After Blackburn, we travel to Villa with games running out quick. Thanks to Rotherham and Reading's ability to also be toilet ( hopefully Bolton won't beat WBA ) we remain 7 off ( 8 including goal difference ) safety. Lambert away from home has been an absolute catastrophe to date - 617 mins ( excluding stoppage time ) without a goal and a run of D L L L L L L. Coupled to that, in our last 13 league games, we have now conceded 2 or more in the last 13 games! Remarkable. Aston Villa are in a similar position to us, 7 points off their target ( play offs ) Interestingly, their last H win in the league was back in November! Infact, they've won 1 in their last 9 in all competitions...... Fear not Villa, the limp Ipswich express is in town. On a bad run? Need opposition to fix that? New manager, anything like that? Step forward us. Think Villa have have far too much for us, and I can see a limp 2-0 defeat on the cards. Obviously hope I'm wrong and would love three points, just my feelings on likely outcome.
Roll on 2030, where we start an exciting new adventure in the championship following the club's first promotion in 40 years. This is a game that should be on my "to go to" list considering its at the other end of the train I get to work every day. But I can depress myself just as effectively watching final score. And thats free. And warm. A routine hammering I think.
Interesting point about Villa’s poor form, Westy, I presumed they were doing fairly well. Out of all the teams they could pick to end their home form woes though, it would be us wouldn’t it? I can’t see us winning this match, and I think the routine 2-0 defeat that seems regularly inflicted upon us away from home will strike again!
I had us down to win this game but after the Blackburn debacle I can’t really see it unless Lambert can put a rocket up their arses.
I shall go with BigAl's 1-1, always positive before each game, in our nature, and always let down exasperated! Blame the Ref! Blame the manager....3 of them over last 9 months Blame the defense! Strikers couldn't hit my old Aunties (96..and yes, still driving!) funny hat from 2m! Blame the Owner...useless prat Oh, alright, lets blame the supporters too. One day, one match, we will find the right fit players for the right positions, doing the right thing tactically.... and not giving the match away in so many 2nd halves. Come on Town, give us poor sods something to cheer about for 90 minutes!
yup, he's got something to prove back there too. we've been discussing him on other threads of course in the context of 'hurst was in for him, he didn't come, then PL got him.' His interview as published on The BBC website states he's basically no longer playing football for the money, he's in it for the fun and whilst he still can. Ergo, he went to Villa because 'fun' is a club who were managed by a 'somebody', we were managed by a 'nobody'. Villa are, on the face of it, a much more stable, upwardly mobile club with a decent shout for a thrilling promotion push. sounds fun. were a underfunded club that's sold all the family jewels, has a **** squad and hurst sold our proven goal scorer in order to recruit some more nobodies from division 3. you'd have to be a lunatic to sign for us over them. then he got injured, cancelled his contract and along he came under PL and the rest is history. fun is now redefined as 'if I can help save this club from div 3, that will be fun and possibly the hardest challenge in my career.'
Wouldn’t like to tempt fate, but looks like a good lineup today. Bart, Kenlock, and Downes in the line-up, and Keane up top with Judge and Sears in support. I would have preferred somebody else out wide rather than Sears, who has struggled for form since early December. Fingers crossed we can get something from this tricky fixture.
I see Dozzell is not on the bench again... I can see him being off next week. Get a few mill for him, and maybe get one more midfielder in
Half decent team with a bit of experience. Would prefer a 532 or a 41212 with Keane and Sears up top with Judge in the middle. As what ever you say about Sears his movement is first class and with a big man up top and a creative player like Judge behind I think would be a good formula to get the best out of those players.
Rotherham playing Leeds and Bolton and Reading not involved today so a big opportunity to put some psychological pressure on the others if we can find a way to take all three points.
