African Nations Cup

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by The Voice of Reason, Jul 5, 2021.

  1. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    I'm sure there is a Thread on this somewhere, but I could not find it, so apologies if there is.

    Is anyone else a bit worried about the number of African players we already have on our books and the amount we are being linked to possibly signing?

    If we end up with a lot of the African players we are being linked with in addition to those we already have, I can see our team being decimated during the African nations cup this season.

    What do you think guys?
     
  2. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

    Yep. Barely slept last night.
     
  3. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    I think we'll be down by Christmas so there's nothing to worry about.
     
  4. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    I’m more worried about the number of threads on it
     
    Lloyd and Burnsy like this.
  5. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    We get AFCON bonus points from the PL don't forget.
     
    RS2 likes this.
  6. GarbeliaHornet

    GarbeliaHornet Academy Graduate

    Every team will face a fairly significant impact, including us. But we'd still have:

    Bachmann - Rose, Kabasele (Cathcart), Sierralta, Kiko, Chalobah, Hughes (Louza), Baah, Pedro, Zinc, Cucho (Dennis? He seems to drift between unused sub, late sub and not in squad)

    The only possibly major absences will be Sarr (definitely), Masina (possibly), WTE (not massive, but definitely absent) and possibly Dennis (only if he sets the world on fire).

    In my opinion, there is no point worrying about a generalisation of linked Pozzo signings, many of which probably won't happen.
     
  7. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Louza could be representing Morocco. Baah is heading out on loan apparently.
     
    GarbeliaHornet likes this.
  8. GarbeliaHornet

    GarbeliaHornet Academy Graduate

    I originally had a question mark there, but since he has only represented France U21s, I decided to omit it.

    Baah could obviously be substituted, and the team shuffled around, but he is our only certified LW, so I just chucked him in as it wasn't relevant to the point I was trying to make.
     
    RS2 likes this.
  9. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    I know other teams will be affected, but quite a few of our likely regular 1st eleven could well be missing for us, furthermore as I mentioned earlier many of the better players that we are being linked with are also African.

    Therefore if we manage to recruit any of the Africans we are being linked with, they could well become regular 1st eleven players too which could mean we will be significantly weakened if they then all go off to the African Nations Cup.
     
  10. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    Our best three players, in an attacking sense, will almost certainly be Sarr, Dennis and Louza, however, I believe Louza has pinned his colours to the French flag and wants to represent them rather than Morocco.

    WTE will probably be our first choice CB, unless (hopefully) we sign a better CB before then end of this window. I doubt Success will be part of the equation for us next season. Dele-Bashiru qualifies for Nigeria and has represented them at U20 & U23 level, although I don't think he'll be part of our squad next season.

    Masina will be a loss, however, Rose should be first choice next season, but we'll be vulnerable if he gets injured.

    So for me, the biggest impact will be losing Sarr and Dennis (if he is picked). We probably could cover the loss of other players quite comfortably.
     
  11. Supertommymooney

    Supertommymooney Squad Player

    I am available if needed, and can confirm I have never been previously selected by an African national team.
     
    Ybotcoombes likes this.
  12. Cassetti's Beard

    Cassetti's Beard First Team

    Cheers, Geoff.
     
  13. Cude>2<

    Cude>2< First Team Captain

    We're gonna win the African Nations cup.
     
  14. On the 0ne hand it concerning how many players we could lose, on the other we gain an interest in the competition and a nation to cheer for
     
  15. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Whoever Nigeria are playing, so our players can return sooner?
     
  16. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Have they done the draw yet ?
     
  17. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    If Leventhal is correct and countries expect their players to be available two weeks before the tournament starts, then all of our African contingent will be missing for the Christmas/New Year period as well. We'll also have the FA Cup at the start of January.
     
