Pim Balkestein (Heerenveen)
Ipswich ere a Jekyll and Hyde side last
year. They were brilliant at home but woeful away where they failed
to win on the road until February. If they had won just a few more away
games or even got some draws they would have been in the playoffs.
They even managed to throw away a two goal lead at local rivals
Norwich which must have hurt. Jim Magilton had them playing some lovely football and his young side were more than a handful at home where they were all out attack and a joy to watch. They excelled with the attacking talents
of Haynes, Lee and Walters helping them to a top half finish and
always in with a shout of the playoffs until the final few weeks
when the away form caught up with them
Ipswich not only have one of the
brightest young managers in the country but also one of the best
set of young players in the division and to top that off they have
money to spend. Jim Magilton has struggled
to part with his cash this summer though with long term target David
Nugent turning them down. Magilton has added Kevin Lisbie though who could be a shrewd signing. He scored bags of goals for Colchester last season and in a side that creates as many chances as Ipswich he should do well. The return of fitness of David Norris will also be a help to them in midfield and should help improve that away form which will again be key whilst Richard Wright back at his old club could be a good move. Once again I don't see them having
many problems at home where very few teams will walk away with any
points but on the road I still think they can be beaten and will
be which may cost them a top six place. PREDICTION: 9th in the Championship
I asked Ipswich fans on an unofficial message board for their thoughts on the new season and here is what they had to say. How do you think Ipswich will fare this season? Top six Who are your players to watch out for? Jon Walters Is your Manager the right man for the job? Yes Which three teams will be promoted this season? Reading, Ipswich and QPR Which teams will be relegated? Norwich, Doncaster and Swansea How do you think QPR will fare this season? Top two
He scored one goal for QPR before retiring from football with a back injury blaming the Loftus Road pitch rather than all the pies he had been eating. Chris Kiwomya is another famous striker to have played for both sides. He helped Ipswich to promotion to the Premiership in 1992 and was a top goalscorer for them before joining Arsenal in 1995. He came to QPR in 1998 and got his chance towards the end of the season scoring some crucial goals including a hat trick on the final day of the season to keep us in the division. He was top scorer in 1999/00 season with Stuart Wardley and was just behind Peter Crouch for top scorer the following year before being given a free transfer after not showing the best of attitude to our relegation battle. Georges Santos has also played for both sides along with Simon Walton.
When this site first started this was a regular fixture. In the 1998/99 season Kevin Gallen looked like he would give us a 1-0 win just days after Gerry Francis won the manager of the month award. Gallen's goal was cancelled out in the last minute by Matt Holland to send them home with a point. The return fixture was always going to be tough as Ipswich sat in the playoffs and we looked doomed to relegation. Chris Kiwomya gave us an early lead but it didn't last and the home side ran out comfortable 3-1 winners. After defeat in the playoffs that year Ipswich were one of the favourites to go up the following season. Rangers stunned them though with two brilliant wins in the 1999/00 season. Ipswich took an early lead and threatened to run riot against us at Portman Road. Gavin Peacock got us level just before half time before we took control after the break. Two goals from Rob Steiner and one from Stuart Wardley gave us our biggest away win of the season and sent us all home very happy. The return game saw Rangers run riot
again. Even Sammy Koejoe looked a different class as he got on the
scoresheet along with Peacock and Kiwomya in a 3-1 win. Rangers
fans joyfully sung "Your gonna lose in the playoffs" to the dejected
Ipswich fans but they had the last laugh by winning the playoffs
and then finishing in the top five in the Premiership a year later.
In the 2005/06 season Rangers produced their best home performance of the season against them as goals from Gallen and Rowlands helped us to a 2-1 win which could easily have been a much bigger win. The away game was an enjoyable one as Stefan Moore got on the scoresheet along with Paul Furlong to give us a 2-1 lead. Typical Rangers though we threw it away in injury time to leave with just a point. In 2006/07 Ipswich did a rare double over us. At Loftus Road Simon Walton was among the scorers for Ipswich as they thrashed us in front of the Sky cameras. The return game wasn't much better for us as Furlong scored for us but we still managed to lose 2-1. Last season we drew both games with Ipswich. The home game saw Sylvan Legwinski score a screamer to open the scoring before substitute Marc Nygaard came on to grab us a point. The game at Portman Road was a good one with both sides going all out for a win but were unable to break the deadlock on a 0-0 draw. Click on the match for a report of the game from this web site.
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One
of Ipswich Town's best ever players Alan Brazil had a short spell
at QPR in 1987 but the Scottish forward had put a bit of weight
on and looked like the Michelin man in hoops.