Watford boss Gianfranco Zola has no new injury concerns but is without defender Daniel Pudil for Leeds clash

6:23pm Thursday 8th November 2012 in Sport

Pudil suspended for Leeds clash Pudil suspended for Leeds clash

Watford boss Gianfranco Zola faces no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's trip to Leeds United but Daniel Pudil is suspended.

Fitz Hall looks set to miss out against with a hamstring injury, while Pudil is absent after picking up his fifth caution of the season in Tuesday's draw with Millwall. Geoffrey Mujangi Bia is available and Prince Bauben has also resumed training.

Speaking on Wednesday, Zola said: “With Fitz Hall we are examining him, we don’t have the results from today’s scan yet but it shouldn’t be too bad.

“Geoffrey Mujangi Bia is getting better and better and he’s available for selection but we’ll see.

“Prince Bauben is back, he started running again today so that is very encouraging but the others – John Eustace, Sergio Neuton and Nyron Nosworthy are not ready yet.”

The Hornets travel to Elland Road to complete a busy week in which they’ve taken four points from two home games against Leicester City and the Lions. The busy schedule is likely to result in changes to the team as Zola looks to utilise his large squad.

Opponents Leeds sit 15th in the Championship table, level on points with the Hornets, and will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s defeat against Burnley, who are managed by former Watford boss Sean Dyche.

Zola is well aware of the challenge that faces his side and was respectful of Saturday’s opponents.

“I played against Leeds in the Premier League; they remain a big team and a big club with a lot of potential,” he said. “The club have the possibility to become great because they have a very good foundation.”

Comments(15)

GLoryHornet29 says...
6:26pm Thu 8 Nov 12

What's happened to Nosworthy?

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JonBoy says...
7:13pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Just had to mention Dyche didn't you?

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Eastsussexhornet says...
8:07pm Thu 8 Nov 12

GLoryHornet29 wrote:
What's happened to Nosworthy?
My first thought.....

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bigthunder says...
8:09pm Thu 8 Nov 12

simple solution with Pudil out , do what i believe should have been done sooner play fernando in pudils wide left position, he is not a striker, and put the one player upfront that scores goals in and is a striker, vydra !!

cannot understand how zola keeps leaving him out , would also play geijo with him , leave deeney for the impact sub role,

seems to have solved defensive issues as alot tighter at the back BUT you need to score GOALS to win games !

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KeithMercer says...
8:15pm Thu 8 Nov 12

bigthunder wrote:
simple solution with Pudil out , do what i believe should have been done sooner play fernando in pudils wide left position, he is not a striker, and put the one player upfront that scores goals in and is a striker, vydra !!

cannot understand how zola keeps leaving him out , would also play geijo with him , leave deeney for the impact sub role,

seems to have solved defensive issues as alot tighter at the back BUT you need to score GOALS to win games !
All makes sense to me bigthunder ! hope you are right. COYH

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miked2006 says...
8:51pm Thu 8 Nov 12

The problem is that FF would then be behind the ball when he receives it or in deep ineffective areas. As our playmaker, he should be playing in the free role behind the striker. I understand bringing Vydra on as a sub might seem like a waste, but he has been much more effective coming on against tired legs than when he plays from the off. As the formation requires a player who can hold up the ball facing away from goal, Deeney will probably always be preferred.

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buckshornet says...
10:42pm Thu 8 Nov 12

fanchone had a decent game away to blackburn should slot in nicely at left back,changes are needed i want to see murray,geijo,anya more game time along with vydra.

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D.unstable says...
12:39am Fri 9 Nov 12

buckshornet wrote:
fanchone had a decent game away to blackburn should slot in nicely at left back,changes are needed i want to see murray,geijo,anya more game time along with vydra.
Well that is almost half a team, all well and good saying you want to see more game time for them but the difficulty is who do you leave out?

Murray for Hogg or Abdi, not on this seasons showing.
Geijo for Deeney, maybe.
Anya for Cassetti?, not for me, more of an impact sub late on.
Vydra for FF, no way on present form and entertainment value, but do think he needs to be included, either at the expense of Deeney or change of formation.

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lutondown says...
6:19am Fri 9 Nov 12

I agree with you Dusty. Straight swap Vydra for Deeney and more game time for Geijo.
I think tightening defence was a must, and need more thrust from midfield.
Cassetti is abetter player than many are giving him credit for, certainly more to him than Anya at the moment, who has a great burst if pace about
Him but seems reluctant to try beat a man. Confidence?
Be good to beat them nice Leeds people, not to mention 'Colin' Warnock.

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Mr.Miggins says...
9:50am Fri 9 Nov 12

What is with all this support for Anya over Casetti. Yes Casetti is slow but he has 5 caps for Italy and is a quality player, Anya is poor, yes he's fast but that is it, he is just Lionel Ainsworth mark II (rememeber him?!)

As it happens I think that Casetti wing back is good when trying to be solid but when attacking teams and going for goals, it it a little negative as he is slow, and more of a full back. The only way he won't start is a formation change, and Zola seems pretty set on his 3-5-2

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Bringe says...
11:00am Fri 9 Nov 12

Zola's game is fairly narrow so don't expect too many lung busting runs down the wing from Anya although I think he'll probably start. Though he may not be as influential as Pudil he has pace and trickery enough to tie Leeds' one pace defenders in knots and if he can find the right pass that may be entirely enough. With both Anya and Forestieri at it there should be spaces opening up everywhere for Abdi and Deeney (or whoever starts in his place). It doesn't really matter who but that final pass has to be of decent quality and the midfield needs to be sharp for the seconds.

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jasonwatford says...
11:08am Fri 9 Nov 12

Zola will not drop cassetti and although he had a poor game against millwall he is quality player who can cross a ball well.W/O just couldnt resist "bounce back from Tuesday’s defeat against Burnley, who are managed by former Watford boss Sean Dyche".
How About looking to bounce back from a defeat against Burnley. ?

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Bringe says...
11:48am Fri 9 Nov 12

jasonwatford wrote:
Zola will not drop cassetti and although he had a poor game against millwall he is quality player who can cross a ball well.W/O just couldnt resist "bounce back from Tuesday’s defeat against Burnley, who are managed by former Watford boss Sean Dyche".
How About looking to bounce back from a defeat against Burnley. ?
It's not dropping, it's rotation ...
and if you've got the squad why not? it's a 50+ game season with cups - erm cup

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Bringe says...
3:24pm Fri 9 Nov 12

Warnock is trying to get Cameron Jerome on loan from Stoke to play tomorrow .... desperate or what?!?!
Surely a recipe for disaster, when did he last play, yet alone score?

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SAHornet says...
6:26pm Fri 9 Nov 12

The tricky winger formerly from Southend will play for Colin tomoz (can't remember his name) . Scored 4 for Leeds reserves in mid-week. Colin says he's going "gung-ho for Watford". Hahaha

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