TheNewsGuru

Tag: Watford

  • Transfer: Super Eagles forward joins Watford

    Transfer: Super Eagles forward joins Watford

    Super Eagles forward, Samuel Kalu has completed a move from French Ligue1 side, Bordeaux to Premier League club, Watford.

    The relegation-battling side announced the deal until June 2025.

    Kalu becomes the fourth signing of the January window and the fourth Super Eagles star plying his trade at Vicarage Road.

    Watford have brought in Hassane Kamara, Samir and midfielder Edo Kayembe this January and already have Nigerian stars Ogenekoro Etebo, William Troost-Ekong and Emmanuel Dennis on their payroll.

    “The 24-year-old signs for the Hornets following three-and-a-half successful years in France’s top tier, where he scored nine goals,” a statement on the club’s official website reads.

    “Capable of playing on either flank, Kalu is a versatile option in a competitive squad, typically operating on the right-wing.”

  • EPL: Watford appoints Roy Hodgson as new manager

    EPL: Watford appoints Roy Hodgson as new manager

    Premier League side Watford have appointed Roy Hodgson as their new manager.

    The former England and Liverpool boss, 74, returns to the Premier League after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season.

    The Hornets sacked Claudio Ranieri on Monday, the 15th managerial change since the Pozzo family took over the club in 2012.

    Hodgson will be tasked with securing Premier League survival as they sit 19th, two points from safety.

    Ray Lewington, who managed Watford between 2002 and 2005, will join as assistant, filling the same position he did under Hodgson for England and Palace.

    The club have not announced the length of Hodgson’s contract.

    Watford acted quickly to find a successor to Ranieri, whose last game in charge was Friday’s 3-0 home defeat by relegation-rivals Norwich.

    Hodgson’s first game will be away to Burnley, who are bottom of the table, on 5 February.

  • Premier League club Watford axe Claudio Ranieri

    Premier League club Watford axe Claudio Ranieri

    Premier League club Watford have sacked boss Claudio Ranieri after less than four months in charge.

    The Italian managed to claim only seven points in 13 league games.

    Last Friday’s 3-0 home defeat to Norwich saw Watford drop into the bottom three with 18 matches left.

    “The Hornets’ board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, who will always be respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts in leading the team with dignity,” said a club statement.

    “However the board feels that, with nearly half of the Premier League campaign remaining, a change in the head coach position now will give a new appointment sufficient time to work with a talented squad to achieve the immediate goal of retaining Premier League status.”

  • Ranieri apologises to fans after heavy Norwich defeat

    Ranieri apologises to fans after heavy Norwich defeat

    Watford boss Claudio Ranieri apologised to fans after they collapsed 3-0 at home to Norwich City on Friday night.

    Josh Sargent struck twice and Adam Idah also scored for the visitors, with Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis being sent off in the second-half.

    Ranieri later said: “Before I answer I want to say sorry to our fans because we wanted to do something better. We asked the players to light with fire and we can’t lose this match, but after the goal we disappeared.

    “Maybe we played better 10 v 11. It is very important the lesson Norwich gave us, they played as a team, we played as individuals. That is no good. Now I have to choose the players that want to fight hard for Watford. You have to play 11 v 11.

    “I believe in my reaction and the players’ reaction. It is not possible to continue in this way because this way we go straight into the Championship. I want the players with heart and mentality who play for the team.

    “I speak every day with the board and we are all together. I believe in these players, the players who want to believe. Who doesn’t want to believe – go home.

    “The new players played very well had understand my philosophy. Some players don’t want to understand my philosophy – I want to play straight away, no dribble dribble, shoot straight away.

    “We have to react immediately.”

  • Super Eagles forced to leave Osimhen, Dennis out of AFCON squad

    Super Eagles forced to leave Osimhen, Dennis out of AFCON squad

    Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis and fellow striker Victor Osimhen of Napoli have both dropped out of Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    The Hornets have reportedly refused to release Dennis, who has scored eight Premier League goals this season.

    A Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) statement said Dennis had been excused because Watford were “baring fangs”.

    Osimhen has been ruled out following a positive Covid-19 test and is still recovering from facial fractures.

    The injury in November was expected to rule the Napoli frontman, 23, out of the tournament, which starts on 9 January in Cameroon.

    Dennis, 24, will now be available for Watford’s league games against fellow strugglers Newcastle and Norwich, as well as their FA Cup third round tie at Leicester City on 8 January.

    He and Osimhen have been replaced by Sparta Prague striker Peter Olayinka and Olympiakos forward Henry Onyekuru, while the Super Eagles have also been forced to make two changes in defence.

    Rangers defender Leon Balogun and Cyprus-based Abdullahi Shehu have both been replaced by West Brom’s Semi Ajayi and Tyronne Ebuehi of Italian Serie A side Venezia.

