View attachment 26323 Watford v Doncaster Rovers Vicarage Road Stadium, Tuesday 17th September 2013 Kick Off: 7.45pm BST GIANFRANCO ZOLA comments after the 1-1 draw at home to Charlton. “ If we can create four chances by not playing as well as we normally can, we have to convert more of them.” PAUL DICKOV comments after the 0-0 draw away at Huddersfield. “The two saves he [Ross Turnbull] made possibly got us the point but going in 0-0 at half time we felt slightly aggrieved because of the chances we had – we probably could have been two or three up at that point. So two teams that have created chances that they have failed to take. Doncaster have signed Federico Macheda on a one month loan from Manchester Utd. while GFZ continues to try out different players and formations in an attempt to score more goals. • The Hornets are still unbeaten at home and are the top scorers in the Championship, with 12 goals. • Rovers are the only club in the bottom half of the table still holding an unbeaten away record. Injuries reported so far: Watford midfielder Almen Abdi is still absent with a foot injury. Long-term absentees Nyron Nosworthy (Achilles) and Tommie Hoban (ankle) are also missing for the Hornets. Rovers centre-half Jamie McCombe is making good progress in his recovery from a back fracture but is still a long way from a return for the visitors. Watford FC lineup - Almunia Doyley Angella Ekstrand Anya Smith Battochio Mcgugan Pudil Acuna Deeney WatfordFC subs : Bond, Belkalem, Forestieri, Murray, Faraoni, Fabbrini and Iriney Doncaster Turnbull; Wabara, Jones, Khumalo, Hunsband; Cotterill, Keegan, Wellens, Coppinger; Brown, Robinson. Doncaster subs : Maxted, Quinn, Furman, Duffy, Macheda, McCullough, Bennett
Cheers OFH. I am not really convinced this season so far, still we are highest scores after 6 games and I guess that means we might let a few in along the way. Plus only one loss so far. The defence has worried me a bit though. With Abdi out too, will this be key? With Macheda possibly starting for Donny could add the interest a bit http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24110829 It is still very early days but as I am sure Watford fans would agree, 3 points after the international break would go down well.
With Abdi out I was surprised he didn't play Murray or Battochio from the start against Charlton so I hope he gives them a go tonight. Also Connor Smith should be at least on the bench if fit.
This game I think is what is called "Must Win". Not because the season depends on a win, that is far too early, but to give the players a lift after three draws and a defeat.
I wonder if Macheda will play? He is unlikely to be match fit, but if he plays will be trying hard to impress-- and he is just the sort of player to tempt our penalty-prone defenders into a mistake. Zola still seems unsure as to his best formation/ team selection to suit the resources he now has. A good win tonight would be a step towards solving that problem, though Abdi must play if fit.
Difficult game tonight, lots of pressure to get 3 points from the fans and the manager! I think GFZ will make some changes after his comments - but I believe they will be positive changes and I am going for a 2-1 home victory
I'm not really sure the Deeney-Fabbrini-Forestieri experiment worked... yet! Blasphemy maybe, but I think I'd like to see Deeney drop to the bench and try Acuna and Fabbrini up top, with maybe a midfield of Iriney, Battochio and Murray, with Anya coming in too - on the left for Pudil. Hopefully Doyley and Ekstrand are both fit to play alongside Angella. Belkalem looks like a red card waiting to happen while he gets used to the pace of the Championship. Not sure too many changes are a good idea, but think it needs something. Think it will be another tough game but hopefully some space for us to work with. Would be happy with scraping a 1-0! Great thread OFH
The latest from GFZ: "We have already seen some spells of what this team can do - we will get it right soon, how soon I don't know - I don't have a crystal ball, but it will be soon.
Just driven past the ground. The burger vans are out already , the whiff of onions in the air. Match day! It is raining quite hard --misty and cool-- a typical Autumn day in England. I wonder what some of our new boys will make of it? Have they played in these conditions before, against a no-nonsense side like Doncaster? Welcome to the Championship! A good comment that Belkalem looks like a red card in waiting, as do Ireney and (these days) Cassetti. Interestingly Doyley looks like the most assured defender against a speedy forward running at him; he knows how to back off and/or steer the attacker to a less dangerous part of the pitch. I hope he starts tonight. The forward unit is the most problematical. We have not worked out the best combination there. What a waste that Vydra only appears at Vicarage Rd as a specrtator. He is neither progressing his career nor enhancing his value at West Brom. Can his loan be cancelled in January , so he can come back? I have a feeling we might need him by then.
Battocchio has to start tonight, it seems bonkers not to let him. I'd play Acuna and Forestieri up front, put Fabbrini on the bench for a while and Deeney. Acuna needs a good run out and i think this is a good game for him to get a start. Belkalem needs to pick up his pace but Angella and Ekstrand with him are our best back three, with Doyley a teensy bit sidelined. I'm suprised we haven't tried Doyley anywhere else on the pitch, he seems to play more up front than anywhere when he plays! Still a huge fan though and if he's fit, he should be playing..which already gives me a dilemma...poor GFZ! Meanwhile, if Abdi was fit i'd probably drop McGugan and stick Battocchio on but we need McGugan at the mo. Oh, and 3-1..obviously!
Watford FC lineup - Almunia Doyley Angella Ekstrand Anya Smith Battochio Mcgugan Pudil Acuna Deeney WatfordFC subs to play Doncaster: Bond, Belkalem, Forestieri, Murray, Faraoni, Fabbrini and Iriney
That line-up means six changes for Watford tonight including first league starts this season for Battocchio, Smith and Acuna.
Jon Marks thinks that Donny might come to stop Watford playing and we might have to wait for a breakthrough.
Doncaster Turnbull; Wabara, Jones, Khumalo, Hunsband; Cotterill, Keegan, Wellens, Coppinger; Brown, Robinson. Doncaster subs : Maxted, Quinn, Furman, Duffy, Macheda, McCullough, Bennett
