Preston ran out winners over an improving Ipswich side thanks chiefly to a magnificent display by Manchester United’s on loan striker Daniel Wellbeck.
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Reading continue to struggle at home and couldn’t manage to overcome second bottom Ipswich.
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0-1 Stead
Roberto Di Matteo’s side made it ten points from their opening four games with a comfortable home win over Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town.
Mulumbu 1-0
Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town side are one of the favourites for promotion but two early goals from Coventry City striker Clinton Morrison set the East Anglian side on the road to defeat, but hell at least it wasn’t 7-1!
Coventry City 2 – 1 Ipswich Town (2009) – The best bloopers are a click away
Some words are used far too often and their power blunted by overuse but there are few people more deserving of the term Legend. Rest In Peace Bobby.
A Legend of the game passes away.
Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson has died at the age of 76, following a long battle with cancer.
Robson will be best remembered on the international stage for leading England to the 1990 World Cup semi-final.
At club level, he cut his managerial teeth at Fulham before establishing his credentials at Ipswich where he won the FA Cup and Uefa Cup in a 13-year stay.
Spells at PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona followed before managing at Newcastle.
Robson was at St James’ Park for a charity match earlier this week.
An England side, featuring Alan Shearer and several members of the 1990 World Cup squad including Paul Gascoigne and Peter Shilton, beat a Germany team 3-2.
The game was a repeat of the 1990 World Cup semi-final when England, managed by Sir Bobby, lost on penalties.A statement issued on behalf of his family said: “It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer.
“He died very peacefully this morning (Friday) at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.
“Sir Bobby’s funeral will be private and for family members only.
“A thanksgiving service in celebration of Sir Bobby’s life will be held at a later date for his many friends and colleagues.
“Lady Robson and the family would very much appreciate it if their privacy could be respected at this difficult time.” (BBC Sport)
I think everyone had a soft spot for Bobby, regardless of their footballing allegiance and I think the main reason he garnered such universal appreciation and admiration was that he really loved the game and you could see it every day of his tenure as either player or manager.
He seemed to me to be a true gentleman who seemed to have an aura of awareness that he had been blessed to make a living out of the game he loved and never came across as someone who took it for granted.
There are very few people in the game past or present who can truly claim to be admired and adored right across the football spectrum, Sir Bobby was just one such man.
Always with a smile on his face throughout his incredible footballing journey and even during his long running battle with Cancer and It was a sign of his standing in the game that so many stars took part in the recent charity match at St James’ Park and that such a large crowd turned up to show their support for the man and his cause.
His importance in the game and the achievements at managerial and playing level should not be forgotten. Here was a man who experienced success right across Europe and as England national boss provided us with a truly seminal moment in footballing history as he guided Gazza, Lineker and Co. to the 1990 World Cup Semi-Finals.
The game is greatly lessened by his loss and his humanity. Gone but never forgotten. Rest In Peace.
Front man who lacks playing time could greatly benefit from Championship move.
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Ipswich Town have a host of young bright stars that Premier League sides are taking a fancy too.
Everton are lining up a £3million swoop for Ipswich star Owen Garvan. (Sunday Mirror) and David Moyes is also still in the chase for Garvan’s teammate Danny Haynes (various)
However both players are also targets for Alan Curbishley as he attempts to add some young talents to West Ham’s squad (various)
Tommy Miller’s last gasp equaliser at Wolves has given Jim Magilton’s side a faint hope of reaching the play-offs but should they fail then the East Anglia club may find itself the subject to many more aggressive bids for their best players and then it will come down to whether the club can afford to turn down large offers as they once again prepare for another shot back into the big time. Do Everton and West Ham like the look of either of these 20 year olds? And do Ipswich fans hope they can keep hold of them?
After all, David Nugent has demonstrated that he’s more than capable of scoring against Championship opposition, as the striker’s eighteen goals for Preston last season will testify. This campaign has been an entirely different kettle of fish, with the player either injured, unfit or out of favour with Harry Redknapp, who has seemed willing to farm him out on loan.
However, The News is reporting that the former Bury striker is upbeat ahead of his team’s semi-final clash with West Brom on Saturday. With Jermain Defoe cup-tied, will the England international (!) get the chance to impress on a big stage?
‘I want to prove I’m good enough for the Premier League. I want to show how good I am.
‘I don’t feel I’ve given enough to this football club yet so this is my time to show what I can do.
‘I’ve got the buzz again and it’s going to be nice to be involved on Saturday.
‘We’ve got a great chance of winning and hopefully I can help.’
As Michael Ricketts will testify, it takes a lot for a striker to play at the top level every season, especially with confidence such a factor. However, Redknapp must surely be considering Nugent to play some kind of role in the game as it’s otherwise difficult to see where the Pompey goals are likely to come from. Baros has yet to open his account for the south coast club, while Kanu has also had an indifferent season.
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I like Ameobi, he always seems to give his all and he clearly loves the club but clearly it isn’t working out for him at St James’ Park. He is hardly a goal-scoring machine I think we all know that but the gossip linking him with a move to East Anglia seems to be a little harsh on the former England Under 21 star.
Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi is a target for Championship pair Ipswich and Norwich City (various)
Stats can be misleading but the 26 year old forward has managed 46 goals in a Newcastle shirt in 135 starts (and yes about a ton of sub appearances) and whilst these are not startling stats they are hardly Chris Sutton at Chelsea-esque. There must be a Premier League club who would benefit from signing Shola? To consign him to the Championship would be somewhat unfair on a player with Champions League experience (and even a goal at Barcelona!). I think it’s time for an S.O.S – Save Our Shola – Campaign! We must demand he gets a Premier League berth! Which I guess that Ipswich may be able to offer come the end of May!
It’s looking increasingly likely that David Nugent’s future lies outside of the Premier League. Earlier this week, the Portsmouth striker was linked with a loan move to Ipswich Town, before discussions broke down. Now, it appears that promotion challengers Stoke City are interested in acquiring his services, according to the BBC website.
Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: “I don’t know what’s happened with Ipswich, but if we’re going to do business then we’ll do it with Portsmouth.”
“If there’s an area that we need another player it is up front.”
There is an obvious question mark over the player’s fitness that needs to be resolved, although the Potters might think Nugent represents the final piece in the jigsaw as far as their charge towards the top flight is concerned. However, can the former Preston striker ever cut it at the highest level or is he forever destined to be plying his trade in the Championship?
It’s been a season to forget for David Nugent, who has seen little in the way of first-team action since joining Portsmouth from Preston last summer. The striker has made just a handful of starts for Pompey, although help appeared to be at hand after Ipswich declared an interest in signing the player on loan. However, the official Town website reports that any deal is now off due to Nugent’s struggle to get himself fit.
“The Portsmouth medical people have told us today that David is still not fit and won’t be until next week at the earliest,” said Ipswich manager Jim Magilton.
“Games are running out for us now and we have decided we need to move on and look at other targets.
“We have other irons in the fire and will step up our interest elsewhere now.”
Like Robert Earnshaw and Michael Chopra, the Portsmouth striker has found life a lot tougher in the top flight compared to the Championship last season. Will he have to drop down a division to regain his confidence and fitness with many seasons of football still left in him?
First-team opportunities have been limited for David Nugent since he signed for Portsmouth last summer. The £6 million signing has started just four league games and is behind Jermain Defoe, Milan Baros and Kanu in the pecking order. However, the knight in shining armour could come in the form of Ipswich Town, with the Evening Star reporting that manager Jim Magilton has approached Pompey with a view to taking in the striker on loan.
Magilton said: “Nugent is a possibility. We have asked Portsmouth about taking him on loan and they have not ruled it out.
“It is a big decision for Portsmouth and it is a big decision for the lad but that has not stopped us making an enquiry.
“We are well aware if he did come he is not 100 per cent but he is making massive strides to get fit so we will wait and see what happens.
“He loves Portman Road and he loves scoring goals here so it would be good to have him in a Blues shirt.”
Indeed, Nugent scored the only goal of the game when the two teams met in the FA Cup last month and it’s clear that his Portsmouth career is going to be short-lived. Why doesn’t Harry Redknapp rate the player he splurged so much cash on? Will he be playing Premier League football for Ipswich Town next season?
Sneaky journo’s have spied Chelsea’s currently injured midfielder Frank Lampard having a look for a new house, in Barcelona of all places! ‘Cor, that’ll be one hell of a long commute to London! (Daily Mail)
…Meanwhile, Chelsea’s star striker Didier Drogba continues to oscillate between a disgruntled and a gruntled state. The Ivorian has now come out and pledged undying loyalty to Chelsea, poo-pooing talk of a move to Real Madrid or AC Milan. (Daily Mirror)
And Rangers captain Barry Ferguson will soon sign a contract extension that will keep him at the club for the remainder of his career. (The Sun)
Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb is going to resist the lure of Barcelona and stay at Ashburton Grove. (The Sun)
Manchester United have been dialing every number in the phone book hawking out-of-favour cripplemeister Louis Saha to anyone that’ll take him. (Daily Mail)
…Talking of out-of-favour strikers, Ipswich want to bag one time England prospect David Nugent on loan. (Various)
Newcastle winger Charles N’Zogbia is becoming more and more unsettled by the day and Spurs and Arsenal will both offer him a summer lifeline. (Daily Mail)
…While Newcastle’s Mickey Owen, might be forced to start on the bench for England’s friendly game against Switzerland. (Various)
The major reason for the rushed and semi-botched transfer deadline move of Benjani from Portsmouth to Manchester City was because Benjani dozed off at the airport and missed two flights. (The Times)
West Ham are going to go to court with (possible) evil slave driver Kia Joorabchian in a wrangle over money and fees during Carlos Tevez’s time with the Hammers. (Telegraph)
Middlesbrough, desperate to hang on to at least some of their better players, will double the dosh in defender David Wheater’s pay packet in order to stop Liverpool from sniffing around the player. (Various)
Derby County goalkeeper Stephen Bywater is set to drop into the Championship and don on the colours of the Tractors. ComeonBoro reports that the custodian is on the verge of agreeing personal terms with Ipswich Town who are currently ploughing in the second-tier of English football.
Town boss Jim Magilton says:
Stephen is a young, ambitious goalkeeper who knows what is needed to win promotion from this division. We are delighted to have him with us and he will stay here on loan with a view to making it a permanent move in the summer.
The move will be a loan deal at the moment with Ipswich retaining an option to sign the player on a permanent basis in the summer.
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