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Daily Ipswich: Episode 126 - Ipswich 2-4 Forest Tactics Tuesday
35 Plays1 month ago
Rob & James dive deeper into Saturday's defeat to Nottingham Forest. James shares his thoughts on the game, the lads pick out a key area that caused Ipswich problems and discuss whether there is signs of hope for the run in.
The Daily Ipswich Podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, is the home of all your ITFC. Join us every weekday for the latest news, build-up and reaction in the club's first season back in the Premier League.
Host: Rob Binns
Guests: James Bennett
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Transcript
Introduction to Tactics Tuesday
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Ipswich, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place you can find daily content on every Premier League club. Premier League wrap-ups in multiple languages and your women's football daily news as well.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
On today's episode, it is Tactics Tuesday. We'll be diving into the game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, picking out some of the areas where maybe the game was lost and maybe Who knows, maybe there was a few positives in there that we can take into the last nine games of
Impact of Nottingham Forest Match
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
the season. And joining me, Rob Binns, to go through all that is James Bennett. How are you mate?
00:00:48
James
Yeah, all good. Thank you very much, mate. How are you
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, um'm I'm doing it outside of football. Ruins me Saturdays every week.
00:00:54
James
you? Yeah.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But other than that, it's all going well. Got used to it at this point, though.
00:01:01
James
Yeah.
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I said it. I said it to rich set it to Rich yesterday. I've got to the point now where don't let... a Football doesn't ruin my weekend anymore. Just a few hours on my Saturday.
00:01:09
James
Yeah, you can't let it, though.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can get over it.
00:01:11
James
Yeah, got it.
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah You get over it fairly quickly now. I've become used to
00:01:15
James
yeah got
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought we had many years of getting used to this. Just forgot what it felt like for a couple of years and now we remember it again.
00:01:23
James
Yeah.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to start off, obviously, me and Rich spoke a lot about the game yesterday on the Match Reaction episode.
00:01:25
James
Yeah.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So say Go listen to that one if you haven't already. But we haven't heard your thoughts on the game yet, James. Why don't you let let the listeners know what your what your take was on a fairly disappointing game.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, a disappointing five minutes mainly over overall what wasn't too bad of a game, I suppose.
00:01:46
James
but
00:01:49
James
yeah Well, look, I mean, i managed to watch most of it of what i could. and And it was a strange one. I was saying to my mates who I watched it with, actually, like the first sort of maybe 20 to 25, I actually thought we did OK. Like we we looked like we was playing well, we was passing the ball.
00:02:08
James
about well enough, do know what We controlling possession. We probably had a couple more chances. The only way Forest looked dangerous was on the counter. But then, obviously, they scored from the corner and then I don't know what happened. we just We just absolutely crumbled for the rest of the first half. It was it was really it was horrible to see, to be honest, because obviously it and every game is a huge game now.
00:02:31
James
But to look that bad at home so closely at the end of the season when we're fighting to stay up, Yeah, it was quite disheartening to see, I think. we We just didn't look like a good team at all in that period. And then, don't know, second half, it was kind of the same same thing again. We looked good the first bit again and then, fair enough, we scored. Great goal, by the way.
00:02:56
James
We'll obviously talk a bit more about players' performances later on, I guess. But, yeah, great goal.
George Hare's Consistent Performance
00:03:03
James
And then... I don't know, yeah, it just we just offered nothing again.
00:03:07
James
Absolutely nothing. and It was nice to see George Hare score. It's always that. Every time he seems to play, he always seems to maybe do something or make some kind of impact. So that was a that's one positive I guess we can talk about as well. but But in general, all in all, the game, yeah, just disappointing. And we didn't seem to show too much fight, which is, yeah, disappointing to see, mate.
00:03:30
James
Disappointing.
Team's Season-End Struggles and Defensive Issues
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think we did we weren't, yeah there wasn't expectation there going into the game, was there? Because obviously we're for a star, but it was the manner of a defeat that was disappointing, weren't I think it's very similar to the Spurs game, I think, that although at the same time Spurs more disappointing because it did feel like a game you could have gone and got something in.
