Jim Magilton's Blue & White Army

A very cruel day at Turf Moor, we were the better side throughout and just couldn't do that one key thing put the ball in the back of the net ... and then just when you think one point is better than nothing you find the Ref spotted some stoppages that nobody else did and adds on about a year (slight exaggeration) of injury time. Of course, Town fell asleep, and Burnley went and scored. Moral - you've got to play for the full 99 minutes. Oh well - good performance, bad result - against a decent side.

I suppose it could be worse - oh, it is - just noticed those budgies sneaked a win.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
...Of course, Town fell asleep...

Sounds familiar...

quote:

I suppose it could be worse - oh, it is - just noticed those budgies sneaked a win.

Sounds less familiar, but unwelcome nonetheless...!

James

Oh no, not again. C'mon Jim, sort it out - extra shooting practice required. It's called a goal and it's got posts and a net. The game is football, not rugby and you are supposed to but the ball under the bar - we got the between the posts bit right. BTW you don't get anything extra for trying to break the net, just rolling the ball in counts too. It's going to be a long hard season.

Just noticed Wednesday have taken 13 points out of the last 15 - now I think that's a bit greedy.

All that shooting practice must have paid off, ROTF! A couple of fine goals from Haynes and a well deserved win.

I take it that you went to the game as you haven't posted on here yet.

Well done the Tractor Boys then, but you've pushed us down a place, you buggers!

Mark

Just got back

Oh goodie!

good result,always said ipswich would be thereabouts at the death. hope you get promoted.nice to see good football played the right way.
scotty

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
Oh goodie!

should have added - can now go to the [Norfolk] pub with head held high!

James

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful - match of the season so far.



Budgies scored against the run of play in the first-half after a mistake by Mathew Richards, but Sylvain Legwinski slid in a terrific equaliser just before the break. Then Danny Haynes, did it again: winner at Dehlia’s place Road last season and today headed home a Gary Roberts cross with his first touch and sealed it with a magnificent curling shot.

From the start, Town were impressive; Gary Roberts got on the end of a Mathew Richards' pass; Alan Lee spun and shot just wide. Sylvain Legwinski had an effort blocked. Gary Roberts had a shot cleared off the line. That was the first 10 minutes. Gary Roberts had another shot blocked just after, he caused Norwich problems all afternoon. Alan Lee should have scored from a superb Matthew Bates' cross, but it went inches over. Somebody then scored, but for some reason I was distracted and didn’t see it; though my guess is it should have been disallowed. Soon after normal service was resaumed, Gary Roberts forced a great save from the Budgies’ keeper. Town should have had a penalty when the Budgies centre half produced a tackle that somebody chasing an oval ball would have been proud of - in fact all afternoon he tried to pull the shirt of Alan Lee’s back.

Then it happened just before half time - GOAL, Gary Roberts to Billy Clarke and back across to Sylvain Legwinski who scored with aplomb (where else other than a football thread would you hear the word aplomb).

There was still time for Billy Clark to go close and be chopped down by the Budgies centre half, but the referee used his white stick to wave play on.

Second half and the only mystery was the score line. Budgies one attack - one goal; Town countless attacks - one goal. Billy Clarke weaved his way through the Budgies defence and produced yet another fine save for the overworked Budgies’ keeper. Then that same 'keeper, who was beginning to get on my nerves with all those saves, palmed out another Billy Clarke shot straight to Mathew Richards. Richards repeated his finishing of last week and sent it for 3 points between the posts and high, but not very handsome over, the bar. Owen Garvan should be back soon.

One of the Budgies chopped down Simon Walton and Gary Roberts sent the resultant free- kick inches over. I always thought a foul in the penalty area was penalty kick, but the referee was playing by different rules and gave a free kick about a foot further back from where the tackle happened. It amazed me that he couldn’t see it from a few yards, when I, not blessed with the greatest eyesight, could see it was a blatant penalty from much further away.

Soon after Alan Lee rose to head Dan Harding’s superb pin-point cross. I shouted goal, but that wretched Budgies keeper punched it away again. Why today of all days, had he picked today to give the finest display of his career, I wondered.

The the masterstroke, Jim Magilton made one of the truly great substitutions. Billy Clarke was slightly injured having another shot. On came, Danny Haynes. His first touch - GOAL. Danny Haynes thumped a header past that ‘keeper from a cross by the magnificent Gary Roberts.

Alan Lee had another header cleared off the line, Gary Roberts had a great shot land on the roof of the net.

And then, as the game was coming to a close - GOAL: Danny Haynes with that wonderful curling shot.



What a great day.

Next stop Barnsley - always had a soft spot for Barnsley since that wonderful play-off game. The Barnsley supporters were great. Hope it's a great match.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful - match of the season so far.....



What a great day.

And what a great match description, ROTF! (Just like Radio Suffolk in the 'old days'!)

Glad you're back safely from your work away, to keep us up to speed with ITFC.
James

Back to reality - not a good performance. We missed Billy Clarke.

Although a 90 minute is a cruel way to lose, we go what we deserved from the game: nothing. The Tykes deserved the points; I hope they stay up, as they have some of the nicest supporters you could wish to meet.

We lost Matt Bates, I doubt he'll play for us again if the injury is bad as it looked.

