Watford thrash nine-man Leeds United 6-1 at Elland Road

5:16pm Saturday 10th November 2012 in Watford FC News By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

Watford had an afternoon to savour at Elland Road as they inflicted a 6-1 thrashing on nine-man Leeds United.

The visitors were already in front when the entire complexion of the game change either side of half-time as the hosts had Jason Pearce sent off before they lost Rodolph Austin to injury, having already used their three substitutes.

There was no suggestion of what was to come when the Hornets had a touch of good fortune in the opening stages as David Norris hit the post with the first real chance of the match and then Manuel Almunia saved well when Luke Varney was through one-on-one.

But it was Watford who made the breakthrough when Matej Vydra and Alex Geijo combined well on the counter attack, with the former going through to emphatically put his side in front.

The visitors’ scorer was also on the receiving end of a nasty challenge from Pearce that saw Leeds reduced to ten men shortly before the interval.

Within seven minutes of the restart, the home side were down to nine men. Neil Warnock had already made his three changes when Austin suffered a serious-looking injury and was immediately stretchered away to receive further medical attention.

Watford duly capitalised on their two-man advantage when Almen Abdi doubled their advantage, only for him to also leave the field on a stretcher a few minutes later after slipping over and suffering what could be a dislocated shoulder.

Mark Yeates celebrated his 50th Hornets appearance by curling home the third from a free-kick, only for the nine men to get on the scoresheet when Michael Tonge converted a penalty clumsily conceded by Joel Ekstrand.

But the cushion was soon back to three goals as Vydra scored his second of the match following another counter attack and Sean Murray made it five in the fifth minute of injury time with a superb 25-yard strike.

And the Hornets finished off an afternoon to remember in the best way possible by equalling their margin of victory at Millwall from two seasons ago as Troy Deeney dispatched the sixth in emphatic fashion from the edge of the area.

With his side playing their games in eight days, Gianfranco Zola chose to utilise the options in his squad by making five changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Millwall in midweek, although one was enforced with Daniel Pudil serving a one-match suspension.

Ikechi Anya took his place on the left and there were two other alterations in midfield, with Connor Smith and Yeates coming in for Jonathan Hogg and Nathaniel Chalobah. The other two changes were up front as Vydra and Geijo came in for Deeney and Fernando Forestieri.

Leeds went into the match on a run of five league games without a win and Neil Warnock made three changes, with Paul Green, Varney and David Norris coming into the starting line-up. Top scorer Luciano Becchio and Michael Brown dropped to the bench, but Adam Drury was not involved.

The Hornets started positively, with Anya and Vydra combining neatly down the left before Smith fired the visitors’ first effort wide from around 20 yards after 50 seconds.

Watford won their first corner in the eighth minute but from the hosts broke down field from it and almost took the lead. El Hadji Diouf set Sam Byram free on the right side of the area and his low pull back was met by Norris, whose right-footed effort appeared to be deflected en route to hitting Almunia’s left-hand upright before his defenders managed to clear.

Leeds kept the pressure on for around five minutes following that chance, winning a few free-kicks in potentially dangerous areas around the penalty box. From one Diouf set piece to the left of the 18-yard area, Pearce pulled off at the far post to head back across the area but no team-mate was in a position to get on the end of it.

However, the Hornets wasted a good opportunity on the counter-attack when Anya had Abdi in space inside him near the edge of the 18-yard box but he chose to try and take on Lee Peltier and the chance was lost.

But Watford were almost caught out again down their left side in the 22nd minute when Diouf’s through ball put Varney away in the inside right channel and his right-footed effort was well saved by Almunia before the two players collided. The Hornets keeper appeared to come off the worse but after receiving treatment to his left leg, he was able to continue.

The counter-attack had looked like it might prove a useful weapon for both sides and it was Watford who exploited it to the full in the 27th minute.

Vydra latched on to a stray pass in his own half and accelerated forward as the Hornets found themselves two-on-two. He laid the ball into Geijo, who held it up for a second before releasing his strike partner and putting him clear through on goal. After glancing at the linesman to make sure he was onside, the Czech international advanced to the edge of the area, composed himself and then thumped the ball emphatically past Paddy Kenny to score his sixth of the campaign and make it 1-0.

The visitors had another promising situation on the counter-attack seven minutes later but this time Anya over-hit his cross from the right, although the ball did subsequently break for Abdi, bit his shot was blocked.

Another good chance came Watford’s way in the 38th minute when Marco Cassetti found Geijo on the right side of the area and he laid the ball inside to Abdi, who evaded one challenge before hitting a right-footed shot which Kenny had to react smartly to save.

Abdi had another chance before the interval after receiving the ball on the left side of the area but this time he dragged his effort across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Leeds were already up against it but a minute before the interval their task became even harder when Pearce made a late lunging challenge on Vydra. Referee Trevor Kettle deemed it to be dangerous and showed the Whites centre-half a straight red card.

