Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Perhaps not a ‘Super Sunday’ in its truest sense this afternoon as there is only one game on offer but it still takes on a high level importance. Hosts Watford have lost their last three league matches while visitors West Ham start life under David Moyes.
For Marco Silva the international break has bought with it links to the vacant Everton job and it is Everton in which the Hornets traveled to before the hiatus. At 2-0 up it looked as it would be maximum points and an end to their current dip in form.
David Unsworth however had other ideas as he masterminded a dramatic turnaround as Watford came unstuck against the Toffees. Leighton Baines late penalty would prove to be the winner but it would not be the end of the drama as former Evertonian Tom Cleverly then missed a 100th minute penalty which would have at least salvaged a point.
Watford have been very easy on the eye this season but I think that is down to the fact that as good as they have been in attack they have been particularly leaky at the back. One thing that is for sure when watching them this season, you are more than often than not going to be entertained.
West Ham have faced many criticism’s this season and one of their major faults has been their defensive issues. The Hammers have conceded 23 goals from their first 11 matches – more than two goals against per game and it is to David Moyes that they will look to in order to plug these particular leaks.
Before the international break the East London outfit suffered a heavy defeat to Liverpool at the London Stadium and it was that loss that ultimately did for Slaven Bilic. He may well have bought himself some time after West Ham’s Carabao Cup over Tottenham but it ended up expiring after that 4-1 defeat.
After throwing away a 2-0 lead at Crystal Palace the one thing West Ham and more importantly Bilic could ill afford was a heavy defeat at the hands of Liverpool. As we now know the rest is history and it is up to former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes to salvage their season.
Not only that though but you get the feeling that Moyes needs to salvage his own career it has been a string of notable failures since leaving Goodison Park and you get the feeling that another poor managerial stint here and he will become a busted flush in terms of being a Premier League manager.
Watford can move back into eighth place with a win today as Brighton do not play until tomorrow night and Marco Silva will be mindful as failure in which to do could see a very clear dividing line forming between themselves and the top seven.
While West Ham know that a win today could see them move up to 16th in the table and see West Brom drop into the bottom three for the first time this season. They will not necessarily get cast adrift should they lose today but it will certainly be an opportunity missed in which to get some daylight between them and the bottom three.
The big question is whether Moyes can install the new manager bounce that we always speak about when there is someone installed at a club. West Ham’s season has been one of few highs and to be honest it starts now, can it get off to the perfect start in this new era.
Watford need to get out of this rut and West Ham is probably one club they would not want to face due to the reasons above. Then again home form may give them a slight edge but I think the Hammers will at least get something out of this. I will go with a draw
Here is what social media thinks will happen – you can still vote on the outcome
Time for today's scientific poll. Will David Moyes get off to the perfect start at #WestHam boss as they travel to #Watford
— Dan Tracey (@dantracey1983) November 19, 2017
