Prematch – FA Cup – Away to Watford
Bolton Wanderers head off to Watford this Saturday (January 7, 2006) to perhaps make progress in the FA Cup. The match kicks off at 3.00pm at Vicarage Road.
This is only the second time Bolton and Watford have met in the FA Cup, last time was 26 years ago (again in the third round) when Watford went through 2-1.
Sam Allardyce has a depleted squad which makes picking the starting 11 difficult. Campo, Davies and Nolan are suspended (gives time for Campo to tend his roses). Diouf, Faye and Jaidi are in Egypt on international duty for the African Cup of Nations.
Three injuries add to the list of absentees with Nicky Hunt (calf), Henrik Pedersen (Achilles) and Gary Speed (knee) all out of action.
The official club site listed the follow as the probable squad:
Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Gardner, Djetou, N’Gotty, Ben Haim, Stelios, Nakata, Borgetti, Vaz Te, Fadiga, Walker, Fojut, Fernandes, Buval.
However, Martin Djetou has gone and Fadiga has been ill recently so might not be able to play. Even if Fadiga is available there are not enough players listed to provide a full bench of substitutes.
Sam Allardyce explains:
“It will be a team that is put out in hope rather than in the knowledge they can get us a result. We hope its going to gel together quickly and be enough to get us through to the next round.”
It is not looking too good for The Trotters trip down south but such limitations will give the less played players a chance to impress their boss, so determination to win should not be a problem.
The current options (or lack of) may mean a change in from Sam’s favoured 4-5-1 formation. How about 4-4-2, with Borgetti and Vaz Té up front being fed from the midfield by Nakata, Fernandes, Captain Okocha and Giannakopoulos.
Defence? Whoever is left – O’Brien, N’Gotty, Ben Haim and Gardener.
Although there might be a great opportunity for Polish defender Jaroslaw Fojut and French striker Bedi Buval (as listed above).
Maybe some other academy players will take a place on the bench. Defensive players Bradley Hill and Dale Whitehead may prove useful (just in case).
Win, lose or draw we do not want to see any more injuries or suspensions. A draw would be terrible, as another game would have to be squeezed into the season’s schedule. To loose would be a little embarrassing, but at least there would be a list of legit excuses to explain defeat.
BWFC24 Prediction
Bolton Wanderers 3 – 1 Watford
Bolton to score first via Jared Borgetti proving that he is worthy to be a first team Wanderer regular.
Yes that is ’3-1′ to The Trotters, despite the depleted squad.
