Watford FC vs Ipswich Town Match Preview

[J4ck22]

A late winner, a clean sheet away against a free scoring side, back in the top 6 and a sh*t load of bitter Watford fans.

What a great day.

As proved by their comments on here. http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php ... 21-03-2015

Reading through that thread was pure bliss.

[verulam]

For reasons too complicated to explain I was in the Sir Elton John stand today. Comments from Watford supporters included:

"Their back 4 look really solid"

"they are winning everything in the air"

I must admit I was settling for a draw when suddenly the ball gets to Chaplow. Then everything seemed to go into slow motion and I even had time to think " a player with your experience should be able to score from here - YES - you can!

Happy days indeed!

Please tell us you jumped up and celebrated in their faces?! "Get it right up yez,!"

Nice post Lucille....... Glad it was a great day for you after feeling unwell.

I can't lie Marko - it was just a little bit bit subdued compared to my norm - but enough for those around to realise that "hell, he's not one of us!". Anyway. I got out alive and back home in one piece on the bus to St Albans with a big smile on my face!

[lucy]

For reasons too complicated to explain I was in the Sir Elton John stand today. Comments from Watford supporters included:

"Their back 4 look really solid"

"they are winning everything in the air"

I must admit I was settling for a draw when suddenly the ball gets to Chaplow. Then everything seemed to go into slow motion and I even had time to think " a player with your experience should be able to score from here - YES - you can!

Happy days indeed!

Please tell us you jumped up and celebrated in their faces?! "Get it right up yez,!"

Nice post Lucille....... Glad it was a great day for you after feeling unwell.

I can't lie Marko - it was just a little bit bit subdued compared to my norm - but enough for those around to realise that "hell, he's not one of us!". Anyway. I got out alive and back home in one piece on the bus to St Albans with a big smile on my face!

Did anyone at the game see the young lad at the end with his dad i presume. He was really enjoying it when us Ipswich fans were cheering him and clapping him.

[reidbob]

Well done Town - hopefully some of recent negativity will subside!

Lets keep on keeping on!

[hallamblue]

What an awesome result for Town. We absolutely destroyed them. From the first whistle to the last we were in their faces, tackling , winning headers, cutting out their pitta patta passes as they tried pass through out midfield. There were so many performances that could have warrented MOM. In short Watford, avteam tgat has slammed over 70 goals past teams this season, had not a single shot on target today. Awesome performance by Town.

Wood had his most effective, impressive display in a Town shirt to date. The ball stuck to this man mountain in an impressive hold up play role. It was just a shame Murphy was by the same measure , having a quiet day as Wood's partner. This changed completely once Wood went off for the effervescent Sears. The Murphy:Sears oarnership giving the Watford defence a totally different set of problems to deal with, and they didnt manage to do it.

"Reg" (Varney), was also different class today. Winning header after header, getting stuck in to win the ball and lay it off to Wood, or Bru, or Skuse.


The defence were probably their most resolute and solid as Ive seen in months, although mings looks to gain some benefit from his 2match ban now. He looks weary. Smith showed an improved perfirmancd . Maybe MM got that right too by persisting with him. It was nice to see a soild back four for once. The Watford strikers got sod all afternoon and resorted to falling over to get free kicks.


One piece of poetic justice was the significant injury to tge Watford player that had taken out Joniesta at PR. It looks like he has a leg injury likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. Im not upset by that. There was no foul as he tangled with Mings . The player just twisted and fell in agony to the floor. That one's for you Jonniesta.
Skuse? What can I say. He was utter class. He was here, there...every ☆☆☆ where! He controlled the midfield, along with Bru and Tabb and I would suggest were the single reason why Watford never git a look in today. They broke up play time and again, and set the ball forwards for counter attacks. .....the sublime example being in the 95min when the ball was won ( i confess i cant recall who cut out a Watford pass), to put the ball forward to Murphy who slipped it through to Sears. Sears' run on goal was in slow mo tbh. But the Town fans roared as he ran towards us behind that goal. His timing and execution of the ball forward to the advancing Chaplow down that wing (where the f... did he come from!,), he took the ball in his stride, the Town fans collectively held their breath ( will Durso blow for offside or some other crap decision? Would the keeper save it?) - the ball slams into the net and utter bedlham breaks out! Fans screaming, hugging complete strangers, trying to sing ( but lunges are devoid of an ounce of breath now as the word "Goooooooooooooaaal," just went on and on. Players piled in ontop of Chaplow, players running the length of the pitch to join in and flying out of the dug out to join in the h3ap of players and celebrations that went on forever in front of the travelling fans.