Warnock’s response was to bring on Tom Lees for Green but there was still time for Leeds to pick up another card when Byram saw yellow for pulling back Anya.

The Leeds boss played his final hand at the start of the second half, making a double change as Brown came on for Aidan White and Ryan Hall replaced Diouf.

However, Warnock was probably wishing he’d saved at least one substitute as within two minutes of the restart, Austin was involved in a nasty collision with Cassetti following a Hornets corner. The Leeds player lay motionless and after receiving treatment for around five minutes, he was carried on a stretcher directly out of the ground to receive further medical attention.

Following the lengthy stoppage, Smith had the visitors’ first attempt of the second half but he shot straight at Kenny from the edge of the area.

The Hornets then launched another counter attack, this time four-on-three after a Leeds corner, with Vydra finding Anya in space to his left but he blazed over.

Zola decided to make a change with an hour on the clock as Geijo made way for Deeney. Within a minute, the Hornets had made their two-man advantage count as Abdi exchanged passes on the edge of the area before side-stepped an attempted sliding challenge and hitting a low right-footed shot inside Kenny’s right-hand post to put his side 2-0 ahead.

However, that was to be the scorer’s last involvement in the match as, moments later, he suffered a freak injury, slipping over in his own half and landing awkwardly on his shoulder. Abdi also had to leave the field on a stretcher, with Hogg taking his place.

Ekstrand picked up the visitors’ first yellow card for a foul on Varney and he was soon joined by Peltier, who was penalised for taking out Anya on the edge of the area. The challenge was to be further punished as Yeates stepped up to superbly curl the free-kick from around 22 yards inside Kenny’s near post and make it 3-0.

Almunia may have been a spectator for most of the second half but he was forced into action to keep out Hall’s 25-yard free-kick before the nine men did get themselves on the scoresheet.

Ekstrand played himself into needless trouble as he tried to challenge Varney, clumsily bundling the Leeds striker over in the area and Michael Tonge made no mistake with the spot-kick, sending Almunia the wrong way to make it 3-1.

Murray came on for Smith before play restarted before the Hornets scored their fourth from another counter attack.

This time it came after the Hornets cleared their lines from a free-kick, Vydra again led the charge down field before slipping the ball to his right where Anya was just onside. He immediately played the ball back into the path of Watford’s top scorer who showed good awareness by lifting it over the stranded Kenny to score his second of the afternoon.

Yeates then saw yellow for a foul on Norris but Tonge’s ensuing free-kick from 25-plus yards didn’t unduly trouble Almunia.

There was no surprise when the fourth official signalled a minimum of ten minutes of injury time, the start of which saw Brown cautioned for dissent before Vydra had a shot deflected behind.

Norris’ name also went in the referee’s notebook for a foul on Anya before Watford added their fifth in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Cassetti laid the ball inside to Murray, who took one touch before slamming a superb right-footed drive past Kenny from the edge of the area.

Norris did head wide at the other end before Varney became the fourth Leeds player to pick up a yellow card for a foul on Anya.

But the Hornets were not done yet and their sixth goal was special as well, Deeney receiving the ball on the edge of the area and bending a powerful shot inside Kenny’s near post to round off a great afternoon's work in fine fashion.

Leeds United: Kenny; Green (Lees 45), Pearce, Peltier; Byram, Austin, Norris, Tonge, White (Brown 46); Diouf (Hall 46), Varney. Not used: Kisnorbo, Becchio, Ashdown and Dawson.

Watford: Almunia; Doyley, Ekstrand, Hoban; Cassetti, Smith (Murray 80), Yeates, Abdi (Hogg 68), Anya; Vydra, Geijo (Deeney 60). Not used: Thompson, Bond, Chalobah and Forestieri.

Bookings: Pearce sent off for a foul on Vydra (44); Byram for a foul on Anya (45); Ekstrand for a foul on Varney (72); Peltier for a foul on Anya (74); Yeates for a foul on Norris (85); Brown for dissent (90); Norris for a foul on Anya (90); Varney for a foul on Anya (90).

Attendance: 19,104.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Comments(79)

dal8oy says...
5:20pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Knew we would thump someone sooner or later.....glad it was Leeds tho :-)

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The Not-so-enlightened one says...
5:21pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I've GOT to hear Warnock's post match interview! COME ON YOU HORNS!!!!!

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Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
5:25pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Like!!!!

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Furbie says...
5:26pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Dirty Leeds 1 WFC 6
Cmon you golden boys, PS Non League Luton losing to the mighty Dartford. Can a Saturday's sport get much better than that.....lol.

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Maclanx says...
5:27pm Sat 10 Nov 12

YES!

Let's start Vydra with Forestieri and Murray...

Up the table we go!

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jimbowfc says...
5:29pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Whoohoo!!!

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Travelling Hornet says...
5:30pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Where's the tissues!!!

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jasonwatford says...
5:39pm Sat 10 Nov 12

what a great day !!!

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Bringe says...
5:40pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I wouldn't let Warnock manage a chimps teaparty... totally kamikaze tactics and reckless early substitutions.

