Zola expecting tough test (From Watford Observer)
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Watford boss Gianfranco Zola believes Bolton Wanderers are 'possibly the best team' in the Championship
10:00am Friday 14th September 2012 in Sport
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Zola expecting tough test
Gianfranco Zola believes his Watford side will come up against “possibly the best team” in the Championship this weekend despite Bolton Wanderers’ current league position.
Bolton have won just once in their first four league games and are currently 20th in the table, but they remain one of the favourites to win the title with bookmakers.
And Zola said: “Certainly quality wise we are going to play against possibly the best team in the Championship, or certainly one of the best.
“The position they are in now is not the position they will probably be in at the end of the season, and deserve to be now.”
Watford were thumped 5-1 in their last league game at Derby County but have since had two weeks on the training ground due to the international break.
Zola said: “It was a painful defeat, although in particular circumstances, and it was a pity we couldn’t play a game straight away because of the international week.
“I think that would have been better but we are going to make sure we are up for the game.”
Watford have made 16 signings this summer but many have yet to feature due to fitness issues or because they arrived shortly before the transfer deadline, which was less than 24 hours prior to the Derby defeat.
When asked whether there will be a host of changes to the line-up this weekend, Zola replied: “We will see, I am making some considerations. To be honest some of the new players need to know the Championship so I don’t know.
“I will consider tomorrow if some of the signings will play from the beginning of the match or if some will come on later.
“It is important for them to know the sort of league they are going to be playing in.”
One player who certainly won’t feature is John Eustace.
Watford will be without their captain for several weeks after he had a minor back operation towards the end of last week.
Zola explained: “John has only just had his operation and whilst we know that he is doing okay, it will still be a while before we see him.
“I think it will be weeks rather than months but a lot of depends on how he is going to react to training.”
Two players who have yet to play for Watford, despite being at the club for more than a month, are Alex Geijo and Fitz Hall.
Both men had been training with the first team in the last couple of weeks but Hall suffered a minor injury this week, which pushed his return back slightly.
Zola said: “Alex is nearly fit and he should be available for selection this week. We will see.
“Fitz Hall is doing very well but he had a little setback this week, nothing major. He is starting [training] again tomorrow but I’m not sure he will be available this week.
“It is not the same injury as before.
“When you are out for a long time, and when you come back and try to increase the rhythm of the training sessions, you can have problems.”
Stephen McGinn, who has not played a competitive match since February 2011, has also returned to training in recent weeks and impressed his new boss.
“I am very pleased with Stephen McGinn, he has been doing very well,” Zola said.
“He has been training with us and he has had no problems. He is a very good player. I didn’t know him [before I joined Watford] and he has been a surprise, a positive surprise.
“I think it’s too soon for him to be considered but I think it’s been good.
“He has been training with the squad for two weeks and I’m satisfied.”
Prince Buaben is out for another three or four weeks and Geoffrey Mujangi Bia is also injured.
Comments(26)
Only 2 Ross Jenkins
says...
10:09am Fri 14 Sep 12
Only 2 Ross Jenkins
says...
10:11am Fri 14 Sep 12
AngelHornet
says...
10:27am Fri 14 Sep 12
Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:Could be Doyley with Cassetti or Hodson at right back, unless GZ is willing to give one of the new faces a debut
So, who is going to be playing in the centre, at the back?
jasonwatford
says...
11:33am Fri 14 Sep 12
Mickey Quinn, not so thin
says...
11:58am Fri 14 Sep 12
I want to see Cassetti, Battochelli and Geigo in the starting 11 at least in place of Dickinson, Yeates and Big Chris. Either Doyley, or preferaly one of the new guys in the middle at the back.
Tough game though - not confident of 3 points. Bet MS scores for Bolton !!
aussihornet
says...
1:00pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Agree with Jasonwatford, these players need to play in it to know Championship demands!
Geijo of the bench hopefully tomorrow! Bia injured, Wolves fans seem to say he would be really good if he ever stayed injury free! Hope were not paying Fitz Hall yet as its lame, injury after injury, why bother having him!
tommy gunn
says...
2:59pm Fri 14 Sep 12
endean2
says...
3:03pm Fri 14 Sep 12
aussihornet wrote:Yep would have to agree with most of that.
Like Zola reads these comments however don't you dare play Yeates or Dickinson! These players are not Championship players anymore, & look what happened at Derby!
Agree with Jasonwatford, these players need to play in it to know Championship demands!
