Not good enough - today but are we good enough to stay up

Saturday 21 December 2024, Ipswich Town 0 Newcastle United 4, Premier League, Portman Road

Game was over in less than 2 minutes, and with Arsenal and Chelsea next two games, will our season be over by the end of 2024.

Locals not entertained

Thursday 19 December 2024, Real Betis 1 HJK Helsinki 0 - UEFA Conference League, Group game, Estadio Benito Villamarin

By looking at the futbology app, I was one of many German and English supporters using the Conference game to tick this stadium, one possibly more popular after featuring in the recent '100 best grounds in Europe' book. Also the attraction may be that it it possible that the stadium may soon be rebuilt on the same site.

Ground is not that basic, good seats, good view, easy to enter and leave but maybe the lack of any cover on 3 sides is the issue but as the crowd today was only just over half full, Betis need to balance building a team and a new ground.

Betis fans were as passionate as I expected, with the singing of the club anthem at kick off, making the trip worthwhile, the supporters also kept behind the team all the game, but afterwards a few boos as Betis had put in such a poor performance.

Not much on this game as Betis were heading for the play offs what ever the results and Helsinki just playing for pride. Betis went ahead after 27 minutes and had most of the play but final ball was poor and Helsinki did look dangerous on the break.

Second half, Betis still had most of the possession but still did not really challenge the Finnish keeper, plenty of subs for both sides, with the Betis subs having a negative effect on the home teams efforts to increase the lead whilst the Helsinki, (young) subs putting more energy into the visitors game, and in the end Betis just held on to the win as Helsinki had a late goal disallowed for offside and had another chance in the last few minutes.

Almost all the crowd had stayed to the end, but still easy to leave the ground and plenty of buses ready to transport us all back to the city centre, where pubs were still busy as it approached midnight.

Would suggest that if you want a not to forget experience, a daytime game against one of the 'big' teams may be a better choice, but to guarantee a ticket, these UEFA Conference games  provide that great opportunity.

Great start then boredom!

Tuesday 17 December 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Colchester United Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

What a start - less than 30 seconds into the game Ipswich were in front, fantastic finish from a tight angle, Colchester hit back on 10 minutes when Kai Martin, who netted a hat-trick for Colchester’s U18s in a 3-2 victory over QPR at the weekend, out muscled two Town players out of the way to score- and that was with Martin looking the smallest player on the pitch!

Ipswich then dominated for the next 80 minutes with Colchester just having two attempts on goal, one from a free kick. Hpowever even with all their domination , Ipswich never really looked like adding to their first minute goal.

Ipswich fielded a very young U21 team today, guessing a few of the usual starters may turn out for an Ipswich Town XI tonight in the County Premier Cup at Leiston.

Excitement all the way

Saturday 14 December 2024, Badshot Lea 2 Harrow Borough 3 - Isthmian League, South-Central, Operatix Stadium

Fantastic entertainment- for a neutral - the young Badshot team were on fire for the first 20 minutes but could not score, then suddenly Harrow seemed to wake up, two quick goals and then a third in first half injury time, It seemed very unfair on Badshot but also it seemed game over.

Badshot started the second half like they did the first, on the front foot attacking with pace and skill and this time they did find the net and got two goals back. It looked like they would get a point, especially after the Harrow keeper got a straight red card, but actually the sending off seemed to wake Harrow up and they held on to get all 3 points.

Badshot have a young team, keep playing like this and they could stay up,  great young skipper and footballer in Kai Allsopp.

Ground is very basic but you get a very friendly welcome.

No cup joy this year

Wednesday 11 December 2024, AFC Bournemouth Under 18s 3 Ipswich Town Under 18s 2 - FA Youth Cup, round 3, Silverlake Stadium, Eastleigh

Did not expect much from this young Ipswich team as not had a great season, but in the end they were unlucky to go out, with the ref being the only person in the stadium who did not see a blatant penalty for the Town that the Ref just ignored.

Impressive stadium and bonus of cracking chicken burger and chips!

For once, McKenna got it wrong

Sunday 8 December 2024, Ipswich Town 1 AFC Bournemouth 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

Kieran McKenna has got very little wrong since arriving at Ipswich, but the blame for defeat lies at his feet today, for once he failed to use his subs early enough.

Not sure we can afford many more home defeats like this.

Where Leeds got booted out of the FA Cup

Layer Road was the home of Colchester United for many years, and the scene of a great giant killing, when the Essex team knocked Leeds United out of the FA Cup.

The ground, is no more- new houses on a site called Turnstile Square, but great to see a physical reminder put in place to remind people that this was once the home of thousands of supporters every other weekend. 

Not sure this is the right place for the second sign spotted!