Oh and all you Dyche lovers ... he lost against the bottom of the league, I'd say his honeymoon is well and truly over.

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Bringe says...
5:42pm Sat 10 Nov 12

jasonwatford wrote:
what a great day !!!
Yup ... and L*t*n lost at home :D

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jalvin says...
5:44pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Chuffin marvellous

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Moffathornet says...
5:56pm Sat 10 Nov 12

And qpr lost again!! My qpr relegation/Watford promotion double is looking very favourable tonight!!
You horns!!!

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CARDIFFHORN says...
5:56pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Tremendous result admittedly Warnock will be blaming the ref, but six past fatty Kenny is great!!! As other posts have said this was coming, stupid question how did we play?

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Gloryhornets57 says...
5:57pm Sat 10 Nov 12

It's been coming and nice to see Vydra getting a start. Quality player and shows we have some strength in depth. If we can get a 20 goal a season man I reckon we can get out of the league no problem.

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hornet88 says...
6:02pm Sat 10 Nov 12

We have....matej vydra

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HornetHog says...
6:05pm Sat 10 Nov 12

"you `oooooooooooooooorns
!"

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DuffmanWFC says...
6:09pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Vydra can get 20 plus a season! Zola just needs to play him!
When Geijo is upto speed he is another with a 20 plus capability! What we lacked against Millwall was a cutting edge and Vydra, Murray, Forestieri, Geijo give you this along with Abdi!
Great result tonight! This was coming I just hope it can continue!

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Harrydownunder says...
6:16pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Furbie wrote:
Dirty Leeds 1 WFC 6
Cmon you golden boys, PS Non League Luton losing to the mighty Dartford. Can a Saturday's sport get much better than that.....lol.
Quality

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lutondown says...
6:28pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Not being negative, but has Only one Sullen and his diminishing band of doubters left the room?
What a very good day at the office.
You beauts!

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JohnnyBarnes says...
6:42pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Well worth the trip to Leeds.
Bit of a let off early on when they hit the post and the ball rebounded to Almunia... but after that, counter-attacking masterclass. Keeper had very little to do, every goal a belter. Vydra is different class.

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Bringe says...
6:50pm Sat 10 Nov 12

To put things in perspective, Millwall's good run continues so our draw was obviously not so terrible. The almost certain points lost in the Cardiff and M'boro red card fiasco's and Blackburn's lucky win are all that are stopping us from an automatic spot and that from a pretty dreadful start as Zola got to grip with team and tactics.
Unbelievably I think we are still nowhere near our plateau and I would certainly fancy our chances to reverse those bad results we had against Derby and Bolton.

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enlightened one says...
6:50pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Marty Vydra should be the first name on the team sheet.

Great time to be an 'Orn !!!

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dolly33 says...
6:52pm Sat 10 Nov 12

L had a job to eat my dinner ,overcome with excitement

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DuffmanWFC says...
6:56pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Yep Bringe if we got a little luck and the RIGHT decisions on bookings/red cards then we would be right up there!
And to say this is only the start... Well things are looking good!
Results like today rarely come along so let's enjoy and look forward to the next!
Well done to Zola and the boys! U orns

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francowatford says...
6:56pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Anya m.o.m for me. Cardiff struggles to beat us when we had 9 and we smashed Leeds for 6 when they had 9. I think the rest of league will be extremley wary of us

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WessexLad says...
7:09pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Had my doubts when I saw the team sheet, but hats off to the Gorgon, he knew what he was doing.

There is now real competition for every place in the side, except perhaps for GK. Jon Marks could only drool at the subs bench! And they are all comfortable with a system that is clearly confounding our opponents.

Roll on the rest of the season! COYH!

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Stoney77 says...
7:27pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I really wish Zola would start Vydra.... I put a bet on him at the beginning of the season to beChampionship top scorer....at 66/1!! Will be needing that Charlie Austin to break a leg too! (Sorry Sean!!)

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YoKsHiRe.....HoRn!!!!!!! says...
8:52pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I was lucky enough to be at Elland road today and what stands out most from today's performance is the quality of all the goals. The fact we can make so many changes and still turn out an outstanding team that is capable of beating arguably the biggest team in the Leauge by such a margin is testament to GFZ.

Although we were helped massively by Neil Warnocks sheer incompetence (who uses all their subs after 45mins when chasing a game) and his after match comments, he doesn't deserve to be a football Leauge manager I hope he's picking up his P45 on Monday Morning

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Dr,Oftaw says...
9:00pm Sat 10 Nov 12

lutondown wrote:
Not being negative, but has Only one Sullen and his diminishing band of doubters left the room? What a very good day at the office. You beauts!
yep all vanished and where`s watters? watter a clown he was

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Hampshire hornet says...
9:02pm Sat 10 Nov 12

All this positivity, and goals, winning, Great football, exciting players... It's just not ''my Watford' Zola needs to get a grip readopt some hoof ball and get us back to the negative dross we are all used to... Sending my season ticket back and burning the shirt... I hope the Pozzo's are proud of their work.. Our club no more... Burnley you have yourselves a new supporter.. ClaretHornet out

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lockerbiehornet says...
9:16pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Just got home after spending an interesting game sat in the home end due to it being £24!! I agreed with my Leeds supporting friend not to go mental when we scored but to give him a kneeing on the leg, hence to say I now have very sore knees!!!

