Championship - Watford FC vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Watford v Ipswich Town



Tuesday 12th December 2023 – 19:45


Vicarage Road








Pre-match Thoughts - Frosty



Very little on the way of pre-match thoughts from me as extremely busy with work and have family arriving from London to stay until the new year.

Annoyingly, Mike is away on a cruise yet again, which is why I am doing this section. After all the excitement they had last time, this one is slightly more tame as they take in the sights of Hull, Antwerp, Keil and Gdansk. Clearly I am paying him far too much for his moderator role which is enabling these ongoing sojurns with riparian entertainment.

Our team continues to surprise me, at the back of my mind I was sort of thinking that Boro could easily be another WBA type result, but by all accounts we weren’t overly troubled. Carrick made reference that we are a ‘top team’ and his side weren’t quite at the races. Once again an opposition manager makes reference to how well McKenna prepares his sides, I really think he is the X factor for us this season. Interesting that this was our first clean sheet since end October.

It’s a fairly relentless schedule until Santa arrives, midweek game against Watford, the fixture that is everything on Saturday followed by Leeds and Leicester either side of Christmas day respectively.

Be interesting to see if there are any changes for Tuesday. Morsy maybe one player that McKenna has to rest with one eye on Saturdays game. We may have beaten the Hornets last two times we played them (which is out of interest is over 8 years ago), but historically they have been a bit of a banana skin for us. Currently sitting in 10th place they really are one of those annoying little games that gets in the way of more important things.

Sunderland at home to Leeds is the other fixture on Tuesday to keep an eye on. Leicester not playing until Wednesday (at home to Millwall), along with the Budgies who on paper have a somewhat easier fixture, hosting the Owls at home.

Have a good start to your week, and compliments of the season.


The Opposition – Watford - Honours


League


First Division
Runners-up: 1982–83

Second Division / Championship
Runners-up: 1981–82, 2014–15, 2020–21
Play-off winners: 1999, 2006

Third Division
Champions: 1968–69, 1997–98
Runners-up: 1978–79

Fourth Division
Champions: 1977–78

Southern Football League
Champions: 1914–15
Runners-up: 1919–20


Cup


FA Cup
Runners-up: 1983–84, 2018–19




The Manager - Valérien Ismaël








League Table as at 10.12.2023







Form Guide




Watford




11 Nov Watford 5 - 0 Rotherham

25 Nov Leicester City 2 - 0 Watford

28 Nov Watford 3 - 2 Norwich City

2 Dec Hull City 1 - 2 Watford

9 Dec Watford 1 - 1 Southampton




Ipswich Town




11 Nov Ipswich Town 3 - 2 Swansea City

25 Nov West Brom 2 - 0 Ipswich Town

29 Nov Ipswich Town 3 - 1 Millwall

2 Dec Ipswich Town 2 - 1 Coventry City

9 Dec Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Ipswich Town








Head to Head








Match Referee – Darren England








WATFORD 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1

[ashfordblue]

My Selection for the Watford Game is for Morsy to be rested he doesn't get a game until Leicester at home

Hladky
Williams Zuanzebe Burgess Davis
Taylor Luongo
Burns Chaplin Broadhead
Hirst

[JohnnyB]

My Selection for the Watford Game is for Morsy to be rested he doesn't get a game until Leicester at home

Hladky
Williams Zuanzebe Burgess Davis
Taylor Luongo
Burns Chaplin Broadhead
Hirst

I think Morsy should play. He's our most influential player and he's proved good at avoiding cards when he needs to.

On a related topic maybe, I was listening to Blue Monday podcast and they were discussing whether they would rather Town beat Leeds or Norwich. Difficult as it was, I would agree with B Bloom that there really is no question: the Leeds game is far more important. And that maybe is the ultimate Derby victory...

[Andym]

I think we will struggle with this one. Be happy with a draw, but I thought the same last Saturday.

[Bluemike]

Morsy won't be rested, not a chance

[AzzurroMark]

Morsy won't be rested, not a chance

Agreed, and nor should he be! A win against Watford is worth the same points as the one against Narwich! From a fan's point of view of course there's the emotional baggage of wanting to make sure the turkey is not the only bird to be stuffed at Christmas!
You can't rest your most influential player for fearing him picking up a 2 match ban, otherwise where do you stop? There's the even more important (imho) Leeds game where we'll need our Captain on top form, followed by the equally tricky Leicester game!

[Charnwood]

Watford with 10 points from their last 5 games compared with Town’s 12 points suggests we’re currently fairly evenly especially when you look at Watfords 5-0 thrashing of Rotherham who held us to a draw and their home draw with high flying Southampton on Saturday. Their only defeat was at the hands of Leicester City so everything points to a tough game, maybe more so even than at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

I’d settle for a point if I’m honest but given our results so far there’s no reason why we can’t win this. That said we have to accept that we can’t expect to win them all, football just isn’t like that and if you want proof just look at Man City’s recent results.

