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2007–08 Watford F.C. season

English football team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2007–08 football season was Watford Football Club's 62nd consecutive season of competitive football since the Second World War. It began on 1 July 2007, and concluded on 30 June 2008, although competitive games were only played between August and May.

ChairmanGraham Simpson
ManagerAidy Boothroyd
StadiumVicarage Road
Football League Championship6th
Quick facts season, Chairman ...
Watford
2007–08 season
ChairmanGraham Simpson
ManagerAidy Boothroyd
StadiumVicarage Road
Football League Championship6th
Football League Championship play-offsSemi final (eliminated by Hull City)
FA CupFourth round
(eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers)
League CupSecond round
(eliminated by Southend United)
Highest home attendance18,698: Watford v Queens Park Rangers, 29 December 2007
Lowest home attendance8,166: Watford v Gillingham, 14 August 2007
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Season summary

Following relegation from the Premier League in 2006–07, Watford started the 2007–08 season strongly, winning eleven of their opening sixteen games and opening up an 8-point gap at the top of the Championship table.[1] However, after the departure of Adam Johnson to Middlesbrough on 11 November 2007 Watford's form declined; they won six of their next sixteen Championship games, and only one of their final sixteen.[2] In January 2008 Watford sold captain Gavin Mahon and top scorer Marlon King, but purchased Mat Sadler, Leigh Bromby and John Eustace.[3] Watford finished the 2007–08 season in 6th position, and were eliminated in the play-off semi finals to Hull City.[4]

Matches

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss

Championship

For more information, see 2007–08 Football League Championship.
More information Date, Opponent ...
Championship match details
DateOpponentVenueResult
F–A		ScorersAttendanceRef.
11 August 2007 Wolverhampton Wanderers Away2–1Stewart 87', King 90' pen. 23,115 [5]
18 August 2007 Sheffield United Home1–0Williamson 56' 16,414 [6]
25 August 2007 Leicester City Away1–4King 90' pen. 21,642 [7]
1 September 2007 Ipswich Town Home2–0Henderson 6', Smith 75' 17,295 [8]
16 September 2007 Southampton Home3–2Shittu 42', Henderson 81', 90' 15,915 [9]
19 September 2007 Cardiff City Away2–1Henderson 17', 78' 13,169 [10]
22 September 2007 Queens Park Rangers Away1–1Johnson 49' 14,240 [11]
29 September 2007 Blackpool Home1–1Johnson 41' 16,580 [12]
2 October 2007 Sheffield Wednesday Home2–1Henderson 6', King 16' pen. 15,743 [13]
6 October 2007 Scunthorpe United Away3–1Johnson 10', Henderson 61', King 63' 7,515 [14]
20 October 2007 Hull City Home1–0King 20' 15,803 [15]
23 October 2007 Coventry City Away3–0Johnson 30', King 42', Henderson 46' 17,032 [16]
29 October 2007 Crystal Palace Away2–0Smith 32', King 67' 13,986 [17]
3 November 2007 West Bromwich Albion Home0–3 18,273 [18]
6 November 2007 Norwich City Away3–1Henderson 36', Marshall 43' o.g., King 88' 24,192 [19]
10 November 2007 Colchester United Home2–2Johnson 4', King 64' 16,069 [20]
24 November 2007 Barnsley Away2–3Shittu 36', 45' 10,117 [21]
27 November 2007 Burnley Home1–2Shittu 86' 15,021 [22]
1 December 2007 Bristol City Home1–2O'Toole 87' 16,689 [23]
4 December 2007 Colchester United Away3–2King 40', O'Toole 42', Priskin 64' 5,760 [24]
9 December 2007 Stoke City Away0–0 15,516 [25]
15 December 2007 Plymouth Argyle Home0–1 18,532 [26]
22 December 2007 Sheffield Wednesday Away1–0McAnuff 6' 19,641 [27]
26 December 2007 Cardiff City Home2–2DeMerit 49', McAnuff 90' 17,014 [28]
29 December 2007 Queens Park Rangers Home2–4Francis 52', Shittu 84' 18,698 [29]
1 January 2008 Southampton Away3–0Francis 45', King 55', Henderson 62' 23,008 [30]
12 January 2008 Preston North End Away0–1 12,347 [31]
19 January 2008 Charlton Athletic Home1–1Ellington 59' 17,214 [32]
29 January 2008 Sheffield United Away1–1Ellington 21' 23,161 [33]
2 February 2008 Wolverhampton Wanderers Home3–0Kabba 1', Smith 76', 78' 18,082 [34]
9 February 2008 Ipswich Town Away2–1Smith 33', Ellington 56' 24,227 [35]
12 February 2008 Leicester City Home1–0Henderson 45' 15,944 [36]
16 February 2008 Charlton Athletic Away2–2O'Toole 54', Shittu 55' 26,337 [37]
23 February 2008 Preston North End Home0–0 16,798 [38]
1 March 2008 Burnley Away2–2Henderson 23', Stewart 85' 13,677 [39]
4 March 2008 Norwich City Home1–1Shittu 11' 16,537 [40]
11 March 2008 Bristol City Away0–0 19,026 [41]
15 March 2008 Stoke City Home0–0 18,338 [42]
22 March 2008 Plymouth Argyle Away1–1Williamson 37' 17,511 [43]
29 March 2008 Hull City Away0–3 23,501 [44]
5 April 2008 Coventry City Home2–1Ellington 7', Smith 79' 17,188 [45]
9 April 2008 Barnsley Home0–3 16,129 [46]
12 April 2008 West Bromwich Albion Away1–1Bromby 6' 26,508 [47]
19 April 2008 Crystal Palace Home0–2 17,694 [48]
26 April 2008 Scunthorpe United Home0–1 16,454 [49]
4 May 2008 Blackpool Away1–1Smith 62' 9,640 [50]
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League standings by round