Delighted, 450 mile round trip and would do it again every Saturday!

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Hampshire hornet says...
9:23pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Sorry meant HampshireClaret

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Hornet Cornet says...
9:32pm Sat 10 Nov 12

oh no i am the booze celebratr like no cornet. yesss

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D.unstable says...
9:35pm Sat 10 Nov 12

A Saturday just doesn't get any better, bet we'll hardly get a mention on the football league show tonight.

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stevyweavy says...
9:40pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Well anybody who doubted Zola's ability please stand up and embarrass yourselves. I did raise an eyebrow when I saw the teamsheet today but I bow to Zola what a performance and he clearly does know how to get the best out of his/our players. Yeates playing in central midfield - who would have believed that before the start of the season but he has been a different player this season, agreed wouldn't normally have been in my starting 11 but this season he has definitely been worthy of being in the squad and making regular appearances. Back into positive goal difference territory and the only way is up!
Loving this season and the football if not all of the results.

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lockerbiehornet says...
9:49pm Sat 10 Nov 12

ZOLA LA LA LA LA ZOLA LA LA LA LA ZOLA, WHEN THE BOYS COME OUT AND THE Z-CARS PLAYZ AND WE ALL FALL UNDER THAT YELLOW HAZE IT'S A ZOLA LA LA LA LA ZOLA.

Will work on verse 2 this week!!

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WatfordTalk says...
9:55pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Hampshire hornet wrote:
All this positivity, and goals, winning, Great football, exciting players... It's just not ''my Watford' Zola needs to get a grip readopt some hoof ball and get us back to the negative dross we are all used to... Sending my season ticket back and burning the shirt... I hope the Pozzo's are proud of their work.. Our club no more... Burnley you have yourselves a new supporter.. ClaretHornet out
Here here! ;)

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mkgoldenboys says...
10:00pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I can't believe Warnock wasn't sent to the stands,he abused the linesman on his side for virtually the whole 90 minutes.

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clarkiewfc says...
10:14pm Sat 10 Nov 12

England thrash Fiji, Hornets put 6 past Leeds at Elland Rd, L*^#n town lose at home, my 5 timer bet comes in, if Carlsberg did Saturdays!!!!

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KeithMercer says...
10:51pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Where are all the negative numpties tonight ?
Feel sorry for GFZ with all these selection problems piling up !! Wolves wont have a clue which team we are going to put out. Which ever one it is I fancy us to spank them and start getting a run together. All the imports begining to understand the demands of the Championship and seem well and truly up for it. Good to see Murray again and hopefully he is going to push on now and show us all the player we believe he can be !!
Great stuff and long may it continue.

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exeterhornet says...
11:01pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Erotic !
Bring on Wolves (and any other buggar for that matter)

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Bush Hornet says...
11:05pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Too good for this division

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jasonwatford says...
11:17pm Sat 10 Nov 12

i see main game on football league show is 1-1 draw blackburn v bham ...wonder if they even bother to show all our goals !!!! We have no one to fear in this league as we will only get better and better and best of all so many options to choose from.

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londomollari says...
11:21pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I've been told by someone who went to Leeds that Anya had a cracking game.
Is that correct?
Whast a great result---nice to see luck and the referees card favouring us this time!

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lutondown says...
11:22pm Sat 10 Nov 12

jasonwatford wrote:
i see main game on football league show is 1-1 draw blackburn v bham ...wonder if they even bother to show all our goals !!!! We have no one to fear in this league as we will only get better and better and best of all so many options to choose from.
They hate it Jason, little Watford getting above their station! Well they can't keep ignoring us!
Looking forward to Wolves and that legends lunch.
Still waiting for the haters to appear tonight, looks like I'll be waiting!
It's a Rat trap and they've been caught!

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lutondown says...
11:22pm Sat 10 Nov 12

londomollari wrote:
I've been told by someone who went to Leeds that Anya had a cracking game.
Is that correct?
Whast a great result---nice to see luck and the referees card favouring us this time!
Think he made two of the goals!
What a cracking day!

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Holly68 says...
11:26pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Twitter Police have blocked me again !!!! Cos I sent a link to today's goals to multiple people ...

http://www.caughtoff
side.com/2012/11/10/
video-leeds-united-1
-6-watford-champions
hip-highlights/

Enjoy

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lutondown says...
11:27pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Holly68 wrote:
Twitter Police have blocked me again !!!! Cos I sent a link to today's goals to multiple people ...

http://www.caughtoff

side.com/2012/11/10/

video-leeds-united-1

-6-watford-champions

hip-highlights/

Enjoy
You really are a card! Sent off for inappropriate twittering! watch out Colin will want to sign you up...
As in Neil war......!

