ipswichfan Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 The lowdown Surely we can’t get three wins in a row? A win away to high-flying Blackpool may have surprised a few last week. It summed up Ipswich at the moment – we’re playing with confidence and go into every game thinking we can win, as we should do of course. Former Town defender and now Leicester player, Wayne Brown, said this week "Perhaps people were a little in awe of him [Keane], to begin with, which is why things didn't go well early on in the season. But they've got momentum now. He has built up a good team, blooding his own players.” If you had given me Sunday’s fixture in October I would have been hoping that we would take defeat with not too much damage to our goal difference. Now, I’m thinking we should go there and try and get a convincing win, because we’ve now got to that stage where we can beat anyone in the division “on our day” – something far from the truth 4 months ago. The stats Having said the above, Saturday is also likely to prove one of our toughest tests this season. Leicester have won their last three and all have been home games as a result of postponements. The wins included both Sheffield clubs and most recently, Swansea last week in the FA Cup. They will therefore be going into the game with confidence and confident, excited fans. All these factors set up a good tie between two of the division’s most in form clubs (They’re 9th in the form table, we’re 6th). Leicester have failed to score in only 3 games this season, one of them being the 0-0 draw at Portman Road in our first home game of the season. The player-to-watch Leicester have a plethora of quality players – most of whom I doubt a lot of you reading this will have even heard of! Chris Weale was Bristol City’s sub-keeper last season, Leicester snapped him up in the summer after his contract with the Robins expired and he’s been prolific this season and kept a clean sheet in a third of the Foxes games this season. Michael Morrison has also been solid in defence this season while Oakley and Wellens are two tricky customers in the middle of the park. The main threat has to come up front though with the feed-off play of Howard and the fox-in-the-box instinct of, my player-to-watch, Matty Fryatt. Although Fryatt has contributed with the majority of goals (11), 19-year-old Sunderland loanee Martyn Waghorn has come off the bench to score on numerous times this season and must not be underestimated. Fryatt lies 5th in the Actim Index table. The team news With Stead still ruled out and Rosenior the only other recent injury concern Keane will have a good squad to choose from. Rosenior should overcome his knock from last Saturday to slot in at right-back. Priskin and Counago seem to have been banished from the squad contrary to an interview with the Hungarian this week saying he was happy at Ipswich. Brian Murphy is available to play in goal for Ipswich and it would be great to see what the lad has to offer, but with Lee-Barrett in good form it would be harsh to see him dropped immediately. McAuley should be fit to face his former club having sustained a broken wrist at Selhurst Park on Boxing Day. Hatch’s predicted team – Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, Wright, Delaney, McAuley, Colback, Peters, Leadbitter, Norris, John, Walters The man in the middle Mark Haywood from West Yorkshire is yet to officiate a Town game, although he has reffed a number of Leicester games before, including their 1-0 win At Middlesbrough in September. He has handed out 28 yellows and 2 reds in 19 games this season. Hatch’s final word As mentioned at the top of this preview, Sunday is a big day for Ipswich. We have been in great form of late but haven’t had to test ourselves against other inform teams or any top 6 teams. We have that chance on Sunday. It’s going to have to be one of Ipswich’s best performances of the season if they want to get anything from the game but I certainly believe we’re capable of the win. However, I can’t let my typical optimism get the better of me. Hatch’s prediction – Leicester 2-1 Ipswich Ref-terview How did you get introduced into refereeing? I had a colleague at work who was a referee and every Monday morning I used to moan to him about refereeing decisions I had seen over the weekend, that were supposedly controversial. Eventually I think he had had enough and challenged me to have a go. So I took the course and learnt more in six weeks than I had seen in 28 years. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Any game at this level is a highlight. I am fortunate in that I have had many Cup Finals and Title Deciders at various stages throughout the different leagues I have progressed through. I am also lucky to be involved with referees who are some of the best in the world, at what they do. Walking out on my first football league game as a referee was probably my best moment so far. What is the best game you have officiated and why? I have to be honest and say there is not any one game that I can say was the best. I have been involved in the Sheffield derby which was an amazing day. I have refereed at many top grounds including Old Trafford. I did the Unibond Play Off Final, which went to extra time and then penalties and the reaction received after the game was fantastic, not just from the players and managers, but from spectators as well, which came as a pleasant surprise. What are your aims as a National List Referee? My aims are quite simple, • to continue to develop into a better referee • to be a safe pair of hands as regards looking after big games • to stay at this level for as long as possible, ability and fitness permitting • to continue enjoying refereeing even under the pressure of professional football What skills do you think you need to become a referee? Communication to me is vital, we need to talk to each other. Man management is a key factor for me along with fitness and knowledge of the laws of the game being essential skills. It’s important to smile sometimes, if the moment allows! Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why? My wife and family have had to sacrifice so much (holidays, weekends, nights out, etc) to support me. There have been many people who have helped me along the way. I am presently working with Trevor Simpson, as my coach, who along with Alan Kaye and Paul Long have given me unbelievable support and guidance. In your opinion who is/was the best referee? The best of the best, in my opinion, is Jack Taylor. He refereed the World Cup Final and was appointed to it on ability. He is also a nice guy that has time for everyone, which is sadly quite unusual for a living legend in football these days. Fan-terview Hey Dave, how long have you been an Leicester fan? Since my first game in 1994, when I was 5. What do you love most about the Foxes? The fact that they're my local team, and the (fairly) proud history we have. What disappoints you most about the Foxes? Our stadium. It's a horrible soulless plastic bowl with little to no atmosphere at the best of times. If you offered me Filbert Street back I'd take it in a heartbeat. What is your squad's main strength? In comparison to our past few Championship seasons we seem to have a squad who seem to believe in themselves, have a great team spirit and want the club to progress and move forward as a result. We've pulled a few results from out of nowhere this year and have done so while playing a really attractive brand of passing football at the same time. So I guess I'd say our squad cohesion is probably our main asset. What is your squad's main weakness? Robbie Neilson. Don't get me wrong, the man's a born trier and obviously puts his heart and soul into everything when he pulls on the shirt but I'm afraid for me the poor bloke just isn't cut out for this level and sooner or later he'll end up costing us. Who has been your star player so far this season, and why? In terms of how critical he's been to our relative success so far this season, I'd have to say our ever-present goalkeeper Chris Weale. It's been pleasant to finally have a keeper who's made the jersey his own and has put in some sterling performances to boot. He's added a consistency to the first XI that we hadn't seen for a few years. I think we ended up using 6 or 7 keepers last season for various reasons? Crazy. He's been a real surprise given that he'd previously been second choice at Bristol City, but has rightly caught the eye of bigger clubs. Capello should be eyeing him up for a plane ticket to South Africa! How do you view Ipswich Town? If I'm honest I've always had a fervent dislike for them! I think most of it's down to the fact that you were our bogey side for a number of years and when I was a kid I always associated Ipswich with Leicester losing! Plus when I'm down in Colchester there are quite a few Ipswich lads (including my housemate) who always seem to be on the wind-up. My Norwich supporting mates on the other hand are all lovely people and I can't speak highly enough of them... If you could have any Ipswich player, who would it be and why? My housemate raves on about Pablo Counago for no apparent reason so I'd buy him just to shut him up! How can you see Sunday's game panning out? I think unless we allow you to grind us down and stop our passing game, we'll win two or three nil. Are you a Keano lover or hater and why? Hater, because of the alleged practices he engages in with his pets! I've had it drilled into me by my Norwich and Newcastle supporting mates! Cheers, finally, what's your match prediction? 2-0 City. P.S. Apologies if I've offended anyone in other threads, I genuinely just wanted banter.
James. Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Good preview. Shame we don't get that before every game. I assume that's AFIE giving the fan's view?
ipswichfan Posted 8 January 2010 Author Posted 8 January 2010 You assumed correctly. Do I have anything wrong Leicester player wise? Anything you'd disagree with?
Lillehamring Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 You assumed correctly. Do I have anything wrong Leicester player wise? Anything you'd disagree with? well, if you're not looking to cause offense, i'd lose that monstrosity of a signature
Houdini Logic Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 You assumed correctly. Do I have anything wrong Leicester player wise? Anything you'd disagree with? Morrison has only just starting getting into the team (deservedly so), but other than that all good
DANGEROUS TIGER Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Great post by Ipswichfan. Hope you enjoy the game, and Town play at their best. Hope you lose, even so.
MPH Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Nice review.. For CB i would of focussed more on Jack Hobbs than Morrison but thats about it. Hobbs a summer capture from liverpool young lad tall doesnt make many mistakes bright future in the game.
NewquayFox Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Good in depth preview, honest prediction and i hope we win. I dislike Keane immensly, after his outbursts about so called `Plastic Paddies` supporting Ireland. I am Irish and proud of it but also want England to win the World Cup and City to win everything. ;0)
Corky Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Good preview. Hope you enjoy the game, as well as lose
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Robbie Neilson is not the weak link. He takes too much criticism for my liking.
leicesterfox86 Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Good preview. Shame we don't get that before every game.I assume that's AFIE giving the fan's view? Yea, would be good to have this sort of thing every week.
ipswichfan Posted 8 January 2010 Author Posted 8 January 2010 Cheers guys. I'll do next week's preview for you as well if you like Not.
Guest Mee-9 Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Nice preview mate. Really well done. Maybe Maddog should take a lesson from you. When he starts his pre-match threads.
Vlad The Impaler Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Robbie Neilson is not the weak link.He takes too much criticism for my liking. Agreed.
Edmund Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Robbie Neilson is not the weak link.He takes too much criticism for my liking. Agreed
ipswichfan Posted 8 January 2010 Author Posted 8 January 2010 You're review sucks. Go eat some smegma, Sunil.
StanSP Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 As does your grammar. It's the first time I think that's ever happened Go eat some smegma, Sunil. Get on your own forum
Guest Bilo Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Good read ipswichfan. Always nice to see a rival fan who isn't a complete cunt.
StanSP Posted 8 January 2010 Posted 8 January 2010 Good read ipswichfan.Always nice to see a rival fan who isn't a complete cunt. This. Although the latter is something to be questioned...
ipswichfan Posted 8 January 2010 Author Posted 8 January 2010 I do often appear to be an unscathed vagina.
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