Cristian Battocchio's goal example of what Gianfranco Zola wants to achieve at Watford

11:11am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor

Gianfranco Zola believes Cristian Battocchio is now reaping the benefits of his hard work earlier this season. Pictures: Pippa Douglas Gianfranco Zola believes Cristian Battocchio is now reaping the benefits of his hard work earlier this season. Pictures: Pippa Douglas

Gianfranco Zola claimed Watford's superb fourth goal on Saturday was an example of what they are trying to achieve at the club.

The Hornets made more than ten passes in the build-up to Cristian Battocchio's goal, which rounded off an emphatic 4-0 victory over Huddersfield.

Play started in Watford's own half and involved five different players, as their slick passing and movement delighted the Vicarage Road crowd.

Zola said: "I think that [the fourth goal] is exactly what we want to do; building up an understanding and connection between the players. Knowing that if one player has the ball then the others are not out of it and everyone is involved.

"Even players that are not in close range of the ball, they know the ball is going to get there and that is exactly what happened in the fourth goal. A lot of players were involved, there was a lot of good movement, understanding and in the end a perfect finish. I was delighted."

Battocchio made his third start of the season at the weekend following his reintroduction into the side the previous week at Middlesbrough.

The Argentine-born midfielder impressed in both matches and is currently keeping club captain John Eustace out of the side following his injury.

Zola said: "We were just talking about Cristian because when he came here, he was nowhere near what he is now. But he stayed out [the team], he was in the stand more than once, but never complained and kept working and now he is getting back all those sacrifices due to the patience he showed in the first half of the season."

Another player who has found first team football hard to find this season is Craig Forsyth but he came back into the starting XI on Saturday due to Daniel Pudil's late withdrawal because of his son's illness.

Zola praised Forsyth's performance, saying: "I clapped everybody at the end of the game, but I clapped Craig more than the others. I selected him for the game at the last minute because we had a problem with Pudil. He came on and he did his job very well. He proved he can do a good job for this club."

Comments(18)

Hornets number 12 fan says...
11:46am Tue 22 Jan 13

It was a goal worthy of the best team in the World and if it was Brazil instead of Watford the Media would have been raving about it!

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watford9140 says...
12:36pm Tue 22 Jan 13

It would be a good video, but I can't see the ball through all the pixels...

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PhilippineOrn says...
1:55pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Interesting to note Udinese's site refer to Vydra and Battocchio as "former" Udinese players.



Watford and Granada full sail ahead


Crushing wins for the Londoners and Andalusians over Huddesfield and Rayo Vallecano.




WATFORD - Four of a kind for the Hornets and Huddesfield are left with only the crumbs. The star of Matej Vydra keeps shining over the four goals scored to the team from West Yorkshire. The nth double of the Czech forward, halfway through the second half, has shattered the resistance of the visitor team, which had already been bent in the first half by Deeney's penalty. Room for another former Udinese player in the second half, Cristian Battocchio, who scores the 4-0 with which the Golden Boys secure their sixth place.

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Harry the 1st says...
2:00pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Superb goal but not sure about the music. Sounds like something from an...ahem.....adult film!

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watford1881 says...
2:05pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Things are coming together nicely now, but there's a long way to go.. Last few games will be the crunch for us... Many of the teams fighting for the prem... Might work out in our favour by stopping top teams getting points....

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Boosey says...
2:13pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Harry the 1st wrote:
Superb goal but not sure about the music. Sounds like something from an...ahem.....adult film!
Still got your sock then? LOL

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PeteBogHorrorHornet says...
2:51pm Tue 22 Jan 13

watford1881 wrote:
Things are coming together nicely now, but there's a long way to go.. Last few games will be the crunch for us... Many of the teams fighting for the prem... Might work out in our favour by stopping top teams getting points....
Just need to do something on Saturday that we haven't managed all season - make it 3 wins on the bounce. And then 4 next Tuesday and we will be flying high with our rejects looking nervously over their shoulder...

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RobboBTC says...
2:52pm Tue 22 Jan 13

I was in Spain at the weekend & watched Granada. The stadium from the outside & the surrounding area was a complete dump. Although from the inside it looks quite smart, with plenty of temporary seating filling in the corners. Granada were very good & worthy of their win. The two best players were the left sided attacking fullback/wingback & centre forward who was a real handful. I would go as far as saying (on that viewing) potentially better than Pudil & Geijo. Slightly surprised to there was still a large picture of Geijo in their club shop. It was an enjoyable game & the supporters made quite abit of noise which isn't always the case in Spain!

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HemelHornet says...
3:23pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Just need to apologise to Craig Forsyth. Sitting in the stands when his name was called out in the starting line up I practically wrote off our chances of a win. But he stepped up and put in a performance that proved me and im sure several other watford fans wrong, fair play to the lad. Taught me a lesson.

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Bringe says...
4:18pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Could the Wobby please, please, please try to get hold of the original uncut footage because this is from a handheld mobile filming a screen (of the version I want), it is much better than the BBC's, which was actually rubbish.

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Travelling Hornet says...
4:56pm Tue 22 Jan 13

I loved the goal and I loved the music to it , a goal made and scored from the pampas of the Argentine to a Latin american beat , at Vicarage Road!
Who would ever have believed it.
Wonderful .

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Travelling Hornet says...
4:56pm Tue 22 Jan 13

I loved the goal and I loved the music to it , a goal made and scored from the pampas of the Argentine to a Latin american beat , at Vicarage Road!
Who would ever have believed it.
Wonderful .

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Poppet Bear says...
5:49pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Brilliant......nothi
ng more to say.

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Bringe says...
8:22pm Tue 22 Jan 13

HemelHornet wrote:
Just need to apologise to Craig Forsyth. Sitting in the stands when his name was called out in the starting line up I practically wrote off our chances of a win. But he stepped up and put in a performance that proved me and im sure several other watford fans wrong, fair play to the lad. Taught me a lesson.
He started life as a defender so switching to wingback is not as much of shock as some people think... He has good ability but I've never really rated him as an out and out winger, however with no blind alley's to run up the new position will suit him.
It has to be said that nowadays wingers are seen as a luxury and the old 4-4-2 is a dead man walking.

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watford1881 says...
8:35pm Tue 22 Jan 13

HemelHornet wrote:
Just need to apologise to Craig Forsyth. Sitting in the stands when his name was called out in the starting line up I practically wrote off our chances of a win. But he stepped up and put in a performance that proved me and im sure several other watford fans wrong, fair play to the lad. Taught me a lesson.
Here here.. Our depth is fantastic now.. Craig done fab, and as did the rest of the lads.. I'm still a little worried about if Vydra and the others are gonna sign... Time is ticking... Although signing on can be done anytime until their contracts are up... Not just the window.. Still surprised not more out going deadwood so far, the but there's still time.....

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Rooky wgc says...
8:43pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Video clip is on you tube- search on battocchios first goal.

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Bringe says...
9:31pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Rooky wgc wrote:
Video clip is on you tube- search on battocchios first goal.
Oh no it's not .... removed by poster - looks like the FL have swung their mighty club.

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lutondown says...
9:40pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Bringe wrote:
Rooky wgc wrote:
Video clip is on you tube- search on battocchios first goal.
Oh no it's not .... removed by poster - looks like the FL have swung their mighty club.
Yep mustn't let WFC been seen in a good light!

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