Watford defender Fitz Hall is doubtful for the visit of Millwall

Picture: Holly Cant Picture: Holly Cant

Gianfranco Zola claims he is still considering whether to make changes for tomorrow night's game with Millwall.

One player who could miss out at Vicarage Road is centre back Fitz Hall, who has a hamstring problem which is being assessed.

On Saturday, Zola said he would "probably use more players" against Millwall but the Italian claimed he was still undecided when he spoke this afternoon.

Zola said: "We do not know whether we will make changes yet, it is under consideration. I do not think you can play three games in a row [a week] with all the same players. Some players will need to rest. But I do not know if we will do so tomorrow or Saturday [when Watford play Leeds United]."

"Having a bigger squad helps a lot at times like this as I can make changes and still have a good team," Zola added.

Zola confirmed captain John Eustace (back), Prince Buaben (hamstring), Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) and Neuton (ankle) were all still out injured.

On the other injuries, Zola added: "Geoffrey Mujangi Bia is ok. His fitness is better but we are not sure if his fitness is good enough to feature tomorrow.

"Almen Abdi is fine, he has no problems. But Fitz Hall is doubtful for the game. He picked up a problem and we are assessing him. He felt a problem with his hamstring near the tendon and we are not 100 per cent sure what it is."

Millwall have a relatively fit squad, with Paul Robinson definitely out due to a groin injury and Karleigh Osborne the only other doubt with a calf problem. Alan Dunne is back from suspension.

The Lions are on a good run of form; they are unbeaten in seven and have scored eight goals on their way to winning the last two matches.

When asked if he was concerned by the form of Millwall, Zola replied: "I am not concerned but I am respectful of Millwall.

"They are a side you cannot underestimate and we won't because the Championship is difficult every week."

Comments(52)

Bringe says...
5:47pm Mon 5 Nov 12

bad news for us if Fitz can't play .... If I were Zola I'd be right in the assistants ear every time Dazza go's near young Tommie.

Toshhorn says...
6:15pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Fitz is famous with the QPR fans for being injured

WatfordTalk says...
6:50pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Toshhorn wrote:
Fitz is famous with the QPR fans for being injured
Wow, really?????? ;)

WatfordTalk says...
6:51pm Mon 5 Nov 12

I think the obvious choice of replacement for Fitz would be Ekstrand if he's fit. If he's not then we could have a problem. Recall Dicko!

lutondown says...
7:02pm Mon 5 Nov 12

WatfordTalk wrote:
I think the obvious choice of replacement for Fitz would be Ekstrand if he's fit. If he's not then we could have a problem. Recall Dicko!
Dicko? No leave him put.
We are not a one man team, and as impressive as Hall is we shouldn't think it's all over every time he's out.

WessexLad says...
8:02pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Isn't Bennett back from his loan? He coped very well when covering for De Merit. Or has he come back crocked, too?

abbotshornet says...
8:05pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Recall Dicko? Don't think so. Bennett is a better bet for recall.
Ekstrand was on the bench Saturday so he must be fairly fit, or there is always Thompson.

abbotshornet says...
8:08pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Oh yes, isn't Bennett crocked, that's why we have got him back.

DuffmanWFC says...
8:13pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Shame if Hall is forced to miss the game but that gives Ekstrand a chance!
No way to Dicko! Last time he played as a centre back in a 3-5-2 formation we got hammered!
For me Dicko can be sold for 50p in January and if any club wants to give us a quid then they can have Yeates and Iwelumo too!

aussihornet says...
8:56pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Fitz injured again. This is the problem, decent footballer, but like above comment about always being injured, this is true. Just when our defense is starting to firm up, he gets injured... Again.

Not cool to be honest. Worst thing is that Zola doesn't know what the problem is (specific injury)

monkeyhornet says...
9:11pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Err..Ekstrand wasn't on the bench...he was replaced by Battochio so may not be fit either. i hope Hall makes it but not very confident with his history!!

lutondown says...
9:13pm Mon 5 Nov 12

We're doomed captain Mainwaring

monkeyhornet says...
9:19pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Nah, we just need to score more than them! ;-)

JohnnyHornet says...
9:21pm Mon 5 Nov 12

WatfordTalk wrote:
I think the obvious choice of replacement for Fitz would be Ekstrand if he's fit. If he's not then we could have a problem. Recall Dicko!
Better to play with 10 men from the start...

cliff46 says...
9:45pm Mon 5 Nov 12

We didn't have a defender on the bench on Saturday because apparently Ekstrand was injured.
I read that Bennett was back with us but injured and so if Hall and Noseworthy are unavailable we don't have very many options for centre half.
Chabulah can play in that position but Darius would probably steamroller the lad so it would be unfair, Thommo is stronger and could play there but I think the best option is Casseti in the centre with Hodson or Thommo to play right wing. back.

