Brentford vs Ipswich Town

[TractorBoys]

I'm excited. Tough start, though.

Brentford are a weird one in terms of a prospect in my mind this season- I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see them do either of mounting a strong challenge for 6th or finish bottom 3!

I'd love a win to get us started, and we've got goals everywhere. 2-3, exciting first game.

 

[Munkiki]

I'm impressed you still get excited after 13 years of the same thing: mid-table, play-off hopefuls. 14th time lucky, eh?

 

[TractorBoys]

They're my drug of choice. Can't quit chasing the high no matter how long ago it was that I last felt it.

Oh and...

 

[Dazza]

2-2 draw

 

[MagpieBee]

Loss unfortunately, a lot of changes to key players from our team from last year. If Bjelland plays I'll be more confident, but the rest of our defence did not deal well with Ipswich last year

After this weekend think we'll get a good start

 

[HertsWolf]

Most interesting game of the weekend. 2-2.

 

[Super_horns]

Douglas is bound to score ?!

Surprised if Brentford wanted to sell him they didn't wait till after the weekend.

 

[TractorBoys]

Douglas is bound to score ?!

Surprised if Brentford wanted to sell him they didn't wait till after the weekend.

Free transfer, told he wasn't part of their plans.

 

[MagpieBee]

Free transfer, told he wasn't part of their plans.

I think we did the honourable thing, could have told him he couldn't move till after the game, but you guys might have changed your plans, so we let him go

 

[TractorBoys]

I think we did the honourable thing, could have told him he couldn't move till after the game, but you guys might have changed your plans, so we let him go

What's the reasoning behind him being told he wasn't needed - you got anymore details?

 

[MagpieBee]

What's the reasoning behind him being told he wasn't needed - you got anymore details?

Mixture of us having too many options in midfield, and him disagreeing with the management on the direction of the club. Much more the second point than the first.

Some say he'd become a disruptive influence, I don't really buy that. Think we have a stronger midfield without him this season, but he was a great servant to us. Wish him well (just not on Saturday...)

Squad harmony will be a lot lower this season. Comes with players being replaced and a much bigger squad though, both of which were needed.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

Will be there tomorrow! Hopefully parking fine free this time!

Really couldn't make a guess at the 6 midfield/attacking options. Could be 4-3-3, could be 4-4-2, could 4-2-3-1. Fantastic to have options! Seen people saying we'll need to rely on Murphy, and that is far from the truth. Pitman, McGoldrick and Sears are all capable of 10-15 goals if given game time.

Exciting times ahead I think. I've got a bet on 3-0 Town and Knudsen to score first at 700-1 He's got one hell of a left foot on him!

 

[MagpieBee]

In terms of a starting line up - this is how I think we'll line up

Button

McCormack - Dean - Bjelland (if fit, otherwise Tarky) - Bidwell

Diagouraga - Kerschbaumer

Jota - Judge - Vibe

Gray

Gogia will be unlucky not to start, has looked great in pre-season. Yennaris might get in ahead of McCormack.

 

[TractorBoys]

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Chambers, Smith, Knudsen, Skuse, Bru, Fraser, Maitland-Niles, Sears, Murphy.
Subs: Gerken, Yorwerth, Douglas, Coke, Toure, Pitman, McGoldrick.

I absolutely love the look of that first team & bench! Berra & Bishop still to come back in, too.

I hope Emmanuel has a great debut, he's looked good pre season.

Whatever happens today, I'm optimistic for the season ahead but it would be great to get things off to a cracking start.

COYB's.

 

[TractorBoys]

So far so good at half time, Bru with a decent drink apparently to put us 1 up. A goal from midfield!!! Start as you mean to go on, Town!

There probably hasn't been much in the game but Brentford haven't sounded very creative in the final third whereas we've sound like we could make things happen.

Will wait for others to confirm or deny whether I'm hearing it right.

 

[ITFC17]

Bruuuuuuuuuu!!

 

[ITFC17]

2-0 Fraser! COYB!

 

[TractorBoys]

What the fuck happened there?

91 minutes in and we sound so comfortable, complete control, Brentford not in the game.

+96 it's a point away from home and 2-2.

Jesus Town.

 

[MagpieBee]

Same story to last season, we couldn't cope with your counter attacks. We played well, lots of possession and shots, but no particularly clear cut chances (apart from Jotas header). Ipswich deservedly 2 up, and looking a lot more clinical than us.

The one difference to last year was we had a plan B, changed from 4-5-1 to 3-4-3 taking off a DM and our right back.

Probably didn't deserve the point, Ipswich definitely know how to play us and did again. Counter, long balls, and lots of fouls.

Given the week we've had though I'm delighted with the point. Think we'll have more than enough for the rest of the season, need Bjelland back and a new RB though to seriously challenge the top 6.

Lovely moments when Jonny Douglas was brought on, standing ovation from the whole crowd.

 

[MagpieBee]

At one point we had Judge, Jota, Gogia, all attacking mids, and Vibe Gray and Hofmann all on.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

McCarthy to blame there. Unneeded changes and went central even though Brentford were strong on the wings.

Don't think Douglas should have come on, seemed to make half hearted challenges which is understandable

 

[WhiteRussian]

Bloody hell Ipswich. Did your team leave the field after 90 minutes!

 

[toshj]

Lovely moments when Jonny Douglas was brought on, standing ovation from the whole crowd.

I absolutely hated this moment. Happily gave him a little applause before the game, but to have a standing ovation for an opposition player during a game in which our promotion rivals are beating us 2-0... found it really very weird. I think it probably showed today why we moved him on, as their midfield disappeared when Douglas came on.

We had spells in the game in which we dominated - 0-25 mins and 80 mins onwards - but Ipswich looked genuinely threatening whenever they broke forwards whereas we were achingly slow and lethargic. We could have a great season this year, but that team needs to blend together awfully quickly.

 

[MagpieBee]

I absolutely hated this moment. Happily gave him a little applause before the game, but to have a standing ovation for an opposition player during a game in which our promotion rivals are beating us 2-0... found it really very weird. I think it probably showed today why we moved him on, as their midfield disappeared when Douglas came on.

We had spells in the game in which we dominated - 0-25 mins and 80 mins onwards - but Ipswich looked genuinely threatening whenever they broke forwards whereas we were achingly slow and lethargic. We could have a great season this year, but that team needs to blend together awfully quickly.

Agree entirely with the second half of your post. It was a major problem for us last season, every side looks a lot more clinical than us.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

I just don't think Douglas felt comfortable playing against yourselves so soon. Definitely looked like he was holding back

 

[toshj]

I just don't think Douglas felt comfortable playing against yourselves so soon. Definitely looked like he was holding back

Nope - that's how he plays and why we got rid. He's certainly a useful and experienced player, but he's possibly the least dynamic and mobile midfielder in the division.