  18. Its 9th Jan - 6th Feb

    2 weeks before is the 26th

    So if Nigeria/Senegal get to the final they miss 5 games
    26/12 Wolves away
    28/12 Wet Spam home
    1/1 Spuds home
    15/1 Newkey away
    22/1 5 fingers at home

    Screw the FA cup

    If the club bung the Nigerian/Senegal coach a few quid they might be alright with getting them after the Wolves game on the 27th or 28th, in which case its just 4 games

    Send a plane to pick them up on the 6th straight after the game and get them back for the 8th Wet Spam away
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2021
    RS2 likes this.
  19. Moosegasm

    Moosegasm Reservist

    If Dennis going to Afcon makes us weaker that would mean he's come good which would be a big net gain for us over the season as a whole. The big one is Sarr - obviously a huge loss. There may however be quarantine rules in place by then that make it impossible for players to travel. We have decent cover for Troost. Sema King/Gray Pedro is fine by me during Afcon and Chalobah Hughes Clevs is a decent midfield if Louza goes Moroccan. I don't wanna put any pressure on JP at all but if he makes the same progress this season as last, it will be a wonderful thing to see as a Watford fan. Sarr and JP could well prove to be the heirs to Blissett and Barnes. Here's hoping.
     
  20. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    I think we’ll win it
     
    La_tempesta_cielo_68 likes this.
  21. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Unless he plays well for us until December and then phones it in!
     
  22. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    I'm looking forward to the Afcon more than the new EPL season
     
  23. Moosegasm

    Moosegasm Reservist

    I'm hoping if he can get his A into gear itll be permanent.
     
  24. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    We are still being linked to a lot of players who are likely to be involved in the Afcon Cup, is not that guy we have signed on loan from Stoke yet another one. I'm seriously worried we will have a big hole in our squad for the duration of that competition and I believe the players also join their respective countries squads at least 2 weeks before the Afcon starts.
     
  25. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Being linked to players guaranteed to be available during that period would require us to take an extra trip to the ATM machine, however, and we don't appear to be at liberty to do that. And that's not even to mention the VAT tax on top. Perhaps we should be looking in another market, like The MLS.
     
  26. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Ridiculous worrying about players we sign disappearing for AFCON duty in a couple of months.

    By that point, the majority of them will be injured, hideously out of form, or a combination of both.
     
  27. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Can’t wait to see Cathcart starting during AFCON.
     
  28. Johnny Todd Sings

    Johnny Todd Sings First Year Pro

    I think he could do a job for Lesotho.
     
    Jumbolina likes this.
  29. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Louza has decided to represent Morocco apparently. So that's another one gone in January!
     
  30. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    If selected.
     
  31. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    We could lose seven of our players to the African Nations Cup for about six weeks just after Christmas. Admittedly some of them would not be a great loss, but about 4/5 of them would leave a big hole in our 1st team squad: -

    Success (Nigeria) Would not really be a loss; Dele-Bashiru (Nigeria) Could be a big loss if he fulfils his potential and plays his way into our regular squad; Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) Likely to be a regular 1st team player so would be a big loss; Massina (Morocco) Another likely 1st team regular so would also be a big loss; Sarr (Senegal) Would obviously be a huge loss; Emanuel Dennis (Nigeria) Will possibly be a regular match day squad member, so possibly would be missed; Etebo (Nigeria) Is shaping up to be a likely regular 1st team starter, so very likely to be missed, and finally Louza who has now declared he wants to represent Morocco, and is also shaping up to be a regular 1st team regular, so would probably also be greatly missed.

    It's very likely that at least four of these guys will be going to the ANC, and possibly the other three too, so we could be looking forward to very dodgy 6 weeks after Christmas IMO.
     
  32. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Something to look forward to.
     
    The Voice of Reason likes this.
  33. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    It really doesn't bear thinking about. Given the state of some of the backups imagine losing TE, Sarr, Louaza and Etebo for 6 matches.
     
  34. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    All miss winnable games too .

    Typical!
     
  35. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

    During AFCON:

    Bachmann
    Femenia
    Cathcart
    Sierralta
    Rose
    Cleverley
    Gosling
    Kucka
    Pedro
    Deeney
    Cucho
     

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