As a Hornet, I have to say that a rivalry when there are multiple divisions between the teams is surprisingly good fun.
well the tables dont lie and this is the 1st season that there would be a 2 division gap. however we all know if the 2 teams met now that rovers would walk it. we have the better team, better manager all on a very tight budget. city has thrown money about and got a bottom of the table spot of their troubles. also we will get our new stadium, they wont we have more fans which was evident when we took over 40,000 to wembley for our play off win. not bad for a league 2 play off. city however couldnt sell 40,000 for their wembley game. they sent tickets back. and that game was to get them in the prem! shocking support. last time we played them we beat them. that was a cup game and we were a division below. they played their strongest team as well! overall since their existance which was in 1982, we have the better stats face to face. dont let any city fan tell you otherwise
It's surprising that the loss of 2 subs has made such a difference to match day squads - with that in mind I would expect Hodson, Witchelow, The Prince and possibly Walker to at least be part of the squad.
Not sure If Matty and the prince are watford fit yet Chris , Prince wasnt involved with much of the pre season work and Matty was ill in the middle of it! Both playing catch up!
Thanks Norway - you answered my question without me even having to ask it. I read about the Prince and thought he would be a great asset to the team but could not find much out about him since his arrival. However took a gamble and originally put him in my Texaco Team (Doh!! Dummy) so looks like I need to transfer him and wait a while. Still think he will turn out a goo buy.
I think the gas will come out 2-1 winners on Wednesday. I like Watford though and wish them all the best this coming season Oh, and a 6 points taken from those sheeds would be nice
I expect Dyche will tinker with the team a little, but only a few changes. Maybe put in a few players who he wants to up the fitness levels of, but will mainly be a first team! I think it will be very close, a 2-1 either way, with a late goal (or an extra time goal) winning it for either side! I'll have to for a Watford win though, so 2-1 to the 'Orns And as for the 5/7 subs thing. I heard on Goals on Sunday yesterday that Lennie Lawrence (I think) is petitioning for a re-think - suggesting going back to 7 subs, but the extra 2 being youth payers who had been at the club since 16. I think this is a great idea, and will give much needed experience to those players. If you can't field these extra 2 players, then just name 5 subs!!
Definitely NH! Rodgers was on there, and he was saying at the end of last season, he was putting a couple of young lads on the bench and gave them a bit of game time - he said no way would that happen with this ruling. I'm sure we would be the same, especially now we have a few more experienced players in! How many times towards the end of the season have we put a couple of the youngsters on the bench and given them a bit of game time! Even if they don;t get onto the field, it's still experience of going away with the first team! Yes the new ruling helps the lower teams... but I just think if you can't name 7 subs, just name who you can! The 'bonuses' for the subs, especially youngsters, won't exactly be that high anyway!!
It does seem to be a bit of retrograde step, I think it may have been a mistake to pull out of the reserve league as well!
Gutted I have to miss out on this game, I have to take some medicine for an appointment on Thursday and I need access to a toilet PDQ So I am not going to risk the drive down from Gloucester and any chance of a queue at the toilets, would not be pretty I originally thought the game was on Tuesday, which would have worked for me!
with this new rule of 5 subs, i was against this when it was announced http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/67800-Substitutions. 2nd comment. what i said seems to be exactly what the argument is now about. we have a big squad now and then they changed it to 5 subs again. we will have a few players unhappy about not in the matchday squad. we have no reserve league either so we need to make sure we play plenty of reserve team friendlies to keep them match fit.
Maybe the clubs should look at restructuring the bonus payments! When it was 5 subs, you'd still take a squad of 18 to matches. There would be 2 left out of the match-day squad, but they would still get win bonuses - split 50/50 between them. I guess with 7 subs, the matchday squad was 20, but the same applied, which is why lower teams were pushing for this. Nice work if you can get it...
