Ipswich Town
Leggi Looks At: 2008 Part 2
By Leggi
December 30 2008
STB message boarder Leggi is back once more, today brining you the second part of his review of 2008, cunningly titled Leggi Looks At: 2008 Part 2 today casting his eye over the second part of 2008 as Leggi Looks At: 2008. The summer months
The close season saw the end of loanees, Danny Simpson, Shefki Kuqi and Stephen Bywater. Also it was the end of Ipswich careers for Nick Colgan, Ian Miller, Gavin Williams, Luis Castro Sito and Sylvain Legwinski. It was also sad farewells to captain Jason De Vos and legend Fabian Wilnis, who was told he was surplus to requirements in Jim's new season plans.
We replaced De Vos at centre back with relegated Leicester defender Gareth McAuley, who was handed the new team captaincy, with long servant Richard Naylor becoming the new club captain. Gareth was joined at the club by Pim Balkestein, Kevin Lisbie and a return to the club for Richard Wright after 7 years away from Suffolk.
Gary Roberts was the last player to leave just before the kick off to the 2008/2009 season. A season that promised so much.
August
After playing poor teams (West Brom and West Ham excused) once again in our pre-season games some fans were already posing the question "Have we tested ourselves enough during pre-season?" A question that was forgotten just 2 minutes into the new campaign, when Kevin Lisbie opened his League account for the Blues against Preston North End, sadly though it wasn't enough and the Lancashire club went on to score 2 and came away from Suffolk with an opening day victory, leaving fans to only dream about the 4-1 drubbing of Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day a year earlier.
The Carling Cup first round followed where we were too strong for Leyton Orient winning 4-1 and booking our place in the second round for the first time in 5 years.
Our first away outing of the season saw a trip to Burnley, surely we couldn't go six months this season without winning away. It was The Clarets first home game of the season and they wanted to open their Turf Moor account with something special so they invited Parachuting display team 'The Red Devils' to deliver the match ball. It was all going so well until the penultimate fellow fell form the sky and mis-judged his landing eventually ending up on the stand roof where the Town fans were massed, thus delaying the kick-off for an hour. The red faced chap was eventually helped down by the fire brigade to a chorus of 'You're not very good' from the Burnley fans. The game went ahead and Town put on a first class display winning by 3 goals to nil, something we missed from our away days last season. A rendition of 'Hoist up the Ipswich sail' echoed around Turf Moor for a good 10 minutes or so, Town were happy, the away day voodoo had gone. Our season was back on track, or so we thought. Promotion rivals Wolves were next at Portman Road, its fair to say we were totally outclassed by Mick McCarthy's side and were comfortably beaten 2-0, the 'fortress Portman Road' days were long gone. After disposing of Colchester from the Carling Cup it was a chance for Great Britain to see what we were about in our first 2008/09 Sky live game. Town welcomed new signings Ivan Campo and Ben Thatcher, into the line up against Watford at Vicarage Road. Again we took an early lead through Kevin Lisbie and again our back line let in 2 goals, leaving us with 3 defeats from our opening 4 games. We sat in 17th place in the early League ladder, with Jim Magilton using the excuse it will take time for the team to gel. It was early days, plenty of time to catch up.
Then a bizarre thing happened, we sold our main striker to rivals Crystal Palace, Alan Lee had gone, so in stepped Sheffield United's fourth choice striker Jon Stead. Was Jim losing the plot?
September
The month kicked off with a home game against promotion favourites Reading, Towns performance of the season so far saw us win by 2 goals to nil. Jon Stead scoring on his Town debut. Loan signing Moritz Volz also had joined by this time. It was a game that saw Town go on an unbeaten League run throughout September. Draws away at Southampton (1-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (0-0) followed the Reading game. "we should be beating teams like this though,if we are going to compete with the top 6" fans were saying, and they were right. Our Carling Cup run ended at Home to Premiership Wigan, the following Tuesday, losing 4-1 although that scoreline flattered Steve Bruce's men. Another League draw came next in a dire live Sky game against Crystal Palace at Portman Road. We did end the month with a win though beating Barnsley 3-0 at Portman Road. Town were up to 11th, 2 points from the top 6, but already 8 points behind the top 2.
