wheel me if already posted
While the battle to reach the Premier League rages, at least one Hornets fan can sit back this weekend with a cold beer, light a cigar and watch the dogfight.
'Nugent has been a disaster at Portsmouth, having scored no league goals in eleven appearances'A weekend off. No pressure. No fear. Just a chance to sit back and watch all the other teams at the top do their best to throw it away and hand promotion to my misfiring Hornets.
While Watford relax and mentally and physically prepare for their forthcoming victory at Ashton Gate on Tuesday, most of the others will be toiling away, looking to make a decisive move in the promotion race. Ipswich haven’t got a game either, and West Brom are in the FA Cup. So it’s all eyes on Stoke, Charlton, Plymouth, Hull and temporary leaders Bristol City.
City defender Jamie McCombe, who has scored three goals in four games, says that he and his teammates aren’t feeling the pressure.
"It feels strange," he told BBC Radio Bristol. "We don't feel any pressure at, all to be honest. We're just going out there and enjoying where we are. We just need to keep picking up the points and, hopefully, we'll keep the momentum going and that'll follow us for the remaining 10 games."
Sorry, I don’t believe you, Jamie! The pressure is building and with a tough trip on Saturday to Leicester, fighting for their lives, and an unwinnable game against Watford on Tuesday (joke!), the momentum may well come to a grinding halt.
Strange goings on at Crystal Palace. A day after club legend Dougie Freedman pledged the rest of his career to the club, it appears he has agreed to join Leeds on loan until the end of the season. Why on earth would he say that a move away from Selhurst Park was “not an option” one day, and then move on the next?
Could it be that this is a very rare case of a player trying to be loyal to his club? Neil Warnock has probably made the decision that he can just about survive without the two goals Dougie has scored this season from five starts and 15 substitute appearances, and told the 34-year-old striker that there is no point in staying. Good pro is Dougie. I hope he does OK at Leeds and returns to Selhurst Park for a well-deserved testimonial.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed that a bust-up occurred between him and Gary Breen after the 2-2 draw with Southampton on Tuesday. He has confirmed that a ‘full-blooded’ argument took place but denied the reports that they had to be physically pulled apart. "Emotions were running high and heated words were exchanged,” McCarthy said. "We have since met for a clear-the-air talk and that's the end of it. We move on to the next game."
I’m sure the incident was no different to many that take place in dressing rooms all over the country on a Saturday every week. The only thing that makes me question just how far this incident went is what McCarthy said next.
"It was a dressing-room argument and there were too many people around for the situation to go beyond a bit of shouting. No punches were exchanged. Breeny and I have worked together for a long time and have a lot of respect for each other. We are both passionate and competitive people who desperately want to win games. So these things happen." Who mentioned punches being exchanged?
It is reported that Stoke manager Tony Pulis might look to take Portsmouth’s David Nugent on loan. It’s difficult to see why Pulis might want him. He has Ricardo Fuller on 14 goals, Liam Lawrence on 13 and Richard Cresswell on 10. Nugent has been a disaster at Portsmouth, having scored no league goals in eleven appearances. As a Watford fan I make a request to Nugent: “Please go to Stoke!”
Charlton have taken Reading striker Leroy Lita on a 28-day loan. Great signing for them at this crucial time of the season. One thing I don’t understand, though; with Reading struggling for points and goals, how can they afford to let Leroy go?
The saddest news this week was the death of Sheffield legend Derek Dooley at the age of 78. Having played for, and managed, Wednesday and been chairman at United, he is one of very few football figures loved throughout the city.
His playing career finished in tragic fashion in 1953 when he broke a leg in a collision with Preston goalkeeper George Thompson and he eventually had to have the limb amputated. He was awarded the MBE in 2003 and Sheffield United have decided to honour Dooley by naming their new junior development centre after him.
Talking of 78-year-olds, Scunthorpe are delighted by the possible return from injury of much-travelled striker Geoff Horsfield. Currently playing for his tenth club, his fifth in two years, he has managed only four appearances so far without scoring. I fear for Scunny if they are relying on the old warhorse to save them from relegation.
Finally, QPR defender Fitz Hall says the club aren’t bothered by the play-offs. That is lucky, really as they are ten points behind! With all the money now at the club they won’t be bothered about the play-offs next season, either. Only automatic promotion will do.