Jim's verdict: It was an awful game. There was no football played, and we were poor. We didn't pass the ball at all. Neither goalkeeper had to make a save, and we fell asleep when it really mattered yet again. Barnsley are fighting for their lives. We expected a backlash - and we got it. Ultimately, we lost the game because we switched off.

ROTF,
you need mark noble back! to be honest whu might as well let him go if they are not going to play him.
scotty

quote:

Originally posted by scottyhammer:
ROTF,
you need mark noble back! to be honest whu might as well let him go if they are not going to play him.
scotty

Definitely

Didn't see tonight's match, but we lost to another goal in injury time - this is getting a habbit. If matches only lasted 89 minutes then we'd have 3 more points from our last 3 away games. Having another player sent off didn't help (Simon Walton for kicking the ball away). Aparently Gary Roberts goal was a candidate for goal of the season with a volley from 25 yards. Oh well.

Why, oh why do we take our eye off the ball in the last minute?! Even to my rather amateur eye, this seems to have been a bit of a continuing thread through at least three managers and several core squad changes. "ITFC goes to sleep in last minute" - you can hear the mantra being repeated in opposition changing rooms even as we speak...

James

Another 90th minute strike, but this time to the right side; just when I thought we’d blown it again - up stepped the mighty Alan Lee. A superb corner by Gary Roberts and Noel-Williams doing the only thing he could to prevent it being headed in - a blatant hand ball. Referee spot on with the decision. It was the last moment on the game; the pressure was on. Alan Lee moved forward with grace. He scored one the coolest penalties you’ll ever see. What a strike. Goalkeeper sent one way, ball the other. Alan gave. the otherwise unbeatable, Coyne the eyes, as they say. Magnificent. OK, so I'm getting a bit carried away here.

I thought Lafferty had sneaked it for Burnley and it would have been rough on us, given that we played well. BTW having seen a replay wasn’t Derby’s winner on Wednesday punched in? - still, I digress.

Alan Lee, playing against his old club, should have scored in the first minute, but headed wide.

As the half progressed, Town started to take control. Owen Garvan's (good to see him back) shot had goal written all over it, until a Burnley player got in the way. Then Owen Garvan teamed up with Billy Clarke who hit a 20 yard screamer, only to see Coyne make a decent save.

Then Alan Lee crossed. Owen Garvan headed down and Billy Clarke raced in to force another save from Coyne. Why do our opponents always have goalkeepers who are in such great form?

Richard ‘Bam-Bam’ Naylor was felled in the box, but the referee missed the foul and Burnley escaped again. FWIW, I’d have given the penalty.

Second-half - Gavin Williams superb cross, Sylvain Legwinski met it. Coyne saved again.

Alan Lee stormed into the box and shot - just wide (of the corner flag).

Gavin Williams shot just over (that's just in the sense of about 20 feet).

Gary Roberts corner just evaded Jason De Vos, who I thought was about to score.

Gavin Williams: another great cross, which Sylvian Legwinski headed narrowly over.

Send for Jamie Peters and Danny Haynes. Jamie’s snake-like run looked to have carved Burnley apart; the only reason he didn’t register his second goal of the season was that his shot lack that all important direction. You’ve got to shoot at the goal, Jamie; great run though.

Then those two late goals - thought Lewis Price might have saved Lafferty's curling shot, but Coyne had no chance with Alan's superb penalty.

We should have won this game. Burnley were a robust, but good side with yet another very good goalkeeper.

Chester or Bury away - I wanted Chelsea or Manchester United. Still I think we have a chance at Chester or Bury.

Notice Tamworth got the easy draw.

Off you go for a week away and the lads do the stuff.

Good draw at Cardiff, though reports say we were far the better side and should have won.

However, 1-0 against Leeds and a stunning goal by Gavin Williams (so I'm told I've not had chance to see it).

It's getting better - and we're above the budgies

Christmas has been down and up - a dreadful performance against Stoke, lost 1-0 and were lucky to get 0.

After a mediocre first half against Coventry, the team improved in the second half with two well worked goals from John (will he stay or will he go) Macken and Alan Lee. Nearly gave it away at the end, but deserved the win.

Tomorrow, it is away at the Hawthorns to avenge the 1-5 from earlier in the season.



Good news is that Gary Roberts is staying and has signed up until 2010. He's impressed since his arrival from Accrington Stanley. We need a few further additions if we are going to make any progress in 2007.

Thanks for keeping us exiles posted! Happy New Year (we hope!)

Not a dreadful performance at the Hawthorns by any means, but West Brom were the better side. The penalty that led to the first goal was very dubious, but Koumas's long range shot was one we could have no complaints about. I think WBA will go up as they are the best team we've played this year.

Next up Birmingham tomorrow.

ROTF -

We went shopping in BSE yesterday, which I am delighted to say brought us into Radio Suffolk range, so for once I could listen to the dulcet tones of Brenner describing the match.

Although Town lost, yes it sounded like not the worst performance, so hopefully things will go better in 2007, especially if the weaker areas of Town's game can be bolstered by a couple of signings in the transfer window (though almost invitably that will mean someone going...).

I missed the dubious penalty - the radio pundits wanted the referee struck off the list!

Happy New Year from your friendly Suffolk exile in Norfolk,
James

Happy New Year to you James.

At this time of year I always let my mind drift back to the good old days - 1973

Lets hope for a slightly better year in 2007!