The Russell Claydon Column

Last updated : 16 August 2005 By Russell Claydon

The first day of the season is notoriously over-hyped and it's very easy to get caught up in it. For instance; our sieve-like defence from last season is now rock-solid after it's first clean sheet, Owen Garvan is the new Stevie G, De Vos the new Terry Butcher, Luton will run away with the title and our neighbours Narwich are the Championships new draw specialists (well maybe we can believe the last one, 3 draws in 3 games...oh dear delia!)

The Championship fixture list, however, delivered 3 games in the space of its first week, so perhaps now is a more apt time to reflect upon what has happened to see what may lay ahead...

For me the opening week of this campaign at Portman Road rested on the success of one managerial decision against the failure of another. Both decisions addressed the old-age youth versus experience dilemma (pun intended).

Before the season started, Big Joe seemed to have rested with the 'if you're good enough you're old enough' philosophy of management (although his hands were severely tied in the transfer market) by opting not to bring in an experienced Goalkeeper to compete with Lewis and Supple, who only have a combined age of 39 by the way! The decision still looks a good'un after Lewis pulled off a match-winning save against Cardiff and after getting injured at The Walker's Stadium, understudy Supple did like-wise, to earn a valuable point.

Following De Vos' injury after a heroic display in the win over Cardiff, however, Royle opted to bring in veteran Mark Fish on loan, instead of calling
upon youth cup winner Chris Casement or playing Richards and moving Wilnis into the centre, as he subsequently had to. It's an awful pun, but Fish's performance in the first-half at Loftus Road really was like a fish out of water. Royle later admitted that he was not fit, so why did he play him!? I know Charl-town owe us a few players of late but giving us an unfit Mark Fish
was taking the micky slightly...

Youth however, must be given time and sometimes used sparingly, as we have already seen this season by Garvan's deflated performance at QPR and Peter's slightly disappointing full-debut at Leicester. The Championship is a very physical man's league and not the ideal place for 16 and 17 year old boys to prosper but they will get better and will put in top performances in leaps and bounds this year, of that I'm certain.

Garvan's performance against Cardiff was certainly exceptional and his clever passing and ability to retain the ball got him my man-of-the-match award. With Peter's the match fitness will come and in the latter part of the Cardiff game and at QPR he showed glimpses of the out-and-out winger style every fan loves to see.

After the previous two seasons of gung-ho style football, it looks like this year may turn out a little different. In fact, quite the opposite has occurred so far, two clean sheets this term already and we have already played out as many goalless draws this season as we did over the whole of the last campaign! At least it was away from home though, I rather came to like the
'Ipswich always score at Portman Road' comments from last season...

Although we haven't looked as potent in the final third as last year, we have still been scoring and now both Forster and Parkin have goal accounts up-and-running and things look promising. Parkin's ability in front of goal was underlined with a superb strike in the game at QPR and Forster's performances have been impressive, although he has now squandered two one-on-ones in the last two games but at least he has had the insight to get into those positions behind the defenders.

After two goals in the reserves against Portsmouth, I would love to see Deano come into the front-line this Saturday, I really think that this could be the year that he shoots to prominence and I hope he is given his chance.

Does anyone else find it strange that we persist in playing Magilton as a right-winger? In my opinion he isn't comfortable out there and comes inside far too often, which leaves Fabian exposed. Hopefully this position is only temporary for Jim and the emergence of Peter's should see him move back inside where he is most influential for us.

So 3 games; 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss, what does that tell us about the 2005/2006 Ipswich Town? I think this opening week has shown a lot; a fully fit first eleven has the quality to be a good side in this division and this was underlined with a victory over Cardiff, who then went onto beat promotion hopefuls Leeds. However, if we pick up just one or two injuries, the squad is so threadbare this year that we are going to struggle, as shown in the previous two games with the injuries to De Vos and Price. The
point against Leicester was a good point but it was very hard fought for.

To have a good campaign this year and challenge for a play-off spot (which I think would make a good season this time around) we need an up-and-coming premiership defender to add to the squad. There are plenty of players of this type not appearing in their respective clubs starting line-ups and I hope Joe can use the clubs reputation with youngsters to bring someone in (also can't we nick a couple of midfielders from Tottenham's array of stars, they can't all play Mr Jol!).

The Championship this year, despite all the pundits' predictions is going to be another topsy-turvy affair (you wait and see). If we can win our home games this year and look to draw away games then we will be there or there about come the end of the season. It's our home form that's imperative to uphold in my opinion this year, so plenty of noise from everyone against Sheffield Wednesday this Saturday please.

The atmosphere could be a lot better at Portman Road at present, the Rangers' fans showed just how much noise can come out of a usually quiet Grenne King stand, so...dare I say we could use a twelfth man!?..."Lets be 'aving you!"