Linfield 1 Glenavon 0

IPL Matchday 25, Tuesday 25th January 2010, Windsor Park
Scorer: Michael Gault
Attendance: 1410

Match highlights (UTV)

Notes:
- Blues play poorly and win, sign of champions
- Blues go 12 clear (Crues won)
- Gault on fire at the moment
- Terrible crowd by all accounts

Table:

1 Linfield 25 55
2 Crusaders 25 43
3 Glentoran 23 41

Cliftonville 2 Linfield 4

IPL Matchday 24, Saturday 22nd January 2011, Solitude

Scorers: Lowry, Thompson 2, Kane
Attendance: 1737 (575 Bluemen)

Match highlights (BBC)

Match report and photos (Analogue Boy, ie ABIADW)

A great win, long overdue up there, about time we won on a 3G pitch and which puts us 11 clear, what with the Glens match being postponed. Although judging by this picture, maybe ours should have been abandoned too.



Table:

1 Linfield 24 52
2 Glentoran 23 41
3 Cliftonville 24 40

Linfield 2 Glentoran 1

IPL Matchday 23 (not really, rearranged from 27/12), Tuesday 18th January, Windsor Park

Scorers: Thompson, McAllister
Attendance: 5177

Match highlights (UTV)

Notes:
- Blues go 8 clear despite poor performance
- Jeffrey with usual bizarro starting 11 (Winkie? Curran?), subs (Garrett off?) and negative holding-on tactics
- Thompo's 1st league goal vs Glens at Windsor, Mac's 1st goal vs Glens
- Match braodcast live on BBc internet, Chris Morgan a good knowledgeable summariser

Table:

1 Linfield 23 49
2 Glentoran 23 41
3 Cliftonville 23 40
4 Crusaders 24 40

Tomelty Transfer Request Granted; Transfer rumours

DJ - Jamie Tomelty transfer request granted

Tbh I've seen very little of him, though I'm reliably informed he is infuriatingly inconsistent; is played out of position at LM; and apparently doesn't see eye-to-eye with DJ. It seems being dropped for an Irish Cup match against junior opposition is the final straw. Another 10k wasted; he will surely be remembered for this screamer against the Glens at the Oval.

In other news, Blues linked with Sean Ward of the Glens and Donnelly of Crusaders. We don't need the former, he wouldn't come anyway, and I'm not convinced by the latter.

Linfield 5 Institute 1

Irish Cup 5th Round, Saturday 15th January 2011, Windsor Park

Scorers: Lowry 4, Kane
Attendance:

Match highlights (bbc)

Next round: away to either Kilmore Rec or Dunmurry Rec.

NB Winkie was captain and was brought off near the end, the manner of which (big hug from DJ etc) suggesting to many fans that it was his farewell.

Jeffrey agrees new Blues deal

Jeffrey agrees new Blues deal

MANAGER David Jeffrey has agreed an extended contract with Linfield.
Now in his 14th year at the club, Jeffrey signed a new one year 'rolling contract' which will keep him at Windsor Park until the summer of 2012.

The arrangement will kick-in with immediate affect – replacing his current deal.

"I'm thrilled to have the contract issued settled – and delighted with the terms and conditions," said Jeffrey.

"I appreciate they way the team committee – Paul Weir, Jim Kerr, Jack
Grundie, Richard Johnston and Billy Kennedy, conducted the business.

"It means I can now concentrate on on-field matters. I've been at the club for 14 years and have enjoyed every minute of it.

"Although I've been blessed with great success, you can never afford to
rest on your laurels.

"I've have good people around me – the players; backroom staff; the board and, of course, the supporters.

"I'm as hungry as ever. My focus now is on the Irish Cup tie against Institute on Saturday."

A massive favourite with the fans, Jeffrey has won the league title on seven occasions – and also hoisted the Irish Cup five times.

Linfeld, of course, are the only Irish League club to have won the Setanta Cup – their success back in 2005 is one of Jeffrey's many memorable achievements.

"We are delighted the talks, that have been on-going, have proved productive," said a Linfeld source.

"David is not only the manger but probably the club's top supporter – a
dyed in wool Blueman. He was happy with the new arrangement and a new
one year rolling deal."

Jeffrey has led the club to four domestic league and cup doubles over the past five seasons – and has bagged 22 trophies overall in his 14 years at Windsor Park.

The Blues are currently fve points clear in the Carling Premier League title race. The Gibson Cup is again the priority as the club celebrates its 125 anniversary this season.

Good:

- It gives the club continuity
- he can't blackmail the club in an underhand fashion as he did in 2008, if the club ever brings itself to sack him, the most they need to pay is 1 year of a contract

Bad:

- we may still be top of the league, but our form is stinking, and it looks like a reward for mediocrity and being ever-so-slightly better than the rank bad Glens in 2nd
- Linfield FC clearly have 1 rule for the manager and 1 rule for the players. Why can't we treat our players' contracts in the same fashion?

Addis off on loan to Whites

Linfield keeper Stuart Addis joins Distillery on loan

Lisburn Distillery have signed goalkeeper Stuart Addis on loan from Linfield until the end of the season.

No great loss were it not for the fact that it leaves us dangerously short of cover in the event of Blayney getting injured. AFAIK, we only have 18 year-old rookie keepers in reserve now. Either DJ is getting another loan keeper in, or this is a poor move. It's not as if Addis is going to get on ahead of Matthews at Distillery when fit anyway.