Four more new faces on the roster today leading one crank to opine if the squad will outnumber the fans by the end of day.
Here we go . . .
Nathaniel Chalbah - Reserve defender from Chelsea who, at age 17, has rode the pine on the first team and played on England's U-19 squad. On loan through December.
Neuton (just what we were lacking, a single-named Brazilian) - 22-yo midfielder on loan from Udinese.
Joel Ekstrand - 23-yo Swedish defender with 1 cap on loan from Udinese.
Fernando Forestieri - 22-yo Argentine striker on loan from (wait for it) Udinese (to be fair, he was on loan to Empoli right before this). An U-21 player for Italy.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Squad Moves
These come fast & furious these days and I'm at least a week behind - so let's go:
Cristian Battocchio - Argentinean midfielder, 20 years old, on loan from Udinese, veteran of Italy's U-20 squad, buds with one Lionel Messi
Jean-Alain Fanchone - French defender, 23, on loan from Udinese, France U-19 squad
Geoffrey Mujangi Bia - Belgian/Congolese winger, on loan from Standard Liege for the season. Two caps. Debuted in the Bradford City match.
And for names you already know:
Sean Murray has been signed through 2017.
Adam Thompson is on loan for a month to the Wycombe Wanderers.
Cristian Battocchio - Argentinean midfielder, 20 years old, on loan from Udinese, veteran of Italy's U-20 squad, buds with one Lionel Messi
Jean-Alain Fanchone - French defender, 23, on loan from Udinese, France U-19 squad
Geoffrey Mujangi Bia - Belgian/Congolese winger, on loan from Standard Liege for the season. Two caps. Debuted in the Bradford City match.
And for names you already know:
Sean Murray has been signed through 2017.
Adam Thompson is on loan for a month to the Wycombe Wanderers.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
LC: Watford 1-2 Bradford City
A last minute goal by Garry Thompson pushed Bradford City into Round Three of the Capital One (League) Cup.
Three new faces (Steve Leo Beleck, Ikechi Anya, & Geoffrey Mujangi Bia) up front in a 4-3-3 battered a patient Bradford defence for most of the match and an Anya goal in the 70th minute put the Hornets in the lead, but the Bantams fought back.
Kyel Reid rifled a shot past keeper Jonathan Bond to even up the score with eight minutes left and it looked like the squads would each face their second extra time match of Cup play, but Thompson's late goal left Watford without time to recover.
The next match is Saturday, September 1 at Derby County. Kickoff is at 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Three new faces (Steve Leo Beleck, Ikechi Anya, & Geoffrey Mujangi Bia) up front in a 4-3-3 battered a patient Bradford defence for most of the match and an Anya goal in the 70th minute put the Hornets in the lead, but the Bantams fought back.
Kyel Reid rifled a shot past keeper Jonathan Bond to even up the score with eight minutes left and it looked like the squads would each face their second extra time match of Cup play, but Thompson's late goal left Watford without time to recover.
The next match is Saturday, September 1 at Derby County. Kickoff is at 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Watford 2-0 Birmingham City 2-0-1 6 pts.
On the road this weekend, but got up early to hightail it to my sisters only to discover Dish did not carry Sky Sports. I got to watch the tail-end of the Udinese match however.
For the BBC Sport report on the match check here:
Newcomers Almen Abdi & Matej Vydra set the pace for the match; a foul on Vydra by Steven Caldwell gave Abdi the first goal four minutes in on a penalty shot.
Vydra added a goal of his own from inside the penalty area in the 17th minute to secure the three points. Jonathan Hogg earned the assist on that one.
The next match is tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28 as Bradford visits Vicarage Road for Round Two of the League Cup. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
For the BBC Sport report on the match check here:
Newcomers Almen Abdi & Matej Vydra set the pace for the match; a foul on Vydra by Steven Caldwell gave Abdi the first goal four minutes in on a penalty shot.
Vydra added a goal of his own from inside the penalty area in the 17th minute to secure the three points. Jonathan Hogg earned the assist on that one.
The next match is tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28 as Bradford visits Vicarage Road for Round Two of the League Cup. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
A Tale of Two 27s
No. 27, Gavin Massey is on his way to Colchester United where he spent a couple months on loan last season - this time on permanent transfer for an undisclosed sum.
