It was the sort of day that will be talked about for years, by even fans who don't support Watford. In a matter of a couple of minutes there was on display all the emotions that attract us to the beautiful game. The heartbreak and anger as Anthony Knockaert tumbled easily to the ground, with Michael Oliver inexplicably pointing to the penalty spot. The relief and joy as Manuel Almunia pulled off a great double save to deny the Frenchman and the ball was thumped to Ikechi Anya. The sheer hysteria and drama as Troy Deeney blasted home the winner in the 97th minute to send us to Wembley. It was the sort of moments that happened to other teams, to Manchester United to win the Champions League in 1999, Carlisle to survive in the Football League, Manchester City to win the Division Two play-off final and the Premier League 13 years later, and Doncaster to get promoted to the Championship. These are famous last-minute moments which have defined why people love football so much, which have shaped the future of clubs in a few seconds. Now we can add our small, unfancied club to that list. The tragic element about football, which makes it so appealing, is that there will always be losers in such situations. Glory goes hand-in-hand with despair. One set of fans will leave delighted, the others crestfallen. Its hard to empathise with Leicester fans, we can't say we have been there, to have hope snatched away in such a dramatic fashion. It takes time to get over such events, but as Gillingham proved when they lost that Division Two play-off final, only to get promoted the next season, and as Manchester United showed after losing the Premier League last season, it is possible to recover. Football is a cyclical process. There is always the possibility for redemption. In all the out-pour of praise for Almunia and Deeney, and rightly so, there was a couple of unsung heroes in the move which resulted in the winner. Anya's superb first-touch to control the clearance set the counter-attack on the way. It epitomised his rise from a fringe player in the squad to one of the stand-out players over the last phase of the season. Jonathan Hogg's surging run was key, with him an example that we are simply not a feeder club for Udinese. In all the tension the ex-Villa midfielder remained calm enough to cushion the ball for Deeney to lash home, as opposed to going for goal as so many a player would have done with the momentum the way it was. He kept his head as Kasper Schmeichel lost his as the Dane hurtled out of goal. In all the flair there is clearly a steel to this team. And yet, in all these feelings, the job is only half-done. All these memories could be tainted if we fail to get past the difficult test of either Brighton or Crystal Palace in the cauldron of Wembley. Deeney's goal was the one that sent us to the home of football, but more heroes will be needed to send us to the promise land of the Premier League.
Well said, emiatss...it makes up for all the games when we weren't able to reach our full potential...
Very well written emiatss - as I wrote on another thread, I have been telling my daughter that to really enjoy the highs of yesterday, you have to go through the lows like after the Leeds game and Leicester away last week. She will be able to now live with those moments side by side in her memory and in years to come tell the stories - brilliant stuff
Great write up emitas. following the great response from the Leicester fans on this forum yesterday I do have sympathy for them. However I can find very little for K-Knockaert. He tried to cheat my team out of a result and he got what he desrved, and quite frankly the attempts to justify the decision on the basis that it was a foul are quite simply laughable. There was more contact in the pre match handshake. I said before the game that I felt that Watford could play so much better than Thursday night, and so it proved. Leicester went backwards in my opinion and seemed content to lump it long from the Goalkeeper. I think also a special mention should go to Battochio. His inclusion gave Watford more of an attacking thrust.
Absolutely. The job is only half done. Your posts are always well written emiatss, thank you One moment in the game seems to have gone unnoticed though, and that is the hugely incredible chip from Cassetti to get the ball to Vydra for the first goal..it was sublime.and wasn't even mentioned on the commentary, strangely! Just gorgeous, and if you get the chance, and haven't noticed it, take a look...best touch of the game imho.
Hornette, I think Vydra's first goal has been almost completely overlooked. His second wasn't bad either, but yes, Cassetti's chip with the outside of his foot was sublime. Set the tone for the afternoon perfectly.
Of course a real low came in 1996 on the last day of the season when we played Leicester at home - they went into the play offs and we got relegated. They went on to win the final that year - against Crystal Palace..........
I remember thinking when he made that pass how superb it was and kept meaning to mention it, pure class. Well pointed out H.
I'm knocking on a bit now, I've had a love for the game as far back as I can remember, I was playing for under thirteens before I was ten, I must have watched or played in many thousands of games, I can honestly say I have never, ever witnessed anything like that game at Vicarage Road yesterday! I honestly feel blessed that I was able to witness that spectacle!
I missed that Cassetti had supplied the chip to Vydra - like others I mentioned that the goal has been missed in all of the mayhem at the end of the game. Is there a YouTube clip of the first goal?
Seems to only be the replays though.... [video=youtube;w8fX0vd4Gjw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8fX0vd4Gjw[/video]
How about Troy's perfectly weighted pass for Vydra's second? Simple but perfect and reminiscent of earlier in the season. What a day to click again.
I know they all played superbly yesterday but I thought Deeney's performance was phenomenal by any standards. His decision making, work rate and ability to be in the right place at the right time all came togther and he was exceptional. Maybe i'm going over board - it's allowed today isn't it? - but I really thought he was that good.
