I fear you may be right too. But there is no reason why we won't get better. Big clubs usually disappoint in our division. Did anybody think Wolves would go down, Bolton wouldn't be top 6, Forest wouldn't be Top 6, Blackburn would implode etc etc. Keep the faith!
Don't forget that West Ham missed out on the last day last season and won the Playoffs. They weren't a goal away from the Premier League though.
The canut won't beat Brighton. So it's irrelevant in my opinion. Incidentally, it's been nearly 30 years that a side not in the Top 2 on the last day of the season won automatic promotion.
Blown our chance? We had Almunia injured before kick off. Bond got ****ed by a little **** who should never be allowed to kick a football again (just my opinion), and let's all send out best wishes to Bondy. We beat a good side at their place (Leicester), and apparently at our place. We will have a battle in the final against Brighton or Palarse, but **** it, we've been there before in 99 and 06. Let's get behind the lads!!!!
Saying we have blown our chance is my opinion. Circumstances did not go with us today but at the end of the day we had 10 minutes left where all we had to do was score one goal. We couldn't do this. We do have a chance in the play offs but with an unfit Almunia, a jaded Vydra and suspended Deeney our odds have lengthened. Football is all about opinions and nerves are a little frayed for most on here. Always nice to see newcomers on here, you're not Chris Bottom under a different username are you? I think you would get on with him.
Spot on really, once the two penalties had happened at the KC we had just over 10 minutes to bag a goal and I really thought we'd do it and the fact that it was there for the taking is what makes it even harder to take. Had they beaten Cardiff then you'd say fair do's there's nothing we could have done that would have made any difference but it's galling to have been a goal away and seeing Hull's celebrations is painful. Fear for us in the play-offs to be honest, our form is patchy and i'm sure our confidence is shot after today. It'll take a lot of work from the coaching team to pick the side up after today and be ready for Thursday. Deeney was stupid, he's had a great season but let himself, the fans and his team mates down today. Two amateurish yellow cards and now he's ruled out for Thursday, d*ck. Really feel for Bonham today, thrown in at the deep end but let's face it he probably should have stopped that last goal. Not at fault for the first, it was a huge stroke of luck that hit that c*nt and bounced through. Bang on that, silly boy. You're embarrassing yourself. Surprised? I'd say getting d*cked on 6-1 at home would mean you'd be up for revenge.
The only small small small consolation..and you might argue it is a technicality..but we didn't LOSE promotion today, we failed to WIN it. It's not as if we were 2-1 up and conceeded in injury time. Yes victory was there for the taking, and i though NC had scored when Kenny made that double save..but really i feel we were too conservative earlier in the half and left it all too late. Logic now suggests we'll be spent for the play offs (Zola already tonight talking of tiredness) and that Leicester will be on a real high after sneaking in today. That may well be true. But remember Leicester didn't arrive in 6th place today on the back of a run of 10 unbeaten games..they're not in great form either.
You will feel differently in 2 days time, I'm sure Listen, I can understand being downbeat. I wasn't there today, but I have been there before. This is the best team I have seen since '86 I was at Wembley in '99 and Cardif in '00, and both time we were the underdog. This time we aren't which means we've got to start supporting like we're favourites. **** all that negative **** you have inside you. NOW IS the time to get behind THE BOYS!!!!!!!
Just got in after a few too many to drown the sorrows,but a few main points: If Almunia plays then i'd still be out now,celebrating!! Deeney let himself and his team-mates down today!! We had two blatant penalties turned down!!
Absolutely gutted today, when Hull missed their penalty and Cardiff scored it seemed to me that the stage was set. I'm not placing the blame entirely on Jack Bonham, but I think any one of us would be lying if we said that either of the goals would have gone in with Almunia in goal. It's unlucky. As for Poleon or w/e I thought that was an utter disgrace, dirty, dirty play and then a very cheap goal and you can tell that he is not a good character at all. Hogg's penalty was one of the most blatant penalties you'll see, if that happened against Man Utd there would be an inquest for weeks! I just don't know what we need to do to get a penalty. If there is one silver lining from what happened today (clutching at straws, yes I know) it's that next year, after we've won the play-offs, there are now 2 teams that we will definitely finish above in the Prem. COYGB
I'm not a thug, but I'm far from some mug that is just going to sit here taking abuse for my opinions on a football match.