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Holly68 says...
12:12am Sun 11 Nov 12

It's cos I sent the goals link to multiple Twitterers ! I've launched another appeal LOL

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Hampshire hornet says...
12:23am Sun 11 Nov 12

Forgive my ignorance... But I am awaiting the 15 second slot on the FL show... Why is Warnock called Coln?

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Hampshire hornet says...
12:23am Sun 11 Nov 12

Forgive my ignorance... But I am awaiting the 15 second slot on the FL show... Why is Warnock called Coln?

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londomollari says...
1:03am Sun 11 Nov 12

Hampshire hornet wrote:
Forgive my ignorance... But I am awaiting the 15 second slot on the FL show... Why is Warnock called Coln?
Take out the letters of colin from 'Neil Warnock' and re-arrange the remaining letters. It's what his right hand is for---.

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Hampshire hornet says...
1:05am Sun 11 Nov 12

Thanks... All makes sense now

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PhilippineOrn says...
1:14am Sun 11 Nov 12

Rearrange his name - it will become clear!

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Hornet Cornet says...
8:00am Sun 11 Nov 12

my head hurts

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SAHornet says...
8:12am Sun 11 Nov 12

Holly68 wrote:
Twitter Police have blocked me again !!!! Cos I sent a link to today's goals to multiple people ...

http://www.caughtoff

side.com/2012/11/10/

video-leeds-united-1

-6-watford-champions

hip-highlights/

Enjoy
Thanks for the link Holly. Enjoyed watching those goals before Watford Player show them later today. Each goal out of the top drawer, both in terms of build-up and finish. We all knew that we were close to thrashing someone and glad it was Warnock. Hope we can do the same to Cardiff when they come calling next. Well done lads and the 700 or so travelling faithful. Good day's work.

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JohnnyHornet says...
9:23am Sun 11 Nov 12

francowatford wrote:
Anya m.o.m for me. Cardiff struggles to beat us when we had 9 and we smashed Leeds for 6 when they had 9. I think the rest of league will be extremley wary of us
4 bookings for Leeds players for fouls on Anya, play him every week and we'll be playing 9 or 10 men every week, that is of course if he can recover from the inevitable bruises.

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JohnnyHornet says...
9:29am Sun 11 Nov 12

londomollari wrote:
Hampshire hornet wrote:
Forgive my ignorance... But I am awaiting the 15 second slot on the FL show... Why is Warnock called Coln?
Take out the letters of colin from 'Neil Warnock' and re-arrange the remaining letters. It's what his right hand is for---.
Drinking doesn't start with a "W"

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jasonwatford says...
10:26am Sun 11 Nov 12

Just watched goals ..... vydra looks so good...also think sean murray looked slimmed down dont you think ?

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lutondown says...
10:50am Sun 11 Nov 12

I've just seen player ratings in football league manager Anya and Vydra both got 8 our top marks. Probably more like a 9 given that they don't like us much! Terrible thing is envy.
Just a note on our foreign imports. They are all on twitter and all reply to messages, as does GFZs son. They are all extremely passionate, and those that didn't figure Pudil and FF also expressed their delights.
Not bad for a bunch of mercenaries who don't really care for our team!

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D.unstable says...
10:52am Sun 11 Nov 12

Made me laugh that the said on the football league show that they thought Zola is finding his best 11, funny considering it was so different from last week. I wish they would pay attention.

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PhilippineOrn says...
12:46pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Just seen the highlights on player too - I hate Warnock even more after seeing him not even acknowledging Zola as Zola shook his hand after the game.

It's hard to comprehend how great this team is we have now....

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Stoney77 says...
1:44pm Sun 11 Nov 12

With results like that, I just can't wait for the next game - wish it were Tuesday!
I'm still struggling to come to terms with what's going on at 'our little WFC'! To read an article yesterday which said we could be signing players of the calibre of Vydra, Abdi, Forestieri, Pudil etc is beyond our wildest dreams (even to sign just one player of such calibre has been beyond our capabilities for many a year). To think we could be in the premiership within a couple of seasons, with a 4 sided ground, and with the financial backing to be able to compete, whilst playing attractive football, in the best league in the world is a feeling I cannot put into words.
Gone are the days of our 'Little WFC', gone are the days of defying the critics, avoiding relegation, fighting for survival, scrapping for every point and every pound. Gone are the days of being proud with a mid table finish on a shoe string budget and with a team high on togetherness but short on quality. Gone are the days of the immense pride at fielding a squad with 8 or 9 academy products. Gone are the days of having the 'hoofball' tag firmly tattooed on our foreheads, and playing on a mud bath pitch. Gone are the days of being the underdog. Change is always difficult but
the future is blindingly bright and our past is quickly being replaced with an expectation of success, again something which is alien to us fans.
It's a strange phenomenon to get accustomed to, when you're used to such mediocrity. And as others have stated before, I too have one reservation and that is with regards to 'identifying' with the team. For example, I would prefer not to see a starting XI full of loanees and foreigners, as I have always heavily criticised teams like Chelsea and Arsenal who have previously fielded starting XI's without a single British player. Luckily the regulations regarding home grown players will not allow this, plus of course we have gems like Hoban, Murray and Smith. I really hope we can keep these players, nurture them and progress them into the great players they can be, rather than sell them at the first opportunity; and I really hope they can become the backbone of our team.
If we did have a team maxed out with foreigners/Udinese loans etc but we are flying high in the premiership then who knows how I will feel? At the moment I think I would of course be happy, yet maybe a little detached and not as proud.... But then maybe that's just me getting older and 'stuck in my ways'; for if we have players like Vydra, who are passionate, give 100% and are devastatingly good, then we will have young fans wearing our shirt with their names on and our fan base will grow. There's the future, the next generation. Thank you the Pozzos, our saviours.

