Pre-match thoughts
Feeling a bit torn for the last match of the season, as I always do. I asked one of the policemen what they would do on a Saturday/Sunday in the coming few weeks, but he didn’t have a definitive answer. Let’s hope they are not needed en masse for any reason.
Today we play West Ham United, a football club founded in 1895 as ‘Thames Ironworks’ and renamed in 1900 as West Ham United. The club and its fans still retain their nicknames of ‘The Irons’ and ‘The Hammers’, reportedly due to their original industrial connection, not as I thought, as an extension of the ‘Ham’ (Hamlet or village) located in the West! The club moved from their former home, the Boleyn Ground, in 2016, to the London Stadium at Stratford, which was part of our Olympic 2012 legacy.
The Hammers have had a bumpy ride in the Premiership this season to some extent, but are comfortably at 14th place in the table now and beat us 4-1 at their home ground in October.
Jason, on the train with John (Dad) and Kate (born in Norwich), was sadly thinking we would lose today, but I predicted 3-1. Well, miracles do happen sometimes…just not lately, it would seem.
I remembered to buy a banana for stamina at the supermarket for 27p before I set off, as the small green ones at the station retail at 90p. I wonder what kind of special tree they are from?!
I shall miss my West Stand seat buddies over the summer…
First half
The game was fairly even for most of this half. West Ham had a few more shots but Town were holding their own pretty well apart from a near slip up between Tuanzebe and Walton early on. The two teams appeared to be weighing each other up.
Hirst, Broadhead and Hutchinson were combining well and pushing forward and with Wan Bissaka and Fullkrug contributing to end to end play, chances were opening up for both teams.
Fabianski pulled out a brilliant diving save to deny Broadhead an opener.
Morsy let loose a flyer and we were saved from a penalty decision by a quick VAR check on a clumsy O’Shea tackle.
Back and forth it went. Hutchinson hit the woodwork, though an offside call would have ruled it out, and Ward-Prowse drew two good saves from Walton.
Then – on the 43rd minute – disaster struck again. A stray ball from Morsy teed up Ward-Prowse with a sitter and he duly popped it into the net. Simply a gift for them, and a shame for Sam as he was solid for most of the game. Half time was, I think, welcomed by the supporters and probably the players too.
Second half
Both teams came out looking lively, and there were a couple of chances at both ends before Cajuste played in Broadhead who beat Todibo and blasted a great shot past the keeper.
Then Bowen spoiled the party a few minutes later by scoring a decent goal on the 55th minute.
There were several ‘ooh’ near-miss moments after that for Town, with a couple of freekicks from decent positions, but though Clarke was lively and thumped a ball through, it was just wide of the post. Delap was on the pitch too, for what is generally assumed will be his final game, but he made little impression on the West Ham defence apart from picking up a yellow card for a rather silly foul.
Kudus and Rodriguez combined for the former to produce an 87th-minute curler of a shot in just the right corner to beat Walton for their third. Game over.
Massimo Luongo (90 mins) and Aaron Cresswell (92 mins) were subbed to a great reception for their last game for their respective clubs.
Final Score: Ipswich 1-3 West Ham.
Men of the Match: Nathan Broadhead, Jens Cajuste and Leif Davis.
Although only subbed at 70 mins and 81 mins respectively, Jack Clarke and Sammie Szmodics enlivened the game considerably. I think supporters are finally beginning to see what I like about Clarke.
For West Ham my choices would be Aaron Wan Bissaka, Jarrod Bowen and Lukasz Fabianski.
Round up and thoughts
When the final whistle came, Gary summed it up in his inimitable way. “Oh well…see you next time” he said.
Many people profess to be pleased that we’re waving the Premiership goodbye, for now, but it has been an interesting, if at times humbling, experience.
I’ve enjoyed watching some of the big stars of the game on our pitch; learning about the machinations and economics behind this hugely influential league on a global scale, but not always the accompanying behaviour that goes with that desperate need to win: the professional fouls, the Oscar winning injury simulation, the rejected managers, etc.
Several of us agreed that the referee, Tim Robinson, was excellent today. He had command of the game without interfering with play too much, e.g. allowing advantage when appropriate, and when he did blow up, he was decisive and fair in his actions and there were no frustrating VAR hold-ups.
(A small disgruntled squeak: Harking back to our last home game, I have yet to see an explanation of the decision to give a third corner – it was not shown on Match of the Day, was ignored by the pundits, and not shown on Ref Watch, though the second ‘retake’ was explained in all instances. But, as my son Sheridan would say, “Let it go, Mother” and of course I have moved on. Signed – ‘still puzzled of Ipswich’).
My prediction of the score, though the wrong way around, was in the hope that Ipswich would win on my birthday. Maybe next year. It was a strange match in many ways, though not a bad one, as there were several points at which both teams seemed to play, understandably I suppose, with their foot off the pedal.
When I suggested Town were playing ‘more like a team in this match’, Gary agreed – but qualified it by adding “Yes, a team that have already gone off on their holidays”.
There were little flares of excitement when they put on some pressure and pushed on, but there was a little too much back-passing and fiddling around as usual in front of their own goal to please some fans. They were often seemingly reluctant to attempt a shot, too – even with the fans screaming “Shoot”!
But all in all it was not a bad match and the small things lifted it – Nathan’s goal of course, and cheering and singing for Mass, who we will miss for his contributions over the last two seasons and as a genuine, much-loved character, who has contributed to the club in so many ways – on and off the pitch.
It was also heart warming to witness the reaction to Aaron Cresswell’s introduction as a last-minute substitute. Portman Road on all four sides stood and clapped his run onto the pitch. This will be his last game for the Hammers after 11 years at the Club, to which he moved after 3 seasons at Ipswich. The happy coincidence of this fixture for him made it a fitting and emotional farewell ovation.
The team did a lap of the pitch at the end of the game to thank the fans for their support. It was great to see them with their families and the little ones had a good time shooting for goal and getting roundly cheered when they scored. I think we should sign some of them up!
I met two slightly inebriated, but pleasant, West Ham fans at the station, who ironically wanted to make sure I got home okay. Sweet. I assured them I’d find my way.
On the train it was quiet, I think most of us were in ‘sad that the season is over’ and reflective mode. It always feels like a School’s out for summer occurrence, but the break usually goes by more quickly than expected and we will be back for next season with hope and expectancy polished and at the ready. Talk has already started swirling about who will stay and who will go, and the shape of the team for next year.
Let’s all get behind that new team for a new page in the ITFC story. We can have hope, we can have belief, and we still have Kieron, Mark and Gamechanger.
I hope too, that we will have Jack Clarke, Sam Szmodics, Leif Davis, Wes Burns, Alex Palmer, Luke (Wolfie) Woolfenden, Cam Burgess, Axel Tuanzebe, Dara O’Shea, Omari Hutchinson and Conor Chaplin. It would be the icing on the cake if we could keep Jens Cajuste, and really great if our lovely Community Champion (award winner 2024-25) Chiedozie Ogbene is fit to play.
Just my small wish list! We must wait and see what the summer brings.
Thank you to all of you who have read my reports throughout the season. A special shoutout to my son’s wonderful wife – who reads them surrounded by a family of football-loving males (with differing team domestic mayhem) – but is not really a fan of the sport at all. Always supportive and encouraging, you are a special person, Lucy.
A smile for those who apparently think I’m a man – you know who you are…
Next season? Automatic season ticket renewal – done. We go again…
And last but not least – please continue to keep up with the news on Ipswich.co.uk over the summer – it really is the best for ALL things Ipswich.