I'm guessing I'm the only one who isn't gonna blame the ref then... If anything, and I say this with my tin hat more firmly on than any tin hat in history, I thought he favoured us. Just with the little things, like Michael Brown's yellow card for a tackle that shouldn't have been a foul and some of the free kicks towards the end. My initial reaction to the penalty incidents was that both teams should have had one, though having seen the replays at home I'm not so sure about either, though their's was probably a better shout. And my main point is the massive over-reaction over the Poleon/Bond incident. All their guy did was push someone, there were probably hundreds of similar incidents throughout the football league and probably several in our game - just because Bond got a serious injury as a result (and it goes without saying that I wish him all the best) shouldn't influence the ref. If Bond had got straight up nothing would have been made of it, so to call for a red and say the ref should never ref at this level again as some are is downright stupid. If one of our lot got a red because of the outcome of a tackle instead of the actual tackle there would be massive outrage about the apparent hatred and conspiracies about Watford. Deeney's a clown as well, though hopefully he'll come back and make up for it. As for young Jack, bloody hell. Fair to say he's had a mare today, but if he's gonna be in net for the play-offs there's no point giving him stick. I fully expect us to lose to Leicester, but I also fully expected us to win quite easily today so let's hope my feelings prove wrong yet again. Onwards and upwards, over to you Gianfranco.
Spot on. Today was disappointing but we shouldnt have been in this position to start with. Having said that we tend to do better against the top teams, so roll on the playoffs and hopefully promotion. What was the deal with those leeds ****s outside the gound after the game? complete and utter ret4rds some of them, especially that one inbred that felt the need to hurl racist remarks about.
I heard something about a brick being thrown somewhere. Not sure if it was at the coach or at the windows of the pub. Was the Lion even open after the game, seems insanity to park outside it to me.
I knew before but I know even more now. Leeds fans are scum. I didn't mind the banter in the game, but shouting at parents with kids in the town after the game? Made me laugh how they were all giving it behind the protection of policemen. Cowards.
You make your point eloquently and it is a very good summary of what has just happened. I am starting to calm down and be philosophical, but it is hard. Need to get my head turned to the playoffs. Worst case scenario, we can start next season in the championship with a better focus than we had at the start of this one and cut out the silly results. I have enjoyed this season and imagine that there is a good chance I will enjoy next season, even if it is only in the championship.
Stupid knuckle draggers some of them. A father and son were walking ahead of us minding their own business along Vicarage Road. The kid must have only been 8 tops yet one Leeds supporter still felt it necessary to call his dad a "beardy canut" loudly. Odd.
Just seen the Hogg penalty shout. Absolutely nailed on for me. Ref couldn't see it as he's not up with the game, and the lino should see it too. Roll on Thursday for Leicester. We're on the march of Zola's army! We're all going to Wemberlee
you what it was one of those days, Almunia, Bond when our oportunity came we were down to 10 men, a great save by Kenny from Vydra. The biggest down of the day was Deeny getting sent off for two ill disciplin moments. He has captined us earlier this year and should have known better. If we had 111 men on the pitch we would never have got caught 2 against 1 at the end. Never mind we move on and give it another go
Gutted of course like all of you but sometimes too much **** goes against you whilst only one thing goes for you and that ironically was something totally put of hands. Good atmosphere and great goal, Abdi seemed to be everywhere on the pitch today but sadly a few other key players didn't match him when it was really needed. Leeds? Why is that no matter WHO manages them the team is always dirty? As for the fans, better I don't write anything as words don't yet exist in the lexicon to describe what complete and utter ****s many of them are. I hear Bond suffered from a broken nose and mild concussion, I was at the ground quite late afterwards and heard someone saying there is a good chance he'll be OK for Thursday. Similarly Almunia, apparently he felt a tweak of the groin so wasn't chanced even as a sub. We weren't awful today but Leeds bullied us in the 2nd half and we didn't cope with that. Lenny pulled off a couple of great and one amazing save butsadly our youngster was the polar opposite. Referee was a complete and utter ****. Hopefully they won't be letting him anywhere near an important match again. Not just the penalty but also the amount of times he blew when a Leeds player was rolling around clutching a leg yet when a Watford player did it he waved play on. Be interesting to see how the team react to this, whether GFZ can motivate them one final time to play the way we all they can and get through these next two games. A chance also for Geijo to grab the limelight. Regardless of today Leicester will be wary of us after last Friday so it's all still to play for. But, just for a while there, when Cardiff got that late, late equaliser, it really felt like it was going to be OUR day.
I can't think of a game in recent times when we've had worse luck than today. Down to our third choice keeper due to a player who should have been sent off who then goes on to score, at least one stone wall penalty for us turned down and our player sent off.
And if the ref had seen the penalty he would have had to send Brown off, for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity.
