Michael Oliver is undoubtedly an over-promoted ****** of the highest order but it may not be all bad news. He's a bogey referee for us but he's no lucky charm for Manchester United either. Here's both our records under him: Watford P7 W4 D1 L3 Man U P18 W9 D4 L6 If you award the cup games points as if they were in the league, we average 1.86 points per game when he referees us, and they average 1.72. A small reason to be positive - at least up until he awards a penalty for a classic Rooney dive...
Good spot, that's what happens when you try elementary maths after a couple of beers. Turns out Man U actually average 1.63 points per game when he refs so he's even less of a lucky charm!
Utd losing to City was a good thing, I don't think Mourinho would risk losing two in a row so hopefully we'll see a strong Utd team tonight, couple injuries wouldn't go a miss.
That Micky Tarryran or whatever his name is, who they signed for £30m is a crock apparently. Wouldn't mind if that Gashford chap could get a twinge in his hamstring before Sunday too.
Let's face it if you were picking a team right now and both Capoue and Pogba were available and you could have one it would be Capoue you'd choose. Forget the big price tag and the bigger ears.
To win we have to win three games here. Firstly we have to beat United the team which wont be easy. If we look like doing that we have to be able to manage the inevitable 1 or 2 goal head start they'll get from the free penalties they'll be given by the ref If we look like doing that we have to manage not to concede in the extended extra time period they'll be given All this in the context of our shakey 352 induced starts to games. Hmmm Im not hopeful and feel itll be frustrating
My bet would be on an early sending off for us or 10 minutes of extra time or a late penalty for them.
There are only 22 tiers in the English football pyramid (which is the largest in the world), with the lowest league being the solitary 22nd tier league: the Mid-Sussex Football League Division 9. Therefore there is no league in the world this man should be allowed to ref.
Ashurst Wood III are currently bottom of that. P2 L2 including a 5-1 tonking. Do they get relegated if they finish bottom? Is there a plethora of eager non-pyramid clubs banging at the door wanting into the big time and bright lights? Or is there some sort of re-election process?
Thirty years of hurt.. We haven't beaten them since 16th Sept 1986. Bring it on. Shame about the officials, I've just about recovered from the last moron we had in charge now we get these two.
Anyone interested in a ticket for Sunday i have one going spare, please message me. Joe Edit: best not to have a private number on a public forum.
A very young Iwan Roberts scored. I remember it well. Mind you, Man Utd were pretty **** then, and Big Ron Atkinson was their manager!
Scoring first would be a HUGE help. If we are having to chase the game, in part by being more physical, it will create more opportunities for the officials to be star-struck, influenced, etc..
Was also at that game Corky. Although Utd were on a trough rather than a peak at that time, meaning that win didn't have quite the same impact as Luther's two headers to knock them out of the cup, it was always very, very sweet indeed to beat them. I'd like to think we perhaps have the weapons to cause them a little surprise on Sunday.
I'd agree normally, but when we have gone in front, we have tended to sit back more, inviting pressure (and goals against).
Can't wait to roll out of bed late Sunday morning and see this on the box. Might even knock one out at half time.
I hope Rashford doesn't play. I have nightmares of him playing left and finding acres of space in the channel between our RWB and CB's.
We almost certainly won't draw as Merson's predicting us to hold Man U 2-2 on Sunday. http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ay-night-football-and-watford-to-hold-man-utd
