Watford FC 3-3 Tranmere Rovers - 04/01/2020 & 1-2 AET 23/01/2020

Discussion in 'Match Day' started by ITK platypus, Dec 30, 2019.

?

What will the result be of the match?

  1. Watford

    63 vote(s)
    56.3%
  2. Draw

    9 vote(s)
    8.0%
  3. Tranmere

    9 vote(s)
    8.0%
  4. Tranmere by 4 or more goals

    16 vote(s)
    14.3%
  5. Micah Hyde

    15 vote(s)
    13.4%
  1. ITK platypus

    ITK platypus Squad Player

    Posting this now as I probably won't get another chance closer to the game.

    upload_2019-12-30_11-58-46.png

    It's back.

    The biggest competition in football returns on Saturday at Vicarage Road as Silver Champions Watford host Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup.

    The story so far:

    The real story however began back on Saturday August 10th at Oaklands Park in Chichester. On that fateful day, eighth tier Chichester City earned a 3-1 win over Erith Town in the Extra Preliminary round to start their FA Cup adventure. More wins would follow. A 7-2 win away to Bridon Ropes (always a tough place to go) was to follow in the next round, before a win against Chalfont St Peter saw them safely through to the second qualifying round and the might of seventh tier Hartley Wintney. Two immensely close and tense games would see Chichester City stun the world and advance via a replay to the third qualifying round. Yet another shock was to follow as the Lillywhites stunned seventh tier Enfield Town to advance to within one round of the FA Cup first round proper.

    upload_2019-12-30_12-8-43.png
    Chichester had too much for Enfield.

    Across the world from Paris to New York, Rio to Tokyo and Melbourne to Moscow people watched in wonder as yet another seventh tier side was toppled. This time the unfortunate Bowers & Pitsea tried in vain to stop the Lillywhite tide. Against all odds, one of the greatest sporting underdog stories had been given it's fairytale ending: Chichester City had qualified for the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

    And it didn't end there. The draw saw them paired with the now defunct Bury. The sad loss of this proud football club proved to be to Chichester City's gain as they received a bye straight through to Round 2. The Lillywhites would be playing in the second round of the FA Cup. One round from a potential game against a Premier League club.

    In Round 2 they got tonked 5-1 by Tranmere.

    upload_2019-12-30_12-5-12.png
    It wasn't to be for Chichester City.


    The opponents

    Tranmere Rovers then. A team we seemed to play all the time when I was younger but then suddenly we no longer did. Tranmere Rovers are a relatively new club, founded in 1884; they are however the second oldest club on Merseyside and look down their noses at the young upstarts who currently lead the Premier League table (but will surely mess it up somehow). Tranmere are best known for a series of cup runs in the early 2000s: reaching the League Cup Final in 2000 and the FA Cup quarter final in 2000, 2001 and 2004. Will 2020 be the next one? Probably not.

    upload_2019-12-30_12-10-28.png
    John Aldridge oversaw several unsuccessful cup runs.

    These days Tranmere play in League One which is the third tier of English football as I understand it. This follows back to back promotions from the non league where Rovers had languished between 2015 and 2018. Promotion back to the Football League was sealed with a Wembley Play Off final win against Watford's near neighbours Boreham Wood, despite Rovers having to play almost the entire match with 10 men. They would return to Wembley once again in 2019 to win yet another Play Off final, this time against Newport County. A quick perusal of the League One table suggests the chance of a third successive promotion is remote.

    There is sure to be a good away turnout at this fixture owing to the A41 which runs directly from Birkenhead to Watford. I am yet to meet anyone from Watford or Birkenhead who has a bad thing to say about that particular road. Interestingly along the route from Birkenhead to Watford on the mighty A41, the Rovers fans will pass within view of several other football stadia such as the Hawthorns and Molineux. Quite a football pilgrimage it will be.

    upload_2019-12-30_12-3-46.png
    Potential sights facing Tranmere fans on the journey down.


    Head to head

    Our record against Rovers is one all Watford fans should be proud of. Of 30 meetings (all of which have been in the league), we have won 14, drawn 7 and lost just 9. If I had any Tranmere supporting friends I would lord this over them on a daily basis. But I don't.

    Rovers come to town for their first visit to Vicarage Road in almost 20 years (19 years in fact). That previous visit in April 2001 was in fact Graham Taylor's last ever home match as Watford manager. A last minute Allan Nielsen header salvaged an underwhelming 1-1 draw on a day that was more about remembering the career of the great man. Even the Tranmere fans stayed behind to share applause for GT after the game.

