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Dyer: McGoldrick Could Play Crucial Role
Wednesday, 13th May 2015 17:50

Former Blue Kieron Dyer says returning striker David McGoldrick could have a vital part to play when Town visit Norwich for the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Saturday (KO 12.15pm). Dyer is still predicting that both legs will end in draws and that it will take a penalty shoot-out for the Blues to win a place in the final at Wembley on May 25th.

Dyer, 36, was amongst a host of ex-players at the first leg, which finished 1-1, and when speaking to TWTD prior to the match predicted a draw.

“It went exactly how I thought it would,” he said. “There were spells where it looked like Norwich were the better team, but when we turned the game into a fight and made it scrappy and played at high intensity we looked really dangerous.

“I fancied a draw in both legs and it looks like we’re well on the way to getting those results. I still fancy penalties!

“I was very surprised to see Graham Dorrans play instead of Wes Hoolahan for Norwich and I think maybe he’ll come in for them in the home leg. I thought he made a difference when he came on as sub. He’s got that playmaking ability.”

Dyer was delighted to see McGoldrick take a place on the bench having been out of action since the trip to Rotherham at the start of February due to a recurrent thigh problem.

“What was very pleasing for us was seeing David McGoldrick on the bench,” he added. “Obviously we didn’t need him because we weren’t behind at any stage, but maybe it would have been nice for him to get a run-out just to give him a bit of match fitness.

“But it looks like he’ll be getting another week’s training so I’m sure he’ll feature in the second leg.


“He can be a big plus for us. I know he’s missed a lot of football but when you come back from long injuries the first couple of games you can get through just on adrenaline. You find it hits you in the third, fourth or fifth game.

“If he features at some stage I don’t think lack of match fitness will play too much of a part because I’m sure his adrenaline will be super high for that game.”

Manager Mick McCarthy has said McGoldrick is probably only up to playing around 20 minutes at present but Dyer says the Irish international is capable of making an impact even in such a relatively short time on the field.

“There were spells, especially in the second half, when Norwich started to dominate possession, it just needed someone who could get their foot on the ball for us,” the former England midfielder continued.

“The ball was like a hot potato, we’d attack, lose it straight away, then Norwich would have it for 30 or 40 passes, then we’d only have it for three or four.

“From that point of view he’s got that bit of class where he can slow the game down and I think he’s going to be crucial.

“If you look at the game, even though Norwich had better spells, I think we had the better clear-cut chances. Freddie Sears had the shot when John Ruddy made the great double save and then he had the free header in the second half as well.”

Overall, he was delighted with the result: “If you’d have given me one-all before the game, I’d have taken it.

“All the pressure’s going to be on Norwich now in front of their home crowd. They’ve got to win and I think that’s going to play into our hands.

“Last month when Middlesbrough went up there and Norwich had to win the game, they put in a very edgy display and Middlesbrough nicked it 1-0. I can see us going there and doing a Middlesbrough.

“We’re very hard to beat, are going to frustrate them and then with our strikers we’re always capable of scoring.

“In the first leg we played only Daryl Murphy up front and put Freddie out wide, which was probably the right way to go. I think the gaffer did his homework because we said before the game that where Norwich are so strong is their midfield.

“He obviously didn’t want to get overrun in there so he maybe sacrificed a bit of firepower up front to load up the midfield and it worked.


Dyer celebrates his second goal in the second leg of the 1998/99 play-off at home to Bolton

“I know Jonny Howson scored a great goal, he’s very good at his third man runs but over the 90 minutes I thought Cole Skuse was probably our best player, he did a great job in there. He’ll have a massive role to play again.

“I like Kevin Bru as well, I think those two and Teddy Bishop are probably our strongest three in midfield. So, even though it was disappointing that Freddie was out wide, I could totally understand why because we probably got to play our strongest midfield.”

