Hornettos

Just one hornetto !

The Italian hornets come a calling on Saturday following a good start to the season that has been even better than ours. The fixture computer clearly didn't want us to have an easy start at home. Our unbeaten league record will face a stern test.

If the game is anything like the one that secured our championship safety at the end of last season then it should be a cracker. The same result would be more than welcome of course.

 

Prior to kick off, I hope that we all have the opportunity to pay our respects to David Whyte who passed away at the tender age of 43 this week. Like many others I have some wonderful memories of an excellent striker who lit up the early years following our return to The Valley. I hope that a chant of David Whyte-Whyte-Whyte will once again ring around The Valley.

It seems an age since we last played at home and during the break it's not just Huddersfield Town who have recruited a new manager. Watford have appointed former Brighton boss Oscar Garcia as the head honcho. He inherited a pretty decent squad from Gus Poyet and they squeezed into the play-offs last season losing out in the semis,

Watford have a strong squad where the main striking threat will come from skipper, Troy Deeney. I'm amazed that he didn't move to a Prem club during the summer and Watford have done well to hold onto him. Deeny is showing some loyalty to a club that stood by him during difficult times.

One other striker to look out for is Fernado Forestieri but make it quick or you'll miss him. Two seasons ago the diving Italian was dismissed just before half time following two yellows for simulation. I understand he is supposed to be a good player but good players don't need to dive.

Of course in our ranks we have Igor, the Championship player of the month for August. Well done to him. Long may his good run continue.

Hopefully Gudmundsen will be fit but if not then I assume that Lawrie will come in for him. 

It seems our zonal marking has cost us recently and I hope that we have abandoned that. Wiser heads than me frequently criticise it as a defensive plan and as a system it always seems odd to me. Suffice to say you don't get a lot of people slating " that man to man marking " and for good reason I think !

Now that most folk have returned from their holidays it'll be interesting to see what sort of a crowd we get on Saturday. Watford have sold their allocation with the potential for a good atmosphere and banter with A block.

I'm really looking forward to Saturday especially after such a long break since our last home. Let's home we can remain unbeaten and may be even add another win.

Come On You Reds !