Back from the sofa - Ipswich (H)

[CountryRoyal]

Here's a balanced view which is surprising considering the amount of alcohol I've consumed.

Although we were good, we weren't 5-1 good (as SC said). For the most part defended well, however I commented in the match thread McShane was concerning me with some of his defending - his over-eagerness to comit to a block/tackle, and end up getting beaten. In attack, as strange as this is to say, we were too keen, too quick. In the past when we've been in good positions we've slowed it down too much, today was a bit too much the other way however I'm sure the balance will come once the players play together enough.

Enough of the negatives. Top result against a top team in this league atm. Pretty damn decent performance to boot. Credit to everyone who said Sa is crying out for a strike partner. Don't know what else to say at the min so I'll just do some ratings.

Bond 5 - didn't do much, felt he could have done better for their goal

Gunter 6 - most of Ipswich's attacking threat came down his side first half, improved second but had less to do.

McShane 7 - takes a larger proportion of blame for the goal we conceded but. Intercepted well and was first to most balls.

Ferdinand 7 - very solid performance

Obits 7 - standard obita perfprmance for me, a couple of eeeek moments but for the most very consistent, defended and got forward well.

Tshbola 8 - celebrated his new contract with a brilliant midfield display. Excelled on all fronts tonight, but his movement and distribution particularly impressive.

Quinn 7 - terrier. Said this before and I'll say it again, he's a better version of karacan. Was all over the park but his decision making in the final third impressed me yet again.

Norwood 8 - everything started through him and that goal was quite frankly ridiculous. Such was the power in the shot I thought it had hit the post and rebounded off.

Vydra 7 - despite not scoring was very very good. Showed moments of rustiness with a couple off passes astray and shots off target but his movement was fantastic and his link up play superb.

Blackman 8 - unlucky not to get MOTM imho. 2 assists and a goal on any other day would be sufficient. Glad he's continued where he left off from Brentford - much more unselfish in his play.

Sa 9 - have to give him the highest rating surely? First hat trick since Le Fondre against Bolton and it was a very nice one. Good header, brilliant shot, and a tap in however all demonstrated good ability and movement.

Cba to do subs but John looked decent from his little cameo.

Brilliant, roll on Tuesday and hopefully another solid performance.

[harry]

Wow. Just awesome.

Front 3 were quality. Sa with great header & strike & a tap in. Blackman 2 assists and a quality finish. Vydra worked hard & will get plenty this season.

Norwood with a brilliant strike for the 5th, some very good passes out to release Blackman. Tish was immense. Quinn never stopped running, very dynamic & unlucky that a couple of things didn't quite come off.

Defence was generally solid apart from their goal where they were sloppy, diving in rather than standing up. McShane sometimes comes too far out of position for headers/tackles he should maybe leave for others, but he only got caught out a couple of times.

Bond - not sure how much he could do about their goal. Couple of times needed to be fast off his line to get to the ball ahead of their forwards.

Overall, great result against a side that won't be far off this season.

Worth noting we thumped them without Williams, McCleary or Hector even playing. Just shows what a good summer it was.

Now calm down, it was only 3 points

[PieEater]

A cracking performance against a pretty decent Ipswich side. They are the best opposition we've played this season but we were just better. They will cause a lot of team problems and if McGoldrick stays fit they'll be in or around the play offs.

We were on another level, we've added a lot of quality to the team and I really think this team can win promotion. Sa, Blackman, Quinn, Vydra, Tish, Norwood all had great games. If I was critical I'd blame Bond for their goal even though we tried 3 times to clear the attack, but he really shouldn't be palming a save to an attacker. Some cracking goals and great play, that Norwood goal is what we missed last season (that was promised), you can tell the team has some confidence that's been lacking, I guess built on that Brentford win.

Roll on Tuesday.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Our front six were superb.

I backed Reading to win 4/1 at 60/1, so Norwood can do one. He was class though.

I love Orlando Sa.

[TBM]

.....always a negative somewhere from someone ffs

5-1 just enjoy it

Constructive criticism

[SMF]

Brilliant performance vs a decent Ipswich side who had a few good chances, McGoldrick their main threat. Blackman was superb again with 2 assists and a goal, and amazing to see his transformation since last season. Sa took his first two goals very well and then finished off a hat trick with a tap in. Norwood capped of his excellent performance with a wonderful strike.
Hopefully the new signings will fit in quickly, already Vydra looks pretty good, works very hard and is obviously still getting to understand his team mates. More of the same in the upcoming games please!

