Karl Fuller says Town were in a poor state before Hurst took over. But Blues need to win soon!
We’ll win again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll win again some sunny day!
I thought that the difficult days of sitting down on a Saturday evening to write this column would be over once Mick McCarthy left the club. I envisaged a new era and a season of hope and with plenty more positive situations to write about. Yet the start to the season we’ve endured, and our current position has continued to make it so difficult.
We were in a poor state long before Paul Hurst took over. It was abundantly clear that he was not going to right so many wrongs overnight and after just 7 games of the season, it’s churlish to be calling for his head. But already, so many fans are rightly very worried
Northstander: The worry button is officially pressed!
I’m still fully behind Hurst and no matter how bad things are, I certainly don’t regret a change still being made. But what will come into question more as each game without a win passes, is was the RIGHT change made? Is Hurst the right man for the job?
My biggest concern right now is how and why we’re not winning. We can cite too many changes too quickly along with too many players signed from leagues one and two as genuine reasons for concerns. But where’s the high-pressing game we were promised and after a two-week break, the performance at Hull suggested that it was a break of little benefit. I do worry about what might happen tomorrow night against Brentford and then if we don’t get three points against Bolton on Saturday, the honeymoon period for Hurst will be well and truly over, if it isn’t already.
On a happier note, I was pleased to hear recently from one of Town’s great fans Inge Haug. He informed me of some success that came the way of our Norwegian Supporters branch during the summer and I simply had to find out more. Local Town fan Stuart Baillie then kindly provided me with more information on the Norwegian Blues’ ‘Supportercupen’ win:
Town’s glory days in Europe have been restored, at least if you are a member of the Ipswich Town Supporters Club of Norway (ITSCON).
More: Chambers’ passionate after-match thoughts
The Norwegian Blues recently upset some of the biggest names in British football on their way to winning the Supportercupen, an annual tournament held in Oslo for supporters of British clubs - and I was there to celebrate the success with them.
When I first ventured across the North Sea in 2014, I had no idea that it would be the start of a beautiful journey - an annual tradition, cemented by an unrivalled passion for our beloved Tractor Boys.
Four years, and five Supportercupen’s later, there is an enormous sense of joy at finally getting my hands on the much-lauded ‘bucket’ – silverware which would not look out of place alongside the trophies of 78 and 81.
There will be no new addition to the Portman Road trophy cabinet though, with Mannings voted to become the new home for the bucket - a pub regularly frequented by ITSCON members for nigh on 20 years.
The fact that members were so keen to get the bucket ‘home’ to Suffolk, despite it being won by Norwegians - bar myself - on Norwegian turf, tells you everything you need to know. Ipswich is their club, just as it is mine, and I am delighted to share my hometown club with some of the most fanatical supporters around.
Stuart Watson: Five observations from Town’s defeat to Hull
As for the tournament itself, 28 teams competed with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea among the teams who had no answer to the fearless Super Blues, the latter defeated 4-2 on penalties in the final following a 1-1 draw.
It was a day to savour for ITSCON Chairman, Ole Bernt Krogstad-Iversen, who has long been obsessed with leading Ipswich to a first ever Supportercupen triumph. Unfortunately, there was no open top bus waiting in the wings, but the celebrations were milked long into the night, with the bucket proudly paraded through the streets of Oslo at 3am. Marcus, if you’re reading, it’s time to get another star on that shirt! Blue Army!
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