00:03:41
James
Yeah.
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think had if we got into half-time at 1-0, you just still thought we had a chance on the balance of the game, but I mean, so my mate said it at halftime. He described the first half as, looked all right for 35 minutes, gave it and gave a poor goal away, gave up.
00:04:09
James
ye
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that pretty much sums it up.
00:04:11
James
exactly that
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that was as usual, I'm always working on the Saturday, so I can't watch it. but So that was my little halftime review I got from my mate to sum up.
00:04:18
James
yeah spot on it
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah. to summit up and yeah yeah That's the concerning thing for me because we seem to keep finding new issues that are popping up in the late but the late stage of the season where things are meant to be kicking into gear.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
is it Balls into the box and set pieces hadn't really been enough issue all year and then suddenly that's say another one from the the opener in this game was another but is is a ball in the box not dealt with.
00:04:43
James
Yeah.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's That's what, five goals in three or four games now after it not really being a problem to then And say now, like, we haven' we've been prone to conceding goals in quick succession all the way back to Man City on the opening and the second weekend of the season.
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was very, no that was 10 minutes or something in between 1-0 and 3-1. But it's never really, it's never looked to sort that hopeless as it did in that five minutes.
00:05:15
James
No.
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
well I mean, we spoke a lot about the third goal yesterday, which was just embarrassing to concede a goal like that.
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Is that the big concern for you? that a sort of it's It's almost like we have given up. or we We spoke a lot on the pod, haven't we, that have we given up on survival chances yet like as fans? so Did it feel like almost there was a bit giving up on the pitch after that first one went into you?
00:05:42
James
Unfortunately, I think so, mate. And that's I think that's what the sad thing is about it. That's the first time I've seen us this season. And we've been like this all season anyway, you what mean? It's not like we've gone through a period of, oh, we've been quite good and getting results together.
00:05:56
James
It hasn't been that at all. So for this to be the first family season to feel like this, and I agree with you. I think it was... You can kind of see it on the pitch, especially, like your mate said, especially after the first goal.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:06:10
James
It just seemed as if they give up and there was no fight there to so even attempt to turn it round. so Look, I think yeah i'm I'm struggling to find the positiveness from somewhere at the minute. I really am. I know there's still a long way to go, but nine points is quite a lot now in where we are.
00:06:33
James
And, yeah, I'm struggling to find a positiveness. So I think, yeah, we're struggling, aren't we, mate? We are struggling. It's not looking great, I don't think, especially after
Relegation as an Opportunity
00:06:42
James
this result, a 4-2 loss at home. Yeah, it's not looking good.
00:06:45
James
But have you got any positiveness there, Rob, still knocking about?
00:06:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there's weirdly some signs of improvement in the last couple of weeks. But I think it's like it's not there yet. so for a lot of like we're starting We're hitting the curve we should have been hitting in so November, December time in some areas.
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
that
00:07:05
James
Mm.
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
like We might just about kick into gear for the last two or three games of the season when we'd probably already be down by that point, the way it's going.
00:07:12
James
Mm.
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and but I'm more trying to look at it in positives for next year. We spoke about this yesterday as well, that You look at the squad at the moment and there's a lot of players there that could probably benefit from having a year down in the Championship. well It's a kind it its classic thing. You've seen it however many times. that I used to be on board Mitrovic the other day that didn't succeed in the Premier League until his fourth attempt.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just kept dropping back down, scoring like three goals. and He dropped down back 30 goals again and then eventually it clicked. And I feel like hopefully we've got a very young squad. There's a few in there that could drop down, not saying they'll all drop down and score 30 goals and we'll we fly our way back up as comfortable winners.
00:07:51
James
No. Yeah,
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i think to drop down and have a year where you can get away with a bit more and sort of, don't know, just you're not playing against, <unk> going to as good as the championship is, you know you're not playing against as high quality players every week.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
you There's a bit more room to express yourself in an attacking sense, especially. like
00:08:15
James
of course.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there's a lot of players who could probably benefit from that. And as we have as a club, we've probably fast-tracked the Premier League, even even those who have signed maybe in that case. But said when I look at positives, I said that's the mindset I take of it.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think about next season and moving forward rather than actual positives to take game by game for what's left of this season, I think, at that point.
