Watford boss confirms new signings missed Tottenham Hotspur clash due to fitness concerns
4:15pm Monday 6th August 2012 in Latest Football News
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Daniel Pudil's injury was only cramp according to Zola. Pictures: Alan Palmer
Watford's head coach Gianfranco Zola confirmed five of the club's new signings missed yesterday's game due to fitness issues.
Manuel Almunia and Daniel Pudil started the game but Fitz Hall, Almen Abdi, Ikechi Anya, Matej Vydra and Steve Leo Beleck were all left out of the 22-man squad to face Tottenham Hotspur.
Hall and Vydra have yet to feature during pre-season but Abdi had played in all of three previous matches, Anya featured twice and Leo Beleck once.
Most of the squad who did not feature against Spurs yesterday due to injury problems, including the likes of Anya, Abdi and Hall, were at Vicarage Road .
Almen Abdi and Steve Leo Beleck watch on from the dugout.
And Zola confirmed: "They didn't play because they had picked up little things and it is only one week before the season starts and we don’t want to risk anything, so we decided to rest them."
Left back Pudil was one of two new signings who started against Spurs but the Czech international came off after just five minutes with what looked like a hamstring injury.
But speaking after the game, Zola said: "No he just had cramp, nothing more than that. He had a bad injury a year ago and we didn’t want to take any risks. We are at a stage where we cannot risk any long-term injuries."
Comments(11)
Toshhorn
says...
4:29pm Mon 6 Aug 12
AngelHornet
says...
4:35pm Mon 6 Aug 12
wfcsteve
says...
4:45pm Mon 6 Aug 12
gilesy97
says...
4:57pm Mon 6 Aug 12
I have to say , at this stage I'm not convinced about some of these signings..
Chris the Vic
says...
5:06pm Mon 6 Aug 12
As for new signings they only have to kick a ball to be better than two or three of last years signings but the great news is Almunia with his vocals that defence will be organised. How nice to hear a vocal keeper before a problem rather than the one who shouts and blames his team mates after a goal is scored.
andyhooked
says...
5:25pm Mon 6 Aug 12
SAHornet
says...
7:35pm Mon 6 Aug 12
gilesy97 wrote:Oh yes, my friend. Take it from me, you can get cramp almost everywhere and the one behind the thigh is particularly painful.
Thought he was rubbing the back of his thigh..can you get cramp there ?
I have to say , at this stage I'm not convinced about some of these signings..
On that subject, anyone suffering from cramp, take 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar diluted with a bit of water each night. Works like a charm!
Taxidermist
says...
9:29pm Mon 6 Aug 12
On that subject, anyone suffering from cramp, take 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar diluted with a bit of water each night. Works like a charm!
I take it in a glass of Orange Juice,
but I take 2 tablespoons .... Very good for you, especially if you are decrepit like me :-)
BecauseOfBoxingDay
says...
11:44pm Mon 6 Aug 12
Boxhorn
says...
9:50am Tue 7 Aug 12
jasonwatford says...
4:23pm Mon 6 Aug 12