[SCIAG]

That's the sort of performance we always hope for.

Blackman looks a level above even his best performances. Very dangerous, finally showing ability to match his confidence, and correctly keeping McCleary out of the side. Sa was deadly - that second goal was very clinical. Vydra was relatively subdued, but worked very hard and was involved in some fantastic moves. The subs couldn't match them, but I feel that Piazon could probably do a good job if he had a whole match to sparkle.

All three midfielders were excellent. Yet to see Quinn sparkle fully but this was his best performance for us. It was another excellent performance from Norwood, and Tshibola looks every bit the player we hoped he'd be, although on another day he would (harshly) have seen red.

Defensively that was probably our worst game of the season. In particular, McShane missed a few tackles and his passing was a little off. Ferdinand and Gunter have to share some of the culpability for the goal, but I don't think we want to focus on that. It looks like Obita's come a long way defensively, he wasn't diving in so much. I think playing with Ferdinand will help him (another excellent game from Anton today).

If we can repeat that on Tuesday then that will have made up for our dire home form under Clarke. I'm really optimistic about what the season holds. Bring on Derby!

[TBM]

I love Orlando Sa.

[SCIAG]

Ratings:

Bond 6
Gunter 6
McShane 5
Ferdinand 7
Obita 7
Tshibola 8.5
Norwood 9
Quinn 8.5
Vydra 8
Blackman 10
Sa 10

[blueroyals]

Fcuking brilliant performance. The best I have seen for some time. Comprehensively took apart one of the best teams in the division with 3-4 first team players missing.

We looked a little hoofy at 2-1 which won't suit the players we have but other than that fcuking fantastic.

The days of the large lumbering oil tanker of a Russian stealing a living seem so far away.

[royal_cornwall]

Ferdinand not been mentioned! I thought he was quality again tonight. What a pleasure to see our centre backs looking so comfortable with the ball at their feet.

[leon]

Sa, Quinn and Blackman were all terrific however Tshibola for me was MOTM. A very mature midfield performance - he tackled and intercepted, he kept it simple when he needed to and drove forward at the right time. Excellent stuff. He looks a real prospect.

[CountryRoyal]

Ferdinand not been mentioned! I thought he was quality again tonight. What a pleasure to see our centre backs looking so comfortable with the ball at their feet.

It's because he did everything he had to, went quietly about his business and didn't put a foot wrong.

[3points]

PACE, PACE, PACE and more PACE. That was so much better

[TBM]

It reminded me of the 2005/2006 side

[Samrfc01]

That was so reminiscent of us under Sir Steve. Counter-Attacking at its finest.

I said after deadline day that if this squad clicks that we'd be a real force this season. I wasn't expecting it quite so soon though!

Tshibola is quality btw. He was brilliant at breaking up the play and then diatributing it.

[ayjaydee]

When was the last "proper" hat trick? I remember Trevor getting one a good while ago.

Sa & Vydra will be awesome together once they get some game time together.

Same again for Tuesday please.

[Y21]

oxf*rd hell, that was good!

[AthleticoSpizz]

When was the last "proper" hat trick? I remember Trevor getting one a good while ago.

Sa & Vydra will be awesome together once they get some game time together.

Same again for Tuesday please.

Kitson v West Ham ?

[andrew1957]

Back from the Madstad. The first time I have been able to attend a match this season (away in August) and that as fantastic. I had begun to despair last season and so it is great to leave a match in such a positive mood.

We did look a tad shaky at the back at times against a good Ipswich side. But the front 6 were excellent. I would give joint MOTM to Sa and Tish (I thought Tish was immense in front of the back 4 and on any other night would have been stand out MOTM but Sa scored a hat trick). Blackman was also superb - well done to him for silencing the doubters.

10 out of 10 to Steve Clarke for getting the new players bedded in so quickly.

And a word for the referee who kept the game flowing and got every decision right as far as I recall. Nice to have a good ref for once – not that he had much of a contentious nature to deal with.