We can do it?

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Optimistichornet, May 15, 2019.

  1. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    Like many on this forum I was born in Watford General. On Friday 7th April 1989 at 7pm I came into the world, and the next day Watford beat Bournemouth 1-0 away from home. I was still in hospital on the following Tuesday when Stoke City came to town and Watford narrowly won 3-2. In fact initially my dad was convinced I was a good luck charm, as after my birth we went on a 6 game unbeaten run(5w/1d). In the end that season we lost in the playoffs to Blackburn, who were ultimately beaten by Palace.

    I attended my first game in 1994/95, an absolutely riveting 0-0 home draw at home to Grimsby in the accompaniment of 6324 other fans. I believe initially the only reason I agreed to go to games with Dad was the knowledge I could get a bag of sweets from the cornershop at the end of Vicarage Road next to the cemetery. However, over the next few years my dads persistence paid off, and bar a one-off peer pressured visit to Spurs in my fourth year of school, I found that I had begun to look forward to and enjoy the visits to Vicarage Road. My the summer of '98 I was of course addicted. Amongst my many memories I will always remember:

    - Not being tall enough to see over the people in front at Wembley in '99 when Allan Smart hammered that shot into the bottom corner

    - Getting hammered week in week out in the Premier League

    - The galling site of Ramon Vega trundling back to halfheartedly make an attempt to tackle the following season

    - Having no money but lots of heart under Ray Lewington

    - Crying when Heidar Helguson left for Fulham

    - Watching Ashley Young bend it like Beckham at Selhurst Park

    - Being terrified at the prospect of administration

    - Crying when Heidar came home and celebrated in the net

    - PYA and Russo In/Russo Out

    - Deeney's goal against Leicester (I was exceedingly hungover and watching from the sofa in Devon)

    - Playoff heartbreak

    - Vydra's goal against Brighton

    - Semi-final heart break

    - Semi-final joy

    At 30 years old my life is full of memories about this marvellous football club, and has had a hugely formative impact on my life and character. This season has been one of the most remarkable I can remember. Yes, it has somewhat petered out in the last couple of weeks as 7th place has somewhat drifted just out of reach, but this season is perhaps the first year that I have felt we truly belong in this division. The football has at times been beautiful; effective use of our strengths with some delicate interplay that has been enough to make even the most ungracious of pundits gush.

    No matter what happens on Saturday, I am sure at 4.55pm as the players walk out the tunnel I will not be the only one with goosepumps and tears pricking at the corners of their eyes. Watford is not a team we support, Watford is who we are.

    We may never be able to truly compete with the big guns, but on a one-off occasion I truly believe that someday we may experience that special bit of football magic that comes around every so often.

    Maybe Saturday 18th May 2019 is that day....
     
  2. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    Apologies for the very self indulgent thread. COYH!
     
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  3. Calabrone

    Calabrone Academy Graduate

    No apologies required Optimistichornet. I'm sure I'll be shedding a tear at Wembley too. You're right, it's about more than football. I'll be remembering my grandad, who first took me to the Vic, my dad, who I lost last year and my uncle who played for Watford and unfortunately now is suffering with Alzheimer's. Win or lose it's going to be a special day. We are 90 minutes away from seeing Troy lift the FA cup, how awesome would that be and if we lose... So what? Let the Mancs celebrate another cup, I know which end I'd rather be sitting in. COYH!
     
  4. hornmeister

    hornmeister Tired

    How many? Midwife must have been bloody busy.

    If she can cope surely our defence can cope with a ManCity onslaught.
     
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  5. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

    No.
     
  6. hornmeister

    hornmeister Tired

    We can do it?
    Yes we can.

    Will we do it?
    No we wont.
     
  7. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Aged 10?!

    The malign influence of Bacardi Breezers.
     
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  8. Harrow Orn

    Harrow Orn Squad Player

    I have changed my mind.

    We are going to win it! 2-1. Two late goals as city get tired. Capoue and Deeney.

