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I'll probably get roasted for this but f*ck it. I'm a pretty large guy too. Maybe we can call him out for being a **** without having to resort to the weight jibes. Makes me wonder what people would say to me were we ever to meet.

Only if the question is, "What's the worst possible attempt at spelling SVH?"

Think this would be a mistake, personally. Sara is much more effective in his current position than as a ten, and Barnes remains bafflingly underrated. He's just such an asset to this team. And Rowe would be an absolutely brilliant sub to play the last 30 minutes of games, the 'finisher' that we completely lack off the bench at the moment.

Delivered 4 points against Ipswich. 8 successive home wins. Has successfully delivered a superb breakthrough season for the latest big talent off the Colney production line. Has got his players giving 100% for him, showed the door to one who he felt wasn't fully committed just like Farke would have done with his no nonsense approach. Is on course for the top 6 finish which would have been the realistic expectation with Leicester, Leeds and Southampton the three relegated sides, despite losing some key players to injury, mainly the Sargent and Gunn injuries but also now the injury to two wingers, if he delivers this it will be despite zero spend on permanent transfers in the January window. He's also been creative in finding solutions, including using Kenny McLean at left centre back to maintain a balance in the side when losing Gibson. Its time to accept that Wagner is doing a good job with the resources at his disposal. As long as he does deliver the 6th with no last minute bottling, and we give the play offs a proper go with some serious fight, I vote for keeping him next season.

He's had some inventive ideas, some that worked and some that didn't. Sara coming off the flank has been a success, McLean's done well at left-back (but Placheta wasn't, I could see the logic, but it didn't work) and McLean was also close to being a revelation at left centre-half in his appearances there. So much so that personally, if Gibson doesn't lower his wage demands in contract negotiations, I'd be more than happy to see Kenny take his place there and free up a role in midfield for Gibbs or another midfielder. And does anyone remember the game, I think it was Hull under Farke, where we were so threadbare up top that we chucked Marco Stiepermann up there and got beat? That's basically what Wagner had to work with for a few months without Sargent. As @hogesar rightly noted, if the players thought Wagner was tactically clueless or setting them up to fail, they'd not have stuck by him as much as they do. it was obvious at the end of the derby how much they enjoy playing for him.

https://youtu.be/B9nEPe5k2DQ?si=QfAu5KiPQHN36MPE I tried to capture the atmosphere before the match and during. 1st half highlights from the South Stand start around 7 minutes. Comments welcome and if you like please help my channel by subscribing and a like. Every little helps!

You are very welcome. We really couldn't have done much more. Given six points to you and Leeds, taken four off the binmen. Now you need to return the favour and keep them out of the top two. It really is the least you can do.

Ah - got it now - Josh called him a Republican. Jeez, that's below the belt.

What shouldn't be underestimated, but certainly has been by some like Jim, is just how hard it is to keep a motivated, enthused dressing room with those injuries and subsequent results. Despite that the players stuck with Wagner all the way. And before people claim that's easy, he's just a nice guy - we've had multiple nice guy managers who the players completely down tools for. And players know the inside goings on as well. They know how impactful the injuries were but also, if they felt Wagner was as tactically clueless as Jim and Co believe, there's no way they'd have kept behind him throughout such an awful run. But they did.

Yeah, I think this is a fair point. I don't think many fans were expecting us to keep challenging right at the top with all those injuries. But we shouldn't have been as bad as we were in that period. Just way too easy to play against. He's a stubborn old bügger, Wagner, which can be a quality - I'm full of admiration of the way he rode out that period where he was getting a lot of stick (some deserved, but more undeserved, in my view) to get us to this period where we're real contenders again. Don't think even the most optimistic saw this coming, though I guess the old folks would say you never can tell. But his stubbornness in sticking to system he didn't have the players to make work was a mistake. Obviously impossible to know from the outside, but it did seem to change when Knapper arrived. Easy to imagine a meeting where BK said to him, 'keep conceding two goals a game and you're not going to be in a job much longer.'

We just should have adapted better and ground out more results than we did. Even in that period we had enough in the squad to go better. He had Sainz and Nunez fit for a fair bit of it and didn’t play them. He needed to change the shape and make us harder to play through. Regardless of where we are now, o find it hard to see how anyone can argue that Wagner should not have done better during that period.

Should have had a go in goal. You couldn't have done any worse

Ippo were "no where their best" because Wagner had his team motivated, on the front foot from the off and pressing them hard. One of their supposed better players (Woolfenden) gave the ball away twice in the second half under our press as Ippo tried to play out from the back. We wanted it way more than Ippo and that is down to the motivation and tactics of Wagner, no where near their best my ****..............

