The Hotel End

The struggling Cobblers play a local derby away at Ipswich on Tuesday night.....well Anglia News will probably call it a local derby at least!!

Town sit 23rd in the table, Ipswich are not doing that well under Paul Lambert this season and find themselves sitting in 12th place on 39 points, which is currently five points outside of the playoffs but they do have games in hand on most of the teams above them. Their game at Shrewsbury on Saturday was called off due to a frozen pitch so its been a week since their last action, when they slipped to a 2-1 defeat in the mud at London Road to the Posh. Current form wise they only have 1 win in their last five games, that was a 2-0 success over Blackpool in their last home game. They are without a home league draw this season, eight wins go alongside six defeats and just 16 goals scored. Those 6 defeats came in 7 games. They lost to Hull, Charlton, Portsmouth, Swindon, Peterborough and Sunderland and actually failed to score in five of those six. A win over Burton was the only game to break the sequence. They have also lost home cup games against Arsenal U21's in the Trophy, Fulham in the EFL Cup and Portsmouth in the FA Cup so home has not been good to them this season.

Joint top scorers for the Blues are Gwion Edwards and Jon Nolan with just five goals apiece, Ed Bishop has four and the prolific James Norwood just three but he did have a spell out through injury.

A few Cobblers connections in their ranks, Luke Chambers is still with them, now in his ninth year he has made 380 appearances for them, hard to believe he made his debut for us almost 18 years ago now!! Goalkeeper Dave Cornell is also in their ranks now, he joined them last Summer but has only made six league appearances. A third ex Cobbler is Emyr Huws who had a loan spell with us back in 2012 whilst at Manchester City. A looser connection is their midfielder Andre Dozzell, who is the son of former Ipswich and Northampton midfielder Jason.

Head to Head, going back to 1938 we've only met each other 31 times in all competitions, they hold the upper hand but only just with 12 wins to our 11. In the league we lead 10 wins to nine. Our last trip to Portman Road resulted in a Cobblers victory, we came from behind to beat them 2-1 in a Carling Cup tie back in August 2011 with Ben Tozer and Paul Turnbull scoring our goals. This will be the first time we have faced them in the League though since 1966-67 season, the season after relegation from the top flight, we were trounced 6-1 away that season but we did draw the home game. Our last league win on their patch came in 1957!!

Darren Drysdale is down to officiate in the match, nineteen games this season have seen him flash 46 yellow cards and just the one red. Seven of those yellow cards were in our first game of the season, that 3-0 win over Cardiff in the EFL Cup seems a distant memory now! The experienced whistler is in his 17th year on the League list.

I'll be cowering behind the sofa for this one.

Having had the worst possible week we need to pick up some points from this weeks 2 away games and I believe the Ipswich game probably presents the better chance as MK are in good form having 10 points from their last 4 games.
Ipswich are not prolific scorers, only 6 teams in the division have scored fewer goals, and they have not scored more than 2 in a home league game. They have lost 6 of the last 8 home games failing to score in 5 and only keeping 1 clean sheet, strange as they did not concede a goal in the first 5 home games.
Unlikely that Cornell will be playing as after a run of games he has lost his place, also they have recently dropped Chambers who was playing right back.

I don’t think they need to worry, I can’t see any scenario where they would need more than 2 goals to win.

They should be made to play Cornell so it even things up a bit.
3-0 tractor boys

😂😂

1-1

Another loss. You cant polish a turd.
2-0 Ippy

I’m going for a dour backs to the wall 0-0.

I guess you’re factored in an own goal from them?

Let's be positive and hope that the fact we are not playing a team in the bottom 7 means that we relax and play good football. A 1-1  draw for me .

Is Sheehan or Miller available?

Probably not.

Great work by KC getting Sheehan tied up to a longer contract.

Was Miller ever fit or is he another Nuttall?

I guess when your shopping at the food bank your just grateful for anything.
I don’t believe KC would have signed any of these “players” if he would have known their injury records, I think Miller was bad luck, Sheehan is McCormack all over again, Nuttall is yet another massive embarrassment to the club.
WTF does Whiting do, he needs to be more hands on in some of theses deals as he is KTs right hand man.