    Far more memorable from a footballing perspective was the infamous battle of April 1999. Watford's campaign to seek back to back promotions to the Premier League had faltered and indifferent form saw the Hornets almost assured of deflating mid table finish. The home game against Rovers was a last chance to salvage something from the season, but true to form Watford went behind and looked to be down and out. What happened next is now part of Watford folklore. A 2-1 win salvaged (via 2 red cards), carnage on and off the pitch, but the 9 Hornets remaining managed to see the game out and claim the win. It would prove to be the start of an incredible 6 game winning run which took the Hornets into the play offs and beyond.

    Will Saturday's game be as emotional as GT's final home game? No. Will it be as dramatic as '99? I don't expect so. Will I be going to the game anyway? For some reason yes.

    Prediction

    Owing to the fact I had to google what division Tranmere were in when we drew them, we will probably batter them.

    Watford 3-0 Tranmere Rovers
    Quina (90+1, 90+2, 90+7, sent off 90+8)
     
  2. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    Non event for me. Shame because the FA Cup is a great competition. But we need focus on the league. Time to try out the rest of the squad and bleed some youngsters.
     
    wfcmoog likes this.
  3. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    It’s important that we win this one, and the next round too. We’ll be safe from relegation in about 6 games, so it’s important we have something to play for over the remaining months of the season.
     
  4. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Looking forward to this. Taking the kids to their first ever football match. Hopefully they get a turn playing given the stature of the opponent.
     
  5. The A41 derby. Who'da thought?
     
  6. CarlosKickaballs

    CarlosKickaballs Forum Picarso

    We need a point minimum from this game
     
  7. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Can't wait for another fantastic day out against the elite in May. Make sure the First II are properly rested in advance of this one. Must win game. 8-0.
     
  8. Oh goody

    Xmas has gone and its time for the annual Man Utd v anyone FA cup game of choice
     
  9. The last time I watched Watford play Tranmere I was nine years old. On a rainy Tuesday night at The Vic, I witnessed Brian Owen score the craziest of goals - a shot that not only ballooned over the bar but also over the Rookery roof. When the wind blew the ball back over the roof, their keeper - Jim Cumbes - ran behind the goal to catch it, only for the wind to carry it in front of the goal - where it dropped down and bounced into the net. The look on his face when the referee awarded a goal was priceless.

    I do hope it rains on Saturday and that he still plays for them...
     
  10. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I hope this match is a fitting send off for Gomes, as he takes part in his next last match before retirement. Maybe they’ll let his lad Joao be the mascot for the day?
     
    wfcmoog likes this.
  11. LondonOrn

    LondonOrn Squad Player

    Shame that game predated my becoming a WFC fan by nine months, one of very few seasons (along with 2014/15 and to a lesser extent 2011/12) that we've finished a season strongly.

    But I remember reading in the Times about our promotion six weeks later, and I was quite surprised and intrigued, having paid a visit to Watford Museum recently (I've never actually lived in Watford) and not remembering our history very well - I thought "Wow - weren't they in Division 4 not so long ago?". I think that was a catalyst, along with England's distinctly underwhelming Euro 2000 qualifying campaign ending (I was relatively new to football back then and was more interested in international than club football), to my falling in love with the club and apart from a few early flirtations with other clubs when in typical WFC fashion things weren't going as expected, I've not looked back!
     
    Davidmsawyer likes this.
  12. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    No Pedro no party.
     
  13. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I met some Rovers fans many years ago when Socrates was hemlock free.
    They were very cheery but did not take kindly to you if you called them scousers.
    Did they have the fellow with the very long throw,Challoner or something?
    What about that enormous tub of lard that played for Loon at centre half?
     
  14. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    To be honest, I've never hated a team more than Tranmere. There's something about them that annoys me. It also annoys me that we even have to play them.

    I've no real interest in going as that will give Tranmere my money, which they do not deserve.

    Hope they enjoy their cup final and Jason Koumas enjoys his day out.
     
    ITK platypus likes this.
  15. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Dave "the throw" Challinor
    Steve "tubby" McNulty.
     
  16. Sort of OK

    Sort of OK Reservist

    Normally I'm one of the first out of the blocks to be saying we should play a strong team, chance to win our first proper trophy etc.... However, on this occasion I actually think we should play the second string and keep the 'big guns' rested and fit for what will hopefully be the fight for survival.

    Amazingly I do actually know a Tranmere fan. This fact, coupled with the above, will guarantee that we play a much weakened side and get turned over by this bunch of plucky triers leaving me laid bare to serious amounts of abuse. No amount of kids, second string and, yes but the new Brazilian is only 13 and arrived from Heathrow by taxi 20mins before kick off etc.... excuses will save me. Frankly nor should they, it wouldn't wash with me if the boot was on the other foot. My only real hope is a massive victory otherwise I am on a hiding to nothing.
     
