Blue Army

Pools Panel Verdict? Three Points On Coupon To Three Points In Table = Promotion!!

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:43:00 GMT

With no game at the weekend Town fans have been afforded a little time to reflect or maybe look forward on a season that gave us promise followed by disappointment, more promise then disappointment. I think at the moment we are sitting just between the two. The overwhelming emotion though for myself certainly has been frustration. Even at this stage of the season precariously perched one point above the drop zone, I still can’t stop myself glancing upwards at that coveted sixth play off place and...(read more)

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:33:00 GMT

It’s a new year with resolutions new hopes and aspirations, but what about a new striker?

Jon Stead’s four match ban has taken our “in form” goal scorer out of the frame for four games but given that ‘steady’ is joint top scorer on just six net bulging efforts with Jon Walters at the halfway stage of the season it would appear that the twenty goal striker we craved when the ‘Marcus Millions’ became available is not yet resident at Portman Road.

I still think that Pablo has a lot to offer, given a run out of games and Connor Wickham has only been given the opportunity of cameo appearances from the bench which may be due to keeping him out of the gaze of the premiership ‘hyenas’ looking for some free talent to nurture for future glory.

Whether or not their interest has any foundation can surely only be gauged by performances at championship level, so maybe giving Connor a couple of starts will either find our until now absent prolific marksman or give us a saleable asset when he’s old enough to put pen to paper.

Other options?

Stern John, on loan has not yet indicated a desire to die for the cause and but for Stead’s suspension would probably be back at Selhurst Park by now.

Tamas Priskin?

Can anyone tell me what happened to the player that we all watched scoring for fun on You Tube at the time of his signing.

Okay he hasn’t had any sort of run games wise, like the majority of Keanes squad but when given the opportunity however limited he has not shown any desire for the ‘Blue Shirt’.

So in summary.

While we are not now leaking goals and have become a very hard side to beat the one thing that every Town fan had top of their wish list when Marcus Evans injected some of his considerable wealth into the club still seems to be missing.

Attracting any sort of in form striker to a club, it has to be said, still languishing at the bottom end of their division will not be easy.

Hopefully what we have got will be sufficient to consolidate our position at least ready for a concerted effort next season.

The game against Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium will be a good yardstick as to how far the current side has come. The ‘foxes’ will almost certainly be in or around the playoff zone at close of proceedings while Town have a mountain to climb.

Mountains though are there to be climbed. The longest journey starts with a single step. A win at the walkers would be a big step towards climbing the mountain.

Might even see you at the summit.

Let's not become just another statistic

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:55:00 GMT

Unbeaten in the last seven games. Only lost twice in last twelve. Statistics you would not normally associate with a side in the drop zone.

The fact is we are still there. We are at the same time only twelve points away from a play-off place and an amazing twelve clubs above us have lost as many or more games this season.

Statistics, fascinating as they are cannot hide the inadequacies of a side not scoring enough goals to win games. Instead of sharing the points on a weekly basis.

Strikers have been given opportunities and none have yet come to the fore, by the same token none have been given an extended run and I can’t recall a striking partnership extending beyond two games.

Squad rotation can work in sides full of international class players, even then the complexity relies on the tactical experience of the manager. The formula for teams without the luxury of the Premiership elite though must be consistency.

Not wanting to put a dampener on Sundays first away win at Cardiff (can we play you every week) City. The fact is that the starting front pairing had to be juggled once again to achieve a result. If any of our strikers had scored in every game they’d played they wouldn’t even feature in a championship most goals table.

The one striker who I think gives more to the side than goals when he is not scoring is Pablo, who seems to have become the new Owen Garvan, frozen out of the squad despite Roy Keanes statements to the contrary.

Another trip west to Bristol may give an indication as to our credentials and possibly a favoured starting front pair. Our following two home games against basement dwellers Peterborough and high flying Billy Clarke’s Blackpool will either see us emerge in mid table respectability or with more trouble than we ever dreamed of. Let’s hope it’s the former.

The dictionary definition of consistency:

Degree of thickness or smoothness.

Let’s hope Roy’s first choice eleven is of the smooth variety.

