Match Thread: Watford v Reading. Sat 11th jan 2014.

WATFORD FC v READING FC

Team news​

from www.espn.com:
​

Fernando Forestieri and Daniel Pudil return to boost Watford ahead of their home clash against Reading.Striker Forestieri and wing-back Pudil have been sidelined with respective knee and hamstring injuries of late. However, it is not all good news for manager Giuseppe Sannino with Marco Cassetti having joined the club's lengthy list of absentees which includes Ikechi Anya (groin), Almen Abdi (foot), Davide Faraoni, Essaid Belkalem and Tommie Hoban (all ankle). Alexander Merkel has been granted international clearance and is available to make his Hornets debut but fellow new signing Mathias Ranegie is lacking match fitness.

Jobi McAnuff could make a return to the Reading squad.Winger McAnuff has missed the last two matches with a foot problem, but of all the Royals' injured players he is the closest to returning to action having resumed training this week.Boss Nigel Adkins can also add defender Michael Hector to his squad after he returned from a successful loan spell in the Scottish Premiership with Aberdeen. But Nick Blackman picked up a knock against Brighton last weekend and is set to join Wayne Bridge, Sean Morrison (both knee), Chris Baird (ankle), Hal Robson-Kanu (calf), Mikele Leigertwood (ankle), Jason Roberts (hip) and Jem Karacan (cruciate) on the sidelines.

Some stats
from the BBC:

Watford have drawn five of their last seven games in all competitions, winning one and losing one.
Watford have won only one of their last 13 games in all competitions. Their only win since early October was 4-0 at home against Millwall on Boxing Day.
Watford have kept clean sheets in their last two league games. They had kept only one clean sheet in their previous 12 league games.
Watford are unbeaten in their last two home games, after losing all of their previous five home games.

Reading have lost four of their last five games in all competitions, drawing one.
Reading's only win in their last seven games in all competitions was 1-0 at Huddersfield on 14 December.
Reading have scored only one goal in their last four games in all competitions. ​

Finally some local rag talk:
From the Hornets, as Sannino asks for time and Murray gives the new gaffer some praise.
Whereas the Royals might be taken over soon and the return of former Horn McAnuff.

Comments welcome , enjoy the game ​

 

Looks like Abdi now has an injury to his knee...http://mobile.watfordfc.com/news/ar...re-reading-1286195.aspx?pd=635249566650000000

 

Thanks Mex, think this game might show us if we can attack as well as the new found ability to defend.

 

A good read here about the game from a fan who you might have heard of.

http://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2014/1/10/5294318/view-from-the-town-end-watford

 

Nice one Mex - should be a good day tomorrow. One of Little Miss W_Y's Uni mates is a Biscuitman and is just back from a 7 month backpacking trip and is coming down to the game so I think it's only reasonable to have a 7 month "beer catch-up" with him - shame Little Miss W_Y is working!
5*'s from me...and a 2-1 Watford victory

 

Good one Mike

 

Today's team:

Almunia; Doyley, Angella, Ekstrand; Bellerin, McGugan, Merkel, Murray, Pudil; Fabbrini, Deeney.

subs: Woods, Battocchio, Forestieri, Hall, Faraoni, Iriney, Nosworthy.

Bond ill - debut for Merkel.

 

So Battochio still with us then.... re the rumour that was around last night..

 

Watford Observer ‏@Observer_Owl
An Italian rumour site has linked Cristian Battocchio will a loan move to Padova

Some truth about CB going out on loan - or to be more precise, truth that there is a rumour...

 

I am sure we expected this.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25599608

 

..

 

Hornet Player is up and running. Finished my planting, so can settle down and listen to what I hope will be a good result for us.

 

COYH COYH COYH !!

Also watching Everton v Norwich to see how they are doing in the prem, lots of games to stream on here, http://firstrownow.eu/ unfortunately not ours though...

 

Good reception for Merkel. Seems like a slight figure.

 

Watford to attack the Vic Road end first half.

 

Almunia has to claw the ball away in the first 20 seconds.

A good fast start from Reading. Free kick to them. Offside.

 

Murray almost puts Deeney through, but offside.

Merkel looking for the ball all of the time.

1st corner of the afternoon to Reading. Kaspars Gorkss heads it in.

 

Oh dear - not the start we wanted. 0-1

 

Is the Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United score really 6:0? Leeds will be a fun place this evening.

 

Very positive start by Reading. Watford looking a bit rattled.