Match Thread: Watford v Leicester City

We wont make the play offs. There is too much to do.

We have the squad to do it but we dont have the consistency.

 

No foul in the build up for your 3rd goal!!!! Are you having a laugh? Morgan was assaulted, take another look my friend!

 

Having briefly seen the highlights on the news (only once mind), I have to say "the penalty" decision is by no means clear cut. I'd certainly like to see it again, but let's remember the ref only gets to see it once. But a foul, and certainly a red for denying a goal scoring opportunity (still not sure if the right player was sent off).

In addition, a massive slice of luck for Watford's second (which we all knew) and Morgan clearly fouled before the third went in. We were also unlucky with some of our many chances, the Watford keeper pulling off some good saves.

While it didn't sound like a great game for the purists (the quality of the pitch put paid to any chances of quality football), it was certainly tense and could have gone either way. But congrats to Watford, all the best for the rest of the season. Your fans on here have come across as been generally likable, which is more than I can say for some of the other clubs' fans in this league.

 

I would have to say that although we see things in a different light it has been good to express our thoughts together without resorting to abuse. I would agree that some fans haven't quite got the idea yet that you can do it.

Hope that things go well for the rest of the season, they ought to looking at the players at your disposal.

 

Right, i will offer my two penneth.

Our first goal was a well taken header. There was no two ways about that. Your first goal was well worked, and well taken. I dont think SL could do too much about it, he would have seen it late and it was curling away from him too. Your second goal was amazing!! We fell asleep and allowed Nugent too much space and then when it bobbled up off your other player (couldnt see who) he just smashed it. Our second goal was a good free kick, it was on target anyway, the defection just took it the other way. As for our third, i did not see quite how it got to Forsyth, but he took it well when it did.

Both sides had chances, Kacaniklic shot over (did a Sordell) from inside the 6yrd box, Garner poked wide and over. Then Beckford headed wide from 3yrds and Loach made 2 fantastic saves low at his near post.

I am sure (from about 90yrds) that we had a penalty shout in the first half, as Garner had his shirt pulled as he turned past Konchesky. However, the ref must have missed that, but Paul Robinson clearly saw it too. Then i am also sure that the Beckford 'penalty' was the right decision. The linesman flagged when he was inline with the play and he was outside the box. Plus from the pictures, you can see that contact has been made, but about 1/2 a yard outside the box. So the right decision.

The ref on the whole was abysmal!! He blew for a throw in to be re-taken, but allowed Leicester to play on, and only stopped play when the linesman flagged to remind him. Then he sent off the WRONG player! If he was not sure, he HAS to consult his assistant. Then having sent off Doyley, he allows us to make a substitution, but no sooner has Dickinson taken two steps onto the pitch, he allows the free-kick to be taken. That is out of order, he HAS to allow the new player to take his position before he restarts play. We were defending with 9 men.

Having said that, i think the ref gave some stupid 50/50 decisions both ways. He insisted that any time a player fell over, regardless of appeals or not, he was going to give a foul.

Overall, i thought it was a fantastic match that was ruined by some atrocious officials. However, the banter between the fans was good fun. It felt good to be able to say 2-1 and you ****ed it up, after the 1-0 and you ****ed it up chants.

 

This discussion probably highlights why technology will never interfere with the game - blue eyes and yellow eyes interpret the same incident in two different ways! I'd still say that Beckford has been caught in the act of diving, meaning the free kick should have been ours. I'd also add doubt to the contention that there was a goal scoring opportunity there - Doyley was in front of him and easily within blocking distance, something he is noted for. Perhaps the ref, in the time-honoured fashion of refs, decided to make amends for not awarding us a penalty when Eustace was blatantly hauled down in the box earlier - we'll just never know.

I even don't understand how you can say you were unlucky because Loach pulled off some good saves - that's nothing to do with luck, that's what he's there for in the first place!

I do agree, however, that we are more likeable than other Championship fans.

Good luck for the rest of the season - we'll be behind you until the end.

 

If you look at the pictures Proud Fox posted, you can clearly see that its not a clear goal scoring chance as Doyley is running in from the right and could get there, and another Watford player is to the left. For it to be a red card it must be "denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving
towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick" (Laws of the Game 2011/2012 http://ar.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/81/42/36/lawsofthegame_2011_12e.pdf Page 37.)

 

I do not want to be "likeable".......anything but likeable.

Likeable brings to mind the "Happy Clappers" tag that our likeable chums up the motorway give us in their more lucid moments.

Please, not "likeable".

 

Why you are a very likeable club

 

Sorry Vic - only said that because he used the spelling 'likable'. I don't want to be considered American or mistakenly thought to be something appealing to lick.

Is friendly acceptable?

 

He may not have been the last man, but Beckford clearly only has to take one more step before shooting, the defenders level with him would never have stopped that. Beckford didn't dive! Beckford jumped the challenge but left his right leg trailing (which any professional striker will do), and the defender, who was nowhere the ball, caught him.

 

If not "likeable" what would you suggest vic? Refined, Knowledgeable, Perfect?

 

How about lickable?

 

Well if he left the leg trailing then it is a dive!!! The defenders there mean that its not a Clear goal scoring chance.

 

There's a difference between not avoiding a bad tackle and diving after not be touched or a good challenge. Just helps to make the refs mind up.

 

Diving is where there is no contact as all and going down or very minimal contact and going down

From the video i have seen Beckford didnt dive

 

But if he left the leg there then its not a foul. If the player causes the contact then he is guilty. If Beckford ran into the back of Mapps and fell over then is it a foul? NO!

 

It could have gone either way, and the pitch wasn't fantastic (although still good by previous Vicarage Road standards).

But if your commentator gave you the impression that it was not a quality match, you should write to Radio Leiecter and try to recoup his portion of your licence fee. It was end-to-end stuff, plenty of chances for both sides, and the wingers played a huge part in the action, particularly in the first half.

 

Ok, I have watched the video now several times. I think if there was any contact, doubtful, it was certainly outside the area.

As for the sending off, it should be very easy to see that the ref was totally wrong.

 

This is incorrect. There doesn't have to be contact for it to be a foul. An attacking player can move out of the way of a bad tackle, halting his progress, meaning the opposition can benefit from a bad challenge. This is obviously not fair. Beckford could have leaped the challenge, but would probably have lost the ball and his chance of scoring, and there is also the likelihood that the ref wouldn't give the decision. The obvious thing to do is not leap the challenge and earn a free kick/penalty, obviously. Players do it week in, week out, it's part of the game.

I don't see how he "ran into the back" of your player, even the pick on this thread shows an ill-timed slide tackle with the ball nowhere in sight.

The fact that Sky and our local news even chose to make a point of showing this decision shows it was controversial. How many times do you hear about penalties that aren't given, but are never shown in highlight packages?