Back - today's performance...

[ruts66]

Well done the lads, an excellent point at a real fortress...

It's perhaps a bit harsh to level criticism at today's performance but there were a few real concerns for all to see today.

It's a measure of how much SJE's legs have gone that everything he does is either late or scrappy. Oh, for the composure and authority of Salif today. All we really needed to do was press the ball and then hold onto it. We did little of either for long periods and gave them the ball in our own half very cheaply on a number of occasions.

We played a lot of long balls up to Cress and Ric but neither of them can do what Mama does. Similarly, Rory threw in four or five long throws in a row to the same Ipswich heads. We need to mix it up a bit and try something the opposition are not expecting from throw-ins.

We proved on Sunday we can pass and move out of defence but time and again it was hoofed straight back to Ipswich.

Fair play to TP today, we had a real go often committing players forward where we would usually sit back and hold out for the draw.

Great finish by Ricardo, just wish he would grow up and stop sulking when things don't go his way.

Winning at home must become a priority if we're to capitalise on these good results away from home...

Stoke following none too shabby today, bearing in mind Xmas debts, Newcastle mid-week, etc...

Go on Stoke... ;D

[potters11]

Enjoyed today. We played well throughout, bar a 15 minute spell around their goal, where we seemed to lose our heads, and couldn't string 2 passes together. Anyway apart from that, it was decent, at a difficult place to go to. Need to win the home games, if we are drawing away, however I can have no complaints!
Bring on the Toon! (again!)

[Davef]

ruts66 said:

We played a lot of long balls up to Cress and Ric but neither of them can do what Mama does.

What's that, get to the middle of January without scoring a goal?

Seriously, I thought our first half performance was one of our best of the season away from home and we looked far more mobile than we have done recently. I certainly don't think we missed Mama at all.

The game became scrappy in the second half, but after quite an open first half it was always going to tighten up after the respective managers had had their say at half time.

Although I agree that SJE will probably be the player to lose his place once (if) Diao returns to form and fitness, I thought he was much improved today and looked far more composed on the ball than in recent weeks.

The one thing that really disappointed me today was the lack of Stoke numbers in and around the penalty area from Delap's throws. De Vos got his head to most of them and we had no one even close to the lose ball on every occasion.

All in all though and good result and a good performance, with the Bristol City and Watford results being a real bonus. A win's imperative next Saturday though.

[banburypotter]

just back in from a nightmare of a day travelling due to engineering works here there and everywhere in london, but really enjoyed the game.
how ipshit remain unbeaten in th eleague playing like that is beyond me, i suppose that is teastament to the way we played.
overall a point is okay but i feel we had the beating of them today.
some other results went our way too, now we need to win at home to preston to stop this little run of draws.
in saying that i would rather have a run of draws than defeats.
i want t give a mention to the sterling job that zakuani did when he came on, and that tackle he did in the 6 yard box to deny their forward was first class, as was ricci's finish for our goal.
well done lads a good point earned,now we need to start winning again starting with preston next saturday(and the small matter of newcastle,who must not be looking forward to wednesday at all)