Two clubs whose one clear aim is to get promotion back to the Premier League in search of money. One club has a plan so it would seem. The other hoping some of the quality in the squad will shine enough to bring it across the finishing line in May or is it June ? Both squads and their respective managers face uncertainty as to who will be lining up on Monday. Rob Edwards the messiah born on Christmas Day will be hoping that the same disruption that affected Vladimir Ivic will not haunt him but given the two clowns running the club that's unlikely. We may well be saying Danke schoen to him by December while one numskull prattles on about lessons being learnt. Win or bust. So the memo ordered the unfortunate victim. Who knows how we will line up ? 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 ? I've no idea but we'll find out. Bachmann appears to have sneaked back in between the goalposts. Of the back three you can rely on Sierralta and Kabasele at this level. Choose one other to join them. Still the dead wood of Rose and Ekong to shift. Might need an industrial strength crowbar to prise Rose out of the canteen where he spends his unearned wages courtesy of the two idiots. Wingbacks. With Kiko gone hmmmm. Kamara should be able to fill the LWB spot admirably as he can rove forward with effect despite the oracle on here declaring he cannot. However he's been shoved out of position. Sema at LWB. What joy. We'll have to hope Gaspar fits the bill. Otherwise a big fat noe to him. Midfield seems well stocked until you consider the possibility of Kayembe playing with Cleverley. One player with one foot and the other with no legs after five minutes. Louza when he's fit, Asprilla when he's a stone heavier. TDB may or may not progress this season. His early promise at Reading was short lived but he was playing in a struggling team and fell out with the coach. The others are dross. Quina. One flash in the pan every six or seven matches is not what we need. Suffers from Grayitis. I suppose Pedro could drop in as the creative AM at times but the midfield is painfully thin having lost Sissoko and Etebo. Needs some real reinforcement. Upfront if Sarr and Dennis depart it's a unknown bag. Mebude hardly set L1 alight. Fletcher. Who originally signed him wasting a large sum of money needs to be taken around the back of the shed and shot. Bayo may or may not prosper. And we over paid for his services. Manaj another bargain basement pick. Which leaves several players in limbo if Rob sticks to a 3-5-2. Kalu and Baah for instance. The squad is weaker than it was last time we tried for promotion. As for the Blades. Paul Heckingbottom did a marvellous job of salvaging a terrible start under Jokanovic last season taking the side to the playoff semi-finals. Some of the core components of the side that earned promotion to the PL and played admirably for a season remain such as John Egan and Craig Basham. Leading scorer Billy Sharp has re-signed while the Blades will look to Iliman Ndiaye to provide some of the goals that Gibbs-White provided. They've signed a young centreback from Malmo Anel Ahmedzovic and sourced some PL loans notably Tommy Doyle from UAE something we have not done (as yet). They look a balanced and well knitted squad though uncertainty surrounds the future of Sander Berge. However their preseason results have been far from enthusing the faithful with the last match being a defeat to Heckingbottom's one time charges at Barnsley. They still play a 3-4-3 which they did under Heckingbottom for most of last season. Anything can happen on Monday and probably will. We'll find out by the end of September where we will end up. Our transfer policies remain haphazard with no discernible plan. There remains a distinct lack of identity. The manager has not been supported by the higher ups. I'll support him and if he gets the boot he won't be getting my ire. That needs to be directed against you know who. There's still an incredible amount of mismanagement from all those higher ups. We're in the position we are thanks to the incredible number of decisions they've made that have turned out to be wrong. Opposition forum: General Blades Chat | S24SU Forum | Sheffield United Community Head to head: Watford football club: record v Sheffield United (11v11.com) Referee: Josh Smith, Peterborough
Bachmann Kabasele Sierralta Cathcart Kamara TBD Kayembe Cleverley Sema Manaj JP Hamer, Gaspar, WTE, Gosling, Asprilla, Hungbo, Bayo. Watford 0 - 2 Sheff Utd 'Orns!
HMS PTL sets sail once again! Watford 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday Dennis x 2 Sarr x 2 Tough evening for the bedwetters etc.
Great opportunity to keep our record breaking home form going. 2-0. Disappointing day for the statisticians.