Veteran defender Marco Cassetti will be taking over the academy lad's number 27 on loan from (wait for it) Udinese. The 35-year old has spent the bulk of his career at AS Roma and has five caps for the Italian senior squad.
Veteran defender Marco Cassetti will be taking over the academy lad's number 27 on loan from (wait for it) Udinese. The 35-year old has spent the bulk of his career at AS Roma and has five caps for the Italian senior squad.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Watford 0-1 Ipswich Town 1-0-1 3 pts.
A last minute goal by the Michael Chopra (why is this guy not playing in the Premier League?) gave the Tractor Boys a win to break a streak of 15 matches without a win at Vicarage Road.
Ipswich dominated a match that saw the return of Scott Loach to Vicarage Road, the debut of Daniel Pudil, and the demotion of Lloyd Doyley and Carl Dickinson to the bench.
Watford gets a second chance for their first home win Saturday, August 25 against Birmingham City. It's a late kickoff for TV - 11:20 am St. Louis time.
Ipswich dominated a match that saw the return of Scott Loach to Vicarage Road, the debut of Daniel Pudil, and the demotion of Lloyd Doyley and Carl Dickinson to the bench.
Watford gets a second chance for their first home win Saturday, August 25 against Birmingham City. It's a late kickoff for TV - 11:20 am St. Louis time.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Crystal Palace 2-3 Watford 1-0-0 3 pts.
The Watford Yank's house is in the midst of renovation and, to make a long story short, I only caught the last ten minutes or so but what a ten minute run!
The Hornets had come from behind once already to even the score in the first half with a Martin Taylor goal from close in, but the second of a brace from Owen Garvin at 29 minutes gave Palace a 2-1 lead they carried deep into the second half.
Crystal Palace's tactic of playing back to preserve the lead and absorb Watford pressure backfired on them in the 88th minute when loanee Almen Abdi found the next from outside the box.
The score tied with five minutes of added time, Matej Vydra gave Gianfranco Zola his first Watford win as manager and kicked off the 2012-13 season with three points.
The next match is tomorrow, Tuesday August 21st, when Ipswich Town pays a visit to Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 1:45 St. Louis time.
The Hornets had come from behind once already to even the score in the first half with a Martin Taylor goal from close in, but the second of a brace from Owen Garvin at 29 minutes gave Palace a 2-1 lead they carried deep into the second half.
Crystal Palace's tactic of playing back to preserve the lead and absorb Watford pressure backfired on them in the 88th minute when loanee Almen Abdi found the next from outside the box.
The score tied with five minutes of added time, Matej Vydra gave Gianfranco Zola his first Watford win as manager and kicked off the 2012-13 season with three points.
The next match is tomorrow, Tuesday August 21st, when Ipswich Town pays a visit to Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 1:45 St. Louis time.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Bradford City Second Round Draw
Bradford City will visit Vicarage Road the week of August 27 for the second round of the League Cup.
Bradford City and Watford both won 1-0 matches in extra time last Saturday to move into round 2 - the League Two side defeating Notts County.
Bradford City and Watford both won 1-0 matches in extra time last Saturday to move into round 2 - the League Two side defeating Notts County.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Watford Academy Downgraded to Category 3
Watford confirmed yesterday with the Observer that they were planning to downgrade their academy status under the EPPP from Category 1 to Category 3.
The immediate effect is that Watford will no longer field an U-21 squad.
Long a source of pride (and players) for Watford and their fans, it is unclear what the long-term impact on the club will be of a downgrade of the academy.
One estimate is a savings of £2 million per year for the club, but the fear is Premier League squads will be able to poach young players for as little as £3,000. The ace up the sleeve for Watford may be its ties to Udinese & Granada as transfers out of the Football League are not subject to the EPPP. Those clubs would be able to loan the academy lads back to the Hornets.
Time will tell if the academy's productivity is maintain in the future.
The immediate effect is that Watford will no longer field an U-21 squad.
Long a source of pride (and players) for Watford and their fans, it is unclear what the long-term impact on the club will be of a downgrade of the academy.
