Watford could make changes against Cardiff (From Watford Observer)
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Gianfranco Zola hints Watford could make changes against Cardiff City
4:37pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in Watford FC News
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Watford will come up against some familiar faces tomorrow night. Picture: Action Images
Gianfranco Zola has suggested Watford could make changes against Cardiff City tomorrow night due to the club's three games in just over a week.
The Hornets secured a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Peterborough United thanks to a 90th-minute penalty from Matej Vydra and after tomorrow's trip to Cardiff, they travel to Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.
"There may be some changes against Cardiff," head coach Gianfranco Zola said this morning when he spoke to the Watford Observer.
"We have three games in a week so I will consider making changes because we have a few players coming back and we had a very strong bench on Saturday."
Zola confirmed there were no fresh injuries at the weekend and centre back Joel Ekstrand is the only one of those who were absent against Peterborough that could be in contention tomorrow.
Zola said: "John Eustace, Prince Buaben, Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, Neuton and Nyron Nosworthy are all definitely out injured.
"Joel Ekstrand will be assessed. He is training today and we will decide later. All the others are fit and there are no other problems."
There may be more than 150 miles separating Watford and Cardiff but there are strong links between the two clubs.
Former Hornets player and manager Malky Mackay is now in charge of the South Wales side and when he left Watford, he took David Kerslake, Joe McBride, Richard Collinge, Iain Moody and Mark Stow with him. Mackay has also signed several old Watford players in the shape of Heidar Helguson, Tommy Smith, Don Cowie, Andrew Taylor and Jordon Mutch, plus transfer targets Craig Conway, Aron Gunnarsson and Filip Kiss.
Zola admitted he was not aware of the links with Cardiff and stressed it "doesn't change anything; we still want to win".
He said: "Cardiff have an exceptional record at home and it will certainly be a difficult game but you never know in football and especially in this league. Every game is unpredictable.
"They are favourites and are one of the teams many people expect to win the league but you never know in this league."
Nicky Maynard is out for the majority of this season with a cruciate knee ligament injury and Stephen McPhail continues to struggle with Sjogren's Syndrome.
Summer signing Mutch is a doubt but former Liverpool and West Ham United forward Craig Bellamy is expected to return to the starting line-up.
Comments(28)
Eastsussexhornet
says...
5:23pm Mon 22 Oct 12
DuffmanWFC
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5:27pm Mon 22 Oct 12
francowatford
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5:29pm Mon 22 Oct 12
borohorn
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5:33pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Lloydinio
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5:45pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Larrythe Loafer 'Orn
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7:26pm Mon 22 Oct 12
We play better away and better against the top teams so lets take it to them for 3 points.
mooneysmagic
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7:29pm Mon 22 Oct 12
AngelHornet
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7:39pm Mon 22 Oct 12
francowatford wrote:Are you mad! Put Cassetti at right back and have him roasted all evening, I think not!
also take Doyle on bench put Cassetti right back and put Forrestier on the right wing to attach the left back and Cassetti can support. Start with Vydra and Deeney if this does not work go with Geijo and Vydra up front. Murray, Chalboah, Abdi and Hogg in Midfield. Same back line up as before
DuffmanWFC
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8:00pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Subs: Geijo, Doyley, Deeney, Bond, Yeates, Smith, Cassetti
YellowShirtsOnly
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9:08pm Mon 22 Oct 12
AngelHornet wrote:That's not actually a bad idea to consider in future games against less pacy left wingers as FF would stop them from getting forward as much due to his threat. But certainly not the plan to go with tomorrow against Bellamy who will definitely get forward.
francowatford wrote:Are you mad! Put Cassetti at right back and have him roasted all evening, I think not!
also take Doyle on bench put Cassetti right back and put Forrestier on the right wing to attach the left back and Cassetti can support. Start with Vydra and Deeney if this does not work go with Geijo and Vydra up front. Murray, Chalboah, Abdi and Hogg in Midfield. Same back line up as before
Holly68
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9:22pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Almunia
Doyley Hoban Hall Pudil
Abdi Chalobah Hogg
Forestieri Deeney Vydra
smarkymark
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11:18pm Mon 22 Oct 12
stewbyhorn
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11:26pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Travelling Hornet
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11:40pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Hornet Cornet
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11:40pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Jmenezes
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9:36am Tue 23 Oct 12
CARDIFFHORN
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11:16am Tue 23 Oct 12
JoeWFC_12
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11:34am Tue 23 Oct 12
francowatford
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11:38am Tue 23 Oct 12
Holly68
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11:56am Tue 23 Oct 12
tyfc.co.uk/tickets/t
icket-prices/
Pricing On Demand OR Stitch up on the Day ??
londomollari
says...
