FT: IPSWICH TOWN 3 - 2 CARDIFF CITY. Match thread

[PontBlue]

We played really well in the 1st half, a cause for much optimism. However, we often played well under Morison without winning. The only difference is that we can now score goals, but is this is down to having greater quality in midfield and upfront rather than the coaching?

Two huge mistakes during the game; taking Tanner off (he may have been injured) and the switch of formation. But that has already been pointed out in this thread numerous times.

But also, I don't understand the dropping of Alnwick. Regardless of Runnarsson's performance, what type of leadership is it to drop a bloke who waited 12 months, patiently, for his chance without complaining and then when he had his chance he has simply been outstanding. I don't see that his selection of Runnarsson as being 'brave', 'strong' or 'ruthless'; as a leader and figurehead I see it as disloyal and lacking in integrity. It would be different if Runnarsson had been at the club for three seasons or so and had been proven to be a top player. Although, I am happy to accept that Runnarsson might be the better goalie but the change was wrong and sent out the wrong message to the whole of the playing staff. You can't demand loyalty if you don't show it yourself.

One final bitch, why three holding midfielders on the bench? Under what circumstances could all three possibly be used? Someone like Keiron Evans would have been extremely handy coming off the bench in the final quarter. We had no-one on the pitch who was a natural crosser of the goal. Surely the extra spaces on the bench should be used to give attacking options and variety.

An observation on individual performances is that Goutas is still unconvincing, his performances have been in-line with his playing CV.

The evidence of the start of the season is that Bulet can coach, but his tactical awareness and management style appear to be lacking. He comes a bit up himself trying to be too clever. He appears to see himself as Brian Clough or Jose Mourinho, but might be just a cocky version of Avram Grant!

I've just seen the highlights on Sky and I've got to say I think Alnwick saves the first one.

I'm also disappointed Bulut hasn't laid any of the blame on himself for his dropping of Alnwick and his tactical changes which made us worse

[bluesp]

Could be worse, could be a Newcastle fan!

[Hilts]

Could be worse, could be a Newcastle fan!

Yeah thank feck we dont have to watch them lot each week.🤣🤣🤣

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Judging by his interview hes not.

The key is will he learn from his mistakes today

I don't really care if his ego prevents him from saying so publicly

[The Lone Gunman]

There is a pretty good reason why he's a football manager and we all work 9-5s, it's because none of us actually have a clue what we are talking about.

Were you also saying this sort of thing in support of Harris, McCarthy, Morison and Hudson?

[2b2bdoo]

The key is will he learn from his mistakes today

I don't really care if his ego prevents him from saying so publicly

I think he seen how well the back 3 worked against Brum and thought it would sure up the team after conceding but still give us enough going forward. Sadly it was a shambles and didn’t work and he ended up switching back to a back 4.

[The Lone Gunman]

We have played away against 3/4 of the favourites to win the league and were highly competitive/the better team for decent spells in all 3.

The favourites before last season started were Norwich, Watford and West Brom. They ended up 13th, 11th and 9th.

[Cleve van Leef]

You daft twat 😂

So the buck doesn’t stop with him? Did you see the performance? Did you see his change of tactics and his substitutions? Did you read his words after the game? And I’m a twat! Get real

[blue_emu]

Bonkers.

Not satisfied with Tanner who just before the break puts it on a plate for Meite.

Great for his confidence.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...bulut-27641908

This must be some psychological mind game he’s playing with Tanner to get him to play harder?? I thought he was generaly a solid threat that half.

Got 1 ipswich defender booked, made another second guess himself when the ball was 50/50. Almost got an assist with Meite. Always gave an option for the counter. Like bowler he carries the ball well which is needed when countering or relieving pressure.

Another good moment from the first goal build up was Tanner bursting a gut to win a ball back that he lost. Ok he lost possession but as a winger taking risks and taking people on that will happen. The energy to win it back was good to see.

[bluesp]

Yeah thank feck we dont have to watch them lot each week.🤣🤣🤣

Well exactly, have to get some pleasure from other fan’s misery. Plus the JBs were too easy a target

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Just as well we've got a couple of Rob Page masterclasses coming up to cheer us up after that today...

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

So the buck doesn’t stop with him? Did you see the performance? Did you see his change of tactics and his substitutions? Did you read his words after the game? And I’m a twat! Get real

Yes the buck does stop with him

But wanting him out after 5 games ?

Sort yourself out

[Bobby Dandruff]

This must be some psychological mind game he’s playing with Tanner to get him to play harder?? I thought he was generaly a solid threat that half.

Got 1 ipswich defender booked, made another second guess himself when the ball was 50/50. Almost got an assist with Meite. Always gave an option for the counter. Like bowler he carries the ball well which is needed when countering or relieving pressure.

Another good moment from the first goal build up was Tanner bursting a gut to win a ball back that he lost. Ok he lost possession but as a winger taking risks and taking people on that will happen. The energy to win it back was good to see.

I don’t understand this.

Tanner played pretty well and always looked to make something happen as well as tracking back.

I was surprised and disappointed when he was taken off.

[Dave Blue]

I do hope he’s not another Morison but todays effort and lack of ownership is a touch disturbing. So far I had been impressed by his ability to identify weaknesses but from what I hear today it is a little worrying.

[Des Parrot]

Feck, I’m still angry about that, a self inflicted defeat. Mr.Bulut (aka Jethro) needs to man up and take the responsibility.

[the other bob wilson]

Managers are not in the habit of saying it was my fault.though are they? Probably rightly, they figure that publicly admitting culpability for a defeat only gives owners an excuse to sack them - especially when the owner concerned is so trigger happy and, in recent years has been in the habit of sacking managers in September/October. The only City manager I can remember occasionally saying that was my fault is Neil Warnock who, for most of his time at City was a strong enough character to take Tan, Dalman and Choo along with him - he was virtually dictating club policy - even then though, Warnock’s admissions of guilt were often followed by, say, a rant against the officials!

