Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Watford could give a debut to attacking midfielder Nordin Amrabat, who signed from Malaga this week.
Another new arrival, goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, is also expected to be in the squad.
Newcastle’s head coach Steve McClaren has an injury crisis that has left him with only four match-fit defenders.
Jack Colback was due to fill in as a full-back but he is out, while Cheick Tiote will not play any part as he tries to finalise a move to China.
He joins a lengthy injury list which includes Papiss Cisse, Siem de Jong, Kevin Mbabu, Gabriel Obertan, Massadio Haidara, Mike Williamson and Vurnon Anita.
Editor’s Note: Watford are the midst of the worst run of form all season with 4 defeats in a row and no win in their last 5 matches. Victory over Liverpool in December and being in the running for a Champions League place seem a distant memory at the moment.
Sanchez Quique Flores will have to make sure this slide is arrested soon as Watford haven’t reached the objective of safety so he will hoping that his side can get a few more points to get over the line and make sure the season doesn’t fall off a cliff between now and May.
The partnership of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney has been quiet of late with no goal in the last 3 league matches for either of them, it seems when these two are quiet Watford are quiet but Sanchez Quique Flores has seen to try and rectify this by bringing in Nordin Amrabat from Malaga.
It’s hoped he can bring a bit of flair into Midfield and also help in not only creating goals but getting a few for himself, that’s not the only new face at Vicarage Road as Costel Pantilimon has also joined from Sunderland in the week and will be aiming to be picked ahead of current Goalkeeper Huerelho Gomes.
They play host to a Newcastle side who although they won last Weekend at home to West Ham still find themselves in the bottom 3 thanks to Swansea beating their opponents Today. Newcastle are looking better as of late and with the additions of Jonjo Shelvey and Henri Saviet they will be hoping they can help them pull clear of the drop zone.
It’s Defence where Newcastle are having their biggest problems this season as they have conceded the second highest goal tally in the league and they certainly aren’t helped by their lengthy injury list. The last time these two sides met was in the F.A. Cup a couple of weeks ago where Watford got the upper hand thanks to a solitary Troy Deeney goal.
Much will rest on Georginio Wijnaldum for Newcastle this Afternoon, he is the second highest scoring Midfielder this season and Steve McClaren will no doubt be hoping he can add to that tally at Vicarage Road. I think Watford will end the terrible run as Newcastle are just to porous at the back and the combination of Ighalo and Deeney can’t stay that quiet for too much longer. A home win for me.