Holly68 says...
9:50pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Almunia, Doyley, Ekstrand, Hoban, Pudil, Abdi, Hogg, Chalobah, Cassetti, Vydra, Geijo

lutondown says...
9:51pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Holly68 wrote:
Almunia, Doyley, Ekstrand, Hoban, Pudil, Abdi, Hogg, Chalobah, Cassetti, Vydra, Geijo
Still looks tasty to me

Boosey says...
9:57pm Mon 5 Nov 12

The way the team is playing and the way it's being coached, it will not matter who plays, as a team, the only way is up!

DuffmanWFC says...
10:00pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Yep and with: Bond, Forestieri, Deeney, Smith, Murray, Munji Bai and Fanchone on the bench maybe?
Good side this and yes no Yeates!

Moffathornet says...
10:25pm Mon 5 Nov 12

New to the blogg but sounds like doyley, Hogg and Ekstrand at back seems the only option if hall is out. Living 300 miles away have only seen the horns twice this year but loving the new style of football. Word has even reached Scotland!! Better than the constant rangers conversations at work!!

stonehornet says...
10:30pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Cassetti can play centre half, he covered when Hall went off on Sat.

D.unstable says...
10:46pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Might be a double bluff and it was no more than a touch of wind and an early bath because he was going out on Saturday night.

He is typing ok on twitter.

AngelHornet says...
10:53pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Has to be Cassetti. At least is pace is no worse than Henderson's.

gazmondo says...
11:09pm Mon 5 Nov 12

if hall is not fit i would put Iwelumo in defence i think he would do well in there

Bush Hornet says...
11:58pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Fitz Hall has never really recovered physically after his bust up with Boofers

lutondown says...
5:53am Tue 6 Nov 12

Bush Hornet wrote:
Fitz Hall has never really recovered physically after his bust up with Boofers
Nor mentally. He now knows he should have finished the job.

Bush Hornet says...
8:02am Tue 6 Nov 12

lutondown wrote:
Bush Hornet wrote:
Fitz Hall has never really recovered physically after his bust up with Boofers
Nor mentally. He now knows he should have finished the job.
Haha. Maybe it's made him a better player. Gonna miss him tonight if unFitz but I don't think we should fear anyone, esp not Henderson the battering ram.

Travelling Hornet says...
8:48am Tue 6 Nov 12

Whoever the replacement is, I hope there is no place in the reshuffled team for ...........da da daaaaa Yeates

Mickey Quinn, not so thin says...
8:57am Tue 6 Nov 12

This is the last game where you want to be short of a big centre half. They're on fire at the moment, unbeaten in 7, 8 goals in their last 2 games. They've scored 2 goals more than anyone else away from home, and the thought of long balls floated to the head of Darius, with Lloyd, Hoban and Cassetti in the middle, scares the pants off me !!

WatfordTalk says...
9:07am Tue 6 Nov 12

Hmmm... Don't think people got that I was joking about recalling Dicko, i remember the horror show at Derby! Didn't Ekstrand pick up an injury in the warm up sat? If he's fit, definitely play him. If not, I'd play Cassetti at CB and either Anya or Bia (if 100%) at RWB.

Mr.Miggins says...
9:34am Tue 6 Nov 12

Last week Zola said he rotated the strikers too much so hope he sticks with Forestieiri and Deeney.

I do wish there was a way he could fit Vydra in (with the other 2) as he looked razor sharp on Saturday when he came on. I still feel Geijo will come good and have a serious role to play this season but for now Troy had a good game on Saturday and I think he'll start again with one of FF or MV

DuffmanWFC says...
9:44am Tue 6 Nov 12

Yep it should be same eleven with Ekstrand if fit replacing Hall if he isn't fit and if we play 3-5-2
Otherwise Zola should look at bringing Vydra back into the starting line up and reverting to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 system!
I would also love to see Vydra, Forestieri, Deeney or Geijo in the starting eleven but I suppose its more important to have the right balance!

Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
11:16am Tue 6 Nov 12

Nosworthy, Neuton, Ekstrand, Hall, Bennett all injured. That seems like bad luck to me -I would think he'd try Cassetti in the back 3 OR change to a 442. Thompson has a chance perhaps.
I am looking forward to seeing "You're Shittu and you know you are" against FF!

jamigilmore2 says...
12:23pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Moffathornet wrote:
New to the blogg but sounds like doyley, Hogg and Ekstrand at back seems the only option if hall is out. Living 300 miles away have only seen the horns twice this year but loving the new style of football. Word has even reached Scotland!! Better than the constant rangers conversations at work!!
Moffat... I'm near you in Abington and will be attending a few of the 'northern' away games if you fancy tagging a long, let me know.

endean2 says...
2:43pm Tue 6 Nov 12

am I mistaken or do we have the biggest injury list of all time?

I know the squad is greater (size)than any other in the leagues,but 5 center back seems crazy to all be out.

under the circumstances a win tonight will be a great achivement with an equally hard trip to Leeds on Sat, 3 points will be a bonus.
COYN

lutondown says...
2:50pm Tue 6 Nov 12

endean2 wrote:
am I mistaken or do we have the biggest injury list of all time?

I know the squad is greater (size)than any other in the leagues,but 5 center back seems crazy to all be out.

under the circumstances a win tonight will be a great achivement with an equally hard trip to Leeds on Sat, 3 points will be a bonus.
COYN
A great achievement? We're missing one player from Saturday, that's not a disaster, and it's Millwall not Barca.
Still trying to work out what the N stands for

JoeWFC_12 says...
3:04pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Well said Lutondown....be interesting to see who plays tonight! Millwall are in great form yes, but I believe we are more than capable of overturning them tonight. Hopefully we can get the first goal, and control the game from then on...got a feeling Hoban is going to get another tonight! Keep the faith COYH

DuffmanWFC says...
3:12pm Tue 6 Nov 12

As long as Yeates doesn't play that's fine by me! Hopefully his days are numbered?
We have beaten a better side in Leicester on Saturday and we have the side to turn Milwall over tonight!
Come On You Horns!

Mr.Miggins says...
3:57pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Also agree with lutondown for once. It's Millwall, why are we worrying about them hoofing it up to Hendo? Press them, get our defence up the pitch and we will be fine.

It is only a matter of time until this team clicks and goes 3-0 up in the first half hour and end up with a big win. Feeling an Abdi screamer tonight as well

Bush Hornet says...
3:57pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Right. We may do ok tonight. I don't follow my gut feelings anymore. This one's hard to call. So Fitz is prob out or def out?The main thing is that Zola has had more time to prepare for losing Fitz than he did when Taylor left. If we play to our strengths and stop worrying about big Doris then we'll be ok... 3-2 to Watford.

Who's in the Red Lion tonight?

lutondown says...
4:47pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Bush Hornet wrote:
Right. We may do ok tonight. I don't follow my gut feelings anymore. This one's hard to call. So Fitz is prob out or def out?The main thing is that Zola has had more time to prepare for losing Fitz than he did when Taylor left. If we play to our strengths and stop worrying about big Doris then we'll be ok... 3-2 to Watford.

Who's in the Red Lion tonight?
I am mate. Grey hooded jacket, baldy, ,stocky ( might have black beany on!) don't be a stranger...I've not eaten anyone yet!

lutondown says...
4:49pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Mr.Miggins wrote:
Also agree with lutondown for once. It's Millwall, why are we worrying about them hoofing it up to Hendo? Press them, get our defence up the pitch and we will be fine.

It is only a matter of time until this team clicks and goes 3-0 up in the first half hour and end up with a big win. Feeling an Abdi screamer tonight as well
First time I've agreed with you to, but to be honest never noticed you before.

Mr.Miggins says...
5:08pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Fair do's mate I don't usually comment to be fair, just read them instead. But these days everyone seems to be behind the team and don't snipe at each other..it's more tempting to get involved in proper discussion!

