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WATFORD v IPSWICH TOWN
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VENUE: VICARAGE ROAD
DATE: 21st MARCH 2015
KICK OFF: 15.00 GMT
It is a dream for many schoolboys to become a professional footballer and the link between Watford and Ipswich concerns one who did achieve the dream. His first contract came at Watford in 2006 and everything seemed to be heading in the right direction for his future as he played 154 times for the Hornets over the next six seasons. Reports linked him with a big money transfer to Spurs as cover for Heurelho Gomes, and 14 appearances for the England U21 side all were proving positive.
View from the bosses:
"Now we are only thinking about Ipswich. This is a top team, but it doesn't matter if it is a bottom team or a top team, the reward is always three points.
"I will be focused and I expect my team to be focused," explained the Watford boss."
Being top of the table provokes the kind of questions that aren't asked when a side is doing the chasing, but Jokanovic barely broke stride in dealing with the question.
"We are professional; we change nothing. Our job can only be finished in May."
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In 2012 Scott Loach was transferred to Ipswich, but over the next two seasons only played 27 times for the club. Released by Ipswich he joined Rotherham, but after only four games he was loaned out to Bury. With that loan completed at the beginning of this March he was sent out for a month to Yeovil Town. Clearly what looked like a promising career has come off the rails, but only being 26 years old what will the future hold for him?View from the bosses:
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His demeanour rarely suggests it, but Slavisa Jokanovic confirmed it today. "Now is not the time to be happy" "The victory on Tuesday gives us power and takes us even higher with our mentality."Now we are only thinking about Ipswich. This is a top team, but it doesn't matter if it is a bottom team or a top team, the reward is always three points.
"I will be focused and I expect my team to be focused," explained the Watford boss."
Being top of the table provokes the kind of questions that aren't asked when a side is doing the chasing, but Jokanovic barely broke stride in dealing with the question.
"We are professional; we change nothing. Our job can only be finished in May."
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Pragmatic, loyal, straight-talking, stubborn and single-minded have all been adjectives associated with the Yorkshireman throughout a managerial career which has seen him take the Republic of Ireland to the last 16 of a World Cup and lead both Sunderland and Wolves to Championship titles.
Asked about the importance of rising above the opinion of fans and pundits, he said: “Strangely enough, I get fairly well paid to do this job and I’ve done it over a number of years – 23, I think.
“I’ve got TC (assistant Terry Connor) in my office and he’s my trusted lieutenant. I bounce things off him.
“But if I listened to everybody... Well, if you form a committee to design a horse, that’s how you get the camel.
Team News:
Watford
Defender Craig Cathcart will be available for Saturday's visit from the seventh-placed Tractor Boys, despite being withdrawn after 70 minutes of the 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday with what appeared to be an injury at the time. Sean Murray is a long-term absentee as he recovers from knee surgery. Almen Abdi will also be missing. "We are optimistic that come the Derby game he will not be too far away. Fingers crossed."
Ipswich
Asked if any of his players who have missed the last few matches – McGoldrick (thigh), Luke Hyam (knee), Darren Ambrose (hamstring) and Dean Gerken (knocked unconscious at Middlesbrough) – were close to returning to action, Mick McCarthy said: “No is the answer to that, not at all. In fact we’ve got possibly two more missing. Jonny Parr got a kick and he hasn’t trained today, so he’s a doubt.
“And Teddy Bishop won’t play as he’s got sore shins, sort of the onset of shin splints, which is the last thing we want.
Form
In recent years Ipswich have not fared well against the Hornets; managing three wins, four draws and 14 losses against Watford in their last 21 matches.
The Hornets’ run of form, ten wins from 13 matches, has seen them surge to the summit, putting them in pole position for automatic promotion.
Mick McCarthy’s side are one place outside the play-offs but their form has been patchy lately with just one win in the last five games.
Ipswich’s form on the road has also been poor with five defeats in the last six, including their last three matches
CHAMPIONSHIP TABLEAsked about the importance of rising above the opinion of fans and pundits, he said: “Strangely enough, I get fairly well paid to do this job and I’ve done it over a number of years – 23, I think.
“I’ve got TC (assistant Terry Connor) in my office and he’s my trusted lieutenant. I bounce things off him.
“But if I listened to everybody... Well, if you form a committee to design a horse, that’s how you get the camel.
Team News:
Watford
Defender Craig Cathcart will be available for Saturday's visit from the seventh-placed Tractor Boys, despite being withdrawn after 70 minutes of the 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday with what appeared to be an injury at the time. Sean Murray is a long-term absentee as he recovers from knee surgery. Almen Abdi will also be missing. "We are optimistic that come the Derby game he will not be too far away. Fingers crossed."
Ipswich
Asked if any of his players who have missed the last few matches – McGoldrick (thigh), Luke Hyam (knee), Darren Ambrose (hamstring) and Dean Gerken (knocked unconscious at Middlesbrough) – were close to returning to action, Mick McCarthy said: “No is the answer to that, not at all. In fact we’ve got possibly two more missing. Jonny Parr got a kick and he hasn’t trained today, so he’s a doubt.
“And Teddy Bishop won’t play as he’s got sore shins, sort of the onset of shin splints, which is the last thing we want.
Form
In recent years Ipswich have not fared well against the Hornets; managing three wins, four draws and 14 losses against Watford in their last 21 matches.
The Hornets’ run of form, ten wins from 13 matches, has seen them surge to the summit, putting them in pole position for automatic promotion.
Mick McCarthy’s side are one place outside the play-offs but their form has been patchy lately with just one win in the last five games.
Ipswich’s form on the road has also been poor with five defeats in the last six, including their last three matches
1 Watford 38 33 72
2 Middlesbrough 38 32 72
3 Bournemouth 38 39 70
4 Norwich 38 31 67
5 Derby 38 28 67
6 Brentford 38 12 65
7 Ipswich 38 15 64
WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, ENJOY THE GAME
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I'm not wishing to start anything just stating facts.