Ipswich-born Dyer expects Brentford to prevail over his former club Boro in the other game despite being 2-1 behind from their home first leg - “I fancy Brentford to go through, I’ve got this funny feeling. I thought they played really well in that first game” - when he believes they will then meet the Blues at Wembley.

He’s sticking with his predictions prior to the first leg, even if he has been told his prediction of Teddy Bishop netting the vital spotkick is unlikely.

“After I said that [U16s academy coach] Liam Manning said it was a great prediction but that Teddy’s only played the full 90 minutes about once in his whole Town career.

“He’s usually one of the first substituted, so for him to play 90 minutes and then extra-time in such a high intensity game would be a surprise.

“But I did predict it from the start, so I have to stick with it now. I still do fancy penalties and us to win on penalties!”


Photo: Action Images



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Fat_Boy_Tim added 18:06 - May 13
A Town v Brentford final would probably be the highest calorie burning game in history! If anyone saw the first leg of thier tie they'd understand why. Town are the only other side I've seen to match that work ethic this season.
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muccletonjoe added 18:18 - May 13
I don't think it will go to pens or extra time for that matter. It will be sorted one way or another after 90mins
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BlueMachines added 18:35 - May 13
I can't see DMcG being the difference tbh. I remember when Johnny Williams returned after his injury earlier this year he was hailed as the best thing we'd see this season. But he simply wasn't fit enough to have an impact. Whilst class is permanent I can't see DMcG being fit enough to be a positive influence. Hopefully we won't need him, but if we do I hope I am proved wrong and he becomes a derby hero!!
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Len_Brennan added 18:40 - May 13
Good stuff from Kieron. I see him having a successful career as a tv and/or radio Analyst.
I hope his predictions are good too.
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Michael11 added 19:07 - May 13
I'd like to see Kieron step up to manage the U21 team. He can't be any worse than Mark Kennedy. I think he's right in predicting that we'll aim to play the same way as Middlesbrough did. We'll soak up the pressure, get their fans on their back and try hit them with a sucker punch. I just pray to god we can execute it!
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truckertractorboy added 19:08 - May 13
Can only hope
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jas0999 added 19:53 - May 13
I can't see penalties. Either we will get overrun in the midfield and lose, or hold our own and win it with a break away goal. Obviously I hope it's the latter.
5

ArnieM added 19:54 - May 13
McG simply usnt natch fit enough. So sorry cant much impact from him In a 100 miles an hour , no holds barred, physical derby game. I doubt he'd last 5mins before a scum player cythed him down.
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TimmyH added 20:37 - May 13
Since when has Keiron been a forecast expert?...just his opinion no better than anybody else. Agree with jas0999...that's how I see it as well, Norwich will have far the more possession, it's what they do with it what will really count - our game will be to by and large nullify it.
As for McG - he really can't be anywhere near match fit, might be good for 10 minutes.
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rfretwell added 21:07 - May 13
Sorry to disagree Kieron, Didsy was way off match sharpness when he came back from his previous long injury. Carrut Rud is going to be a furnace. Mick wont risk him for even 10 minutes imo. Perhaps he needs more time than you did to get that sharpness back. Also Brentford to beat Mboro?! Unlikely now given Boros so solid defence. They missed their chance at home (just like we may have done). COYB though!
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RaymondovicBlue added 21:13 - May 13
KD is right - we didn't play him as we weren't chasing the game with 15 to go. If we are ... (we all hope we aren't!) ... then who else is there to bring on to change things? Impact subs have been our weakness this season (lack of them) so if we need a goal then I'd bring DMG on to try it ....

(Before you say - yes, I KNOW that Ando came on and scored, but he's still not the "rip them up" sub nor was he massively different to Reg's play before his horrible injury.)

NEXT year I also think that Connolly will be a regular bench warmer - and will play a part as a super sub .. if he works hard and continues to learn - his genuine pace will be a fresh approach for us.

