More Mid-Table Mediocrity For Ipswich Town?

This season is rapidly petering out and the likelihood is that we will end up in mid-table at best and at worst, even closer to the drop zone then any of us could have imagined, after such a great start, when we won our first four Championship encounters.

The gulf between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town was clear to see – even if the scoreline did not reflect it. It would of course have done so if it had not been for Bartosz Bialkowski, who once again kept us in a game we had no right to be still in, with a series of magnificent saves.

OK, I will have to concede that we were playing the runaway leaders of the Championship and over two matches against them we have only lost by a single goal but in reality, the distances they have travelled as we have stood still, have been massive.

They were prepared to spend their way out of trouble whilst we continued on our tried and trusted path of loan deals and cheap buys and very little else.

It is hard to point an accusing finger at manager Mick McCarthy for this, as he is only as good as the tools he has been given but is it any wonder that gates and season ticket sales are falling with ever increasing rapidity when we lack any kind of ambition?

Town played as well as could be expected against Wolves at Portman Road on Saturday but as good as can be expected is sadly what we have come to expect. Town lack quality in almost all aspects of their play and although no one would ever doubt their collective endeavour, flair is something that manager Mick McCarthy is loath to encourage.

We are now eight points off those play-off places and destined I think to finish the season in no man’s land. I can hear some of you say that this is better than a relegation dogfight but is it? Mid-table mediocrity will not entice our supporters back!

Slightly brighter news is that Town’s under 23 side defeated Millwall today 5-0 at Playford Road this afternoon. The bad news is that the return of Tom Adeyemi was short lived, as he pulled up after just 32 minutes with what appeared to be a hamstring strain.

Striker Ben Morris scored twice and there were goals too for Freddie Sears, Flynn Downes and new boy Aaron Drinan in a game that Town won comfortably so I guess we must be grateful for small mercies.

Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich