I can't imagine there are many amongst us who thought this time last year that 12 months on we would be in the Premier league. I imagine there are even less who could have predicted that not only would that happen but we would be sitting 7th having just thumped Liverpool and got a draw at the champions in the last two games. 2015 has just been an amazing 12 months and we finish it with the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to Vicarage Road. Pochettino is beginning to show why Spurs stuck by him and has made Spurs very difficult to beat, although they surprisingly lost at home to Newcastle that was their first defeat since the opening day of the season at Old Trafford when they unluckily lost 1-0 to Manchester United. Like Watford they have a forward with the midas touch in front of a goal and although Harry Kane made a slow start to the season in the league he was still scoring in other competitions and now the goals are coming in the league as well. A lot of experts were wondering if he would suffer from 2nd season syndrome but it does seem that he is the real deal and could well be very important to England in the summer. Another possible player for the Euros is Dele Alli who has taken to the PL like a duck to water. We will need to be on our game against these two if we are to keep our good form going. At the other end of the pitch is Hugo Lloris who I rate as probably the best keeper in the league. Has very few dodgy moments and has played a big part in Tottenhams success so far this year. Make no mistake this is probably our biggest test since Arsenal. Only hope that our squad can deal with this game just two days after a hard fought draw at Chelsea unlike Spurs who had a fairly easy win over Norwich. Played for both teams Certainly recently we have done very nicely out of Spurs with Gomez and Capoue having made the short trip from North London to Vicarage Road and very grateful we are too! To be fair over the years that it was very much the same with Mark Falco, Allan Nielsen but they also gave us Vega who was nothing short of embarrassing. Pat Jennings is probably the most famous player to have gone in the opposite direction but in total there has been a staggering 59 players who have represented both sides over the years Recent history Watford and Spurs did not play against each other until Watford reached the top flight for the first time back in 82/83. A decent start to the season was supposed to come to an end when Watford visited White Hart Lane where the likes of Ardiles and Hoddle were going to show us how football should be played. Sadly for them les Taylor scored a few minutes from the end to queue one of the biggest celebrations for a goal I've ever been involved in as Watford won 1-0 much to the annoyance of many journalists at the time. For three seasons Spurs and Watford share 3 wins a piece all a being away from home and then the following two seasons they had two wins each this time both at home. The turning point for our record against Spurs was that awful afternoon at Villa Park in the FA Cup where we lost 4-1 with a waiter in goal. Since then Watford have won just once, a meaningless league cup 2nd leg having been trounced by a Klinsmann inspired Spurs at Vicarage Road 6-3. [video=youtube;sANvGLR0eSA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sANvGLR0eSA[/video] Team news and form Dembele is a doubt for Spurs while Watford have no new injury concerns although there might be one or two changes due to fatigue. The most interesting will be if Ake comes back in for Holebas who showed why he has played for Roma. The two sides currently sit 2nd and 3rd in the form table so this should prove to be a tight and hopefully exciting game. A win in this one and I think a few more might start thing that this season will be more that just a stay up at all costs kind of year. A few interesting facts I have pinched from BBC Sport Watford •Watford have won three of their last four home matches. •They have kept six clean sheets in their nine Premier League games at Vicarage Road this season. •The Hornets will be looking to win three successive top-flight home games for the first time since a four-match streak in December 1986. •Watford have not ended the calendar year with a league defeat since 2007, when they lost 4-2 against QPR in the Championship. •They have already won more points in 2015-16 than in the entirety of either of their previous two Premier League campaigns. •Odion Ighalo is the first Watford player to score in five successive top-flight games. •Troy Deeney has been directly involved in six goals in his last seven league appearances (five goals, one assist). •Rival managers Quique Sanchez Flores and Mauricio Pochettino previously met in La Liga when Flores managed Atletico Madrid and Pochettino was in charge of Espanyol. Tottenham Hotspur •Tottenham have not lost away from home in the Premier League since the opening day of the season (W3, D4). •Harry Kane has scored 10 goals in his last nine league games for Spurs. •The England striker has scored 27 Premier League goals in 2015, the most by a Tottenham player in a calendar year. •Dele Alli has scored or set up five goals in his last five league games (two goals, three assists). •Spurs have won 18 and lost none of their last 20 Premier League meetings with newly-promoted opposition since losing to QPR in April 2012. •They have not lost their final league game of a calendar year since 2008, when beaten 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion
A quiet day for Gomes. Britos to cane Kane. Capoue bosses the midfield with Behrami chopping down anyone who gets in his mates way. Usual brace for Igs & TD9 & last minute pen for Capoue. 3-0 to the Orns.
Joking aside, it looked like the lads were saving themselves for this. I hopenit doesnt backfire, because a half assed point at chelsea followed by droppingloints at home to a top 4 rival would be a big disappointment we fluffed the chance to close the gap on Arsenal andLeicester yeaterday. Must win game now.