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Bush Hornet says...
1:56pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Stoney you forgot to mention we also have the best home kit in the division, and the best Watford strip for decades.

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D.unstable says...
2:40pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Stoney77 wrote:
With results like that, I just can't wait for the next game - wish it were Tuesday!
I'm still struggling to come to terms with what's going on at 'our little WFC'! To read an article yesterday which said we could be signing players of the calibre of Vydra, Abdi, Forestieri, Pudil etc is beyond our wildest dreams (even to sign just one player of such calibre has been beyond our capabilities for many a year). To think we could be in the premiership within a couple of seasons, with a 4 sided ground, and with the financial backing to be able to compete, whilst playing attractive football, in the best league in the world is a feeling I cannot put into words.
Gone are the days of our 'Little WFC', gone are the days of defying the critics, avoiding relegation, fighting for survival, scrapping for every point and every pound. Gone are the days of being proud with a mid table finish on a shoe string budget and with a team high on togetherness but short on quality. Gone are the days of the immense pride at fielding a squad with 8 or 9 academy products. Gone are the days of having the 'hoofball' tag firmly tattooed on our foreheads, and playing on a mud bath pitch. Gone are the days of being the underdog. Change is always difficult but
the future is blindingly bright and our past is quickly being replaced with an expectation of success, again something which is alien to us fans.
It's a strange phenomenon to get accustomed to, when you're used to such mediocrity. And as others have stated before, I too have one reservation and that is with regards to 'identifying' with the team. For example, I would prefer not to see a starting XI full of loanees and foreigners, as I have always heavily criticised teams like Chelsea and Arsenal who have previously fielded starting XI's without a single British player. Luckily the regulations regarding home grown players will not allow this, plus of course we have gems like Hoban, Murray and Smith. I really hope we can keep these players, nurture them and progress them into the great players they can be, rather than sell them at the first opportunity; and I really hope they can become the backbone of our team.
If we did have a team maxed out with foreigners/Udinese loans etc but we are flying high in the premiership then who knows how I will feel? At the moment I think I would of course be happy, yet maybe a little detached and not as proud.... But then maybe that's just me getting older and 'stuck in my ways'; for if we have players like Vydra, who are passionate, give 100% and are devastatingly good, then we will have young fans wearing our shirt with their names on and our fan base will grow. There's the future, the next generation. Thank you the Pozzos, our saviours.
Do remember, players are very rarely fans, even those that come through the ranks. Therefore I could not care less where they come from, how many x's or x's they have in their name as long as they play to the best of their ability and with passion every time they pull on a Watford shirt. Which these guys do.

God bless the Pozzo's

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Holly68 says...
3:08pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Stoney77 wrote:
With results like that, I just can't wait for the next game - wish it were Tuesday!
I'm still struggling to come to terms with what's going on at 'our little WFC'! To read an article yesterday which said we could be signing players of the calibre of Vydra, Abdi, Forestieri, Pudil etc is beyond our wildest dreams (even to sign just one player of such calibre has been beyond our capabilities for many a year). To think we could be in the premiership within a couple of seasons, with a 4 sided ground, and with the financial backing to be able to compete, whilst playing attractive football, in the best league in the world is a feeling I cannot put into words.
Gone are the days of our 'Little WFC', gone are the days of defying the critics, avoiding relegation, fighting for survival, scrapping for every point and every pound. Gone are the days of being proud with a mid table finish on a shoe string budget and with a team high on togetherness but short on quality. Gone are the days of the immense pride at fielding a squad with 8 or 9 academy products. Gone are the days of having the 'hoofball' tag firmly tattooed on our foreheads, and playing on a mud bath pitch. Gone are the days of being the underdog. Change is always difficult but
the future is blindingly bright and our past is quickly being replaced with an expectation of success, again something which is alien to us fans.
It's a strange phenomenon to get accustomed to, when you're used to such mediocrity. And as others have stated before, I too have one reservation and that is with regards to 'identifying' with the team. For example, I would prefer not to see a starting XI full of loanees and foreigners, as I have always heavily criticised teams like Chelsea and Arsenal who have previously fielded starting XI's without a single British player. Luckily the regulations regarding home grown players will not allow this, plus of course we have gems like Hoban, Murray and Smith. I really hope we can keep these players, nurture them and progress them into the great players they can be, rather than sell them at the first opportunity; and I really hope they can become the backbone of our team.
If we did have a team maxed out with foreigners/Udinese loans etc but we are flying high in the premiership then who knows how I will feel? At the moment I think I would of course be happy, yet maybe a little detached and not as proud.... But then maybe that's just me getting older and 'stuck in my ways'; for if we have players like Vydra, who are passionate, give 100% and are devastatingly good, then we will have young fans wearing our shirt with their names on and our fan base will grow. There's the future, the next generation. Thank you the Pozzos, our saviours.
Great post