Analysis of Wolves and Nottingham Games
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I said it in our chat the other day. I think you said after Palace that you're really struggling you struggle and find a way to turn it around now i and I just came back and was like, I gave up about two weeks ago.
00:08:46
James
Yeah.
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was not, I've been down about it for a long time.
00:08:50
James
Yeah, the United game, as you said.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It felt like a big weekend this weekend, didn't it? like There was no expectation for results because we know how far us have been, but we knew the gap was six points already and we knew Wolves were going to Southampton, which was a very high chance they going to win that game.
00:08:58
James
Like
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it felt like, but and so there wasn't the expectation there, but felt like we had to get something because of the expectation of Wolves to get three points, which obviously happened in the end.
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So is that maybe why do you think it hits a bit worse than it maybe could do? Because say on paper, you put a 4-2 against a team third in the league isn't as bad as it could have been, despite everything we've said we spoke about so far.
00:09:25
James
Sorry.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But think it's the fact that the context of that Wolves result being in there later on as well is what causes the problem for me.
00:09:42
James
yeah i think it was definitely it just felt like a worse result because like you say i mean already we knew yeah i agree with you we weren't going to get anything and then
00:09:51
James
Obviously, with Wolves going to Southampton, I think we all knew what the result was probably going to be anyway. Because I'm not saying we've been great, obviously, and Leicester also haven't been great, but Southampton have been pretty dreadful.
00:10:04
James
So we knew Wolves were going to pick up something there and extend, extend obviously, the gap to nine points.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
right, James, we lost you halfway through your point there, a bit and couple of technical issues, but I'll let you go back to what you were saying.
00:10:18
James
Yes, so cheers mate, sorry about that. I'm not sure where where we got to, but just the fact that you know we knew Wolves were going to go to Southampton, pick up the three points. So now the fact that they did that and we've we've got now got nine points you know to catch up, yeah it did feel a bit of a kick in the teeth, getting absolutely nothing from Forrest.
00:10:37
James
I know we didn't expect it, but just with the results other the ways as well, it just it just makes it for hard reading and done it. So there yeah, it was a bit of a kick in the teeth, this loss especially, because of where we are, I think.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. So I think the context of other results around us made it feel worse. And perhaps it is on paper, like I say, against third in the league. The expectation wasn't there. But there was there was a lot of few reasons why we got beat.
00:10:57
James
Absolutely.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, we're going to dive into one of what I thought what i spotted as sort of a key issue, even leading up to the game. We're going to dive into that after a short break from one of our sponsors.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are back for the second part of today's Tactics Tuesday. I want to talk to you about an area I've picked out from the game, James, that I thought was a bit of a problem area.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously that was the freedom that Anthony Alanga was having.
00:12:01
James
And.
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously he ended up with two goals, which sort of suggests he was who's a threat that didn't get very well tamed over the course of the game.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah so I started making this point yesterday, but this is actually an area I could see coming. coming into it. I mean, I used to use humble of, it's a silly example, but when I was doing my FPL team before the week, I eyed up, i was like, well, at this point, I know we're going to concede goals. I might as well benefit from it. And I looked at the forest options and I thought, well, from the way we play, I think the Lange is going to be the biggest problem.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in that way, it was it was almost predictable in that sense. And it's because my logic was coming into it is he's off the right hand side and There's space on that. There's space down that.
00:12:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
What is the left-hand side of our defence? Because we know Davis likes to go up. It's something we spoke a lot about over the the early points of the year. but Pretty much every week on Tactics Tuesdays or crossovers, we raised this point and said, well, who has the opposition got on the right and can they cause a problem?
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then we sort of swapped to five at the back and we haven't mentioned it for a while, but it's starting to creep back in now we've gone back to four again. And especially, obviously, with O'Shea playing right back now, it's almost more emphasis for Davis to go because we have just got back three sat there waiting for it afterwards sir when Davis does go up so you feel like at that point is is that is the problem potentially there again then so we know Davis goes high and i think as we're trying to score more goals we're leaning into a bit but it's left that space again and we know what Forrest are like on the counter and
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
a longer benefit from it. Did you see that as as much of a problem as I did?
