Ah, Bournemouth. We've been joined at the hip over the last few seasons, getting promoted together, and then patronised in the Premier League by pundits whose knowledge of our teams didn't extend past a couple of hastily learned cliches - 'Saint Eddie of Howe, fairytale story' being repeated almost as often as 'Mr Watford Troy Deeney, they love to sack their managers, ho ho ho'. Both gave a few bloody noses to the bigger teams over the five years, but both slipped out of the promised land with a bit of a whimper all things considered. We all know how we ended up back in the Championship. Our toxic blend of weak willed mercenaries, terrible recruitment, Quique Sanchez Flores and a smattering of refereeing injustices was enough to do for us. But what happened to the billionaire backed minnows AFC Bournemouth? Simply put, VAR was introduced, fatally undermining the gamesmanship that was integral to the way St Eddie and Jase Tindall built their teams. In VAR's first season, Bournemouth were hit for six and without their USP, were done for. This is starkly demonstrated by the difference in a couple of key stats in the new VAR world: 19/20 - Red Cards for opposition 3, Penalties awarded to Bournemouth 4 18/19 - Red cards for opposition 9, Penalties awarded to Bournemouth 9 A completely natural way to fall over Of course, being back in the Championship this is likely to be turned up to the max again, especially as their main man is now Tindall. Under Howe, his role was to constantly harangue fourth officials, frothing at the mouth like a mahogany Gareth from The Office. The five thousand or so Bournemouth fans weren't actually that keen on his appointment, especially as he had only had a short rather unsuccessful spell at Weymouth before as a head coach before following Howe around like a chippy number two. Assistant TO the Regional Manager Although some of their chief culprits over the years have now left (Arter, Callum Wilson, Pugh), they have retained English football's worst diver, Adam Smith. Very strange, as you'd expect this to be a forward but no, this weaselly full back is the epitome of the Howe/Tindall school, constantly looking to get opponents sent off or buy a penalty for a non-existent bit of contact. Make no mistake, Championship refs will be getting it in the ear non-stop this season from the plucky Cherries. Five identikit Bournemouth robocheats all "help" Lee Probert make the wrong decision They've started the season well and sit just below us in 4th place with three wins and three draws so far. Players to watch are the winger Danjuma and the absolutely-toilet-in-the-Premier-League-but-probably-pretty-good-in-the-Championship Solanke. They've lost Callum Wilson, goalkeeper Harry Ramsbottom and Watford-developed Nathan Ake. They've released a load of the old cheats they got promoted with but have retained David Brooks and Josh King who has had a Capoue-like summer and now seems like he will knuckle down. Bournemouth drew their last game 1-1 with Cardiff with their ex-loanee and another serial diver (what are the chances?) Harry Wilson getting the equaliser for the Bluebirds. Anyway, no idea who the referee is for this and they've all been pretty terrible so far but let's hope they're switched on at the weekend as they're going to have their hands full with this bunch. COYH!
Harry the Hornet should run alongside the pitch next to Smith all game, continuously repeating his "Zaha flop" and adding on a nice "Argentinian writhe" from the ground with faux card wave at the end of each.
This would be a big win for us. I think we've got a great chance if Caps starts. Wouldn't settle for a draw. Got to go for the win. Watford 2-1 Bournemouth. Sarr to get his first of the season (for us).
Am genuinely nervous that Muff with the added protection of no VAR , will dive and cheat their way to a win against us on Sat .
If we win this , especially with a clean sheet , I’m going full happy clapping , flag waving COG for rest of the season . Parp parp parp!
Still funny how sections of both supporters class us as rivals. The only rivalry ever between us was when we both went for the title on the final day. Ever since then, the games between us and them have had an extra bit of spice. Coming off the back of back to back wins, we could make it a hat trick if we beat them Saturday afternoon. Yet again an early kick off, so we could go joint top if we win. Ivic making changes after the win over a very good BR side seems possible, with this our second game in quick succession. Muff will definitely go for a draw as a decent result, but as the home side it's on us to drive the game. Midfield continues to be an issue, and something the return of Capoue may solve. 1-0.
So was I. Disgusted at full time was an understatement. Summed up our recent form and GFZ was booted after if I recall.
