please log in to view this image Manchester City Vs Watford please log in to view this image Saturday 29 August 2015 Kick Off 3PM Etihaad Stadium So four games in and we head for our first match against one of the Premier League’s Superpowers, leaders Manchester city. Form Having played out a second successive goalless home draw to Southampton last Sunday the golden Boys succumbed 1-0 to Preston North End in the Capital One Cup. It was a lacklustre performance from a team largely made up of players who have not featured in the Premier league campaign and the consensus was that once again there seemed to be difficulties in creating chances. Migeul Britos was dismissed for the use of an elbow. No such problems for our hosts tomorrow. Manuel pellegrini’s men have opened their campaign with away wins at West Bromwich Albion and Everton either side of a 3-0 demolition of reigning champions Chelsea and have yet to concede a goal. Manchester City City’s story since 2008 has been well documented so doesnlt really need repeating here. Suffice to say that the Abu Dhabi based owners have been extremely generous and transformed a club which could often be a bit of a train wreck, whilst having great support and occupying a soft spot in the hearts of many neutrals, into one of the richest in Europe. The team have been successful at home enjoying 2 premier leage wins in 2012 and 2014 but have yet to translate that into success on the European stage. It has become a feature of the summer that City splash the cash and this year has been no exception with Raheem Sterling signing from Liverpool in a £49 million deal along with defender Fabian Delph from Aston Villa (£8 million), striker Patrick Roberts from Fulham (£12 million). Going the other way were Eden Djeko to Roma, John Guidetti to Celta Vigo, Jordy Hiwula to Huddersfield Town and James Milner to Liverpool. I suspect it’s safe to say that business has not yet been concluded at the Etihaad. Watford transfer news Plenty of speculation this week but nothing concrete – again it’s likely we’ll see players going in both directions before the end of the window. Head to head In 10 games between the two sides City have won 8, Watford 5 and 3 were drawn. Our last 2 appearances at the Etihaad were in the FA Cup in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons with city running out 3-0 and 4-2 winners. The second tie was memorable as we took a 2-0 lead and looked for a while as we might cause a huge shock. No such luck unfortunately! We last met in the league in the 2006/2007 season with both games ending in draws. Man in the middle It’s Mark Clattenburg... Simon Beck and Richard West are the assistants and James Adcock is the fourth Official. As far as I could see the last time he took charge of one of our league games was the premier league fixture against Bolton in 2006 when we lost to a Gary Speed penalty in injury time. Enjoy the game and safe travels to those of you making the trip.
Mark Clattenburg used to be a very good referee but over the past couple of years he likes to be the star of the show and as Fez will tell you, the best referee is one you don't even notice he's there! Good luck to the Golden Boys, I hope you pull off a shock victory!
My two mates are going, but they are City fans. Will be interesting to see their views on us though. "Pray for the best, prepare for the worst," is my attitude for this game. Thanks for the thread OFH!
Thanks Dan, nice one!!!! so its City who havn't conceeded in the league this season against us who have managed just one shot on target in last two league games. Who do i think will win? mmmm! Watford!!!!
Setting off at around 06:40 to catch the coach, which is leaving Watford at 07:30. It's going to be a long day. With our defence, don't bet against another clean sheet. But boy it will be tough. Still don't know where our goals will come from. It could be 0-0 or it could be 5-0 but I fear we won't score. Hope I'm wrong. COYH.
We are likely to be unchanged from the Everton game,injuries to Bony,Zabaleta,Clichy,Otemendi and Fernando rule them out Hart Sagna Kompany Mangala Kolorov Fernandinho Yaya Navas Silva Sterling Aguero Subs Caballero Demichellis Delph Nasri Maffeo Roberts Ineacho Don't think we have a particularly good record against Watford?
Thanks for the thread Dan. I'm with you on this Bloother. The shock result could be 0-0 but is more likely to be 3/4-0.
I wonder if the reports of Vydra being in the squad means he will get a start alongside Deeney. From seeing the matches, although on the small screen, I have wondered if he would have snapped up a couple of the chances that came the way of Ighalo. To my mind Ighalo has looked a bit lost several times, and with a bit of tinkering to the lineup I could imagine Vydra and Deeney showing what the two of them can do together. Still cannot see us getting much joy from this game, although some of the less fancied teams did go there and get a draw. We live in hope if not in anticipation.
Flores quote taken from WO talking about lack of goals: 'I am not worried. I know that during the season goals aren’t our best tool because it is very difficult against certain teams.' I assume from that he intends to be as tight as possible defensivly and try and nick a goal here or there. I would prefer that he does that away from home and against the strongest opposition such as City (I actually think we have a good chance of a result) but at home and against lesser opposition I would like him to be more expansive with more attacking intent.
That did work so well on occasion in past seasons eh Just getting a few chores done and in the car to game COYH!
#watfordfc please log in to view this image starting line-up v @MCFC: Gomes (GK); Nyom, Prödl, Cathcart, Holebas; Behrami, Capoue; Jurado, Ighalo, Abdi; Deeney (c). #watfordfc please log in to view this image subs v @MCFC: Arlauskis (GK), Hoban, Watson, Layun, Anya, Diamanti, Vydra.
@MCFC team : Hart, Sagna, Mangala, Kompany (C), Kolarov, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Silva, Sterling, Navas, Aguero.
Abdi starting means surely he is staying how can you ship someone out days after playing them against City? If QSF did not rate him he would not play him in such a big game.
