Having had the privilege of being on holiday the past 2 weeks with very little to no internet access i'm utterly clueless when it comes to Watford this season (on that does anyone else think the league should start in September?) The only things i've seen are the scores and a bit about Zola not thanking the fans!? So if anyone could briefly fill me in on how we've been playing, how the many loanees are fitting in, if Hogg has gone back to Villa yet etc etc. I would be very thankful cheers!
Where on holiday did you go? We've signed about 38 players on loan. All but 3 (Pudil, Vydra, Abdi) were either fasting for ramadan or have muscle inbalance so haven't really made too much of an impact (fml). That said, those 3 look quality, and if we play like we did against Birmingham then we could have a good season ahead.
6 from a possible 9 points, out of the league cup, some promising displays from abdi, pudil and vydra in particular. a team still in development.
Was in Russia: Moscow, Novgorod and St. Petersburg Can't remember where, it was some journo asking Zola why he didn't go over at the end of the game, then he said because he was too busy celebrating? If none of you know it most likely just a nonsense story.
Basically, there are some really childish people on here who insist in prolonging a very unfunny joke that Hogg is actually our player, whereas infact he is only here on loan.
The bit about Zola not thanking the fans appears to have been lost in translation. During one of the games, fans were said to be chanting "Zola, give us a wave", to which he didn't. He was then light-heartedly asked after the game as to why, and his response was that he was "totally in the game" and didn't realise. But he sincerely hoped that such support continues because he and the players greatly appreciate it. I can't remember where I read it, but it was nothing controversial.
Was this during the Birmingham game? We eventually got him to wave and he waved at every Zola song after that
We bought Hogg for 300k I believe he is definitely our player. Story in the Brum programme about how he wanted to join us to play regular first team football.
That must have been amazing, did you know that Novgorod is twined with Watford? Did you catch the train from Moscow to St. Petersburg?
Ha had no idea, can't say the two places are anything alike. Actually got went direct to Novgorod overnight from Moscow, train was a lot more modern than the ones I had to use in Ukraine during the Euro's. Train from there to St. Petersburg was something special, 3 1/2 hours in a metal carriage with no toilet. Russia not as expensive as people make out, most pricey meal I ended up having was in Stockholm airport on the way back! Could you imagine if Hogg actually went on loan to Udinese, the forum would explode.
How much is accommodation? I've always set my sights on going to Moscow, st. Petersburg and Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) and possibly further on the trans-siberian network but I've always had the impression that it's quite expensive. That train does sound a delight, i've heard the sleeper trains from st. Petersburg-Moscow are alright but the only trains that i've used in former soviet union countries are those in Latvia and that was only for a short distance and was very basic - I have no idea about the toilet scenario.
In Moscow stayed at a friend-through-a-friends-flat. Basically a few small rooms in one of those old Soviet tower blocks (which they all live in). Novogorad 50 a night for 2 ppl and St. Petersburg 125 (for 4 of us though). Russia can be very very expensive but some things are cheap like public transport and lots of self-service restaurants that the locals eat at. Sleeper trains are generally reasonable enough, have toilets and on time. The one in Novgorad was a shuttle one hence the poor condition. Altogether not really more than London prices. Would say that St. Petersburg very tourist friendly, Moscow not really at all. Trans-siberian route is something else altogether.
Possibly one of the most miserable places I've been. You get the feeling they would love nothing more than for foreigners to stop visiting their city.
Anyone know how we are getting on next season? Im hoping for mid to low Prem but will settle for top two of Championship.
Hi Eloden, welcome back. Summary as follows - 450 minutes of tippy tappy sideways football. Ball swung in the mixer only occasionally.