There are hundreds of pushes in football, yes, you are correct. However there is a massive difference between two guys jostling for the ball on the halfway line and somebody nudging a player at full speed into his keeper. Without the push, Anya misses Bond. I'm sorry, but whether its a big push or a little nudge, when it means the only outcome is two players smashing into each other, you don't push them. You don't do that to another professional. If a Watford player did the same, I'd be disappointed in their actions.
Can't believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet for me. I've just watched it back on the Football League show, I am properly properly gutted. Feel so so sorry for Bonham, but Deeney has cost us today. WHAT WAS HE DOING?! On a yellow after kicking the ball away and then that? I can't believe it. Don't envy Zola, who now has to pick up this deflated squad up for a massive game in 5 days time. A result at Leicester and I think we'll get to the final. Every fan i've spoken to, fans of Millwall, Peterborough, Charlton, Forest, I could go one, ALL wanted to see us going up. Please, if there is a god, let it be us. Please.
Watching the Football League show brings all the emotions back with sadly the same result Abdi's goal and the reaction to it was quality Deeney tried to plead his innocence with Zola, booking was justified and Zola look towards Deeney was telling Bonham's attempt at a save was pathetic Bonham had a very lonely walk off at the end, needed one of the playing staff to put his arm round him, where was Chamberlain? Sadly think we've blown it and even if we beat Leicester it's going to be a very long wait to the play off final on 27th May
What happened today was all part of the master plan! Getting promoted to the premiership this season is worth £120 million apparently. Well in that case, doing it via the playoffs is got to be worth at least £122 million, with extra live TV coverage, sell-out crowds, etc...The things people do for a couple more million Add to that, a nice shiny trophy for our cabinet! In your faces, Hull! You didn't think of that, did you? also, no one ever remembers the team that came second. You must be gutted! Good night, sweet dreams.
Surprised more people haven't mentioned the saves that Kenny made when it was 1-1. The stop he made from Vydra's deflected shot was incredible, I was already celebrating. Then the double save from Abdi's shot and Chalobah's rebound that he managed to keep out. Had one of those gone in, we'd be sitting here celebrating promotion because there is no way they'd have come back from us going 2-1 up - Bonham or not. We were so close. Even now, I'm sitting here in disbelief at what happened today. It was the most amazing roller coaster of emotions I've ever been on. I had to go out at HT to pick some breakfast up. My friend text me to say Cardiff scored. I literally ran home as quick as I could and turned over just in time to see Hull get their equalizer. Then turned over again to see them get the second. My heart sank and I can only imagine how deflating that must have felt to everybody at the game. The sense of deflation clearly had an impact on the players. Then into stoppage time, Hull get their penalty and it's game over. The guy misses and suddenly there is a glimmer of hope. Handball. Cardiff pen. Back of the net. Surely not? As Malteser said, it just seemed written in the stars. I was certain we were going to score. "Forestieri HAS JUST FIRED WATFORD FC INTO THE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!!!!!." The crowd were back in it, roaring every attack, every pass, every shot. I'm on my feet at this point, roaring on every Watford attack from my living room, willing somebody to produce that moment of magic that would see us promoted. Forestieri has the ball, hope rises, he's the man who can make something happen from nothing. But his desperation gets the better of him, he holds the ball too long and loses it, the ball goes over the top, McCormack tries a weak chip. Bonham like everybody else is already thinking about getting the ball down field as quick as possible, but it's slipped through his hands and is in the net before he can even turn around. The cameras zoom in on him, he's distraught, tears already forming in his eyes. Pudil slumped on the ground, Ekstrand just the same. It's a hammer blow. The camera cuts to the KC stadium just as they see the goal go in. Zola can't hide the pain, the players can't hide the pain, the fans can't hide the pain. Somehow they've got to raise themselves from this. We have to rise ourselves from this. By all account, the fans today were magnificent. We need more of the same on Thursday. Think back to Selhurst Park, 2006. My friend listening on the radio thought each Watford goal was a Palace goal because the roar of celebration was so loud. Zola can raise them, Cassetti has been there and done it all, he can raise them. Chamberlain has been a part of this before, he knows what it takes, he can raise them. Throughout the side, we have players who've played in big games at various levels. We can do this. Just believe.
Interesting match report here: http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/04/watford-leeds-united I say "interesting" because the presumably neutral match reporter completely echoed the thoughts of most Watford supporters regarding the two most contentious moments: Poleon should have seen red, Hogg should have had a penalty. He also states the ref was very poor. It's somewhat mollifying when you get somewhat more objective confirmation of your feelings.
