I know that we will not win every game to the end of the season, bit of a shame, and keep wondering will it be the next one. Some of our recent performances haven't been great, some of the players look a bit jaded. Just hoping to scramble a few wins against teams in the lower half of the table and save our best displays for teams around us.
I am beginning to think that this season may be a better opportunity for promotion than next year. We are in this unexpected position because Zola has done a great job of moulding an exceptional group of players into a team, which has taken the division by surprise with its talent and tactics. Next season we would not have the element of surprise, and it is hard to see the team staying intact. Surely Vydra would be sold if we did not get promotion, ("peak value")? Cassetti would want to go back to his family in Italy, Chalobah will find a Premiership side to take him on loan--Liverpool? With new restrictions on loan players from abroad we might find team rebuilding from Pozzo sources hindered. Moreover, the division will be more competitive next season if QPR, Aston Villa and Southampton replace Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace, while ambitious and well funded teams like Leicester and Notts Forest will still be around. Maximum effort this season!
Can't decide whether this will be a stroll on the beach or a battle against the waves. Expect Doyley to be a tower of strength and Chalobah to create his own ball room while Ek strand shows he has few peers.
I reckon we'll win this quite easily 3-0 to Watford. Interesting article about Watford - apart from the usual "Watford's in London" (like Blackpool's in Liverpool) - my memory might be floundering now but wasn't the Rous Stand funded by Petchey?
I think we have Andy Madely as the ref tomorrow who has at least been in charge of championship games before. His record this season: 24 games, 58 yellow cards, 11 penalties and 2 sendings off.
I understood that EJ put up the guarantees not expecting to have to fork out anywhere near the £2m that he ended up paying. It was the Beginning of the end of his direct involvement in the club. If we play as we know we can and keep Tom Ince quiet we will win.
FROM ESPN: Manuel Almunia again misses out as promotion hopefuls Watford play host to Blackpool. The goalkeeper has sat out the last two matches with a hamstring injury picked up at Derby and so Jonathan Bond will again start between the sticks. Substitute Fernando Forestieri bagged a second-half brace to secure a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, pressing his claims for a starting berth against the Seasiders. Midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah and defender Lloyd Doyley were also rested and will be keen to earn recalls. Neuton, who has not featured since the start of January due to a back injury, this week dislocated a shoulder in training and has been ruled out for the foreseeable future. Fellow defenders Fitz Hall (hamstring) and Tommie Hoban (ankle) also continue to be sidelined along with midfielder John Eustace (back). Blackpool will be without forward Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Taylor-Fletcher sustained a hamstring injury during the first half of Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at Birmingham and is facing the prospect of six to eight weeks on the sidelines. On-loan Leicester striker Marko Futacs came on as his replacement at St Andrew's and is poised for a full Seasiders debut. Reece Wabara will not feature after Blackpool curtailed the right-back's loan spell from Manchester City. Wabara joined Pool until the end of the season in January following a successful stint at Oldham, but the England Under-20 international was restricted to a solitary substitute appearance in last month's 1-0 defeat to Ipswich. Midfielder Tiago Gomes has returned to his native Portugal to undergo knee surgery, but the timescale on his recovery is unknown at present. Bob Harris (toe) is likely to be missing for one to two more weeks, while fellow defender Ian Evatt (knee) is out for the rest of season.
I'm going to have to keep commenting on match threads until Fessi gets started, please please please. 4-1 Watford I'm thinking, FF hat-trick . On a serious note I think the three up front would work and Chalobah has to play. Tired or not he needs to be in the team for the rest of the season. Gonna watch it on here tomorrow, bring me some good news please!
i'd like to see the three up front too...and definitely Chalobah and not Hogg! Hopefully the news will be good!
