Watford vs Norwich City Kick-off: 15:00 hrs Saturday 5th December 2015 Where: Vicarage Road Brief History of Norwich City FC Norwich City joined Watford in the Premier League during the summer having been promoted via the Play-offs after beating a lacklustre Middlesbrough 2-0 in the final. As of time of writing Norwich are just about holding their heads above water but have scored some notable wins. They followed Watford in beating Swansea 1-0 at home, they also hammered Sunderland 3-1 away and beat Bournemouth by the same scoreline (neither of which flattered them). Alex Neil seems to have some tactical nous about him and also seems to be an effective man manager; he turned the club around after coming in for Neil Adams in January of this year. Neil's appointment put a stop to Watford acquiring central-defender Seb Bassong who has been playing regularly under Neil and has flourished. Unfortunately for Norwich fans, the club will always be associated with Delia Smith and in particular her drunken tirade. Delia is still a director at the club along with another famous fan Stephen Fry. It remains to be seen whether Norwich City will stay in the division come May 2016 but signs look good so far despite a heavy defeat to Newcastle Utd. They will need to keep their key men fit however as their squad does look a bit threadbare. Statistics Who doesn't like some good 'ol stats eh? Highest aggregate score: 7 Norwich City 5-2 Watford 1928/29 At The Vic, Watford boast the better record of the two sides with 16 wins to Norwich's 13. With 19 Draws. Last Season One to forget for Watford with Norwich City winning both fixtures 3-0 although both without their fair share of controversy. Wes Hoolahan's dive in the home fixture (with Watford capitulating thereafter) and Joel Ekstrand's sending off within minutes at Carrow Road. Ex-Players Not many ex-players here. Sébastien Bassong is the obvious one; he was utilised regularly during his loan spell at Watford and seemed to enjoy playing for the club but Alex Neil took him back on and the Cameroonian has never looked back since. Bassong also claimed two medals for promotion in playing key roles for both Watford and Norwich last season. Norwich City boast many reported Watford transfer targets, including Robbie Brady, Nathan Redmond and Wes Hoolahan. Ones to Watch The aforementioned Robbie Brady has played in all of Norwich City's Premier League fixtures so far as has garnered 3 MotM awards including one assist. He certainly looks decent at this level and regularly pushes up to support Norwich City's attacks down the left. It'll certainly be interesting to see how Abdi/Gueds/Anya and Nyom cope with keeping him in check. General team news, predictions and general ramblings from me This will be a test of how far Watford has come since promotion but if we want to steer clear of any relegation battles we need to be taking points off relegation rivals like Norwich City. So far Watford have been doing this and Troy Deeney has already said publically that this is a target. Last Saturday's win at Villa Park (The first away win over Aston Villa since 1970 I believe) was the perfect tonic for the Hornets to push on. A win would give everyone a lift but Norwich will also be looking at this fixture as an opportunity to do likewise. Norwich City themselves got a very credible result against Arsenal at home and a game they could have nicked the win. Watford Team News Should return to action: Heurelho Gomes Current doubtful players: Sebastian Prodl, Valon Behrami Definitely out: Joel Ekstrand, Tommie Hoban Key Man – Odion Ighalo, chances will be few and far between and we need him to be at his clinical best. The form table currently has Watford's home form DWLLWL and sitting 10th overall. Norwich have won once on their travels in the league so far this season, their away form is LDDLLL and overall they sit at 18th position. Prediction: Watford 1-0 Norwich. A hard fought win against a dogged Norwich City. Famous Fans Apparently Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman is also a Norwich City fan having been brought to Carrow Road as a youngster by his mum. Although I don't know whether this is just a token Hollywood fan like Watford has Mila Kunis (mainly thanks to the antics of Watford fan Chris Stark). Alan Partridge also likes a good rant and despite harking on about pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre also attends Norwich City games. You regularly see him shouting "Dan!" to one of his friends across The Barclay stand without much of a response. Thanks for reading!
Only a four pointer for this game, fingers crossed the lads go out and try and score some goals and win the game.
Two things Since when is 3-1 a hammering ? and its very obvious that players that played for both - Iwan Roberts
You are quite right about Roberts Layton but this is ex-players in their current team. I ain't listing every single ex-player every time I do a preview haven't got that much time on my hands!
Mike Kenning, Malcolm Allen, Tim Sherwood (whatever happened to him?), Sammy Chung. Mike Walker kept goal for Watford and managed Norwich.
I won't predict the result until closer to the game when we know how many of our squad will be missing due to Johnstone's Paint African Nations Shield call ups.
Thanks Stuey good preview and gives us the week for 15 pages before kick off! I just don't have s good feeling about Norwich. Recent performances clouding my thinking including the cup game when they hit us at the death. And is there a link to Delia's drunken rant was it overdosing the sherry trifle, ale pie or brandy pudding? Don't recall it. Heart says 2-1 with Gueds on scoresheet. Head/bad vibes say 1-1 or a stoppage time 1-2 loss.
There are 5 toes on each foot here, poor effort. However I think sometimes Norwich sing "It's like watching Brazil..."
[video=youtube;Z_8JLkwzpd0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_8JLkwzpd0[/video] Norwich were beating Man City 2-0 in the Premier League in 2004/05 and desperately needed the points to stand a chance of avoiding going straight back down. Man City pulled two goals back on half time and Delia felt the atmosphere had gone a bit flat, coming onto the pitch during the break to urge the "12th man" on to drive the team towards three vital points. Seems to have had the opposite effect, as Man City won the game 3-2 at the death, and Norwich were eventually relegated. Still remains a classic, poor Delia must have been pretty embarrassed about it in the immediate aftermath but hopefully she's seen the funny side by now!
Funny! I quite like Delia,I have 5 of her books. I too am slightly nervous,even more so than usual. They are still quite physical and I agree Gueds and Behrami,if fit,would add some oomph. Happy with a draw,as ever!
No Watford player has ever scored in four successive PL games. Allan Smart, Michel Ngonge and now Troy have scored in three in a row. Over to you Troy for a bit of record breaking on Saturday...
Cheers - was still in SA and strangely it didn't make international news. lol :drinking: Bless - def the brandy pudding! We're now a million miles away from the 'Wat-ford clap clap clap' 12th man support which now looks so lame thanks to the 1881 (and Harry!) - 1881 is a real 12th man and it makes the Vic experience all the better, even if we don't win .... so Roy, thanks again, and as a well known EPL captain would say, your efforts are 'top drawer' ..
I think that Bournemouth's scoundrelism has overshadowed just how disgusting Norwich were in some of their games last season, Hoolahan, Johnson and Cameron Jerome in particular. They weren't quite as bad as Muff but they were still an absolute disgrace. Would love to see us get some revenge for the 6 points they managed to cheat off of us last season.
Yes, we've had to put up with plenty of provocation, with this and that ar$ehole Bircham, among others. Funny how they never get booked...
Smart scored against Sheff Wed, Everton and Spurs. Ngonge against Sheff Wed, Newcastle and Sunderland.
