The Hornets were hit with their second home loss of the season and their second loss in a row as the Clarets of Burnley managed two second half goals against a returning Mart Poom. Danny Shittu helped Watford avoid the shutout as he drilled a right-footer, unassisted, from 18 yards out.
Watford lead the match in corners and shots, but the ones that counted went Burnley's way.
Jay DeMerit joined Poom as a returnee from the injury list.
The Hornets are still five points ahead of West Brom (who drew against Wolverhampton Sunday) and Charleton (shutout by Sheffield United today) though WBA has one game in hand. They travel to Plymouth tomorrow.
Watford's next match is Saturday, December 2 hosting Bristol City. The BBC says kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time, the Watford site says 11:20. I tend to believe the club site.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Al Bangura Faces Deportation
Injured Watford midfielder Al Bangura faced a deportation hearing in the UK today and will hear the results after a 28-day waiting period. If you want to add your voice to the issue, here's a petition set up by GloryHorns UK. I've signed and I urge you to join it as well:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-al-bangura
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-al-bangura
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Barnsley (2-3) 11-3-3 36 pts.
Barnsley handed the Hornets their third loss of the season as Richard Lee was tagged with an own-goal in minute 65 of the match. Our strikers were both shown yellow cards in the last ten minutes as they scrambled to equalize. Damien Francis made his return to the pitch in minute 70, subbing for Gavin Mahon.
Watford stays atop the league table despite the loss and their attention now turns back to Vicarage Road where they host Burnley Tuesday, November 27. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
Watford stays atop the league table despite the loss and their attention now turns back to Vicarage Road where they host Burnley Tuesday, November 27. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
2-2 at the Half
Two headers by Danny Shittu have kept Watford in the match.
A flurry of goal-scoring activity started in the 31st minute when Jordan Stewart fouled Brian Howard, the free kick eventually leading to a goal by Howard from 12 yards out. Barnsley nailed their second goal three minutes later when Martin Devaney (asst. Campbell-Ryce) right-footed a shot from 12 yards out.
Shittu scored his first two minutes later off Williamson's free kick - thanks to a yellow card on Campbell-Ryce for a foul on Kabba.
Danny's second 6-yard header (Tommy Smith asst.) came in injury time to make it even at the half.
A flurry of goal-scoring activity started in the 31st minute when Jordan Stewart fouled Brian Howard, the free kick eventually leading to a goal by Howard from 12 yards out. Barnsley nailed their second goal three minutes later when Martin Devaney (asst. Campbell-Ryce) right-footed a shot from 12 yards out.
Shittu scored his first two minutes later off Williamson's free kick - thanks to a yellow card on Campbell-Ryce for a foul on Kabba.
Danny's second 6-yard header (Tommy Smith asst.) came in injury time to make it even at the half.
Game Day: Barnsley
The Hornets head to Oakwell Stadium to meet the Tykes of Barnsley. Steve Kabba is back in the starting line-up and Damien Francis, recovered from injury, is available from the bench. Jay DeMerit is still out with injuries and Mariappa is in the defensive line. Lee is in at goal and is the only keeper travelling to Barnsley today. Full line-up:
Lee
Doyley Mariappa Shittu Stewart
Smith Mahon Williamson Kabba
King Henderson
Go 'Orns!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Watford to Possibly Host Beckham's Off-Season Training
The LA Galaxy's season over, Becks has received permission to train in England during the off-season. Link above to see VitalFootball's take on the chances.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Book Review: How Soccer Explains the World
How Soccer Explains the World: An (Unlikely) Theory of Globalization - Franklin Foer (c) 2004 Harper Collins
Mr. Mojo loaned me this book (and I recommended Fever Pitch to him), a terrific sampler for the neophyte and the local soccer fan as well of the sociology behind the the most popular sport in the world.
Though a more apt title would be: How Soccer Reflects the World, the author does a stellar job of exposing the forces under the surface of the game and illustrates how they are changing. Through specific examples as far-ranging as the ethnic conflicts in Yugoslavia to insecure bullying talk show hosts (Jim Rome), Foer explores the impact soccer has had in spurring globalization and the result the feedback has had on the sport.
One example: In the final chapter, "How Soccer Explains the American Culture Wars", the author points to America's failure to export its "National Pastime", baseball, abroad coupled with the tendency of soccer to be embraced by the upper-middle class in the US (as opposed to, say, the UK, where it is still a working-class fan base or here in the US where the working-class embraces basketball and football of the pigskin variety) as the roots of soccer's failure to join the ranks of baseball, football, and basketball as a major US professional sport (you'll note the title is not: How Football Explains the World - apparently it's us Americans that are in need of explanation).
Despite no mention of Watford, I can recommend the book for any thinking or curious fan of the sport.
Mr. Mojo loaned me this book (and I recommended Fever Pitch to him), a terrific sampler for the neophyte and the local soccer fan as well of the sociology behind the the most popular sport in the world.
Though a more apt title would be: How Soccer Reflects the World, the author does a stellar job of exposing the forces under the surface of the game and illustrates how they are changing. Through specific examples as far-ranging as the ethnic conflicts in Yugoslavia to insecure bullying talk show hosts (Jim Rome), Foer explores the impact soccer has had in spurring globalization and the result the feedback has had on the sport.
