Watford FC 1-2 Manchester United - 15/09/2018

Liked for "Merson was still claiming Leicester couldn’t win the league when Wes Morgan was lifting the trophy."

 

Without question Merson is laughable but in fairness they are not the worst predictions out there.
Home draw to Brighton would not have been unrealistic considering where both teams finished last season and we didn't beat them in either game
A loss at Burnley would not have been a surprise if you look at last season and not sure many would have predicted a different outcome
A loss to Palace at home is probably the only one I would take issue with but having said that we haven't had the best of results against them recently
We hadn't beaten Spurs for 30 years and as he said, they have given us a couple of beatings recently, 0-3 was probably a little harsh
A loss at home to Man U. I'm in a prediction league of 60 people and not one has gone for a home win and only a handful a draw. 7 times out of 10 Man U would win this. The fact we have won the first four games has probably changed are outlook on this game but lets be honest, they are better than us so a 1-2 prediction is probably fair.
Lets just hope he is wrong again!!

 

Millwall away in League Cup sometime in the 90's. Got lost driving there and were 40 minutes late. Away end closed so had to go in the home end. Furlong had just been sent off and had lumped somebody, can't remember if it was a fan or a player but their fans were apoplectic. I think it was 2-2 at the time. We were walked round to the away end through all the Millwall fans, not sure how I'm still here to write this! I think the final score was 4-3

 

We've been relocated to the Emerald Isle to be sure...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45511942

 

Liked this quote seen on Twitter today.

"Jose Murinho better watch out, Troy Deeney & Andre Gray are like Batman & Robin upfront for Watford"

 

Maybe.

But you only have to look elsewhere on this weeks ‘Merson Predictions’ to see how dense he is. He loves a short, sharp, throwaway one-liner...that makes no sense.

Southampton vs Brighton
... ‘Brighton have a habit of letting me down.’

No Paul. You have a habit of getting it wrong.

Huddersfield vs Crystal Palace
... ‘If Wilfried Zaha plays, Crystal Palace win. Simple as that.’

A stat/fact that is easily proved wrong by most games last season and most so far this.

Clueless.

 

I did say he was laughable but that his predictions wouldn't be far from what a lot others would say

 

We're not playing Fulham until next week.

 

He's great entertainment. I'd rather than laugh at him than sit studiously listening to G Crooks. The sky panel are brilliant to watch, the BBC take it all too seriously

 

What kind of fancy dress parties do you go to ?

 

My best "Watford scoring away whilst in the home end " moment was when Guedioura burst the ball with his shot against Arsenal. I was right in line with the shot and it was so hard I ciuldnt see it move in the air and just assumed he had row Z'ed it. But then I saw the net bulge and I squeezed my young sons hand so tight in silent celebration that he was in agony for the next ten minutes

 

Or being hungry

 

Some of the ladies serving you in the old Watford Market (hard by Clements) would call you 'Ducks' or, sometimes 'Duckie'. It wasn't uncommon. In Leicester I found that men would often call you 'Me duck' (pronounced with a shortened double o) - bit unnerving the first couple of times.

 

Millwall at the Den pre season friendly 1986. Arrive late for reasons i cant recall. Meet 'big Dave' on the tube who i had got to know on the pre season tour to Sweden. Away turnstiles closed so we go in the home end. Walk around to the side terrace so we can hopefully get escorted to the away bit. Stood right in front of a bit of a mob when suddenly someone grabs me by the shoulders. I jump out of my skin only to turn around to see the smiling face of a Millwall suppporting old school mate!

 

Watched Paul Wilkinson score at Oxford in the home end.

 

Well we are showing our age, hard to believe that’s what games used to be like

 

Saw John Barnes single-handedly destroy West Ham from the home end and owing to failure to sufficiently conceal "HMMMMffffffff" exclamations as the goals flew in from all angles, was eventually challenged as to my allegiance by very pished off 'ammers.

Of course, I stood up and shouted "Yeah, I'm a Hornet! So what? Gold and black mate! Come on then! I'll take you all on, you bunch of whelk munching winkers!"

I certainly wouldn't have been one of those who giggled nervously and said "What, me? Ha ha, no. Don't really follow a team me. Just like watching the football, you know. Ha ha."

Oh no.

 

Where’s the Joka?

 

It was more fun down the other end.

 

Did you also support Wolves at this point?

They might have been Villa fans?

 

Their fans over at the red cafe Seem like a level headed and intelligent bunch.

Probably change if we beat them but was a pleasant read by fans who seem pretty football savvy and unbiased about an upcoming oppo.

 

When I moved to Plymouth and I say ‘thankyou’ when change was given by female servers in shops they often say, in their Devon brogue, “OK my loverrr.”
I know my memory isn’t what it was but I got tired of asking
“Have we met?” or
“Was I any good?”
One even said I wasn’t bad, bless her.

 

We’ll be up for this and give José a tough, nervy 90 minutes.

1-1 Doucouré or Hughes.

 

Well I think Chelsea will beat That rugby team, and I really want to see us top of the league. So keep to winning ways against this mediocre mid table lot with another stubborn defensive display with a solitary Gray goal. Then next weekend once we get a result in the early kick off, we can keep looking at the league table for a couple of hours

 

Doucouré and Hughes?

 

Hopefully but maybe a wise precaution to keep staring at it now.

 

Club going the whole Hogg on Saturday
https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/stars-stripes-its-all-about-you-saturday
Free t shirts for SEJ and family stand to create yellow and black stripes in stands amongst other stuff.

 

Specsavers?



Edit: But if they both score I’ll def watch MOTD.

 

On the lead up to the United game, Jake Humphrey was at the club's training ground.

Here are his thoughts, via his Twitter feed.

Jake Humphrey‏Verified account @mrjakehumphrey 1h1 hour ago

• 
  ATMOSPHERE. It was unreal, everyone walking around with a smile & a bounce. Mid interview Capoue covered Troy, Kabasele & me in water...the thing that usually happens after cup finals! They are buzzing(excuse pun)
  
  
• 
  INTENSITY. I was wrong about ditching Silva. Javi Gracia was central to everything, and he was super-demanding. In the middle of the pitch he was constantly shouting ‘faster’, ‘quicker’, push, push’. Then high-fiving players constantly if they did something well.
  
  
  
• COMPETITIVITY. The fact @T_Deeney staerted our interview with a swollen cheek was testament to the aggression with which they work. He took an elbow from Success. They were moving the ball so fast, and from the moment training started it was clear the staff want max attack
  
  
  
• FITNESSS. Both Troy and Christian told me that pre-season was horrible. Javi puts huge emphasis on fitness, and before Troy arrived Kaba glances across to him & said ‘we’re so fit, he’s playing like a 22 year old’
• NUTRITION. Lots has been made of Troy’s weight-loss, but the whole squad now have a new nutrition plan. No more help-yourself buffets, each player has pre-plated, nutritionally targeted food...Troy names and shames Andre Gray as someone who used to enjoy the breakfast buffet
• 
  
• CONFIDENCE. As we finished, I wished them well for the game on @btsport on Saturday evening, especially against United’s centre-backs. Troy turned around, huge grin...’I think I’ll enjoy this one’ he beamed.
  
  
  
• I’ve been to plenty of training grounds over the years, but this one felt right up there in terms of confidence, belief and positivity. Underpinned by extreme fitness, inspired by Gracia, and buoyed by 4 wins on the spin...
  
  
• Will it be 5 Watford wins on the bounce by Saturday night??