Ipswich Town vs Watford FC VS This time out its 18th vs 3rd, Tractor boys vs hornets, Mick McCarthy vs Gianfranco Zola its Ipswich vs Watford at Portman road. History Ipswich started the season poorly and ended up sacking Paul Jewell after a poor run and bringing in Mick McCarthy. Since then they have made big improvements. Since we last spoke, Watford got the better of Birmingham and proved themselves to be the best team away from home in all of the football league and premiership. The Hornets have won five and drawn two of their last seven league trips to Portman Road, and are chasing a third successive victory at the home of the Tractor Boys. Ipswich last beat the Hertfordshire club in front of the own supporters in March 2004, recording a 4-1 win. Previous Meeting Back in August Ipswich narrowly got the better of the Hornets in a tight encounter, only settled in the 90th minute. Last time out Ipswich overcame Blackpool in their last match 1-0, but it wasn't easy and it came at a price with Anthony Wordsworth cracking 3 vertebrae in a collision with the Blackpool keeper. Mick McCarthy on Wordsworth's injury Watford also won. This time beating a weakened Birmingham side 0-4 at St Andrews. However, the gaffer seems to think the result flattered his side a little
Thanks Dan As long as we don't do another Bristol City, and we play a consistent team, we should take all 3 points tomorrow so i'm going with a 1-3 win . Can't wait! Didn't get my tickets in the post and apparently they haven't been sent so have to nip down to the club later to pick them up...hey ho!
Cheers Dan !! Zola should have learnt his lesson, shouldn't he? I'll go for 3 changes and a 1-1 draw.
I hope that Zola has realised that so may changes at one time is damaging to the team. I'd be curious to see if he keeps the same back line even if we have players back from injury. Were we good defensively on Saturday or were Birmingham just poor attacking? Either way I do feel positive going into every game now. COYH!!!
We were OK in defence on Sat, but Brum were quite poor. Any fast mobile attackers would give us a bit of trouble....I suspect GFZ will make some changes, the little Tinker... Even so, I am going for a 2-1 win to Watford...
Let us not get carried away by the Birmingham result. It was a good time for us to play them , with their main striker injured and the manager in dispute with some of his team. Ipswich upset us in August if you recall--though admittedly a lot has changed since then. If Pudil is unfit, then Forsyth is not a bad replacement. If Anya is unfit, then surely Murray must find his feet in the team at some point? The main issue is the rotation of the strikers--three games in a week is a lot to ask of strikers who do as much work as Deeney and Vydra, -- are Derby more of a threat than Ipswich? A big squad is a resource, so why not use it?
We've been on pretty good form since Mick McCarthy took over averaging 1.63 points a game and that included some dreadful performances and draws against Barnsley & Posh as well as losing to Brizzle so we aren't in dreadful form ourselves. That said we improved defensively even keeping the odd clean sheet but we look a bit toothless going forward but I imagine we'll make life bloody hard for you (if we don't concede early) We seem to be able to do alright against the 'better' teams under Mick so I fancy it'll be a tight affair but eventually you'll have a bit more quality and confidence in the final 3rd than us and do us 1-0 or 2-0.. Plus we couldn't beat you twice in the same season after losing to you in every match for the past 8 years
Out of interest how is Loach doing for you guys? I see he hasn't even been on the bench...what's the story? Cheers in advance !!
Loach is a bit of a fan's favourite, what with him being a local lad and a Town fan but he's been very unlucky this season (He's currently out with a sprained thumb) so that's why he's not been involved. Loach was unlucky to be between the sticks in the first couple of months as we could have had three keepers and still lost we were that hopeless, when he finally got back into the team he put in three really good performances and then sprained his thumb in training so I'm not sure if he's ever going to be considered as our No. 1 but he's probably no better or no worse than Henderson who we have on loan from West Ham
Two of the top 4 in the form table just a shame not in league terms! McCarthy has worked miracles since he took over on 1st November and our form since then has been remarkable. Shame McCarthy didn't take over from the clueless **** Jewell in the summer! 1-1 Tomorrow night our 2 DM's shielding our much improved back 4 will ensure a low scoring game.
Sounds as if there will be changes. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...ider_squad_rotation_despite_previous_defeats/
He mentions that all of the players that have come in have played well during the season, and we can all agree with that. The problem is when you change over half of the team in one hit. It doesn't work as the last 2 occasions have shown and I really hope Zola has learnt from that. Yes we have 3 games in a short time, so you change a couple for the first game and then another couple for the next one.
sounds like he'll make changes, like you say Sandy..hopefully 3 or 4 max..but something tells me he hasn't learned from Bristol or Charlton..and i just hope making the trip is worthwhile. Play well and lose i can accept, but play like we did against Bristol City will peeve me big time!
I know what you're saying, but changes from what? Saturday's team with the makeshift defence or the 'recognised first eleven'? I don't know if any of Hoban, Hall or Ekstrand are fit, but if they are and they play - would that mean no place for Anya or Cassetti? With another game on Saturday in mind, I can see GZ resting Deeney and Vydra - or possibly just one of them -for at least part of the game. But you're right, this is the business end of the season fast approaching and no way should we be not fielding our best combination unless injuries demand it. Glad it's not my decision though.
I'm sure he will rest Cassetti (very classy but at 35...)Replace him with Ekstrand if fit. I think he might rest Chalobah - perhaps play forestieri. Batocchio has not had a long season of games either. Problem is creativity if Hogg or Eustace play. Perhaps it's Yeates time again ? I reckon troy will play - he seems up for everything. Keep anya - he's fresh. Lloydinio is like a duracell - no probs there. Abdi seems strong, pudil also. He'll start Vydra, but hope to get him off before the end. Anyway, the man knows what he is doing, so it will be fun whatever happens!
