Jobyfox

Ipswich have scored more goals than anyone, but have now conceded twice as many goals as we have. It seems to be self evident where their strengths lie

Looking at some of the comments and team selections. I think they’ve already started!

Brighton are the team we were, although they haven’t yet won the Premier League, FA Cup and got to the last eight of the Champions League. The challenge for them, as it was for us, will be their ability to sustain it.

No we didn’t. We averaged about 20,000, which would be 50% full in the newly expanded stadium. But, as stated, hopefully recent history and growth puts us in different place

I’m assuming the concern is one of practicality. Historically large stadiums were a financial asset in the top league, but a liability in every other league. I’d like to think that our fan base has now grown sufficiently to fill the stadium whatever league we happen to be in, but I hope the theory is never tested. As that would mean a prolonged stay in the Championship

Everton are a team that only survived in the Premier League by winning their last game of the season 1-0. They are in financial difficulties and it occurs to me that if they had a starlet in their ranks who could potentially save them millions they’d do everything possible to promote him into the side or, at the very least, send him out on loan to get him off the wage bill, but keep as one for the future. Any assessment I’ve made of TC is not based on anything I’ve seen from the player as I’ve seen very little other than his highlight reel from his Preston loan. It’s just a nagging doubt that seems quite reasonable until I’ve seen him in a Leicester shirt for an extended period of time. It’s also quite an irrelevant concern until we (hopefully) return to the Premier League

Probably so, but it’s just a question of timing. Hirst was not displaying ability to suggest that he was going to breakthrough at a Premier League team. He needed minutes at a lower level to build up his form and confidence. In a different universe we’d have moved him on and never thought any more about it, but we contrived to being the very team playing at a lower level that he might have broken into. I’m not at all irritated and frustrated about getting rid of Hirst, but I’m still furious about the way we got ourselves relegated. As for Cannon, it’s early days, but I still have a slight nagging doubt about why Everton wouldn’t have kept him if his trajectory is Premier League. But that’s a worry for another day

I suppose it’s based on what I expected. I didn’t really expect Vardy to rip up the league at his age and wasn’t keen on Daka. Ian was the one who I thought would really prove himself at this level. Instead we’re left with the same doubts and inconsistencies that were there when we were in the Premier League. Nacho is fast going from the one most likely to succeed to the one we’d most like to move on at his current trajectory

I’ve not previously been much of a Daka fan, but Vardy’s declining powers and an out of form Nacho have opened the door for him. I hope he can keep scoring and contributing and make the spot his own. Vestergaard has already proven my judgment wrong this season so I’m not precious about somebody else doing the same

That’s a rubbish Haiku!

We've only conceded more than one goal in a game once (tonight) We've got the best defence in the league on 14 goals If we cut out the "sloppy goals" the goals against column would be truly remarkable

Yep. It undoes the damage done when they beat us!

Good effort Sir.

Shamelessly

Is that speculation or a statement of fact?

I’ve rather we had Rab Douglas on the bench ….. and he’s 51!!

Quite. Rationality would be more of a surprise here

I think there is a bit of a danger of the preseason promotion favourites (us, Leeds, Southampton etc.) being a bit patronising towards Ipswich. It’s a bit like the big six clubs in our title winning season. Logic alone dictates that surely a squad built on lesser resources will stumble at some point. My benchmarks are always 10 games and then mid season. Form over 10 games can be a bit of a blip, but mid season you’ve played everyone else. After 23 games us and Ipswich will form the top two and we will both have played everyone else in the division (well, technically, after we play each other on Boxing Day). Personally I think it will be nip and tuck all season now and the vagaries of form, injuries, coping with absences (AFCON etc.) and maybe January signings could all prove the differentiator from here.

No!!!!!!! It was a mistake us getting relegated and now playing at his level

All other games are irrelevant if we do our job, but nice when others help. Leeds and Ipswich have been in such good form it was always a long shot that both would drop points tonight. Great that Leeds have had a stumble, but the only game that really matters is our own

Don’t count on it

Well, at the moment, they’re playing the Championship 2 points better than we are. Having played a game more