I also read that, but it also seemed to be the case that our lot went looking for it. No time for anyone involved in that nonsense on either side. Constantly dragging the rest of normal football fans through the mud.

Thank God we got SVH in...

But he's still with us every step of the way

Asda??? I wouldn't be seen dead in green 😆

I can’t remember us ever being another clubs bogey team. The fact we now appear to be one for Ipswich is a fantastic feeling

He has delivered. Genuine questions with all our injuries why we didn't adapt but you could argue would we be as good as we are now with this system had we not done so? Arguable certainly. Had we not lost Sargent and several others for long periods I think we would be far more comfortable in playoffs.

In days gone by I used to get very nervous before Derby games but over the years It has become easier thanks largely to our long period of dominance over them. At some stage it must come to an end as all good things inevitably do, but as biked down to the ground at today I had no feeling of impending doom. Indeed, it was a fine bright morning and conditions seemed set fair for a decent game. The crowd was in good voice as the match got underway and City were the first to show, winning a corner on the left. The ball was cleared out to Sainz who could only volley wildly over the top. At the other end Town quickly won a corner of their own but it came to nothing. Both teams looked to keep things tight early on and consequently defences dominated and the was little in the way of goalmouth action. On balance the opening quarter of the game was closely fought but niether team committed much forward as the midfield play became littered with petty fouls. Both sides seemed to needlessly give the ball away and Duffy twice nearly blotted his copy book with silly passes out of defence. Ref Mr Donahue, was probably sensible not to wave the yellow cards too early but he had no choice as we approached the half hour mark and Tuanzebe took Sargent out on the edge of the box after a neat through ball from Barnes. Tuanzebe was certainly the last man but despite the howls from the crowd and appeals from the home side the card was yellow not red. Nunez tried to hit a low free kick under the wall but it was blocked for a corner. City kept the pressure on and it was Nunez again as 1p5wich got bodies in the way. Then the Town keeper had to punch away from almost under the bar and it was Sainz this time who couldn't get his shot past a mass of bodies in the six yard box. It was the best period of home pressure in the match and you felt that we needed to make it count and as Sargent was fouled centrally and about thirty yards out the opportunity came. It looked a bit far out for a shot on target but as the visitors formed a line, NUNEZ hit a swerving effort that bounced before beating Hladky and going in off the inside of the post. It was a deserved lead as City had started to look dangerous since the half hour while 1p5witch had still not managed anything resembling a meaningful shot on goal. They did start to push forward a bit more but a couple of catches by Gunn was all it needed to steer the home side through to a half time lead. CITY 1 1P5WICH 0 I thought 1p5wich might have been more up for it and for a team on top of the league I didn't feel they offered much in the first half and expected to be a bit more under pressure when the teams restarted. They had a decent bit of possession but still nothing to trouble Gunn while whenever the home side moved forward they looked the sharper outfit. A nice ball from McCallum flicked off Sainz's back and fell kindly for the little winger but he could only lift the ball over the advancing keeper but comfortably wide of the post. Barnes was alone in the middle of the penalty area and made his displeasure know in no uncertain terms. The visitors now began to lift some high balls in for Moore but Duffy was equal to it and Gunn was not stretched as a ball looped goalward. Then finally a shot came in on target but it was straight at Gunn who fielded it comfortably. As the visitors pushed further forward the gaps opened up at the back and suddenly Sargent was in a race with defenders and got of a shot that Hladky had to go to ground to save. Then it was Sargent through again only to be closed down by two defenders and from my end it looked like foul as he was upended on the edge of the box but again Mr Donahue was unmoved despite appeals. In the stands the confidence began to grow as rounds of OTBC and Yellows Yellows rang round the ground. With fifteen minutes left Barnes went off to loud applause and Gibbs came on to replace him. 1p5witch rang some changes also and although they buzzed around our area for a bit they didn't really create much danger. Stacey who had been a live wire all day, received great applause as he broke from defence and nearly ran the length of the field before being disposessed. Chaplin skyed a shot over from a neat ball from the left and then Al Hamidi went down on the edge of the box in a foot race with Gibson but again Mr Donahue wasn't buying today. Then there was a near thing as Harness found a bit of space in the box but Gibbs was on hand to scoop the ball away. Despite this late pressure I didn't feel that 1p5wich had it in them as every City free kick, goal kick and throw in was cheered to the rafters and the five minutes added time ran out without any serious alarms. As I rode home the bells of St Giles on the Hill were ringing out and I couldn't help but think how lucky we are to have witnessed this long period of dominance over the old enemy and what a pleasure it is to keep putting a spoke in their wheel. Stacey my MOM today. An absolutely towering performance. CITY 1 1P5WICH 0.

