Wycombe Vs Watford preview

Wycombe Wanderers Vs Watford
Causeway Stadium
26/7/06
@19:45

Watford continue their preparations for the forthcoming Premiership campaign with a trip to the Causeway Stadium.

~Form~

The Hornets and the Chairboys have not met since December 1997 when the outcome was a goalless draw. In total the two clubs have met on five occasions with Watford winning three clashes, the first an F.A Cup tie in 1960 with a 5-1 Watford win. The other two meetings have ended in goalless draws.

~Ex-Men~

Hornets` legend Tommy Mooney will come up against one of his former clubs this Wednesday. The former Oxford, Swindon, Derby and Birmingham hitman spent six successful years at the 'Vic. Mooney left Oxford in 2005 to move to John Gorman`s Wycombe.

~Watford Team News~

Manager Aidy Boothroyd is to re-sign 'keeper Ben Foster from Manchester United, but the youngster is unlikely to feature. Meanwhile Richard Lee returns from Blackburn and Scott Loach has joined from Lincoln.

Fellow youngsters Sheku Kamara and Claude Seanla have joined from Charlton and Spurs respectively. Former Addicks full back Chris Powell has signed for a season and all-action Wigan midfielder Damien Francis was snapped up for £1.5 million.

~Likely Line-up~

Loach
Doyley Mackay DeMerit Powell
Young Francis Mahon Stewart
King Henderson

Also Involved?

Remainder of the squad likely to be named as substitutes.


~Wycombe Wanderers Team News~

This summer has undoubtedly been a hectic one for the Chairboys after seeing John Gorman resign and his replacement Steve Brown leave the club too. However, former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert has moved to the Causeway to step into the hot seat.

As well as losing two managers, club-captain Roger Johnson moved to Cardiff City after an impressive season. On the 'In` list, Chelsea youngster Anthony Grant has joined on a season-long loan.


~Likely Line-up~

Talia
Senda Williamson Antwi
Bloomfield Oakes Grant Lee
Betsy Mooney Easter

Also Involved?

Torres, Gregory, Palmer, Stonebridge, Anya, Martin, Williams and Dixon.

~Key Player Profiles~

Frank Talia - The six foot one Australian 'keeper joined in 2002 and has been a hit ever since. The former Swindon 'keeper has also lost part of one of his toes in a freak lawnmower accident.

Tommy Mooney - The Hornets legend has spent the past season at Wycombe and his been a huge success alongside now departed youngster Nathan Tyson. Mooney is a powerful striker who is good in the air.

Danny Senda - Harrow-born right full back Senda has spent seven years at the Causeway Stadium. An athletic full back that can play on the right hand side of midfield, Senda has won an England under 17 cap.

Stefan Oakes - Oakes has enjoyed another impressive campaign at the heart of the Chairboys midfield scoring six goals. At twenty-six he has made just under one hundred career starts.

Rob Lee -Veteran former Newcastle and West Ham midfielder has won England caps, but at thirty-nine his playing days are drawing to a close. Along with Mooney he is one of the elder statesmen in the football league.

Jermaine Easter - Lively front man who scored 11goals in 21 appearances last season for Stockport. The Welshman is a proven scorer at this level and still has years ahead of him.

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