Friday Footie Fiesta!
TGIF, chap! I've finished my work for today, so I thought I'd drop in on the relegation dogfight between Watford and Norwich. Of course, I'm hoping for a hard-fought and exhausting draw. If you're around this afternoon, drop by for a chat.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:16 PM
116 Comments:
This afternoon sees Watford, coming off the back of a deserved point at Newcastle, and Norwich, fresh from beating Everton, try to put a little distance between themselves and the bottom three.
The teams preparing for this afternoon's clash:
Watford: Bachmann, Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara, Sissoko, Kayembe, Cleverley, Dennis, King, Joao Pedro.
Subs: Ngakia, Sema, Fletcher, Tufan, Hernandez, Sierralta, Kucka, Elliot, Morris.
Norwich City: Gunn, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams, Sargent, Sorensen, Lees-Melou, Rashica, Idah, Pukki.
Subs: Byram, Dowell, Placheta, Kabak, Tzolis, McLean, Giannoulis, McGovern, Rowe.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Nice to get the Sky Sports Friday Night Football coverage there with an interview with Claudio Ranieri with The Neviller and Carradonna.
Teams coming out at Vicarage Road now to the strains of the "Z Cars" theme.
Good Afternoon, Bob. Here to join you on a cool, gloomy, dreary, foggy day here as we head into the international break
That's odd - Watford are wearing their yellow and black kit, while Norwich are wearing a change strip of orange. Not a lot of contrast there. Didn't Norwich used to wear green away?
They're off from VR
These teams have been partners in relegation and promotion quite often. Promoted together in 1982, proved together in 2015, relegated together in 2020, promoted together in 20212. Relegated together in 2022?
We're underway! The pre-match fireworks display has left a haze over the pitch.
Cissy fouls Adam Idah just outside the D for an early Canaries free kick. Into the wall by Rashica and cleared away
Afternoon, David - how's your week been?
How has the Sabbatical been?. Sound like you've been really productive
Doing well, thank you for asking. Been unpacking and doping dress changes. How about you?
One of these two teams will be in the drop zone heading in to the international break, but not both
It's officially my first day of the sabbatical, as I was able to skip the opening meetings on campus today. I spent the morning organizing my efforts.
This match hasn’t quite taken shape yet, but if anyone’s having the better of it, it’s Norwich.
It's been a good start by the Canaries. I think 35 points will be enough to survive this year . If so, then Leed is just a few wins away
I'm sure you're not pleased about the upcoming international break
Glad you didn't have to go to campus today and attend those tedious meetings.
Oh - Rashidi had a half chance from the top of the area but it's just over the top.
I'm glad that you mentioned the international break. I've been having a hard time finding out any information about schedule in my usual sources. Are England or the USA playing?
Sergeant at Arms , Josh, tees up Rashica, who side foots just over from the D
Yes, I've been having a hearty chuckle every time I've received an email reminder of the meetings coming up.
U.S. vs El Salvador at 7 PM, Thursday January 27th
Canada vs USA Sunday January 30th at 3:05 PM
U.S. vs Honduras Wednesday February 2nd at 7:30 PM
Oh - I thought Dennis was coming onto that cross perfectly but he leaned on his man.
As things stand, Watford are still a point above Norwich the dropzone. Crucially, though, Norwich will have played two more matches than Watford as of today, and a whopping five more matches than Burnley!
None of the UEFA teams are in action as their WC qualifiers finished in October . The playoffs start on Thursday March 24th
Thanks, mate! No England friendlies?
Based on what you mentioned about the relegation battle, not seems that Canaries, Hornets , and Toon must be favorites for the drop. Last season the Toon were in a similar position and went on a late season run , so an unexpected team may go down instead
Kenny McLean off injured and sorensen on in his place as dean Amithgwas forced to make a substitution
You're welcome. Sorry to say no England matches until March. Have friendlies at Wembley on March 26th vs Switzerland and March 29th vs the Ivory Coast. Those are their next matches
That's the way that I'm starting to think, but Burnley have been reduced to Jay Rodriguez and Matty Vydra as their only front men, after having sold Chris Wood and having Maxwell Cornet off on AFCON duty.
