Match Day Thread Watford v MIDDLESBROUGH

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Watford v Middlesbrough
Vicarage Road Stadium
Friday 11th September 2020
Kick Off 1945 BST

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A new season is upon us unlike anything seen previously. Another new coach, another selection of players and sadly a new division. To play in an empty stadium without the fans to urge the team on will also be a setback as the club searches to find its way back to the division of riches.
The club still has talented players from last season, but just who will be available and wants to play for the club remains to be seen. Since the last season finished the club has surrounded itself with a high fence to prevent the ordinary fans from seeing just what is happening. It should be obvious that relegation was never in the plan, but now that it has a major rethink has been going on.

Middlesbrough also looked to be a side in trouble for a period until they brought in Neil Warnock on the 23rd June, and he managed to get them to safety. It will be interesting to see a Watford old boy again if he is playing. Britt Assombalonga has made it in football even if mainly in the lower divisions.

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So we await for more news from the club, and maybe by the start of next month will know how well prepared we are to win some games, and even keep a coach through a whole season.​

 

Got a bit of an injury list for this one as seen on another thread.

We need a good start to stand ANY chance of getting out of this league.

Honestly, I am excitedly nervous about this season.

Make or break really. Make as in promotion and break as back where we belong really.

 

Boro will be quite defensive and physical I suspect.

Hopefully we can cope with that.

 

Quietly optimistic too....
But expect Boro under Colin to play a hard physical game and target any weaknesses....

 

Good news!

 

The most important thing is to get a win and some positive momentum and feeling for this new season. We all saw last year how much damage a bad start can do psychologically.

Normally I would say it's a long season and what matters more is playing well regardless of the result, but I would prefer a scrappy 1-0 win to build confidence and get points on the board than being superb and losing through a couple of dodgy goals.

 

Referee for the match will be Keith Stroud. I think the last time he refereed one of our games was the 2-0 win at Brighton that saw us promoted.

 

Allegedly a Luton fan born in Bournemouth....

 

Much more optimistic following last Saturday's performance, and one can't accuse spurs of playing it like a typical friendly. I think we have enough in hand to see this through even with, on paper at least, a depleted match day squad.

 

What are the odds he'll be appointed in a couple of weeks time?

 

I'm thinking with Gray injured Stipe Pericia may get an early start to his Watford career tonight.

 

Sky Sports pundit predicts Middlesbrough to win 2-1.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/s...n-ahead-of-watfords-clash-with-middlesbrough/

 

Seems we can only listen to it and not watch on the Hive.

EDIT: Apparently it's if you haven't paid £20 as a former season ticket holder.

From the WFC website...

UK Supporters

• Watch Watford-focused build-up with Emma Saunders and Tommy Mooney on our free-to-air Hive Live pre-match show at watfordfc.com from 7pm BST.
• Listen to live commentary from Jon Marks by purchasing a monthly or seasonal Hive Live audio pass.
• This match will be televised live on Sky Sports, meaning we are unable to sell individual Hive Live video passes for the match.

 

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Interesting to see Sema and Kiko in the team.

Bench is rather weak!

Pervis been linked with a move away so guess that is why he isn't involved.

 

Where's Dawson? Bit disappointed that there's no Estupinan or Suarez.

 

They would say that just to hype up the game.

 

Estupiñán & Perica minor knocks


Dawson, Peñaranda & Suarez ill


Dele-Bashiru thigh

 

Ill/injured/being sold.

Depends on who you believe!

 

Watched Sema a few times for Udinese and he looked ok, but never managed 90 minutes.

I had hoped never to have to watch Sinclair again. maybe he is there to make the numbers up.