The idea he failed with us when it would’ve taken 99 points to go up automatically & we were robbed in the play off final is ridiculous
Failed as in didn't get us promoted. That's his legacy, he chose not to stay and build on what he'd started. Ultimately he and Collins were on a par in terms of achievements at Barnsley.
I think he had the best squad in the league. His keeper and back 3 were all playing championship or higher the season after. The poor loan signings in tedic and our own watters cost us who didn't contribute enough goals imo.
Saying he 'failed' to get us promoted is true of course, and it's stating the obvious really innit!. But saying the season was a 'failure' is absolutely ridiculous. Especially when you think where the club were when we hired him, coming after the appalling relegation season. And without a proper pre season as well, again!.
Still boils my blood, should have been a yellow all day long, 2 going in for the ball and one gets there a fraction before the other. Never a red card.
I understand why he gave the red, albeit I didn’t agree with it. There’s no valid explanation for the failure to award us the penalty. None.
I understand why he gave the red too - what i dont understand is why VAR didn't intervene and tell him to go to the screen.
VAR didn’t intervene because they agreed with the decision, they are only supposed to intervene if they think the ref has missed something.
I think it’s hard to argue that when Ipswich went up again the following season. We showed promotion form whilst Watters & Tedic were with us. What did us was early in the season when we were still rebuilding. I think you have to give him massive credit for getting a tune out of Kitching & Cole & probably a few others. You’re right we had a championship defence by the end of the season but Kitching wasn’t rated much higher than Jasper Moon at the end of the previous season & Bobby Thomas didn’t join until January. There’s no doubt we had a quality side by the end of the season but it was never going to be enough in a season where we needed 99 points to go up.
VAR would only intervene if they think the ref missed anything, which with the red card, it's hard to say he had. It 100% should have interviened with the penalty decision though. That was the textbook definition of a clear and obvious error.
Happened bang in front of me and I’d have sent him off. Everyone around me said straight away “he’s off”.
I think Ipswich have a top manager one of the best in the country last season they spent little in comparison to their competitors and got promoted. We did have a top 4 squad under Duff imo