The Dean of Officials flapping his arms frantically over a routine free kick. No wonder why he's the center of attention
What's helped Burnley is that they have several matches in hand and as long as they win a couple they're out of the drop one. Theater teams are playing so poorly that Burnley have a chance. In a normal year I would agree 100%
This first half as been as dismal as the weather here the past two days
Not much going on in this one - that suits me to a tee.
Ben Gibby heads out a cross from Kiko for a Hornets corner after their long spell of possession
Samir with a free header from the edge of the box gunned straight to the Canaries keeper that was a lesser cut of beef than Angus
Lees- Melou twice a s stupid as the double name as he concedes an unnecessary free kick to the Hornets
These two clubs at a comedy club near you soon because they're such a joke!
Lees- Melou rolling around off a foul from Manny Dennis and Dennis the Menace with a card to match his jersey for that challenge
Kenny McLean more like McDirty and booked for a late, rash challenge on Clever Boy that was anything but clever
Not at all clever.
Pathetic attempt by Manny Dennis to win a penalty. Should have been booked for that
Hornets have been really dominant the last few minutes.
Big matches tomorrow for our Uniteds at 10 AM. Leeds vs Toon and United vs the Hammers. The match from ER will be on USA and the one from OT on the Cock
Directly to my north I heard shouts of Blow Up , Dean! Was that you?
An LOB blogging duet of stoppage time minutes at ER
Sorry. VR
OH! Cissy should have given the Hornets the lead. Nice pass from Josh King and a wide open Cissy slices a shot well wide with just the keeper to beat
It's 0-0 any the and of a half where the Hornets were the slightly better team
Very happy with that half-time score of 0-0. Keep it up, lads!
I'll be helping Kate with some cooking in the second half, so I'll be a bit in and out.
The second half is starting up - more of the same, lads!
The second half is underway from VR
What's on the menu for dinner this evening
Just over from Joao Pedro after a powerful run and pass from Cissy
GOAL ! SERGEANT AT ARMS, JOSH WITH A SHOT OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BAR AND JUST OVER THE LINE TO GIOVE THE CANARIES THE LEAD. A POOR PASS FROM MCLEAN WAS WON BY A GREAST TACKLE BY PUKKI ON SAMIR AND HIS PASS WAS DIVERTED IN BY THE U.S. INTERNATIONAL FOR AN UNLIKELY CANARIES LEAD. NOT SURE WHAT VAR IS CHECKING
GOAL! Well, well, well - Josh Sargent has popped up with an acrobatic effort to put Norwich in front!
VAR has decided it's a good goal and Norwich have a priceless lead!
0-1!
I think VAR was checking a possible foul by Pukki.
What a time for the Josh Sergeant to score his first Canaries goal as the Canaries are out of the drop zone for the first time this eason and the Hornets are in the drop zone for the first time this season
That sounds about right. It looked a fair challenge by Pukki and just plain poor defending from the Hornets
It's snowing here now , but not sticking to the ground
The Hornets at the only club in the top four divisions without a clean sheet this season. No wonder why they're in the drop zone
Great to see see Josh Sargent on the scoresheet. We're apparently looking at Brendan Aaronson, another US international. I haven't seen much from him in the matches I've watched but I'll reserve judgment until I see him in Leeds colors.
Theo Hernandez on for Clever Boy
I think Aaronson is playing for Salzburg. They're a selling club and it seems like their players have done well when moving on. He has done wekll when I've seen him play for the U.S. He would be a useful addition at ER and would add some depth to the squad
A stoppage at VR as there are problems with the lighting
Norwich will be having kittens if this is abandoned. Not sure what the rule is.
It's farcical . There is enough lighting for the match to continue. Not sure what the rule is either
We just had lighting issues. The lights flickered and the computer and TV took several minutes to boot up . It must be an international lighting problem, LOL!
If both clubs agree that this is sufficient lighting then the match will resume
The match resumes after a stoppage of nearly a dozen minutes
There will be a t least a quarter of an hour of stoppage time. Bloody ridiculous
GOAL ! SERGEANT AT THE DOUBEL AS HE SCORES HIS AND THE CANARIES SECOPND WITH A GREAT HEADER OFF A GREAST RUN AND CROSS FROM RASHICA
What a night for the young American!
