A bit about you
Name: Ian Russell
Current home town: Leigh-on-sea, Essex Birthplace: Southend-on-sea, Essex
How long have you supported your team? Over 30 years
Overview of your club:
We are very fortunate to have few teams in the area and we enjoy incredible support – 20,000 season ticket holders and Carrow Road rarely has many empty seats. Known as a ‘family’ club and rightly so – the board are quite uniquely close to the supporters. The Norfolk public like to see good football and, traditionally down the years, Norwich has been known for their passing teams.
Favourite thing about your home ground: Always a good atmosphere at Carrow Road. I love to see the yellow and green all around the ground.
Favourite match played by your team & why: Difficult to say because there’s probably been a few. I was only 12, but was at the Milk Cup Final in ’85 (1-0 winners over Sunderland) and that naturally sticks in the memory. We had a great game at home to Middlesbrough (last time in the Premier League – ‘04/’05) where we came back to draw 4-4. A 5-0 win away at Colchester last season was pretty satisfying also.
Favourite player of all time who played for your club: When I was growing up I was a big fan of goalkeeper, Chris Woods. In recent times, it’s often been great to watch Darren Huckerby of course.
About our forthcoming match against you:
With 11 games to go, Paul Lambert will know how many games we need to win to secure that precious 2nd spot. This game at Leicester is probably amongst the four toughest remaining and so anything from the game will probably be seen as a bonus. The team has proved to be a tough team to beat and go into every game with confidence…..
Your favourite current player in your squad and why? Andrew Crofts, a summer free transfer from Brighton, has been outstanding. A box to box player with a massive engine and an eye for goal, Crofts will be favourite for player of the season in his first year at Carrow Road.
Player in your squad we should most fear and why? Grant Holt is ever a threat and a nuisance for any back four and continues to be a big player for Lambert. On his day, Wes Hoolahan can be a menace and has a gift for unlocking defences. After a penalty miss in Saturday’s home match with Preston, Wes will be desperate to make amends as quickly as possible.
Player in our squad you most fear and why? I can’t say I’ve seen much of Leicester since Sven’s been in charge. However, I know Andy King, Yakubu and Vassell and so they are three players to be wary of. All have an eye for goal and, in Yakubu and Vassell, there is plenty of top flight experience to be called upon. Richie Wellens has plenty of pedigree and is a decent player at this level.
Up and coming prospect in your squad? We have a few. Chris Martin has bags of ability and is a confident player full of goals. Korey Smith was a regular in last season’s promotion campaign and is an excellent talent for such a young man. Declan Rudd, who is a goalkeeper and yet to break into the first team as a regular, has represented England at various age groups and has a bright future as another Norwich goalie to make the grade at the top level.
Where do you think you'll finish this season? It’s been a terrific season and Lambert has managed to keep the team on the crest of the same wave which saw us win promotion last term. A play off appears to be a certainty, but most City fans are quietly expecting us to grab the 2nd automatic spot and I think the squad has what it takes for a second successive promotion.
How do you think you'll do against us? I think this is a tough match for us and would be very happy to take a point back to Norfolk.
Any other comments Pleased to see Leicester apparently back on an even keel and back at the right end of the Championship table. A few weeks back, we would all see Leicester quietly moving up towards the play offs. I have a feeling it may be a little too late to push into the top six, but a couple of wins on the spin will not hurt. Failing a play off spot this year, I fancy Leicester to be one of the favourites for promotion next season.