Have We Turned The Corner Or Am I Just Round The Bend!?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:53:00 GMT

Tuesday’s game at Portman Road against Watford followed more than a few now all too familiar patterns. Town score early, fail to capitalize then capitulate in time added on. The latter seems to be a pre-requisite for most games. Tuesday night however was different. Why? Well for one the quality of football was superb, and secondly the players showed a desire hunger and a willingness to shed blood for the shirt, but lastly and most importantly we were for the first time in a long time all together. The team the manager and the crowd who in their superb vocal support of both for ninety minutes plus and after the final whistle made me proud to be a Town fan.

The catalyst for this newfound optimism is a mystery. The previous game against the Swans while providing the same result still presented all the apathy, pessimism and boo’s at the final whistle that have made home games an undesirable experience of late but with my breath condensating in the crisp autumn air, the glare of the floodlights and four sides of the ground singing in unison, Portman Road was alive again.

While not wishing to overplay the events of Tuesday night in case it proves to be a flash in the pan. I wouldn’t mind watching that quality every game for the rest of the season and I think if it were provided we would finish in a play off place. One thing is for sure though, the desire on all three fronts needs to be maintained to ensure survival.

Regardless of the result there is still one thing that can really wind me up on the return journey from games, and that is the inane ramblings of some so called Town fans on radio phone ins, especially the ones that introduce themselves with “I wasn’t at the game today but…” if you weren’t at the game then you cant give any qualified or reasoned argument as to what went on. Get back in your armchair, finish your coco and start texting your X-Factor vote before you're one of those that pays but doesn’t register.

If you do have an opinion valid or otherwise, why not air it on the Green Un website. You can certainly comment with your views on my blog or others on the site and I will certainly give a reply to any I think worthy or those that wind me up enough. Give it a try and save on your phone bill!

One word of warning. If you cut me I bleed blue, so to avoid being offended, don’t dish what you can’t take.

Looking forward to your input and looking forward to the Playoffs.

Am I mad? Let me know www.greenun.co.uk.

Lets sing out loud in Bobby's Stand

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:41:00 GMT

Eight games into the season four points from a possible twenty four and the only win in all competitions, a penalties after extra time victory at Shrewsbury was not the expected return for most Town fans as we go into a fixture that many of us looked for first when the list was published.

Sadly for the time being the reality is that a game previewed by the more optimistic amongst us as a top of the table clash before the seasons start has now become a ninety nine percent away banker in the eyes of the pool pundits and bookies the length and breadth of the land.

So where did it all go wrong, or for that matter was it ever right to start with?

When the Roy Keane enigma rolled somewhat surprisingly for many into Portman Road at the end of last season and his first two games in charge resulted in consecutive victories, something we had struggled to attain for much of the campaign, it was though by many that the only ingredients required other than the motivational skills of the new messiah were:

1: A twenty goal a season predatory striker, and –

2: An imposing, no nonsense central defender with good leadership skills. (Come back Jason Devos!)

These I believe are still fundamentally areas that need improvement.

For a side that statistically have created more scoring opportunities than most in the division to be currently second from bottom tells the tale at one end while conceding fifteen goals in eight games while your keeper is more often than not a candidate for man of the match more worryingly exposes the frailties at the other.

So why do we not have the accomplished players we seemingly need for a concerted promotion push?

Is there a twenty goal striker out there without a lucrative contract or did we have him at the club already in the shape of one Jordan Rhodes.

While many may detract from his prolific scoring being at a level below the Championship it’s prolific nevertheless and many before him have been proved themselves at a higher level, given the chance. There I think may be the crux of the problem. Issues regarding Jordan would certainly not have been wage related, nor was a large transfer fee involved, so while one of our most promising prodigy was allowed to depart without a whimper, it was assumed by many that a ‘big name’ striker was about to be unveiled at any time.

Fast forward to the present and we all know that didn’t happen.

The two most pivotal positions in any football side to my mind have still not been addressed. You can talk all day about left sided players midfield ball winners, midfield play makers and yes they are all parts of the jigsaw but if you don’t have the pieces to score goals at one end and defend at the other you may aswell put it back in the box.

Who wants to start a jigsaw with bits missing?

With that load off my chest let’s look forward to Saturday.

Regardless of the result, this for me will be the game of the season. A final farewell to Sir Bobby who gave me not only the best days of supporting Town but two of the best days of my life ever, short only of the birth of my children and grandchildren. (Ok and my wedding day, Ouch!)

