Cherry Chimes talks to Independent Ipswich Town website TWTD

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Blogger Interview

AFCB v Ipswich Town

Cherry Chimes asked Blair Ferguson a contributor to independent Ipswich Town website TWTD a few questions about the Tractor Boys ahead of their clash with the Cherries on Sunday. We'll find out what Ipswich fans think of Mick McCarthy, and do you know who is their Premiership star in the making? 

CC: Ipswich Town have really been picking up momentum of late. How come the sudden turnaround in form?

TWTD: We have been playing fairly well all season but didn't get the odd bit of luck here and there, however, when we started turning draws into wins we really began to push on and we now have a confident bunch of lads who believe in their own ability.

CC: Is Mick McCarthy very popular with you fans and can you see what he is trying to do with the players?

TWTD: Mick McCarthy came in last season and has made a real impact. The main difference is the defence, for a few seasons we have been lightweight at the back, but we now look confident and the addition of Christophe Berra has helped shore up the backline.

McCarthy is popular with the fans because he has done a great job so far. He has made us hard to beat, maybe not the best to watch, but we can get results and go into games not fearing the opposition.

CC: Which players are you worried about losing in January if any?

TWTD: The main worry is Aaron Cresswell, he's been on the radar of a few Premier League clubs for a while. He gives us a great outlet down the left and is as good at attacking as he is defending. His set pieces are also a big part of our overall game and we would miss them greatly if he went.

CC: Ebanks-Blake did really well when he was at Wolves. Do you think he is the kind of striker you really needed?

TWTD: Although we have good strikers in Daryl Murphy, Frank Nouble and David McGoldrick, Ebanks-Blake is a proven goalscorer. We haven't scored too many goals of late but if he is fit and hits the ground running then he could strengthen us a lot going into the second half of the season. It's worth remembering that he has been the Championship’s top goalscorer twice in his career.

CC: Do you think the quality (or let's be honest money) of the teams coming down from the Premiership is making it harder every season for stable teams like Ipswich to get out of the Championship?

TWTD: Ipswich are the Championship’s longest-serving team and I think that now more than ever finance is playing a part. The money that relegated Premier League teams get allows them to build a solid side to go straight back up or keep the players they have to give it a go for a season.

It doesn't always work as Wigan are proving, but the circumstances that led to relegation have a big part to play. If it's a bad team playing poor football then they will struggle in the Championship, but if it's a side like QPR who have a very strong squad then they will likely do well.

CC: What has been the most pleasing match when your teams has played well this season?

TWTD: The most pleasing game was probably the 3-2 win at Blackpool. It was the first away win of the campaign and was won in the final seconds. Town had been a goal behind at the break having been outplayed and Mick McCarthy switched to an usually attacking 4-3-3 formation.

We dominated after that and went 2-1 in front before allowing Blackpool an equaliser in the final minute. However, Daryl Murphy’s injury time header shortly before the whistle sealed a memorable win.

CC: If Ipswich did go up would you expect any players you have currently to do well in the Premiership?

TWTD: I think Cresswell would prove himself at Premier a League level, you can tell that he's a quality player and could play at a higher level.

CC: AFCB have found it a hard league this season. Do you think any of the promoted sides can survive in the Championship?

TWTD: The Championship is a difficult league for all the teams in it. All the teams can beat each other and when you're near the bottom it makes it very difficult to go into a game and think we can definitely win this game.

It is possible for the promoted sides to survive because all it takes is a three or four-game run and you go marching up the table given that it's such a tight league.

CC: Well thank you Blair for sparing some time this Christmas to give Cherry Chimes' readers a good indication of how well Ipswich Town are doing on the pitch. I expect a very difficult game for the Cherries and a packed house for this one, as Ipswich are a team that I am sure a lot of AFCB fans have been looking forward to see as an established Championship team. You can lean more about the Cherries next opponents on the independent Ipswich Town website TWTD, so make sure you have a look.