October
We kicked off October with a defeat to strugglers Charlton at the valley, followed by two draws, at home to Swansea and away at bottom club Nottingham Forest. Fans were now getting impatient with Jim and Bryan Klug, ever changing team selections, poor substitutions and poor tactics were costing Town precious points. A good 3-1 win away at Plymouth was followed up by yet another draw in the home game with now manager-less Charlton. We now sat in 13th place, 4 points from the play offs and 12 off the disappearing 2nd spot.
November
We got back to winning ways with a 2-0 Portman Road victory over 'rich club' Queens Park Rangers. Then we made the headlines on every TV news channel in the country for all the wrong reasons. David Norris celebrated his goal in the Blackpool win, with what looked like a handcuffs gesture, a message for imprisoned friend Luke McCormick. The tabloids had a field day raking up memories for the Peak family, forcing Norris to make a public apology, and facing a fine from Ipswich Town. Luckily the FA didn't prolong the agony and didn't impose a suspension on the silly midfielder and he was in the starting line up that made the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster. Another former blue, Darren Ambrose, had returned on loan and made his second Town debut. It was another live sky game and I'm afraid another no show from Ipswich Town, the South Yorkshire club scoring only their 3rd home goal all season to send us back to Suffolk pointless. Our inconsistent team went on to beat Derby in the next game before losing away at Birmingham, and then drawing at home to Sheffield United. We ended November in 10th place, still only 3 points from the play offs.
Jim Magilton was facing more and more pressure from the fans to step down but he just shrugged all the negativity away and issued a statement saying he had the full backing of owner Marcus Evans. This arrogance left many reeling.
December
It was East Anglian derby day away at Carrow Road, it is a game both sets of fans look forward to all season, it was live on Sky and it was another no show from the boys in blue, City winning by 2 goals to nil and left Town supporters who made the trip chanting for their money back after the final whistle.
The season was getting worse and worse by the game, a little high as we beat Bristol City 3-1 but that even flattered us, but then we followed that up with a home defeat to Cardiff City, a draw away at Coventry City and then a Boxing Day loss to Birmingham City. They did however end the year on a high after beating a woeful Derby side 1-0 at Pride Park, how fitting that the star of the year, Jon Walters, scored the last goal of 2008. Town end the calendar year 10th in the championship, 6 points from the play-off zone. Many fans feeling that the last win has just papered over the cracks, lets hope that our once great club, finds it feet again next year!
Wishing You All
A Happy New Year
Lets hope for a better 2009
Best wishes
Leggi
Got a view on the year? Leave it below.
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30/12/2008 22:02
Part 2
The summer months
The close season saw the end of loanees, Danny Simpson, Shefki Kuqi and Stephen Bywater. Also it was the end of Ipswich careers for Nick Colgan, Ian Miller, Gavin Williams, Luis Castro Sito and Sylvain Legwinski. It was also sad farewells to captain Jason de Vos and legend Fabian Wilnis who was told he was surplus to requirements in Jims new season plans.
We replaced De Vos at centre back with relegated Leicester defender Gareth McAuley, who was handed the new team captaincy, with long servent Richard Naylor becoming the new club captain. Gareth was joined at the club by Pim Balkestein, Kevin Lisbie and a return to the club for Richard Wright after 7 years away from Suffolk.
Gary Roberts was the last player to leave just before the kick off to the 2008/2009 season. A season that promised so much.
August
After playing poor teams (West Brom and West Ham excused) once again in our pre-season games some fans were already posing the question "Have we tested ourselves enough during pre-season?" A question that was forgotton just 2 minutes into the new campaign, when Kevin Lisbie opened his League account for the Blues against Preston North End, sadly though it was'nt enough and the Lancashire club went on to score 2 and came away from Suffolk with an opening day victory, leaving fans to only dream about the 4-1 drubbing of Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day a year earlier.
The Carling Cup first round followed where we were too strong for Leyton Orient winning 4-1 and booking our place in the second round for the first time in 5 years.
Our first away outing of the season saw a trip to Burnley, surely we could'nt go six months this season without winning away??