Good day? I should say so. Who'd bet against McCarthys boys now!

[hallamblue]

A late winner, a clean sheet away against a free scoring side, back in the top 6 and a sh*t load of bitter Watford fans.

What a great day.

As proved by their comments on here. http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php ... 21-03-2015

Reading through that thread was pure bliss.

Is there something about teams wearing yella shirts? What an arrogant bunch of gobshytes they are and even more bitter than those budgies, and that takes some doing!

[barmy billy]

Didn't manage to hear the game today, but it sounds like a hard won and deserved victory.

Well done ITFC

[marko69]

Well done Town - hopefully some of recent negativity will subside!

Lets keep on keeping on!

No, it won't mate. If anything, it'll more than likely get worse. Hear me out.

The negativity is born out of utter pish performances for fking months. Well, if match reports are to be believed that is. It's been sh*t, and the fans know this...... Well, the majority do.

Today......, many thought an arse humping....... But many would've been delighted with the draw...... BECAUSE a draw would be a massive improvement against a class side like Watford. (Away from home, no less)
But what do ITFC do? They go and, not only come away with 3pts, but they dominate the match. Yes, it's great,..... No it's actually fking absolutely fantastic........, BUT, HUGE BUTT....., the hardcore fans WILL want consistency and MORE of the same, especially at PR.

So, unless Mick can keep the lads up and at this level of performance......, No, the negativity will not subside.

More of the same, Michael!

[Mr.Punch]

What an awesome result for Town. We absolutely destroyed them. From the first whistle to the last we were in their faces, tackling , winning headers, cutting out their pitta patta passes as they tried pass through out midfield. There were so many performances that could have warrented MOM. In short Watford, avteam tgat has slammed over 70 goals past teams this season, had not a single shot on target today. Awesome performance by Town.

Wood had his most effective, impressive display in a Town shirt to date. The ball stuck to this man mountain in an impressive hold up play role. It was just a shame Murphy was by the same measure , having a quiet day as Wood's partner. This changed completely once Wood went off for the effervescent Sears. The Murphy:Sears oarnership giving the Watford defence a totally different set of problems to deal with, and they didnt manage to do it.

"Reg" (Varney), was also different class today. Winning header after header, getting stuck in to win the ball and lay it off to Wood, or Bru, or Skuse.


The defence were probably their most resolute and solid as Ive seen in months, although mings looks to gain some benefit from his 2match ban now. He looks weary. Smith showed an improved perfirmancd . Maybe MM got that right too by persisting with him. It was nice to see a soild back four for once. The Watford strikers got sod all afternoon and resorted to falling over to get free kicks.


One piece of poetic justice was the significant injury to tge Watford player that had taken out Joniesta at PR. It looks like he has a leg injury likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. Im not upset by that. There was no foul as he tangled with Mings . The player just twisted and fell in agony to the floor. That one's for you Jonniesta.
Skuse? What can I say. He was utter class. He was here, there...every ☆☆☆ where! He controlled the midfield, along with Bru and Tabb and I would suggest were the single reason why Watford never git a look in today. They broke up play time and again, and set the ball forwards for counter attacks. .....the sublime example being in the 95min when the ball was won ( i confess i cant recall who cut out a Watford pass), to put the ball forward to Murphy who slipped it through to Sears. Sears' run on goal was in slow mo tbh. But the Town fans roared as he ran towards us behind that goal. His timing and execution of the ball forward to the advancing Chaplow down that wing (where the f... did he come from!,), he took the ball in his stride, the Town fans collectively held their breath ( will Durso blow for offside or some other crap decision? Would the keeper save it?) - the ball slams into the net and utter bedlham breaks out! Fans screaming, hugging complete strangers, trying to sing ( but lunges are devoid of an ounce of breath now as the word "Goooooooooooooaaal," just went on and on. Players piled in ontop of Chaplow, players running the length of the pitch to join in and flying out of the dug out to join in the h3ap of players and celebrations that went on forever in front of the travelling fans.

Good day? I should say so. Who'd bet against McCarthys boys now!

great narrative - great 3 points - looking forward to fl show

[arana peligrosa]

To those that thought today was good, I was live witness at an FA Cup Final seeing todays opposition beaten in front of 100,000. Make no mistake about it, todays Town score was outstanding, but there'll never be another win over Watford as memorable as the former.