As long suffering members of Row P in North Stand lower will tell you, I rarely break surface until the players are on the pitch unless the kick off has been delayed. My former duties at the ‘Drum & Monkey’ and the bookies usually mean I just about make kick off. Saturday however I want to be inside Portman Road for the full experience.

For me and my extended family, a large amount of our life, our social life, our circle of friends and even some marriages have been as a result of supporting Ipswich Town. The great granddad to us all though has been Sir Bobby.

The North Stand will always be the North Stand but now its Bobby Robson's North Stand and when I next take my seat (or not) in Row P, kiss my fingers and touch it for luck I may have a look skywards and say “thanks Bobby, you gave us more in life than just the football”. Let’s sing out loud in Bobby’s Stand.

Legends live forever.

Oxygen Masks or Diving Helmets? What to wear at 'The Hawthorns'

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:05:00 GMT

After all the pre-season hype and excitement it is more trepidation than expectation that we take with us for the clash against 'The Baggies' on Saturday.

Our visit to 'The Hawthorns' the countries most elevated ground geographically could see us in a league position below sea level if recent form is continued. On top of that, we are once again under the universal glare of Sky Sports and its millions of viewers. The old "we had three goals dissallowed and two nailed on penalties denied" won't wash at work on Monday morning. So we can only hope that RK will either give the squad some altitude (or do I mean attitude) training or assemble a side that will leak less goals, create more chances and convert a larger percentage of them. Sounds simple but only if you have the players capable.

Saturdays rather stagnant draw with Leicester City saw neither side creating many chances and the old 'cancelled each other out' cliche was banded, but Tuesday nights encounter with the 'Eagles' who bared their claws with far more intent highlighted the frailties throughout the Town side. Palace were sharper, hungrier and at times looked as if they could score at will. More than one top drawer save from Richard Wright kept the score respectable if a 3-1 reverse at home can be considered that, and only a couple of Town players were justified in leaving the pitch with their heads held high. Not what you would expect from a club that supposedly has money to spend and a manager with 'been there and done it' credentials.

I think that most Town fans won't panic three games into the season on a results front, but many may have a different reaction in view of performances, particularly at home in this early season trilogy.

The West Brom game may well be an indicator, more via performance than result as to the real credentials for success or otherwise that we can expect this season. It dosen't take too many defeats to stop the most optimistic amongst us looking down rather than up at league placings.

The soap opera going on between the Weston Homes Stadium and Carrow Road has been almost as unbelievable as that dished up on prime time T.V.

Heres the script:

The 'Boyfriend' (Colchester United) and the 'Girlfriend' (Norwich City) have mutual dislike for that good looking bloke up the road (Portman). They meet at the girlfriends home (Carrow Road) and the boyfriend gives the girlfriend a good hiding, then the girlfriend in retaliation decides to go out with all his best mates (Paul Lambert, Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa) and tempt them back to her place. While the boyfriend has a good night at home with old friends, the girlfriend has a disapointing night out with her new admirers who are not able to rise to the occasion on honeymoon in Brentford. Meanwhile a bemused Phil Parkinson is seen coming out of a shower cubicle on a building site in Layer Road.

Next weeks episode:

Delia caught in fond embrace with George Burley!!

You couldn't write it could you?

Another dose of 'Sky Blues' against the 'Sky Blues' but its 'Blue Skies' from now on.

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:40:00 GMT

As was fully expected when the ‘Roy Keane Factor’ rolled into Portman Road, the season has begun with more talking points than a Michael Parkinson interview.

The performance at ‘The Ricoh’ was encouraging in many ways. We’ll play a lot worse than that and win games. Early nerves and shoddy defending that R K will soon eliminate I’m sure, coupled with some laughable displays by match officials meant that we did not get what we deserved at Coventry.

The display of ‘Keano’s Kindergarten’ though at the New Meadow in Tuesdays Carling Cup tie sends out far more positive vibes for the clubs future than Sundays disappointment.

Jim Magilton seemed to have a problem introducing young players into a side which maybe included too many ‘old pals’ and excluded too many faces that didn’t fit.

Roy Keane while still bringing his own familiar faces to the club has also given existing squad members the chance to stake a claim complete with an exit clause should they not like his management methods.

The most refreshing aspect of the ‘Keano’ regime is his attention to the young players at the club.

