn't it be nice if we could do a bit more decoration in the singing sections? Theres room for it, at least get something hung up there rather than grey walls.

[Son of Fred]

1 hour ago, havanatopia said:

Starting to smell too at this time of year is it not Tone? Get your old banger Citroen BX out of there and back to the calm of the Dordogne.

That's what gets you... The stink 'high' summer..

That and the cats.

[Cider_boy]

1 hour ago, havanatopia said:

Nov 10th, 2007..

There were just over 22,000 at Portman Road for that match and a very decent City away following. They will have nothing like that attendance today. We were 1 down on 5 minutes thanks to a Jon Walters goal which hit the back of the net as soon as i got to my seat slightly late for kick off. 2-0 down on 15 with a David Wright goal and the cacophony of noise was so demoralising. But City dug in for the rest of the half thankfully only to utterly capitulate early in the second just when we all thought right, now the fight back. 3-0 on 48 minutes with a Tommy Miller penalty.. Bradley Orr was it who brought down Walters? He was sent off for that. Down to 10 and 3 down.. Some City fans had seen enough and walked out in the 48th minute! I had never seen that before. Jon Walters again on 55 and the trickle started to become a real steady flow of leavers. I had a long drive back to London to contemplate, let alone the brave souls going to Bristol, but I paid my money and I stayed hoping for one goal. It never came. 5-0 on 65 minutes by Pablo Counago and Walters got his hattrick after 72 minutes to make it a really humiliating 6-0 thrashing. City were totally outclassed.

God, I remember that. Wasn't there, but was on a stag-do pub crawl, along with an old friend who was an Ipswich season ticket holder. My pre-match banter soon went quiet.

[GrahamC]

I like Mick, a lot.

The football is basic but he is 100% honest and one of few these days not to blame the ref, weird circumstances (hello Darrell)  etc when losing.

He took horrendous stick last season despite having no funds at all and is not the longest serving manager in the division for no reason.

I also loved his reaction early in the season when asked about their fans signing "super Mick McCarthy" after their latest win.

He Said (on Radio Suffolk) " I pay no attention to it, it is all a load of bollocks, isn't it, the very same people wanted me sacked last season".

Honest, proper bloke.

[exAtyeoMax]

COYRs! 

 

[ZiderEyed]

15 minutes ago, Thatch35 said:

Hard one today, City could win 3-1 or lose to the same score line.

Yep, hard to call honestly. Definitely goals in it though.

[Robin101]

City to win 2-1

[southvillekiddy]

2 hours ago, havanatopia said:

OK so I did post this on the 'Ipswich' thread but I think it might be more an interesting comparative read here:-

Nov 10th, 2007..

There were just over 22,000 at Portman Road for that match and a very decent City away following. They will have nothing like that attendance today. We were 1 down on 5 minutes thanks to a Jon Walters goal which hit the back of the net as soon as i got to my seat slightly late for kick off. 2-0 down on 15 with a David Wright goal and the cacophony of noise was so demoralising. But City dug in for the rest of the half thankfully only to utterly capitulate early in the second just when we all thought right, now the fight back. 3-0 on 48 minutes with a Tommy Miller penalty.. Bradley Orr was it who brought down Walters? He was sent off for that. Down to 10 and 3 down.. Some City fans had seen enough and walked out in the 48th minute! I had never seen that before. Jon Walters again on 55 and the trickle started to become a real steady flow of leavers. I had a long drive back to London to contemplate, let alone the brave souls going to Bristol, but I paid my money and I stayed hoping for one goal. It never came. 5-0 on 65 minutes by Pablo Counago and Walters got his hattrick after 72 minutes to make it a really humiliating 6-0 thrashing. City were totally outclassed. 

I want vengeance today. Bury the ghost of that nightmare City because Johnson and McAllister played that day and they must have it on their conscience. 

City started the match in 4th and Ipswich in 6th. They must have wondered how on earth we were above them in the table; I sincerely hope we feel the same about them at 5pm today.

By the way Trundle was an unused sub with Byfield and Sproule up front.

Went to that game and felt suicidal afterwards. Walking around Ipswich following the game I thought I'd strayed onto the set for "Sean of the Dead" and thought about offering myself as a properly dead crowd extra. You would have thought we had won 5 nil instead of Ipswich. Their fans were zombie fans. What a joyless place

[MelksRed]

2 hours ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

This has got either 1 or 3 points for City WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

Likely we will leapfrog Ipswidge into the playoffs.

City going like a steam train under Johnson.

Probably win the playoffs, and be in the Prem next season.

Johnson gets another transfer window, completes his masterpiece and actually DOES get us into the Europa League.

"Shit!!!!!!"

 

tfj

So glad to see that there are still people with a firm grasp of sarcasm........

Whilst I do not believe we will be in the playoffs at Christmas/end of the season....we can't ignore that the team have been playing well (or getting results....which ever way you want to look at it) of late. They do deserve some credit for that at least.

