It’s been a strange one for us lot this season. Awful start, a few dodgy signings – yet we’re still in the playoff places and have been there for a few months now. Our form has been inconsistent and we’ve been conceding far too many goals, but life is never dull at Portman Road and we can usually be counted on for a goal or two, so I suppose I mustn’t grumble too much.
What are your chances of beating the Canaries?
Well, in terms of league form it seems a tall order to get three points. Despite having a reasonable away record, we haven’t won many of those games plus we’ve lost our last two away games. We’re missing some crucial players as well - McGreal is a big miss as is long-term injury victim Chris Makin.
It looks like Ian Westlake may be a doubt too and he’ll be a big loss. However, the form book goes out of the window for derby games as we registered a 2-0 win at yours last season and I’m not going to completely discount us yet.
Who do you consider to be Norwich's danger men?
Huckerby is an obvious threat. If we can keep him quiet we’ll have a good chance. Paying attention to McKenzie if he starts would also be a good idea after the Portman Road game. A less high profile player who seems to be doing a good job for you is Damien Francis - he looks a good signing and can score goals from midfield.
Who should Norwich watch out for in the Town team?
If he plays Ian Westlake has been on form. A goal scoring midfielder who can get a good strong challenge in too. He never stops running and has been one of our best players this season. Surprisingly our goalkeeper is reasonably good; it’s just that he’s playing behind a poor defence. A good kicker and pretty consistent, something that your friend Andy Marshall couldn’t offer. Shefki Kuqi is a bit of an enigma, he’s either superb or shocking. Hopefully the superb version will show up on Sunday. He’ll chase everything, get stuck in and can obviously score.
Who do you want to see up front with Huckerby? (Iwan, McKenzie or Svensson)
I’d have to say Svensson. Roberts always seems to do something in the derby
games and we know about McKenzie now. Svensson also hasn’t been that prolific for you lot either.
What do you expect your team to be?
Hopefully:
Davis, Richards, Diallo, Santos, Wilnis, Westlake, Miller, Magilton, Wright,Kuqi, Bent
Subs: Price, Naylor, Reuser, Counago, Mitchell
Do you think Norwich will win promotion?
You’ll have to do a lot wrong not to. For the first time in a few years you actually have a strong squad and have good players in all positions. I’d love to say we’ll catch you but that’s unlikely. I imagine you’ll go upautomatically but will come straight back down again.
What are your hopes for the rest of the season?
If we can stay in the playoffs it’ll have been a good season. We need
some loan signings to give depth to the squad. Unfortunately a lot of teams
are picking up their games at the moment: Millwall, Crystal Palace, Sunderland
and West Ham as well as Wigan, Sheffield United and maybe Reading are all
in for a shot of a playoff place. We’ll see. Hopefully we’ll stay up there
for the rest of the season. If not it’ll be back to the drawing board
in the summer.
Match Prediction?
I think it’ll be a typical East Anglian derby, lacking in any attractive football and a hard fought game. If the players turn up ready for to try and fight we could be in with a shout. I’ll go for a 1-1 draw; you’re goal coming from a Huckerby penalty after a dive (only joking!).
On the ball.........
Keep The Faith