Simon Tracey made the player recommendations to KC, based on how KC plays & the characteristics KC looks for in players...that worked out well!

We've got Tracey & Dan Watson for at least another year unless they get sacked too, once the new gaffa comes in, as he'll probably want his own backroom team.

The Burton game, although a bit livelier, did it for me, the last embers of hope were stinking of damp piss by the final whistle.

So much did it affect me, I’ve actually gone full circle and now just finding it funny.

Same as the cricket! If Carlsberg did shit sporting weeks..

No, but you can roll it in glitter. Either way another loss on the horizon.

Waiting for Sheehan to be fit is much akin (to those old enough to remember) to waiting for a Take Hart Gallery gift... perpetually in the post!

Andy Peters didn’t wait that long apparently!

Not sure about Ipswich but I’ll guess at Northampton nil.

Isn't it about time you moved on...? ;D

Is Glenville Donegal available for selection?

He a week in front of Sheehan apparently.

If you are looking for a holiday home, yes.

https://news.sky.com/story/ipswich-town-football-fans-use-flares-to-start-training-ground-fire-12219652#:~:text=There%20were%2012%20flares%20thrown,flames%20out%2C%20Sky%20Sports%20said.

Ipswich fans not too happy?

You'd think their next game being against us would make them happy !

Cobblers new management team going to extreme lengths to gain a psychological advantage....

ᴍᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ

❓Who are they?
⏮️ Last Time Out
⚽Last Time We Met
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🗣️Match Officials
& More

So much to read in our ᴍᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ its bigger than ever this week, make sure you give it a read.

https://cobblerspast.com/preview-ipswich-a160220/

They have training facilities just like us  :P

Bolger pays the price.

Team:

Mitchell; Kioso, Jones, Horsfall, Mills (c); McWilliams, Morris, Sowerby; Hoskins, Rose, Marshall.

Subs: Arnold, Harriman, Bolger, Watson, Ashley-Seal, Edmondson, Chukwuemeka.

But it was Mitchell who committed the foul leading to the first goal and he stays in.
Sowerby starts ahead of the more attacking Watson.

It probably will!  ::)

I can recall people posting that Chucky was worth two million, but the man who knows him best, puts him on the bench. Nuff said. Get real .

Don’t remember people quoting that much, but could he go on to be worth that in future? Very possibly, I wonder how much Toney is worth now, £20M? £25M? with people calling him over hyped when he played for us. I fully understand though Brady not starting him in a relegation team which doesn’t create much while still so young, though if some of our more experienced strikers don’t start scoring soon he might be worth a shot.

Cocky f***er in the Ipswich commentary team - if the players heard their comments it would hopefully make them go that extra mile.

On facebook. They did. And said posters pop up on here. Under an assumed name.
But now you are doing the same. Is Toney really worth 25 million quid at the moment?

Ollie Watkins went from Brentford last year for £28M - £35M to Villa, Toney already nearly has as many goals as Watkins managed all year (including play offs) he also has the most assists in the championship as well as being top scorer. So to suggest Toney might be worth £20M or £25M doesn’t seem crazy to me.

Still seem to be lacking any quality in the final 3rd. A couple of good openings but poor passing or decision making has cost us so far.

Rochdale losing

Sowerby played through nicely by Rose. Charging into the box one  on one but opts to pass the ball back to their keeper.

Just looking at his stats 0 goals and just 1 assist all year.

Bristol Rovers losing

Thank f@ck everyone else at the bottom is also so useless

This is so much better. Dropping that zonal nonsense is allowing us to press more and offer an out ball in possession. We are the better side at the minute and being competitive is our main priority. Even had a shot on target.

We've lost a bit of momentum as the halfs gone on though. Had two best chances though.

Morris in the book

It’s so much better to watch, at least that’s a start.

Momentum is shifting....

How many silly fouls are we aiming to give away in the middle third?

Hoskins great chance.