Lets put Pudil left CB, with Doyley and Hoban, and stick Fanchone in LWB, only because we have no RWB option if we stuck Cassetti back there. Get the ball down and press them and we will be fine.

3-1 'orns

Bush Hornet says...
5:10pm Tue 6 Nov 12

lutondown wrote:
Bush Hornet wrote:
Right. We may do ok tonight. I don't follow my gut feelings anymore. This one's hard to call. So Fitz is prob out or def out?The main thing is that Zola has had more time to prepare for losing Fitz than he did when Taylor left. If we play to our strengths and stop worrying about big Doris then we'll be ok... 3-2 to Watford.

Who's in the Red Lion tonight?
I am mate. Grey hooded jacket, baldy, ,stocky ( might have black beany on!) don't be a stranger...I've not eaten anyone yet!
see you in there. Not scared of you fella...is it true you heal the sick?

lutondown says...
5:27pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Bush Hornet wrote:
lutondown wrote:
Bush Hornet wrote:
Right. We may do ok tonight. I don't follow my gut feelings anymore. This one's hard to call. So Fitz is prob out or def out?The main thing is that Zola has had more time to prepare for losing Fitz than he did when Taylor left. If we play to our strengths and stop worrying about big Doris then we'll be ok... 3-2 to Watford.

Who's in the Red Lion tonight?
I am mate. Grey hooded jacket, baldy, ,stocky ( might have black beany on!) don't be a stranger...I've not eaten anyone yet!
see you in there. Not scared of you fella...is it true you heal the sick?
According to Chris theVic and Scully dog! I'll bring the fishes and loaves and will turn the beer into...beer?
Be good to see you and educate you on politics and my heroine MT!

lutondown says...
5:30pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Mr.Miggins wrote:
Fair do's mate I don't usually comment to be fair, just read them instead. But these days everyone seems to be behind the team and don't snipe at each other..it's more tempting to get involved in proper discussion!

Lets put Pudil left CB, with Doyley and Hoban, and stick Fanchone in LWB, only because we have no RWB option if we stuck Cassetti back there. Get the ball down and press them and we will be fine.

3-1 'orns
I'm always behind the team, no matter what I may think of individuals! And I back that up by actually going!
Anyway we're going to be so good in the end those who are left moaning will be those committed to nut houses!

Bush Hornet says...
5:38pm Tue 6 Nov 12

looking forward to it. I'll have a pint of Messiah's Best

lutondown says...
5:40pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Bush Hornet wrote:
looking forward to it. I'll have a pint of Messiah's Best
Don't go upsetting them nice f troopers on the way down! 800 of them being released for the evening

Boosey says...
5:44pm Tue 6 Nov 12

3-0 to the Horns!

lutondown says...
5:44pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Boosey wrote:
3-0 to the Horns!
Ill take that!

Moffathornet says...
7:03pm Tue 6 Nov 12

jamigilmore2 wrote:
Moffathornet wrote:
New to the blogg but sounds like doyley, Hogg and Ekstrand at back seems the only option if hall is out. Living 300 miles away have only seen the horns twice this year but loving the new style of football. Word has even reached Scotland!! Better than the constant rangers conversations at work!!
Moffat... I'm near you in Abington and will be attending a few of the 'northern' away games if you fancy tagging a long, let me know.
Jamigilmore2. Just up the road. I've only managed Bolton away and Bristol city at home when visiting the folks. Would be good to share driving to some northern games mate.

jamigilmore2 says...
8:08pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Moffathornet wrote:
jamigilmore2 wrote:
Moffathornet wrote:
New to the blogg but sounds like doyley, Hogg and Ekstrand at back seems the only option if hall is out. Living 300 miles away have only seen the horns twice this year but loving the new style of football. Word has even reached Scotland!! Better than the constant rangers conversations at work!!
Moffat... I'm near you in Abington and will be attending a few of the 'northern' away games if you fancy tagging a long, let me know.
Jamigilmore2. Just up the road. I've only managed Bolton away and Bristol city at home when visiting the folks. Would be good to share driving to some northern games mate.
Yep no probs, email me when you know what games your intending to go to, jamie@djbrecycling.c
o.uk, am going to Leeds on Saturday but at £34 a ticket am thinking the home end could be more fun and the tickets in the home end are £24, robbing gits!

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