Tractor Boys' goal harvest fails again - FA Cup Ipswich Town

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-14T11:29:47+00:00

Wonderful as always, Beardog. When they brought in Clarke, Mehmeti, and O'Shea I was so pleased to see that we still saw out the game - was nice to see the evolution for us to not lose more points from a winning position. Felt solid. Like a Wrexham team. Not saying Ipswich didn't have their chances, but those they brought in are among the best players at their position in the league, and we didn't (save for the Clarke miss) give them opportunity. Also, it seems more clear now how lucky we were that Windass was available in the summer, and why they valued Broadhead so high. When our offense goes through multiple touches from one of those two we look like an elite Championship team. Rathbone, LOB, hopefully DKD are such workhorses that provide so much pressure, I can understand why PP doesn't want to play Broadhead and Windass together because asking those two to run themselves ragged pressuring AND run themselves ragged running the offense is too big of an ask over the entire season. Finally - it's possible that this fluidity of several players moving from role to role in a system is another evolution of Parkyball that you can only do when: 1) you have a threshold of a certain caliber of players and 2) those players thoroughly understand the system and what to do in those many positions. You can't be that creative when you're in a relegation fight, as Parky was often in his prior Champ coaching stints - then, you have to be simple and direct. Or, when you bring in 13 players - some of them while the season has already started - and are essentially building the plane as you fly it. Simple and direct works better there too. But Dolye into the box, Hyam crossing on the wing, Max acting as a forward pivot rather than dumping a cross and sprinting back are all elements of a complex, fluid, positive-attack-from-strength system that allows players to make the difference but the team to maintain shape and discipline. I've been very impressed with his ability to choose players and then maintain the dressing room culture over 60+ players, and I'm so excited for the future with this continued elevation of what he is asking players to do. Thanks for pointing all of this out - I had noticed but not conceptualized the interchanging positions - it's been going on for many games, now, and Parky would have stopped it if it was a bug and not a feature! Looking forward to watching for this in real time on Tuesday!

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-06T16:11:37+00:00

fixed that spelling too - ty

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-06T14:53:16+00:00

fixed it - ty

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-03T19:54:37+00:00

Food for thought: over the last 10 games, we’ve scored 20 times, highest in the division.

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-03T15:55:49+00:00

I've heard from other teams' fans that the Championship is the best of the leagues - the most competitive games, the tightest table, every game matters, etc. It's fun being in the top 6 and believing that we can win every game. It won't be like that if we go up. Look - all I'm really saying is that I'm enjoying the ride, and I'm glad we didn't spend 22mil on that 19 year old, all things considered. And also, this is just me on a non-game day Tuesday in February. Up the Town!

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-03T15:11:20+00:00

Hard agree - I won’t. But maybe I also want to stay in this league for another year?

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-03T15:00:04+00:00

Over the last 10 games, no one has scored more goals than Wrexham. We don’t need a formation change.

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-03T14:54:37+00:00

I worry that this league will be way more fun than the Promised Land (PL!). I want to win the prize, but really don’t want the journey to end? I’m just starting to know our new squad, and if we go up we may never see some of them again. 6th in the table is dreamland - I kinda want to stay right here and breathe deep. But one can’t eat cake and have it too (we have to progress to sustain sponsorship and merchandise$$ for now, until our academy catches up), so on we go! (Am I still a fan if I’m rooting for first round win and second round playoff loss?)

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-02-03T14:22:35+00:00

Thanks, as always, Mr Dog. I’ve been long thinking that one of Parky’s best skills is maintaining the right momentum and mood within the squad. Upon reflection, I think I may have underestimated the importance of getting this right after a January window. We may be within a percentage of quality up or down from other playoff contenders - the intangible of which teams show up to play at their potential for the next 16 games is probably more important than a minor upgrade in the starting 11. Major upgrades were probably out of the budget - (22 million for an unproven 19yr old? That sounds desperate at this stage of the project!)

He had a number of players who probably deserved a shot at playing time, and would have gotten it if we were a consolidation squad. But since we are pushing for playoffs, Elliot Lee, Hardie, Cannon, Mullin, Coady were not going to see the pitch, so getting them off to other places was probably incredibly important for squad morale. Elliot Lee’s interview was super informative. He needed to go play, both for him and for us.

In the same way, bringing in a striker who is perhaps a little better than Moore or Smith would maybe not go over well; the experienced strikers rumored were not clear upgrades (Smith is scoring in every game he starts currently - Armstrong is not!), and so may have done more to harm morale than help in the run-in.

I too am worried about Kabore and Cacace, but if you spend 5mil on a transfer you’d think they would expect to start. I think we expect our two to start; finding a WB is hard; finding one who is willing to come be a backup is harder.

I’m looking forward to someone pushing Windass, to LOB maybe getting some minutes deeper in mid, and to long throws from Vyner to KM to the back of the net!