1:16pm Tue 23 Oct 12
YellowShirtsOnly wrote:Certainly shouldn't play Cassetti against anyone with pace. However, we should keep in mind that Cassetti was (I understand) a personal choice of Nani to be recruited, and not one of the Udinese 'job lot'. As such, I suspect that Zola will be under pressure to play Cassetti as often as possible.
AngelHornet wrote:That's not actually a bad idea to consider in future games against less pacy left wingers as FF would stop them from getting forward as much due to his threat. But certainly not the plan to go with tomorrow against Bellamy who will definitely get forward.
francowatford wrote:Are you mad! Put Cassetti at right back and have him roasted all evening, I think not!
also take Doyle on bench put Cassetti right back and put Forrestier on the right wing to attach the left back and Cassetti can support. Start with Vydra and Deeney if this does not work go with Geijo and Vydra up front. Murray, Chalboah, Abdi and Hogg in Midfield. Same back line up as before
francowatford
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1:47pm Tue 23 Oct 12
londomollari
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2:55pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Personally, I am looking forward to seeing more of Battochio---my Italian aquaintances tell me he is certainly as talented as Forrestieri. We need to see Geijo start some games, and Elkstrand to start a game or two
lutondown
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2:58pm Tue 23 Oct 12
londomollari wrote:What tosh, I do not think Zola Would have taken the role if he didn't get full autonomy of choosing the side. This Zola is a puppet is plain stupid
YellowShirtsOnly wrote:Certainly shouldn't play Cassetti against anyone with pace. However, we should keep in mind that Cassetti was (I understand) a personal choice of Nani to be recruited, and not one of the Udinese 'job lot'. As such, I suspect that Zola will be under pressure to play Cassetti as often as possible.
AngelHornet wrote:That's not actually a bad idea to consider in future games against less pacy left wingers as FF would stop them from getting forward as much due to his threat. But certainly not the plan to go with tomorrow against Bellamy who will definitely get forward.
francowatford wrote:Are you mad! Put Cassetti at right back and have him roasted all evening, I think not!
also take Doyle on bench put Cassetti right back and put Forrestier on the right wing to attach the left back and Cassetti can support. Start with Vydra and Deeney if this does not work go with Geijo and Vydra up front. Murray, Chalboah, Abdi and Hogg in Midfield. Same back line up as before
No Wheels
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5:31pm Tue 23 Oct 12
francowatford wrote:Franco, there is a 14 day free trial via the official watfordfc.com website for the Internet player with commentary from the games. I can't stand the stitch-up deal that forces people to buy in to this reportedly not very reliable service, but hey, get it while it's free for a couple of weeks....
does anyone know of any internet links for listening to football tonight. My radio does not get a clear signal for herts beds and bucks?
londomollari
says...
5:51pm Tue 23 Oct 12
lutondown wrote:H'mmm. I m sure Zola has full autonomy. However, Nani is also responsible for the performance of players he has personnally recommended. I, for one, in Nani's place, would push for any of my recommendations to make as many appearances as possible, and would take full opportunity to pressure Zola. I'm not saying he would demand---but, in Parliamentary terms, lobby. That's what i meant.
londomollari wrote:What tosh, I do not think Zola Would have taken the role if he didn't get full autonomy of choosing the side. This Zola is a puppet is plain stupid
YellowShirtsOnly wrote:Certainly shouldn't play Cassetti against anyone with pace. However, we should keep in mind that Cassetti was (I understand) a personal choice of Nani to be recruited, and not one of the Udinese 'job lot'. As such, I suspect that Zola will be under pressure to play Cassetti as often as possible.
AngelHornet wrote:That's not actually a bad idea to consider in future games against less pacy left wingers as FF would stop them from getting forward as much due to his threat. But certainly not the plan to go with tomorrow against Bellamy who will definitely get forward.
francowatford wrote:Are you mad! Put Cassetti at right back and have him roasted all evening, I think not!
also take Doyle on bench put Cassetti right back and put Forrestier on the right wing to attach the left back and Cassetti can support. Start with Vydra and Deeney if this does not work go with Geijo and Vydra up front. Murray, Chalboah, Abdi and Hogg in Midfield. Same back line up as before
londomollari
says...
6:20pm Tue 23 Oct 12
francowatford says...
4:58pm Mon 22 Oct 12