One of the things I remember most about the 2004/05 season is the importance of a good start.
As one of the newly promoted sides, there was obviously some interest in how we, along with West Brom and Palace would acclimatise to the top flight.
The results were pretty damning.
It wasn’t until the eighth round of fixtures that any of us registered a win. That barren run gave the national media its story and with each passing week the scrutiny and pressure intensified. It took City until late November to finally bag three points at the fourteenth time of asking.
Our recent stint in the top flight showed that as the Premier League riches have grown, so has the accompanying circus of statistics and analysis. I still recall the sleepless nights I had, fretting over why we were the only team yet to score from open-play in the first 20 minutes of an away match.
Of course the facts are that you play everyone twice and your final points tally determines where you finish, regardless of when and how those points are gained.
But that would be to ignore the importance of momentum and pressure. We will all feel far more comfortable if points are collected on a regular basis and each ‘milestone’ (first win, first away points, clean-sheet and so on) is ticked sooner rather than later to keep the statisticians at bay.
So what has the fixture list thrown up for us this time round?
On face value it would appear we have a reasonable start and a real opportunity to pick up early points against some of the division’s ‘lesser lights’.
Our home form will be crucial and with Palace, Stoke, Bournemouth, Leicester and West Brom the first visitors to Carrow Road, there’s a chance to build some form and confidence.
That could prove crucial as we head towards November and a difficult run of seven fixtures including matches against all of last season’s top four and culminating in a Boxing Day trip to White Hart Lane.
It’s wishful thinking on my part but the commencement of the group stages of the Champions League around that time may just provide something of a distraction and an opportunity to upset one of the big guns?
Within that sequence we also have home games against Swansea and Everton which will possibly provide a truer reflection of what lies ahead. For any team with mid-table aspirations, those are exactly the sorts of fixtures you need and even expect to win.
Fail to do so and we could be looking at a run of John Carver proportions and an extremely bleak Christmas.
The last time we graced the Premier League (although I’m not sure graced is the right term), much was made of the run-in. It was a wretched series of fixtures that created a sense of inevitability long before relegation was confirmed.
With Arsenal (a), Man United (h) and Everton (a) to round off this season, comparisons are predictable but in truth the preceding games in April have a far kinder look to them.
Teams will blow hot and cold during the year. Playing Leicester towards the end of last season was a very different proposition to before Christmas. So much will depend on meeting sides at the ‘right time’ – the week before a managerial sacking rather than the first game for his successor as an example.
The reality is that there will be all manner of twists and turns, highs and lows, frayed nerves and bitten fingernails but this is what we strived for over the course of last year and that glorious Bank Holiday Monday.
In the style of a true Premier League statistician, I could point out that we haven’t won an opening fixture for twelve years. I could also highlight the last time we met Palace on the opening day of a Premier League season. The 1-1 draw at Carrow Road in 2004 marked the start of that aforementioned thirteen game winless streak and a season that ultimately ended in relegation.
But I’d rather focus on the fact that we have a close-knit squad with plenty of top-flight experience and a support who are fully behind the team. Most importantly perhaps, we have a manager who will approach each match with a meticulously prepared game plan and a fierce determination to win.
Bring it on!
It’s gonna be a right rollocking atmosphere from day 1. With Palace’s speedy wingers, Bolasie and Zaha, our back 4 is going to be tested for pace right away.
Plenty of points there for the taking up to Christmas – we usually suffer a PL post-Christmas crash but don’t think that will happen on AN’s watch.
Pity we don’t get a crack at Watford until December – I predict they will have changed manager (again) before we get there.
This fixture list is similar to Lambert’s first season in the PL. Which is good news as it meant we (mostly) played one big team a month, took our respective spanking then got on with going head to head with beatable teams. We know we have the fight and a manager with the nous. We just need a couple of experienced, intelligent players to add to the squad. We’ll be fine.
the draw is not bad – let’s hope we can get off to the kind of start the fixtures potentially offer
“Mid-table aspirations …” Really? Personally I just have ‘anywhere in the top 17’ aspirations. I’m feeling confident though. With the feelgood factor still in the squad, and the fans still buzzing from those fantastic playoff victories, I’m sure we’ll get off to a good start, prove we can handle it, and build from there. Bring it on!
Cosmo,
Perhaps we will have changed manager again, who knows. One thing I do know is that I would rather have Flores who has pedigree at the top level than AN. Both have not been in this position before and we acknowledge as fans how difficult it will be.
With the quality of players that we will sign from Europe, we will not be worried about playing yourselves that’s for sure!
AN did fantastic to get you up as it was not really expected but you did have a squad full of ex-premier league players, (although failed ones at that).
I think getting players motivated will not be a problem for him but tactically he still has to prove himself for me judging by your hoof ball football at home to Boro.
Only time will tell.
Mick – one freak game on a Friday night you focus on. We got it wrong then but gloriously bounced back at Wembley by playing the same side off the park – no mention of from you? I won’t mention the fact that you let Ipswich do the double over you and you didn’t even score a goal against their fabled defence with your fabled attack!
Flores has been sunning himself in the UAE for 4 years – that’s quite some time since he’s seen proper competitive football. His appointment smacks of the Fulham-Magath one to me. Alex Neil has won playoffs to the top division with two teams in successive seasons. He is going to be one of the greats.
Cosmo,
Any side can play football when they are winning, its what you do in adversity which interests me. Does my team have a plan b? All I pointed out was AN did not have that plan from what we all saw on tv.Is he another Aidy Boothroyd? Time will tell Cosmo!