"According to their forum, they beat up a few of our lot on the way to the ground from the Townhouse pub. No coppers around." "...looked like Ipswich fans were able to walk all the way from the town house pub, past the fat cat and canary (presumably full of Norwich fans) and to Carrow Road before seeing a police officer…" There is zero truth to either of these. Police escorted their fans from the Town House and took them on a detour (Teleraph La/Cotman?) to avoid walking past the FC & C.

Dinamo Zagreb duly won so it's another really unlucky six with just the one drawn game. Still, we added to the pot thanks to @Hissing Sid's Norwich picks. And I have sent the £130 to Sarcoma UK... Thank you for donating £130.00 to Sarcoma UK, the only cancer charity in the UK focusing on all types of sarcoma. You’re making a real difference to people affected by sarcoma. Your gift will help raise awareness; fund researchers working tirelessly towards a cure for sarcoma; and keep our Support Line open for anyone who needs a listening ear. Thank you for choosing to support Sarcoma UK. Gift details Amount £130.00 Gift date 04/07/2024 Type One-time gift Tribute information Type in honour of Name for tribute Michelle Dack @Mandie Moo @Feedthewolf @Diesel Doris @Pockthorpe @Hairy Canary @Kathy @Leedscanary @dj11 Here are the latest totals...

I'm pleased for him. I didn't think he could turn it around but he did. Yesterday was particularly impressive in that after a poor performance and coming up against a team on a high from a last minute winner in a high pressure game it could have been the start of another losing streak. Instead he got the team up for it and it could become a defining moment in our season. Yet, he's still walking a tightrope in my view. If Coventry and Hull win their games in hand then we're still in the thick of a race for 6th. If we fall just short I still think he's failed in his goal this season despite this run.

Why are they a problem? Because they do a highly safety critical job and are relatively well-paid for it? They are not the problem, the problems in this country are firmly at the feet of an out of touch, isolated, over-privileged bunch of w*nkers from Eton and their hangers-on who think the answer is to pay them and their wealthy friends ever more while the rest of us experience ever declining public services. Have you seen the state of the roads, the schools, the courts, the heath service, child services and thousands of other things that make life bearable, even improving for the vast majority? Don’t fall for this, focus on what matters.

I disagree. Tuanzebe doesn't get anything on the ball, and Sargent, who is already wide of the posts, pushes it slightly wider still. Had Tuanzebe not made the foul, Sargent would've collected the ball at a tight angle, and very few referees would've given a red for that.

I think this shows clearly that Sarge was not heading away from goal. Also the foul from behind on Sarge from Morsy that didn't even get a free kick, never mind a card. Sorry, but I stand by my assessment of the ref not getting the key decisions right

Apparently it wasn’t just another game this time . It was a rubbish game. Everyone was poor. The ref , both teams , the grass . Everything He has got a weasels face hasn’t he?

This 100%. And even these plastics talk about what a massive club they are . I know loads of them. Stopped going years ago. Now back they come . all “Town” fans . This board was infested with them after the Southampton game.

You're having fun, aren't you?! The Germans probably have a long word for this...

Kamara is getting what idah should have had at his age and that’s lower league experience of playing week in week out. It can only develop players the more minutes at first team level they get.

This research briefing has considered the effects of the UK´s possible withdrawal from the ECHR. As well as the previously mentioned links with the GFA, there are also some implications regarding the Brexit deal, devolution and UN. I´m sure it would be possible to find a workaround for some of those, but I suspect it will take a lot of time, effort & money the country would be better off investing elsewhere. "The European Convention is referred to in the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, and the devolution settlements with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Departure could thus have implications for the peace agreement in Northern Ireland; ongoing cooperation in criminal justice procedures with the EU; and relationships with the devolved nations. Moreover, many of these obligations are also found in UN human rights treaties, or even in customary international law. This means the UK could still be bound by these obligations even if it were to withdraw from this treaty."

Well all I can say is Webber’s a genius. Putting together squad that should have comfortably been top two if the manager had only got things right is genius. We’d probably have won the league if Knapper hadn’t down graded Idah in January...