00:13:47
James
100%. I mean, i mean but i like you say, we've seen Davis. I still love Davis, absolutely, but is he a little bit weaker defensively than he should be, than he is going forward?
00:13:58
James
I think so, and I think we've touched on that in the past anyway, haven't we? But I think just looking at Alanga anyway throughout the season, he's had a hell of a season anyway, so he's he's obviously a very dangerous player and anyway, you know what mean?
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:14:11
James
But... Yeah, it was it was clear to see, and especially with how they're all playing anyway. like Obviously, him and Morgan Gibbs-White link up very, very well. They're just two great players. I mean, what he's doing at Forest, Nuno, is unbelievable. And to get Alanga playing like this, United must be absolutely kicking themselves, looking at Alanga and how he's playing, you know what mean, with the rest of what they're with what they're doing?
00:14:34
James
Because, yeah yeah, very dangerous player. It was always going to be a tough day for Davis, I think, because of that. But... m Does he need to work on his defending a bit to at the top level? I think so.
00:14:47
James
I think so, because obviously the fact that we were calling, and I was absolutely with it, we were calling for him to maybe be selected by England at some point this season. I can't see that coming for a long time now.
00:14:58
James
Do you know what mean? So, m yeah, I think it's something needs to work on. Hopefully... If we do, I'll still say if, if we do go down, hopefully we can keep hold of him.
00:15:09
James
But it'll be a struggle anyway. but there But yeah, it was it was always coming. And Alanga, very dangerous player.
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so I'm pretty sure those old clips we've got from the start of the year about England called up, there's probably some horrible ones that have been.
00:15:15
James
was going to be a tricky day.
00:15:21
James
yeah
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got a horrible memory now and I'm going to link back at it with the benefit of hindsight. I think there was one point I sat back and said Lewis Hall's Newcastle's worst defender.
00:15:25
James
Yeah.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So how does he get an England squad? Then he's gone on to be arguably the best left back of the season. So I don't, I think, yeah, I think there' there'll be quite a few that have aged badly there in that context.
00:15:37
James
Yeah, fair enough.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think Davis is one when I was saying earlier about a year back down in the championship, I think,
00:15:44
James
Yeah, think we had some dodgy calls. Hmm.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
a year back down, it's obviously broke the assist record last time he was in the league.
00:15:52
James
Hmm.
00:15:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think drop back down and then come back up ready.
00:15:57
James
like yeah
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cause again, we said yesterday that he was second to Dallap and the order you thought people would be getting nabbed by bigger clubs if we were relegated.
00:16:02
James
yeah
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas actually on the way the season's played out, I'm not, I'm not asking, especially with his new deal.
00:16:11
James
Yeah.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now I think the price that would be demanded to actually put people off now from what they've seen this year. So, in a benefit to us really because I do think if we can go down and come straight back up he will be able hit the levels the second time around definitely but I don't know it's just that space is a problem but I think it's also not fair on him because that is his game it's also about how we cover it because i mean look Forrest stepped off the gaff a bit and the gaff a bit in the second half because they were and lot but Greaves and Davis we've said it all year it's something in a four there just it doesn't quite click
00:16:22
James
No, I agree. I think, yeah.
00:16:29
James
yeah
00:16:40
James
definite
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
even at the start of the year when Greaves was playing really well, that that improvement initially came when Burgess came in because they played to with each other for two years.
00:16:52
James
No. Yeah.
00:16:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Burgess knows where he needs to be to cover when Leaf gets up the pitch. And then again, like, so yes, Forrest took the foot off the gap a bit and Alanga, who was causing all the problems, came off after 10 minutes or so into the second half.
00:17:04
James
yeah
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Greaves got hauled off at half-time, Burgess got put on and it didn't look as much of a threat, did it? So is that maybe the issue we've had there is that, is it more a left centre-back issue more than a Reign and Davison issue for almost?