For the complete final league table, see 2007–08 Football League Championship § League table.

  ♦ Automatic promotion position   ♣ Playoff position

More information Round ...
Round01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHHA
ResultWWLWWWDDWWWWWLWDLLLWDLWDLWLDDWWWDDDDDDDLWLDLLD
Points3669121516172023262932323536363636394040434444474748495255585960616263646565686869696970
Position5♣1♦4♣2♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦1♦2♦1♦2♦2♦2♦3♣2♦3♣2♦1♦1♦2♦3♣3♣2♦3♣3♣4♣5♣4♣5♣5♣5♣5♣6♣
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Play-offs

Watford's sixth-placed finish meant that they qualified for the play-off semi finals, where they would play a home and away match against third-placed Hull City. As 6–1 aggregate winners, Hull qualified for the final at Wembley Stadium, and as a result of victory in that match they earned qualification to the Premier League for the 2008–09 season.

More information Round, Date ...
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult
F–A		ScorersAttendanceRef.
Semi-final, first leg11 May 2008Hull CityHome0–214,713[51]
Semi-final, second leg15 May 2008Hull CityAway1–4Henderson 12'23,155[4]
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FA Cup

For more information, see 2007–08 FA Cup.

As a Championship club, Watford did not enter the FA Cup until the third round stage. Their potential opponents were the 20 Premier League teams, the 23 other Championship clubs, and 20 teams from lower divisions which had progressed through the first and second rounds, and in some cases additional qualifying games.

More information Round, Date ...
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult
F–A		ScorersAttendanceRef.
Third round5 January 2008Crystal PalaceHome2–0Shittu 28', 65'10,480[52]
Fourth round26 January 2008Wolverhampton WanderersHome1–4O'Toole 70'12,719[53]
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League Cup

For more information, see 2007–08 Football League Cup.

For the 2007–08 season, all Football League clubs entered the League Cup in the first round. For the first round, the draw was split into two regional sections of 36 teams. The 18 highest placed teams in the league from the previous season were seeded in each region. Watford, having been relegated from the Premier League, were therefore seeded, and placed in the southern section of the draw.

More information Round, Date ...
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult
F–A		ScorersAttendanceRef.
First round14 August 2007GillinghamHome3–0Priskin 22', Rinaldi 36', Campana 71'8,166[54]
Second round28 August 2007Southend UnitedAway0–25,554[55]
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Ownership and finance

Watford Football Club is owned by the holding company Watford Leisure Plc (LSE: WFC). Its 2007–08 financial year coincided with the football season, running from 1 July 2007 until 30 June 2008. The company's annual accounts were released in November 2008, showing an operating loss of £10.977 million, but a net profit of £426,000 as a result of the sale of player registrations and land.[56] Watford Leisure's chief executive was Mark Ashton, while their chairman was self-professed lifelong Watford fan Graham Simpson, who also owned shares in the company. The club's other major shareholders were Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Michael Ashcroft through his investment company Fordwat, and brothers Jimmy and Vince Russo through their business Valley Grown Salads.

Squad details

Player statistics

Key

  † Permanent player left club during the season.
  ‡ On loan at Watford from another club during season.
  ¤ On loan to another club from Watford during season.
  * First appearance(s) for Watford.

# = Squad number; Pos = Playing position; P = Number of games played; G = Number of goals scored; A yellow card = Yellow cards; A red card = Red cards; GK = Goalkeeper; DF = Defender; MF = Midfielder; FW = Forward

Statistics do not include games played for other clubs. Starting appearances are given first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable. [nb 1][57][58]

This table of statistics is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.

