QPR vs Watford - All You Need To Know About The Hornets
Posted On 16/02/2010 at at 13:20 by Alistair Kleebauer
If Patrick Agyemang, a man who managed two goals in the whole of the previous season, fails to celebrate a strike then something is wrong. When the team then goes on to meekly concede three goals and a player is left out in the cold following the game, rather than sharing the dressing room with his teammates, then something truly bizarre is going on. If there is a single game that marked the start of QPR's downward spiral, it was surely that game just over two months ago.
Considering the run of form since and some of the performances displayed, should QPR lose by a similar scoreline tonight, few would grumble if Mick Harford repeated one of his predecessor's alleged actions and head-butted a few of the players, even in sight of the supporters. Hopefully the need for manager-on-player violence will be averted but Watford are unlikely to prove an easy three points for the struggling R's.
Watford Team News
Watford can't play Heidar Helguson under the terms of his loan, more on that below, but they are fortunate to have the services of Tom Cleverley (pictured below) to call on. The on-loan midfielder from Man United and the club's top scorer, is back in full training following a knee injury which kept him out of their last two games.
What To Expect
Watford are a tricky team to pin down. Following their relegation from the Premiership in 2007 they had to part ways with most of their best players to soften the financial blow of such a quick return to the Championship. Their financial troubles have worsened, if that's possible, since, with there even being talk of potential administration around Christmas, but somehow, mainly through smart loan transfers, they remain a difficult team to beat and though not comfortable of their safety in this league just yet, they are certainly in a more favourable position than their opponents tonight.
They're even harder to predict because their form is quite topsy-turvy. Throughout this season, they've never put together a long unbeaten sequence but similarly, they've rarely gone too long without three points either. Surprisingly, their worst run probably came after the visit of QPR mentioned above. They followed that up with defeats to strugglers Derby County and Peterborough and had a miserable January in which they were knocked out of the Cup by Chelsea but more damagingly, lost both of their league games against Doncaster and Blackpool.
Ominously for QPR, they look like they've turned another corner just in time for their trip to Loftus Road tonight. Since the start of this month, they've beaten Sheffield United and Bristol City, though they still look weak on the road, with a 1-0 defeat at Barnsley separating those two games.
In terms of players to look out for, Rangers are fortunate that one of their poorer decisions of the season can't literally come back to bite them. Heidar Helguson, twice loaned out to Watford this season, can't play tonight under the terms of his loan and with two goals in three games, he would have undoubtedly posed a threat to the R's shaky defence.
Watford certainly seem better equipped at playing the loan market than QPR. Where QPR seem to go for ageing professionals or out-of-favour players, Watford have smartly brought in a number of young players from bigger clubs with something to prove (the only loan signing which QPR have made which could fit into this category is Jay Simpson, the most successful up until now).
Midfielder Tom Cleverley, on loan from Man Utd, is Watford's top scorer with ten goals, and has a touch and control which demonstrates his education at Old Trafford. Another addition who has been well schooled in technique and attractive football is Henri Lansbury from Arsenal and at just 19, he is now an important part of the Watford line-up.
Star Man
As mentioned above, loaning out Heidar Helguson (pictured above in action against Sheffield United) to Watford hasn't looked like the smartest move since. QPR originally let Helguson go out on loan back in September and at the time, despite also losing Dexter Blackstock at the end of the previous season, it didn't appear to be the worst decision. Helguson had struggled at QPR both for form and fitness, with just five goals from 15 starts the previous season.
But the Watford old boy soon demonstrated that familiar surroundings can get the best of him. Two goals in his first game earned Watford a 3-3 draw with Leicester and he's followed that up with six more since. Therefore, when his initial loan deal expired in January and with Jay Simpson the only QPR striker finding the net on a regular basis, it was odd that Rangers allowed the player to renew his deal with the Hornets.
Simpson is a naturally gifted striker but rough around the edges and surely he could have benefited immensely from the benefit of Helguson's experience, to learn more about the physical nature and the little tricks needed to succeed in the Championship. Instead, you get the impression that Simpson himself now has to coach his current striker partner, the even wetter behind the ears Tamas Priskin. QPR's one stroke of luck at the moment is that they won't face Helguson tonight.
Hoops TV - Watford
Bit of a cheat this one. But then again, few people are as synonymous with Watford as Elton John, former chairman and life president. Below, in full Hornet regalia, Elton serenades Vicarage Road with Bennie and the Jets back in 1974. He'll be returning for his only UK concert this year on 29th May.
Ten Year Record
2008-9 - 13th in Championship
2007-8 - 6th in Championship
2006-7 - 20th in Premiership (Relegated)
2005-6 - 3rd in Championship (Promoted)
2004-5 - 18th in Championship
2003-4 - 16th in First Division (now Championship)
2002-3 - 13th in First Division
2001-2 - 14th in First Division
2000-1 - 9th in First Division
1999-0 - 20th in Premiership (Relegated)
Lend Us A Tenner?
Not a chance. Watford were very close to doing a Palace just two months ago and their financial future still looks far from rosy as they become one of the many Championship clubs to have suffered for their all-too-brief stay in the Premiership.
The club was thrust into crisis in December when chairman Jimmy Russo, who was reported to have close to a 30% stake in the club, along with his brother Vince, through their Valley Grown Salads company, decided to walk out of the club and was seeking a return on his £8 million investment.
Watford's shares were suspended in the same month and administration was a very real threat. Former manager Graham Taylor took over as interim chairman and one of the club's other major stakeholders, Lord Michael Ashcroft, the deputy chairman of the Tory party, repaid Russo a close to £5 million loan, thereby securing the club's survival at least until the end of this season. But don't expect this club to be splashing the cash for a while yet.
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