Ipswich Town
The myths surrounding Ipswich Town’s season
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
10:54 AM
Paul Jewell’s ‘Dad’s Army’ paid the price for collapsing in the second half of matches, but at least they showed signs of real promise after Christmas. As STUART WATSON found out, some of the much-repeated views surrounding Ipswich Town’s season were not quite as clear-cut as you might think.
TOWN WERE AN AGEING SIDE
Half of the 16 players Paul Jewell signed last season – either permanently or on loan – were in their 30s, while a further three were 28 or older. The ‘Dad’s Army’ nickname that was bestowed upon his Bradford City side was therefore quickly applied to his experienced Blues outfit, with the team which won 3-0 down at Bristol City on the opening day of the season including a 35-year-old Mark Kennedy and 34-year-old Ivar Ingimarsson.
Youngsters such as Luke Hyam, Josh Carson and Jack Ainsley have found game time extremely limited, with Jewell handing just four players aged 21 or younger their Town debuts during his season-and-a-half in charge (five fewer than predecessor Roy Keane).
It’s a surprise, therefore, that the average age of Town’s starting line-up across the 48 games was as low as 27.72. That’s not far off the average age of the Norwich and QPR sides which won promotion from the Championship in 2010/11. Aaron Cresswell (pictured), Tommy Smith and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, all aged between 21 and 22, made a whopping 100 starts between them, while 22-year-old keeper Alex McCarthy started 10 games during a loan spell.
HIGH TURNOVER OF PLAYERS DIDN’T AID CONSISTENCY
Jewell saw key men in Connor Wickham, Gareth McAuley and David Norris leave last summer, signed 10 players permanently, brought in a further six on loan and paid off the likes of Ivar Ingimarsson, Shane O’Connor, Colin Healy and Tamas Priskin.
There were no fewer than nine different centre-back partnerships by January, with there being only two times when the Blues boss named the same starting XI for at least three games in a row.
Richard Wright, Healy, Jack Ainsley, Nathan Ellington, Jaime Peters, Reece Wabara and Tamas Priskin made just 14 starts between them.
You’d think, therefore, that Town were at the top end of the table for the most number of players used over the campaign. Wrong.
Only six teams used fewer players than Town’s 31 in the Championship – Middlesbrough (30), Hull (29), Birmingham (29), Cardiff (28), Peterborough (28) and Southampton (28).
IF ONLY THE BLUES COULD FINISH GAMES WELL...
It’s easy to look back on certain times in the season and think ‘what if?’ One major regret will have been the 29 points which were dropped from winning positions, with a number of dramatic late collapses coming either side of Christmas.
Surprisingly, therefore, the Blues actually had a far better record in the second half of games than they did the first.
If results were based on first halves only, then Town would have finished 16th – a place lower in the Championship table. If only second half results had counted they would have finished seventh and would have only been kept out of the play-offs on goal difference by West Ham.
Eighteen points were secured from losing positions, with second-half comeback points secured against the likes of Southampton, Hull and Crystal Palace. The biggest regret, arguably, should therefore be the number of games where Town failed to take advantage when on top in the opening 45 minutes.
LEE BOWYER BARELY PLAYED
When Paul Jewell revealed he was going to be releasing Lee Bowyer, 88% of our readers voted it to be the right decision via an internet poll.
The 35-year-old, right, comes across as a quiet family man now, but his controversial past meant a number of supporters weren’t sure about his acquisition. To them, the ageing midfielder had been a complete waste of money.
It may therefore come as surprise to some that, despite a string of injuries, the former Leeds man still made 24 starts over the course of the season, coming off the bench a further five times. That makes him the club’s joint-10th highest appearance maker for 2011/12, equal with Damien Delaney.
And few will forget that last gasp winner at former employers West Ham last September.
THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON WAS MUCH BETTER
That 5-1 home win over West Ham (main picture) at the end of January kick-started a run which saw Town claim an impressive 23 points from a possible 30. From that point on, it was constantly reiterated how much better the second half of the campaign had been compared to the first.
In actual fact, though, the Blues only claimed seven more points from their final 23 league games than did in their opening 23, winning just one more game and picking up four additional draws.
In the second half of the season, Town scored just three more goals, but – cutting out the individual errors which cost them so dearly – conceded 11 less times.
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9 comments
State all the facts you like,but the ones that matter say played 46,won 17,lost 19,drew 10,scored 69,conceded 77, 27 points from promotion and 21 from the drop,here is a pointer Reading got promoted as champions there goal tally was 69, the same as town,they only conceded 51 goals,Southampton only conceded 46,they did score a few more 85 in total,based on those facts we have a woeful defensive record,which in my view has been the same for over 12 season now,surely someone at the club must realize this by now,players do not come cheap,and with the decision over the academy being taken as it has,i see no solution on the horizon,i do hope i am wrong.
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peter samuels
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Would be interesting to check how many defenders (Town's great weakness) played for each team during the course of the season. Gut feeling is that Ipswich would be up near the top of the table for total number of defenders used.
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Richard Gardiner
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
i note on another site liam trotter on his way to the premiership next season yet another quality young player given away by sc.
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david peters
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Good article - various points made are valid. One big problem for PF and co is that so many Town fans are so negative. Not surprising really as we've declined over the past decade. I should be pleased at the possibility of a player like Sam Baldock coming to us on season-long loan but I'm not. I want to see us buying and developing our own players.
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Richard Gardiner
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
An excellent analysis, showing that perceptions are not always based on fact. Unfortunately the manner of some of the defeats will stay in the mind longer than the wins and the final home game of the season shows we still have a way to go.
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Honest view
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Is it really a myth that a high turnover of players didn't aid consistency ??? Of the clubs listed under that particular heading only P'boro finished below ITFC. Of the others M'boro and Hull just missed out on the play-offs Cardiff & B'ham in them and S'ton going up automatically !!!!! Clearly this indicates that turnover does indeed have an adverse effect on points tally if you get it wrong !!! So it would seem that you can turn a top ten finish into a mediocre season but lets face it the season was well and truly over by mid October. It took the remainder of the season to get to the dizzy heights of 15th & finish off with one of our lowest ever finishes in 50 years highlighting what a dreadful season it was....all masterminded by the completely inept Mr Jewell.
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bluearmy78
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
half the players have already gone as well that says something about his ability to find players to move forward
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gutted
Monday, May 14, 2012
there is no myth surrounding last season its plain to see thats why there are league tables they are not stories. last season was rubbish so lets move on with a new manager that would be a fairy tale!!
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gutted
Monday, May 14, 2012
As with most of your articles this one is utterly mythtifying
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Rob Steroo
Sunday, May 13, 2012