Looked like trying to avoid making a decision. The classic was Morsey on Sargeant in the first half. If he gives a foul it almost certainly is a red. Refs decision not to give anything favoured the Binners. Properly applying the laws would have seen several more yellows which changes the dynamic of the game . Bang average is about right.

This guy is a bull sh1tter . Don’t take any notice . As if was there yesterday he doesn’t even go to Portaloo. Ignore him. He will be fat and friendless. This is his social life on here.

Deliberately pulling a player back has to be a yellow card no matter what the circumstances. Ipswich got away with about 3 of them. You can't have different rules.

Yes. There is a valid argument about over-sentimentality at the top of the club. But having the reputation of a club that gives head coaches time to succeed is highly valuable.

I'm sure this was the plan, hence the lack of strengthening in January. Personally I wouldn't be against a change if Knapper thinks he has a clear upgrade. It might be that Cuesta is a generationally-great coach and this is our one chance to get him, for instance. But agree completely that getting rid of Wagner in the summer would have significant, probably insurmountable negatives that really didn't look likely when BK arrived.

Barnes turning to the Binner fans at the full time whistle and fake crying at them was peak Barnes

My dog is from Valencia. She is fluent in Spanish but just ignores English.

Go on admit it - by half time you'd realised that your whole football supporting life has been a disastrous failure - and then.......... as the realisation dawned...... your lips almost involunatarily started to sing as if taken over by a mysterious force............ "On the Ball City..............

It's a shame he got injured as he was playing well up until that. He's not a starter for me, but I would rather have Onel coming on than some other players as his energy could be useful late in the game.

I was struck yesterday with the celebrations in front of the barclay. The players and staff were setting up and the “ooooo”s from the crowd built but Sargent urged the crowd to quieted down as they assembled. They wanted to wait for the interviews that were taking place (Nunez and one other, can’t remember) They wanted to wait for everyone to be ready so they could celebrate together. We may not have a strong squad, the bench in terms of quality to change games is maybe questionable but we have built this very fragile, tight team. They have kept together and kept going in a very, very unusual season of ups and downs. It’s been rocky, we got what I wanted for this season. We’ve kept that unbeaten run going. Now for the encore, what can this team achieve? How much heart have they got? I can’t wait to see how it goes now.

Compare out bench with a side who were in league one last season and haven't had big investment. Ours was so weak i don't think anyone was clamouring for more subs yesterday, despite some players looking absolutely shot towards the end of the game. We have possibly our best player playing out of position on the right because there are no more realistic options. Coming up with creative solutions which work in a very weak squat is excellent management.

This is an excellent post. Wagner will deserve extra credit for finishing in the playoffs because he'll have done it despite the SD weakening the team in January, whilst the other teams around us strengthened. It's still a concern we don't have a usable substitute striker who can actually contribute. I think we must be the only team in and around the top 10 with that huge limitation. Idah wasn't the complete player but he was goalscoring and effective from the bench.

Wednesday on Tuesday is a tougher game than it might otherwise have been. Going to take a massive effort to get the boys up for that after the derby, especially as Wagner (absolutely rightly) didn't really make any subs yesterday. Wouldn't be too unhappy with a point from that game. Not over yet by a long chalk, but the run-in does look pretty favourable to us. OTBC

Could even stand to sit with your third world county fans, don’t blame you. The stench coming from them was horrifying and the women? Just the absolute worst barnyard animals you can imagine.

McDonald?

Yes they were wrong. I was wrong as well. On this occasion I went against my own usual view of just having patience, and it turned out he could turn it around. This whole episode has reinforced my view that fans really should stop obsessing and being overly opinionated about hiring and firing managers and trust people who actually know what's going on to make the judgements on that, because clearly their judgement was bang on in this instance.

Pride of Anglia ? After 40 years of being in our shadows I doubt this numpty has even seen then win anything Other than Shrub of the Year awarded by the South Ipswich Horticultural Society

I think that sacking him would leave the players utterly stumped and demoralised and instantly undo the feel good factor which is associated with securing promotion. I think it would look ridiculous in the eyes of the wider football supporting community and look even more ridiculous if it fails to secure our Premier League status. Personally I think we'll try and stay up on the cheap again to pay back some debt, and that changing manager wouldn't improve our slim chances under that set of conditions. I furthermore think that this silly desire we have for silky and progressive continental style passing football is one way to doom us to failure until we have stayed in the league for at least one season, and that any attempt to sign a 'progressive' young gun for whereverstan would end up like it has for Burnley under Kompany. Inject some better calibre players into Wagner's style of football and that's the best chance we have of staying up a season, just like Huddersfield did under Wagner.