Category Archives: Roy Hodgson

6th March 2022- Premier League, Watford 2 Arsenal 3

WFC.net Jon Marks Commentary: 1 2

Attendance: 21,142

BBC Sport: The Hornets, who remain in the relegation zone, thought they had taken the lead within the first 20 seconds as Emmanuel Dennis slotted home but he was offside.

Sky Sports: Martin Odegaard opened the scoring with the first of three beautifully-worked Arsenal goals when he slid a low finish past Ben Foster after exchanging passes with Saka in the early stages (5). Watford responded well, with Cucho Hernandez netting the pick of the afternoon’s goals when he slammed home a stunning overhead kick from Kiko Femenia’s right-wing cross (11).

The Guardian: Chances were missed at both ends after that and there was rancour when Watford’s fans showed loud disapproval at Roy Hodgson’s substitution of Louza. “I’ve got to keep trying to pick the team to win games and not the team the fans would like to see because I don’t trust their judgment all the time,” Hodgson said. “I don’t think I can ask any more of the players than what they gave today.”

BHappy: These are strange times, however, and so here we are. The Ukrainian flag displayed by the Rookery twice pre-match – first as teams entered the arena and second, hesitantly, as the teams alternated around the centre-circle in a co-ordinated show of solidarity with Ukraine – would not, it seems, have met the approval of Chinese broadcasters and by implication the Chinese government; the former had declined to screen any Premier League matches this weekend in the light of such planned actions. The flag display, whilst a fine thing and well co-ordinated, feels somehow inadequate in the circumstances. It’s not quite standing in front of a tank, is it? And yet the fact that a government feels strongly enough about controlling the narrative told to its people to effectively ban its broadcast is testament to the impact it can have – or at least that they believe it can have. Well done all.

Fran’s Watford blog: Dennis really should have reduced the deficit when a low cross from Femenía reached him on the far post but he somehow miscontrolled and the ball spun away from goal. The visitors made a couple of substitutions replacing Martinelli and Lacazette with Pépé and Nketiah. Watford had a chance to strike back when a poor pass from the visitors reached Dennis who broke into the box but his pass to Kamara was intercepted. Arsenal then broke down the other end and the substitute, Nketiah, had a shot that hit the post. But the next goal of the game was scored by the Hornets as Sissoko brought the ball down in the box, beat the defender and squeezed the ball under Ramsdale to reduce the deficit to a single goal. Each side made a substitution at that point with Cleverley making way for debutant Kalu for the home side and Holding replacing Ødegaard for the visitors. When five minutes of added time was announced, it was the Hornet faithful cheering. Could we get a point from this game? Kalu had a great chance to grab the equaliser when he played a one-two with Sissoko and tried a shot from distance which was caught by Ramsdale. Kalu impressed again with a lovely ball towards Dennis that was intercepted. But the most notable thing during added time was the timewasting from the visitors which was most irritating when Tierney was thrown the ball by Hernandez and decided to drop it. Cucho’s follow-up throw was a little more vigorous but did not merit the Arsenal player collapsing as if he had received an upper cut and shame on the referee for booking the Watford player for his opponent’s play-acting. The final whistle went on a defeat for the Hornets that was greeted with applause from the home fans.

23rd February 2022- Premier League, Watford 1 Crystal Palace 4

WFC.Net Jon Marks Goal Commentary: 1

Attendance::20,012

BBC Sport: Wilfried Zaha scored two late goals to wrap up the points for Patrick Vieira’s side after Conor Gallagher had put them ahead in the first half.

Sky Sports: Palace opened the scoring through Jean-Philippe Mateta (15), who was handed a stroke of good fortune when his left-footed shot on the turn struck the back of Kiko Femenia and flew past the wrong-footed Ben Foster. But instead of getting mad, Watford got even, levelling the scores when Femenia’s wicked inswinging corner was powered home by Moussa Sissoko (17).

The Guardian: “We certainly weren’t inferior in terms of our play between the penalty areas,” Hodgson said. “What was different was what Palace did when they had the ball around our penalty area and what we did when we had the ball around theirs.”

12th February 2022- Premier League, Watford 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 2

Attendance: 20,795

BBC Sport: Roy Hodgson says his Watford side “will need a lot of mental strength” to secure Premier League survival this season after Brighton inflicted further misery on the relegation-threatened Hornets at Vicarage Road.

