Will the Hornets sting at St James Park?
Posted on December 4th, 2009 | 144 Comments |
The Hornets were forced to go cap in hand to their current chairman for a £1million loan last weekend to help cover their cash requirements for the next two weeks. Maybe previous owner and honorary life president Sir Elton John, who has had a long association with his home town club could throw them some cash to help keep their heads above water. It’s always tough to hear of a long established club having such problems and I’m sure we all wish them well.
Watford have had an interesting history and have managed to yo-yo through the divisions with the best of ’em over the years. It’s hard to forget the period in the ’70s and ’80s when they went from bottom of the old fourth division to runners up in today’s equivalent of the Premiership in 6 years. This was acheived under the management of Graham Taylor during one of his two stints in charge of the club. In more recent times, with one game to go last season, ex Chelsea reserve team coach, Brendan Rogers, saved them from going down before leaving when he was appointed Reading manager. Malky Mackay, the former Norwich, West Ham and Watford defender was apointed into the vacant hot seat last June.
Currently ninth in the Championship, Watford have scored 30 goals this season. 6 of them have come from Man Utd loanee midfielder, Tom Cleverley, a naturally left footed player who plays well on both sides. Good friend, and Newcastle United’s own Man U loanee, Danny Simpson was recently quoted as telling Cleverly that he would “snap him in two” once they get on the green stuff at SJP! Other key goal scorers, Danny Graham and Heidar Helguson, have clocked up 6 and 5 goals respectively. Apparently, another threat is Henry Lansbury, ex Arsenal player who has been played both in midfield or as a second striker.
The Hornets travel to St James Park following a 3-0 defeat last weekend against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, and they will be hoping to improve upon a record which has seen them lose 9 and win only 2 of the 16 games, especially as they have lost their previous two away matches. They are currently 12 points behind the Toon having won 7 drawn 6 and lost 5. Their biggest problem seems to be defence with 29 goals conceeded versus our 10. The previous match played between the two at St. James’ Park within the last three years, the Toon carved out a narrow 2 – 1 victory in a Premiership match.
Steve Harper, Nicky Butt and Andy Carroll are all expected to be fit for the visit of Malky Mackay’s side, and Shola may even find himself on the bench as Chris Hughton looks at an array of strikers finally coming into full match fitness and scratches his head.
Newcastle United go into the game looking for a sixth successive win, and I predict a 3-0 win for the Toon.
Howay the Lads.
NUFCBlog Author: geordie deb
geordie deb has written 38 articles on this blog.
“a naturally left footed player who plays well on both sides”
That always sounds like a euphemism to me.
“Malky Mackay”
He sounds like a right ‘hardcase’. ‘Malky’ is Scots slang for a beating or a head butt.