    Heard it here first!
     
    Optimistichornet likes this.
  9. Hornet4ever

    Hornet4ever WFC Forums Last Man Standing Winner 2018/2019

    Like that. True supporter. Good on you.
     
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  10. hemelhorn88

    hemelhorn88 Academy Graduate

    Im a year older than you. All the memories our generation have of the club the early years were tough lol. Was always envious of my Dad seeing us in FA Cup final. Saturday is the reward for enduring the tough times.
     
  11. Teide1

    Teide1 Squad Player

    May I ask who your Uncle is, please wish him all the best from the Forum, hope he is able to watch the game!
     
  12. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    I remember the year we lost to Blackburn in the PO semi, I went up to Blackburn on a club coach and we were all delighted we held them to a 0-0 draw, but then the Bastewards drew with us at the VIC 1-1 and went through on the away goal rule :mad:

    I too have many memories, including all our previous PO and Cup Appearances at Wembley, plus our brilliant 3-0 play off win over the Weeds at The Millennium Stadium. I also remember us all chanting "Elton Johns Taylor made army" over and over again for about 15 minutes, after our 2-0 defeat to the snakes team in the 84 final, the atmosphere was so good you would have thought we had won the game, and I still think "We woz Robbed", but what a day it was. There are of course many more memories I could talk about and Saturday will be no less of an occasion to add to that list of memories win or lose.

    So lets get behind the boys and do our best to help them pull off what most people think we have no chance of doing, but if we do Saturday could be the best memory ever. SO FAR!!!

    COME ON YOU GOLDEN BOYS
    EDIT: Some of you might remember "Big Pete" who unfortunately died to young a few years back :( Anyway when all seemed lost in the semi against Wolves, I had a quiet word with him and asked him to put in a word with the Big Boss up there, and we all know what happened.

    Therefore I will be having a word with him again on Saturday and hopefully he can have another word with the Big Boss and get us granted another Miracle this Saturday. With "Big Pete" up there looking down on us HOW CAN WE LOSE :)
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2019
  13. Vicarage Road

    Vicarage Road Reservist

    I remember losing 1-4 to West Ham, hope those dark days are well and truly behind us.


    Btw, hope this pattern doesn’t continue. Our last four games conceded 1 against Southampton. Conceded 2 against wolves. Conceded 3 against Chelsea. Conceded 4 against West Ham.... 5 against City?
     
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  14. Maninblack

    Maninblack Reservist

    Don't worry, it won't be 5.

    It'll be 10, the total of those last 4 matches...
     
  15. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    And not to forget all the tough times to come.
     
    Moosegasm likes this.
  16. Calabrone

    Calabrone Academy Graduate

    My uncle is Mick Benning, played for Watford late fifties, early sixties. I'll pass on the forum's regards. Yes, he'll be watching the game!
     
  17. wimbornet

    wimbornet Reservist

    Wow, my dad played with MB back in the day and was very good friends with him and his brother JB!
     
  18. Calabrone

    Calabrone Academy Graduate

    I hope your dad could keep up with Mick! I'm too young to have ever seen him play but he was pretty fast apparently. JB isn't too well either these days but he'll be watching the final too. #watfordfamily
     
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  19. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    Is this thread what a conversation on eHarmony is like?
     
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  20. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Promising icebreaker.

    Stay tuned.
     
  21. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    Absolutely fantastic post @Optimistichornet great read and thank you
    very much for sharing.

    In answer your question...

    Can we do it? YES
    Will we do it? NO

    But I want to believe we can give it our absolute best.
     
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  22. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    Nah, they generally want to know much more personal details about a person's
    past. Where they were when a ball hit the back of a net is generally not one of them.

    However, some are quite enlightened by long life stories of action, drama and
    heartbreak. Much like being a Hornet I guess.
     