Sky Sports: Watford only managed their first shot on target in the 88th minute and are deep in the relegation mire. They remain in 19th with Burnley and Newcastle yet to play this weekend.

The Guardian: A match that started with the stands reverberating to cheers as Roy Hodgson was introduced as Watford’s latest manager ended with a sixth successive home defeat and to the sound of away fans singing about him getting sacked in the morning.

BHappy: A miserable first half saw us obstruct Brighton up to a point…. Samir impressed in the backline, doggedly getting a foot in, revelling in challenges. But we didn’t obstruct enough to prevent those chances… Moder forced a good save from Foster, then put in a cross for Gross to head wide unchallenged; Maupay shot from long range in too much space, Foster saved comfortably; Dunk headed over unchallenged from a deep corner. Whether Maupay’s looping shot was quite what he intended or otherwise we had allowed Brighton enough bites not to be able to complain when they got lucky. This wasn’t Bowen at West Ham.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The match had been designated as Trust Awareness Day and the half time guest on the pitch was Ann Swanson, who has agreed to be a Patron of the newly re-launched Junior Hornets. For those who were fans of the Hornets in the 80s, even those who were too old for the Junior Hornets at that point, Ann is remembered as a Watford legend. She was the driving force behind the organisation of the Family Enclosure and Family Terrace as well as the Junior Hornets trips to away games. At that time, there was a lot of violence attached to football and many people avoided going to games for that reason. Ann, in collaboration with GT, made Vicarage Road a safe place to visit and encouraged families to attend. Many of the young fans that attended games in those days still remember her with great fondness and they are now bringing their own children to games. Ann said that she will be travelling to Southampton with a group of Junior Hornets, just like old times. At the end of the interview with Tim, he told her (and us) that the Family Stand would now be known as the Ann Swanson Family Stand. She was visibly moved and quite emotional about it, as was I. I don’t think that there was a dry eye in the place.

25th January 2022- Roy Hodgson is appointed Manager

BBC Sport: The club have not announced the length of Hodgson’s contract.

Sky Sports: All parties will assess Hodgson’s future at Watford at the end of the current campaign.

The wonderful football cartoonist David Squires featured Roy’s return in his weekly Guardian strip.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2022/feb/01/david-squires-on-sexy-beast-roy-hodgson-reboot-watford-job

12th January 2019- Premier League, Crystal Palace 1 Watford 2

Programme images courtesy of Matt Hall

Referee:
Paul Tierney
Attendance:
25,010

Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 1 2

Relive our coverage of Watford’s victory at Crystal Palace in the Premier League

Watford come from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace vs Watford: Javi Gracia praises character and ambition after victory

RATINGS: How did Watford perform in their away win at Crystal Palace?

Tom Cleverley speaks after Watford win at Crystal Palace

Five positives after Watford win at Crystal Palace

Watford defender Craig Cathcart sees the funny side of Crystal Palace own goal

A selection of images from Watford’s win at Crystal Palace

Tom Cleverley’s superb second-half volley helped Watford come from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

A huge scramble in the Watford area saw the ball turned home by Craig Cathcart’s thigh (38) to put Crystal Palace ahead, with goal-line technology confirming it had gone over the line. But the defender redeemed himself in the 67th minute as he nodded home the Watford equaliser before a wonderful volley from Tom Cleverley (74) completed the comeback and handed the visitors the victory.

Watford have now won 16 points away from Vicarage Road, which is a greater haul than they managed on the road last season.

It’s tempting to say that we would have lost this last season. In fact we DID lose this last season. And the season before. And coulda, shoulda this time too. But there’s more to us now… good enough that our bad days aren’t that bad, good enough that when we flame on we’re irresistible, plenty enough to blow Palace, albeit a blunt, stunted Palace, right out of the sky.

Back home watching Match of the Day I notice, during the interview with Javi Gracia, that he is wearing a Graham Taylor matchday badge on his jacket. I must admit that made me cry. Javi has been a joy since he arrived at Vicarage Road. His football is enjoyable and his conduct is exemplary. I think that GT would have loved him and, from me, there can be no higher praise.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2019-01-12

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/premier-league/12-january-2019/