Watford FC 3-1 Leicester City - Play Off Second Leg. 12/5/2013

Phil Dowd? Christ...

 

Want us to revert to 4-4-2 as we looked like conceding when they counter-attacked us first half.

We'll be chasing the game from the word go I would expect, so I'm wary of them scoring on the break.

I also think it'll be 3-1, goals from Abdi, Deeney and Fessi. King for them.

 

Hogg for Anya in a 442 for me - otherwise ok

 

Almunia
Doyley Ekstrand Hall
Cassetti............................Pudil
Chalobah Battocchio
Abdi
Deeney Forestieri​

For me.

 

Reading the papers this morning they commented on how Watford weathered an early Lestah storm then started getting on top but missed two glaring chances so not sure why some people were saying we were crap.

We had our 2nd choice strike force so roll on Sunday as 1 goal is not a big hurdle.

Ticket wise there are 2000 left so hopefully sold by end of tomorrow.

LAST. CHANCE. SALOON.

 

I think Almunia made a big difference to the calmness of the defence last night and hopefully he will be fit enough to play on Sunday. Battocchio must play in a midfield trio with Abdi and Chalobah.

Deeney will return in place of Geijo, but I wouldn't mind seeing him partner Vydra, as he has to start banging them in soon....surely?

Not seen it mentioned before, but the referee last night was superb. Didn't put a foot wrong, apart from the early corner he didn't give to Leicester maybe. I only hope Phil Dowd is to the same standard......all I ask is to have a fair deal from the referee, which did happen, probably for the first time this season, at Leicester last night.

My prediction is that we will not lose, we will score, but I can't see us keeping a clean sheet. I hope that combination will be enough to get us to Wembley.

 

[video=youtube;J4x05Z3MSkQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4x05Z3MSkQ&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Zola needs to adopt a new approach if we are behind in the return leg........

 

I'm not confident about this one at all. Don't get me wrong, I will sing my heart out and lose my voice on Sunday. However I've just got a gut feeling that I'm following the hearse going to the graveyard that is the end of our season.

 

I think we need to keep it 3-5-2, we score enough goals with this formation and our midfield 3 can dominate possession. Also with Fernando going walkabout 2 midfielders are going to have to get up there and support Troy.

Almunia

Ekstrand
Hall
Cassetti

Anya
Battochio
Chalobah
Abdi
Pudil

Forestieri
Deeney

 

5-0 Leicester.

Good afternoon, good evening and good night for The Hornets.

 

I'm quite the opposite. If it had been 0-0 and they got an early goal Sunday would we or the team call it a day?

We need to score FIRST and not concede. Tough but doable and with Troy, FF and hopefully Battochio in the lineup I think it's very doable.

 

Not sure about the optimism on this thread. I want us to win as much as anybody but I just can't see it happening. Leicester will pack the midfield and stop us playing, then hit us on the counter.

 

I'm not a happy clapper but even lately we have performed in key games - Hull and Lestah first time come to mind.

Last Saturday was almost sure all but last night it could have gone either way.

We are due a proper performance and if we can't do it Sunday then we don't deserve it anyway.

GFZ was surprised Lestah scored and at stage so was I because we were dealing with them no problem.

 

This is what I'm worried about, which is why we need to play 4-4-2 and keep as much possession as possible.

They've only lost by more than 1 goal all season, and that was away to Barnsley when they lost 2-0.

 

It was such a cheap free kick to give away from Ekstrand. Their guy was going nowhere and he was too eager and clattered him.

Can't argue against that.

 

Why do we keep starting Vydra, he clearly had his head turned in January and is now mentally shot!?

 

We'll be knocking on their parked bus all night, cleaances off the line, balls off of posts and bars, off of bums, shins, a few hand balls.... and then Leicester will go and score a break away.

Season over, Hollowhead puts his wife's clothes on and masturbates to the news, everyone goes on holiday

 

Leicester were acting last night like they had already won the play-offs, cars beeping horns, flags waving etc etc. They couldn't believe there LUCK.

LUCK to run out Sunday, 4-1 to the Hornets after Leicester sit back from the off, hoofing it back to us at every given opportunity.

 

I think we had the LUCK to go into half time with the score still 0-0.

There's optimistic, and there's unrealistic. You're the latter right now, they won't be a walkover and have a more then capable squad.

 

I'm glad we lost 1-0 yesterday, if it were 0-0 then we'd probably be more cautious than usual on Sunday in the hope we'd nick a goal. Now we know we can't afford to play it cagey on Sunday and have to be up and at them from the start to claw it back.

Deeney, Forestieri, Battochio & Briggs will all be mahussively up for starting. With their fresh legs and quality they'll be the inspiration we need to turn this game around.

