This.....we played as well as we needed to and some excellent performances from Holebas, Cathcart and Britos and Patillimon looks very sound and commanding. Nordin showed some flashes of his abilityand Watson good again. Leeds were very, very ordinary. When will Capouie ever score?
This theory suggests that every crap winger can become a legendary centre forward. If we're the only ones who've realised this then let's capitalise before everyone else cottons onto this neat hack
As usual Watford fans unable to see the big picture. Whilst this was a routine game en route to a potential trophy win for us, where the biggest focus was simply to win whilst giving a run out to some fringe players and avoiding injuries, Leeds fans enjoyed a 'cup final' day out against top ten opposition with numerous household names on the opponent's bench. For us it was business as usual but they will want to remember the day their clogging journeymen crossed swords with the likes of Suarez, Paredes and Cathcart. Let them have their momentos and let Steve Evans paint the game as something more than it was. They won't have many occasions like this to look forward to.
We've had less of the possession in most of our games this season like Leicester. The signing of Suarez has for some reason led you to believe that Quique wants to make us a 'possession team' which you say is dead in this country. Maybe he does but Arsenal are FA Cup holders for a few years and could win the title this season and they can see around and probably over 60% of the ball in their games. I don't know what your problem is, we've signed a guy who is a fantastic passer of the ball and is getting up to speed with English football but you're using him as another stick to beat Quique with. Let's face it, you've had it in for him since day one.
Time wasting usually bothers me, even when by wfc, but I honestly didn't notice it yesterday. I think he is taking a thinly veiled swipe at our foreign legion.
The most time wasting yesterday was done when the ball went into the crowd. Cannot say I noticed it too much actually - certainly nothing out of the ordinary. Evans wasted time himself by causing the ref to come over and have a chat! I remember under Boothroyd we were accused of all sorts whereas opposition fans have never talked about it this season (probably because its accepted as part of the game...in this country)
I also didn't notice it from us and tend to be pretty peeved by whichever side is doing it. I did notice it from Leeds though in the first half when they took an age getting the ball back for throw ins and on one occasion just before the og where their goalkeeper refused to trot 10yds to pick up the ball in his area to take a goal kick. In injury time we took a while to retrieve the ball for a throw although in fairness it fell between the two sets of advertising boards on the GT Stand side and Oliver was on the cusp of calling for a new ball as it was retrieved by a ball boy. He clearly added the time all back on anyway as 5 mins added became 6.
Well Leeds have a few don't they thanks to their Italian owner? (Although to their credit do have a few youngsters coming through as well) It is annoying but certainly accepted in this country as "part of the game" so its not just an overseas thing. Cannot say I noticed anything out of the ordinary expect the ball going into the crowd as UEA says - and in fact Evans himself wasted some time by making the ref stop the game for their chat!
In the last 18 months we have beaten his sides in all three meetings, scoring 6 without reply - we're probably not his favourite team.....
Which is rather ironic considering looking at the Leeds line up. Steve Evans of course is a paragon of virtue and has never ever resorted to such underhand tactics to win matches either. In his mind he probably thinks we were extremely fortunate to scrape a win.
That would be perfect for me, preferably a Saturday lunchtime kick off. I'm at a do about a mile from the Mad Stad on the Friday night and staying over! The nice and easy for train home to Plymouth. Not on the Sunday please as I can't afford a second night in the hotel.
Anyone who couldn't see that Suarez is pure class knows nothing about football. Who cares what Fatty Evans says or thinks?
Prediction was spot on. They were bl**dy awful in attack. Could be still playing now and they wouldn't have scored. There was no time wasting whatsoever by us.
Our game away to West Ham will now be rescheduled which means a night match at Upton Park, which will be superb
I think Michael Oliver's had it in for us after he completely showed himself up during the Leicester game. That said, every game I saw him officiate after that (for a good four or five games) involved a dubious penalty.
The only thing I can think of was Amrabat being subbed and walking the wrong way across the pitch to shake the refs hand before walking off. Other than that I wasn't aware we were time wasting whatsoever. Strange thing is that their keeper was deliberately taking an age to take a goal kick as early as the 15th minute. Slight whiffs of hypocrisy from the big fella who set up his team to get a 0-0.
Funnily enough, if West Ham beat Blackburn, we may end up getting them on the same day we were meant to have them in the League. Like you said, a mid week away game to West Ham would be great, it's one thing I miss about the Championship.
Arsenal are perennial under achievers, and Wenger is a perfect example of a manager whose artistic ideals frequently cloud his common sense. It's the reason they've only won 2 trophies in 12 years, despite having several of the best players in the world. Unfortunately for your narrative, I think Quique has done a fantastic job with us this season. His pragmatism over style attitude is the reason we're almost safe. But just because he has done well doesn't mean he is exempt from any kind of critical discussion. He (like everyone) has shown naivety and I'm merely anticipating what he plans to do next. Read into this however you want. I have no agenda to pursue, only a bunch of ideas and theories based on what I see.
I'm surprised WD Sport didn't award Juardo with man of the match yesterday. Anyone who can't see the contribution he made knows nothing about the FA Cup.
About as one sided 1-0 are you're likely to see. Leeds had about 20 minutes where they shared the possession stats but that is pretty much as close as they got. Thoroughly professional job which shouldn't have relied on an own goal to settle it but that's the way things go sometimes. Clearly Suarez needs time to get up to speed with the pace of the game and Amrabat got better as the game went on. They pointed to Leeds lack of players in the box on MOTD but we were equally guilty at times. When Amrabat broke down the right and was clearly frustrated with the lack of options for him. At least he was looking for a final ball instead of just chucking it in the mixer. Managers do come up with some right deluded views after games, often to protect their own team and often pointing to one thing in the game. Not sure I've heard quite so much *******s about quite so many invalid points as Evans spouted. Guess it was embarrassing for the "mighty" Leeds to be so humbled and outclassed by "little old" Watford.
I wasn't going to bother watching MOTD highlights ,pleased I did as I saw that Capoue was actually fouled when he fell over in the box so it should have been a pen.I was starting to think he was just plain awful at diving I also think Tnere was no foul by Deeney when Capoue scored.Seems to me the Leeds player attempts to block Deeney ,then realises Capoue will get there and then Deeney runs into a static defender caught between two choices. Overall I have to agree Oliver got key decisions wrong. Blackburn 1 up,take them in the QF please.
Winning 1-0 to an OG is much sweeter than a 5-0 drumming. Only thing that would have made it better is if that odious twerp Poleon had conceded it.