That said - if we go up then he might have to wait a couple more years to make way for Prem players ... whoever they might be. Let's discuss that again once this exciting season is over ....COYB !!!!
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elalaer9 added 22:35 - May 13
Yeah you're right, no impact sub had made an impression once this season....cough cough Hunt...cough cough Sears...cough cough Chaplow....to name 3
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runningout added 22:37 - May 13
will be a lottery on saturday... :-)
1

Warkys_Tash added 23:47 - May 13
Return of the Mac? Lets hope so. Kieron is correct we may need MacG to his foot on the ball in the latter stages of the 2nd half, especially if it slows down like it did on Sat. Thats was an indela pace for him to come on in the last 20mins.. just like Hoolahoop did.. hope they play Dorrans but dont think they will.

Pray MM goes 4-5-1/4-3-3 again otherwise we will get overrun with a flat 4-4-2 and be dusted.
2

Warkys_Tash added 23:48 - May 13
@TWTD Phil - Any chance you can move up the add comment button please? Since the explosion of adverts on this site, its almost impossible to add comment.. :-(
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RaymondovicBlue added 00:17 - May 14
Elalaer .... I've up voted you. You are right that we have had players who have had an impact.... I used Ando on Satisfy as my example and you have used others. But how often have they changed games when they've come on? More often the subs are "like for like" .... Or deliberately used to secure the current scoreline not secure now goals . Who else have we consistently had who defences think "oh flip now we're in trouble" when they see them striping off ?

I hope we can agree that we've done brilliant to get where we are.... and hope we can go even better!!! ..... Not least because we have achieved all this with less of a squad that we would have chosen.

I wasn't criticising..... Was merely commenting on the youngster who will give us another option that we've not seen this year.... Electric pace.

Agreed?
1

battyblue added 07:29 - May 14
How are we supposed to get to penalty's with our style of play strikers and midfield are knackered with fifteen/twenty minutes left and just hanging on i hope MM do the right thing i am not sure he did last Saturday second half but we will just have to trust that he really really wants to get promotion this season.
1

BackTheBlues added 09:11 - May 14
Not sure what everyone's problem is with Didz...
I agree, I think he will definitely get 20minutes on Saturday and he is our technically most gifted player... He'll either have a great chance or he'll play Murph in one of them slide rule passes!
There's not alot of negativity here but everyone is expecting us to lose - we need to #BELIEVE more
2

commuterblue added 09:19 - May 14
not what you meant battyblue, but that Ambrose header was outrageous
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commuterblue added 09:21 - May 14
sorry my previous comment was relating to a comment talking about ambrose. but that now seems to have disappeared...
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Razor added 10:21 - May 14
Dont think iot will make penalties----defend like we did at Watford, bring Didds on with 15 to go and he knocks in winner----SWEET!!
2

Palestine added 12:04 - May 14
So -
Norwich weren't amazing in the first leg, but when we got to the stage in the game when we basically shut down, couldn't pass, couldn't attack, and let them play and come at us, they looked q good, and we looked more vulnerable. When Ipswich play like this it seems like a matter of time before they concede (ref. Bournemouth at home). If we remain with a positive intent throughout I see no reason why we can't sneak this, as, as so many have said, we have huge attacking threat, and Sears is definitely due a goal/finish.

Agree that we will be too knackered to take it to pens if we've stopped playing by 70 mins and have to chase for 50 more. Would like to see Mings do a bit more going forward, sometimes take on his man, try to get the cross rather than always the safe option. Little things like that can make a difference.

I can't beleive it but we actually have a very reasonable chance of getting a result. Roll on Sat!
3

unknown100 added 12:18 - May 14
He'll only come on if we are losing by 2 goals, can't risk putting him on last 5 at 1-0, getting an equaliser and then him having to play half hour extra time, sorry mcgoldrick just too late, that if he is injured at all
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bugledog123 added 12:21 - May 14
I'd love to see him come on - he's class and could change the game.

COYB!
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