The Opposition View: Shrewsbury

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 29/09/2005

TOWN will hoping to keep their unbeaten run going following the trip to Shrewsbury, who have got off to as good start with 16 points from their first 11 games. Rob Sedgwick caught up with Anthony Thomas to find out the Shrews' view of Saturday's encounter at Gay Meadow.

Are you pleased with the start Shrewsbury have made to the season?

Absolutely delighted. This season was meant to be one of consolidation so to be mid-table at such an early stage with a brand new squad is excellent.

Do you think Shrewsbury's ambitions can extend beyond just staying in the Football League?

Certainly. Before 1997 we'd never spent longer than one season in the bottom division of the Football League so the last few years have been very dissapointing. We now have a very young squad who will only get better, a board who keep our finances balanced and decent attendances.

Is your manager Gary Peters (top) well regarded by the Shrews faithful?

He's very highly regarded at the club and also with the fans of every club he's previously been at.

What sort of formation/tactics can we expect?

4-5-1/ 4-3-3 - whatever you like to call it. This will be a flat back four with Neil Sorvel (left) just sitting in front of the defence. Two additional central midfielders buzzing around and two wide players, potentially additional strikers, playing as midfielders when defending and strikers when attacking.

Do you think your squad is stronger or weaker than last season?

Stronger.

What lessons can you learn from last season?

Jimmy Quinn is not an adequate football league manager.

What players should we look out for?

Goalkeeper Joe Hart (right). A tremendous talent who is only 18 years old.

Which of the teams you've played so far his impressed the most?

Wycombe Wanderers were the only real side who worried me and they really should have defeated us. Rochdale, as they do nearly every year, look solid.

What are your abiding memories of last season's Grimsby/Shrewsbury games?

Naturally Jake Sedgemore's free-kick that won us the game at Grimsby. The game at Gay Meadow was poor.

Who are your biggest rivals in this division?

Wrexham. And also a mention to Chester City

Finally, a scoreline prediction?

0-0 please :-)

Thanks to Shrews' fan Anthony Thomas of shrewsburytown.rivals.net/ for the interview.

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