00:17:21
James
no
00:17:27
James
I mean, yeah, possibly. i think so. yeah You obviously need to find the partnership that works.
Defensive Partnerships and Team Improvement Potential
00:17:33
James
But if we talk if we are talking about a partnership that works, that I mean, that has to come with Davis as well. Do you know what mean? He has to realise if he's playing with someone who doesn't know his game fully well, like Baird just does, for example, maybe he needs to also play to their strengths a little bit more. I think it's just a bit of and sort of 50-50 in that sense, really. it's If that is the case...
00:17:56
James
be more intelligent do you know what mean like you need to be able to link up better it's the Premier League now it can't be you know what mean can't be keep making these mistakes so otherwise you get called out you and it's clear that you're not good enough and I think unfortunately that's what's happening at the minute maybe not so much with Davis but maybe grieves a little bit because he did look good at the start of the season but if he can't keep up with it if he can't figure it out I don't know I don't know if he's good enough Championship yeah definitely but sound too negative now don't I
00:18:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's an interesting point to make there because I think because he was very good at the start of the year but I think that even then though like that element was there that we spoke about it then but when he first got injured is it we were saying how bad of a loss it would be and then we watched Burgess play for a game we went oh actually like Davis probably his best game of the season there because he's had a bit more free reign because he knows where Burgess is going to be and
00:18:35
James
He was.
00:18:47
James
He's trying. yeah
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
there was that there was that conversation there to be had when Greaves was playing out his skin and just before we got injured. So naturally, when he's a bit lower on confidence now and hasn't been playing as well, it's maybe more of a tell a more or a telltale sign. But I think it has been there and that's been a big problem at the back, they say with which we don't have time to get into today.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the fact that we're still struggling to know what our best back four is but after 29 games is pretty much what the problem is, isn't it?
00:19:17
James
yeah Christ.
00:19:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
That these relationships don't seem to have been built this year.
00:19:23
James
It says everything in it.
00:19:25
James
Yeah.
00:19:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they said, obviously, but Burgess Davis is a combination we know well.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and They know each other's styles of play, but must be 20-odd games now, Greaves has played next to Davis in all comps. To not have that relationship quite where we'd expect it to be is slightly concerning.
00:19:39
James
Oh, yeah.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't know. it's It's a tough one, but I think that it's almost the opposite.
00:19:47
James
Yeah,
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've just picked out as a key problem people can exploit. But then I think if we're going to we we're going to pull off some great escape. We need Davis as a key part of the attack that we almost have to sacrifice it to allow him to get up the pitch and use his creativity.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's the issues we've got. And like I we've got two weeks to mess around with stuff and find a balance now, don't we?
00:20:07
James
yeah I think you're right with that.
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but so we we spoke very negatively so far, as you can expect after a disappointing game like that.
00:20:11
James
Yeah, see what we can do.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But
00:20:16
James
I said.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're another from one of our sponsors now. i'm going to end on a bit of a positive or what we have we think we may have found a bit of a positive that maybe can give us that hope, even though, or it could just be the hope that kills you.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You never know, but we'll be back after this.
00:20:32
James
yeah
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to the final part of your Tuesday Daily Ipswich. Now, as we said before the break, we're to try and end on a bit more a positive note. And it's something of a bit of an upward trend I've noticed, despite the results in the last few weeks.
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're making more chances. There's obvious defensive frailties there, which we've spoken a lot about, but I mean, we scored two goals. How many times has that happened all season? Yeah, i know we lost the game in the end, but we're at the point now where obviously we've got to go on some sort of run. We've got a shock a few people.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if put obviously Wolves at home is a must win, but one game, you've got win three games at least. And it's basically 10 points for the goal difference. There's pretty much four wins we've got get from nine.
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're going to have to catch some people out in there and The big issue that would have stopped us from doing that before is we don't score many goals.
00:21:48
James
yeah
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the chance the chance creation side of it looks like it's finally getting there. We're having sort double figure shots most weeks. We're having chances. The issue is now we're having chances that we should be taking.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But but get we' we seem to be on the way right track.
00:22:07
James
yeah
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
is that Does that give you a little bit of hope for the nine games or is it too little too late?