After a VAR check the goal stands and the Canaries are two up. Great first time passing down the left between Brandon williams, McLean , and then Rashica with the run and cross that was well headed in by the Sergeant at Arms
The VAR check for possible offside is over and the Canaries have what looks like an insurmountable lead.
Not a great scoreline for Leeds, as we're only eight points off relegation now, but it's an even worse night for Watford who are now in the dropzone.
It goes from bad to worse for the Hornets as they are down to ten men. Manny Dennis with a high ,late rash challenge on Max Aarons sent off for aa second booking
Sergeant Josh with a shot deflected for a corner as he tries for his hat-trick
Now Dennis has gone off - Watford down and out with 10 men!
IfI Leeds defeat the Toon tomorrow they will be eleven points clear. Leeds started the night nine points clear and went to eight, so just a minor setback, especially if Leeds wins tomorrow
Ken sema on for Kamara. Too little , too late, IMHO
OH! Inches over by Joao Pedro from just outside the box.
Oh - Joao Pedro was only inches away with that effort - he's about the only one that has the ability to get one back.
Absolutely, mate - three points are crucial tomorrow and then we can breathe a bit.
Dean Smith shutting up shop and pleasing Bob by adding one to the LUFC Academy coefficient . Sam Byram on for Pukki
In a few minutes we will be seeing a marathon amount of stoppage time due to the problems with the floodlights
I had almost forgotten that Sam Byram was still at Norwich. He's a long lost Academy kid.
Sissoko has it in the back of the net but he's been flagged offside.
GOAL ! CISSY VOLLEYS IN A CROSS. It's disallowed for offside and the replay shows it's the right decision
A full fifteen minutes of stoppage time to go - not sure that I've ever seen that before!
As I called. A quarter off an hour of stoppage time. A roar of approval from the supporters
Oh my! Now it's an own goal for Norwich!
GOAL ! CANARIUE3S THREE UP./ AN OG BY KUCA OFF A CROSS FROM ADAM IDAH
Dear oh dear...Kucka, the second half sub, couldn't really do much more than stick out a leg and he inadvertently poked it home.
Comical defending from the Hornets . Max Aarons took a throw then got the ball back. He passed to Idah and his pass was diverted in for an OG b y Kuca . Supporters now headed for the exits
Canaries double their number of Prem way goals for the season in this match
Norwich trying to help out their goal difference, but they're still at -33. Watford now at -16.
I'm sure both managers want to hear the final whistle
Canaries wil be out of the drop zone for the international break no matter what happens in the matches this weekend
Placheta on for the excellent Rashica as Dean Smith makes a stoppage time substitution to ruin Dave's supper
OH!long range shot from Theo Hernandez off the bar then over as the Hornets attempt to get a consolation goal
Cor! Fernandes with a thirty yard effort that twanged off the bar and went over. No luck for Watford tonight.
Dean Smith minutes away from his 200th win as a professional manager
What about Ranieri? Sacked in the morning? They've already sacked one this season.
Knowing the impatient Pozzo's I could see ranieri being sacked. They went through several managers when they were relegated a couple of seasons ago.
OGS to succeed Ranieri at VR?
It's all over and Norwich are cock a hoop that they've won two on the trot against relegation opposition. Watford are totally in the dumps.
It's over and a chorus of boos as the Canaries win 0-3 at ER. Canaries out of the drop zone for the first time this season and replaced by the Hornets who are in the drop zone for the first time this season
Chants of "USA USA" from the Norwich fans as Josh Sargent troops off the two-goal hero.
Tomorrow it starts with the Toffees vs Villa, Big Dunc vs Stevie G/. Those were two who were never shy of a challenge in Mersey Derbies of the past.
Great to hear those chants and ow the traveling Canaries fans shouting Dean Smith
Musty seems to agree with us that this is Ranieri's last match in charge of the Hornets
I'll look forward to chatting with you tomorrow morning. I'll be up bright and early. Enjoy the rest of your evening.
Cheers, Bob. Great chatting with you. Enjoy your evening and look forward to chatting tomorrow morning
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