WHUFC vs Watford -- July 17th, 2020

probably the biggest game of the season (until the next one)

win this and we're all but safe, lose and we could very well be in the Chimps league next season...

Team news... well, it's M*yes so zero surprises...

we play a lone striker... sorry Antonio...

with the 500 appearances banner on display there was no way Noble wold be dropped, despite being a passenger and liability instead of a must-have player...

Fredericks is replaced by Johnson... other than that... it's business as usual...

Will we be playing at Elland Road next year, or Ewood Park?

Ninety minutes to basically decide.

'Bubbles' plays as the two teams line up... Studio comms says we're a little nervous that even M*yes couldn't answer how his team is likely to show up today...

we lost this 0-2 last time out...

they also say we're probably the most likely to drop and then drop/disappear...

Leeds got promoted today,

all the bottom 5 teams are in exactly the same position/order as they were when the restart began... this game really makes it safe for whichever team wins today...

a draw or a loss and things get really squeaky...

It's all in our hands though... we play two of the relegation candidates in these last three games... so if we can't pull off results against them... then it really is no one's fault but ours.

Kick-off is about the take place...

a knee for Black Lives matter... West Ham kick off...

Watford almost get in behind us from the kick off (our kick off) but can't control the ball and we escape...

Antonio wins the ball well out on the wing but then running into the box he takes it out of play... we actually had two in the box waiting for him... but it goes nowhere...

we get away down the left wing again, this time Cresswell to Formals whose long cross is waaaaaaaay too long.. but we have a throw from Antonio on the right...

johnson's wayward passing gives the ball too Watford... but they play it badly... it pings around... the ball is dinked through the defense to Antonio who runs one way, plays it back across the goal and that's Antonio's 5th goal in two games...

1-0


Antonio... the Premier League top scorer since the restart.







but can we hold on?

Antoniooooooooooooo

watford try a clever corner... this is not the game for clever corners...

Beautiful goal...

johnson to Bowen on the right... Bowen steps inside and plays a long ball over the players in the box to Soucek at the back...

header straight into the back of the net...

10 minutes gone... West Ham 2-0!!!!

Am I a bit weird if I like Watford's kit?

At least it is different.


Soucek!!!!!

Watford counter... get straight behind us... brilliant save by Fabianski

VAR determines the Ref was correct and Watford do NOT get a penalty...

Still not a fan of the fake noise.

we've had three shots - two on target... two goals...

Cochese wrote:Still not a fan of the fake noise.

what makes life even more bizarre.. is that someone had to think this up... decide to propose it in a meeting... and then other people heard the idea and thought 'yeah' that's a good idea... and then enact it...

I mean... if this doesn't make you realize there are some right prize twats ut there... nothing will.

formals and noble are clear on the wing... Fornals pass to Noble is so slow and off the pace that Noble is bundled off the ball by Watford and a possible attack goes begging...

westhamonkey wrote:
formals and noble are clear on the wing... Fornals pass to Noble is so slow and off the pace that Noble is bundled off the ball by Watford and a possible attack goes begging...

500th...and last appearance, willing.

Drinks break...

all good so far...

except the poor passing...

Orange slice break.

Cochese wrote:

westhamonkey wrote:
formals and noble are clear on the wing... Fornals pass to Noble is so slow and off the pace that Noble is bundled off the ball by Watford and a possible attack goes begging...

500th...and last appearance, willing.

if he plays both games to end the season he'll be level with Geoff Hurst....

Cochese wrote:Orange slice break.

they need to bin this idea for next season... it just kills the game...

westhamonkey wrote:

Cochese wrote:

westhamonkey wrote:
formals and noble are clear on the wing... Fornals pass to Noble is so slow and off the pace that Noble is bundled off the ball by Watford and a possible attack goes begging...

500th...and last appearance, willing.

if he plays both games to end the season he'll be level with Geoff Hurst....

So that's happening then.

For the drinks break, I see it for the 9AM games in Orlando. Not for the 8pm games in Stratford.

Cresswell got straight assaulted in the face.

dynamic Watford break... see... the orange slice break helps some, hurts others...

Cresswell is down hurt...

Possible look at a handball by Ogbonna - ball hit his arm, seen 'em given for less.

Cresswell got elbowed in the face but VAR says it wasn't a Red Card...