Bristol Rovers level now with Portsmouth

We are crying out for someone with a bit of quality in the final third. Nobody seems to be able to make the killer pass or get away a half decent shot which is a shame as we are playing well.

McWilliams looks like he has come for a wrestle rather than a game of football. If he avoids a booking tonight il buy the club and have the east stand finished by Easter.

Best we’ve played all season but still no goals!!

We can’t keep hitting the woodwork FFS.

I know I may have mentioned him before but I’d love to see Hoskins pass completion stats

We look good and we look even better with our passing on the floor
Very enjoyable

Marshall and Kioso working well.

Hoskins seems to give the ball away every time he has it.

I agree, much better. You cant really ask much more than first half away from home to Ipswich after where we've come from with Curle. We dont need a new manager if we are gonna play like this between now and May. We just need that first goal

Ipswich can’t play as badly in the second half, Hope this isn’t a missed opportunity

Bristol Rovers winning

He played a cracker there, but again the wrong decision in the final third.

He did but he’s just not enough of a footballer at this level, fully expect him to be dropped if Miller is fit.

I also hope that’s the case. Certainly looks like the weak link.

That's what I feel as well. They surely won't be as bad as that second half, and will probably just need one half chance.
This 100% feels like Austin's time, plenty of chances but cursed to never finish them off. That goaless record of an albatross getting heavier and heavier by the minute.

Man for man marking, playing a higher line, pressing the opposition and making themselves available off the ball. Nice and simple, what could possibly go wrong? Thank god we currently have someone in charge who’s not trying to be Pep Guardiola. If we play like this for the rest of the season we’ll stay up. Trust me, I’m a doctor.

Well, if Ipswich think they are play off contenders what are we? runaway leaders? ;D
Hope we can keep it up 2nd half and have just a little luck for a change.

I’ve got a bad feeling about the second half, can’t think why though?

I haven't

Only socks and Y-fronts left in the ironing pile?

Sack 'em all.......




Sorry, just warming up!!  ;D

;D
Much ironing of garments and dusting of rubber plants is needed.

No Dr. Feelgood again then. Part timer!!!

There, we're bang on it now!!!

Mick Mills and Johnny on the Mike are banging on about how poor Ipswich are but it’s down to the way we are playing. As brilliant as Kioso and Marshall have been McWilliams is the best player on the pitch. Think we’ll be saying goodbye to him at the end of the season? Mills has been really good as well (Joseph not Mick)

I worry when the kids go back. What we gonna do without Brady?

Well played CJ.

Sean having a much better game today compared to Wigan. Those 'silly fouls' in the middle are just what we need from him as well, at least until the ref gets his cards out.

Thought they are playing ok - it’s just that we have had a couple of chances not sitters; ball not running for us! Easier on the eye ::)

This really is a breath of fresh air .
There is life back in our club and we are trying to play a game of football .
About time Bolger was dropped - Mills to remain skipper for the rest of the season .
All we are saying is give us a goal !!!

I've just heard from the good doctor. He's up on the Texas Panhandle again, ...whatever that means.

No new stand for us then!!!

Searching for another rogue mutant virus no doubt.

Il roll it over to the next game he starts as well.

A great player on his day but must have half a brain. Booked for holding onto the ball when there was no need, now on a tight rope for 40 minutes.

Watson for one of Morris or McWillaims?

A comedy of errors in their box there. Two failed crosses met with a poor backwards touch then a shot that went sideways.

Barca and PSG are playing elsewhere.

Harrop and Roswell, are they the offspring of Jason and Shaun.

All we are saying is give us a goal!!

Here we go

On the rack.....good job they are as poor upfront as we are!!

26 seconds.

Bristol Rovers going to beat Portsmouth tonight, now 3-1

Strange subs!?

13 seconds BAS

Must try harder!!

BAS useless sack of s***

BAS is some ........player  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Has BAS touched it yet or just ran away from it?

How in a days training has he gone from needing to try harder in training to get into the squad, to being the first pick off the bench!?

Woy!

