Cardiff City Beware Watford ‘Diver’ Forestieri

Cardiff City face a tough game tonight against Watford, and will want to start well and get the all-important first goal to prevent Watford gaining confidence and the ability to nullify and frustrate City as many oppoing sides have done to good effect in recent seasons.

If the Bluebirds fans do get frustrated, everyone’s job gets harder and though everyone can see what opposition teams are doing – we cant seem to stop them. Key to Cardiff City’s success will be to dictate possession tonight, and to stop the Hornets getting any service to their own flair players.

Undoubtedly one such place is on-loan Udinese striker Fernando Forestieri. The Italian youngster has a fiery temperament, mixing goals with red cards but even in his short spell in the Championship is developing a reputation for allsorts – including the ufortunate trait common on the Continent….. diving.

Both Charlton and Huddersfield Utd have been incensed to concede defeats to Watford by narrow margins, and coming when penalties have been awarded for apparent dives by the striker. Watford manager Gianfranco Zola has previously claimed:

‘I’ve seen the video and spoken to Fernando. He told me that he just slipped and that he didn’t dive.’

‘I keep telling him off and telling him to change his boots. He is Argentinian and likes his boots without big studs and on this pitch it was slippy. He keeps doing the same mistake but I don’t think he wanted to dive.’


Wither way, Forestieri is a very dangerous opponent, and will cause problems. City mustn’t allow him to get into his stride, and prevent him getting good quality possession to turn and run at Hudson and co. Penalties are so often game-changers, while we suffered on Saturday through an excellent free-kick by Andy Reid. We know that Forestieri will be looking for minimal contact – let’s not give him any opportunities or encouragement!