WFC & Our Rivals Run In Fixtures & Results

He has a very irritating mole.

 

So I've heard. His lawn's an absolute mess apparently.

 

Our upcoming fixture against Ipswich isn't looking nearly so scary as it did even a month ago. Bournemouth playing Middlesbrough on the same day is a nice bonus.

 

Where as a few weeks ago I thought we would have to beat Ipswich, Derby and Boro to have a chance. Now, if we did it, we would probably have a toe in the Premier League. Must win at Wigan first though. One game at a time

 

I still think it is, they're exactly the kind of team we always struggle with.

 

Just noticed from the Football League show that Cardiff will have two key players out suspended in their midweek game against Bournemouth including Macheda. Could be a significant factor in the outcome of the game

 

Wins against Wigan and Ipswich, lose against Derby, wins against Middlesbrough, Millwall and Forest, draw against Birmingham and win remaining two against Brighton and Wednesday.

Put your house on it.

 

What? W7 D1 L1 from the final 9? I probably won't put my house on it thanks.

 

We may lose against Birmingham. The rest are nailed on.

 

That and the two sendings off/penalties that Cardiff will suffer during the game itself.

 

Forest away? Nothing bloody nailed on about that one.

 

Now now, it's just the way Bournemouth play the game as opposed to any favouritism towards or gamesmanship by the nicest set of players in the division.

 

What is more interesting is that Bournemouth have the highest number of bookings for diving and the joint highest number of penalties.

 

I hope they hounded all the diving cheats out of their club..........

 

We're normally also notoriously bad at games against teams we should get easy wins against, but we've undone that this season!

 

Yes. And remember that's goals scored from.penalties. It doesn't include missed penalties. Bournemouth have had eleven penalties awarded (we have had six and Boro at least eight too though). So the implication (not the proof mind) is that Bournemouth are diving to gain an advantage and are successfully conning the ref on a number of occasions. That fits with our general perception.

Other things that stand out from the stats:

- we're very good at direct free-kicks. Thank you Mr Tozser (and Mr Abdi)

- we have addressed the 'we don't score from corners' issue - we're now better than most

- Bournemouth really are the slick passing side that is everyone's perception

 

I thought it looked a difficult fixture too at first, until I noticed it falls into the "three wins" part of the pattern. Derby and Birmingham are the lucky "lose/draw" parts.

 

Hope no-ones bought Brighton travel yet -

https://twitter.com/watfordfcsays/status/577508247902511104

 

yup, bought well in advance, but fortunately only a fiver from Victoria to Brighton....

 

Anyway the Championship is the place to be currently. Much more exciting than the Premier League! Everything is possible. But I really hope we achieve automatic promotion!

 

Andy D'Urso ref for our game against ITFC.

 

Another huge weekend coming up.

Friday - Wolves v Derby
Saturday 12.45 Muff v Boro

And that' before we play Ipswich!!!

 

We'd have to lose by 3 or more and muff need to win for us not to be in the top 2 during the intl break.

 

he's reffed this fixture regularly in the past - usually favours the home side! famous last words....

 

Howe is starting to sound like Mourinho:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31942735

 

disagree , i think we`d be howling if that was us

 

He's got a point. Why was it disallowed?

 

I'm baffled too mate. But we'll accept it!

 

About time things didn't go their way.

 

Offside ... once it hit the bar it started a new phase

But really it's deliberate obstruction and has been punished by referees for years.

 

Offside? OK maybe. If a pen taker hits the woodwork he's not allowed to follow it in? If it comes back off the keeper he is (Iggy v Brentford at home). How about if the keeper and then the woodwork or vice versa?

Obstruction? Yep refs keep giving it. If he's tracking the keeper across the penalty area then fine. But standing in one place with his back to goal outside the pen area? Mmm ...

 

I must admit I didn't really understand what the fuss was about. I don't know the letter of the law in this occasion, but it seems like something that it given as a foul pretty commonly. Looks like there's just a fuss being made because it happened to the nation's favourite team and prevented them from retaining their rightful place at the top of the league.

 

Disagree. The important thing is to know the letter of the law and not just side one way or the other because it's B'muff. I'm not sure of the letter of the law here either which is why I asked. All the facts are pretty clear. Keeper kicks from hand, ball hits Wilson two yards away, ball balloons on to bar and Wilson follows up and taps in. The only unclear 'fact' is whether Wilson was being deliberately obstuctive or not. It's not a free-kick so no need to be ten yards away.

GF sounds right to me given the similarity to a pen coming back off the woodwork. No doubt the ref does know the law chapter and verse. So should Eddie Howe. I'd just like to be sure he's wrong before calling him a twunt and assuming he is just coz it's B'muff.

 

Danny Graham got booked for a similar incident for us a few years back. Iirc DG was a good 10 metres from the keeper and jogging back towards the halfway line at the time.