We are only 1-0 down. It is only half time. We will win the fight.

 

B.S. we should have won that last night. Though when I say we, I mean us. You are clearly Leicester.
A more than capable squad.... ha ha ha. Who would you have out of that lot other than possibly short Peter Schmeical or knockshisface?

 

I would start Vydra with Deeney! Vydra is quality there is no doubt about it and he is just a little low on confidence! Fess is a great impact sub either as a third striker or replacement depending on how the game progresses. Need to win the midfield battle, the midfield was too slow last night which is out of character for us, lets give Pinnochio a run around!

 

You're comparing their actual players to our loan players. Our loan players are not our players.. yet!

So to answer your question, I would have most of their players. In particular Morgan, De Laet, Dyer, King, James and Nugent.

 

Troll!

 

Ah yes, journeyman Nugent who has just scored his first goal in 17 games and has a career average of just under a goal every four games. I'd much rather him over the likes of Deeney, Forestieri and Vydra.

Cracking player

 

They are a decent team, some of our fans are way too critical of their capabilities.

But so are we and, if we play to our potential, it will be a contest.

We were sub-standard yet had 17 shots, 10 on target and missed two easy chances.

Just gotta make sure we don't concede as that would be bad news....

 

Why are people being shot down for being optimistic? What's the point in being a moody ****? Just hope some of the people on this forum aren't coming to the game on Sunday. Don't want the players to look into the stands to see these people with grumpy faces and crossed arms, waiting for the inevitable Leicester goal so they can shake their heads and tut.

 

I don't speak for all the moody *****, just for myself, but we do tend to get shot down more than the optimists. It's as though somehow people think our views will have an affect on the outcome of the game.

Speaking for myself, I find my "negativity" (I call it realism) is born out of frustration and I find it cathartic to rant a little after a disappointing blow has been landed, as last night.

I also find that blind optimism is seldom rewarded. Rather it is punished by being brought down to earth with a bump. Better to say that the world is going to end. If you are proved wrong, you are happy to admit your mistake amidst the jubilation of the win, but being proved right, which is more likely in this case, you can at least avoid undue disappointment.

I think that Leicester are firm favourites now. Sure we COULD turn them over at home and still go through, but anything can happen in such a game and most eventualities will favour them with the scoreline as it is.

The only thing we can hope for is a performance of the season type match, but given our recent form and the tiredness of many of our players, that doesn't look likely. We can't expect to win 2-0 with 3 or 4 players misfiring or looking tired.

 

I agree with moog. I got my hopes up on Saturday and only just got over it yesterday, then we lost again and now i'm back to being gutted. I'd rather go into the game with no hope to be proved wrong than hope to be destroyed, ala Saturday and yesterday.

 

Ha ha, priceless and you think that by spouting all this 'we are a better team than Leicester' bollox you are being a better supporter than those of us who try and keep a realistic outlook on things?

Just because someone suspects we may loose this game doesn't mean they want up to loose the game but then I don't expect you to entertain any other view than your own, love and peace to all Watford fans:]]

 

Ha ha ha. Back to Leceister please my good chum.

 

We are all hurting after the last two games. The manner of last night's defeat was deflating. Before the goal, I was confident we would hold out for a draw. I think the players might be in a better frame of mind for the 2nd leg, but I agree with Moog, Leicester are clear favourites.

I watched the game with my 10 and 8 year old sons, who kept asking me why FF was not being considered as a replacement for Vydra early in the second half. This despite the fact that one of them has Vydra on his Watford shirt. I have huge respect for Zola, but did his brain freeze for a period of that game? Tactically, it can be argued, he had an off day.

Having said that, if we scrape a victory over Leicester (which realistically is a long shot), I do feel this side would be suited to Wembley in a once off final. Fessi, Abdi, Chalobah and even Vydra, would have the perfect stage to show what they are capable of.

If the players are not capable of lifting themselves out of the gloom for the final two games of the season, then we have the wrong players and we do not deserve to go up. I am hopeful, not optimistic. Luck will play its usual part. An early goal for leicester and its all over. We pip them on pens or a late winner and I am on to the Ryanair website to book the flights for the final.

 

this is true of moogstar -we had a discussion once over a beer ot three and he told me he preferred to be realistic/downbeat thus avoiding the disappointment when things do not work out as he has already accounted for it.

I am completely opposite to that and will be as opstimistic and upbeat about most situations and if they don't work out - no problem life goes on and there is always next time.

I enjoy moogs realism.. gives me a laugh.

 

Being pessimistic/realistic about the game didn't stop me singing for almost 90 minutes last night and it won't stop me Sunday either. Just because people are less than optimistic doesn't mean they won't give the team their full support.