As for your hatred of LJ .....I still remember last season...........as most of us do......you have to go through the lows to get to the (potential) highs......if results turn I have no doubt that there will be less time given to him this season....he has however seemingly created a positive environment which is allowing our players to flourish....I think we should all just enjoy it for however long it lasts.......

[havanatopia]

2 hours ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

Vengeance?

This is a side to you we have not previously seen.

I suppose no-one is a complete saint ................

Legal vengeance with only psychological brain damage to the losers.

2 hours ago, pongo88 said:

An aximious post as always @havanatopia . The only thing that has changed over time, is that last year your posts were much more interesting than the actual City performances. This year the football is often as good as the match day intro

Eximious squire. Tis eximious. Thanks all the same.

1 hour ago, Septic Peg said:

Morning Hav and all. 

Great thread Hav. Mick is an absolute stalwart of the old school. I once watched his eulogy from the funeral of Mr Barnsley (can't remember the name - apologies) and Mick came across as just a genuinely decent, down to earth fella. 

Going to be horribly battered today I feel. Dreading 5pm on here. 3-1 to Town...

I was going to like the post but that felt wrong with that last remark. Awfully negative of you Pegs. ;(

1 hour ago, Atyeo's lift said:

Great post as always, Hav, but isn't it Colchester that is the longest inhabited town in England? Ipswich was much later.

According to my research no the operative word here being 'continuous'. But do dig deeper and let me know.

Edited September 30, 2017 by havanatopia

[EstoniaTallinnRed]

Afternoon all from grey Tallinn, temperature around 10 C, a perfect afternoon for sitting at the computer and listening to the game.  Still, I don't feel too confident today, I feel this could be the end of our unbeaten run (after all it has to end sometime) however, we may manage to scrape a draw, a win and I will be over the moon. So get everything going boys from the off and  COYR's.

[CiderCraig]

2 hours ago, Taxi for Johnson said:

This has got either 1 or 3 points for City WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

Likely we will leapfrog Ipswidge into the playoffs.

City going like a steam train under Johnson.

Probably win the playoffs, and be in the Prem next season.

Johnson gets another transfer window, completes his masterpiece and actually DOES get us into the Europa League.

"Shit!!!!!!"

 

tfj

Taxi for Taxi for Johnson...

[Cider_boy]

3 minutes ago, EstoniaTallinnRed said:

Still, I don't feel too confident today, I feel this could be the end of our unbeaten run (after all it has to end sometime) however, we may manage to scrape a draw, a win and I will be over the moon

This.  The one thing that helps the confidence a little is that our defence has been more solid recently than last year. Just hope they haven't figured out running at Flint rather than lumping high balls in near him!  

[Offside]

I'm feeling strangely upbeat about this game. We have to get something at Portman Road at some point, so why not today? My main concern is that LJ has sometimes struggled against wily, experienced managers like McCarthy. Let's see what happens. COYR

[WhistleHappy]

2 hours ago, Septic Peg said:

Going to be horribly battered today I feel.

Callum is that you? 

Don't panic it'll be ok..

[handsofclay]

53 minutes ago, southvillekiddy said:

Went to that game and felt suicidal afterwards. Walking around Ipswich following the game I thought I'd strayed onto the set for "Sean of the Dead" and thought about offering myself as a properly dead crowd extra. You would have thought we had won 5 nil instead of Ipswich. Their fans were zombie fans. What a joyless place

That's because Ipswich had won 6-0 and not 5-0. It would depress me if City beat a team at or near the top of the table 6-0 and the visiting fans thought it was 5-0.

[Northamptonshire Red]

Affectionately known as 'The Binners' by Norwich City fans...

[downendcity]

Can't work out if I'm feeling optimistic, in a pesimistic sort of way, or pesimistic, in an optimistic sort of way, about today's game.

[Ashtonboy]

Any news on the line up?

[1891 B.C. Sweden]

Fielding, Wright, Flint, Baker, Bryan, Paterson, K.Smith, Brownhill, O'Dowda, Diédhiou, Reid.

subs: Steele, Magnússon, Hegeler, Leko, Eliasson, Woodrow, Taylor

Edited September 30, 2017 by 1891 B.C. Sweden

[ZiderEyed]

3 minutes ago, 1891 B.C. Sweden said:

Fielding, Wright, Flint, Baker, Bryan, Paterson, K.Smith, Brownhill, O'Dowda, Diédhiou, Reid.

No surprises there then.

Edited September 30, 2017 by ZiderEyed

[Red Army 75]

COYR . About time we had a win there 

[Luxo Jr.]

Apart from a returning Pisano, and eventually Eliasson when he's ready, this is my ideal 11.

[Major Isewater]

53 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

Legal vengeance with only psychological brain damage to the losers.

Eximious squire. Tis eximious. Thanks all the same.

I was going to like the post but that felt wrong with that last remark. Awfully negative of you Pegs. ;(

According to my research no the operative word here being 'continuous'. But do dig deeper and let me know.

There's cream for Eximious that soothes.

[Jacki]

Any kind of positive result would do me today. COYR 

[Northern Red]

Cue cries that Leko has been forgotten about... 

[iamalagerdrinker]

You Reds!