Can someone remind me, do we actually own BAS

i’m a bit worried if we score i might spontaneously ejaculate

The ref threatening to headbutt Judge was the best part of the game by far  ;D ;D ;D

Haha, ref's gone proper insane! Still zero goals, but at least some entertainment on the pitch.

Its all kicking off!

What a lovely thought.

0-0...decent point.

BAS man of the match, in his head.

Ippy down to 10 men but ends 0-0.
Decent point.

Just saying .....

Good result. Something to build on. Just need some BLOODY GOALS!

How long without a goal is that now?

No idea where the next one is coming from

I tell you what BAS is an absolute waste of space. f***ing s***e show, he has done absolutely nothing and looks so uninterested.

6 games without a goal..... one goal in the last nine games..... 10 blanks in the last 12 games.....

Pick your stat....which one sounds "least worst"....?!

That’s an unbelievable stat with BAS in the squad.

Good performance - but still don't look much like scoring. Easily the best side in the first half - 2nd half more even.
Haven't got the confidence to nick a game that was there for the taking.
Defence pretty steady considering the amount of attacking done by Kioso and Mills, good defensive midfield shifts from Sowerby and Morris.

Oh yeah, taking the brave choice to drop Bolger paid dividends tonight for sure.

It's a poor show when you have more points than goals over the last nine games.

Good performance and a good result, but yet another game without a goal. It beggars belief that BAS should come on to replace Rose who I thought was the most likely player to score, and even if he didn't he was putting plenty of effort in.

Are there any out of contract players out there with a goal in them?

That was very encouraging. Bar the substitutions the management team did everything right there. The team moved forward and back as a unit rather than trying to put as much distance between the back and front line as possible, and what a difference it made. At this point in time Brady and co really are getting the best out of the squad. Hopefully a couple more weeks on the training pitch will kick us on further. Personally I am really impressed with the tactical changes. Only slight negative, Paul Lambert was the happiest man in the ground when Marshall came off. BAS doesn’t work hard enough, he’s had enough chances to make an impression and has showed nowhere near enough. We need a player like James Norwood up front, a wily old fox. Wonder if there’s one kicking around?

We’ve got to take a pnut on an out of contract striker.
Just for the record BAS is worse than Smith.

Yet again, a game there for the taking, but due to our inability to score we blow it, the same as Accrington, Fleetwood, Sunderland and possibly more. We should have won all those games but due to ineffectual strikers/finishing and crap managerial decisions/substitutions we are where we are and unless something drastic happens in the next couple of weeks, ie new manager with a bit of a clue, we're down.

I’ve got to say this taking off Marshall and Rose probably saved the game for Ipswich, terrible substitutions TBH.

I wasn't able to watch tonight but it sounds a lot better again. Obviously the lack of goals is still a worry but if someone had offered me 0-0 away at Ipswich at the start of the season I'd have taken it!

I was looking at out of contract English strikers during the game....

I guess we can count out Daniel Sturridge....but that leaves the likes of Ishmael Miller, Jay Simpson, Wes Thomas, Cody McDonald, Calvin Andrew, Wes Fletcher, George Donnelly......and many more!

Ever heard of any of them?  ;)

Decent enough point but Ipswich were poor and if we had more about us up front could have won.............Good physiological/confidence booster draw.

Who was the idiot (Sowerby?) who in the mêlée in their box, passed onto him and decides lamely to pass sideways to an Ipswich player?
Cost us the three points in all likelihood!

Great performance though generally tonight, especially in midfield and Kioso who again was all over the pitch!

Yes! Strip him of his captaincy too!

BBC Radio Suffolk sounds like a Samaritans phone-in.

Got to hand to you Manny, people have a go at your repetitive posts but your constant championing of Marshall is spot on.

No

Bolger not missed and we have a decent replacement by the elusive Sheehan. Will we recall Smith? Some comments on subs. Can understand both as Rose had run himself into the ground and taken fair amount of buffeting. Sowerby had also worked and on a yellow. Good to see Mills urging people on and admonishing the back three for some misdemeanour Mitchell had an easy evening only one good save off Norbett! What ever the experts think on here an encouraging result. If JB can get the result he sorely needs against MK he might just be the man to get us out of trouble. Certainly wont be easy without goal scorers.