Your right Moogy, if we are to be taken as a top 4 contender we need to win this game. I never thought I'd ever say that!
Unfortunately... both Spuds & Mank City are a tad better than the Scoucers & Chelski. Fortunately... so are we.
Will take a point here. Looking forward to seeing some fringe players potentially get a run out. Although I'm also prepared for the usual subs of Behrami, Anya and Guedioura coming on after about 70 mins though.
I think the yellow card amnesty kicks in on 1st Jan, so after the Spurs game basically. Who's on 4 yellows now, just Capoue & Nyom?
Heading over on an early flight tomorrow morning with my two boys. No question, Spurs will be a really tough assignment, but the Watford players have shown a spirit that is worthy of any group of professional sports stars. The confidence and belief has to be high within the squad, which is a massive issue. I don't think that I have looked forward to a trip to the Vic as much in years. Last time I saw them play spurs was the Robinson freak goal game. here's hoping for better. COYH
I would love it if we beat them. i'd say Potters Bar is at least 50% Spurs fans, so i'd love to beat them. I think we'll struggle against their pressing though and resort to hoofing it quite a lot, whether that'll work or not is a different question.
Play it long to Troy when we're being pressed has worked very well so far. His hold-up play & lay-offs are as good as anyone in the division IMO. It's something he, QSF & the team clearly work hard on in training.
If Capoue gets another booking, does that carry over to the African Cup of Nations? If so, perhaps it's worth him picking up an additional yellow tomorrow.
Can't see us winning this one. The players were dead on their feet at the end yesterday and spurs look good and confidence must be high after spanking the admittedly appalling Norwich. 3-0 to them, including a gomes howler and capoue red card seems the most likely outcome. Hopefully holebas retains his place in the team
We did look tired, but we have players to bring in. The big issue for us is if Ighalo and Deeney can't retain their energy because it's unthinkable they won't start, but they must be beginning to feel it. It's as you were at the back with Ake coming back in (not that Holebas wouldn't be as good, but he will really feel the next game coming so soon) Poss Behrami in for Watson or as an earlier substitute. Abdi and Jurado never play 90 mins anyway so no reason they can't start. If there is a surprise this game or next it might be Berghuis.
The problem here being that these players have only had about 90 minutes of Premier League football between them this season.
It's mad to think we are almost in January and we have absolutely no idea what our other attacking options are like. If we don't have a chance of signing ake permanently then I'd rather persevere with holebas to be honest. But I agree ake coming back is most likely. I was really excited when we signed holebas though.
I think we need to bring in fresh legs just for this game. Ake will return, Behrami for Watson, Guedioura for Jurado and Prodl (if fit) for Cathcart.
I reckon qsf would have gone mad at behrami after Chelsea so I'd be surprised if he starts. I am really curious to see how we'll do with a few changes but then the thought of breaking up the team is not appealing. It's a tough one. I'd rather wait and make the changes in the cup.
i find it bizzar that people are looking at making changes after 4 wins and a draw. There is no reason to change Watson, Juarado or Cathcart, Watson and Cathcart have both played more regular games over a longer period in the championship. Spurs players will be just as tiered
I don't want to put a dampener on people who think we might get something out of this game, but Lawro says we will lose 2-1 & the guy clearly know what he's talking about.
I would suggest Spurs will make changes and use their squad. Even in the Chapionship we did not play 2 games in 3 days very often. I don't believe in ability levels there is a lot to choose between the current midfield and Behrami and Guedioura. After the effort they put in against Chelsea it is likely fatigue will set in and fresh legs could tip the balance. Quique also did stress a few days ago that he would be making use of the squad over the holiday period.
For some reason this is the game over Christmas I am least optimistic about. Liverpool Chelsea and City all have a defensive clanger in them. With the potchettino style of play and hungry squad I feel like this is one of the few times this season when we will play a better version of ourselves.
I thought he was pretty lucky to get away with the very obvious deliberate handball. It would have been harsh so early, but rules are rules.
Hard to predict any teams line ups for this round of games, I would imagine most teams will make at least 3 or 4 changes. Ones I'd be happy with for us would be starting with Ake, Behrami, Guediora and Anya. Who they switch for depends on how they look in training today and how much yesterday took out of them.
QSF himself said he was planning to do exactly this during the busy schedule so probably not that "bizzar" unless you think our manager is an idiot. (it's bizarre BTW)
Extremely lucky, as was Costa who probably should've got a straight red. They caught the ref in a giving mood.
After his headless chicken routine at CFC, I'm surprised people are talking about Behrami coming in to the starting 11. He'll be lucky to make the bench. Same 11 as yesterday - except Ake in for Holebas. 1-1.
