Monthly Archives: January 2018

31st January 2018- Premier League, Stoke City 0 Watford 0

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Watford Observer

RELIVE – Stoke City v Watford: Hornets avoid defeat in scrappy game at bet365 Stadium

Stoke City vs Watford: Javi Gracia marks Premier League debut with goalless stalemate

Javi Gracia: Watford head coach savours first clean sheet since November

Watford’s Sebastian Prodl hopes Stoke City draw can spark Premier League revival

Stoke City v Watford: Gerard Deulofeu debut pleases head coach Javi Gracia

Stoke City vs Watford ratings: Hornets put in solid team performance to earn Premier League point

Javi Gracia picked up his first point as Watford boss after his side held Stoke to a 0-0 draw at the bet365 Stadium on Wednesday evening.

A tight contest opened up in the last 15 minutes as both teams committed men forward in search of a winner, with substitute Peter Crouch going close for the hosts and Doucoure shooting wide.

Tempers boiled over time and again, just as they did in the corresponding fixture at Vicarage Road in October, after which Troy Deeney was retrospectively banned, and it was something of a surprise the game finished with 22 players on the pitch.

Watford’s choice of Javi Gracia as Marco Silva’s successor might not have been an obvious one to many supporters but the 47-year-old Spaniard came with a sound record and a solid reputation and there were at least signs that the latest through the revolving door at Vicarage Road might be able to lift flagging spirits.

I’m here as the result of a phonecall from fellow former fanzine editors at Stephen Todd’s funeral back in October, suggesting that we take on the season’s least inviting midweek away trip in his honour. Toddy knew how to do football supporting better than pretty much anyone I’ve ever met; I’ve lost the knack, but something in the idea has remained sufficiently appealing that I haven’t wheedled my way out in the meantime. We arrive in Stoke at not long after four o’clock, settle into the local Harvester, avail ourselves of the salad cart, try to build a list of every goalscorer from the Pozzo era. Shenanigans and indeed misdemeanours from away trips of yore are mentioned; Dave keeps that flame alive by ordering gammon with egg and pineapple.

It wasn’t pretty and it certainly wasn’t a game that we’ll recall as we lie on our death bed. What it was however was a game where we showed a vast improvement on Saturday, in both quality and character.

After a swift glass of red at the pub, we headed back to the hotel and spent a late night in the lounge with a large number of Watford fans. Everyone in attendance had thoroughly enjoyed the performance and were happy to have been part of a more positive crowd.

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27th January 2018- FA Cup Fourth Round, Southampton 1 Watford 0

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Watford Observer

Relive Southampton v Watford: Javi Gracia’s reign begins with defeat on south coast, as Hornet exit FA Cup

Javi Gracia’s Watford reign starts with FA Cup exit at Southampton

Javi Gracia says he has already seen a reaction from Watford players in wake of Southampton defeat

Anger at Christian Kabasele and Jose Holebas from Watford fans defended by captain Ben Watson

Southampton v Watford ratings: Few positives from opening game of Javi Gracia reign

Jack Stephens marked his 24th birthday with his first goal for Southampton as they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 home win over Watford.

Injury-hit Watford struggled to create but nearly forced a replay, Christian Kabasele heading wide in added time.

It was an afternoon of disgruntlement in the stands. While a portion of Southampton’s supporters maintained their burgeoning FA Cup tradition of voicing disapproval with Mauricio Pellegrino’s substitutions, jeering when the Argentinian replaced Sofiane Boufal with Maya Yoshida in the second half, that burst of dissent felt mild in comparison to the moment when Christian Kabasele and José Holebas had to be pulled away from a disagreement with a few Watfordfans after an otherwise forgettable game.

The general sense of malaise was compounded here by conceding inside four minutes and, while there was mostly sarcasm in the fans’ appraisal of a team that have now lost nine out of their last 13 matches, the scenes on the final whistle were angry.

More than one person mentioned yesterday that I usually find something positive to say about games. Sadly, I cannot find anything good to say about that game either on or off the pitch.

I felt sorry for Gracia after his first game in charge. A ridiculous number of injuries and a fan base that appear to be turning against the players with every game. The new-manager bounce we so badly wanted and needed had the complete opposite effect and as supporters we have ourselves to blame too, we weren’t at the races.

https://audioboom.com/posts/6623819-tired-and-emotional-8-32

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21st January 2018- Marco Silva leaves…and Javi Gracia arrives

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Watford Observer

Marco Silva sacked by Watford after just 26 games

WATFORD OPINION: Marco Silva shot himself in the foot the moment he failed to distance himself from Everton job

Marco Silva: The errors which undermined Watford tenure

Marco Silva timeline: Departed Watford boss’ key Vicarage Road moments

Javier Gracia confirmed by Watford as new head coach

Watford have appointed Javi Gracia as head coach – but just who is he?

Javi Gracia: New Watford head coach says improving confidence will be his primary goal to improve club fortunes

New Watford head coach Javi Gracia has an impressive CV – but there are reasons to be cautious too

Marco Silva: Watford blame Everton as they sack manager and hire Javi Gracia

Watford have named Javi Gracia as their new head coach, hours after the Premier League club sacked Marco Silva.

Javi Gracia: ‘Effective, rather than thrilling’ – what can Watford fans expect?

Watford manager Marco Silva has been sacked following a run of poor results, with the club apparently unhappy at Everton’s pursuit of him earlier in the season.