Read throught the link provided in an earlier post and didn't find anything too controversial with it. One or two stereotypical garbage about the East Anglian vicinity but nothing to get in a twist over. I hope those that made the trip today had a day to remember and safe journey back. I really hope we can take what occured today into the rest of the season and finish on a high. It was a good day.

Rugby wasn't bad either

[marko69]

The 84 cup final was indeed a good one...... Remember it well as my buddy at school, was from Liverpool and him and his dad were Everton fans. I remember it was a nice day and the BBQ was out. Great memories.

Not a rugby fan in the slightest, but overheard the wife say earlier, "My God, how crap are Scotland at the rugby these days!"

[derick_ipsw]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31882510 Yesterdays stats from the Watford game, show Ipswich deserved there victory.

[lucy]

Seen some good videos on Youtube of the fans yesterday. Seems we all had a good time.

[Bluemike]

OMG !!! What an afternoon for us Town fans. There have been many occasions when you just have to be there to experience the utter joy and ecstacy of a Town win but this one really was up there with the best of them. It was one of those days where just about everything was right, the starting line up, the tactics and formation, the substitutions, everything, so its a big hats off to the MM, the guy who "doesnt have a clue" and who has "Lost the plot"

I thought we had a team of 14 heroes out there on that pitch yesterday, to stop a watford team who score goals at will from even having a single shot on target was testament to the shift put in by every one of them and it made for a pretty comfortable afternoon for Bart in goal. The back Four were by and larger solid and got in the headers, blocks, tackles etc, one block late in the first half by Chambo saved an almost certain goal and was pure class, Smith again looked more like we had come to expect a few weeks ago while Berra was his normal commanding self, Mingsy still fouind it a little hard at times but they targeted him with Two men for much of the game and he coped ok, as Hallam says the rest now will do him good.

For me the Midfield once again were absoultely awesome and none more so than our much maligned Cole Skuse, someone has already used the term but he "owned" the midfield and was pure class, Tabby and Bru litterally ran themselves into the ground to the point of not being able to walk come the final whistle. As for the strikers well what can I say, if this is what Chris Wood actually brings to the table then yes I was wrong and he can be an asset to us, his hold up play etc was fantastic, "Reg" for me was different class and equally as good as Skuse in the first half, it says it all when we are saying to each other that if we take a striker off it would be Murphy on the first half showing.

And what can we say about our subs Freddie & Chappers ???? What a magic moment that was, Tabbys clearance up to Sears who outbattled the defender on half way before slipping a delightful ball into the path of Chaplow who steadied himself and finished it with such aplomb. I really cannot the describe utter joy and jubilation when the 2200 fans around me erupted into wild celebrations, it went on and on and on, as Hallam says you just hugged everyone and anyone while jumping up and down, I was so lost in the moment I swear I had sex with someone there and then !!! To see the players, manager and staff all running up the touchline punching the air was fantastic and the players right in front of just couldnt control themselves, Chaplow was lost in a sea of bodies.

In the cold light of day some will say it is just Three points and that is very true, but for me it is more than that, much much more. It is a sign of intent, it is a sign that no bloody way are we done with just yet, it is a sign that when we get it right we ARE as good as anything in this divison, and it is a sign that maybe we should all have a little more faith and belief at times, we are quick to get down after a few bad results and dismiss the 23 good ones that go before, we must stick with MM and what he does, frustrating it might be but if it provides glorious moments like the one witnessed yesterday I am happy to bow to his far superior knowledge.

SLAVISA JOKANOVIC, ELTON JOHN, GRAHAM TAYLOR, JOHN BARNES, LUTHER BLISSETT, ALEC CHAMBERLAIN........YOUR BOYS TOOK A HELL OF A BEATING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[arana peligrosa]

It's too bad there's one of those damn international breaks coming up as we finished yesterday on a high, and would ideally want another game next weekend as usual and to continue while the mood is still vibrant. If it had been a loss or had Watford held out for a no score draw then I think it would be Ok to leave it for two weeks and re-group, but some would perhaps agree that they'd want to be back in action as soon as possible while things are so positive. Especially as the next fixture is against the league leaders themselves.

[phily bon bon]

Vintage Bluemike glad you all had a great day out and your piece above was informative and uplifting as was Hallams. Thanks

[Charnwood]

Enjoyable read that was Mike, I can't believe I've just spent my first weekend in Ipswich for more than a year and Town were playing away, how unlucky was that!

Well, as I said immediately after yesterday's result that must have been a tactical masterclass from MM especially after some of Watfords recent performances.

If he can maintain this level of tactical nous for the run in we could still make the play-offs, and if we do, any repeat of yesterday's performace could win any "one off" game, so who knows what might happen, and for the time being it should keep everyones hopes up high.