One example: In the final chapter, "How Soccer Explains the American Culture Wars", the author points to America's failure to export its "National Pastime", baseball, abroad coupled with the tendency of soccer to be embraced by the upper-middle class in the US (as opposed to, say, the UK, where it is still a working-class fan base or here in the US where the working-class embraces basketball and football of the pigskin variety) as the roots of soccer's failure to join the ranks of baseball, football, and basketball as a major US professional sport (you'll note the title is not: How Football Explains the World - apparently it's us Americans that are in need of explanation).
Despite no mention of Watford, I can recommend the book for any thinking or curious fan of the sport.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Colchester United (2-2) 11-3-2 36 pts.
Kevin Lisbie gave Colchester the lead right out of the chute (do you suppose the UK readers have enough rodeo background to get 'right out of the chute'?) in the second half as he drilled a shot past Richard Lee in minute 46.
Marlon King blew a chance to equalize in the 61st minute as Gerken saved a penalty kick by the Watford striker, but he redeemed himself with an overhead kick from 6 yards out to salvage a point for Watford.
Ellington came in for Stewart in the last few minutes to give Watford a little more offensive push, but the match ended with the draw.
I can't help but think that last season a quick score like Lisbie's would have cowed Watford and the score would have ended up 1-3 instead of 2-2. Yes, we are in a lower division but we are playing better football too.
Watford remains eight points in the lead over Charleton who, if their current 3-0 lead holds up, will sneak past idle WBA and Bristol City who fell 0-6 to Ipswich.
European qualifiers are next weekend so the next match for Watford is Saturday, November 24th at Barnsley. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Marlon King blew a chance to equalize in the 61st minute as Gerken saved a penalty kick by the Watford striker, but he redeemed himself with an overhead kick from 6 yards out to salvage a point for Watford.
Ellington came in for Stewart in the last few minutes to give Watford a little more offensive push, but the match ended with the draw.
I can't help but think that last season a quick score like Lisbie's would have cowed Watford and the score would have ended up 1-3 instead of 2-2. Yes, we are in a lower division but we are playing better football too.
Watford remains eight points in the lead over Charleton who, if their current 3-0 lead holds up, will sneak past idle WBA and Bristol City who fell 0-6 to Ipswich.
European qualifiers are next weekend so the next match for Watford is Saturday, November 24th at Barnsley. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
1-1 at the Half
Watford struck early as Adam Johnson (unassisted) left-footed a shot to the upper center of the goal just four minutes into the match. Colchester equalized in minute 20 as Clive Platt rebounded his own shot to even things out. The Hornets lead on off-target shots but the match is otherwise even.
Game Day: Colchester United
The U's of Colchester United travel west to try their luck at Vicarage Road today. The U's reside 17th on the league table going into today's action with a record of 3-7-5 for 16 points. Both squads are without their number 1 keepers. Boothroyd is leaving the Hornet's line-up unchanged from Tuesday's win over Norwich City.
Go 'Orns!!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Norwich City (3-1) 11-2-2 35 pts.
One goal each in the second half and Watford stretches its lead to eight points over Bristol City - who suffered their first home loss of the season to Charleton today - and West Brom, who gained a point with a draw against Sheffield Wednesday.
Gavin Mahon, recipient of his third yellow card in the first half, drilled a right-footer from six yards out (asst. Williamson) in minute 88, answering Lee Croft's earlier goal.
The Hornets are back at Vicarage Road Saturday, Nov. 10 as Colchester United come to town. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Gavin Mahon, recipient of his third yellow card in the first half, drilled a right-footer from six yards out (asst. Williamson) in minute 88, answering Lee Croft's earlier goal.
The Hornets are back at Vicarage Road Saturday, Nov. 10 as Colchester United come to town. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
2-0 at the Half
Watford has dominated on time of possession, shots, and corners and heads to the locker room up 2-0 on a left-footed goal from 6 yards out by Henderson (asst. Doyley) in the 36th minute and an Adam Johnson corner kick headed by Adrian Mariappa into David Marshall for an own-goal five minutes later. Despite the home field advantage, Norwich will need to show a lot more this half to have any chance at points.
Game Day - Norwich City
The Hornets travel to Carrow Road after their 0-3 spanking by WBA on Saturday to take on the Canaries of Norwich. Lee continues to defend the net for Watford as Poom continues to battle his back problems and Mariappa makes a start as defender Jay DeMerit is still out with a calf injury. Lee Williamson returns after his suspension and rest to take over at midfield for John-Joe O'Toole. King & Hendo start again up front. Full line-up:
Lee
Doyley Shittu Mariappa Stewart
Smith Mahon Williamson Johnson
King Henderson
Doyley Shittu Mariappa Stewart
Smith Mahon Williamson Johnson
King Henderson
Go 'Orns!!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
West Bromwich Albion (0-3) 10-2-2 32 Pts.
I missed this match this morning though I doubt it would have brightened my day any. Two successive goals in the first half and a third in the second left the Hornets and keeper Lee shaking their heads. Even Aidy admits they were just outplayed.
More bad news though: Jay DeMerit was stretchered off in the 10th minute with a calf injury of yet unassessed seriousness.
Hopefully the lads will keep their heads about them - they still retain a five point lead in the standings - and return to form next Tuesday when they'll travel to Norwich City. Kickoff, with the end of DST in the states, should be 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
More bad news though: Jay DeMerit was stretchered off in the 10th minute with a calf injury of yet unassessed seriousness.
Hopefully the lads will keep their heads about them - they still retain a five point lead in the standings - and return to form next Tuesday when they'll travel to Norwich City. Kickoff, with the end of DST in the states, should be 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
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