Given the two seasons deadline to get the Town promoted which Roy himself reduced to one, his attention to the long term health of the club via the development of youth players coming through would maybe indicate an underlying longer term commitment from the man himself. I for one would like to think that would be the case.

Playing most of your youth team in the early stages of what has become an unattractive Cup competition may seem very ‘Man Utd’ but ‘hey ho’ I’ll go with that. Give them their wings now and they’ll be flying when we reach the Premiership. Connor Wickham is already the new ‘Rooney’ but better! Sir Bobby will be looking down with a big smile on his face.

The season for real casting Sundays blip aside starts at Portman Road on Saturday against Leicester City.

Hopefully a big crowd and a bigger result with the ‘Eagles’ visiting shortly after on Tuesday evening. Including Town that’s three teams reckoned to be there or thereabouts at the seasons end. Six points this week would be just as valuable as six in April and given the opposition may be worth twelve next Spring.

Still can’t stop laughing at last weeks Budgie vs Col U result. Best entertainment i've ever had without being there. On a serious note, I don’t think Norwich are that bad or Colchester are that good, but I don’t mind being proved wrong in the former.

Barry Fry has branded the Carling Cup tie between ‘Posh’ and the Town as a ‘rubbish draw’. You’re right Barry, it is! But even without Connor we'll be the best rubbish you’ve ever seen. I met Barry Fry once at a services on an away trip. He’s a great character and football needs more like him. There are too many sterile commentators in a game that is passion personified and it is characters the fans commit to.

Thankfully we’ve got one of the biggest and i'm looking forward to a season in ‘Keanos’ Barmy Army! I’ve enlisted for the full tour.

‘Come on you Blues’.

Thanks for the memories Bobby.

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:01:00 GMT

I’m not a great lover of pre-season friendlies and by the same token I don’t give much importance to their results, but when ‘The Town’ are

playing in your own back garden it’s difficult to find an excuse not to attend.

Standing next to Roy Keane watching F.C Clacton at the Rush Green Bowl was a surreal experience to say the least.

If I’d asked my local bookie for odds on that scenario a few months ago he would probably have laughed loudly, told me to keep my money and spend it on a serious reality check. Such is the crazy world of football that keeps you coming back for more.

I came back for more at Portman Road and ‘Fabians’ testimonial against Colchester Utd, who’s fans and some players seemed to treat the fixture as the most important of the season. Sadly for them that may be the case. For me it was an opportunity to say farewell to a great servant of the club. Wilnis would still be in my starting eleven today.

The five aside game during the interval displayed talent that by today’s standards would see the obscene transfer dealings of the likes of Manchester City pale into insignificance. Oh yes this clubs got history but sadly in today’s game the same wont be attainable by any other then the wealthiest clubs in the future.

Which brings us to Friday evening;

Any doubts I had of attending the fixture against Real Valladolid were dispelled when I heard the news of ‘Sir Bobby’ passing away.

I knew I had to travel to Portman Road to lay a tribute to the ‘Great Man’. Ok it was only one of my old shirts, but it was the one from the 2000-2001 season, which is the only season that came anywhere close to attaining what Sir Bobby achieved in his time at the club.

I have been privileged to experience nearly all the home games many away games, the F.A. Cup final and travels through Europe culminating in the UEFA cup triumph in Amsterdam with Sir Bobby at the helm.

The best manager that Ipswich and England have ever seen and one of the best human beings. The world will be a lesser place without him. Rest in peace Bobby.

The real business starts again next weekend. We are live on the ‘Telly’ first game. Something I think due to the profile that Roy Keane has given the club. Whether or not you think ‘Keano’ has brought anything else, particularly on the transfer front is another matter but I will keep my views on that until I’ve seen a couple of meaningful games.

It’s good to be back, let’s hope it’s our season.

C’mon you Blues!

Mid table, end of season, who says it can't be fun?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:02:00 GMT

What must be one of the strangest seasons in the history of Ipswich Town football Club reaches its conclusion on Sunday afternoon.

The famous Suffolk punch on the badge hardly managed a trot at the start of the season, never even reached a canter mid term but suddenly is in full gallop approaching the final game.

The match against the ‘Sky Blues’ on Sunday, two sides with a recent history of mediocrity at best and nothing to play for between them would probably command a sub 20k turnout of die hard fans at best in normal circumstances.