[ashfordblue]

OMG !!! What an afternoon for us Town fans. There have been many occasions when you just have to be there to experience the utter joy and ecstacy of a Town win but this one really was up there with the best of them. It was one of those days where just about everything was right, the starting line up, the tactics and formation, the substitutions, everything, so its a big hats off to the MM, the guy who "doesnt have a clue" and who has "Lost the plot"

I thought we had a team of 14 heroes out there on that pitch yesterday, to stop a watford team who score goals at will from even having a single shot on target was testament to the shift put in by every one of them and it made for a pretty comfortable afternoon for Bart in goal. The back Four were by and larger solid and got in the headers, blocks, tackles etc, one block late in the first half by Chambo saved an almost certain goal and was pure class, Smith again looked more like we had come to expect a few weeks ago while Berra was his normal commanding self, Mingsy still fouind it a little hard at times but they targeted him with Two men for much of the game and he coped ok, as Hallam says the rest now will do him good.

For me the Midfield once again were absoultely awesome and none more so than our much maligned Cole Skuse, someone has already used the term but he "owned" the midfield and was pure class, Tabby and Bru litterally ran themselves into the ground to the point of not being able to walk come the final whistle. As for the strikers well what can I say, if this is what Chris Wood actually brings to the table then yes I was wrong and he can be an asset to us, his hold up play etc was fantastic, "Reg" for me was different class and equally as good as Skuse in the first half, it says it all when we are saying to each other that if we take a striker off it would be Murphy on the first half showing.

And what can we say about our subs Freddie & Chappers ???? What a magic moment that was, Tabbys clearance up to Sears who outbattled the defender on half way before slipping a delightful ball into the path of Chaplow who steadied himself and finished it with such aplomb. I really cannot the describe utter joy and jubilation when the 2200 fans around me erupted into wild celebrations, it went on and on and on, as Hallam says you just hugged everyone and anyone while jumping up and down, I was so lost in the moment I swear I had sex with someone there and then !!! To see the players, manager and staff all running up the touchline punching the air was fantastic and the players right in front of just couldnt control themselves, Chaplow was lost in a sea of bodies.

In the cold light of day some will say it is just Three points and that is very true, but for me it is more than that, much much more. It is a sign of intent, it is a sign that no bloody way are we done with just yet, it is a sign that when we get it right we ARE as good as anything in this divison, and it is a sign that maybe we should all have a little more faith and belief at times, we are quick to get down after a few bad results and dismiss the 23 good ones that go before, we must stick with MM and what he does, frustrating it might be but if it provides glorious moments like the one witnessed yesterday I am happy to bow to his far superior knowledge.

SLAVISA JOKANOVIC, ELTON JOHN, GRAHAM TAYLOR, JOHN BARNES, LUTHER BLISSETT, ALEC CHAMBERLAIN........YOUR BOYS TOOK A HELL OF A BEATING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ohiotractorboy]

I love this video, just like being at the game!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmFGqYl8eBo

[Charnwood]

I love this video, just like being at the game!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmFGqYl8eBo

Looks like a fantastic day out for the fans, just a shame about the couple of dumb pricks who went on the pitch, especially after all the bad press on the subject after the Villa game recently.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I have to add my congratulations to MM, TC, and the players for a totally awesome performance and a result that few (if any) would have predicted.
I've noted a lot of comments on here (tactical master class, how could we not have had faith, etc), and would agree with them in part...........BUT, let's not get carried away. It was just one game after all.
I'm left asking myself what was so different about this game to the previous 13. We selected from the same squad of players, played 4-4-2 after 15 mins of 4-4-3, so what made it click this game where it had failed previously. I can't for the life of me really put my finger on it, but whatever it is I hope it continues.

[hallamblue]

Hey rossi, i cant belive i miseed you in the pub!! I spoke to "casthill blue" as i walked from the bar, but didnt realise it was you sat with him. Blue mike said later he was sure that was you. So i went back to say hello , but you'd already left. Buggar!!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Hey rossi, i cant belive i miseed you in the pub!! I spoke to "casthill blue" as i walked from the bar, but didnt realise it was you sat with him. Blue mike said later he was sure that was you. So i went back to say hello , but you'd already left. Buggar!!

Wasn't me Hallam. Very unusually for me, I got to Watford late so had no time for a drink before the game, and had to dash straight after the game so no post match drink either . Made up for it later though

[number 9]

I love this video, just like being at the game!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmFGqYl8eBo

That was brilliant!