[marko69]

Ash taking it a tad far with Leicester, but (for me) i’d rest Morsy v Watford. Have him a definite v Norwich. Thats my take. He gets a yellow in the derby, yes, he misses Leeds & Leicester but a yellow v watford, he misses Leeds anyway.

Long story short…….. fk the EPL..,…. MUST beat Norwich.

[marko69]

Quiet in here on match day.

Predictions for Vicarage tonight?

Lets go 1-1……. Porteous is decent in defence for them……. Would’ve loved him @ ITFC.

Ok…… thats now jinxed young Ryan……. 0-2 Town.

[Ricco]

Quiet in here on match day.

Nerves

[arana peligrosa]

Still thinking over the Middlesbrough game, these damn fixtures arrive too soon after the last but in truth don't know what to expect from this trip. It's another awkward journey to some opposition that could just as easily turn us over, they put three past Norwich there and appear to possess some flair players.

Scoring goals isn't an issue for us, we can and will outscore everyone else in the division but West Bromwich proved a point no-one is indestructible. We shouldn't rest players in this for the Derby game after - every game we play in this promotion objective season is critical - we need to be operating at the strongest line-up McKenna can assemble. That way at least will provide the chance to take three points from it.

Come to think of it, players at risk of suspension and liable to get caution and miss subsequent games they may be required, may be an idea to omit them from involvement, but once again we should be looking to field as any first-teamers as able in order to provide best opportunity for ourselves.

McKenna knows what to do, he's smart and capable and we're more than lucky to have him in command. All you can ask is we make the trip there and focus, put in the required effort and show a desire to win. That alone will provide the chance to add further points to the dream objective.

[shabba]

What is sky sports arena? Is it better than the red button? (Which people say is v basic).

Some rotation is likely tonight, suspect we will see Omari start. Masimo will be back in and maybe Williams too.

[hallamblue]

Potential our strongest team out there tonight: really tough game in my view.

HLADKY
WILLIAMS
TUANZEBE
BURGESS
DAVIS
MORSY (C)
LUONGO
HUTCHINSON
CHAPLIN
HARNESS
HIRST

Subs:
WALTON, CLARKE, WOOLFENDEN, TAYLOR, BURNS, BROADHEAD, JACKSON, SCARLETT, LADAPO.

[AzzurroMark]

Potential our strongest team out there tonight: really tough game in my view.

That's a quite a decent, strong bench too!

[hallamblue]

Yes it is isn’t it …. Strangely enough out if the game tonight and the next three after that, I think the Derby match is the weakest opposition ( on paper). Bug form goes out the window in Derby games doesn’t !

[lucy]

I was hoping we wouldn't play Morsy

[marko69]

Yes it is isn’t it …. Strangely enough out if the game tonight and the next three after that, I think the Derby match is the weakest opposition ( on paper). Bug form goes out the window in Derby games doesn’t !

It does……. But , (no pressure intended)…… expecting Ipswich to thump Norwich @ PR this weekend. For sure. A christmas DVD release present. 4-0 minimum.

[marko69]

I was hoping we wouldn't play Morsy

Yep. Same

[lucy]

I was hoping we wouldn't play Morsy

Yep. Same

You can guarantee he will get booked tonight

[shabba]

I was hoping we wouldn't play Morsy

Yep. Same

No easy option really as if he gets booked tonight he missed Norwich and Leeds away. If he is booked vs Norwich he misses Leeds and Leicester.

[Mariner67]

Good to see defensive tweek ,with Axel Tuanzebe & Williams playing,just hope it works,Clarke & wolfy did ok against Middlesbrough though.Broadhead on the bench,should be a good game.

[hallamblue]

Complete f*ck up by Hldaky there

[Charnwood]

Complete f*ck up by Hldaky there

Absolute shocker Liz , just hope it doesn’t prove costly.

[Cabanas Blue]

It was always going to happen one day unfortunately

[hallamblue]

Omari not looking so good atm for me… mind you he is doubled every time he gets the ball .

Watford really don’t look that good but we’re not

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS ON IT LOL

Assist ? OMARI !!! lol

[Ricco]

It was always going to happen one day unfortunately

Guaranteed to be the game after we were singing his praises too!

But look how many mistakes the £50m Onana is making, so one big one in near half a season isn't all that, as you say, no keeper escapes them occasionally.

[marko69]

Yes, get in, Hirst

Resilience this team has ……. Keep it going. Come on

[Charnwood]

It’s good we’re back level but I’m worried how much space they’re finding down their left flank attacking Brandon Williams.

[number 9]

Well done Georgie Boy!

[marko69]

Chappers booked? Whats his total so far? Need him for the derby plus L&L games.