please log in to view this image WATFORD v ASTON VILLA please log in to view this image Vicarage Road Stadium Saturday 14th August 2021 Kick Off 1500 BST please log in to view this image Graham Taylor Day Welcome back to a new season. Mission accomplished by Xisco and his merry men in the strangest of all seasons. Norwich pipped his team to the title fairly, but he thankfully didn't put us through the lottery of the play offs. Bournemouth failed to rejoin Norwich and Watford in an immediate return to the Premier League, and will now have to fight their way through another long season. Many of us have been struggling to keep up with the abilities of the new arrivals and exactly why they have been brought in. First team regular, squad player, or one for the under 23s that may come good. Of course squad changes have not only been seen at Watford. Villa have lost Jack Grealish, but have been spending his huge transfer fee on plenty of new signings. Buendia, Bailey and Ings, three attacking players. Trezeguet, Sanson and Luiz have already been ruled out by injury, and others face fitness tests before the game. I am not sure that we know how Watford are likely to line up as the pre-season games have not been too illuminating. Still it will be good to have the fans back to roar on the team and pay homage to the greatest manager in our history. please log in to view this image ENJOY THE GAME WHATEVER YOUR TIME ZONE
This season could go either way, not getting my hopes up at the mo. Recruitment seems to have been more scattergun than usual, we still have players that we need to move on and the midfield looks patchy. Looking forward to the match though
I suppose that I would be more than happy with a mid-table season. The thoughts of a constant struggle do not fill me with joy. I would also like to see the team perform well for Xisco as I like the guy, and would be pleased if he can prove himself at the higher level.
Really need to get off to a good start, that is what cost us when we went down. I will be nervously following on Saturday, I am intrigued to see the line up too.
Back home in Brexitland Managed to get rained on for nearly 2 weeks, wasn't the wildest holiday. I did enjoy lots of nice wine though. There's a local that's started his own 'cave', basically his barn is full of random bottles of wine he selected. Hours and hours of fun
We need to hit the ground running, and I honestly feel it could go either way the start of this season. Have to say, I'm disappointed Hughes won't be there, I thought he would help carry our momentum forward and be a lynchpin for us.
To add to what I said, there was a point in the run-in last season where I said the result is now most important, not how we play. Normally, at the start of the season, I'm more interested in how we're playing, knowing that a team that plays well will get results in the long-run, while a team getting a lucky win will get shown up at some point. I feel differently off the back of promotion: we need points on the board to build confidence and allow us to ride out the tough run of fixtures later in the autumn.
Team News: Xisco Muñoz has a near fully-fit squad to choose from ahead of the Premier League season opener on Saturday. Only strikers João Pedro and Joshua King, plus midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah, are unavailable for the visit of Aston Villa at Vicarage Road. João Pedro continues to work with the medical team to recover from a knee injury he sustained last month in the behind-closed-doors friendly against Millwall, whilst this weekend comes just too soon for King, who should re-join the squad for full training next week following a minor groin problem. Chalobah also misses out this weekend due to illness. Adam Masina and Domingos Quina have both returned to full training this week after sitting out the friendly at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Sounds like we have a coach that is enjoying life at the moment. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19509405.xisco-munoz-insists-watford-ready-premier-league/
Hive Live is back with Emma Saunders and Tommy Mooney. A pre-match show and live audio commentary. https://www.watfordfc.com/news/hive-live-matchday-show-returns-for-202122
Around 200 NHS staff will conduct a lap of honour around the Vic at half time so the club can acknowledge their work during the pandemic. There will also be a big screen tribute today to fans who have died in the months between today and the last match with full attendance, back in February 2020. Graham Taylor's family will be in attendance due to the tribute to him before kick off. There are flags placed all over the Rookery End. It's sure to be some atmosphere, something head coach Xisco Munoz is hoping for today.