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  23. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    How many threads are we going to have on this bloody game ? I'll be glad when it's all over and we can go back to threads about obscure Sth American strikers (til they sign for other clubs). Sick of it.
     
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  24. sydney_horn

    sydney_horn Squad Player

    I remember watching one of my first games in about 1976 when we were 0-3 down at half time (Colchester I think).

    I never imagined I would see Watford in a FA Cup final in my life back then.

    Whatever happens on Saturday I will have witnessed the mighty horns play in two finals.

    That makes me very proud of our "little" club.
     
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  25. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    IF we win the Cup - I designate you to make the first thread on this forum about it.
    I want it to be covered in pictures of Deeney and Holebas holding the cup and quotes of Gracia saying "In this moment..."

    Because now I really want us to win the cup. :p;)
     
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  26. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    The good thing about the cup is that it’s not going to be that bad if we lose. We will be no worse off.

    We’ve had our trips to Wembley/Cardiff over the past few years with obvious success and failure. The thing about play off games is that there is so much riding on them, great if you win but got wrenchingly disappointing if you lose with the thought of another grinding championship campaign ahead. The thought of losing blights the whole experience to an extent.

    Whatever happens this is something we can just enjoy for what it is, if we lose then we’ve actually lost nothing. If we win it will be the most magical day in our clubs history.

    Enjoy people.
     
  27. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Deal !
    We both know it won't be happening !
     
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  28. Steel City Gold

    Steel City Gold Reservist

    Now there's a thing Optimistic...

    Three days before you came into the world, my dad left the world, collapsing and dying at the Watford v Blackburn Rovers game on Tuesday 4th April 1989.

    On Tuesday 11th April 1989 myself and one of my brothers went to the Stoke game, and sat in the seats that Mum and Dad had in the East Stand. It felt like the right thing to do, in that limbo pre-funeral. (I believe that these days we'd call it a 'mark of respect'... #Chortle FC).

    I could write a lot more, but I'm currently on e-harmony talking to someone called 'Going Down'. I googled 'Going Down' before I started chatting to him. I have some concerns...

    Great post (Yours, not mine).

    Giant, stand up on my shoulders!!!

    Let's go again!!!
     
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  29. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    Wow so sorry to hear that. I think your dad certainly would have wanted you to go the game.

    It just goes to show how important football is, the result doesn’t really matter but the memories it generates are.
     
  30. Johnny Todd Sings

    Johnny Todd Sings First Year Pro

    Mick Benning lived over the road from me in Balwins Lane. I wonder if I went to Little Green School with you and played football with you.

    As for the thread I was introduced to Watford by my grandfather. He died a few years before 1984. My father and grandmother died a few months before the cup final. Seated next to me at Wembley was a man who reminded me of my grandfather. He was with two children that I assumed were his grandchildren. It wasn't just Elton who cried on that day.
     
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  31. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I'm sorry Opti but I think we will be humiliated.
    I hope against hope that I am wrong and that Gravy has been constructing a master plan to defeat City.
    However...
     
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  32. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    What about that time when Roger Federer .... Oh well, maybe you're right
     
  33. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    The day is to be enjoyed. Anything other than a comfortable defeat will be a bonus.
    Unless we lose by 4 or more, which is a distinct possibility, in which case the day will be ****.
     
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  34. Jimmy Armchair

    Jimmy Armchair Academy Graduate

    If anyone needs their tear ducts primed and ready for Abide With Me, they should listen to the latest Hornet Heaven Cup Final Special.

    https://audioboom.com/posts/7261992-35-years-of-hurt-fa-cup-final-special
     
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  35. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

    "Humiliated" is losing 3-0 at home to Yeovil.

    There's no humiliation in losing to a side that can spend £60m on a substitute.

    Finding it hard to get excited about a game where we have next to zero chance. An early goal will kill it so we absolutely need to get to half time 0-0 or 0-1 or it will be a procession.

    Also... I hope the book gets thrown at City if found guilty. What's the point of winning if you cheated to get there?
     

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