Date: April 2002

Match Preview -Arsenal v. Ipswich

Apr 18, 2002 by

“Arsenal v. Ipswich; Sunday May 21, 11am ET

Arsenal: 1st Place (72 points)

Ipswich: 18th Place (33 points)

TV: none

Radio: arsenal.com

The Kentucky Gunner drops the knowledge on Ipswich Town

When we last left our Saturaday opponents, they were mired in the bottom slot with only one win and relegation flies buzzing around their heads. A streak of 7 wins in 8 games saw Ipswich Town crawl out of the basement, approach mid-table and what was to look like relative safety. Suddenly a black cloud has descended and Town are in the midst of a 9 game winless streak that sees them right back in the relegation picture. Sitting 18th and three full points behind their closest neighbor, Town faces the desperation of surviving in the Premiership, yet again.

The last game preview stated that the Ipswich problems could be narrowed down to injuries and the inability to field a consistent starting XI. This game preview states that the problems at Ipswich can be narrowed down to injuries and the inability to field a consistant starting XI. When Town was placing the same players on the pitch they rattled off 7 wins. Suddenly the injuries hit again and they are right back to the bottom. Chris Makin and Jermaine Wright are out for this Saturaday and it appears Matteo Sereni, Towns talented keeper, and Pablo Counago are also out. Peralta and Mark Venus are probable and Richard Naylor, the out of form striker on loan to Barnsley, looks to be on his way back to the team.

All these injuries may make one forget that Town still possess one of the most talented strikers in England, in Marcus Bent. The 3 million pound signing came from Blackburn in November 2001. In this short time he has scored 9 goals and taken over the lead as Towns top scorer. Hes tall, quick and strong, able to score in the air and dazzle with his feet.

George Burley has been the manager at Ipswich Town for a long time despite their roller coaster ride with the top division. Despite his calm, reserve nature he can motivate is side especially when the darkness approaches. Though the fear of relegation should be its own motivation be prepared to see an Ipswich side that does not give up and fights to the very last.

“

EINY Checks In

Apr 18, 2002 by

“EINY on recent happening at Spurs and memories of a Highbury Hero…

It seems like anything I would have said about the clowns from the wrong end of the 7 Sisters rd. was said ever so eloquently by the editor so a huge “”kudos”" to him on that front!;) Funny how a club with NO WAY of making European football plans would try andweasel their way abroad by getting a travel agency no less to sponsor them. What a laugh… and they’ve gone and signed a crocked scouser too.

On to more serious matters, it has come to my attention that Bob Wilson will be leaving the Arsenal after more than 38 years of service to the club soon. Here is a man who was an integral part of Arsenal’s double and subsequent FA Cup runs in the early ’70′sand also their Fairs (UEFA) Cup team of 1970. He’s been the goalkeeper trainer for quite a while at Arsenal after his playing days and recently started up a charity fund in the honor of his late daughter. Hopefully David Seaman will follow in this man’sfootsteps after his playing career is over at Highbury and try to pass down the knowledge that this man has shown to himself, Lukic, Taylor, Wright, Manninger andvarious others who have donned the goalie shirt for the Gunners. A man who will truly be missed around Highbury and one hell of a goalkeeper in his day to boot! Long may his knowledge between the posts be passed down at Arsenal and may we all pause for a second and be thankful for his contributions to the Gunners…”