So after an entertaining 0-0 against newly promoted Plymouth, the 'Orns go up north to Stoke for our first away game of the season. As it stands we are currently 3rd in the league (behind the only 2 100% teams Ipswich and Leicester) whilst being the only side not to have conceded a goal in the opening 2 games. Our hosts are currently lying in 13th with 3 points from their 2 games having scored 4 and conceeded 3. On our last visit to the horribly named bet365 Stadium, we put in one of the very few convincing performances of last season - running out 0-4 winners (Cookie for anyone who can remember another 4-0 win that season!). That performance saw the beginning of the short (for anyone else) tenure of one Slaven Bilic, and it appeared that maybe Mr Gino had found us the right man to take us forward (spoiler: he hadn't!). Featuring a first half strike from one Ismaila Sarr, assisted by Hassane Kamara, and a Daniel Bachmann booked for time wasting in the 32nd minute, half time impressions weren't overly positive. However... The substitution of Yasser Asprilla for Imran Louza on the hour mark saw an upturn in the performance and Ken Sema added a second on 64', before Keinan Davis scored on 78' and Vakoun Bayo completed the rout 3 minutes after being brought on in the 84th minute. How things went downhill from there. After a miserable campaign, including a second managerial change that brought in Chris Wilder, we again battled Stoke on the final day of last season - running out 2-0 winners courtesy of Imran Louza (70') and Keinan Davis (74'). That game however will probably be more remembered as the final league game in which Local Man, Christian Kabasele, played for the mighty Hornets. More recently, Stoke have started the season with a 4-1 victory at home to 10 man Rotherham on the opening day, followed up by a 2-1 victory at home to West Brom in the Carabao Cup. In their last game, the Potters lost 2-0 to the "mighty Ipswich" at Portman Road. Their line-up that day was as follows: Mark Travers (GK) Enda Stevens Ben Wilmot Michael Rose Ki-Jana Hoever Josh Laurent (C) Ben Pearson André Vidigal Daniel Johnson (Sol Sidibe 82') Chiquino (Wesley Morales 34') Ryan Mmaee (Dwight Gale 74') Looking at their forum (https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/board/2/stoke-city-fc) it seems the general consensus is that generally speaking they were poor - with special mentions going to Laurent and Mmaee. Moving on to Watford, there were many positives to be had from our performance against Plymouth: - We looked like a team (a low bar true but you have to start somewhere) - There were signs of an identity and patterns of play that have come from the work done in pre-season - The players look hungry and fit (I'm reliably informed this is because we didn't have Edwards running pre-season) - Wesley Hoedt showed the quality that we need in a team looking to play out from the back There were a few negatives but if we are looking for a year of rebuilding, and so mid-table, then it's encouraging to see Ismael and the team sticking with the plan - including players who might need more time to bed into the system than others. Rumours also seem to suggest that new signings Tom Ince and Jamal Lewis might be ready to feature on Saturday, and they could both be upgrades on Sema and Morris from last weekend - another reason for quiet optimism. Maybe Rhys Healy will get his first start, or perhaps we will stick with Bayo - or maybe (fingers crossed!) the blokes upstairs will find us a quality number 9 in the Ighalo/Vydra/Deeney mould to fire us up the table. It will be interesting to see how we approach a league match away from home under Ismael for the first time, as if Stoke press well they could get the crowd onside and test our nerves with the ball at the back. Stoke 0-2 Watford (Louza, Martins) I'll finish up with an honourable mention to our Bedfordshire fellows, who have had to request a postponement for their match against Vincent Kompany's Burnley as their delightful stadium is still undergoing decontamination/redevelopment. COYH
I hope we batter Stoke, as my dads other half and her daughter support them and I don’t want to face them having the bragging rights over Sunday dinner next week.
We've very much had the upper hand over them in recent years, hopefully there's more of the same to come, but the playing field is a lot more even now (quite possibly tilted in their favour)
I think this will be another frustrating afternoon. We’ll play well but miss our chances and Bachmann’s luck will finally run out as he gets caught in the ball. Stoke 1 Watford 0
More than rumours, it's straight from the horse's mouth (hope Val doesn't mind being called a horse!). Would imagine Lewis slots in ahead of Morris sooner or later, but I wonder where Ince is going to play, I'd have thought he'd probably go on the right as I believe he's played more football there recently and considering Val seems to like inverted wingers
That was really good. You did however miss out one vital sentence for a Stoke away fixture. "Can we do it on a cold and wet afternoon in Stoke?" Joking aside, I liked the small recap of last seasons depressing lull. As for the game, it's going to be close one. I am with HB1 in the sense we may see our run of clean sheets in the league spoilt in the wash basket as Bachmann is lobbed from 10 yards. Stoke are an odd side, never really challenged to get back into the Premier League since relegation, but then again don't really ever look like going down. Good fanbase, big stadium despite the dreadful name. I think this might be another draw, but it would mean 3 without defeat. Away games are always very hard to call, and if Stevenage in the Cup was anything to go by, this could be a tough afternoon. Stoke 1 Watford 1
Will go for a 3-1 win. Will be the game Bachmann is finally punished for a poor pass I think but with how we played against Plymouth, goals will come.
Based on their game against Ipswich, they looked poor. It is only 2 games in, so it’s way to early to judge, but if they play the same way against us like they did Ipswich then we will win. Hopefully we bring in a striker by Tuesday at the latest. I do think we will see at least 1 signing this week, maybe 2. VI has clearly identified what he wants, now let’s hope we see some movement and land our number 1 targets as VI stated.
Re the redevelopment of Kennel Rd. I believe they should treat it like Fred Wests house or any other home based serial killer and view it as land so poisoned from the psycho geographic toxicity of its history that the only solution is to destroy all standing structures and build a memorial peace park in its place .
Going to this one , looking forward to the 15 hour walk to the ground from the station . Probably about easier to walk there from Watford Junction .
I remember going to Stoke when we beat them 2-0 in the Prem a few years ago, Deeney scored and can't remember who got the other. Stayed in the Holiday Inn next door. What a life.
Yes a lovely crisp finish. A shame how his career faded away after that game, largely the result of injury.
Surprised you could get a room with all those Hollywood types booking everything up round the Bet365.
True. Well spotted. (Anyone can edit) Wiki's total goals row for 2015/16 doesn't add up correctly. S/be "2" not "1"
Bachmann to be extra cocky at his old club, passes to a Stoke player 30 yards out and finally gets punished.
Or Sarr vs WBA last year. Although in that case the keeper was out near the penalty spot when Sarr hit his shot, you could argue it would be fairly common to be that far out.