[marko69]

Yip, it certainly was. Nice one, Ohio.

Someone explain "inflatable day" for me. YES, you all take all your blow up toys etc, but where did it originate from......, and why @ Watford? And why no huge inflatable Elton John doll with a knob drawn on it?

[Charnwood]

I have to add my congratulations to MM, TC, and the players for a totally awesome performance and a result that few (if any) would have predicted.
I've noted a lot of comments on here (tactical master class, how could we not have had faith, etc), and would agree with them in part...........BUT, let's not get carried away. It was just one game after all.
I'm left asking myself what was so different about this game to the previous 13. We selected from the same squad of players, played 4-4-2 after 15 mins of 4-4-3, so what made it click this game where it had failed previously. I can't for the life of me really put my finger on it, but whatever it is I hope it continues.

I can only assume the players (and manager too maybe) have finally woken up to the fact that time and games are running out and with it their chances of promotion. It also suggests that the players may not have approached some of the games against lowly opposition in the right frame of mind and may have expected some of these games to have been easier than has proved to be the case, whereas in reality they may well have expected to get thumped by Watford unless they applied themselves at a higher level.

I note you refer this to being "just one game", well that's how they need to treat every one of their remaining games, and as I said in an earlier post, if they can continue to apply themselves tactically & physically on each of these "one off games" there's no reason why we can't be one of the two teams from four who make the play offs.

It's just a shame they didn't wake up earlier because we should have been capable of producing this level of performance in some of the earlier games where we've dropped unnecessary points.

[herforder]

In some cases it's as much about how the opposition sets up and plays that determines outcomes. Certainly that's been the case at PR this season, where teams like Blackburn, Reading and Wigan came to leave with at least the point they started with. In those type of matches, it was not lack of effort or desire that failed to secure wins; rather an inability to be sufficiently creative to get through or round them. Whilst since the New Year our defence has, by previously set standards, been below par. Lots of theories as to why, but Saturday's clean sheet and far more confident and assured performances against a quality strike force, suggests there is no single, simple, answer. The confidence boost gained from the hard-won Bolton match probably helped.

A tad trite, perhaps,but ultimately it's how football works. If all was clinically predictable, and there was a credible answer to every question asked, it would be a pretty boring old game. Certainly true as far as we're concerned!

[Charnwood]

In some cases it's as much about how the opposition sets up and plays that determines outcomes. Certainly that's been the case at PR this season, where teams like Blackburn, Reading and Wigan came to leave with at least the point they started with. In those type of matches, it was not lack of effort or desire that failed to secure wins; rather an inability to be sufficiently creative to get through or round them. Whilst since the New Year our defence has, by previously set standards, been below par. Lots of theories as to why, but Saturday's clean sheet and far more confident and assured performances against a quality strike force, suggests there is no single, simple, answer. The confidence boost gained from the hard-won Bolton match probably helped.

A tad trite, perhaps,but ultimately it's how football works. If all was clinically predictable, and there was a credible answer to every question asked, it would be a pretty boring old game. Certainly true as far as we're concerned!

It would also take the fun out of betting and make all the bookies bust which of course is the opposite of what happens in real life where the bookie always gets rich.

Plus of course none of us would watch the game because we'd know the outcome before kick off.

A good point well made herforder.

[lucy]

Yip, it certainly was. Nice one, Ohio.

Someone explain "inflatable day" for me. YES, you all take all your blow up toys etc, but where did it originate from......, and why @ Watford? And why no huge inflatable Elton John doll with a knob drawn on it?

It was quite amusing come kick off to see the Stewards chasing after stray Sharks,Beachballs and other weird objects that had made it's way onto the pitch. Not sure where the idea came from, but i assume because the Away fans were all in 1 tier together it's easier to keep the Inflatables in our section and not be given to the Home fans. Although their mascot thought it would be funny to run off with a few and chuck them to the Home Fans.

[hallamblue]

Hey rossi, i cant belive i miseed you in the pub!! I spoke to "casthill blue" as i walked from the bar, but didnt realise it was you sat with him. Blue mike said later he was sure that was you. So i went back to say hello , but you'd already left. Buggar!!

Wasn't me Hallam. Very unusually for me, I got to Watford late so had no time for a drink before the game, and had to dash straight after the game so no post match drink either . Made up for it later though

Well that us weird because i asked thd guy at the table "was that rossi" ? And he said yes lol! Cant be two of you surely!! And yer we made a quick exit after Chambo fist punch celebrations . What an end to the game eh!