A very hard one to predict. Hopefully capoue will start I’d like to see Troy and a 433 with Pedro Sarr on the flanks but can’t imagine that much changing from Blackburn game maybe a couple of different like for likes rotated from bench. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Capoue in for Chalobah, T-E in for Cathcart, Ngakia in for Kiko. Gray and Hughes aside we are edging towards our best team now which is good.
A huge match for both sides, with a huge prize at stake. Win, and the Cogs smugness will reign supreme. Such a coup might even convince Bedwetter leaders to defect. HMS Piss The League will be throwing a party, and will take weeks to return to port, if ever. Lose and this forum will belong to the Bedwetters. Flags, waved with pride as we capitulated in our most embarrassing defeat, will be burnt. Even the most ardent clappers will admit that the sheets may never truly dry. The future of this forum is well and truly at stake on Saturday. ...AND IT’S LIVE!
I think I speak for all Watford fans when I say: Capoue must start. Levels above most midfielders in this league and crucially allows us to boss the central area, which has been lacking this season. If Capoue starts I'm confident we will not lose.
Muff are one of the better sides in the division and would have no problem picking us off if we don't select the best players available, but I do worry about their Tom Daleys running at Kabs and Cathcart in the box.
We are 2 games in to what I confidently predict will be a record-breaking run of 11 consecutive wins. Popular newspaper columnist, radio presenter, TV football pundit and part-time talisman Deeney takes a break from his hectic media schedule to hit a hatrick on his 400th game for the Hornets
Between the international breaks we had 7 games scheduled, on paper the first 3 were the toughest and the next 4 all very winnable. The fact that we have 6 points from the first 2 is very encouraging, get at least a point against Muff on Saturday I can see us getting another 10-12 points from the other 4 matches after Saturday.
No matter how much you hate VAR, matches like these are why it came into existance. Their gameplan will be to try to put their body between the defender and the ball in the box, likely running away from goal and go down when they sense we are close. As long as we get a decent ref, we should win.
Just checked and we're home to Cardiff. I've got no problem with the boyos so losing to them won't be too hard to take after such a great run
Could argue the Blackburn game would have been very different with VAR. Red for Kabasele. No penalty. Yet to see a good angle that shows Armstrong was onside when he tried chipping Foster. Either way, **** VAR.
Oh goodie! William Tyndale and his gang arrive just as I was mildly content. Let's hope it's not windy.
View from the opposition forum: https://bournemouth-forum.vitalfootball.co.uk/threads/watford-v-afc-bournemouth.12717/ Most seem to be happy to get a draw
To quote their forum: "...have to wonder whether King and Brooks will be in the side for this game, as Watford are a physical side who like to get a foot in and not sure that JT would risk them?" They seem to be genuinely unaware that the fouls they win come via cheating. Like a collective madness.
I think Capoue will come in for Chalobah, WTE for someone - probably Cathcart. Beyond that, no clear idea. The garner in/Garner out thing puzzles me a bit. Is he being kept hungry/taught something? Are we rotating to keep Watford owned players fresh and ready? It's also POSSIBLE that he puts Ngakia back in and switches Femenia. Which I guess would look like: ------------------------- Foster -------------------- Ngakia --- WTE --- Kabasele --- Wilmot --- Femenia ------------ Capoue ------- Cleverley Sarr ----------------Pedro-------------------Sema The alternative would be to go to a proper back 4, dropping WTE or Wilmot for Garner and going 4-3-3. I tend to doubt he trusts the defensive chemistry enough yet to go to a pure back 4 though.
I'd definitely start Garner, Ngakia, WTE if fit. WTE for Kabasele for me. Not much between Cathcart and Kabasele so far this season but I feel Cathcart is less likely to get sent off within 10 minutes. Capoue needs to start, probably in a midfield 3 with Garner and Cleverley. Sema over Femenia but I do think Femenia has been decent so far so if Sema is rested then he is a decent back-up to have.
I'm an old school fan who remembers when football clubs had a first choice team and a reserve team. The reserves only played when one of the first team was injured. But even I accept that we will now see members of the squad coming in and out of the team week by week. We just have to hope the quality is well spread throughout the squad.
