please log in to view this image WATFORD v HUDDERSFIELD TOWN please log in to view this image Date: Saturday 16th December 2017 Venue: Vicarage Road Stadium Kick Off : 1500 GMT please log in to view this image Marco Silva’s Watford welcome Huddersfield to Vicarage Road on Saturday looking to end a run of four games without a victory. The Hornets started the season magnificently under the 40 year-old but they’ve come unstuck slightly over the last few weeks, which has seen them lose ground on those above them and drop to ninth. They’re still eight points above the drop zone which is great but Silva will be desperate for them to get back on track as soon as possible. The visitors make the trip south in pretty dire form too, with David Wagner’s men losing five of their previous six Premier League games. They come into the weekend down in twelfth position and they could fall a further four placed should results go against them. please log in to view this image It’s been a season of good progress for Watford this year under Marco Silva but their fans will just be starting to get a little concerned with how things have gone of late. The Hornets have won just two of their previous nine Premier League games since the end of October which has resulted in them dropping down into ninth position & falling nine points off sixth placed Burnley. Six of those games have ended in defeats for Silva which will certainly have alarm bells ringing, especially considering they were beaten in just one of their opening eight league games. But with a decent run of fixtures ahead of them over the next few weeks they have a real opportunity to get some points on the board and climb back up the table. The Hornets were last in action on Tuesday night when they suffered a third defeat in four games, this time against Crystal Palace. It was a tough one to take for the travelling Watford fans with them taking the lead after just three minutes through Daryl Janmaat, but the late dismissal of Tom Cleverley (87th min) gave the Eagles a route back into the game which they exploited to roll out 2-1 winners (89th & 92nd minute goals). There would’ve been some strong words used in the dressing room by Silva after that and he’ll be demanding a response here, with them really owing the fans a good result & performance. They haven’t been in the best of form at Vicarage Road this season but to be fair they have faced five of last years top six already there, with the highlight being a 2-1 win over Arsenal. please log in to view this image It’s been a remarkable twelve months or so for Huddersfield Town but now they’re now discovering first hand just how brutal & unforgiving the Premier League can be. The Terriers began their maiden season in the top flight like a house on fire winning their first two games, but in the fifteen that’ve followed they’ve picked up maximum points on just three occasions which isn’t great. Their team may not be littered with stars or big money arrivals but what they are is incredibly hard working and organised – particularly at home. They’ve picked up fourteen of their seventeen points at the John Smith’s Stadium this season which shows just how tough they can be to beat, but it really isn’t the same when they play on the road. Only West Ham (3) and Crystal Palace (2) have picked up fewer points than the Terriers (4) on the road this season which is a hugely concerning statistic for Wagner. And what makes it even worse is that they haven’t scored away from the John Smith’s since the opening day of the campaign against Palace – meaning their seven without a goal on the road. Like Watford they were also in action in midweek when they welcomed Premier League Champions Chelsea to West Yorkshire in what looked a very, very difficult game on paper. They needed to be at 110% to challenge the Blues and unfortunately defensive errors cost them, leading to a 3-1 defeat. They really struggled to trouble their opponents, with the only things their fans having to shout about coming in the form of Laurent Depoitre’s injury time consolation goal. please log in to view this image Michael Oliver will take charge of a Watford for game for the first time since the fiery 1-0 defeat to Stoke City in October. The 32-year-old will be the man in the middle for Huddersfield Town’s visit to Vicarage Road and will be hoping for a quieter afternoon than his last visit to Hertfordshire. He brandished eight yellow cards as Darren Fletcher’s strike proved the difference and both sides were fined for failing to control their players. WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD - ENJOY THE GAME
I am sort of dreading this game. If we lose it has a feeling of the last two seasons all over again. A decent start, a couple of eye catching results against big teams followed by a faultering second half of the season before stumbling over the line. I hope we play to our potential, don't get any red cards, and get a solid win to get back on track.
Down to the bare bones due to injuries and suspensions playing a side who haven't scored on the road since the opening day..
Battle of the off form teams. We really need as win and the reasons why are all well put above. I wonder what the team will look like? Watson and Capoue in midfield? There are a lot of players out! BBC - "Watford will be without suspended pair Tom Cleverley and Marvin Zeegelaar. There are fitness doubts over Richarlison and Kiko Femenia, while Nathaniel Chalobah, Younes Kaboul and Will Hughes head the list of definite absentees." I predict Silva to go with 4-4-2 and TD9 & AG up top. Nevertheless, COYHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Dreading it, indeed. I think we need The Man with the Pink Shirt back because of all this imploding. I think the Man U defeat has been telling, especially where our discipline is concerned. I am staggered at how well we play only to mess it up - and in some style.
Going to the game, and we've played awfully at most of the games i've been to for the last couple of years (apart from the Arsenal game), so i'm expecting us to lose it Hoping we avoid any injuries/suspensions, anything else would be a bonus.
I don't think this is like recent seasons with a poor second half. The truth is our very recent efforts have not led to due results. Keep the faith and it will come right. I know it sounds clutching at straws but maybe an enforced change of personnel is no bad thing. We just need to stamp our authority early. I'm sure recent events have given Huddersfield hope but with their history the first thing needed is to silence their support. And then it should be easy to get a moral boosting result. Living without Richarlison, if it happens, I think also couldn't have come at a better time. His absence would be no excuse if we lose this. We have plenty of match winners So all the very best to those able to go and c'mon u'orns
As is Okaka. Does that mean he starts Deeney and Gray otherwise he has three strikers on the bench? Capoue starts.
This doesn't feel like the last 2 seasons. We are where we are (top 10) after a bad run of injuries and some comical throwing away of points. I think we can have a good 2nd half - and we will address the weaknesses. Ok , top 6 might be pushing it, but best of the rest is entirely reasonable. I actually believe we'll get 60 points. Anyone else up for the same ride?
i am going too Toby with my godson and hackney hornet..... all francophiles! Rookery E175 where are you sittting?
I don’t know about 60 points but I still think we will finish above Burnley (and possibly Leicester) even though both are getting rave reviews at the moment. Without the throwing away of points we’d be almost with Burnley and above Leicester now.
Even our second team should be able to beat Huddersfield... So quietly confident about the game.. But will no doubt be on tenterhooks if we don't get ahead.. COME ON YOU GOLDS Sent from my G3121 using Tapatalk
| Watfordfc v @htafcdotcom | Gomes (GK); Mariappa, Prödl, Kabasele; Janmaat, Doucouré, Capoue, Holebas; Carrillo, Richarlison; Deeney (C).
