Operation Watford

I was sitting on the sofa on Saturday with one eye on the FA cup matches and another on the progress of Blackpool against Watford. I was astonished that the Seasiders had gone one-nil up and even more aghast to see them double their lead before half time. Coupled with the Brighton result against Ipswich the other day, I though the teams down the bottom are really turning their form around now.

Yes it's them again. Let's try not to get stung again this time.

The sudden realisation that Watford were far from destroyed or deflated by that first half hit me soon enough, as the Hornets were no longer behind but 3-2 up and scoring goals for fun. A beating of 7-2 was the last thing I saw coming for Blackpool, but it reminded me that this is a Watford team that are perennial Championship contenders and even with their managerial changes they are one of the teams that are always going  to be in and around the top of this table. 

Watford will also be buoyed by the arrival of Ben Watson from Wigan Athletic as if they were not strong enough in midfield already. Vujadin Savic is a player I know less about but the Serb defender could also be available to face the Cherries having signed for the Hornets. Another defender coming in is the Mexican international, Miguel Layun who was at Granada, another Pozzo family club.

Having lost to Huddersfield, Watford have scored 13 goals in their last two games and Troy Deeney has only scored two of those. Odion Ighalo is the new golden boy, a Nigerian who has now scored 11 times this season. Udinese's loss is certainly Watford's gain with the help of the Pozzo family.

It will be AFCB fans first sight of Slavisa Jokanovic as Watford manager and yet I imagine that he will set up his team with the same emphasis on attack as his predecessors. This is a very difficult game and AFCB certainly have to be at their very best to come out unscathed. What I will say is we owe this Watford team a beating having bossed the game at Vicarage Road. It's time to start taking apart these teams that have a habit of getting the better of AFCB.

I can see the doom-mongers already gathering and saying that the Cherries' bubble has burst if this game is lost and the fact that it is on TV will give the media plenty of opportunity to say AFCB surely can't stay at the top of the table. Well, why not? The players have been good enough so far, but they will know that they need to beat Watford and Derby in a few weeks time now. It is pressure but we would surely rather have this kind of pressure than being in Wigan or Millwall's position. Be positive is what I would say to the players. Let's get a result and show the TV watchers how good AFCB really are.

Watford Away Form
LWWWL

AFCB Home Form
DDWWL

Transfer Watch
I have not really commented on another failed bid for Demarai Gray as it has been well covered, but I do wonder at what point the Cherries decide he is either an asset they can afford or just too expensive at Birmingham City's valuation. I know a lot of work goes into scouting players and AFCB are clearly keen on the player. It is hard to see where Gray would fit into the team straight away though and if the transfer would cost more than £3.5m you would expect that player to be much better than most of those already at the club.

Finally well done to the AFCB team that beat Hordean 1-3 to reach the semi-final of the Hampshire Senior Cup.