Good performance overall and worthy of more than a point, the next step is to play at that level for 90 minutes. The passing and team play is much improved and I think Brady and Co. are getting more out of these players.
One problem for them is the standard of the whole squad. After about an hour tonight we needed to freshen up but who had we got on the bench? Watson maybe but no one else who is going to make a difference.
The defence played well, Horsfall had probably his best game for us and looks a better fit than Bolger. Kioso was excellent.
The midfield had bags of energy, passed the ball well at times and made us look like a team. We could do with another McWilliams type to bring on when we start to flag.
In attack Rose is easily the best we have to lead the line, Marshall has the skill to worry defenders but rarely gives us 90 minutes. In this system Hoskins gives us energy and glimpses of ability, Miller will hopefully be an up grade. The least said about BAS and Edmondson the better.
It's easy to be critical of our substitutions but with the squad we have any changes are unlikely to strengthen the eleven on the pitch.
We have to stick with this 4-3-3 at the moment to allow partnerships and understanding to develop.  

Would even be tempted to recall Warburton!

He would be better suited to how we are playing now but has hardly set the world alight at Yeovil.

They are fools Melly, we know what we are talking about 👍🇬🇧

According to the BBC stats (excludes Papa John’s trophy) the 3 players with the best goals to games ratio this season are Lines, Warburton and Smith.

Wel done JB, MR and Sammo. A much improved performance from a limited group of players.

Statistics Eh! We've only gone and released all our goal scorers!  :(

Cody McDonald a few years ago would have been a great signing, not sure now though.

I think a few years is a bit generous 7 or 8 years maybe

Chalk & cheese from last Tuesday's horror show v Wigan

Brady certainly getting a tune out of this squad & considering the lack of time to properly work on tactics etc, we're playing some decent football. Just hitting the damn net continues to be our main problem!

Correct decision to give the captaincy to Mills & drop Bolger, who's certainly never had the required attributes needed to be a captain.

Does Brady even want the job permanently though?

Agree.
Bolger is to captaincy what Manny is to happy clapping.
Keep him out for a bit and get Sheehan back in double quick.

For me, we have to get Harry back over that wall. We don’t have a lot of options!!

Such an honest & refreshing interview...few digs too...can we honestly get anyone better to work with this current squad?

Give him til end of the season then reassess...

https://youtu.be/S7-uYuVOhYA (https://youtu.be/S7-uYuVOhYA)

Keeping it real since 04 Jim 👍

Very refreshing.

Difficult for Brady when KC has just spent so much time developing, creating a philosophy for the most impotent team football we have ever had to endure. Thanks.

+1

First time I'd heard him. Nice interview, calm and measured expression of his intentions without over promising anything. Hopefully we can see the results on the pitch both in points and performances to enable us to stay in this division.

The reason i have been pushing to replace Curle with Brady for so long now has been because of what sort of man he is .
He is intelligent and single minded. He is also a very good coach with modern training methods and carries respect .
All of those things Curle lacked .
Jon speaks sense and tells you it as it is .
He is clearly trying to do things the right way again from the state of the pitch to the mindset of the players.
You will not get better than that from a young manager .
Get behind him and give him the job .

I concur. Totally.

Really liked what he had to say, BUT it’s a results business, let’s see the next couple of games, Jon needs a win.

I totally agree.

Although this was a positive performance and actually a good result...

It does absolutely nothing to change the perception that the current team is simply incapable of scoring a goal. If we can't score goals then, even with a solid defence, we will be relegated.

Team selection and tactics good... substitutions still bizarre. Why take off Rose and Marshall (our two biggest threats) when we desperately need a goal? Surely Sowerby and Hoskins were crying out to be subbed instead? 

Plagiarist!

Agreed.

Although I'm happy for him to stay on a rolling temp basis for a while. He's on the hook and wont jump.

