Monthly Archives: May 2019

18th May 2019- FA Cup Final, Manchester City 6 Watford 0

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Referee:
Kevin Friend
Attendance:
85,854

Watford beaten 6-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley

Watford supporters sing until the last in face of heavy FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City

FA Cup final: Javi Gracia reacts to Watford’s heavy defeat to Manchester City

Players rated as Watford are thumped by Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Watford owner Gino Pozzo and chairman Scott Duxbury issue ‘thank you’ statement to fans

Pictures of Watford’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City

Adrian Mariappa said it is an honour to play for Watford after FA Cup final defeat

Heurelho Gomes wants Watford to focus on positives from their recent season

Heurelho Gomes will talk to Watford about his future plans

Andre Gray says Watford were ‘battered’ by Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Javi Gracia told Watford to come back stronger after Manchester City cup final defeat, says Andre Gray

FA Cup final: A selection of images as Watford fans arrive at Wembley

Gerard Deulofeu semi-final goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers voted best of the competition

The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well in the spirit of the Watford fans

Watford’s best chance of over-turning the odds came early on when City keeper Ederson saved at the feel of Roberto Pereyra and they were furious when referee Kevin Friend waved away penalty claims after Vincent Kompany blocked Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot.

Watford then had a strong call for a penalty turned down by Kevin Friend as Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot hit the arm of Vincent Kompany. Though the hand was by his side, we have recently seen penalties given by VAR for similar incidents, particularly in Europe, though the VAR controversially opted against a spot kick this time.

In the process it was also a demonstration of the gulf that now exists between a team that has just won back-to-back Premier League titles and one that finished 10 places further back, 48 points worse off, playing in only their second final.

Manchester City 6-0 Watford: FA Cup final player ratings

As it happened

Manchester City’s sky blue smashing of Watford proves football is broken

Might it have been different if Pereyra had taken Watford’s best chance on 14 minutes? Gracia said something about it in passing later although it felt a little wishful. The Watford coach’s point was that you really have to take your chances in those moments to have any hope at all. Abdoulaye Doucoure sprung the trap on 14 minutes and Pereyra had just Ederson to beat. But the man who is arguably the Premier League’s best goalkeeper came out at speed and seized the initiative from the Watford attacker whose shot hit Ederson’s legs.

Except that at 5-0, something remarkable happens.  We’ve been loud, in general, and in defiance of the scoreline.  Louder than a month ago, louder than City, the grim memory of the Palace play off now surely dismissed.  Because at 5-0 the songs start to thunder and the flags start to wave  and suddenly the away end is a torrent of yellow and red as flags get frantically waved.  I destroy two, the second of which floats down to the posh seats below as it detaches from its pole. It’s breathtaking and emotional.

City’s fifth came as a low cross from Silva was converted by Sterling.  At this point something remarkable happened, the flags started waving in the Watford end.  First a few and then the stand was a sea of red and yellow, all around us getting to their feet to wave the flags and sing our hearts out for the lads. 

Watford are in football’s shrinking sweet spot & that’s something to envy

Build up to the 2019 FA Cup Final, Manchester City v Watford

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The Biggest Day In Our History

Hornets fans can win tickets to FA Cup final with Vicarage Road mural selfies

Paul Robinson: Watford will ‘always have a massive place in my heart’

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Woking negotiated in round three

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: A fourth round triumph on Tyneside

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Into the quarter-finals in west London

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Andre Gray strike beats Crystal Palace in quarter-final

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Gerard Deulofeu comes off the bench to sink Wolverhampton Wanderers

The Duke of Cambridge will present the FA Cup to either Watford or Manchester City

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says he is focused on beating Watford in the FA Cup final

Ben Watson thinks Watford have a ‘fantastic chance’ of beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Luther Blissett wants Watford focused on bringing home the FA Cup

A recollection of the 1984 FA Cup final between Watford and Everton

Javi Gracia hopes previous giant killings can help Watford beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Watford fan travels from Australia to watch FA Cup Final at Wembley

Etienne Capoue wants the 12th man to push Watford to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Recalling the significance of Watford reaching the 1984 FA Cup final

FAN’S VIEW: Togetherness can help Watford beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Watford boss Javi Gracia will see his mother for the first time in a year at the FA Cup final

Troy Deeney wants his mum to see him lift the FA Cup with Watford

Troy Deeney wants Watford to give Manchester City a tough FA Cup final

FA Cup final: How to follow the action on BBC Sport

Watford FA Cup final: Seven days of uncertainty and the rise to success since

Watford fans bid to recreate 1984 ‘buzz’ for FA Cup Final

FA Cup: Watford’s Capoue on family, football, Baby Shark & Manchester City

FA Cup final: Hornets fly in for Watford and Manchester City game

Raheem Sterling has set standard on combating racism, says Andre Gray

BBC preview

FA Cup final: Man City look to make history, Watford aim for an upset

Man City v Watford: FA Cup final in numbers

John Barnes: ‘Winning the FA Cup would be so special for Watford… you remember honours, not whether you’ve stayed in the league for eight or nine years’

Manchester City v Watford: A complete guide

Javi Gracia says Watford’s success doesn’t ride on FA Cup glory

Watford’s Etienne Capoue says ‘nobody expects us to win’ FA Cup

FA Cup final: Manchester City face Watford with historic domestic treble in sight

Nigel Callaghan: ‘If I was meant to die I’d have died on that table’

Watford’s Étienne Capoue turns blind eye to Manchester City’s matches

‘A demanding perfectionist’: how Gino Pozzo did the unthinkable at Watford

Troy Deeney ready for FA Cup final battle with ‘beast’ Vincent Kompany

For the players, memories of Watford’s first FA Cup final still sting like it was yesterday

Troy Deeney: ‘Vincent Kompany is the league’s best centre-back since Rio Ferdinand, but if I’m on form he’ll have a tough day’

Watford FC’s hidden history revealed in five facts…

What if we win?  Yes, we’re underdogs.  But at least we’re that.  Any club in the country would love to be that right now, certainly Wolves who, whatever your attitude after three eventful games will be watching on nervously, telling themselves that this is something they can’t affect, because they can’t affect it, but worrying anyway.

