Almen Abdi returned from injury as a Watford XI defeat Gillingham

11:40am Wednesday 5th December 2012 in Watford FC News By Glenn Baxter

Picture: Holly Cant Picture: Holly Cant

A Watford XI continued the Hornets' goalscoring form as they completed a 4-1 friendly victory over Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium.

The game saw a welcome return to action for Almen Abdi and Prince Buaben after time out with injuries.

Geoffrey Mujangi Bia put the Hornets ahead early into the contest and the goal allowed the visitors to take control of the game.

The Gills created a few opportunities of their own but Watford then doubled their advantage as a strike from Bia deflected into the net.

Gillingham continued to threaten though and they pulled a goal back as Bradley Dack converted from inside the area.

Abdi and Buaben were both introduced on the hour mark and the Ghanaian international capped his return with a goal as he fired in from the edge of the box.

In the final minutes the Hornets added a fourth as young midfielder Connor Smith was on target with a free-kick to complete the win.

Watford: Bonham (Shoertel, 88), Johnson (Barnum Bobb, 78), Thompson, Neuton; Bia (Buaben, 60), McGinn (Mensah, 70), Murray (Abdi, 60), Battocchio (Smith h/time), Fanchone; Geijo (Vydra, 60), Beleck.

Comments(29)

CARDIFFHORN says...
11:49am Wed 5 Dec 12

Hopefully Abdi has no adverse reaction and at least on the bench Saturday.

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DuffmanWFC says...
11:49am Wed 5 Dec 12

Good result and great to see Zola keeping players fresh and upping there match fitness!
With the return's of Bauban, Munji Bai, Neuton and Eustace to come I really think we can be the best side in the Championship!

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AngelHornet says...
11:49am Wed 5 Dec 12

Good run out for the players.
Hopefully Abdi didn't suffer any set back and is available Saturday.

Would be good to see if Prince can make his mark now he is fit.

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aussihornet says...
12:02pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Well that's 3 goals in two friendlies for Bia. At least he's showing he can contribute to cause.

Abdi & Neuton back great.

One Negative: send Beleck home, had enough time now to score at least one goal, got 90min runout, yet nothing. Also, by his random twitter msgs, has hissyfits about not playing. Negative impact.

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Boxhorn says...
12:29pm Wed 5 Dec 12

4 -1 again. I'm getting bored with this scoreline....

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Bringe says...
12:47pm Wed 5 Dec 12

aussihornet wrote:
Well that's 3 goals in two friendlies for Bia. At least he's showing he can contribute to cause.

Abdi & Neuton back great.

One Negative: send Beleck home, had enough time now to score at least one goal, got 90min runout, yet nothing. Also, by his random twitter msgs, has hissyfits about not playing. Negative impact.
not like your hissyfits on here then Oz?

With your track record I'm just glad we have Nani and Zola to make these decisions :D

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abbotshornet says...
12:52pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Don't forget McGinn got 70 minutes under his belt, he used to be very good before his injury.
I think the Watford players in this game would all do well in the Championship, it's no wonder GZ cannot keep all the players happy all the time, we have so much strength in depth plus we still have other players coming back to full fitness. COYH

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miked2006 says...
1:17pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Yeh, I'm rather sure Beleck will be sent back in January. McGinn and Buaben should go on loan to get some match fitness as there is no way they will break into our team at the moment. Does anyone know Where did Bia play? I had the impression he played best as an attacking winger. If we could also learn and practise playing a 4-2-3-1 when we are behind in games and feel that a wide or aerial threat would be more effective, then we could really use our larger squad to greater effect (e.g. Murray and Bia) and give ourselves a lot more flexibility than we have at the moment.

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Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
3:51pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Abdi will now have to wait his turn I expect (for this week at least), as Yeates has been doing so well. Good pressure on all players to keep the level of performance high.
-
Any news on Nos? Is he being "rested" as a result of our alleged transfer money issue from last season? He is one player we would not have had if an embargo had been in place at the time.

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Boosey says...
4:09pm Wed 5 Dec 12

DuffmanWFC wrote:
Good result and great to see Zola keeping players fresh and upping there match fitness! With the return's of Bauban, Munji Bai, Neuton and Eustace to come I really think we can be the best side in the Championship!
In my yellow tinted glasses, we are the best side!

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Baz loves porridge says...
4:12pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Really would like to see bia play seems like a good asset to have ..
I would convert him to a RWB to replace cassetti ... And put cassetti into back 3

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Bringe says...
4:44pm Wed 5 Dec 12

miked2006 wrote:
Yeh, I'm rather sure Beleck will be sent back in January. McGinn and Buaben should go on loan to get some match fitness as there is no way they will break into our team at the moment. Does anyone know Where did Bia play? I had the impression he played best as an attacking winger. If we could also learn and practise playing a 4-2-3-1 when we are behind in games and feel that a wide or aerial threat would be more effective, then we could really use our larger squad to greater effect (e.g. Murray and Bia) and give ourselves a lot more flexibility than we have at the moment.
Errr...4-2-3-1 (4-5-1) is not as attacking as 3-5-2 and we are not yet adept at an even more attacking 3-4-3 which I suspect is GFZ's ultimate aim. Forget wingers, they are too much of a luxury so we use wingbacks instead and apart from the risk of exposure it cost's too much in energy for them to hit the by-line every time. With a little anti-offside engineering crossing from deep can be almost as effective without losing shape and in the case of a 3-4-3, the extra forward can be used to create an overlap.

