Gianfranco Zola has admitted Watford are in a crisis and that the players lost their confidence “some time ago”. The Hornets have not won in their last six matches and have lost their last four games at home. Today’s 3-0 loss at Vicarage Road came at the hands of a Yeovil Town side who were bottom of the table before today’s fixture. Zola was asked if the current situation was a crisis. He replied: “Yes I would be a liar [if I said no]. “It is certainly a difficult moment and today was a game we couldn’t lose so yes it is certainly a tough moment but I believe in this group and these players and I know we can get out of it. We will have to work harder now because of course in this particular moment the results will be harder to achieve.” He started his press conference by saying: “As you can imagine, I am not feeling very well to be honest. I am disappointed, very much so. “We lost our confidence some time ago and today that has been very costly. “I can’t blame anyone on the pitch [for not trying] because they are trying and we had a lot of possession and players in good positions but we didn’t manage to score because the confidence of the players’ right now is not at the top. “To play this type of football you have to be full of confidence. “That is the situation. Again I can’t say the players are not trying but right now it isn’t working. It’s as simple as that.”
He didn't sound too confident about his future: “Of course I know the situation and the rules of the game. I’m trying to do everything I can for this team.” Read more at http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/131120-zolas-yeovil-reaction-1207360.aspx#xjS1LleKdKiXDpch.99
First he admits that the players aren't listening to him, and now this. I admire the man's honesty, but that's two consecutive weeks of shooting himself in the foot. Making this sort of comment publicly is only going to make things worse.
Today was the perfect opportunity to release some pressure, but with Burnley and Leeds away to come next week, I think it's going to be very tough to turn it around quickly. I don't want Zola to go, and I'm feeling sorry for him because I know how hard he works and how much effort he puts in, but I do think he needs to change his tactics and try something new. He has the quality within the squad to do it. At the end of the day, if losing 0-3 at home to Yeovil doesn't tell him to try something new, nothing will.
I wasn't there today, so I'm prepared to be corrected, but I think they are putting the effort in, as Zola says. Thereafter, when the players aren't clicking, it is down to the manager. I still dont want him to go, but he needs help - and I said that 2 months ago, before this slump manifested itself.
I think 5-3-2 works really well on the road. We were unlucky not to beat Brighton and Boro during our poor run. He needs to change his approach to home games in my opinion. I think 5-3-2 will lead to good performances in the 2 away games this week (assuming our confidence isn't totally shot)
Some more Zola comments on the threat of being sacked. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...n_t_need_the_threat_of_being_sacked_to_react/
I think we need to stick with Zola. I said at the time when he came in we shouldn't have got rid of Dyche but as ever you get shouted down on here. We would be fair stronger if Dyche had this group of players. But, changing managers never really works long term, we need to stick with Zola for the season and then re-consider.
I have only ever seen this total and utter lack of confidence before in teams who no longer have any interest at all in what the manager has to say. Even if the Pozzos were to give Zola public and private backing I imagine somewhere a discrete wishlist of potential replacements is already being compiled. The amount of time Zola is given to turn things around will probably have less to do with who's coming up on the fixtures than how that shortlisting process pans out.
Watford boss Gianfranco Zola: I don't need the threat of being sacked to react . 8:30pm Saturday 30th November 2013 Gianfranco Zola stressed he doesn’t need the threat of being sacked to work hard to turn things around at Watford after he was asked if his position was absolutely secure. The Hornets have lost their last four home matches and not won in six games, which has resulted in the Golden Boys being 12 points away from the automatic promotion places. When Zola was asked if his own position was “absolutely secure”, he replied: “This is a question you shouldn’t ask me. I can tell you I work with total honesty and of course this is a club that is ambitious but don’t ask me things that unfortunately I can’t answer. “I am not happy. I am here to do more than this so I don’t know what the club will do but I am certainly not happy with the situation. But I don’t need the threat of being fired or sacked to push me to react or do something more. There is no need for that.” Zola has this evening admitted Watford are in crisis.
A crisis of his and Nani's making. Both have to go. Player recruitment has been poor and we have become a disorganised and insipid mess.
From promotion winning football to relegation form football in less than half a season. Who would have thought it? Blimey. Just blimey.
We need another 32 points to reach the magic 55. Do your seat belt up, and hold on tight, Ron Burgundy!!
4-3-3 is what we got to play, we have got the players to play that formation Bond Faraoni Nosworthy Ekstrand Pudil Battochio Abdi(When fit) Murray Fabbrini Deeney Forestieri
What is peoples obsession with Fabrinni? He has zero end product. He's so predictable runs inside beats 3 players and then falls over nearly everytime. No doubting he has great skill but nothing ever comes of it and he has no work rate or any fight. Another luxury player along with McGugan.
I don't want Zola to go.. There is no question that he has a fantastic 'pull' with regards to many aspects, but for me this started going wrong about 7 games to go last season.. Vydra gets injured and we ve lost the threat of pace behind the oppositions defence.. They aren't wary of ours getting behind so they sit further up. This means we have less space to counter in. We ve replaced him effectively with FF, Fab and Acuna.. All 3 are second strikers, this in its self means we have no threat behind. How many headers has Deeney won.. There's no point, he has no one to flick on to so he may as we'll let the defender win it and hope it drops to our second strikers... He's not to blame for things like Chala' and Vydra not coming back.... If you listen to Vydras interview on you tube he says it was ZOLA that told him to go th WBA!!! he can't be blamed for injuries to the likes of Abdi, Anya, Angella etc and in fact you can't blame him for the likes of McEachen and Thorne not having the best impact.. I thought they d be amazing signings... But you do need to point the finger re a few things he has total control over.. Starting matches with 3 center backs 2 wing backs, a DM and McEachen (a self confessed DM) how can you counter with 7 defensive minded out field players... We sign Ireney (like him or not he's 100% and has one of the highest pass %s), then he signs McEach and Thorne ... Why? We then see players like Macheda and Lingard quick forwards that we could really do with go elsewhere. He s taken Murray off in a couple of games now I thought he was one of our best players in.. Getting Bellerin on loan (he played well today) .. But Faraoni is one of our most consistent players and he sits on the bench... We started v Yeovil today with Bond, Nos, Bell and Thorne who have 3 league games this season between them..... Add that to Woods, Smith, Hall and Acuna on the bench we ve got 4 subs with less than about 4 apps this season.... It's not easy with depleted squads but sign the right areas for gods sake.... Today we finish the match with 4 strikers and 2 right backs on the pitch.... I don't know what goes on in his head sometimes... One thing is for sure.... Smith will be on the bench every game this season due to the home grown rule and won't ever play.... He could pay me that money to do the same.
Sad to say but Fabbrini is poor. He's lightweight, he's easily tackled, he doesn't look up, he doesn't pass, he runs down blind alleys, he blantantly can't do championship football. I had high hopes and must admit he turned the game round when he came on against Reading away. But since then whenever he's come on he's been a flop. A luxury player someone rightly said.