please log in to view this image v please log in to view this image Npower Championship Venue: Vicarage Road Stadium Kick-off: 19:45 Dear reader, let me take you back to the year nineteen-hundred-and-frozen-stiff and my formative years.... A number of football teams were vying for my attention. They were helped in their efforts by kindly relatives gifting me Arsenal and Spurs kits (and a Spurs lampshade as I recall). To be honest, at the time I was more interested in the complex relationship between Big and Little Ted and what lay beyond the round window. But I digress. Being an independent spirit I went my own way and decided to 'like' Crystal Palace. This liking had much more to do with their snazzy and colourful kit than an effective midfield coupled with a potent counter-attack. I wasn't quite up to reading Herbert George Wells at the time so colours meant a lot. Turns out I was colourblind anyway. Tsk. The status quo remained thus until a couple of years later when a kindly uncle staged an intervention and proved that the greatest team in the world played a mere ten minute walk from Euston Avenue. Said uncle had a son that made a couple of first team starts in goal for the Hornets. So he knew his business. It should be added that Watford also had quite a colourful kit. So the 'Team of the Eighties' left my affections and I have not looked back since. So to summarise - I used to like Crystal Palace. But I don't anymore. But onto the game - and it could be a critical one... Both teams sit comfortably in the play-off positions. With Watford a point and three positive goals to the better. But an Ian Holloway side is always a tricky prospect and this one is always going to be tight and external factors could play a big part. A warm(ish) wave is extended to Kevin Phillips (again). Retire already and stop scoring against us. Current Form The current away form of Palace isn't great. But as we all know Watford are better on foreign turf than at The Vic. Watford last 3 home games 2-1 (Bolton) 4-0 (Huddersfield) 3-4 (Charlton - reserve team fielded) Crystal Palace last 3 away games (FA Cup omitted) 0-1 (Huddersfield) 0-1 (Burnley) 2-2 (Nottm Forest) Recent Clashes In the corresponding fixture last season Palace took the spoils with goals from Wilfried Zaha and Jermaine Easter. They also did us 4-0 at Selhurst Park. Let's move on shall we? Injuries and Suspensions Hopefully Watford will be injury-free after the midweek internationals. Nyron Nosworthy could be a doubt with jet-lag after his trans-Atlantic commute. Superstar Matej Vydra may not start after his own obligations but expect him to feature at some point. Those to watch Easy one this. Glenn Murray, Wilfried Zaha and Kevin (old but still dangerous) Phillips. Quotes from Last Weekend From the Met Office please log in to view this image Not exactly balmy. Around 4 degrees with a light North North Westerly wind. Little chance of rain though. Prediction Either the BBC made a balls-up with the table or I took too much Peyote but the future was foreseen last Sunday. Post-game - Watford in second place with a goal-difference of +19. So nail us on to win this game by one clear goal. I will go for 6-5.
A fine job, Saxet...complete mastery of tone! I shall have lovely sister on one side and delightful neice on the other...both rare visitors to the Vic...so hope the football is equally pleasing on the eye.
A lovely story Saxet. I wonder how many others of us have (albeit at a young age) dabbled with potentially supporting other clubs before coming to our senses...think this will be a tight game for us...I might even go for a draw 2-2.
Cheers Saxet, much better than the cut and paste jobs !! It is a big big game this one and psychologically a win will not only do our position wonders but belief too. I'd have to say that we'll win 2-1. Tough to call though.
There's no problem with the players belief - it's ours that always needs to be upped. I presume this is because most supporters only go to away games, and our home form is rather shaky. Take a tip - watch us away. Forest was huge fun - esp when Sharp got ratty ( an unpleasant character it wouold seem from his antics). Even burnley was enjoyable -shame about the laughable pen though. Looking at the stats, we are averaging 20.25 points per 10 games from about game 10. Palarse aren't ! That's promotion form. Interestingly (to me), if you stop Murray (25 goals) the next has 5! no wionder they'be bought SupeKev and dobbie (who also scores against us usually). Anyway, if you remove each sides' top scorer, we still score more goals than any other team around us. Leicester are the biggest threat - before the Palarse game and afterwards. So, worry not -it will be a cracker!
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp..._private_jet_to_ensure_Vydra_can_face_Palace/ Thats what I call class.
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/story-18080791-detail/story.html?#axzz2KEliZGR4 I swear since we have international loans, it counts as a permanent transfer, therefore we can have more than 5 loan players on at one time.
Palace end sold out I hear so no booking on line for us. Lets hope no away fans up our end like QPR. Lessons learned there I hope.....
Great intro Saxtet. My favourite Palace headline from the past was after Gerry Queen got sent off at Selhurst Park. The next day, in the News of the World, was "Queen involved in fight at Palace"
I hear they sent a beat-up 1950s Cadillac on some planks to sail Nos home as well. [Edit]That was harsh - he deserves a Buick at least.[/EDIT]
Remember those in the prediction league that your Watford prediction has to be in BEFORE the game to count
Oh, and as for the game... Hopefully palace come to play. If they do, think we can win by a couple. Great thread Saxet
Excellent thread Saxet . Looking forward to seeing my first home game of the season. I'm going for a hard fought 2-0 victory and a jump into 2nd place! COYH!!!
Subtle as a kick in the teeth eh? - but not clear enough yet - still 10 of those who usually post are "missing"