00:22:12
James
Right. It always gives you hope. what It always gives you hope. you know Because at least there is something going in the right direction. At least we're creating these chances because we want to at least make it interesting towards the end of the season. And that's the way to do it. you know i mean? Because but I'm not saying we can't do it. i've we've We've seen great escapes before. We we are capable of being becoming a great escape 100%.
00:22:36
James
And this is the right way to go about it. At least we are creating those chances. i mean, we look... When we are going forward and we're actually controlling the ball like we can do in some games, we look good and it's exciting to see. And, you know, you you do think, oh, we could could get something here in this game.
00:22:52
James
It's happened in most games. But obviously... There's just quite not the not quite the that end product, the you know the finishing product. But, yeah, like you say, Rob, absolutely a step in the right direction. it And it is a big positive.
00:23:05
James
And it does give you that bit of hope. Whether that's a good thing or not, I don't know. But it does give you the hope. And at least there's something to to sort of, you know, get us into the game a bit, I think.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so it's it' a sick part of you earlier when you saw 3-1 and there's nothing you've seen this season. would give you any reason to think there was a comeback on, but you just see 3-1 and you think, we couldn't, could we?
00:23:24
James
Yeah.
00:23:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
so yeah
00:23:30
James
Yeah.
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
That twist, that horrible part of you.
00:23:32
James
guys yeah
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're just like, at 3-0, you've given up on the game.
00:23:35
James
yeah
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
most people have probably gone home already, but then they we scored a goal completely out of nowhere and you just start to think, but it's certainly not the right thing because look, I'm thinking about the Spurs game, for example, we had like 15 shots.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
We scored once and we we could have been 2-0 up in 10 minutes or so and we were 2-0 down by 25.
00:23:57
James
yeah
00:23:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's not, we've we've got, there's no point making chances if you don't take them.
00:24:01
James
Yeah.
00:24:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's it's nowhere near the finish arc or where it needs to be. But again, I keep going back to having two weeks off. There's so much work you can do in two weeks.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think there's some areas where we're starting to be on the right track probably three months too late in terms of the season. But some of the games that you've got left are very much winnable.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And said, there's a few in there against teams who are probably have nothing to play for by the time get around to that game as well. And then there's some teams in there that you never know if you hit them on the right day.
00:24:34
James
Thank you.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
that It's not... I don't know what point... there So I don't know where at what point I crossed the line into just twisting things to make myself feel better or if I actually am sort of trying to make it a valid point here. But I think that's that's the thing sort keeping you alive at this point is that we are better going forward.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so to score two, like when was the last time we scored two goals in a game that wasn't in the FA Cup? it so It's been a while. There must have been probably Fulham off the top one.
00:25:12
James
Yeah.
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
off the top my head, I think, yeah, Fulham and Chelsea were in a few days of each other.
00:25:15
James
Chelsea maybe? I'll follow you.
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
there That was in December. So, and and then obviously we've had Bristol Rovers and Coventry, but that's a step in the right direction for me, is that even if it is when the when the pressure come off at that point, but it's also the fact that it was, they're in two late goals.
00:25:21
James
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:24
James
Yeah.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I sat here and had a whole rant after the Palace game, how we finished games terribly. And again, yes, the pressure's off, you're 3-0 down, you're not coming back, but and then 4-1 down after the the point Hurst scored.
00:25:44
James
Yeah.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's goals late in games. It's it's an idea of not giving up. The cliche, we won the second half with those two goals, is that there's some steps that we might but we might well be clutching at straws, but there's some point things that seem to finally be heading in the right direction.
00:25:56
James
Yeah.
00:26:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you've got two weeks to hone in on that, go for further improvement.
00:26:03
James
We got these.
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, i said, there is some winnable games in that nine, definitely. But even to Bournemouth, that Bournemouth's always a horrible game for the majority of teams in this league, but randomly, the teams down the bottom are the ones who haven' the most joy at Bournemouth.
00:26:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
They beat the likes of City, they beat Arsenal, they beat teams like that, but then Wolves got a point, and there's other to team other teams down there who have given them a hell of a game.
