Match Thread: Watford Football Club vs. Ipswich Town FC 21/08/12 19:45

Watford FC Vs. Ipswich Town​

The first weekend proper is behind us and fans get their second course of action straight after the starter! Watford play their first home game of the league campaign against the Tractor Boys in what should be a good contest with the added edge of the return of a certain Scott Loach.

Watford

News:

Watford gained a win at the death against Crystal Palace with two loanees from Udinese making the difference. Two cycnical mistakes from Speroni also enabled the orns to their first three points of the campaign. Watford are still adapting to the new style of play that Zola is trying to install within his players but the signs looked good with new players making an immediate difference. Watford fans will be hoping there is more to come, especially when more of the new boys come to play!

It wasn't all good news however, Watford showed some frailty at the back, especially with the 2nd goal as Garvan seemingly waltzed past players to tuck the ball into the bottom corner. The hornets will be hoping to eradicate these mistakes.

The manager:

Zola said after the game:

"The type of football we need to play is expansive so the players need to be in top condition. Give me time. I'm learning a lot from my players and learning a lot from this division. How far we can go is difficult to say, but we will give it [promotion] a go."

Team News:

Watford's Almen Abdi has admitted he is not yet 100% fit, but will keep his place in the starting line-up ahead of Matej Vydra.

Fitz Hall, Stephen McGinn, Steve Leo Beleck, Daniel Pudil, and Alex Geijo will be pushing for inclusions in the squad as they make returns to fitness, however don't expect to see Geijo anytime soon!

Ipswich Town

News:

Ipswich's first game was against recently relegated Blackburn Rovers and were held to a draw against Steve Keane's men. Having had 12 shots, 7 of which were on target, the tractor boys seemed to create a lot and will hope to attack the Watford defence from the off. As mentioned, one certain player has an added incentive to getting all three points. Loach, the young GK, had a quite public fall out with the fans and will be wanting to get one over against them with a good display between the sticks.

The Manager:

Paul Jewell said the following, "The least we deserved was a draw - not because we were brilliant on the ball but because of our endeavour. There weren't too many negatives and at the end of the game we finished the stronger. We said at half-time that we won't be lacking for fitness because we've got a young, athletic team. I didn't think we'd wilt but it really was hot out there."

Team News:

Manager Paul Jewell is primed to name an unchanged Ipswich side from the one that drew 1-1 with Blackburn.

Elliott Hewitt remains Town's only absentee with a hip injury that will keep the defender out for four weeks.

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My Prediction:

I feel Watford may win this won. 2-0.

 

thanks again Hampshire another great thread!

I have a feeling of foreboding about this one...which i never have, so it's odd. I just have a feeling that Loach has been sticking pins in his voodoo dolls and we might get opened up too much at the back. But..having said that, i think we usually have a pretty tight back four and that on Saturday, for the second goal particularly, they had a bit of an off day. I'd be happy to bring Vydra on as a sub again if he'll do a repeat performance of Saturday, though i'm surprised he didn't get to start. At least Tuesday evening will be cooler than Saturday afternoon was. We were sitting right in the sun and were sweltering...lordy knows what running around for 90 minutes was like!

So, my prediction...3-1...obviously

 

Loach blunders and 2-0 Watford !! COYHHHHHH

 

The fact that we haven't lost a league game to Ipswich since 2004 shouldn't have any influence on the game tomorrow at all, so why does that thought keep coming up in my mind whenever I think about this game? I do think that Loach will be trying to prove something, though, and who can blame him?

 

Like H, I have a funny feeling about this one You just know that Loach will have a blinder and that they will fluke something..............please no......I know our record against them is outstanding but all good things and that...................

COYH...............onwards to victory

 

One jinx laid to rest on Saturday, I hope another doesn't finish with this game. It stands to reason Scott Loach will play out of his skin, take all the crosses, long shots and generally snuff out the Watford attack.

I see a draw 1-1 or 2-2.

 

Good job Hampshire
Gonna predict 2-1 to the 'orns,
Hoping Loach gets a fair reception too.

 

Sounds like Ipswich had a good start against Blackburn and were unlucky not to win. This early on though you really cannot tell how good results are. We are going to be "bedding in" for a few weeks yet so I think we'll help start Ipswich on a drawing run. 1-1.

 

2-1 to the golden boys COYH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Good playing surface at the Vic. We're playing good football.... we always seem to beat Ipswich too.

Not sure how many more of the new players are going to feature, but even without them we have a good side. Vydra is a real threat and I think he'll get another goal or two.

 

oh, anyone going to the match please respect loach, don't boo him or abuse him, because it's only a game of football in the end.

 

I think Scott Loach will have his best game at Vicarage Road and we will be sad to have sold him. After winning at Crystal Palace to end one bad line of results I hope we do not let Ipswich Town do the same.

 

Well, as Zola said at the end of the CP game "We have to improve, because it won't be like that all the time" . Certainly two of our goals had a big element of luck in them. I suppose a lot of teams are in the same boat at this stage of the season, with new players settling in. Zola seems to be playing it cautiously so far--not a bad idea, but I think a team that plays Yeates, Garner and Dickinson at the same time is always going to look a bit pedestrian. Individually they are competent enough, but all on the pitch together they make us look average at best. We need to see a bit of creativity/magic on the new pitch on Tuesday--where will it come from?

 

It won't be just Loach preventing goals at one end. Nathan Ellington will be firing them in at the other end. I'm not so nervous about this game any more.

 

Apparently, Murray wasn't at his best on Saturday. Maybe that match and training today will mean that any effect his injury had on his match fitness and so on his performance on Saturday, will no longer be an issue.

Anyone know what is happening with Alex Geijo? I don't remember anything about a lack of fitness when he signed plus the official site doesn't have him in the squad list, so it seems that he hasn't been given a shirt number yet. I think it's a bit bizarre as he was supposed to be (according to the bookies) our leading scorer this season and one of the highest scorers in the division.

 

all that i've read suggests that he's not match fit...i doubt we'll see him tomorrow...

 

Was Murray's problem a lack of energy, or making mistakes?

Whichever it is, my guess is that he was struggling with the heat, because in general Zola has shown that he will pick the 11 players most ready for the match, rather than the 11 players he thinks are the best in our squad.

 

I seem to remember a Zola quote to the effect that he's behind the rest of the squad in terms of fitness and we won't see him until September. Mind you, that is only two weeks away......

Anyone heard any news about Pudil & if he'll be back against Ipswich?

 

Jon Marks did mention that he looked buggered and perhaps had had too busy an off-season - not sure what he was referring to though.

 

Watford 2 Ipswich 1

I have yet to see us beat Watford and I don't see that changing tomorrow!