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lutondown says...
3:21pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Holly68 wrote:
Stoney77 wrote:
With results like that, I just can't wait for the next game - wish it were Tuesday!
I'm still struggling to come to terms with what's going on at 'our little WFC'! To read an article yesterday which said we could be signing players of the calibre of Vydra, Abdi, Forestieri, Pudil etc is beyond our wildest dreams (even to sign just one player of such calibre has been beyond our capabilities for many a year). To think we could be in the premiership within a couple of seasons, with a 4 sided ground, and with the financial backing to be able to compete, whilst playing attractive football, in the best league in the world is a feeling I cannot put into words.
Gone are the days of our 'Little WFC', gone are the days of defying the critics, avoiding relegation, fighting for survival, scrapping for every point and every pound. Gone are the days of being proud with a mid table finish on a shoe string budget and with a team high on togetherness but short on quality. Gone are the days of the immense pride at fielding a squad with 8 or 9 academy products. Gone are the days of having the 'hoofball' tag firmly tattooed on our foreheads, and playing on a mud bath pitch. Gone are the days of being the underdog. Change is always difficult but
the future is blindingly bright and our past is quickly being replaced with an expectation of success, again something which is alien to us fans.
It's a strange phenomenon to get accustomed to, when you're used to such mediocrity. And as others have stated before, I too have one reservation and that is with regards to 'identifying' with the team. For example, I would prefer not to see a starting XI full of loanees and foreigners, as I have always heavily criticised teams like Chelsea and Arsenal who have previously fielded starting XI's without a single British player. Luckily the regulations regarding home grown players will not allow this, plus of course we have gems like Hoban, Murray and Smith. I really hope we can keep these players, nurture them and progress them into the great players they can be, rather than sell them at the first opportunity; and I really hope they can become the backbone of our team.
If we did have a team maxed out with foreigners/Udinese loans etc but we are flying high in the premiership then who knows how I will feel? At the moment I think I would of course be happy, yet maybe a little detached and not as proud.... But then maybe that's just me getting older and 'stuck in my ways'; for if we have players like Vydra, who are passionate, give 100% and are devastatingly good, then we will have young fans wearing our shirt with their names on and our fan base will grow. There's the future, the next generation. Thank you the Pozzos, our saviours.
Great post
TBH i couldn't care less where they one from.i know how proud these guys are and that's all that matters to me.
I can be the biggest little Englander out there but come game time when they are weaving their magic, you know what? I'm loving them, regardless.

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bigthunder says...
3:52pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Well that was fun !
on the basis of ending on the positives lets deal quickly with negatives

Vydra not starting every game , most natural finisher at the club , hopefully Mr Zola you see that too now he must be no 1 striker ,also conceding a stupid goal against 9 men and finally the injury to the awesome Abdi

however the positives, we have a squad who all seem to want to play for the club , mercenaries i think not !
the excellent Vydra finishing , the home grown talent in smith , hoban , murray and the amazing Lloyd doyley getting better and better , good coaching does work, well done Mr Zola and backroom team , the offield events seem to be finally moving in the right direction
the quality of football is excellent , all those not attending you are really missing out now however not too late to take in some games join in !

And we go to Elland road score six goals improving the goal difference , upset Mr Warnock and get three points can it get any better lets hope so , thanks to the Pozzo's finally the memories of the appalling running of our football club by messrs Simpson,Ashton ,and Bassini are slowly starting to fade , the Pozzo' s and Zola deserve more support from the floating and non attending fans and i really do not think it will be missed placed now ,they "GET IT " so to speak so come and join the party Wolves at home saturday

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SAHornet says...
4:10pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Great post bigthunder. Brilliantly put.

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Travelling Hornet says...
4:26pm Sun 11 Nov 12

I was enjoying this post right up to the bit that says ,"I too have one reservation' then you became a bit negative numptyish!
I say to you ,' let go of these reservations and embrace, embrace , embrace!'

