Watched the 2-2 at my cousin's house up in Manchester as it was the night before my Grandad's funeral. It ensured I had a massive hangover to send him off. My wife's from Derby but has lived down here for over 20 years and is a definite hornet. Her sister and husband are Derby fans, but are the worst sort of football supporter - season tickets when they were in the premier league, along with replica shirts, face paint and big foam hands, but a distinct lack of interest once they went down, though he still follows them from afar. They don't understand going for a few beers before a game either.
Agree apart from Ngakia. Kiko is a potential POTS and is a class above this league. Ngakia is limited.
A quick perusal of the Derby forum is amusing. They seem to think they have a chance of avoiding a drubbing because 'we apparently didn't look good against Preston' and 'we weren't all that against QPR'. Very cute. It will be an evening of disappointment and cold reality for the Rams I fear. Prediction Watford 5-2 Derby Sarr (38, 45+1), Joao Pedro (73), Sema (78, 88), Hughes (sent off 30); Hughes (og 12, Hughes og 29)
Kiko is too good for this league but I think Ngakia actually looked very good at times under Ivic playing as a wing back. He's quite skillful and got into some dangerous positions. Would be interesting to see him in the team now we've got more license to attack.
A fair bit of talk about resting players, and understandably so. But no one has mentioned Cleverly, who must have done the running of two men last match and is the wrong side of 30.
It’s a tough one for Xisco Munoz, does he start the same team? Does he rest one or two? If so who rotates? Personally I don’t want to see too many changes, we need to be playing the same system. maybe something like: Bachman Ngakia Troost-Ekong Sieralta Lazaar Gosling Chalobah Hughes Sarr JP Ken
Interesting that they were watching out game against Preston when they were playing themselves. To be fair we were crap against Q.P.R, and Coventry if we play like that we won’t get anything. Lucky for us we seem to have turned a corner. Mind you they have won 4 of their last 5 so it won’t be as simple as the league table suggests, all be it they got spangled by Rotherham last week and needed a last minute winner against Wycombe last night, and by all accounts Wycombe outplayed Derby last night, so much so that Rooney said in his post match interview that Wycombe deserved the win.
Yeah I think Gosling is the perfect replacement as well, he is full of running. Cleverley was excellent last night again but would rather give him a rest and have him raring to go against Blackburn.
So the Baaa Baaa Sheep come rolling into town. Rooney's Rams have certainly picked up of late, becoming a side surging into almost mid table. Never a dull game with them. We haven't drawn 0-0 with them since 2000, a boring game that only came to life when Helguson came on. I tipped Derby to win the Championship this season, sorely wrong in that prediction. If we play the same side more or less, we should win. Gray can come on when we are leading by three or more. Cannot see Deeney back for a bit, not a bad thing. I think we'll win, but I am not expecting them to roll over like Bristol City did, they will give us a game. 2-1
What's all this about resting players? We've won 2 games in a row, and strolled through the last 60 mins against Bristol City. There's no need to rest or swap anyone. Same team again and lets get a bit of momentum going.
Iggy's assist to his own assist for Vydra's opening goal and his chest down in the 1-2 with Guedioura deserve a mention too - back when he could control a ball as well as score. God, we had so many good players at or approaching their peak back then (even the often maligned Paredes had several assists that season) - sigh...
https://www.watfordfc.com/news/troy-deeney-upbeat-despite-scan-results Posted in his Team Bus thread... But reading between the lines a bit, I’d say Deeney is unlikely to play again this season by the sounds of it.
Yeah, wow, two weeks before he's even out of the boot and ready for a second scan to determine what their course of rehab is actually going to be. His time required to get back to 'fitness' alone has basically ruled him out for the remainder, even if it's a best-case-scenario prognosis.
I hope you get the spiritual breakthrough you’re praying for Chum. As for Troy, I wish him well with the rehab. Been a fantastic player over the years. May need to accept what the physios and doctors tell him, and not rush back. Whilst most fans would like a near-fit Deeney as an option from the bench to see tight games out during the run-in, the best case scenario is a Watford team that can gain promotion, playing like the quality team they are. And they need to find the cojones to do it, regardless of whether Captain Cojones is chatting on a radio, training on his own, or giving the team talks.
Surest sign yet that he will be playing on Friday. Welcome back Troy, let's really show these youngsters how to score.
Troy was pretty much injury free for years, but the injuries are catching up with him. He has been fantastic over the years, and was key to us getting in the Prem and in the early seasons staying there.
Yes Derby were outplayed but Wycombe Ikpeazu scored an own goal for WW and then a proper one and Derby scored a 94th minute winner so hardly convincing!
I obviously don't have any actual ill-will towards him, and yes the dream scenario is him magicalyl regenerated scoring the promotion goal or something, but I still just don't trust Xisco not to **** it all up and jam him into the team regardless of suitability whenever he is available, so this is really the safest way to do it. Both Troy and the various coaching staff have also shown time and again that they aren't prepared to listen/pay attention to important data like 'whether he's fit and injury-free enough to actually play a game', so the more drastic it's ruled the most he's kept away and the less tempted they all collectively are to conspire to chuck him on in a first half substitution having had the requisite 25 minutes rehabilitation time.
Yep. A club legend and there have been very few of those in recent times. The highlights video of his watford career will be utterly sensational.
Friday's lineup might be this... Bachman Masina Troost-Ekong Sierralta Ngakia Cleverley Hughes Gosling Sema Gray Sarr
It would make more sense to rest Cleverley than it would Chalobah, if we buy into the idea of resting any players for this third match of the run - Cleverley has played 26 games and 75% of minutes this season whilst the wrong side of 30 in the highest energy role on the pitch - particularly, he's started every one of the last 15 games and played 60 minutes or more of every single one of them; eight of those the full 90, including the most recent. We will also need Cleverley to be fit and raring to go thanks to this Chalobah yellow card thing, of which much is being made but what exactly are we going to do; sub him off every time he gets his warning from the ref? Are we really basing our thinking around the idea that our somewhat brainless defensive midfielder can avoid getting a single yellow card in the course of the next seven games? That being said, fixture-wise we have Blackburn and then Muff after Derby. The next two after that are Wycombe and Forest. So, I think we all know exactly when, and against whom, Natty should be bringing out his mini-reducer.
Hopefully same line up as previous two games, if we have to rest JP let’s try somebody other than Gray if we want automatic promotion , which is now a slight possibility we need to go full out for every game , clearly we need to avoid unnecessary injuries , but need to balance this against the need to keep the pressure up on the three above us. A 3 mill to us would be ideal
I think he should start with same 11 but aim to pull a few off if they are showing signs of wearyness.? We've got some decent cover now but I wonder who else can fit into the centre three if needed.? Chabs will get his ban soon and Gosling can cover, but what if cleverley or Hughes get a strain.? Surely Zinc won't be used there so is it then down to Wilmot or an U23 (or have I missed the obvious?)