Sowerby tiring and on a yellow. Rose had demonstrably run himself to the ground and taken a few knocks. To me cannot criticise the subs with any degree of certainty.

What a good interview. Calm, measured, says all the right things and clearly knows what he's talking about. No excuses for anything, no pointless euphemisms, doesn't hide anything, just tells it as he sees it, and to be honest a lot of what he's saying is what we've all been saying for ages (especially about the pitch).

I'll add my vote to giving the Brady Bunch until the end of the season.

Sorry If I appear a bit thick (it isn't something new) but could you explain what you mean "He's on the hook and won't jump" and who are you actually referring to? Thanks.

Brady. He has expressed his interest in the job and wants to continue. Its unlikely if things go well that he will change his mind, it's also unlikely that he will be poached by anyone else given his limited experience.

Ie. it appears he is ours if we want him, but there is no need to rush though a lengthy contract just in case it goes tits up.

Thanks for clearing that up.

The only thing I'm unsure about is has he actually said that he wants the job? It was mentioned on here previously that he wouldn't want the job due to outside interests/commitments. Is this still the case or not?

Apparently he is a teacher according to an active member on here! Which might explain his reticence if true?

Just thought you'd be interested;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56096867

Must have thought he was a player for that mad moment. The incident itself could have been given as a pen on another day. Accidental, fast but trailing back leg and VAR would have had a good look.

He is a PE teacher at Wooton Primary School. Happy to be of assistance.

Well done - good work too!

Judge moves the ball right but carries on forward into Kioso. It would have been an extremely harsh penalty as Kioso couldnt get out of his way.

A lot of teams nowadays are winding up referees by continually moaning about that was a foul...give him a card...etc. I dont know if that was happening last night though. The ref shouldn,t react, but Judge was wagging his finger in Drysdale's face. However, he shouldn't react. I  really dont understand why they dont book them sooner for lack of respect and foul language. He had obviously had enough because he sent off Downes for offensive language a short while later.

He was also owner and director of BackoftheNetFc coaching....a very extensive coaching qualification list.

https://www.backofthenetfc.com/coaching-profiles.php

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08317820/officers

Clarifies quite a few queries  ;D  that is both links.

Such is the (understandable) hatred by Ipswich fans for the inaffective motor-mouth Paul Lambert, their forum to a fan seems to sympathize with Drysdale and how more effective our care-taker manager is at getting us playing well, than two and half years of said motor-mouth!

I liked how Brady came across.

He seems intelligent and appears to have a plan how he wants the team to play which sounds more expansive than what we've had so far this season.

I don't think he was much of a Curlio fan, a few thinly veiled digs... "The players haven't had to think".... And about the pitch. He's clearly in a different place from Curlio which has to please the majority?

One thing though... What's with the constant lurching? It's like he'd left a doughnut out and was worried someone was going to pinch it!

Managers and unexplained movements...
How apt!  ;D

https://youtu.be/0OQT1psCoAc

I noticed that too - perhaps his wife was waiting for him and getting cold :) IMO he should not criticise Curle too much just use measured comments no need to antagonise KC. After all he is in charge now !

Strange how the website is all functional but the company has been dissolved - he wants to get that shut down, especially as it has his mobile number on there. He'll be getting phone calls from members of this board telling him what he's doing wrong.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56366031

Couldn't see anywhere in the article where the judge pronounced Judge as a spoilt little c**t!

The article on the Chron website is rather more colourful with the description of the incident and, specifically, what Judge is reported to have said.

Just one question therefore;

Why wasn't he immediately red carded? Seems like there is multiple offences that could have warranted it.

I've said on many occasions, when someone swears at the ref he should reach straight for the red card.

It's already within the rules to do so but I'd rarely enforced. Obviously it needs common sense and tone needs to be considered; there's a world of difference between a grin, a weary shake of the head and a sigh of "f***ing hell, ref!!" when a decision goes against you and a full on, angry, in your face "f***ing hell ref!!!" - the former is fine but latter should see the player heading for the dressing room.

Every single match you see a player lose their shìt at one of the officials and I hate it. It's very easily clamped down on though!