Circumstances though at Portman Road are far from normal at the moment.

An attendance approaching 25,000 is expected to greet Town’s new Messiah and welcome him into his place of worship, many hoping to witness the miracle of I.T.F.C rising from the dead.

These are exciting times for any town fan, even those who remember the ‘Robson era’ and what would have been a going through the motions last game has been given a new status. Even the radio listening and mobile texting junkies in the ground will have a fix, tracking the fortunes or otherwise of ‘The Budgies’ as they cling with more than desperation to their precarious Championship perch at The Valley. Anyone for a Darren Ambrose hatrick?

Sunday’s events could prove to be very enjoyable for Town fans but the close season wait for the next game is going to seem immeasurably long, for myself anyway.

With no World or Euro tournaments to wet the salivatory glands (bring back the ‘Home Internationals!’) even the Fishing and Golf will struggle to bridge the gap between what promises to be two of the most contrasting seasons in the clubs history.

While some fans will be having an end of season celebration ours will be more like a Christening. I’ll see you there to ‘wet the babies head’ and let’s hope for a cracking first birthday party next May.

The new manager may be signed but is he set in stone?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:40:00 GMT

As one of the most dull and mundane seasons in living memory for most Town fans was meandering towards a finish of complete mediocrity, we are suddenly given a ‘hit’ of more excitement, controversy and speculation than you can shake a stick at in the space of four days.

The excitement of an ‘Old Farm’ derby that lived up to expectation for the ‘Blue’ contingent at least and having some controversy of its own was followed by what in some eyes was the controversial sacking of Jim Magilton culminating in the inevitable speculation as to who would be his replacement.

The Norwich game was a breath of fresh air for the long suffering Portman Road faithful accompanied by more than one or two ‘select a match’ fans that I wont knock as they contributed to a big crowd, big vocal support and a big result.

That combination had it been the norm rather than the exception this season would see Town and Jim Magilton in a far different position.

Jims sacking, though called for by many and expected by most was still controversial in its timing. After being given ‘to the end of the season’ by Marcus Evans in his ‘statement’ to the fans, the sudden dismissal was a bit of a shock, pleasant or otherwise, to the majority of us. Perhaps Mr Evans season ended when the mathematics of the play offs were no longer and the ‘Budgies’ game was granted as Jim’s ‘Swansong’.

Then came the speculation, a whole plethora of candidates had been suggested. On a personal note ranging from “im flattered”, through to “he might be good” and verging on “oh my God no!”

All that said regardless of any speculation I believe that our new manager has already been chosen and we will find out his identity very soon.

I would like to say to whoever the lucky person may be, this is a big club, with a big history and though the business may be result based the supporters of Ipswich Town also require an attractive brand of football and a desire from players wearing the shirt.

If you can deliver all three you could become a God.

There’s room behind the ‘North Stand’ for another statue and not many of us get the chance of immortality.

Ramsey – Robson -?

Just heard its Roy Keane, hope the statue maker does designer stubble!

Missing. Does anyone know the whereabouts of my beloved team?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:15:00 GMT

Their name is Ipswich Town FC and they loved to hear their name shouted by thousands of passionate fans. They would respond by playing attractive flowing football, ripping opposition defences to shreds and scoring goals for fun, especially at home with their family in Portman Road.

They have been missing since the end of last season and I am now concerned that they may be lost never to be seen again. If anybody knows of their whereabouts or have heard rumours of a side fitting their description in the last eight months please could you contact me with details of where you saw them. Thanks.

I have not posted for a while such has been my despondency; not just with results but with the performances. The defining moment was the Doncaster game. Being doubled and let it be said totally outplayed by a side new to the Championship this season, a large part of which looking over their shoulder at a rapid return to League One, for me was an indication that this team needs rebuilding from the bottom up.

There do not appear to be many if any building blocks in place for whoever is in charge to launch a serious campaign next season.

It has been stated that the quality of playing staff is sufficient to more than compete in this division and mismanagement is to blame for the lack of performance. Quality though tends to come to the fore. You could put my missus (who knows less about football than Delia) in charge of Manchester United for ten games and they would still win most of them. The problem I think has been in spending 12 Million without securing a player of any current stature, virtually all of those signed coming from clubs that no longer required their services. This combined with the fact that not one of the very able body of Youth players has been given any sort of extended run in the side all being shipped out on loan and players of better ability than those brought in being “cold shouldered” due to ‘clashes of personality’ or as has been reported on more than one occasion, issues of a more personal nature, indicates mismanagement on a far bigger scale.

