The Watford View

The next team to visit our part of South London is newly promoted Watford so we had a chat with the guys at popular fan site WatfordFCBlog to find out how the season has been for the Hornets so far and thoughts ahead of our match.


Q. How have you got on since we last faced each other?

Since we faced you back in September, we have done tremendously well. No Watford fan would ever have thought we would be in tenth position at this stage of the season. Our team has proved itself to be one which is well organised and can cause anyone problems. We battered Liverpool at the Vicarage back in December, and have also recorded good wins over Stoke City, West Ham United and Newcastle United among others. We have also run some of the big boys in Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United mightily close. We have not picked up as many wins in the league as we would have liked in the last month, but it has still been a tremendous season. Barring any late capitulation, we should be in the Premier League next season and that is something that all Watford fans will look forward to!

Q. What were your thoughts on that game?

I thought the game between the two sides back in September was a fairly even one which in the end, was decided by a mistake by one of our players. Palace really did a job on us defensively, man marking Ighalo and Deeney out of the game for large parts and without them we do not really have too much of an attacking threat. Jurado had the best chance for us when he smacked the bar, but to be honest I did not think too much separated the sides on that day. A defeat I felt was harsh on us, as we did not play too badly, so hopefully we can get our own back this weekend!

Q. What do you make of your new signings in the transfer window?

I think we did some good business in the transfer window. We have been crying out for an out-and-out winger with pace and we brought one in Nordin Amrabat. He can also play up front which is a bonus and he arrived with good pedigree from Spain. He has not played too much since signing, but from what I have seen of him, he has the makings to be an important player for us.

The signing of Costel Pantilimon seemed a logical one as we needed a good, experienced back-up to challenge Heurelho Gomes and one who can easily step into the side. Giedrius Arlauskis was our number two for the first half of the season, but he gave us butterflies when he played and Flores deemed him not be good enough. Pantilimon has always been someone I have thought to be a good keeper and he has plenty of Premier League experience, having won the league with City and been number one with Sunderland for a season and a half. So the signing of the tall Romanian was a no brainier for me.

The fact we managed to attract a player of Mario Suarez’ calibre to the club shows how far we have come as a club. This is a player who won La Liga with Atletico Madrid and reportedly rejected a move to Valencia to join Watford, which shows not only that top class players want to come to Vicarage Road, but that this is a club that is ambitious and always wants to do better. He is a class player and I am looking forward to seeing him in Watford colours.

We signed Abdoulaye Doucoure on deadline day, someone we came close to signing last summer. We initially were going to wait until the summer to sign him, but with Liverpool apparently interested, we thought we needed to make our move now. Both he and Adalberto Paneranda are two hot prospects who were signed with the future in mind. Flores has already got a stable squad and whilst he wanted to sign them, he did not necessarily feel that he wanted to use them this season. They were both signed with next season in mind, where they are set to be heavily involved so these are exciting times to be a Watford fan.

Q. Did you strengthen where you expected or are there areas not addressed?

I think so. We wanted to add a winger and a striker and we added players in both positions, whilst also adding quality in other areas as well. Allan Nyom’s form has dipped and we do not really have another Premier League standard right back on the books, so I think that is a position we need to address in the summer. We do have Juan Carlos Paredes as back-up, but defensively he can be suspect at times, so another right back would not go amiss in the summer.

Q. It has been a terrific season for Watford in the first season back in the top division, have you enjoyed it so far?

Definitely. It has been a hugely enjoyable season to date which has been filled with so many highs. This team has played so well and they have done the club proud. As I said before, we never thought we would be in mid-table at this stage. The thought of being in the Premier League four or five years ago, when we were owned by Laurence Bassini, seemed inconceivable and who knows where we would be had the Pozzo’s not come in back in 2012. So for me, I am just enjoying the ride at the minute and to secure our status in the Premier League next year would cap a fine season off.

Q. Which three clubs do you think will go down?

Aston Villa, Sunderland and Norwich City.

Q. What are your thoughts on Palace this season?

It has been another excellent season at Selhurst Park. Despite a little dip in form lately, it has still been a good season and I would not be surprised if you finished in the top half. You have played some great football at times this season and you have got some quality players on your book. I really like what Pardew is doing at Selhurst Park and he does not really get enough credit from the media that he deserves. He has added real quality to this squad through the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Bakary Sako and Palace are a club really on the up.

Q. Name a player from each side that the opposition should be concerned about.

For us, you will not be surprised by me saying Odion Ighalo. He is our biggest goal threat and his partnership with Troy Deeney goes from strength to strength. The Nigerian is ice cool in front of goal, quite strong and has a good bit of skill about him. He has really kicked on from last season and has really made the step-up to the Premier League. If he scores, do not be surprised to hear a Spandau Ballet rendition from the away end!

For Crystal Palace I am going to said Wilfried Zaha. He always seems to cause us problems! His pace and trickery means he is a tricky customer for full-backs and he can also deliver a good ball. Zaha is now starting to consistently show the form that persuaded Manchester United to sign him and he is a player I have always liked. He will most definitely cause us problems.

Q. Your prediction?

For some reason, Palace are a team we rarely ever seem to beat! We will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Spurs and I am sure Palace will be wanting to build on their point against Swansea City. I can see this being a game with plenty of goals and I think we would be more than capable of taking a point from you. For that reason, I am going to say 2-2.

Q. Please tell us a little about what you do and share anything that you are currently working on.

I am a 19 year old Watford fan currently studying for a degree in Journalism at Brunel University, with the hope of then progressing into the Sports Journalism field. On top of my blog, I also interview professionals in the football industry for Careersinfootball.com and write the fan’s view for the Watford Observer on Watford’s games.

 

 

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