This Saturday sees two clubs in a bit of a mess meet up at Hillsborough with a 3pm kick off. The opposition. Starting the season on minus 12 points is never the most ideal way of commencing the season but they did reduce this by 3 points with an excellent win on the opening day of the season, 2-0 at Cardiff. They are still looking at bringing players in but these seem to very inexperienced and a struggle seems to be on the cards this season. Players in - Josh Windass signed from Wigan who was very impressive at Cardiff on Saturday including getting his first goal for the club. Chey Dunkley also signed from Wigan and was linked here for a while but played no part on Saturday. Elias Kachunga also arrived, this time from Huddersfield to boost the attacking options but unfortunately goals are not his strong point with just 4 goals in 75 games for The Terriers. On Saturday at Cardiff on the bench they had Dele-Bashiru which would explain why he wasn't playing for us! More importantly they have to have a very popular soup brand in Sheffield which is apparently "Honestly delicious" according to the label although no mention of cheese anywhere which is disappointing In terms of the City, it's grim up north has never been more apt but apparently there are some nice spots and has been put up as one of the most underrated cities to visit in South Yorkshire. Watford Absolutely no idea who will play or who is available or out with a slight knock or has refused to play. Seems as though Estupinan has gone so left wing back will come down to Sema or Femenia, neither of which fill me with any great confidence. Be nice to see Suarez involved, maybe partner Pedro in attack. Middlesborough was not a pretty game but winning does build confidence especially in the younger players so hopefully we can play some better football this Saturday. Presumably none of Capoue, Welbeck, Dawson, Deeney etc will play but maybe Sarr might be in the squad. I'm guessing this is too soon for Hughes. Predicted line up: Foster Cathcart Kabasele Wilmot Ngaka Sema Quina Cleverly Chalobah Pedro Suarez Prediction 0-2 Recent record: Although not played them since we were promoted we do have a very good recent record at Hillsborough. In our last 3 visits (one of my favourite ever away performances below) we have scored 11 and conceded just two so hopefully that trend will continue although we didn't look like a side last Friday that is going to score a lot of goals. Another win here and at least we will go in to the scum game with some confidence as that will be a must win. To anybody heading up to Yorkshire for this then hope you have a safe trip but your wasting your time!
I last went to Hillsborough sometime in the 90s when both clubs were bland mediocrity in some lower league or other, it was so bland and mediocre I can’t remember the year, the league, who played, what the result was, or why I even went. It might have even been the late 80s that’s how little I remember of it. The only thing I do remember is there were about 12 Watford supporters there and it was still terracing. It was crap.
1,000 fans might be let in. Who's going? I'm triple platinum A plus plus + +. So I'm ready to make up for lost boos.
Surely it should be the more swanky your membership is the less likely you'll get tickets. It's likely to be torture to watch.
Given the state of Watford Town centre these days it might be best to suspend the comments about the grimness of the towns and cities we're travelling to - at least until we play Rotherham
I went there when we drew 2-2 in the premier league in 2000. I was so pissed I fell down the steps in the stand.
I’ve been to every single home, away, cup, league cup, preseason cricket match, reserve, u 23 and youth team game for the past 100 years. Including during lockdown.
I've been there 3 times, the first was the cup replay where Di Canio was sent off, we lost on penalties. I saw the 2-2 draw in the Prem in 1999/2000. My last visit was the most depressing, was the 4-0 default in the league cup quarter final under Vialli.
Sheffield is a wonderful city. with amazing countryside around it, anyone who regularly goes to Watford has no ground for criticising it
as for the game, really looking forward to it 3 more points, more moaners silenced (at least a bit) 7 more days for Ivic to impose his discipline on the team (something we sadly need) Pedro, Quina and Ngakia to score.
I spent four years as a student in Sheffield and enjoyed it a lot. The people were incredibly friendly and they had a fantastic transport system, though I expect that's changed now.
I last went when we lost 2-1 to a late goal. It left us two points above the drop with three games to go. I remember actually crying at fulltime because was certain we would be relegated to what was then Division Two. Aidy Boothroyd was appointed after and what happened happened. As for this game, totally different circumstances. Our team is full of deserters and energetic youth. Sheffield Wednesday will be boosted by Cardiff's ***** display last week. A draw would not be bad, but I'd love a win. 1-1
Early days yet, but they looked good against Cardiff. It'll be hard for them, they'll need around 60 points to stay up you'd think, but this time around, their season isn't going to peter out like it did last season I wouldn't describe this game as a 'bonus' fixture, after all, the Middlesbrough game showed that we should still be aiming to win every game in this division, but with so many players out for various reasons, and still work to do in the window wrt incomings and outgoings, we're surely not going to peak for a while yet. Be delighted with a win, a point wouldn't be so bad
This is going to be a tough old game, I can see SW controlling the game with us trying to hit them on the counter. Hopefully we can get JP some support up top but that will rely on a solid midfield....
Fortunately midfield is our area of strength with Doucs, Capoue and Hughes. SW will barely get a kick.
I live smack bang in the middle of Wednesday territory and the FIL is a Wednesday fan. This is the second most important team to smash for me this season after the obvious!
Comfortable Wednesday win I suspect. Glad some of you are happy for us to view all the first few games as 'free hits' until we or may not actually have a team. If we'd won just one of our first 11 games last season we'd have stayed up. Not to mention next week is the scum.
Let's be honest, the sort of people saying this are the sorts that go and sit in trees at Oxford's ground to watch a game. All you need to know.
The club is in the poop, has sizeable debts, has made some appalling decisions over the last 5 years including assembling a squad of couldn’t care less mercenaries. I have no faith in the owners, but since Elton John last owner the club when has there been any? We can either behave like certain posters and continually post negativity and call all our players rancid and throw our toys out the pram every game etc, or we can accept it for what it is and try and support our team through what looks like a 2-3 year rebuild in this league. We have been here before as a club many times over the last 40+ years and we’re still here.