    Watford Gav likes this.
  17. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Tricky fixture against the second best team in Liverpool....after Everton.
     
  18. Supertommymooney

    Supertommymooney Squad Player

    Taking my kids, little one has only ever seen three games - cup final on TV (didn't go well) and two 0-0 home draws at the Vic....

    Hoping we at least manage a goal in this one!
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  19. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    Time to mix some promising young things with some old crocks and some of the younger crocks and wasters.

    Something like:

    Gomes

    Mapps
    Dawson
    Prodl
    Masina

    Chalobah
    Quina
    Dele-Bashiru

    Success
    Pedro (c)
    Hungbo

    A right old hodge-podge of a team but it could be magical. I don't even know where Dele-Bashiru plays but let's chuck him in the middle somewhere and see what he does. If we haven't binned off Foulquier already by then, then play him at right back, move Mapps into the middle and rest Dawson.
     
  20. Cassetti's Beard

    Cassetti's Beard First Team

    Looking forward to booing Pedro all the way to Belgium.
     
  21. Markoa$

    Markoa$ Squad Player

    Against Tranmere I would do something like

    Bachmann

    Janmaat, Dawson, Prodl, Masina

    Chalobah Dele-Bashiru

    Success Quina Pereyra

    Gray/Pedro/Dalby

    Depending on the fitness of Cleverley, I would give him minutes as well. Also in Janmaat isn’t back then stick Mapps at RB.
     
  22. CleyHorn

    CleyHorn Reservist

    Nigel might very well blood one of the young keepers. It wouldn't be before time. Also, I thought that there had been speculation on here that Pedro can't play in the Cup before he's played a PL match
     
  23. folkestone orn

    folkestone orn Squad Player

    New Year sacrifices? I'm giving up chocolate, but this seems a little extreme.
     
    HappyHornet24 likes this.
  24. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu Keyboard Warrior Staff Member

    Was going to say I think we blood them rather than bleed them
     
    Carpster likes this.
  25. CleyHorn

    CleyHorn Reservist

    I hate fox-hunting. My NY resolution is to sit on Kelso's box in the loft and try and keep the tw.t in there.
     
  26. Bunny Larkin

    Bunny Larkin Academy Graduate

    I remember a game against Tranmere in the sixties. They had a player called George Yardley who was scoring lots of goals, and he duly scored two goals in fhe first twenty minutes. However, we then scored three to win the game.
     
    CleyHorn likes this.
  27. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    If we were to lose to Wolves there would be something to be said for playing first team to get another win under the belt.
     
  28. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    If it wasn’t off the back of the mental Xmas period I’d probably agree. As it is I’m sure Pearson will value recovery time over any small boost from beating a team two leagues down.
     
    wfcmoog likes this.
  29. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Me too re the fox hunting. I feed cat food to a 3 legged Fox every day.
     
    folkestone orn and HappyHornet24 like this.
  30. IRB

    IRB THe artist formally know as ImRonBurgundy?

    Pedro disasterclass incoming
     
  31. Sahorn

    Sahorn Reservist

    Liked for the Chichester write up and the very erudite “.. almost 20 years (19 years in fact).”;)

    Maybe someone can refresh my memory but I think I remember we bought a Tranmere Rovers winger Roy Sinclair for £9000 or something back in the day when you could buy players near the end of the season, and he promptly scored a match winning goal against Swindon? the year Ken Furphy got us promoted? Or something.
    Happy (hazy from the fog of time) days.

    Pedro to get his initiation of playing in miserable weather and being kicked black and blue.
    Watching the Brazilian superstar elect alone will be worth the entrance fee.

    We should win comfortably with the new Pearson ethos.
    Good preview ITK.
     
  32. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    It'll probably be something like:

    Gomes

    Kiko
    Mariappa
    Dawson
    Masina

    Dele-Bashiru
    Chalobah
    Quina

    Success
    Gray
    Pereyra

    Hopefully Pedro and Hungbo, Dalby or Whelan get a chance off the bench.
     
    lutonh8a likes this.
  33. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Ah yes McNulty!
    Remarkable that a so called professional athlete could be so out of condition.
     
  34. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    First game that JP will be available, but not sure that it's worth risking him for a relatively unimportant match against some League One cloggers.
     
  35. miked2006

    miked2006 Premiership Prediction League Proprietor

    Definitely a great game to introduce JP to English football.

    Hopefully he’ll pick up a few goals and build some confidence.

    Gray should start too though. I’m not sure if he’s championship or league 1 level these days, but he should do okay against Tranmere regardless.
     
    wfcmoog likes this.

Share This Page