A Couple Weeks Off for Everyone

English league football is on hiatus as the English national team competes in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. My sources (that would be Greek God on the Watford message boards) tells me Foster and Young (from the under 21 squad) are the only Hornets involved. I must say the folks on the message boards have been great about dealing with my overwhelming ignorance.

The timing works out well as I will be in Vegas next week where I hope to find a sportsbook that will let me put a few bucks down on the FA and/or League cups. It's been recommended I hoist a pint at the Crown and Anchor while I'm there as well. I'll let all of you know how it went.

Manchester United (1-2) 0-1-2 1 Pt.

Manchester United continued its pressure in the second half and captured the win with a goal by Giggs at minute 52. Perhaps the most telling statistic was that Watford managed only 1 goal attempt in the first 44 minutes of the second half. A disappointing loss given the half time score.

On the plus side L*t*n Town lost to Wolverhampton (0-1). Next match is Sept. 9 away vs. Bolton Wanderers.

1-1 at the Half

It looks like it's been a brutal half for Watford with MU in possession 62% of the time and 12 attempts. Fortunately, only two have been on target. Watford's been more selective in its attempts with 3 of 4 on target.

Silvestre drew first blood at 12 minutes with an assist from Saha, but it wasn't until 34 in before Watford equalized with a goal from Francis (assist from Young). Mahon was yellow-carded at 40 minutes.

Watford should be happy to be even at the half given the pressure from Manchester United.

Hornet's Premiership Diary

Hornet's Premiership Diary

I want to direct all the stateside readers over here, especially after the matches, for a little more (any?) analysis of the day.

Written by user BENWATFORD, it has the distinct advantages over this blog that:

1. He knows his soccer (so much so he can call it football without getting confused like me)
2. He actually gets to SEE the games
3. He knows what he's talking about regarding Watford

While this blog is about discovery, a young man exploring new horizons, experimenting and uncovering forbidden passions in a new land (cue violins), Ben's actually seems to be about football. Enjoy.

Game Day - Manchester United

Ready to go against, as stiker Marlon King puts it, "the biggest team in the world". A perennial powerhouse, MU is not only home to Ronaldo, but sports the added spiritual boost of having its own church here in St. Louis off 141, Manchester United Methodist Church ;-). It's hoped the 'orns intense non-stop play will pressure MU and we are at Vicarage Road, but the punters seem to say a draw would be a good outcome for Watford - I'll be able to hear the cheers all the way here if we come away with 3 points. Go 'Orns!

Beers & Cheers Questions Asked and Answered

For the state-siders: (Many thanks to folks on the Watford FC boards)

My friend Dan asks:

I think that the most important thing to find out is:"What beverage will best inspire me to cheer my team to victory?"

Turns out there is Guinness available at Vicarage Road (though if it's on tap I imagine the lines are a trial).

And in answer to my question about the cheers, the prime among them seems to be, "Marlon sez you're a runt" - only it's not runt. Be sure to practice outside before Saturday's match (fixture?).

More Yanks/Jay DeMerit

I just ran across Duncan from Georgia - another new stateside Watford fan. He's a fan of Jay DeMerit, our center-back (or centre-back if you must) and Green Bay native. I can only imagine the grief caught being a (round) footballer at the height of the Brett Favre era - this must be one tough dude. Her Majesty's Subjects seem to like him quite a bit from what I've read on the message boards and his start against West Ham was his 50th league start.

The general consensus is a great injustice was done to Jay, the United States, and the US World Cup team with his omission this summer. I'd like to hear a little more on that subject.

West Ham United (1-1) 0-1-1 1 pt.

Christ! How frustrating. I've always measured the class of a (pigskin) football team's defense by their ability to shut down a drive after their offense has scored. For those stateside depending on me for the news (God help you), King scored at 63 min., but Zamora answered at 65, extending West Ham's unbeaten streak to 11 at Vicarage Road.

Next up: Powerhouse Manchester United at Vicarage Road this Saturday morning, 9 am St. Louis time.

Half-Time Nil-Nil

I found a matchcast app on the Yahoo!UK site. Not as good as the Emirates Airlines one used for the WC (would it kill them to add a clock?), but it'll do. Not being able to see the game, it looks like it's a hard-fought defensive game with few shots on goal. It may boil down to stamina in the end.

Game Day - West Ham

If I've done my math right, kickoff should be at 1:45 here. Now all I have to do is figure out how to follow. I'd rather not shell out $50 for the Game Day access so I'll see what Yahoo! has to offer. West Ham has 3 players on the DL but I am clueless as to if they are starters or scrubs.

I've got lots of helpful tips from the message boards (free membership needed) - kit, not uniform - pitch, not field - and besides L*t*n (who's name shall not be spelled), I should develop a hatered for Arsenal, Leeds, Lee Cook, David Connolly, & Andy Johnson.

In addition, hornetboy84 pointed me to www.bsad.org, a fan site which (sadly) may be on its way out. Like discovering ice cream just in time to find out milk is being outlawed. Check it out while you can.

And for the statesiders - this from charlied69 - the lineup:

THE HORNETS:
Foster

Doyley Sh*ttu Demerit Powell

Young Francis Mahon Bouazza

Henderson King

That's it until the game. Go 'Orns!

Ignorance WAS Bliss . . .

. . . though I probably still have a good reservior of bliss left. Let me say I now know:

1. It's a hart (as in Hertfordshire), not a moose (and I must therefore add 'nice rack') -and, most painful of all-
2. Watford is NOT Watford Gap (same island I think)

but I'm sticking with The Hornets and you, in turn, are stuck with me and my Bloody Americanism. I'm too late to be born into a tradition only to blossom into irrational fan-ery later. I'm starting with irrational from the get-go. Go Watford.

Everton (1-2) 0-0-1 0 Pts.

I gather we played well despite the loss. Do I have this right? The Toffees? This may well be the wussiest nickname in all sports (Titmice anyone?). I'm glad to see early season optimism is universal. I'm looking forward to the Uniteds this week.

Hi there

A little background is in order. I am 43, live in St. Louis, and have decided to make Watford the object of my soccer (I may never get used to "football" - oh yeah, and you'll see no "u" in color) interest.

I have no background in soccer short of:

1. "Fever Pitch" by Nick Hornby
2. The 2006 World Cup
3. My wife started playing this summer

I really got into the World Cup this summer and being a moderate anglophile (mostly via late sixties folk-rock) took a look at England for the source of my soccer devotion. I like the club system in England, the nominally eglitarian notion that any football (there - that wasn't so bad) club can scratch its way into the Major Leagues (to use a baseball metaphor - get used to those too).

Why Watford? Blame it on Roy Harper. I was pleased to find out they were in the Premier League this year (not a fair weather fan - I'd set my sights on Watford before I knew). I will need some basic info. I know we are supposed to hate Luton Town and have the whole Hornet thing figured out, but what's with the moose? I don't think there are any moose in GB. (OK, I know there are no tigers in the US either, but at least the Detroit Tigers have the same logo and name - not like they wear a picture of a emu and call themselve the Tigers). Please fill me in on the team song/chant whatever.

The notion to blog this came late (like today) so my Everton comments will be few days off. Looking forward to West Ham United tomorrow. I hope I can follow it at work. I'll try to be dutiful, but I don't even catch all the St. Louis Cardinal games here. I hope to hear from a few devotees at Vicarage Road. Go Watford.