It was a puzzling U's performance in more ways than one. We met more newcomers than I recall on my first day at senior school all kitted out with numbered shirts with no names. Are we saving on kit purchase costs? Despite the pre-match public address announcements it certainly didn't look like Sanchez Watt wearing number 7 and Darren Ambrose's surprise appearance in that shirt didn't disappoint, albeit that a bewildered South Stand were mystified who it was until a helpful Ipswich Fan (here, I confess, he is a pal of mine) amid our ranks offered clarity. The former Palace, Brum and Town veteran (but still only 30) linked well with Sears and the outstanding Dominic Vose as the U's dominated much of the first half and for 45' we looked like the higher ranked side. Our Tractor Boy guest shuffled nervously in his seat whilst he chewed on a carrot top as an upset did look distinctly on the cards. Relax, we said, "it's only a friendly" but the smell of silage as Holman narrowly shot wide defined the half.
First impressions had me remarking that ex-Iron Holman reminded me of Scott McGleish, not the tallest of strikers, but can evidently leap like a salmon, whilst drooling over the silky footwork of centre-back Frankie Kent that slotted into the back four with Tom Eastman and new full backs Sean Clohessy and Ben Gordon, both having impressive home debuts. However, an equally well-drilled Ipswich defence meant that first period chances were limited for both sides. But at the break few U's fans could be disappointed other than from witnessing Antony Wordworth having his best ever game in WHCS despite the (unjust) abuse heaped upon him. Why couldn't Woody's work rate be that high in blue and white stripes? It looks like Mick McCarthy has given him the kick up the jacksy that he needed. Even so, of the two 'playmakers' in evidence, it was Dominic Vose that most caught the eye. Spread the word, it's going to be worth buying a match ticket just to watch the former West Ham youth prodigy this season.
First half Skipper Alex Gilbey, who gets my vote as captain of this ship on this performance despite his youth (at last, somebody with a voice!) and Holman were withdrawn at the interval as a result of injury to be replaced by George Moncur and Macauley Bonne, neither of whom then impressed when on the ball, although their work rate couldn't be criticised. But suddenly Ipswich noticeably stepped up a gear and in characteristic U's fashion, the wheels fell off. A somewhat unfortunate bounce from a wide cross allowed Murphy to outfox Kent near the goal-line and a telling ball found an unmarked Frank Nouble for a tap-in that gave the competent home debutant U's keeper Lewington no chance. Unlike most goals conceded by the U's, I am not entirely sure who was at fault. Town's second was also a moment of pure class from the far superior team in the second half, as a superb cross was met by Nouble for a 'Andy Gray' style rocket header. Hence two high quality sucker punch goals resulting from a couple of moments of superior class sealed the destiny of the game.
This post half way turnaround reminded me a little of last season's Cup game against Peterborough where the U's had made all the running in the first 45' and provided all the entertaining pretty passing patterns after which we seemed to run out of steam. Posh punished us for a couple of slips before eventually thrashing us. But here, I didn't feel that a thrashing was on the cards, indeed, the combination of Ambrose and Bonne might have brought us quickly level again as both had chances that agonisingly failed to hit the back of the net, the former due to a world class save. Later, Bonne robbed the keeper and once again frustratingly shot wide when it seemed easier to find a colleague for a tap-in, but by then, we had conceded a third. Maybe I am being unfair, but perhaps Walker (in goal) might have done better? Would be interesting to hear the perspective of somebody closer, but the third looked a bit shambolic to me, when for the first two conceded one had to say 'fair enuff', class stuff.
Frankly, I wanted to see how the new boys would respond to going behind, but soon after the visitors second, we instead we saw mass substitutions, as on came David Wright, Magnus Okuonghae, Sammie Szmodics, Sam Walker, Michael O'Donoghue, Josh Thompson, Gavin Massey and Dion Sembie-Ferris. After this, the entertainment died and we lost both shape and the plot. The previously cohesive U's forwards and backs seemed as detached as ever and Magnus and 'calamity' Josh Thompson caused anxiety every time Ipswich pressed forward. It didn't take long for the visitors to add a third and (almost) a fourth, the latter only cancelled out by a fortunate offside flag as we were clearly overwhelmed in defence.
Despite the 0-3 result, contrasting halves and 12 months of bragging rights to our turnip hugging neighbours, I did come away thinking that somewhere amongst the twenty-one U's players on show is a team of eleven that can possibly set League One on fire. There is an obvious abundance of talent in this squad. But it's going to be a challenging task for Joe Dunne to select the right final combination. 'Player of the season' Sam Walker is evidently going to be challenged by Lewington, and Eastman, Clohessy and Kent look like being favourites for three of the back four slots. Sears and Vose must also (IMHO) play too. After that, it is 'perm any six from thirteen' (adding the absent Ibrehe, Bean and Watt into the pot). It's a good problem to have and I reckon that we now have a squad that I feel may cause a few pundits to change their minds about our likely league destiny. Maybe we shall see more team clarity against Daggers and Luton, but at this stage, I will be interested to see Durham's first predicted League One line up as I suspect Joe Dunne's selections may not reflect last season's end of term report.