I’ve renewed my season ticket, that’s my choice, I've been coming to Portman Road for over forty years, but I would not blame any Town fan for not making the same commitment.

I haven’t looked forward to a home fixture for a large part of the season, it’s been a long time though since I haven’t looked forward to a ‘Local Derby’ at home. Sadly that’s the case at the moment.

I just think the ‘Budgies’ will be so much more ‘up for it’ and I can’t comprehend loosing to them twice in one season.

My only hope is that someone finds the missing I.T.F.C. If you do please bring them to Portman Road before 12.45pm on Sunday.

Jim........ Magilton or Bowen?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:28:00 GMT

Another three games, five more points and while the likelihood of a playoff place is more remote than a Highland Crofter’s Cottage you still couldn’t book a holiday in May with total impunity.

After a gutsy performance and excellent result at ‘The Madeski’ the fare dished up at Portman Road against Burnley was at least more palatable than recent at home. That was not in a small way due to the introduction of one Giovanni dos Santos. His substitution halfway through the first half against Watford left us with a front line about as toothless as Shane McGowan after a trip to the dentist.

Now while I can only applaud the efforts to attain the services of such a talent, the timing of the loan deal, which brought the Mexican into the side, leaves me with a feeling of acute frustration.

Assuming that there is no chance of a permanent deal and he will be heading back to Whitehart Lane at the end of a season we’ve all but written off, it has lead me to draw parallels with that iconic game show ‘Bulls eye’ where host Jim Bowen would say to inept dart throwers failing to win the star prize “lets have a look at what you could have won”.

With the sort of quality that ‘Gio’ (as he has already been affectionately christened by the North Stand) brings to the front line, I cant help thinking that his introduction earlier in the season may have won us the speed boat instead of the Microwave.

Do you also think that our own Jamie Peters, given games to build his confidence has similar ability?

Lets put them both up front for the rest of the season and watch them turn Championship defences inside out.

Another loan move, that of Alan Lee to the ‘Budgies’ has given another dimension to what could already be an intriguing fixture on April 19^th. He’s promised a ‘Big’ goal celebration if he scores, but that will be in the face of a severe amount of bullying from the ‘Big Boys’ in the North Stand, but as Jim says (that’s Bowen not Magilton) “ Everybody loves a bit of Bully”.

It's alive! But is it a Monster?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:10:00 GMT

I couldn’t bring myself to make a posting after the Southampton game. It would have been very reactionary and not very rational such was my disappointment both on the night and for some days after. One gameless Saturday and one commendable midweek performance later a certain amount of rationality has been restored.

This season has not been memorable on a footballing front with few exceptions to date but may well be more remembered for off the field activities around Portman Road. One things for sure though like Frankenstein’s monster it won’t lay down and die.

Despite being the model of inconsistency and dishing up major debacles like the home defeat to the ‘Saints’ described by many as the worst Town performance in living history, the fact remains that going into the Reading game on Saturday we still have an outside but very realistic chance of making a top six finish.

This division has grown crazier by the season. Always renowned as being difficult to exit due to the ‘Yo-Yo’ syndrome of newly relegated clubs it now seems that you could throw your football pools predictions into the same bowl as the national lottery balls, such is the random nature of results in the Championship.

I can’t pretend to have enjoyed the season so far that’s as much due to the lack of atmosphere at home games as anything else and I sometimes think it would be nice to be put out if the misery of chasing an unlikely playoff place so I can stop staring dementedly at the league table working out the mathematical consequences of the days results and forthcoming fixtures.

A real supporter though won’t give up until the maths dictates otherwise. A realist would have given up before Christmas.

Sadly I’m one of the former, so my torment will continue for another month at least, which takes us into April.

The fixture list has thrown up a little ‘grand finale’ to the season with the visit of the ‘Budgies’ next month.

The caged Canaries in the Victorian coal mines had a better chance of survival than Bryan Gunn’s yellow tweeters have at the moment. The chance to hammer the final nail into their relegation coffin would be sweet. (I’m still hurting from the humiliation last December at Carrow Road) and if it were to project us into the top six at the same time it could attain legendary status.

