We have assembled a group of Town fans to predict the outcome of Ipswich games and have their say on what’s going on at Portman Road.
Every week, our panel of Ipswich Town fans will make their predictions ahead of the Blues’ latest game, with three points awarded for a correct scoreline and one point given for a correct outcome.
We’ll keep a league table along the way, before crowning a winner at the end of the season.
Kieren Standley
It will be interesting to see just how the players respond to the managerial bombshell that was dropped on them on Thursday morning. Luke Chambers has spoken publicly and said that the squad have let the manager down this season by not reaching the play-offs, so I wonder if they will have a point to prove at St. Andrews.
Birmingham have had a whirlwind season and have lost four of their last five matches, but there’s reasons to be positive with Garry Monk now at the helm. They currently sit inside the bottom three on goal difference but I would fancy them to have enough to stay up at the expense of Barnsley.
The home side will desperate to win this game and drag themselves away from the drop zone but Town are a tough nut to crack on the road. I’m going for a score draw in this game, a result that neither side would be disappointed with. Prediction: Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town
Katy Sealy
Now that the announcement has been made about Mick I’m hoping that things will improve for Town. I’m a little bit sad to see him go, as I’m sure others are, he did a great job with the players that we have and I have fond memories of singing the Mick Ma Mick Ma Terry Terry song! However, the atmosphere had gotten so toxic that I don’t think Marcus Evans had much choice in the decision! Let’s hope the new manager brings something special!
Hopefully, now the fans can get behind the players and just support Mick in his final games for us, push on and try to win some. With the top 6 finish looking like a big ask now how about just making sure we finish above Norwich. I’m hoping everyone will be a bit more positive tomorrow and I think the players will fight and put on a good performance for Mick so I’m going for a Town win 1-2. Prediction: Birmingham City 1-2 Ipswich Town
Seán Salter
Not quite the dawn of a new era, but the back line of the dawn chorus are stretching their wings. The tour dates for Mick McCarthy’s “Every Point’s a Prisoner” tour have been confirmed and St Andrew’s, Birmingham, has been lined up as the next venue.
As Jimmy Greaves (ask your Dad or Mum) used to say “Football is a funny old game” and I think most pundits will try to draw parallels with tomorrow’s game at St Andrew’s, and Mick’s first game as Ipswich boss, a 1-0 away win at Birmingham. Well I’m sorry to break it to you, football doesn’t always work that way.
Despite their lowly position Birmingham have much more to play for than mid-table Town. I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better and yesterday’s ‘Mexit’ announcement will have a negative impact on the team. Prediction: Birmingham City 3 Ipswich Town 0
Amy Downes
Well, when I woke up on Thursday I wasn’t expecting to be writing about Mick McCarthy’s departure! It’s absolutely the right thing for him and the club to have done, in my opinion it ought to have happened last May, but I respect that he has seen out his contract as he has always said he will.
I wrote on my blog about feeling sad that it has come to this, I’ve enjoyed much of his time here at Ipswich (reaching the play offs particularly) and think he’s brought a lot of character to the place. But, ultimately, the situation with the fans had become untenable - I just hope we are able to use these last games to say thank you to him and start to look forward to the next step.
After such an eventful week it’s hard to know what will happen in this game. My fear, as the players clearly support McCarthy, is that they will be affected by his departure. That said, I’m also hopeful that the atmosphere from our fans will lift now that we finally know what is going on. Birmingham can be a good away day so hopefully people will be in a partying mood and it will transfer to the pitch. 2-1 Ipswich, Waghorn to score. Prediction: Birmingham City 1-2 Ipswich Town
José López Lerena
After a weekend without Ipswich Town due to the international break, we are back in action tomorrow as we face Birmingham away! Birmingham is a must win game for us (as every game) as they are currently 22nd in the league table.
However this is not going to be an easy game so far as they are in a good moral after the appointment of Garry Monk. Anyways, we must go back to the winning ways after a very disappointing week after lost with Hull and Bristol. And of course we can do this! I feel very confident ahead tomorrow’s game so my prediction is the same result we got in the first game of the season, a 1-0 win for Town (Waghorn)!
Safe travel to all of those making the trip! COYB! Prediction: Birmingham City 0-1 Ipswich Town
Benjamin Bloom
After yesterday’s news I’m really not sure what the attitude of Mick, the players, or the fans will be at Birmingham tomorrow. In an ideal world the fans who wanted Mick gone will switch from anger at him to support for the players, Mick will want to show us what we’ll be missing and his new employers what he can do, and the players will want to put themselves in a good light for whoever they’ll be playing for next season.
If that all happens then Ipswich could win but I think the key is the buzz generated by Garry Monk being hired and a strange feel good factor at Birmingham in their relegation battle. It really looks like a Birmingham win to me I’m afraid. 2-1. Prediction: Birmingham City 2-1 Ipswich Town
Alistair Rattray
Although confirmation that Mick McCarthys reign will shortly end did not come as a huge surprise, it nonetheless changes the complexion of the last eight games entirely.
Until such point as a new Manager is appointed, the remainder of the season is purely and simply about how many wins McCarthy can obtain, treating each game in isolation. Its also as much about an opportunity for the outgoing manager to build his own reputation now he is back on the market.
Expect to see a strong line-up, with little room for experimentation, or opportunity for youngsters to develop. McCarthy may also opt to avoid those whose futures at Ipswich are under question- they have nobody to prove themselves to. Regardless, the games themselves feel very much secondary at this point. Prediction: Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town
Jack Prentice
It’s hard to know what to expect from Ipswich Town over the next six weeks in the lead up to Mexit at the end of the season.
The decision for McCarthy to leave is the correct one. I appreciate everything he did in stabilising the club when it was destine for League One, guiding Town to the play-offs and keeping us competitive the following year.
But ultimately the formula began to fail we’re still passing it to Daryl Murphy even now. It was best for both parties for it to be announced now so that Mick and the supporters part on fairer terms.
Several names on the list of early favourites for the job excite me. Shefki Kuqi would be fairytale, Tony Mowbray has done an excellent job at Blackburn and a dark horse - Paul Hurst - has guided Shrewsbury Town to League One high-flyers after taking over when they were in serious relegation trouble last year.
Onwards to Birmingham, who are fighting for every point in their own battle against the drop. They play after all of their relegation rivals, and will know what they have to do.
Garry Monk has improved them no end, and with it difficult to predict which Ipswich will turn up, I’ve gone for a 2-1 home win. Prediction. Birmingham City 2-1 Ipswich Town
Joe Fairs - Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town
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