please log in to view this image Watford v Leeds United Saturday 9th April@15:00 | Vicarage Road Leeds travel down to Hertfordshire on Saturday knowing a win would go a long way to securing Premier League safety, but only if they can overcome Roy Hodgson's Waford. Burnley's late winner over Everton on Wednesday night moves them to within six points of Leeds, with two games in hand. The Hornets are not out of it either. If they win on Saturday they will go level with Everton on 25 points. With seven points from their last three games, Leeds Manager Jesse Marsch is unlikely to tinker too much with the starting line-up. Cooper completed ninety minutes against Southampton last weekend unscaved, and looks certain to partner Llorente at centre back, with Ayling and Dallas acting as wing backs. The big question will be whether Kalvin Phillips is fit to start. The England star chalked up 25 minutes of game time against Southampton, and looks set for a bigger role at Watford; but is he ready to start? If he does, either Forshaw or Klich will have to make way. Gelhardt is not expected to make the trip down to Watford. The 19yo sustained a dead leg during the U23's 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Monday evening. This would mean that Dan James is likely to lead the line; a role he has endured more than he has enjoyed this season. Rodrigo is set to play just behind James. If he can replicate the form he has shown in the last two or three games, he will cause the Watford defence all kind of problems. Jack Harrison should retain his place on the left-wing having scored in his two previous matches and Raphinha on the right.
Besides Firpo, Bamford and Roberts we have a full squad available for the game. This number of fit players is the first time this season, so we should be starting with Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper, have a real defence available as Ayling and Dallas, plus Koch and Struijk all available. Joe Gelhardt will train for the first time this week on Friday due to the knock on Monday night, but he is also available and ready to play. So Joffy will probably be on the bench, but Rodrigo Raphinha could well be given the task of ripping Watford apart through the middle with James and Harrison on the flanks….. expecting basketball again but Leeds to win by 2 clear goals
They like to counter and so do we. They are at home so the onus is on them to come at us which might play into our hands if we survive the early onslaught. Hodgson likes to keep things tight and disciplined. I'm a little concerned that they will sit back and let us have the ball. They have some really good individuals who can win games on their own if they are on it.
Marsch has said Shackleton is nearly ready but not quite, no chance of Roberts, Firpo or Bamford, apart from that a full squad. He was asked about Joffy and he replied that he has a dead leg, he hasn't trained this week but hopes he will be back in training on Friday adding "We think he will be available for the match on the weekend,” he said, so there’s no need to tweet with fury about Dan James being named up front at Watford. He has been speaking to Crysencio Summerville about his “professional behaviour off the pitch” (no idea what this refers to) He has been speaking to Orta about summer transfers although this was mainly about the current squad not new additions Meslier positioning at free kicks is for the GK coaches to sort out although he has been working with him on his role when in possession explaining he is like the Quarter Back of the team Asked about how he is getting on with other PL managers he replied "Dean Smith was mad at me for not shaking his hand, so we didn’t spend as much time [together] after the match
He called Robin Koch - Robin Cook In fairness he was a lot more feisty this time, he even gave Phil Hay a smile and quipped about him (Hay) not having a question for him then he mentioned that he had heard Phil Hay had been in touch with someone he knew, I didn't catch it all
Problem is we’ll have to score two or three as we never keep a clean sheet. Game in London so what could possibly go wrong. Think we’ll edge this one though. Two young dynamic managers going head to head
Firstly we scored three at West Ham and won, and secondly Watford isn’t really in London, strictly speaking. So two straws to clutch there
One stat we need to keep going is Watford's recent home record not won in eight!!!! Now I know we are ace at letting teams break these kind of things but we must break this hoodoo forthwith and put a nice gap before our next set of fixtures which are shall we say "not ideal"
we all use the word quarterback to describe the play maker - more normally about a DM. If he wasn’t American no one would bat an eyelid. when he starts calling the winger’s ‘receivers’ and states we need to convert more third downs? Then it’s time to worry. … so next week probably
Never in my life have I used that word Milky. It's always been defenders, midfield and forwards, to my generation.
