Northstander Terry Hunt paints a very gloomy picture of Town’s current plight. But, what happens now?
Trouble. Big trouble.
In fact, the biggest trouble I have known in 50 years of supporting Ipswich Town.
Yes, I know we’ve had some poor times in those five decades. Mick McCarthy was appointed to rescue us from one such slump.
But I’ve never known anything quite like this. We’re rock bottom and, bluntly, we deserve to be. The table doesn’t tell fibs this far into the season.
What a crushing disappointment the QPR game was.
Lots of us had convinced ourselves that the long-awaited win at Swansea represented a corner being turned. A fresh dawn, if you like.
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Well, it doesn’t look like it now. I wrote after the Swansea victory that it showed great spirit, and the team playing for the manager. Hmmm....different story this weekend.
All of which leaves us in a right predicament.
In my view, Hurst is still not doing himself – or us – any favours with some inexplicable selections.
I’ve given up trying to understand why Gerken starts ahead of Bart. I also struggle to comprehend the back four. Pennington, a centre-half, at right-back, Donacien, a right-back, at left-back and Knudsen, who played in the World Cup, on the bench. Any explanations anyone? I can’t come up with one.
It’s no wonder we’ve only managed to keep one clean sheet all season. Surely the best back four we can muster is Donacien, Pennington, Chambers, and Knudsen? Or is that just me being a naive supporter?
As I said at the beginning, things are awful.
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I really can see us being relegated. Third tier football for the first time since 1957. The first time in my footballing memory.
Yes, it is that bad. I don’t see things improving in midweek, with a trip to Leeds. It’s not good to hear fans booing the players, but it’s hardly surprising. Two home wins this calendar year? Shocking stuff indeed.
Hurst is spot-on when he says that, at other clubs, the fans’ reaction would be a whole lot more extreme.
Will Marcus Evans change it? Up until now, I have believed that he will stand by his man, as he did with Keane and Jewell.
But he can’t afford for this club to drop into the former third division. It would be a disaster from a financial viewpoint.
So does Mr. Evans stick or twist?
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If I was a betting man, I would say the next international break will be crucial.
If we’re still in the bottom three at the break, then I think Hurst’s tenure at Portman Road will come to an end.
I certainly don’t want to happen, but I think things are moving in that direction.
THIS Friday, we say a final, emotional goodbye to our greatest – Kevin Beattie.
It still seems almost impossible to believe that “The Beat” has gone, but very sadly it is true.
On Friday, his funeral will be held, and, very poignantly, the cortège will travel down Portman Road, past the football club which Kevin loved so much.
Of course, it will go within a few feet of the statue of Sir Bobby Robson, and what an emotional moment that will be.
Sir Bobby loved The Beat like a son, and, in turn, Kevin adored Robson. That’s why the moment when the two are reunited on Friday will be so poignant.
If you are able to, please get yourself down to Portman Road for about 2.30pm on Friday.
It will be sad, naturally, but it will also be a very fitting way to pay a final tribute to the greatest player ever to pull on an Ipswich Town shirt.
RIP The Beat.
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