I dare say if he does not succeed you will go missing from these forums. I will be back if he does to eat humble pie.
At least Flores has one a Top Level Trophy and taken teams into the CL latter stages.
Mick (7) – ‘Cosmo’ has been here through thick and thin and is far from the flaky fan you seem to suggest. He won’t ‘go missing’. But you’re welcome back any time to check.
Mick – as Gary said, I’ll be here come rain or shine.
Boothroyd’s time at Watford was as good as it got – Neil is only just getting going. Today the Premiership, tomorrow the world!
Plan B? Where was that for Joka when you went 1-0 down to us after a ‘debatable’ penalty? Or at home to Ipswich when you didn’t muster a single effort on goal?
Those Flores successes were 6-10 years ago in a far off land. Magath had a similarly impressive CV when he came to England.
Cosmo,
All AN has done is the same as Boothroyd so far.He even had the advantage of having best squad of players in the Championship.He could not achieve automatic promotion despite being in a great position with three games to go!
Debateable penalty Cosmo, surely you are not defending WH diving technique? Plan B for us when we went behind to Norwich was to try and still play football not hoofball!
What is this thing about us and Ipswich? We have lost to other physical sides besides them you know?
Flores actually won the Europa league five years ago as well as beaten finalists in the Copa Del Rey. A spell in the middle east being paid silly money followed. Would you not do the same if someone offered you a good salary? Are you saying that all foreign coaches have to be compared against Magath now?
Mick (10) – OK mate, you win. The Watford model is wonderful, ours is rubbish. Flores is the real deal, Alex Neil is the next Ady Boothroyd. We’re doomed to struggle. You’re destined for the top ten.
Congratulations in advance.
Oh… and Wes is filthy cheat, and your boys wouldn’t dream of diving …
Just sticking to facts so far Gary that’s all. No need for your sarcastic remarks. Just being objective in the big picture.
WH is a cheat as he was at it again against Boro for millions to see on tv and rightly got booked. Trouble is you lot seem to condone it. Our player feigned injury and got a rollicking from the manager by all accounts and was slaughtered on the messages boards by his own fans unlike you lot on here!
I know next season we will see a lot of this going on in the premier league for both of us.
Mick – “Just being objective in the big picture.”
You sure about that? You object to Flores being uttered in the same breath as Magath, but seem intent on comparing Alex Neil to Ady Boothroyd.
Neither appear great analogies IMHO.
Sarcastic? Me?
Good luck in Europe…
Mick – you seem to be taking this terribly personally!
The reason I remind you of your defeat to Ipswich is it was (probably) your worst performance under Joka and therefore not a fair reflection of Watford’s style of play or season..ditto our game against Boro which you seem to have an obsession with. We had a plan B and it was called ‘Operation Wembley’.
I’ve recently watched the highlights from our win at your gaff. Whatever your opinion of master Wes, our other goals were magnificent – surely you can give us credit for those?
Please tell me what Magath & Flores have in common apart from being foreign coaches in England then Gary?
AN & AB were both relatively unknown managers that both got their teams promoted in their first season did they not? I think that is a fair comparison. Of course we will only find out in time if AN is like AB a one trick pony? I think he is and if I’m wrong will eat humble pie on here.
Good luck with Mid table!!
Cosmo,
I’m not taking this personally at all, just that someone offers a different opinion on here and was surprised by the sarcastic response.
I feel honoured that you wanted to watch your win again at the Vic to make you feel better. From after WH cheating you were by far the better side and to be honest you did a job on us over 90 mins and deserved to win. To be fair our manager should have tried something different instead of trying to play through your team while you had plenty of men back.
With regards your tv performance, I only reference that because Norwich were hoofing the ball after only 20 mins not 70 which a lot of teams do.
Mick,
This is wearing me out! I don’t consider Flores and Magath to have ‘anything’ in common, the same way it’s odd to compare AN solely with AB. Plenty of managers have had successful first seasons and have gone on the have successful careers!
And please don’t be surprised my by sarcastic tone. It’s said to be the lowest form of wit and I’m not the sharpest tool…
Good luck next season.
Well, this is all rather amusing!!
If that’s the perception other fans have of us and our style of football, I’m really struggling to come to terms with how we managed to string together those “17 consecutive hoofs” which led up to Nathan Redmond’s goal at Wembley!
And the fact that Watford fans are still bleating about the Wes penalty is equally amusung, if only because it also overlooks the fact that Watford, as the home team, failed miserably to register one single meaningful shot on target over ninety plus minutes during that game! I guess We’d is to blame for that too?
I’m not condoning what Wes did for one moment, but it happens throughout the game, so, get over it!
I do also admire the enthusiasm from Watford fans that they’ll somehow manage to attract all these high class loan signings and everything will turn out rosey for them.
It sounds a cunning plan but, time will tell how successful, or otherwise, it will be.
OTBC
Watford player diving? Never happen..
http://talksport.com/football/video-check-out-watford-star-fernando-forestieris-woeful-dive-150312139524
Why don’t you read earlier threads Holly!
We as a club did not condone our player getting another player sent off.
WH cheated against us which changed the game and got you three points and tried his luck again versus Boro for millions to see. I cannot understand why you fans do not seem to mind as Wes said 18 months ago he could not wait to leave Norwich and described it as a F…… s…. club!
Nice bloke when you as fans pay his wages.
You are a forgiving lot!