    “In-form rapid raider Emmanuel Dennis, whose English Premiership club is baring fangs, has been excused to provide room for Czech Republic-based forward Peter Olayinka,” Nigeria’s official account said on Instagram.

  • Chelsea defeat Watford to stay top of Premier League

    Chelsea defeat Watford to stay top of Premier League

    Chelsea retained their place at the top of the Premier League with a hard-earned win over Watford in a game that was halted for 32 minutes because of a medical emergency in the crowd.

    Both sets of players left the pitch early in the first half while the fan, who had suffered cardiac arrest, was stabilised.

    When they returned, Mason Mount gave the Blues the lead with a first-time finish at the end of a lovely move involving Marcos Alonso and Kai Havertz.

    Watford equalised when Ruben Loftus-Cheek lost possession and Moussa Sissoko set up Emmanuel Dennis, who scored with a shot that deflected off Antonio Rudiger.

    But having scored his side’s first, Mount then set up the winner by providing the pass for substitute Hakim Ziyech to fire past Daniel Bachmann.

  • Watford v Chelsea: Fan stabilised after suffering cardiac arrest during match

    Watford v Chelsea: Fan stabilised after suffering cardiac arrest during match

    A fan was stabilised after suffering cardiac arrest during Chelsea’s match at Watford on Wednesday, causing the game to be delayed.

    After 13 minutes both sets of players were directed to their dressing rooms due to a medical emergency in the crowd at Vicarage Road.

    The game was delayed for around 30 minutes before it was resumed following the news that the fan had been taken to hospital.

  • We applied key Liverpool tactic to beat Man Utd – Watford striker

    We applied key Liverpool tactic to beat Man Utd – Watford striker

    Watford striker Josh King admits they drew inspiration from Liverpool to thump Manchester United on Saturday.

    The Hornets claimed a 4-1 victory over United in the Premier League on Saturday, which saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked.

    King, who scored his side’s first goal against Man United, has revealed how Liverpool played a role in their victory on Saturday

    “I felt [the win] was deserved. We knew we had to start very aggressive,” King told Watford’s club website .

    “Before the game, the manager showed us a lot of clips from the Liverpool game and how they pressed their back line. We did that exceptionally today.

    “I think [the] first half was better than the second half in terms of pressing but at the end of it they tried to go for it, and we punished them with two goals.”

  • Sad-looking Adekunle Gold captured in stadium in United’s defeat to Watford

    Sad-looking Adekunle Gold captured in stadium in United’s defeat to Watford

    Nigerian singer Adekunle Kosoko, known professionally as Adekunle Gold was captured on camera in the stadium during Manchester United’s 4-1 defeat to Watford.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the photo has gone viral on social media with Nigerians mocking the singer as he looked morose throughout the match which saw Manchester United eventually sacking its head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

    Adekunle Gold was especially captured by stadium cameras with the match at 2-1 in the 91st minute and 4 minutes remaining in added time. Watford eventually went on to win the match 4-1.

    See photo below:

    In reaction, Adekunle Gold tweeted:

    Manchester United fell to the disappointing Premier League defeat at Watford on Saturday afternoon, as the hosts scored twice in each half.

    It was an afternoon to forget for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team as the Red Devils lost their first match following the international break.

    The encounter at Vicarage Road got off to a manic start with David De Gea saving not one but two Ismaila Sarr penalties as the Senegalese’s first attempt had to be retaken.

    However, first-half goals from Joshua King and Ismaila Sarr ensured Claudio Ranieri’s side still went into the break two goals up.

    Donny van de Beek joined Anthony Martial in coming off the bench at the start of the second half and the Dutchman restored hope for the Reds by scoring swiftly, in the 50th minute.

    A turnaround seemed possible but when Harry Maguire was sent off for collecting two yellow cards, it made United’s comeback task more difficult.

    In stoppage time, Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis put the game to bed as the Hornets ran out 4-1 winners under the floodlights.

  • OFFICIAL: Manchester United fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

    OFFICIAL: Manchester United fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

    Lacklustre coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been fired by Manchester United following his poor performance at Old Trafford.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Manchester United fired Solskjaer on Sunday following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat The Red Devils suffered in the hands of Watford.

    “Manchester United can confirm that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as Manager,” the club tweeted.

    According to a statement on the club’s website, Michael Carrick will take charge of the team for forthcoming games.

    “Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision.

    “While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success.

    “Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as Manager and our very best wishes for the future. His place in the club’s history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a Manager who gave us many great moments. He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family.

    “Michael Carrick will now take charge of the team for forthcoming games, while the club looks to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season,” the statement on the club’s website reads.