Archive for the ‘none’ Category

“Ipswich is a big club. The manager is first class, the facilities are great. It’s a great challenge,” proclaims Town’s new loan signing, keeper Asmir Begovic. But is it a keeper they need? DAVE GOODERHAM reports.

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Crazy as it may seem to your typical Sky Sports viewer but there have been transfers going on outside the Premier League today.

While speculation ran wild throughout the day over the futures of Dimitar Berbatov, Robinho and?er?Danny Higginbotham, Town boss Jim Magilton was busy securing the services of Jon Stead on loan until January.

The signing of Stead is the Ipswich boss' eighth of the summer and, while his arrival may not have even made the yellow ticker on Sky …

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A lot of people I spoke to before the game saw this encounter against Wolves as a real measure as to how the Town would fare this season.

This was probably based on the fact that both teams finished just outside of the play-off places after challenging for long periods last season.

There were other similarities going into the game. Both managers had made new additions to their squads over the summer. Both had lost some influential players for various reasons. Also they …

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More than three months have passed since the win against Hull City at the end of last season.

There have been players who have either left the club through retirement or were not offered a new contract. New additions have been brought in and at least eight weeks have been spent on the training ground in preparation for the opening Championship match.

One hopes to see immediate rewards for those close season decisions and pre-season efforts. For 10 minutes we did.<br …

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It's the eve of Town's Championship opener against Preston and the MFW panel got together to discuss their expectations for the coming season.

Chief reporter Mark Armstrong hosts and asks what the Expert thinks of Ivan Campo's imminent arrival and more importantly where does he see the Spaniard fitting in to Jim Magilton's squad?

Are the Alfs happy with the signing of Kevin Lisbie and do they expect him to hit the 20-goal mark this …

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As entertaining as the Blues pre-season campaign has been there are still a couple of key ingredients missing in the make-up of Jim Magilton's squad.

Town's summer goal-fest has certainly whet the appetite for Saturday's Championship opener against Preston but, for all Ipswich's free-flowing attacking football, the worry remains that defensively they could be about to come up short once again.

Last night many were pointing the finger at Town's new look …

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Town owner Marcus Evans has not got to where he is in the business world without taking the odd risk.

You don't get to amass a personal fortune of around ?200m according to the Sunday Times Rich List without taking a calculated gamble and, as the reclusive entrepreneur takes a more hands-on role in the running of Ipswich Town, Blues fans should prepare themselves for a few more dice to be rolled in the quest for the Premier League.

Speculate to accumulate and all …

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If I were in Jim Magilton's shoes I would be looking to rebuild the spine of the Ipswich team in readiness for what I expect to be an even tougher promotion battle next season.

I can see the Championship being stronger next season, especially if Leeds join Swansea and Nottingham Forest from League One. Birmingham and Reading, two of the three relegated teams, will also be among the challengers, but I wouldn't bet a penny on Derby being contenders.

Add that little …

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Here it is – part II of myfootballwriter's special podcast with three of the heroes from the 1978 side that triumphed at Wembley.

Hear what Mick Mills, John Wark and Roger Osborne have to say about their path to the twin towers with the fifth round match against Bristol Rovers sticking out in their minds as the Blues got out of jail with a late equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw.

But according to Mills the match shouldn't have taken place in the first place on …

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Blues legends Mick Mills, John Wark and Roger Osborne got together at the Crown Hotel in Framlingham yesterday for a very special myfootballwriter.com podcast to talk about what many argue was the greatest day in Ipswich Town's history.

The famous trio were joined by freelance journalist and author Mel Henderson, who lived and breathed the club at the time thanks to his role as public relations officer at Portman Road, and myfootballwriter.com's chief reporter Mark Armstrong, …

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