2007–08 Watford F.C. season
Introduction 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.
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. 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. In January 2008 Watford sold captain Gavin Mahon and top scorer Marlon King, but purchased Mat Sadler, Leigh Bromby and John Eustace. Watford finished the 2007–08 season in 6th position, and were eliminated in the play-off semi finals to Hull City.
Matches '''Legend'''===Friendlies======Football League=======League standings by round====+'''Round'''01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546GroundAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHHAResultWWLWWWDDWWWWWLWDLLLWDLWDLWLDDWWWDDDDDDDLWLDLLDPoints3669121516172023262932323536363636394040434444474748495255585960616263646565686869696970Position5♣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♣====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. '''Semi final first leg''''''Semi final second leg'''===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. '''Third round''''''Fourth round'''===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. '''First round''''''Second round'''
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. 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''''''#''' = Squad number; '''Pos''' = Playing position; '''P''' = Number of games played; '''G''' = Number of goals scored; alt=A yellow card = Yellow cards; alt=A red card = Red cards; '''GK''' = Goalkeeper; '''DF''' = Defender; '''MF''' = Midfielder; '''FW''' = ForwardStatistics do not include games played for other clubs. Starting appearances are given first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable. ''This table of statistics is incomplete. You can help by expanding it. ''PosNamePGPGPGPGPGalt=A yellow cardalt=A red cardNotesLeagueFA CupLeague CupPlayoffsTotalDisciplineMF0000000DF000020002010MF010200020DF00002018000MF00010100MF000000000000DF00000001000DF200120DF36020001039040FW0002410MF13000002015032MF00000000MF10000210FW000000000000FW121000112101FW000200000DF000200020FW000000000MF00000510FW10100121FW11100001120GK020202000GK000000000000DF00000000MF19000000019030DF0201010MF20002250MF0000200000MF1341DF00000000DF000020002000GK12000000012000FW02220DF0000210120DF010002020DF12001940MF0002730MF10000230FW10002251<!--===Suspensions======International appearances======Awards===
Management and coaching staff -->
Transfers ===In==='''Date''''''Player''''''From''''''Fee''' 26 May 2007   Mart PoomArsenal Undisclosed 5 June 2007   Jobi McAnuff Crystal Palace £1.750.000 29 August 2007   Nathan Ellington West Bromwich Albion£3,250,000 5 January 2008   Lionel Ainsworth Hereford United 24 January 2008 Mat SadlerBirmingham City£750,000 31 January 2008  Leigh BrombySheffield United£600,000 31 January 2008  John EustaceStoke City£250,000===Out==='''Date''''''Player''''''To''''''Fee''' 3 July 2007   Chris Powell  Charlton AthleticFree 11 July 2007  Harry ForresterAston Villa 7 August 2007   Hamer Bouazza Fulham £3,000,000 (can rise up to £4,000,000) 16 August 2007   Clarke Carlisle Burnley£200,000 18 January 2008  Anthony McNameeSwindon Town 25 January 2008  Marlon KingWigan AthleticUndisclosed===Loans in==='''Start date''''''Player''''''From''''''End date'''31 August 2007 Santiago AloiRiver Plate (Argentina)14 September 2007 Adam JohnsonMiddlesbrough22 November 2007 Lionel AinsworthHereford United18 January 2008 Calum DavenportWest Ham United25 January 2008 Collins JohnFulham===Loans out==='''Start date''''''Player''''''To''''''End date'''10 August 2007  Toumani DiagouragaHereford United31 December 2007 (later extended)10 August 2007  Theo RobinsonHereford United31 December 2007 (later extended14 September 2007 * Cédric AvinelStafford Rangers17 September 2007  Scott LoachStafford Rangers18 September 2007  Will HoskinsMillwall30 November 2007  Alex CampanaWealdstone1 January 2008 Scott LoachMorecambe1 January 2008 Gavin MahonQueen's Park RangersEnd of Season17 January 2008 Jordan ParkesBrentford18 January 2008 Moses AshikodiSwindon Town18 January 2008 Anthony McNameeSwindon Town28 January 2008 Scott LoachBradford City
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