Match Preview: Watford vs Newcastle
By Jonny Hall On Sat 12 May 2007 |
No manager, no goalscorer, no coaches, no defence, no Europe, no Top Half, no money, no entertainment, no commitment, no fight, no United, no leader, no organisation, no stability, no decisions, no tactics, no significance, no future… no point?
The Premiership season is drawing to a close and in quite possibly the most insignificant league game in Newcastle’s history, the Magpies travel to Vicorage Road to face already relegated Watford on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.
Newcastle have no chance of getting into the top half of the table while the Hornets are simply playing for pride, looking towards another season in the Championship next year. The Mags must win in order to avoid setting a new record for the lowest amount of points achieved by the club since the Premier League was established back in 1992 but apart from that, the game bares no real relevance to either side.
Nigel Pearson, Terry Mac and Lee Clark could be standing in the dugout for the final time as they lead out the team under their supervision following last week’s resignation of Glenn Roeder. Who knows, after tomorrow, the next time we see Newcastle, Big Sam could be standing in the dugout.
» The Squads
Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Carr, Babayaro, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Moore, Ramage, Butt, Milner, Dyer, N’Zogbia, Martins, Owen, Ameobi, Luque, Carroll.
Watford (from): Foster, Lee, Doyley, Avinel, Shittu, Powell, Carlisle, Stewart, Mariappa, Smith, Rinaldi, Bangura, Williamson, Mahon, Chambers, King, Henderson, Priskin, Kabba.
» Injuries and Suspensions
Given’s back in the squad following the injury he sustained against Arsenal a few weeks ago. The Irish stopper is expected to replace Steve Harper in goal for the last game of the season although with the game holding little significance, he could be rested.
Parker (hernia) and Duff (foot) have both had surgery this week on their respective injuries and both now start their recovery process which could take months. For Watford, Clark Carlise returns to the squad following suspension while on-loan keeper Ben Foster is making his final appearance for the club.
Jay DeMerit and Hameur Bouazza are both absent which could lead way for Tamas Priskin who is expected to be name in attack ahead of Darius Henderson who should take a place on the bench. Lloyd Doyley is also expected to miss out.
» Head2Head
| Competition | Newcastle Wins | Draws | Watford Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| League | 10 | 9 | 6 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| League Cup | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 12 | 13 | 8 |
| . |
» What the Managers have to say
» Newcastle caretaker Nigel Pearson
ON OWEN’S FUTURE:
“I don’t think there’s any question he is committed. He is a driven young man, and glad to be playing football.
“He’s single-minded and I have no question he is very focused on what he is doing.”
ON THE GAME:
“When the manager goes, it is a difficult time. It has not been an easy week, but having said that, we have got a job to do on Sunday.
“By the time we take the field on Sunday, the most important thing is to get the players in the right frame of mind to go out and get a performance, and that’s what we are aiming to do.
“It is never easy when events like this happen, but you have just got to get on with it. It is the last week of the season and it is important that we finish the season with a good performance and hopefully the right result.”
» Watford Manager Aidy Boothroyd
ON NEXT SEASON:
“We are in a stronger place than ever before, even though we have been relegated. There is money there to spend.
“We need experienced guys who can cope with the grind of the 46-game season, and we also need young talent.
“It is very difficult to bounce back straight away. We are in a stronger place than ever before, but there is also a level of expectation.”
» What the Media has to say
» BBC Sport’s Mark Lawrenson
Just as Adrian Boothroyd signs a new contract at Watford, we’re waiting for Sam Allardyce to be appointed at Newcastle - and I think he will be. I just hope whoever takes over at Newcastle is given at least two to three years to set the club up right.
Ironically, in a week when Newcastle have lost their manager, I can see them getting a win.
Prediction: 1-2
» SkySports.com
Watford to bow out with a bang
Player to watch: Michael Owen
Prediction: Watford 2-1 Newcastle
» Predicted Lineup
Steve Harper
Nolberto Solano
Steven Taylor
Titus Bramble
Stephen Carr
James Milner
Nicky Butt
Kieron Dyer
Charles N’Zogbia
Obafemi Martins
Michael Owen
» Predicted Outcome
I can see Newcastle bowing out this season with a victory. It’s been a difficult week full of uncertaintity with the resignation of Roeder and the possibility of Allardyce being installed and it could have put the players off but I think they’ll be glad just to hear the final whistle go.
I think it’ll be 2-0 to United with Martins and Owen grabbing the goals for the Magpies. Howay the Lads!
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Oh the pointlessness of it all. How sad and pathetic is this like. Not only is it pointless but of course we don’t get an exciting game to finish it off with. We get Watford who sit at the bottom of the table. JOY. I think that they’d be better of to play Shay Given, well actually looking at it from an Irish point of view maybe they should rest him, but I’d say thats the last thing he’ll want. He’s a club favourite he’s the only one really who actually preforms and half the time makes us forget that we have no defense. If he plays and along with the other “big” players like Dyer, Martins, Owen, Milner..etc and we play really well and we win and Owen scores with alot of the team back then that’ll give the spirits of the club and the fans a lift. I know it’s too little too late but maybe just before the season ends maybe they could give us something that we haven’t had for a long time, something to cheer about someone to cheer for cause God we need a reason. And if we have alot of the old favourites back doing their thing, playing really well then maybe we wont hate them as much in the morning and maybe we wont be back here after the match talking about a pathetic game with an embarasing scoreline and how bad does it get that we can’t even beat the team at the bottom of the table. We need a good win with everyone preforming so a little bit of pride can be put back in to a club thats had a horrible season. Maybe we can go out with a fight that I know is somewhere deep DEEP down in the Newcaste players, I think.
Sent in on: May 13th, 2007 at 10:38 am
I think the boys will come out all guns blazing and bag a hatfull.
Lets go for a 4-1 win
This is the only game that I’ll be watching today, and its just out of interest to see if Pearson will do anything different in the way of tactics.
Sent in on: May 13th, 2007 at 10:03 am
dont really care about the result to be honest means nothing
Sent in on: May 13th, 2007 at 8:24 am
hopefully we win
if we have another abd performance, it could force Owen to leave, he won’t want to play for a team that can’t beat the worst in the legaue
Sent in on: May 13th, 2007 at 5:36 am
Nice preview. My view on things though is that I can’t see much changing. Another lacklustre performance I see coming. Please may I be proved wrong though. We’re be lucky if we come away with a 1-1.
Sent in on: May 12th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
We’re going to hammer them. Some of the players will be playing to keep their contracts, others just to impress the new boss (who will be watching).
Should be a great game.
Sent in on: May 12th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I love how optimistic the starting bit is. Lovely.
Jeezo, there may be no point but we should just enjoy the match.
Sent in on: May 12th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
My apologies over the Emre mistake. Was working off a template and mistook Emre for being in the squad when he is indeed injured.
Sent in on: May 12th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
1-2. Owen header and Dyer
Sent in on: May 12th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
I am still left wondering why Charles N’Zogbia has not played a bigger part in our season, and why, as a club, we insist on player players rather than positions. Dyer, in all the years he has been here, has still not played himself into the team, his performances are not good enough either at right wing, left wing, centre mid or up front. N’Zogbia proves his worth week in week out and balances the side (A left footed winger on the left wing makes sense to me). GET HIM IN!
Sent in on: May 12th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
In your predicted line up there’s Emre, isn’t he not in the squad uve mentioned above and isn’t he injured. i bet u mean n’zogbia
Sent in on: May 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pm