Match Day Thread Watford vs Southampton, 3pm Saturday 30th October

Saints play Watford, birthplace of Mark Oaten, MP. Let's hope we do to them what he paid people to do to him.

We come off a great run of form if drawing pretty much everything in sight is great form. They come off a spectacular win against Everton, the team with the most self-entitled bunch of supporters in the country: I felt a wave of love for Watford. Not a sentence I ever expected to type.

Ralph will be ****, the line up will be ****, Redmond will be beyond **** and we'll lose 9-0. Then the game will kick off and we'll probably do OK. Seems to be the pattern.

Nobody but you actually reads these match day threads, you know. They are a total waste of time. They're certainly not worth reading. However, now you've invested the time to read this far, it's entirely possible that even though I'm announcing here it's futile, you're going to carry on reading. There's no point but you're now committed to reading this to the final, sorry, bitter end.

Even this bit.

 

Boring Puel football on display here. Try not to fall asleep whilst watching.

 

Lyanco & Forster have to start.

 

15:00 BST Watford v Southampton

Referee: Peter Bankes.
Assistants: Peter Kirkup, James Mainwaring.
Fourth official: Keith Stroud.
VAR: Graham Scott.
Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn.

 

They really don't 'have' to start.

I'd possibly like to see Lyanco in for Beddy - he has a level of strength and aggression we've possibly been missing, and he and Salisu seem to be firm pals. It would be incredibly harsh to drop McCarthy, who has done nothing wrong this season (and has actually been performing well). Fraser won't play, because it's pretty clear he's leaving before next season.

 

I’m getting my popcorn for JWP’s return, Diallo is dropped, KWP at left back and Ralph goes with a front two of Walcott and Redmond. Just full on trolling Not606 at this point.

 

Forster isn't playing in the PL again for Saints, barring injury/suspension to McCarthy. Lyanco I agree with but I suspect Ralph will go back to Bedders and Salisu in a back 4. Given Romeu was on the bench last night I'm going to assume he'll be partnering JWP in midfield which isn't very fair on Diallo TBH. If Elyounoussi is out then I think he'll stick Redmond on the left with Armstrong on the right with Broja and the other Armstrong up front. Or maybe he'll try what we've all been crying out for and play Tino further forward with KWP at RB and Armstrong on the left.

 

I was very impressed with the defence last night in general. The only real error was when Chelsea scored, due to the mismatch of KWP marking Havertz. Lyanco and Salisu ought to be able to handle King and Sarr, anyway.

On the question of Diallo, what about playing him wide on the left instead of Elyounoussi/Djenepo? As many have said, he has earned another start even if JWP does come straight back in.

 

Nah, he's no wide man. I wouldn't go for that.

Would be interesting if we played a 3 at the back in some games though, with KWP in there instead of Valery. I dunno. That's why Ralph gets paid the bucks!

 

I don’t think we will play 3 CB’s. I would go with;
McCarthy
Tino beddy sally sue peraud
Jwp Romeu
Armstrong Redmond
Broja Armstrong

 

Yeah, I don't see us playing with 3 CBs for this one either (and rightly so). Would agree with your line-up in terms of what it will likely be (though as I say, I'd be happy to see Gorilla and Scorpion).

 

FFS why can't you delete a ****ing thread?

 

I would rather play Armstrong in midfield and Armstrong up front. The other way round to you.

 

It would be one small step...

 

Yeah ............

 

???

 

My bad run ends here

 

You're going to this aren't you? Fancy a pre-match pint? My train gets in to Watford High Street at 13:43. I don't know what the away pub is mind.