A look ahead to the Hornets’ visit to Huddersfield
Town welcome Watford to the Stadium on Saturday afternoon as they look to continue their rich vein of form; kick-off is 3pm.
The Terriers beat Blackpool 3-1 in their last game in front of the sky cameras at Bloomfield Road, making it back to back wins on the road following their victory in Sheffield.
The Hornets visit Huddersfield on the back of an inconsistent start to the season. They currently sit in 20th place, one above Sheffield Wednesday. Their last game ended in a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City.
Officials
Gary Sutton
Sebastian Stocksbridge and Danny Gratton
Tony Harrington
Watford’s latest results
Bristol City (Championship) 2-2 (D)
Brighton (Championship) 0-1 (L)
Bolton (Championship) 1-2 (L)
Derby (Championship) 1-5 (L)
Bradford (League Cup) 1-2 (L)
Town Team News:
Joel Lynch is serving the second game of his three match ban, so Anthony Gerrard should continue in his place. Adam Hammill is still nursing a knee injury and it looks likely that he’ll miss out.
Watford Team News:
The Hornets have signed 13 loan players from Italy and Spain, and they are all available to manager Gianfranco Zola for their visit to Huddersfield. Top Scorer Matej Vydra is also available.
Watford Manager Gianfranco Zola
Zola returned to England in July 2012 to manage the Hornets after being shown the door by West Ham in 2010. The Italian started his managerial career with the Italian Under-21 side shortly after retiring from playing.
However, in September 2008, Alan Curbishley left West Ham and Zola was handed the reins. Even though he is a Chelsea legend, a fierce rival of the Hammers, the Upton Park fans soon warmed to the Italian’s affectionate attitude towards his players.
After the Hammers narrowly avoided relegation in the 2009/10 season Zola had his contract terminated.
Watford Transfers 2012/13
IN
Manuel Almunia- Arsenal- Free transfer
Fitz Hall- QPR- Free transfer
Almen Abdi- Udinese- Loan
Ikechi Anya- Granada- Loan
Steve Leo Beleck- Udinese- Loan
Daniel Pudil- Granada- Loan
Matej Vydra- Udinese- Loan
Alexandre Geijo- Udinese- Loan
Marco Cassetti- Udinese- Loan
Geoffrey Bia- Standard Liege- Loan
Joel Ekstrand – Udinese – Loan
Jean –Alain Fanchone – Udinese – Loan
Neuton – Udinese – Loan
Nathaniel Chalobah – Chelsea – Loan
Christian Battocchio – Udines – Loan
Fernando Forestieri – Udinese – Loan
OUT
Adrian Mariappa- Reading- £2.5m
Martin Taylor- Sheffield Wednesday- Signed
Tom James- Nuneaton- Signed
Dale Bennett – AFC Wimbledon - Signed
Scott Loach- Ipswich- Signed
Rene Gilmartin- Plymouth- Free transfer
Chez Isaac- Borehamwood- Free transfer
Josh Walker- Scunthorpe- Free transfer
David Mirfin- Scunthorpe- Free transfer
Gavin Massey- Colchester United- Free transfer
Adam Thompson – Wycombe – Loan
Britt Assombalonga – Southend – Loan
Matt Whichelow – Accrington
Ross Jenkins – Plymouth
Piero Mingoia – Accrington
Joe Garner - Carlisle
RELEASED
Michael Bryan
Chez Isaac
Key Man Matej Vydra
Czech Republic international striker, Vydra, has already bagged four league goals this season after signing on loan from Udinese in the summer. His parent club, Udinese, are owned by the same group that own Watford, and that partnership has seen the London club loan many players from the Serie A Club.
A previous spell at Banik Ostrava saw him score four goals in fourteen games. Udinese then saw his potential and signed him in 2010. He only managed two starts for the Club before being enticed by Zola to join his Watford team.
