HORSES for courses and happy hunting grounds are common sayings among footballers and football teams.
Getting stuck in - a typical sight for U's fans as Kemal Izzet pulls no punches in a pre-season friendly against rivals Ipswich Town. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (44283-9)
But when Colchester United favourite Kemal Izzet runs out at Blackpool's greatly enhanced Bloomfield Road ground on Sunday afternoon those familiar old sayings will not ring more true.
Izzet, happily restored to full fitness after a couple of seasons of injury hell, has registered some of his best performances on the Tangerines' home turf.
And he has weighed in with a couple of goals as well.
"It's true what they say," the hard running, tough-tackling former Charlton Athletic midfield dynamo told the Gazette.
"Some grounds are lucky for us footballers and although we've not achieved the end result we would always like at Blackpool I've played some of my best games up there and capped them with the odd goal."
Izzet was on target in two of the last three outings to the Lancashire seaside town, but it is 22 years since the U's last won up there.
"It's about time we put that right," said Izett. "And looking at our respective positions in the table - the U's are 16th and Blackpool 19th - we might not get a better chance. tight
"In fact I was looking at our forthcoming fixtures earlier this week and thought to myself there's a load of games there from which we should be taking a lot of points.
"The league is so tight at the moment, only four points seperating the play-off places from the relegation zone.
"It would be great to kick-off a run at Blackpool that would take us where we belong - right up there in the top half of the table.
"I would love to be looking at a top-eight berth by Christmas and a few good results would take us to that goal.
"From there we could have a right old go at gaining promotion and we have the quality in the side to do it."
But, as Izzet pointed out, he and his team-mates need a change of luck in front of goal if that is to happen.
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