It's no doubt going to be a cagey affair. Hopefully we can get to see some progress in the new formation and see the pressing game used properly. 0-0 or a 1-0 to the orns.
Feel free to skip this long, sentimental post. The first day of the season is usually one of optimism and excitement and, to a degree it is, although it's a bittersweet one for me as it's the first match since my Dad died at the start of June. I let our season tickets go at the end of last season because I knew Dad was unlikely to be well enough to go to a game again. I wasn't sure I wanted to sit in the same place, with someone else in 'his' seat. Relegation and increased work commitments will also make it difficult for me to make too many games. The last game we went to together was the 3-2 defeat to Everton before lockdown. Typically, we weren't able to go to the Liverpool match, which was the final one before Covid paused the world. That would have been a nicer 'last' memory than throwing away a 2-0 lead in injury time at the end of the first half and losing it in injury time at the end of the second! But I suppose it's somewhat apt that our final shared experience at Vicarage Road was so incredibly Watford-y. A lifetime on the rollercoaster summed up in one crazy game. I can still remember holding his hand as we walked down the terrace to find a spot before my first game in 1983. I'd been pestering him for months to take me to a game. I vividly remember sitting on the stairs at home as he headed off to one of the Uefa Cup games one Tuesday night. I asked him to take me and he promised he'd take me to the next Saturday afternoon one. My first away game was the FA Cup semi-final against Plymouth at Villa Park and by that time I was absolutely hooked and asked him every day if we could go to the final. Dad could have got a terrace ticket for himself for the final but but he chose not to he thought the terraces of the old Wembley were probably not ideal for an eight-year-old and so tried to get a couple of seats in the general sale but was unsuccessful. It probably explains my 35-year obsession with getting to another cup final and, despite the result, just being able to go to a final with Dad will be a treasured memory. Dad first went t0 Vicarage Road in 1951 or 52, when they still played in blue. He watched Holton, Scullion, Eddy, Welbourne. He reckons he stood near Reg Dwight 'on the bend'. He went to Kenilworth Road in 1969 for a game that was abandoned following a huge snowstorm – and the re-arranged game that saw scraps on the pitch (Endean and Walley were sent off) and on the terraces. He remembered the cup sixth round win over Liverpool fondly and the semi-final against Chelsea in 1970 slightly less fondly. After we beat Bolton 2-0 at Wembley in 1999, our group returned to Watford and ended up in the Old Westminster pub at the top of The Parade, near the Pond. At about 8pm, Dad produced – from nowhere, it seemed – a lunchbox filled with little sandwiches and cocktail sausages. I still don’t know how he concealed the lunchbox all day, or if it even went to Wembley with us, but as the beers started to kick in, we were delighted. In later years, we came to fit the stereotypical view of the Upper Rous inhabitants. Dad occasionally brought a half-time snack, though drew the line at a flask. When we played Liverpool on the opening day a few years ago, and unveiled Marco Silva as the new manager, he offered me a sandwich at half-time. It was a delicious, but was an elaborate, messy and slightly unusual concoction. As I opened the foil and this thing started to ooze and drip over my hands, I could tell that between the two slices of bread was a slice ham, some thinly sliced steak, sausage meat, cheese and a meaty gravy that also had a hint of chilli. ‘It’s very nice, I said, ‘but what is it?’ ‘Oh, just something I put together earlier,’ he said. Later on, as we left the ground following Britos’s last-gasp equaliser, he explained that the sandwich had been his take on the Portuguese franchesinha; and was his culinary welcome to our new manager. It’s funny the little memories that pop up after a near 40-year relationship with a football club; a relationship inherited from my Dad and therefore completely bound up with friends and family. It’s why, when I think of tonight’s game, I am less concerned by who will and who won’t be in the starting XI but instead my mind drifts back to an FA Cup tie against Sheffield United in 1985. It was played on a near-frozen pitch and I remember it because Luther gave ex-Liverpool defender Phil Thompson a terrible afternoon (we won 5-0 and Luther scored four), and because it was one of only two or three occasions Dad and I sat in the old Shrodells stand which, believe it or not, was something of a treat back then.
Went for a walk this morning and can't say I saw any villagers in footie kits! I did attract a few wasps in my yellow top however. I do love a pie but have only managed a pasty this far. Lovely though.
Been so disengaged with all things Watford this year but for the first time since Norwich (H) last season I am buzzing to be at the Vic again tonight! COYH!!!!!
A lovely post. If it is sentimental, it shows what it means to be a long-term supporter of a football club like ours. I really hope you can ’EnjoytheGame’ tonight.
That would be very disappointing. Given the build up I’d expect to see Sarr and Dennis starting or at least one starting and one on the bench.
Yes going to be a huge statement when we see that teamsheet. Not that I think they will both stay but would be good to know Edwards thinks their heads "are in the right place" to play, and Gino/Scott allow him to pick them. If they don't play of course questions will rightly be asked.
If we start tonight with Dennis, Sarr and JP in attack, we will all feel excited I’m sure but a note of caution. Between them they’ve only scored 4 league goals in 2022. Dennis and JP 2 each, Sarr 0. On an optimistic note though, Brighton have been the only side to have beaten us on the opening day of our season in the last 15 years. A very impressive record!
Great post. Dare I say "post of the season" contender early doors? 30 likes says a lot. Well said - hope we win especially now
I'm feeling excited about tonight's match. Until the team news drops at 7 that Sarr and Dennis are out due to 'minor knocks'.
To be replaced by Kalu and Fletcher lol I mentioned it elsewhere on here, but it’s quite possible we start tonight without any of our new signings.
Good point , just bet against the Orns , I may be miserable later but at least I gain compensation lol.
A back three of WTE, Cathcart and Kabasele. Won't happen thank god but could you imagine.... Actually, don't.
I'm going to say Preston were the last team to beat us on the opening weekend prior to Brighton? I know we lost 2-1 at the Vic (Boothroyd promotion season). Only reason I remember is we drew 3-3 at Plymouth soon after, then beat Cardiff.
nah it’s full of Liverpool and Man U fans , I live in Exeter and it has also gone very upmarket and cosmopolitan in the last few years (well bits of it)
rumour (on one of the crap football news sites) that Starr has a knock / flair up of old injury - hopefully not true
First day line-ups are always a bit underwhelming so don't get hopes up. I'm sure Kamara will stupidly be at RWB for instance.
Better to lose the first game than the very last game, this match is simply an elaborate pre-season encounter. 6-3 to us
You’d better get out of the city on Thursday though...seems Truss and Sunak are there! Lovely city btw. I used to work at Sowton.
Not going to lie, the adrenaline rush has hit me this afternoon. Whatever I think about the ownership I'm pretty excited about having a head coach that actually coaches the team. Good luck Rob, you sexy b@stard.
why is everyone overlooking the fact Semir is still here and could well be playing? If Dennis and Sarr are going to feature then there is no reason why Semir wouldn't
Judging by Kamara’s story, he’s starting. So is Dennis. Pedro has posted as well. Not sure who is next to Dennis in the picture.