00:26:24
James
Yeah.
00:26:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Leicester beat them at one point in the season. i think that was at the King Power, though, that they don't tend to like...
00:26:33
James
Yeah.
00:26:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, we were 1-0 up until stoppage time, pretty much, against Bournemouth. They don't like these sort games. They're there there's a chance there definitely and I think in terms of goal scoring we're heading in the right direction but it's more so it's the fact at the moment is that we said at the start of the year we always feel like we've got to score two goals to win games of defence but now we're scoring two goals and lost anyway which is the problem there's problems to sort of the other end but what do you think that do you think it's also the the case of who's getting the goals as well is there is there an argument there because Laps have not scored for a while but
00:26:58
James
No.
Scoring Challenges and Upcoming Strategies
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cojiste's popped up. Hurst off the bench. Hurst in the cup as well.
00:27:13
James
Mm-hmm.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Filagene opens account against United as well. We sort of headed in the right direction, was and oh avoiding the over-reliance on that.
00:27:22
James
I think so. I think we're just about coming out of that. But I don't know what's the better answer. don't know if it's because, like you just said, a couple more players are banging in a couple here and there, or is it because the lap's not actually scoring? I think it's the latter, to be honest.
00:27:41
James
and Which is not great to see because we are we're creating these chances... And you want your main man to be finishing them. Do you know what i mean? But fair enough, fee he can't be, like we've already talked about, we can't rely on him too much anyway. So it's good that these other players are grabbing a couple of goals here or there.
00:27:59
James
But we're just not converting enough though. so something something now needs to move on from the the all this... you know It is positive and we are making the right step, but it now needs to move quicker and move on quicker because we've only got nine games left.
00:28:13
James
So it it needs to happen within these two weeks that we've got off. Like you say, it's it's a very important time, I think, to maybe hone in and do the right changes and hopefully against Bournemouth, step in the right direction.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you never know, do you? That's the thing. Like you said, it's been done before by teams and as biased as we are, we see the quality in the squad that you know you could get it done, but ultimately it's so heavily out your hands when the gap's nine points that Wolves look decent at this point now.
00:28:30
James
Never know.
00:28:39
James
hundred percent 100%
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
as and Obviously, they've got...
00:28:44
James
exactly yeah it's made no difference
00:28:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've picked up their... The big boost we thought we had was Kunja getting that stupid red card in the cup, but taken four points from the first two of those three games he's banned, which so they're they're getting on all right without him exactly, that ultimately there's only so much that we could win four out of nine and think that might just about scrape it, but Wolves can win three out of nine or something themselves and get the gap still be there healthy.
00:29:04
James
yeah
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But say... oh say It's out of our hands, but there's still a lot we can do to try and get some control back in the situation, which I'm hoping that we kick on and do.
00:29:17
James
Exactly. Yeah.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So there's a two-week gap now where McKenna gets hold of the vast majority of the squad for one week and all of the squad for the other week.
00:29:33
James
Yeah.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
that so Especially and in the context of Bournemouth, they've got a game against Man City in the Cup like two or three days before we go there as well.
00:29:38
James
Mm-hmm.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... There's opportunities there.
00:29:45
James
Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like I say, this we're heading into the international break now, which does mean a break from your regularly scheduled podcasting. From our side of things, there will be an international preview out this week, but that'll be the onlying that'll be the only other podcast this week. We won't be doing all five days.
Podcast Scheduling Update During Break
00:30:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the next two weeks, we will be jumping in here and there with odd podcasts for you. It's obviously very tough to do daily when there's no Ipswich games going on for a couple of weeks, but We will be going bringing you a variety of different things to try and fill a two-week gap. We'll get our thinking caps on and we'll come up with some episodes for you before we return to normal service on the 30th of March, I think the Monday, maybe 31st, whatever the Monday is of the week we play Bournemouth. But that is it for today.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you to James for joining me today.
00:30:33
James
Yeah.
00:30:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we will be back, like I say, there'll be an international preview this week and that'll be the next time you see us.
00:30:38
James
Cheers, mate.
00:30:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So until then, goodbye.