That said, throwing his team under a bus and singling out a young player (who most think was playing pretty well) for criticism is not a good look. Even if the players, as they need to in this case, have to share some of the blame for what happened, these things should be done behind closed doors.

Also, there are ways and means of making it clear that it wasn’t entirely down to them. By speaking in the way he did, Bulut isn’t doing that and, like Dave Jones did once at Ipswich with Adam Matthews, he’s even gone as far as criticising a young player in public - as mentioned above, Bulut’s comments have a Morisonesque feel to them and we don’t want to be going there again.

[Maurice Swan]

Having now looked at the highlights again.....with attention to the Ipswich goals:
1st - McGuinness missed challenge....I read threat keeper maybe should have done better as it was centre goal, but it was a powerful shot going away from him. No blame for me..
2nd - Keeper should be stopping that at near post.
3rd - again, keeper should be commanding his near post.....should have gathered it.

Like others, I don't think Alnwick should have been dropped until he deserved to be. As for Bulut's comments regarding Tanner, I hope that his tenure does not get defined for his remarks. Tanner had a very decent half, while his replacement was conspicuous by not doing very much, and Meite HAD to score from Tanner's pinpoint cross. What did he do wrong to be hauled off?

Why does Ralls need to come off early....we miss his influence when not present.

On a more positive note, good to see Collins and Grant having really good games, and surely when we next get a two goal lead the players will steel themselves to make sure it is not thrown away again.

[Don Corleone]

Not a good day for our manager yesterday, first of all Alnwick has played well up until now and should have kept the shirt. After that performance yesterday does he now drop Runarsson for Alnwick, not good for the confidence of either player.

Singling out Tanner for criticism is very strange, we played well first half and Tanner was causing them problems and Meite should have scored from his cross. Tanner’s replacement Ugbo was completely ineffective and not involved in the game at all, why didn’t he question his performance ? From the outside it seems the easy cop out of criticising a young player and not taking on the more senior pros .

Then the change in formation, Panzo only just signed, probably only met his teammates the day before, suddenly nobody seemed to know what they doing and we just invited the pressure and the opposition onto us. It’s not hindsight, I said it at the time of the change.

Shame as Ramsey’s goal was after a wonderful passing move but it seems a long time ago after the last 30 minutes of the game

[Trigger]

Just as well we've got a couple of Rob Page masterclasses coming up to cheer us up after that today...

Don't, these early season international breaks are bad enough as it is.

[Eric Cartman]

The favourites before last season started were Norwich, Watford and West Brom. They ended up 13th, 11th and 9th.

Yeah the bookies are awful at pricing up outcomes, thats why they are all broke.

[The Lone Gunman]

Yeah the bookies are awful at pricing up outcomes, thats why they are all broke.

The blatantly obvious point is that the pre-season favourites do not necessarily turn out to be the strongest sides.

Last season City had beaten the favourites and drawn away to the third favourites in the first four games. Those looked excellent results at the time, but it transpired that neither Norwich nor West Brom were anything special.

[Hilts]

I dont care what the bookies say. Ipswich were very ordinary and thats being nice.

[AdrianAlston]

Managers are not in the habit of saying it was my fault.though are they? Probably rightly, they figure that publicly admitting culpability for a defeat only gives owners an excuse to sack them - especially when the owner concerned is so trigger happy and, in recent years has been in the habit of sacking managers in September/October. The only City manager I can remember occasionally saying that was my fault is Neil Warnock who, for most of his time at City was a strong enough character to take Tan, Dalman and Choo along with him - he was virtually dictating club policy - even then though, Warnock’s admissions of guilt were often followed by, say, a rant against the officials!

That said, throwing his team under a bus and singling out a young player (who most think was playing pretty well) for criticism is not a good look. Even if the players, as they need to in this case, have to share some of the blame for what happened, these things should be done behind closed doors.

Also, there are ways and means of making it clear that it wasn’t entirely down to them. By speaking in the way he did, Bulut isn’t doing that and, like Dave Jones did once at Ipswich with Adam Matthews, he’s even gone as far as criticising a young player in public - as mentioned above, Bulut’s comments have a Morisonesque feel to them and we don’t want to be going there again.

Spot on. When Morison did to Watters what Bulut did yesterday to Tanner he was slaughtered. Furthermore, Tanner's performance did not justify the decision in the way Watters' had.

In terms of man management the treatment of Alnwick and Tanner was poor.

His treatment of Colwill and Keiron Evans has been poor.

We are playing some good football and have had a good window, but there are worrying signs. Playing the hard man is no good if you get sent off all the time.

[Trigger]

Tanner couldn't get a game in non league last season.

He is clearly rated by the new manager and should be buzzing. I thought he was almost certain to move on down the pyramid this season.

Bulut has made a few mistakes as have the players but comments in public are clearly far less valuable than the relationships built behind the scenes as Tanner looks a massively improved player so far.

I appreciate our attempts at playing football so far but the basics haven't been there.

Hopefully 2 weeks with some of the players will help.

[NYCBlue]

Spot on. When Morison did to Watters what Bulut did yesterday to Tanner he was slaughtered. Furthermore, Tanner's performance did not justify the decision in the way Watters' had.

In terms of man management the treatment of Alnwick and Tanner was poor.

His treatment of Colwill and Keiron Evans has been poor.

We are playing some good football and have had a good window, but there are worrying signs. Playing the hard man is no good if you get sent off all the time.

If Alnwick starts, I don't think we lose that game.