The 2008-2009 season is still alive. How it lives in the memory will be dictated in the next six weeks. Certainly on April 19^th.

Hot Stuff!

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:02:00 GMT

Impartial viewers of Saturday evenings live on Sky game at QPR must have been left wondering what’s going on at Portman Road?

Only lost one in the last nine, two points off the playoffs with twelve to go and just gave the richest club in the Championship (if not the country) a footballing lesson.

So they want to sack the manager?

Okay they don’t know the full story. If Town had consistently performed half as well as they did at Loftus Road we would probably be in a top two position.

That aside the statistics do stack up and have put the intense criticism of Jim’s performance by many, myself included into question.

The hardcore ‘anti Magilton’ Brigade are unlikely to back down whatever. Their reaction to any success should it happen would be put down to luck, witchcraft or global warming.

The fence sitters will jump off on whatever side suits at the seasons end. The pro Magilton support however, though not seen or heard in such great numbers could well be experiencing a population explosion if the current renaissance extends to Deepdale next Saturday. A result at Preston would have all but the biggest sceptics believing that the playoffs are a real option, again defeat however would prematurely consign the great day out in West London to history.

It was a great day out. A comprehensive Town performance and two of the best goals of the season. Even a disrupted train journey due to track maintenance could not detract from the days proceedings. The bus journey between Colchester and Billericay (a place you would only normally visit for a skin graft) threw up some interesting characters including a Millwall fan and his daughter who travel to every ‘Lions’ home game from Norwich.

On our way home the ‘Clacton Massif’ stopped off at Tottenham Court Road to visit an Asian restaurant with a renowned value for money deal of any three dishes for a fiver.

Not being very adventurous when eating out I ordered Chow Mein, Rice and Sweet & Sour Chicken. Now whether I said one thing while pointing out another the person serving me just didn’t understand or was possibly a QPR fan, I don’t know but what I got was not Sweet or Sour but just flaming hot! Starving hungry and with senses numbed by copious amounts of lager I decided to consume the meal without complaint.

What I experienced the following Sunday morning will forever be known with little affection as ‘Rangers Revenge’.

Can You Protest Every Week?

kev_barmyarmy@hotmail.co.uk — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:54:00 GMT

Whether by a direct result or by pure coincidence, Wednesday’s much publicised though subsequently rather low key demonstration by the ‘Anti Magilton’ lobby seemed to have the desired effect within the ground.

Two goals (okay we only actually scored one ourselves) three points and most importantly something approaching an ‘atmosphere’ at Portman Road made Wednesday evening a slightly more pleasurable experience than recent home games. The football, though not the prettiest I’ve experienced at least indicated some semblance of desire and determination from the players which has not been obviously apparent in the last few matches while at the same time the crowd seemed to want to lift the team as opposed to what is usually the reverse requirement.

Beating a side struggling several places below and fighting for survival is not normally a reason for great celebration, especially on home soil but when its your first home win in two months a huge relief reflex kicks in and as with the laying of any ghost new hope springs eternal.

That new hope at least gives Saturday’s trip to Q.P.R some sort of impetus and a reason for negotiating the regions infamous rail system.

A bus ride from Colchester to Billericay is included at no extra charge apparently. I can’t wait!

If you think money alone can buy a successful football club then you need look no further than West London to disprove the myth. The ‘Marcus Millions’ don’t come close to the investment made at Loftus Road but going into Saturdays fixture Town sit one place above their more illustrious underachievers, albeit having played two more games. It does however put Towns season to date, that many (myself included) have deemed as a total failure into perspective.

No club ever has or ever will have any divine right to success.

Bigger clubs than ourselves have sunk to far lower depth’s that some thought unimaginable.

While the ability of smaller clubs to achieve has undoubtedly decreased in a financially orientated business, the possibility of the ‘mighty’ falling is still a real prospect.

Former ‘Champions League’ contenders Leeds United bear testament to how far you can drop and how difficult it is to rise again when the bubble bursts.

Talking of bubbles bursting it would seem that Bryan Gunn’s managerial ‘honeymoon period’ is well and truly over. The Budgies are now entrenched in the bottom three and may well be visiting Elland Road next season.

Norwich City’s policy of sacking three managers in as many seasons does not seem to have done them an awful lot of favours.

That may be something to think about.