FA Cup Final Preview

FA Cup Final 2019 Preview

Vicarage Road, Friday 12th April

Rickmansworth High Street, Tuesday 14th May

Watford, Friday 17th May

12th May 2019- Premier League, Watford 1 West Ham United 4

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Referee:
Chris Kavanagh
Attendance:
20,067
1-2

Watford unable to seal top ten finish in final day loss to West Ham United

Watford vs West Ham United: Jose Holebas to miss FA Cup final after sending off in heavy Hornets defeat

Javi Gracia confirms Watford to appeal Jose Holebas sending off in West Ham United defeat

Individual player ratings for Watford’s heavy final day defeat

Jose Holebas will be available for the FA Cup final after red card is rescinded

Mark Noble scored twice as West Ham thrashed 10-man Watford 4-1 at Vicarage Road to leapfrog their hosts and secure a top-half finish in the Premier League

Gerard Deulofeu briefly gave Watford hope as he scored 11 seconds into the second half, but just two minutes later the hosts were reduced to 10 men as Holebas was dismissed for hauling back Antonio.

As warm-ups for Wembley finals go, this was a pretty tortuous audition for Watford. With an end-of-season vibe in the stands, this was always going to be the sideshow to the main event of the FA Cup final next Saturday but 10-man Watford spectacularly imploded against a clinical West Ham to hand Manuel Pellegrini’s side a top-half finish at their expense.

The normally ice-cool Gracia was left incandescent by an extremely harsh red card for José Holebas, who now looks set to miss the biggest game of his life. It was history cruelly repeating itself after Watford’s captain Wilf Rostron was suspended for the 1984 final after being sent off undeservedly at derby rivals Luton.

I still have not got over the injustice done to Wilf Rostron in 1984.  My sister took a banner to the final declaring “Wilf is Innocent”.  I have never forgiven either Roger Milford or Paul Elliott for their parts in him missing the cup final.  The thought that Jose Holebas, who has become a bit of a cult figure for his Eeyore-like demeanour but has also been one of our best players this season, was going to miss the final broke my heart.  I have to say that it was a good thing that I chose to work from home today as, when the news came through that the red card had been overturned, I sobbed uncontrollably.  Suddenly there is a good omen for next Saturday.  Jose is innocent and the Hornets have the opportunity to choose from their best players for the final.  Our chances are slim, but in a cup game you never know.  As long as we all take our best game to Wembley, we have a chance. Oh, there go those nerves again.

A disappointing finale to an otherwise fantastic season. Frustrating to have finished in the bottom half of the Premier League, but don’t let that fool you…A record points total and an FA Cup Final still to look forward to. Progress. That’s all we wanted at the start of the season and we got it. Next season we aim to progress further.

5th May 2019- Premier League, Chelsea 3 Watford 0

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Referee:
Paul Tierney
Attendance:
40,650

Watford lose at Chelsea in the penultimate weekend of the Premier League

Watford beaten by Chelsea in last Premier League away day of season

Javi Gracia rues ‘very tough result’ after Watford lose at Chelsea

Chelsea vs Watford: Javi Gracia looking beyond the results against Premier League’s top clubs

Watford players rated after losing away at Chelsea

Chelsea vs Watford: Javi Gracia praises Nathaniel Chalobah’s display

Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah speaks about tough battle to regain fitness

FA Cup finalists Watford started brightly, going close through Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu, but were left to rue their slow start to the second half that saw Chelsea quickly take the game away from them.

Watford created Maurizio Sarri’s side numerous problems, especially in a one-sided first-half, with Kepa Arrizabalaga making one of the saves of the season to deny Troy Deeney.

Even at a club where life is never simple these are strange times indeed. Chelsea have secured Champions League football, reached the League Cup final earlier this year and could secure passage to Baku and the Europa League final later this week, yet Sarri remains unloved. Perhaps the rather chaotic first-half showing here partly explained why, given their lack of pattern or focus as Watford, slicker and stronger, threatened to run riot.

Watford struck the frame of the goal twice and spurned a host of chances and given the opportunities they created and the positive way they played it is odd that they finish this season having lost their last 11 games against the ‘Big Six’.

To be fair, and as was reflected by a venerable Chelsea panel in the tube afterwards, we started the game as unlike a side preoccupied with the Cup Final as it’s possible to imagine.  We were lively, assertive and direct, pinning the home side back with some verve and energy.

We left plenty of time for our walk to Stamford Bridge and to negotiate our way past the multiple phalanxes of security guards.  There was a surprise in store as we were greeted by a voice announcing, “FA Cup Finalists to the left.”  I was still smiling when I heard another directing us on “The road to Wembley.”  A rather lovely and unexpected welcome which meant that my opinion of Chelsea went up massively.