This Sunday sees Watford on TV for the first time this season as they entertain those ever popular Stripey Nigel's from South London, Crystal Palace. An excellent start to the season for Watford has seen them gain maximum points from their two games with wins against Brighton and Burnley, both wins thoroughly deserved and it has certainly change the mind of a few fans who thought Watford were destined for the drop this season. It is only two games though and West Brom also won their first two games last season including away at Burnley but confidence will surely be high. Home games against Spurs and Man Utd follow after this and while you can never write off those games as no chance, as proved in previous seasons, Palace does represent the best chance of maximum points over the next 3 games. Still waiting on injury news from the club and suspect we may wait a lot longer but Delefeou should be nearing fitness and may well be in the squad but Cleverley is out for while yet and they are clearly taking no risks with Chalobah who I suspect may be seen after the first international break. Very likely to be the same starting line up as against Burnley Crystal Palace started the season with a very good win against big spending Fulham at Craven Cottage but were then comfortably beaten by Liverpool on Monday where they also had Aaron Wan-Bissaka sent off and he will now miss this game on Sunday. Quite a few new faces in the Palace squad this season, but like Brighton, they seem to want to introduce them slowly rather than all together in one big hit. On the bench Monday was the highly rated Max Meyer, Kouyate, Guaita, Sorloth and Ayew all of which could push for a starting place on Sunday. Palace will probably play with a fair bit of width with Townsend, Schlupp and Van Aanholt all looking at providing assists for Oddly Shaped Head boy Benteke and Tom Daley, sorry Zaha upfront. Zaha normally plays well against Watford, probably due in part to the abuse he receives from the stands, but was quiet in the last meeting so he's probably due a good performance. As always, stop Zaha and you're probably 75% there in getting a result Previous meetings There have been some painful memories for Watford over recent years with defeats in the Play Off Final and the FA Cup more painful than most, but also conceding two in the last few minutes at Selhurst Park last season was tough one to take and it was the time where many started to question Silva. In fact over time it has been fairly even with Palace just holding the upper hand Games won (Palace): 49 Games drawn: 27 Games won (Watford): 41 The more recent record definitely favours the Sarf Londoners though and they have lost just twice to Watford since 2009, including the first ever Pozzo game where Watford were introduced to the likes of Abdi and Vydra. Before 2009 it was a lot more even though and in fact Watford caused Palace a painful memory in the 2006 Play off Semi Final where Watford won 3-0 at Selhurst Park (one of my favourite days out at football ever). Foster being the only survivor from that day actually produce an assist for Marlon King. Another tight game is likely with both sides looking at the game as being very winnable but a draw wouldn't be that bad for either team but the emphasis is probably on the home team to push for the win and give Watford a 100% start to the season. Not sure many would have predicted that 2 weeks ago Prediction 2-1 Watford
Good to see Wan Bissaka not available - his electric pace would have caused our attackers some problems, but now they have a fairly ponderous-looking defence. Very hopeful of continuing our 100% record as I believe we have a slight edge overall. That said, Zaha always causes problems - honestly thought he'd have been hoovered up by a 'bigger' club over the summer, but it's great to see a bit of loyalty/Palace refusing to buckle, whichever was the case.
Looking forward to this, bank holiday weekend so no worries about work the day after. Will be another piss easy win for the lads, probably 3-1 maybe even 4 or 5 if we go all out - more risk of conceding another though so I'll take a comfortable 3-1. I recon we'll see at least 3 or 4 dives from Zaha and the Palace fans will sing something along the lines of 'we always get **** refs etc.' Looking forward to an actual challenge when we meet Spurs/Utd. I didn't read the write up but I'll give it a like anyway.
Palace fans will have to find different ways to come as Euston station is closed all weekend.. Shame.
Looking forward to this as it is an early opportunity to start booing Zaha. He makes my short-list of opposing players I detest. Mainly because he usually rips us apart.
Great for Palace that they’ve re-signed Zaha; it’s the equivalent of us keeping Doucoure. I really think the penny is starting to drop with these players that if they push for a move to one of the ‘big six’ then they can end up only playing in the odd cup tie. So their only other alternative is to enter the twilight world that is Everton or similar.
'The Bassett Derby'. Mr IBB is always so damned reasonable and sympathetic as 'VCW'* wins yet another penalty and flashes his implausibly white teeth at the baying frenzy of The Rookery. They always seem to beat us and I fear the constant abuse that VCW receives only helps their cause. I shall be clapping him politely and saying 'jolly well played' as he skips past 27 challenges to score yet again. Please,please oh football gods,look kindly on my team this Sunday. *VCW - Vertically Challenged Wilf.
I fancied our chances last week and wasn't disappointed, I reckon we can keep our 100% start up with another win here as long as we keep Zaha quiet. I'd put Kiko in at rb as we all know Janmatt can be a liability but I wouldn't of started the Greek at lb and look at him so far. Hopefully Troy has another great game and we may just edge it with home advantage. I'll predict a 2-1 the orns but would be happy with a point.
3-2 close one, but we will continue our scoring knack Janmat Coupoue Gray to score VCW (see above) to score 2 before someone politely but forcibly tackles him so hard he doesn’t wake up until bank holiday Monday
I hope their funny jumpy up and down in black shirts,recently dispersed from the corner of the Holmesdale End men don't do to the SGT statue what they did to their own coach?
Superb write up by Knight GT. This Sunday has got draw written all over it. If we win this could be the start of something beautiful.
Result will all depend on whether the ref allows himself to get conned with Zaha's continual diving. If he does, Palace will win 3-2.
2-0 Watford. Deeney and Gray. Hughes sent of for second yellow in 83rd minute , but we comfortably hold on to go joint top . EDIT just realised we need to win by 4 to go joint top so I revise my score to 4-0 Deeney 2, Gray 1 and Capoue 1
There will only EVER be one vertically challenged Wilf, and he was a giant of a man at 5 foot 3 in his Watford socks and honkey afro. And Roger Milford is a ****.
My analysis is that Palarse don’t like it up ‘em. All quick on the break but ponderous at the back. Against Liverpool, Sakho was repeatedly re-enacting Custer’s Last Stand. Deoffelu?
What a shame Marlon King turned out to be a complete arse; he was absolutely brilliant that season. As for Sunday - surely we're due a home win over this mob by now? If we can beat Burnley at Turf Moor, we can beat these at the Vic. 0-2 Palace then...........