It was The Clarets first home game of the season and they wanted to open their Turf Moor account with somthing special so they invited Parachuting display team 'The Red Devils' to deliver the match ball. It was all going so well until the penultimate fellow fell form the sky and mis-judged his landing eventually ending up on the stand roof where the Town fans were massed, thus delaying the kick-off for an hour. The red faced chap was eventually helped down by the fire brigade to a chorus of 'You're not very good' from the Burnley fans. The game went ahead and Town put on a first class display winning by 3 goals to nil, somthing we missed from our away days last season. A rendition of 'Hoist up the Ipswich sail' echoed around Turf Moor for a good 10 minutes or so, Town were happy, the away day voodoo had gone! Our season was back on track, or so we thought. Promotion rivals Wolves were next at Portman Road, its fair to say we were totally outclassed by Mick McCarthy's side and were comfortably beaten 2-0, the 'fortress Portman Road' days were long gone. After disposing of Colchester from the Carling Cup it was a chance for Great Britain to see what we were about in our first 2008/09 Sky live game. Town welcomed new signings Ivan Campo and Ben Thatcher, into the line up against Watford at Vicarage Road. Again we took an early lead through Kevin Lisbie and again our backline let in 2 goals, leaving us with 3 defeats from our opening 4 games. We sat in 17th place in the early League ladder, with Jim Magilton using the excuse it will take time for the team to gel. It was early days, plenty of time to catch up.
Then a bizarre thing happened, we sold our main striker to rivals Crystal Palace, Alan Lee had gone, so instepped Sheffield Uniteds fourth choice striker Jon Stead. Was Jim losing the plot??
September
The month kicked off with a home game against promotion favourites Reading, Towns performance of the season so far saw us win by 2 goals to nil. Jon Stead scoring on his Town debut. Loan signing Moritz Volz also had joined by this time. It was a game that saw Town go on an unbeaten League run throughout September. Draws away at Southampton (1-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (0-0) followed the Reading game. "we should be beating teams like this though,if we are going to compete with the top 6" fans were saying, and they were right. Our Carling Cup run ended at Home to Premiership Wigan, the following Tuesday, losing 4-1 although that scoreline flattered Steve Bruce's men. Another League draw came next in a dire live Sky game against Crystal Palace at Portman Road. We did end the month with a win though beating Barnsley 3-0 at Portman Road. Town were up to 11th, 2 points from the top 6, but already 8 points behind the top 2.
October
We kicked off October with a defeat to strugglers Charton at the valley, followed by two draws, at home to Swansea and away at bottom club Nottingham Forest. Fans were now getting impatient with Jim and Bryan Klug, everchanging team selections, poor substitutions and poor tactics were costing Town precious points.
A good 3-1 win away at Plymouth was followed up by yet another draw in the home game with now managerless Charlton. We now sat in 13th place, 4 points from the play offs and 12 off the disappearing 2nd spot.
November
We got back to winning ways with a 2-0 Portman Road victory over 'richclub' Queens Park Rangers. Then we made the headlines on every TV news channel in the country for all the wrong reasons. David Norris celebrated his goal in the Blackpool win, with what looked like a handcuffs gesture, a message for inprisoned friend Luke McCormack. The tabloids had a field day raking up memories for the Peak family, forcing Norris to make a public apology, and facing a fine from Ipswich Town. Luckily the FA did'nt prolong the agony and did'nt impose a suspension on the silly midfielder and he was in the starting line up that made the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster. Another former blue, Darren Ambrose, had returned on loan and made his second Town debut. It was another live sky game and I'm afraid another no show from Ipswich Town, the South Yorkshire club scoring only their 3rd home goal all season to send us back to Suffolk pointless.
Our inconsistant team went on to beat Derby in the next game before losing away at Birmingham, and then drawing at home to Sheffield United.
We ended November in 10th place, still only 3 points from the play offs.
Jim Magilton was facing more and more pressure from the fans to step down but he just shrugged all the negativity away and issued a statement saying he had the full backing of owner Marcus Evans. This arrogance left many reeling!!
December
It was East Anglian derby day away at Carrow Road, it is a game both sets of fans look forward to all season, it was live on Sky and it was another no show from the boys in blue, City winning by 2 goals to nil and left Town supporters who made the trip chanting for their money back after the final whistle.
The season was getting worse and worse by the game, a little high as we beat Bristol City 3-1 but that even flattered us, but then we followed that up with a home defeat to Cardiff City, a draw away at Coventry City and then a Boxing Day loss to Birmingham City. They did however end the year on a high after beating a woeful Derby side 1-0 at Pride Park, how fitting that the star of the year, Jon Walters, scored the last goal of 2008. Town end the calendar year 10th in the championship, 6 points from the play-off zone. Many fans feeling that the last win has just papered over the cracks, lets hope that our once great club, finds it feet again next year!!
WISHING YOU ALL A
LETS HOPE FOR A BETTER 2009
Best wishes
Leggi