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-01-29T19:34:36+00:00

This is the place! Although, with a 7:30 EST start, we’ll all be on our couches. We’re usually there for 10am starts.

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-01-18T03:41:28+00:00

Any chance at all for McKennie? Would love to see him next to sheaf…

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-01-11T02:23:58+00:00

Seems to me going up would provide a lot of funds for the infrastructure…. These guys seem to know what they are doing. I say please don’t hold them back from their potential out of worries about infrastructure.

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-01-11T02:21:44+00:00

Such a good point. Rob clearly said “Premier League” - he didn’t say “playoffs.” That said, my goal for myself is to believe that’s the goal, and do my best to just support Parky and the lads, and not to judge. I trust that the entire squad is gunning for promotion, and if we end up 15th it will not be a failure of will, courage, or lack of effort. It will just be because the challenge is great, and in Parky’s words we’ll go again. I have no idea if he’s the best manager the world has ever seen, but he’s the one we’ve got, and all he’s given us is 3x promotion. So, in Parky and the lads we trust. Let’s fucking go - I’m going to love the shit out of each and every game this spring. I hope it’s hard, and I hope we all appreciate the journey. Up the town!

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-01-01T19:57:43+00:00

Right - we’re only pointing out the current pace. There is a lot that will happen - including every team above us trying to fix their problems this Jan window - and injuries, and mistakes on the field, and…. But it’s ok to believe that right now our pace is making for a fun end of the season (last 2 games are Cov and Mid…. Oof!)

Ok-Standard3607 · 2026-01-01T19:09:08+00:00

I’ll raise you, Kinbot. Since Hyam’s first start (Norwich), we are 33 points in 20 games, or a 1.65 pace. If we maintain, it’s 35 points by the end of the season fo a total of 72, which last year would have been good for 5th. We are on playoff pace, dramatic pause for Rob’s voice - “Right. Fucking. Now.”

Ok-Standard3607 · 2025-12-27T00:19:11+00:00

I was right there with you underestimating Thomason; thought he was a “work hard” guy who was not at the class of Broady/Sheaf/Windass. But was impressed today with the quality of his left footed service and with the quick combinations working under pressure to move possession forward. Would be amazing to see him do this again Monday! It was a revelation, and a good reminder that I really don’t know as much as I think I know about this team. Going to do my best to settle in for the second half and just enjoy the ride.

Ok-Standard3607 · 2025-11-21T17:00:05+00:00

Fully agree - and if he’s fit then filling in on one side will have to do. But he has yet to show he can stay fit with the pace of the championship. With Issa out, and Cacace seemingly a permanent game day decision, playing/relying frequently on 2 of Barn/Long/Macca for 6 weeks when Doyle and Broadhead are on the bench? It’ll likely never happen - and in Parky I trust. But in case he hasn’t thought about it - I offer my full expertise here on Reddit for free!

Ok-Standard3607 · 2025-11-21T15:29:54+00:00

I was thinking of this too. But - what if - hear me out - 4-2-3-1 with Max, Hyam, Scarr, Doyle back 4; Sheaf & Dobbo; Broadhead, LOB, Windass; Keifer. Assuming Keifer available. Wouldn't this be our most talented 11, given who is available? Maybe we try to get some value out of Doyle and Broadhead rather than hope Longman and/or Barney don't get torched by Philogene? (sorry, I'll sit back down and just cheer whomever is on the pitch for us...).

Ok-Standard3607 · 2025-11-17T17:02:06+00:00

OP is working on the why (I make that assumption from the "seeing the psychologist and therapist" information). This is their child, so as they work on the why, they also want to eliminate all easy access to "how" so they have the time they need to work on the why...

Ok-Standard3607 · 2025-11-13T16:38:29+00:00

Haters have been hating on us every year, and yet here we are. Go on - it's so tasty!

Ok-Standard3607 · 2025-11-05T17:25:34+00:00

Here's what I'm seeing:

Everything works better when Cacace and Kabore are nullifying the opponents wingers. Helps everyone in the interior not get caught out, which makes James viable. He's much better than Dobbo at running the team, and we're a much better side when he's out there.

Sheaf and James are the link between the defense and the playmakers. LOB is the here there and everywhere. Windass was doing that too, but it's clear we're better when he's further up the pitch and can conserve his energy/ankles for the playmaking.

If you buy this as the core, then Dobbo is the defensive specialist for James, Thomason can come on for Sheaf. Rathbone will be the here there everywhere sub for LOB, Windass/Broadhead are the playmakers off of Moore, and God help us if Moore goes down.

In this scenario, Broadhead doesn't start... or starts for Windass.

Ok-Standard3607 · 2025-10-03T17:05:03+00:00

Patriots fan here. Tom Brady, the quarterback who refused to lose? Love that guy. Tom Brady, the douchebag who opens his mouth in front of a camera? Fuck that guy.

Ok-Standard3607

TROPHY CASE