Think this particular fixture has come too early for us. 0-2. Not necessarily a guide to our long term prospects but I think they have more first XI positions established.
So after thinking the EJ gig the other week was potentially to be mine and my dad's final time at The Vic together - he text's me earlier this week to tell me he has won 2 tickets through 'Sky VIP' to this game. Hosted in an executive box by an ex-player, free booze, meal, etc etc. Only going in the vague hope I'm close enough to throw some of that free food and drink at Bayat, Gino and Duxbury... (this is a joke before people lose it) Dennis and Sarr play, I think we win. One of them plays, I think we draw. Neither play? Nothing but a sweet sweet one-sided defeat.
Rob Edwards the messiah born on Christmas Day. He is not the messiah. He was born in Telford and I will take a lot of convincing that Telford is the new Bethlehem. For a start there is always room at the inn in Telford.
Sky playing fast and lose with the term ‘VIP’ if they’re giving out prizes to watch Watford in the championship. In all seriousness though enjoy, and lob a prawn sandwich at Mogi for me.
Looking forward to the game, hopefully a chance to exorcise the demons of last season. I can see it being 2-1 either way.
Despite how bad we were last season and the game being on Sky/Monday night, there's less than 200 tickets left on sale.
The only way of getting fans to go ? I believe the next step is the watford fc lottery. Turn up to the game and you have a one in 11,537 chance of winning a free one month loan of Ashley Fletcher. "Happy to mow the lawn, wash the car, hoover, but not recommended for playing footy in the back garden with your children unless you have very high fences or plenty of balls".
Can’t wait to find out at 7pm on Monday that 3 PL clubs have suggested they may, at some point consider thinking about holding an internal discussion regarding whether they’re interested in Sarr/Dennis. Hence both are omitted as a precaution.
Dealt a bad hand in terms of fixtures but may play in our favour if Dennis and Sarr are around/available to play. The masters of 3 at the back in recent seasons have been Sheffield United. Should be a good yardstick to judge our formation but I think they'll teach us a lesson in that regard so I'm going for an away win.
I believe at 5pm Sheff Utd will be making a £50m bid for both players. Only to decide not to pursue at 10pm.
You can always tell the season has well and truly started when the first preview goes up. Good job Smudge, entertaining start. I do not think we are ready yet, despite having a mixed pre season we have to hope Edwards had long enough to get his ideals across, even at the most basic level. Sarr and Dennis staying or leaving is going to be a massive swing in how we do this season as a whole, but we all know that. Very tough opening three fixtures and before we play everyone else has, so the game of catchup begins already. It's going to be a bit of a mashup of a squad, but hey we get to see Sema under the lights on the opening night of our season so it's not all bad. If Dennis and Sarr both play we might win, but Sheff Utd have a good squad and are going to be tough opponents. Despite how rancid we played last season, we are (along with Norwich and Burnley) going to be the "scalps" of this division for other teams. Our woeful and long withstanding home form has a chance to either end or continue on Monday - throw a coin and guess how that will go. Bachmann back in goal is not a terrible sign, he is competent at best in this league but I would hope to see Okoye in a few games. New boys will probably get a run out - let's hope they put in a shift. A point wouldn't be a terrible result and I think we will get off the mark at least. Watford 2 Sheff Utd 2
Still no posts from @GoingDown for > 2 months now, even with the first game fairly imminent ? Hope he's ok.
I know it's been mentioned elsewhere but which channel are showing the highlights package this year ? ITV ? I guess it won't pick up the Monday highlights anyway ! At least I won't have to watch jug ears for at least 12 months.
If Dennis and Sarr play and I think they will do then I think we will have too much for Sheffield United up front. Baachman Kabasele Sierralta Cathcart Gaspar Gosling Kayembe Kamara Sarr Dennis JoãoPedro
Watford by 3 or more. Hat tricks for Sarr and Dennis, Asprilla will grab a couple from the bench too. We will be presented the Championship trophy as the season is ruled ‘futile’ by the other 23 in the face of such dominance.
1-2. An early Pedro goal puts the horns ahead. But a serious malfunction in Cathcart's walking-aid, leads to 2 late goals for the blades - sparking wild celebrations for @Jumbolina and et al.