Chances are we would shut up shop after going 0-1 down after 4 minutes and hold on for a 0-1 defeat. Pride intact.
I suppose what I was really getting at was I am nonplussed by the agonising over should we prioritise finishing 7th to get into the Europa rather than wanting to get to the Cup Final in case we lose & so don't get into it via that route...the Europa League is secondary in my thinking.
I don’t suppose it really matters which competition we prioritize. We’re Watford, thus, we shall **** it up. We’re not allowed nice things.
Once upon a time people played football for fun. Each match was played on its own merits, with no such thing as a league or even a knock-out cup to worry about, as they didn't exist. Such a view-point must still be possible. Try to get to the final (difficult - Wolves are a good side) and try to win the final (very difficult). But surely we should try, without imaginary knock-on effects clouding the enjoyment.
It is crucial we beat Wolves though. If we don't and then they go on and win the cup we are going to look stupid, especially if we got 7th for nothing. Best to win the cup or try our hardest and let the league take care of itself.
Poor timing by the United board to give OGS the job ahead of our going to their place. Imagine how dumb they're gonna look now
It’s the optimism on this forum that gives me such a lift.. Or - It’s the optimism on this forum that gives me such a lift..
Tremendous work here by Hornet fan Simon Burnton in the Guardian, trying to get inside Atwell's head before the weekend: https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...league-10-things-to-look-out-for-this-weekend This will be the fourth time this season Stuart Attwell has refereed Manchester United, and the fourth time in history he has refereed Watford. There is nothing coincidental about this: he is probably fairly popular at Old Trafford, having given United a penalty on three of the past four occasions he has officiated their matches. The first time he refereed a Watford game, nearly 11 years ago, he awarded an infamous “ghost goal” to Reading. He has returned to Vicarage Road once since – five years ago. He wasn’t well received and hasn’t been asked back, and last officiated a Watford match in December 2014. As a result it is more than usually important that at key moments on Saturday he must be certain, and he must be right. Any game-changing decision in United’s favour that turns out to have been incorrect will surely prevent him from ever refereeing Watford games again. Will he be able to put this history to the back of his mind?
To be fair to Attwell, I don't remember his last game at Vicarage Road as being particularly contentious, but it was hilarious, a stadium wide mick taking that lives long in the memory.
The Guardian also posed the will Wolves rest players and prioritise the FA Cup question in the preview of their weekends game At what point does Nuno Espírito Santo start resting players for next Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final? If this seems a little cautious, it is worth bearing in mind that the game against Watford at Wembley is arguably the club’s biggest since the 2003 Championship play-off final. All 33,000 allocated tickets have been sold, and it is that match, not this weekend’s trip to Burnley, that is the talk of the town. With just three days before Tuesday’s league game against Manchester United, Nuno must choose between the risk of injury or fatigue and the threat of his best players losing their match sharpness. Ask most Wolves fans and all they will care about is the FA Cup, but league form still matters. Should Manchester City win the Cup, the team that finishes seventh will qualify for next year’s Europa League qualifying round. Should Nuno stick or twist?
I think it's a shame that both sides have to play a midweek match before the cup semi final. I think it's fair to say that neither us or Wolves will play a full strength side on Tuesday which is unfair to the rest of the league, top and bottom. Having said that the league games are still vitally important. £2m per place and the possibility of European qualification for finishing 7th. Chances are we won't win the cup so I would definitely take these two matches seriously with maybe just a couple of changes. Man Utd, I would give Pereyra a rest for this after plenty of travelling and the fact he has been awful against top six sides this season. Foster to play all three. Holebas for United and Wolves with Masina playing against Fulham. Kiko same as Holebas with Janmaat playing against Fulham. I would play Britos against Fulham as he is better against target men like Mitrovic and give Cathcart a break. Doucoure for me should play all three as well as Capoue. Maybe Quina can come in on Tuesday. Delefeou to play all three as he never plays a full game anyway. Deeney to play at United and Wolves and Success maybe against Fulham. Still a few changes but not many that make much difference. Tough on Doucoure and Capoue but we just look so much better with them playing. The Wolves game is not till Sunday so we still have plenty of time to recover. I do fancy us to get something at United as I feel the honeymoon period is over for OGS and if we could pick up 4 points over the next two games it would put us in a really strong position
I don't think refs often lose much sleep about making game-changing mistakes in favour of top 6 teams playing Watford. They might be worried about making game-changing mistakes AGAINST top 6 teams though
It is worth remembering Capoue yellow card situation. He has to get past the Fulham fixture (game 32) to avoid a 2 game ban in the league so he may play just one of these two fixtures.
I agree. For Man Utd they don't need a rest - and will be good prep for the Semi final. I don't care who put out in the the game against Fulham - that will impact fitness. Plus - A strong back up team should do well anyway (and if not its not he end of the world)
Johnny Marr has us down to lose 3-1.. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47735383 Ive trashed all my Smiths albums in protest! Nah i'd never do that but thought he might have tipped us to spite United as he's a City fan.
What a ****. I won't be listening to his football punditry anymore. Who the hell does he think he is?
Why not keep all your Smiths records but trash all Johnny Marrs solo efforts. That way there wont be any notable decline in your record collection.
Nah.. i don't let little things like that get in the way of my record collection. Seriously though it would be shame to lose the musical legacy of The Smiths because Morrissey has gone off his rocker. My music collection doesn't go much past the 80's, so no worries there.
Britos or Kabasele to foul Rashford and give away a pen. Masina? Surprised Holebas not straight back in. Maybe firing him up for Wembley.
That's a team that thought Lukaku was going to start... Not expecting anything anyway. Come on you orns (And Burnley!)