Geijo of the bench hopefully tomorrow! Bia injured, Wolves fans seem to say he would be really good if he ever stayed injury free! Hope were not paying Fitz Hall yet as its lame, injury after injury, why bother having him!
so many players signed and so many players unavailable, we either have a lot of crocks on our books or we may have got the wrong players here.
Just how long do we need to wait until we see this new blood, as we have
stockpiled a fair amount of dross.
surely were not going to continue paying at least 10 players that must be surplus to requirements, that must be £30k a week were throwing away.
early days I know but lets try to get a reasonably settled team out there.
RIGHT, come on the ORNS
SAHornet
says...
3:07pm Fri 14 Sep 12
buckler
says...
4:08pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Ronny oh Ronny Ronny
says...
4:33pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Can't wait.
Travelling Hornet
says...
4:40pm Fri 14 Sep 12
endean2 wrote:Think about it , these players were sent here from sister clubs to improve the side,surely we would not be loaned, crocks !
aussihornet wrote:Yep would have to agree with most of that.
Like Zola reads these comments however don't you dare play Yeates or Dickinson! These players are not Championship players anymore, & look what happened at Derby!
Agree with Jasonwatford, these players need to play in it to know Championship demands!
Geijo of the bench hopefully tomorrow! Bia injured, Wolves fans seem to say he would be really good if he ever stayed injury free! Hope were not paying Fitz Hall yet as its lame, injury after injury, why bother having him!
so many players signed and so many players unavailable, we either have a lot of crocks on our books or we may have got the wrong players here.
Just how long do we need to wait until we see this new blood, as we have
stockpiled a fair amount of dross.
surely were not going to continue paying at least 10 players that must be surplus to requirements, that must be £30k a week were throwing away.
early days I know but lets try to get a reasonably settled team out there.
RIGHT, come on the ORNS
The owners are not trying to pull a fast one on us, as they would be shooting themselves in the foot!
Some players might not be match fit but that will come after about eight or nine games.(Hall excepted).
We were not bought as a convalescing home.
regthehedge
says...
6:43pm Fri 14 Sep 12
DuffmanWFC
says...
8:05pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Would like to see batchotelli and Murray play together in the middle of the park and vydra and Geijo paired together up front!
londomollari
says...
11:15pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Bush Hornet wrote:Yup. Looks like he's being threatened by a knife, or has just seen a Pozzo walk through the door with a P60
I think we need a better pic of GZ.
gazmondo
says...
11:54pm Fri 14 Sep 12
bond,doyley nosworthy and dickinson,midfield,f
orsyth hogg jenkins and yeates.up front,garner and big chris.
Hornet1970
says...
12:01am Sat 15 Sep 12
still come on you horns!
Yellow blood
says...
3:56am Sat 15 Sep 12
Even if this journo frank smith doesn't support watford, surely he has some understanding of what the main issues facing our team are? If not, expect people to flock towards the better fan forums that exist elsewhere.
SAHornet
says...
7:14am Sat 15 Sep 12
Yellow blood wrote:I'd like to know what the better fans forums are. I've tried Glory Horns but it's totally dire. Like a little boys club for a dozen or so good old boys.
Sorry to state the bleeding obvious but why has the journalist not ask zola either "who will be playing centre back" or "Will your centre back pairing be the same as last time?" rather than trotting out the fc press release that says "fitz hall may be injured" ?
Even if this journo frank smith doesn't support watford, surely he has some understanding of what the main issues facing our team are? If not, expect people to flock towards the better fan forums that exist elsewhere.
garston 'orn
says...
11:26am Sat 15 Sep 12
gazmondo wrote:Funny guy
i heard there will be changes for tomorrow the line up will be.
bond,doyley nosworthy and dickinson,midfield,f
orsyth hogg jenkins and yeates.up front,garner and big chris.
it will be
Almunia, Casetti,Ekstrand, Nos, Pudil
Hogg,abdi,Battochio
Vydra Geijo Murray
(i hope)
jasonwatford
says...
2:48pm Sat 15 Sep 12
tommy gunn
says...
3:01pm Sat 15 Sep 12
hertsparky
says...
4:05pm Sat 15 Sep 12
we are being used and abused by people making money from transfers/loans...
zola will walk soon, his hands are soooo tied!
gazmondo
says...
4:23pm Sat 15 Sep 12
SAHornet
says...
4:23pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Bush Hornet says...
10:06am Fri 14 Sep 12