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Holly68 says...
4:45pm Wed 5 Dec 12

miked2006 wrote:
Yeh, I'm rather sure Beleck will be sent back in January. McGinn and Buaben should go on loan to get some match fitness as there is no way they will break into our team at the moment. Does anyone know Where did Bia play? I had the impression he played best as an attacking winger. If we could also learn and practise playing a 4-2-3-1 when we are behind in games and feel that a wide or aerial threat would be more effective, then we could really use our larger squad to greater effect (e.g. Murray and Bia) and give ourselves a lot more flexibility than we have at the moment.
Beleck is only 19, far too young to write off

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Holly68 says...
4:48pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Spurs nearly signed Beleck at 17, he is only 19 now, would we be wiser to sign him then loan to League One to build confidence

http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/sport/footbal
l/article-1251425/Sp
urs-boss-Harry-Redkn
app-targets-Cameroon
-youngster-Steve-Leo
-Beleck.html

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Baz loves porridge says...
4:51pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Holly68 wrote:
Spurs nearly signed Beleck at 17, he is only 19 now, would we be wiser to sign him then loan to League One to build confidence

http://www.dailymail

.co.uk/sport/footbal

l/article-1251425/Sp

urs-boss-Harry-Redkn

app-targets-Cameroon

-youngster-Steve-Leo

-Beleck.html
Can have him

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watford51 says...
5:15pm Wed 5 Dec 12

a good result was there a scholar playing last night too.

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lutondown says...
6:01pm Wed 5 Dec 12

miked2006 wrote:
Yeh, I'm rather sure Beleck will be sent back in January. McGinn and Buaben should go on loan to get some match fitness as there is no way they will break into our team at the moment. Does anyone know Where did Bia play? I had the impression he played best as an attacking winger. If we could also learn and practise playing a 4-2-3-1 when we are behind in games and feel that a wide or aerial threat would be more effective, then we could really use our larger squad to greater effect (e.g. Murray and Bia) and give ourselves a lot more flexibility than we have at the moment.
Yeah, we want five

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hornet88 says...
6:08pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Some people are being a little harsh on belleck...probably the ones that said yeates is no good, and probably said Doyley would never play for us again. He hasn't exactly had that much game time... Why send him back...what harm is he doing?

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londomollari says...
6:10pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Baz loves porridge wrote:
Really would like to see bia play seems like a good asset to have ..
I would convert him to a RWB to replace cassetti ... And put cassetti into back 3
Oh no. Casseiit? Skillfull player, but too slow for back 3. Will put pressure on the other two at back. Best to play him where he is, where his pace problems create fewer difficulties---Zola knows that, thats why he plays him there.

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lutondown says...
6:13pm Wed 5 Dec 12

hornet88 wrote:
Some people are being a little harsh on belleck...probably the ones that said yeates is no good, and probably said Doyley would never play for us again. He hasn't exactly had that much game time... Why send him back...what harm is he doing?
Tweeting negative comments. But then perhaps he's chomping at the bit and wants a game. Get in line sonny

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Baz loves porridge says...
6:15pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Sources link us with gianluca zambrotta and fabio grosso

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hornet88 says...
6:20pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Obviously he will have a hard job trying to get into the team at the moment and the negative tweeting isn't great but at 19 he's not exactly getting on, we shouldn't write off these players so soon, he's not had as much time as geijo and he's only scored the 1 goal. (That wasn't a dig at geijo, he is pure class) all I'm saying is, its taken legends longer to find form in the past but when they have they've been an asset.

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londomollari says...
8:14pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Baz loves porridge wrote:
Sources link us with gianluca zambrotta and fabio grosso
They were on the menu of my italian meal last night.

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lutondown says...
8:16pm Wed 5 Dec 12

londomollari wrote:
Baz loves porridge wrote:
Sources link us with gianluca zambrotta and fabio grosso
They were on the menu of my italian meal last night.
They sound good...who are they?!

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Dr,Oftaw says...
9:33am Thu 6 Dec 12

Baz loves porridge wrote:
Sources link us with gianluca zambrotta and fabio grosso
and simone barone

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lutondown says...
11:11am Thu 6 Dec 12

Dr,Oftaw wrote:
Baz loves porridge wrote:
Sources link us with gianluca zambrotta and fabio grosso
and simone barone
Why don't they leave us aloan? ;-)
The futures very bright, who would have thought this, at this time last year?

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Boosey says...
2:50pm Thu 6 Dec 12

There is a Man City supporter at work and he said of all the teams he didn't want to meet in the cup was Watford. I am sure he wouldn't have said that last season, so for all the people who post negative comments on here, just take a step back and look how far we have come.
P.S. will be in the Lion by One on Saturday.

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lutondown says...
2:56pm Thu 6 Dec 12

Boosey wrote:
There is a Man City supporter at work and he said of all the teams he didn't want to meet in the cup was Watford. I am sure he wouldn't have said that last season, so for all the people who post negative comments on here, just take a step back and look how far we have come.
P.S. will be in the Lion by One on Saturday.
See you there Boosey! My description is the same, just a week older than last week...funny that!
And I agree, this team has great potential and I think we will want this more than them

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miked2006 says...
8:38pm Thu 6 Dec 12

If Zola thinks having a squad full of moaning players who aren't playing will help the team, then we will keep Beleck. I haven't really seen him play at all, my comments are hardly based on his footballing ability; I did not say I WANT him to go and he could be the next Pele for all I know.

I only said I thought he was going to be sent back because he isn't even close to the first team and does not seem too happy about that. You have to be so sharp in our team at the moment to the extent that even Deeney, who is banging in the goals, is not guaranteed a starting place. Add the fact that Zola said that he really wanted to trim the squad of fringe players to stop squad disharmony and it seems obvious to me GZ will send him back.

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