More information Pos, Name ...
Pos Name P G P G P G P G P G A yellow card A red card
League FA Cup League Cup Playoffs Total Discipline
MFLionel Ainsworth 3(5)000001(1)04(6)000
DFCédric Avinel 000020002010
MFAl Bangura 3(4)01020006(4)020
DFLeigh Bromby 16100002018000
MFAlex Campana 00001(1)1001(1)100
MFEwan Clarke 000000000000
DFCalum Davenport 100000001000
DFJay DeMerit 30(5)120001(1)031(6)120
DFLloyd Doyley 36020001039040
FWNathan Ellington 18(16)41(1)0002021(17)410
MFJohn Eustace 13000002015032
MFKieran Forbes 00000(1)0000(1)000
MFDamien Francis 6(5)21000007(5)210
FWLiam Henderson 000000000000
FWDarius Henderson 34(6)1210001136(6)12101
FWWill Hoskins 0(1)00020002(1)000
DFMatt Jackson 600020008020
FWCollins John 3(2)00000003(2)000
MFAdam Johnson 11(1)500000011(1)510
FWSteve Kabba 7(7)11010009(7)121
FWMarlon King 25(2)1110000026(2)1120
GKRichard Lee 34(1)020202040(1)000
GKScott Loach 000000000000
DFMalky Mackay 00000(1)0000(1)000
MFGavin Mahon 19000000019030
DFAdrian Mariappa 13(12)00(2)0201016(14)010
MFJobi McAnuff 31(8)220002035(8)250
MFAnthony McNamee 000020002000
MFJohn-Joe O'Toole 23(12)3110(1)00(1)024(14)341
DFJunior Osbourne 00000(1)0000(1)000
DFJordan Parkes 000020002000
GKMart Poom 12000000012000
FWTamás Priskin 7(7)11(1)0210(2)010(10)220
DFDouglas Rinaldi 000021002120
DFMat Sadler 14(1)010002016(1)020
DFDanny Shittu 37(2)712001039(2)940
MFTommy Smith 4471(1)0002047(1)730
MFJordan Stewart 33(6)210000034(6)230
FWLee Williamson 27(5)210002030(5)251
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Transfers

In

More information Date, Player ...
Date Player From Fee Ref.
22 May 2007 Douglas Rinaldi Veranópolis £250,000 [59]
24 May 2007 Matt Jackson Wigan Athletic Free [60]
26 May 2007Mart Poom ArsenalUndisclosed[61]
5 June 2007Jobi McAnuffCrystal Palace£1,750,000[62]
29 August 2007Nathan EllingtonWest Bromwich Albion£3,250,000[63]
22 October 2007 Ian Joyce Free [64]
5 January 2008Lionel AinsworthHereford UnitedUndisclosed [65]
24 January 2008Mat SadlerBirmingham City£750,000
31 January 2008Leigh BrombySheffield United£600,000[66]
31 January 2008John EustaceStoke City£250,000[67]
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Out

More information Date, Player ...
Date Player To Fee Ref.
30 June 2007Chris PowellCharlton AthleticReleased[59][68]
30 June 2007 Dominic Blizzard Milton Keynes Dons Released [59][69]
30 June 2007 Albert Jarrett Released [59]
30 June 2007 Joel Grant Aldershot Town Released [59][70]
11 July 2007Harry ForresterAston Villa
7 August 2007Hamer BouazzaFulham£3,000,000 (can rise up to £4,000,000)[71]
16 August 2007Clarke CarlisleBurnley£200,000[72]
20 August 2007 Johan Cavalli Mutual consent [73]
18 January 2008Anthony McNameeSwindon Town
25 January 2008Marlon KingWigan AthleticUndisclosed[74]
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Loans in

More information Start date, Player ...
Start date Player From End date Ref.
31 August 2007Santiago AloiRiver PlateEnd of season [75]
14 September 2007Adam JohnsonMiddlesbrough 16 November 2007 [76][77]
22 November 2007Lionel AinsworthHereford United5 January 2008 [78][65]
18 January 2008Calum DavenportWest Ham United
25 January 2008Collins JohnFulhamEnd of season [79]
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Loans out

More information Start date, Player ...
Start date Player To End date Ref.
10 August 2007Toumani DiagouragaHereford United31 December 2007 (later extended)[80]
10 August 2007Theo RobinsonHereford United31 December 2007 (later extended)[80]
14 September 2007Cédric AvinelStafford RangersOctober 2007 [81][82]
18 September 2007Scott LoachStafford RangersOctober 2007 [83][82]
18 September 2007Will HoskinsMillwall
30 November 2007Alex CampanaWealdstone
1 January 2008Scott LoachMorecambe
1 January 2008Gavin MahonQueen's Park RangersEnd of season[84]
17 January 2008Jordan ParkesBrentford
18 January 2008Moses AshikodiSwindon Town
18 January 2008Anthony McNameeSwindon Town
28 January 2008Scott LoachBradford City
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Footnotes

  1. [1]
    All players who were named in a Watford first-team matchday squad are listed. This includes players who only featured as unused substitutes.

References

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