One estimate is a savings of £2 million per year for the club, but the fear is Premier League squads will be able to poach young players for as little as £3,000. The ace up the sleeve for Watford may be its ties to Udinese & Granada as transfers out of the Football League are not subject to the EPPP. Those clubs would be able to loan the academy lads back to the Hornets.
Time will tell if the academy's productivity is maintain in the future.
Monday, August 13, 2012
League Cup: Watford 1-0 a.e.t. Wycombe Wanderers
Chris Iwelumo scored the winning goal from close in in added time Saturday to give Watford a win in the first round of the newly rebranded Capital One Cup.
Watford played sluggishly and was in serious danger of have their cup run cut short by penalty kicks until Iwelumo, on for Joe Garner six minutes into the extra time, found the net in the 109th minute to put the Hornets ahead for good.
Despite all the loan activity, it was a fairly familiar squad starting the cup tie with the only new faces being keeper Manuel Almunia, midfielder Almen Abdi, and striker Matej Vydra.
Vydra, in particular, showed a presence on the field that was a welcome addition to the Watford lineup.
League action begins Saturday, August 18 with a trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Watford played sluggishly and was in serious danger of have their cup run cut short by penalty kicks until Iwelumo, on for Joe Garner six minutes into the extra time, found the net in the 109th minute to put the Hornets ahead for good.
Despite all the loan activity, it was a fairly familiar squad starting the cup tie with the only new faces being keeper Manuel Almunia, midfielder Almen Abdi, and striker Matej Vydra.
Vydra, in particular, showed a presence on the field that was a welcome addition to the Watford lineup.
League action begins Saturday, August 18 with a trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Hornets Down Gillingham 3-0
Matej Vydra scored a brace and Connor Smith picked up the third goal in Watford's final friendly in front of Saturday's season opener.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Another Udinese/Granada Striker Joins Watford
30-year old striker Alex Geijo joined stable-mates Pudil, Vydra, Abdi, & Beleck on loan to the Hornets for the season. The Swiss-born Spaniard joined Udinese in 2010 and was almost immediately loaned out to Granada.
With the addition of Watford to the Pozzo empire, Geijo looks to spend the next year of his career in Hertfordshire.
With the addition of Watford to the Pozzo empire, Geijo looks to spend the next year of his career in Hertfordshire.
Monday, August 06, 2012
LDX Disappointing
The Lloyd Doyley testimonial honoring 10 years with Watford, dubbed LDX, proved disappointing for fans yesterday and not just the result, a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
What was touted as a chance for the Vicarage Road crowd to see the new squad for the first time (all other pre-season friendlies have been away matches, some closed), proved to be the same-old, same-old for the most part with only two new faces on the recently re-laid pitch.
Midfielder Daniel Pudil lasted all of five minutes before pulling up with a hamstring, leaving new keeper Manuel Almunia the only newcomer in the match.
Watford held through the first half, but a Jermain Defoe header proved the only score of the night.
The final pre-season friendly is tomorrow at Gillingham. Kickoff is 1:45. Season starts on Saturday!
What was touted as a chance for the Vicarage Road crowd to see the new squad for the first time (all other pre-season friendlies have been away matches, some closed), proved to be the same-old, same-old for the most part with only two new faces on the recently re-laid pitch.
Midfielder Daniel Pudil lasted all of five minutes before pulling up with a hamstring, leaving new keeper Manuel Almunia the only newcomer in the match.
Watford held through the first half, but a Jermain Defoe header proved the only score of the night.
The final pre-season friendly is tomorrow at Gillingham. Kickoff is 1:45. Season starts on Saturday!
Thursday, August 02, 2012
Barnet Friendly Ends 8-0 to the Good for Hornets
Watford tromped League Two side Barnet 8-0 in a closed friendly at London Colney (Hertfordshire) Wednesday.
A different squad played each half with Hogg, Garner, Nosworthy, Abdi, Yeates, and Murray (2) scoring in the first half and Chris Iwelumo finding the goal in the second.
A different squad played each half with Hogg, Garner, Nosworthy, Abdi, Yeates, and Murray (2) scoring in the first half and Chris Iwelumo finding the goal in the second.
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