So its the first leg of the semi final of the play offs. We really need to win this and take a lead into Sundays 2nd leg at Vicarage Road. We have a fully fit squad to choose from and the return of several loan players. Sean St. Ledger can play but its still unclear if Neil Danns and Jermaine Beckford can be involved if Nigel wants them to. Paul Konchesky had a hernia operation which put him out of the Forest game but he will be fit for Watford as will Ritchie De Laet he came off injured at Forest Watford have Troy Deeney suspended for the first leg but he will return for the 2nd leg. They also have a goalkeeper crisis with first choice Manuel Almunia and 2nd choice Jonathon Bond also getting injured. 3rd choice academy keeper didnt cover himself with glory so Watford might seek permission from the football league to loan a keeper. So here is what I would play Schmeichel De Laet Morgan Keane Schlupp Knockaert King James Dyer Nugent Wood Subs- Logan, Moore, St. Ledger, Drinkwater, Marshall, Kane, Vardy
I'd like to see us learn from our mistakes against them in our recent game and match them up. Their counter attacking was ****ing impressive and I believe we have the players to do something similar. Schmeichel Keane---Morgan---St Ledger De Laet----------------------------Schlupp Drinkwater---James---King Knockaert Wood James needs to stick to Chalobah like glue. Knockaert needs to be disciplined and play off Wood in the hole. Morgan needs to do what he did against Watford recently and shut Vydra up. Keane and St Ledger's pace will be vital with their counter attacks. They're probably our two quickest centre halves.
I wouldnt mind that because Keane does get caught out a bit sometimes and he would have 2 experienced centre halfs with him covering But I would prefer we set out more attacking at home. I would be all for that in the away leg depending on the score
The way King and James are playing I wouldnt want to do anything to upset that. At home we should go with 2 strikers Everyone ripped into Nigel for going up front with just Waghorn when we played Cardiff a few years ago despite us having no other fit and available strikers. Nugent will get a goal between now and the end of the season. Mark my words
I personally think changing the side at all will have a negative impact, especially bringing someone like St Ledger in who has hardly played for us all season.
I fully agree with this team, but we won't play it! Knockaert just behind Wood is his best position IMO.
issue with knockaert on the right is that he is predictable. Id say return leg play him behind, but home leg id stick with the forrest line up
With ed - only change a winning team if there is an injury - biggest concern for me is stopping Anya bombing down their right (he set up their goal against Leeds) - Schlupp, despite his youth, gives me more confidence in that regard than Konchesky - so same again please.
agree 100%... and hopefully we can occupy him more defensively than in the last game ... it's all to play for and, let's face it, we go into the game on an incredible high this time, whereas they really have to pick themselves up after effective blowing it against Leeds (given what happened in Hull) ...
Indeed - hernia- but I wouldn't change the team who pulled off that result at Forest ... the confidence has to be high after that ..
If we play Jeff it will also limit Watford has Anya won't want to get forward and leave Dyer and Schlupp behind him in case we hit them on the counter
I agree. I personally think you can mark Watford out of the game. King and James need to do a better job of following the runs of Abdi et al.
We will never have a better chance of beating them There is a new lease of life here They mentally low after missing out on promotion last week. They struggling to get a keeper fit and their in form striker is suspended. Matej Vydra was poor here and has been off the boil for some time
