TWTD understands that Town and Norwich City are in advanced talks regarding a friendly at Carrow Road during pre-season. Rumours regarding a friendly between the two clubs have been circulating for a number of weeks.

The proposed game, which is yet to be confirmed by either club, looks set to be arranged for late July after the Canaries have returned from their pre-season trip to the USA.

In recent years East Anglian derbies have usually been played on Sundays with lunchtime kick-offs and, if the match is confirmed, the same is likely to be the case this time around with Sunday 28th July appearing the most likely date for the game to take place.

A friendly between the Blues and the Canaries was at one time a regular feature of the clubs’ pre-season preparations with trophies such as the Wilhire Cup and the Hospital Cup the prize for the winners.

Meanwhile, reported Town target Murray Davidson is set to join Rangers following his St Johnstone exit, according to the Scottish media.

Photo: Action Images

flashblue added 18:23 - May 28 I understand this match is to be televised live as part of the deal.
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carloss added 18:33 - May 28 Dear me the news gets worse.
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HarryfromBath added 18:39 - May 28 Had a quick gander and the Pink 'Un and WotB to gauge the mood with the Budgies. Apart from the usual loadsamoney nonsense, a few of them are worried on two fronts. Firstly, they are worried that a full blooded 'friendly' could see a number of their players injured for the start of the campaign. Dark concerns were been muttered about Ricky doing his cruciate ligament, for example. Secondly, the game will be immediately before our first league game, but three weeks from the start of the Premiership, so we will have a substantial fitness advantage. This could shape the result and heighten the injury risk to their players. For what it is worth, I want the game to happen. Much of the talk over there was of their 5-1 win, and how much they had improved since then. For such close rivals, they are actually quite unaware of how much we have improved under Mick.

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tractorboybig added 19:05 - May 28 A good idea, a reality check to bring us down to the real world.
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Taricco_Fan added 19:20 - May 28 No thanks. These derby games should always be competitive. I'd rather wait until the next time we meet in the league or cup, then it really means something.
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runningout added 19:30 - May 28 Carloss.. you sound defeatist! you know ITFC are the only real deal in our region
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Morgan added 19:51 - May 28 I'm firmly in the 'no thanks' camp. I don't see why we should devalue our derby by making it a preseason friendly. It will dilute the atmosphere. Maybe it worked in the past but not now, things are different. I'm hoping for an FA cup tie with them not a friendly.
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clive_baker added 19:54 - May 28 Can you imagine the reaction if Clegg had've suggested this? Not keen on this as a fixture though. As others have said these games should always have something at stake and a buzzing atmosphere. Not a meaningless pre season game engineered in an attempt to get a few thousand more fans inside the ground than they would otherwise. No thanks, will wait til the FA Cup meeting later in the season please.

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Talbs77 added 19:56 - May 28 Whats wrong with you guys, gods sake its the chance of a local derby, to get one over on them, bring it on I say!!!
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RetroBlue added 20:04 - May 28 Two points: 1. To the players this would be "just another game"...and one "not to get injured in" just before the real ko. 2. I personally wouldnt be going and wont be giving scum , MY money. Its a meaningless game , (costing a fortune in policing) and would no doubt fuel their self proclaimed feelings of grandeur and would undoubtedly be given a very high profile on About Scumville or BBC Scumville should they beat us. Overall, they can shove their "friendly" where the sun doesn't shine.

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Keaneish added 20:20 - May 28 Personally I'd be up for getting West Ham, Colchester And Norwich all involved in a regular pre-season tournament. The more competitive the pre-season friendliest the better. How many times have we hit the ground running at the start if each new season in the last ten years...? Bring on the budgies.
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Wickets added 20:35 - May 28 WAT no friendly at Cambridge? WHY.
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theobald1985 added 20:36 - May 28 totally agree with Morgan it would de-value it. can u imagine other great rivals doing this? there are so many options we dont need it. having said that i would still go
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Wickets added 20:37 - May 28 clive baker who's this Clegg bloke!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 20:52 - May 28 For those of you too young to remember, we used to play the scummers nigh on every pre season, so bring it on. There is always an element of tension in these fixtures regardless of wether a "friendly" or league/cup match. I can remember winning the Hospital cup at Carrot road, our fans outnumbering theirs when they were a league above us, it set our season up nicely, think we won the old div 2, & really p###ed off the locals too.

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bluemikey100 added 21:09 - May 28 is this game really gonna happen or is it all rumours
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BigAlwasmyhero added 21:15 - May 28 I find it hard to understand why so many are against this match. What a fantastic chance to see exactly where we stand before the season starts. We have nothing to loose apart from a bit of pride which we have all become accustomed to over the last few years any way! Bring it on....
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TractorBeezer added 21:45 - May 28 Let's do it
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Gogs added 22:19 - May 28 I'll take it. Rivalries aside, look at it purely from a pre-season friendly point of view: likely to be the best opposition we play in pre-season, would we get a cut of what would undoubtedly be the best pre-season gate receipts too? Likely to be feistier than the average pre-season game too, and also, like it or not, it could still be years before we play them again in the league and it may well give some fans who can't normally get a ticket for Carrot Road games the chance to see us up there. I'd go up there, then have the rest of the day on the lash, cracking pubs there.

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fifeblue added 22:23 - May 28 There is no such thing as a friendly match between Ipswich Town and Norwich City.
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bluemingood added 23:00 - May 28 I love intelligence! Bring it on.
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iTFC4LiFE99 added 01:25 - May 29 Yes, would love to see tommy and chambo show HOLT what it's really like to get fouled..
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Michael11 added 10:26 - May 29 I just don't think it makes sense. This is the first time in years a lot of us fans have faith in the manager to have a really good season. So say we go there and lose 4-0, it already puts the players under huge pressure to make it up to the fans in the first few games of the season and the whole place will feel deflated before a ball has been kicked!!
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LankHenners added 10:30 - May 29 I too am voting "no thank you" to this as it does de-value the match somewhat and realistically our chances of winning at their place are slim. I would prefer a match against West Ham like we normally have as it is a) a good test b) they are almost literally just down the A12 so it's not too hard for fans to go there or come here c) because of their location it is seen as a loose rivalry and d) we have a good record against them in recent years(!).

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cleggo added 12:07 - May 29 I personally feel as though a 'friendly' would really undermine the rivalry we have.
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