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Stoney77 says...
4:36pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Travelling Hornet wrote:
I was enjoying this post right up to the bit that says ,"I too have one reservation' then you became a bit negative numptyish!
I say to you ,' let go of these reservations and embrace, embrace , embrace!'
ha ha, thankyou! I agree though, I am a bit negative numptyish! Its obviously the pessamist in me. I am loving it though and embracing as much as I can! I think Vydra will become the biggest legend since Barnes if we can keep him for a few years. Really hoping Murray can push on and get a starting berth. If not, then I'll have to accept that he is not good enough for our new regime.

Also, It was a 7 year gap between being promoted in '99 and '06.... is history going to repeat itself?! (how's that for non-numptyish positive thinking?)

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lutondown says...
4:40pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Travelling Hornet wrote:
I was enjoying this post right up to the bit that says ,"I too have one reservation' then you became a bit negative numptyish!
I say to you ,' let go of these reservations and embrace, embrace , embrace!'
It become Verbose to say the least. Hell I'm letting my hair down (shut up Dusty, it's metaphorically speaking!)
My only reservation is why that last Champagne Charlie was allowed near our club in the first place.
Years of mismanagement has been replaced by men with a plan ( or even a project)!

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Stoney77 says...
4:52pm Sun 11 Nov 12

lutondown wrote:
Travelling Hornet wrote:
I was enjoying this post right up to the bit that says ,"I too have one reservation' then you became a bit negative numptyish!
I say to you ,' let go of these reservations and embrace, embrace , embrace!'
It become Verbose to say the least. Hell I'm letting my hair down (shut up Dusty, it's metaphorically speaking!)
My only reservation is why that last Champagne Charlie was allowed near our club in the first place.
Years of mismanagement has been replaced by men with a plan ( or even a project)!
I'm sorry, i must try to be more concise in future.
The last champagne charlie saved the club from certain administration and so whilst Im glad he has gone, I am glad he came in the first place.
(was that concise enough for you?)

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Travelling Hornet says...
5:56pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Stoney77 wrote:
Travelling Hornet wrote:
I was enjoying this post right up to the bit that says ,"I too have one reservation' then you became a bit negative numptyish!
I say to you ,' let go of these reservations and embrace, embrace , embrace!'
ha ha, thankyou! I agree though, I am a bit negative numptyish! Its obviously the pessamist in me. I am loving it though and embracing as much as I can! I think Vydra will become the biggest legend since Barnes if we can keep him for a few years. Really hoping Murray can push on and get a starting berth. If not, then I'll have to accept that he is not good enough for our new regime.

Also, It was a 7 year gap between being promoted in '99 and '06.... is history going to repeat itself?! (how's that for non-numptyish positive thinking?)
Spread the word , spread the word!
Go forth Stoner into the world of non believers and convert the unwashed !

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lutondown says...
6:04pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Stoney77 wrote:
lutondown wrote:
Travelling Hornet wrote:
I was enjoying this post right up to the bit that says ,"I too have one reservation' then you became a bit negative numptyish!
I say to you ,' let go of these reservations and embrace, embrace , embrace!'
It become Verbose to say the least. Hell I'm letting my hair down (shut up Dusty, it's metaphorically speaking!)
My only reservation is why that last Champagne Charlie was allowed near our club in the first place.
Years of mismanagement has been replaced by men with a plan ( or even a project)!
I'm sorry, i must try to be more concise in future.
The last champagne charlie saved the club from certain administration and so whilst Im glad he has gone, I am glad he came in the first place.
(was that concise enough for you?)
No mate, he was here for one reason and that was not to save our club. I dare not go into greater detail.
And sorry I did not enjoy your self indulgent whine..get over it
Now let me get back to that sleep you induced me to. Zzzzz

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onlyonerodthomas says...
8:11pm Sun 11 Nov 12

were'nt we the last championship game shown on the football league show?unbelievable.i know they were down to 9 men for much of the game,but the goals were fantastic.apart from vydra's second the rest of the goals were scored from outside the box!!.and vydra's second was scored from about 18 yards.i can see wfc's goals of the season featuring 6 from this game alone.i can't wait for sat now.poor old warnock!!.who makes all their subs when down to 10 men at half time?.that was suicidal tactics.he has never had a good word to say about little old watford.i remember we pasted sheff utd 3 or 4 one when king outpaced phil jagielka for one of the goals and he still could'nt praise watford.was listening to 3counties radio and nick wright was commentating.apparen
tly leeds should've gone down to 8 men as the ref booked the wrong man in the second half for a foul.i don't know how correct that was,maybe someone can correct me.

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francowatford says...
10:39pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Found this article by mr Samuel. http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/sport/article
-2208564/Watford-sna
pshot-thats-wrong-mo
dern-football-Martin
-Samuel.html

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sid_kiki says...
1:27am Mon 12 Nov 12

i live is spain and don't go to football but .vydra is new johnnybarne and little englandman

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D.unstable says...
12:05am Tue 13 Nov 12

sid_kiki wrote:
i live is spain and don't go to football but .vydra is new johnnybarne and little englandman
He certainly is Sid, he certainly is.

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