Marco Silva’s fall from grace has been spectacular, says Oliver Holt

Marco Silva sacked by Watford: This gifted coach is his own worst enemy

Watford have appointed Javi Gracia as their new head coach on an 18-month contract, having sacked Marco Silva on Sunday morning.

Javi Gracia says he already feels at home at new club Watford after being announced as Marco Silva’s replacement.

Watford have sacked their manager Marco Silva following the club’s 2-0 defeat against Leicester on Saturday, citing the “unwarranted approach” from Everton last year as “the catalyst” for the decision.

Javi Gracia faces repair job as Marco Silva’s Watford affair ends in tears

Marco Silva sacked by Watford as club blame ‘unwarranted approach’ from Everton; Javi Gracia takes over

Watford are not afraid to do things differently – sacking Marco Silva will probably keep them up

Total Football Podcast: Sacking Marco Silva made sense. This was no knee-jerk

20th January 2018- Premier League, Leicester City 2 Watford 0

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Watford Observer

Relive Leicester City v Watford: Goals from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez give Foxes a 2-0 win

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez goals condemn Watford to Leicester City defeat

Marco Silva says Watford’s goal is Premier League survival after eighth defeat in 11

Marco Silva defends his tenure as Watford slip to eighth league defeat from 11

Leicester City vs Watford ratings: Molla Wague off the pace in Premier League defeat

A Jamie Vardy penalty and a late Riyad Mahrez strike were enough to earn Leicester City a 2-0 win over Watford.

Watford have now won just one of their last 11 Premier League matches, while Leicester improve to two wins from seven in the league and move up to seventh place in the table.

Watford are in a bad run. They have lost eight of their last 11 games, although the points banked at the start are keeping them out of trouble. Manager Marco Silva pointed out, as he is entitled to, that with six or seven first-team players out injured – Heurelho Gomes and Tom Cleverley joined the list before this match – any team would struggle. At least Orestis Karnezis, making his first start after Gomes pulled out with a back problem, atoned for his nightmare entry off the bench at Everton last November.

Marco Silva dismissed any fears over his job after watching his injury-hit Watford lose at Leicester.

Watford announced Marco Silva’s sacking as Head Coach early on Sunday morning which was then featured by the following blogs along with reports from the Leicester game.

OK, so there was supposed to be a Leicester report. Sorry about that. Birthday drinks on Saturday night delayed that exercise and by the time I got round to sitting down events had moved on apace and an account of events at the KP Stadium had become almost superfluous, like a restaurant review of a curry shop that shut down a week ago.

In line with other Premier League clubs, there was a minute’s applause for the wonderful Cyrille Regis, who passed away earlier this week. Those of us of a certain age were deeply saddened at his early death. He was a wonderful player to watch and one who was a trailblazer for the young players of colour that have followed him.

One win from our last 11 league matches, leaving us five points above the relegation zone (despite still being 10th in the league), coupled with a loss of confidence from the dressing room and shocking performances on the pitch and as a result the atmosphere at Vicarage Road beginning to turn toxic meant that something had to give.

https://audioboom.com/posts/6610696-hi-ho-silva-and-away-8-31

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13th January 2018- Premier League, Watford 2 Southampton 2

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To mark the first anniversary of GT’s passing Roy Moore of the 1881 organised a show of scarves as the teams came out of the tunnel.

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Watford Observer

Relive Watford v Southampton: Hornets secure late draw with Saints through Abdoulaye Doucoure header

Late Abdoulaye Doucoure goal snatches a draw for Watford against Southampton

Watford head coach Marco Silva happy ‘risky’ changes helped salvage Southampton draw

Watford’s players were told ‘what they deserved to hear’ by Marco Silva at half-time of Southampton draw

Watford vs Southampton ratings: Troy Deeney makes the difference as defensive frailties go on

Watford’s Andre Gray relishes Troy Deeney partnership in Southampton draw

Abdoulaye Doucoure’s handball for Watford equaliser could not have been spotted by Roger East, says former referee

PICTURES: Vicarage Road comes together to honour Watford’s greatest manager Graham Taylor

Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled home a controversial 90th-minute equaliser as Watford fought back from 2-0 down to draw with Southampton.

The midfielder diverted the ball in with his arm a minute before full-time as Watford came from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Saints, who had led 2-0 at the break after James Ward-Prowse’s goals, were furious and surrounded the officials after the goal and at full time, with this result keeping the pressure on their manager, Mauricio Pellegrino.

It would have been understandable had Pellegrino exploded, railed against the officials, damned the system and spoken of injustice. But he didn’t. He even managed to spare some sympathy for the referee, Roger East, who evidently missed the nature of the game’s decisive and defining touch.

With Friday being the first anniversary of Graham Taylor’s passing, this game took on a greater significance than normal.

As the teams walked out onto the pitch, Vicarage Road became a sea of scarves held aloft by both Watford and Southampton supporters.

Warmingly, as well as the scarves creating a stunning tableau in the home stands there are Saints scarves aloft in the away end. I’d like to think that these represented solidarity as well as a statement of pride in their own team. Being proud of what and who you are doesn’t obligate you to hate anyone that’s something different whatever the current political climate might imply.

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GT- Never Forgotten

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This was written by John Motson in 1983 but was true of GT to the end.

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Taken from ‘A Tale of the Unexpected’, the book written by Geoff Sweet and Graham Burton which documents our second place finish in the old Division One.