Crystal Palace 4-0 Watford 10-10-12 40 pts.

I'm a little tardy on this one, but who wants to comment on a 4-0 loss?

The major problem was lack of marking in the box on set plays which led to at least three of the goals. Which brings me to my rant about managers:

I find it absurd to rag on, heckle, and fire managers who do not win when they are given players that are too small, too young, too slow - in short not as talented as the opposition. The fact is, half of the teams are better than the other half and a new coach will not change that.

That said, executing the fundamentals (or failing to) does fall within the manager's purview. If Dyche does not drill and drill and drill his players on set pieces this week, he will deserve any criticism that comes his way (I think he will, by the way). This is where coaching can make a difference. Another performance - not result, performance - like Saturday and Dyche will have begun to spend down whatever credits he has in the fan bank.

The next match is Saturday, February 25 as Vicarage Road hosts Southampton. Kickoff is 9:00 an St. Louis time.

Personel Updates

Gavin Massey has been recalled from Colchester early as Troy Deeney & Sean Murray are doubtful for tomorrow's match at Selhurst Park and keeper Rene Gilmartin has been sent on emergency loan to Crawley Town for a month, leaving Jonathan Bond to back up Scott Loach.

Watford 3-2 Leicster City 10-10-11 40 pts.

A rip-roaring match that see-sawed back & forth amid dodgy officiating ended with Watford gathering in three more points in the standings.

Adrian Mariappa took the lead for Watford in the 6th minute as he flicked on a Sean Murray free kick, but the lead lasted a mere four minutes before David Nugent placed the ball in the far corner through heavy traffic for the first of two goals.

His second came at the 18 minute mark, but the Hornets scrambled back to equalize in the 34th minute when another Sean Murray free kick glanced off the wall and slipped past Kasper Schmeichel.

It looked like the match would end a draw until Craig Forsyth landed the go-ahead in the net with 10 minutes left.

The match drug on with five, count 'em, five minutes of added time and a match full of shoddy refereeing (missed free kicks, wrongly awarded free kicks, etc.) culminated with the sending off of Lloyd Doyley (who was nowhere near the tackle, Mariappa was) and an 11 on 9 created when Carl Dickenson barely had two feet on the pitch as a substitute.

The three points put Watford 15 points above relegation and 11 below the playoffs. The next match is Saturday, February 11 at Crystal Palace (currently with 40 points as well). Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Watford 9-10-11 37 pts.

Sean Murray fought hard in the first half to impress upon Sean Dyche why he should continue to have a place in the Hornet's starting XI.

Following a goal in minute 19 by Garath McCleary that put the home squad ahead and a brief set-back on the squad's heels, Murray sought opportunity after opportunity to equalize, finally earning the assist to Troy Deeney's header deep into the first half.

The pace slacked for the Hornets in the second half, with Forest finding at least two clear scoring opportunities, but luck (and the crossbar) prevailed and Watford came away from a road trip with another point, an even dozen north of relegation and the same trailing the playoff zone.

The next match is Valentine's Day, Tuesday, February 14 at Vicarage Road hosting Leicester City. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Harry Keough R.I.P. 1927 - 2012

The first live soccer match I ever attended, I sat next to short, stocky, grey-haired gent filled with enthusiasm about the upcoming match with the Brazil U18 squad.

As I sat there, I noticed people of all ages approaching, saying a few words, even asking for autographs. It was then I noticed the fellow was wearing a lanyard that said 'National Soccer Hall of Fame'.

It was Harry.

After this experience, akin to sitting next to Lou Brock at your first baseball game, I learned a little more about Harry.

For instance, his role as a member of the 1950 World Cup 'Miracle Match' squad, a group of amateurs that defeated the mighty England XI, his inclusion in the 1952 & 1956 Olympic teams, and the driving force behind SLU soccer, which he lead to five National Championships as their coach.

I continued to see Harry around town, especially at SLU matches, most memorably when he was named to SLU's Half-Century Team in 2009. He was a St. Louis fixture.

In an era when U.S. footballers were not professionals, Harry epitomized the proud amateur tradition, especially here in Saint Louis where he will be sorely missed.

Rest in Peace, Harry.

Watford 2-1 Barnsley 9-9-11 36 pts.

A pair of goals from John Eustace inched Watford a couple of notches up the league table Saturday in the Hornet's second win in two Sordell-less games.

A Sean Murray free kick was blocked, but Eustace found the ball in the air and landed a bicycle kick past Luke Steele to put the Hornets ahead 33 minutes in.

The Watford captain sent visiting Barnsley fans scuttling to the parking lots when his second of the match found the net in minute 69 but the Tykes refused to give up and the young substitute Scott Gilbourne kept Scott Loach from a clean sheet in the 86th minute.

Watford played through five agonizing minutes of added time to nab three more points, their 36 placing them 12 off the drop zone (and 13 away from the playoffs).

The next match is Saturday, February 11 at Nottingham Forest. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Sordell to Bolton

Bolton outbid Cardiff City to earn the favors of Marvin Sordell. The number is undisclosed but seems to be in the neighborhood of £3.0 million certain and up to £4.0 million if the Wanderers stay up and/or sell Marvin on to another club.

A fair price and best of luck to Mr. 'Score-dell'.