Oppo Forum: https://avftt.co.uk/index.php?forums/avftt-forum.2/ So after a brave effort from our youngsters, we bowed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle. For a club with as many injuries as we have, that is a good thing, we cannot handle extra games right now. Although losing Bacuna was a blow, he was essentially only a stop gap before any new players come into the fold. One we did see was Kone. Despite having a few wayward shots and joining the "I cannot take a set peice" club, he was full of effort and running and should fit in well to the first team plans. Having deservedly beaten Norwich last time out, we welcome the Tangerines back to the Vic. It doesn't seem all that long ago that we witnessed a brilliant free kick equalizing goal at Bloomfield Road from our much missed midfielder Louza. However, we were awful that day and the 3-1 loss was more than justified. One of our most memorable wins over them at the Vic is the 7-2 slaughter of a second half after being 2-0 down at the break. We had a very good side back then, and a lot has changed for both teams over the seasons since. This season, Blackpool are in a terrible run of form. Not counting their impressive 4-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, they have not won in nine Championship games, and are becoming a bit of a draw specialist side. This statistic worries me the most. No win in nine you say? Enter Watford. We are the perfect side to play to break a rut, just ask Swansea City fans and the multitude of other sides who have broken their barren spell of form by outplaying us home or away. I hope we can push on and finally put this trait to bed for once. Looking at the table it is incredible how close it is at the moment. One win can catapult a side in 16th into Playoff sniffers, and one defeat can drop a side in 5th like a stone down to 11th. All we can do is look after ourselves and hope other teams results go our way if we win. Blackpool have already shown us how not play against them once this season, and a win for the oranges would make them the second side to do the "double" over us, having let Millwall pull out shorts down twice this season. Bilic will again be having to chop and change with the very limited first team players we have fit. I expect Sarr and Bayo will both start, with the return of Cathcart in defence, and Bachmann between the sticks. Kone will be a welcome new addition to our much weakened midfield alongside a hopeful return of Choudhury. It's still up in the air if Martins will be able to play with work permit problems still an issue. This month is going to be pivotal for our chances of where we finish this season. A successful window coupled with a return of a few players could really help us push for a top six finish which is realistically our best bet as challenging for top two is out of the question unless we go on a very long purple streak of wins. Bilic has been able to get a tune out of the squad since his arrival, and despite poor performances in a few games we are still well placed right now to at least challenge. I hope we turn up on Saturday, as building on the win at Norwich with another three points will keep the chasing pack behind us for another week at least. Watford 1 Blackpool 0
I got my draught papers through today so need to appear for the side on Saturday. Apparently any able-bodied male living in Herts aged 13 to 60 is now liable to be called up. @NathWFC and @wfcmoog are exempt as conscientious-objectors. Must win game. WFC 1 (TuT, 90) B 1 (Dave Bamber 13)
I just checked our squad list. If you take out the injured and ineligible, we only have 16 first team players available. If you consider 3 of those are keepers, we only really have 15 players. Players available:- Bachmann, Hamer, Morris, Gaspar, Ngakia, Ferreira, Cathcart, WTE, Pollock, Sierralta, Kone, Sarr, Hungbo, Aprilla, Bayo. Clearly Okoya is also available. Martins we don't know the WP situation, so I'm assuming he won't be cleared to play but we may be lucky enough to have Choudhury back. Either way, it's pretty grim reading right now.
Watch us rush Choudhury back, and then see him carried off after 33 mins, after 5 mins of limping and pleading with the bench to be taken off.
Are the players doing the basics in terms of warm up? Any ex/semi pro players here or experts who could give a view? I never really watch how they warm up but seems to me could account for a lot of our injuries
I expect/hope to see Grieves on the bench and maybe Andrews although we have 2 other RBs so prob not. Interesting to see if Bilic goes 3 at the back which would make sense given where all the injuries are, however we always get completely over run when we have 2 in midfield so I think he'll play a midfield 3 of Kone, Gaspar and hopefully Choudry with Asprilla joining Bayo and Sarr up top.
It's too early in the week to decide if we have a chance or not. There maybe incoming to help, there may be some available at least for the squad such as Choudhury and Sema. Either way, almost certain to play 3 at the back at home.
I have asked if I can play CB, my regular position, but been warned that I'm too young and they probably need my legs in midfield, alongside Cathcart.
A loss here on the back of an encouraging win at Norwich would be just the ticket. Take the wind out of the sails of the clappers and CoGers.
Bachmann Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Cathcart Ngakia, Choudhury, Kone, Sema (Morris) Asprilla, Bayo, Sarr Don't have a great feeling about this to be honest.
"Our world becomes one of salads and sun Only a fool would say that". Two for the price of one this match on 'DanWatch'!
Given it's now the 10th and we knew about the situation it's absolutely obscene. If we don't get a couple in before Blackpool then Bilic will rightly be absolutely furious.
Bringing my youngest daughter to this. None of my kids have ever seen us lose their first game. I saw us win my first ever game. If we lose I will be blaming it all on her.
I said previously that the club have a decision to make regarding the size of the squad when the injured players are back. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if we didn't do much this month and wait it out in the hope that Louza, Cleverley, Kayembe, JP and Davis are all back in the next 6 weeks.
I believe they've started warming up already. No hamstring injuries this week, but they'all be too knackered to move.
Or the fave chorus of all players leaving WFC: "Any club that I'm welcome to Is better than the one I've come from"
