The guy clearly needs time off. The season can’t end quick enough for him. He’s actually one of the few I absolve of blame for the past few mins months. He’ll come again with the correct manager/tactics/
Can't fault the effort but we weren't good enough. Completely toothless up front and clinging on at the back as soon as Palace put even basic pressure on us. Fist half was enjoyable but we created little with all our dominance. Capoue, Cathcart and pereyra were the pick of the starters. Femenia was the only sub who offered anything. Gray looks worse than I remember. He's a hopeless pile of ****. Nothing there which shows that Javi has any idea how to improve us.
Really enjoyed that today. Fans take a big pat on the back for making the game feel electric. The team responded too. I've not seen us play with such determination and purpose in a long time. We totally bossed the first half and dug in the second. We rode our luck in that second half though, as twice I thought Palace had scored, only for somehow the ball was scrambled clear. Okaka hit the bar and worked the line well, before inevitability tiring. Today Gracia did well with his substitutions, as the game was going away from us. Today he made changes to wrestle it back again. Zaha is a complete ****, although I thought the ref was going to give the one when instead he booked Zaha for diving. Holebas, my god, how bad do you have to be before you get dropped. At least he didn't throw the game away with a defensive mistake today, but there was zero quality in all his crosses. Why was he allowed to take that free kick in the last minute. He can't even lift the ball four feet off the ground. Mapps was brilliant, and epitomised the resolve in defence. Cathcart and Kabasele. What a big improvement in the heart of defence. The only tactical decision I didn't agree with was Hughes for Gray, as it weakened the side. Gray just run around chasing shadows for the rest of the game. He offers absolutely nothing to the side. Hughes was great. I just love the way he plays the game. Never seems to lose the ball or play a bad pass. He also plays in tight positions and can win the ball back very well. Pererya is having a really good spell in the side right now. He's looking like a class act, and it's a shame he picked up a knock. Richarlison looked lively and had one good shot, but was wasteful and selfish when he got into a great position. He tried an ambitious shot, when a simple side pass would have left Deeney with a simple tap in. Karnezis, was relatively a spectator all afternoon, but he did appear to be beaten easily from the free kick, which somehow was scrambled clear. For a 0-0 it was a good match and it gives us another point, plus keeps Palace three points below us.
I actually enjoyed today. Good atmosphere from the go, really good performance in the first half and unlucky not to score twice. Palace then better team in second half and unlucky to score. We had comical referring (he really was dire), comical diving from everyone's favorite villain Zaha (Capoue absolutely hated him!) and a solid defensive performance from no our best centre-back pairing we have. I will take a draw if we play like that regularly and I still think that Deeney and Gray, given a chance together could be a decent partnership, though I would favor a more natural striker replacing them still. What was going on with the ring-road b the way? Chicken shop burnt down or something?
Great first half - most entertained I've been at The Vic for a while (Chelsea excluded) and the atmosphere was electric from the get go. Thought referee was good in the first half but bottled it in the second. Joel Ward deserved a red. Jose Holebas should never take another set piece again Cathcart & Kabasele are our best pairing - a lot more better defensively with them at the back. Can't be mad at Mariappa he's not a right back. Pereyra was outstanding and MOTM for that first half alone. Team should be built around him and Will Hughes next season - a decent forward would have a field day playing in between them two. Capoue was excellent defensively, won a lot of headers and tackles. And that's from his biggest hater. What the hell happened to Doccoure? What the hell happened to Richarlison? Karzenis is not good - made a meal out of two saves that should've been easier, haven't seen replays yet though. Deeney looked invigorated in the first half hour with a strike partner, great cross for Okaka early on. Faded spectacularly though. Still don't think Gracia is the answer to whatever question we're asking. Couldn't tell you why but just doesn't fill me with confidence.
The thing with Gray is....I think his ability (which he does have) is largely activated by a manager who puts all his trust in him. And Silva and Gracia haven’t done so. I’m not saying he’d be brilliant if they had played him every week. But he’s the definition of a ‘confidence’ striker who prefers playing with a striker partner. Criticising him is fair given the return. But we haven’t played to his strengths whatsoever.
Okaka was the standout striker today, not difficult considering his competition Deeney and Gray are woeful but still, it's completely bonkers Deeney gets a free pass into the team every single week.
At one point towards the end he bought down and controlled the ball with his crotch. Pretty impressive.
I got nervous every time Holebas went forward, as he has a habit of leaving the defence exposed. He was poor in an attacking sense, but he was ok defensively imo. If we had a quality finisher and we would have won comfortably today. A repeat performance against Newcastle, in terms of effort, then we will get something from the game.
I’m not claiming he wasn’t injured. Justvhis demeanour definitely alluded to being upset at being subbed needlessly. If i have got it wrong, I’ll be the first to say so!
Game of 2 halves - we dominated the 1st but let Palace back into it by sitting back more although generally our defence was better .. 2 up front worked for a bit but Okaka run out of steam and Deeney faded . As for Zaha - well he made a rod for his own back by diving in the first half! Although wasn't sure it was wise for Doucourae to react when already booked! Probably draw was a fair result in the end.
We joke, and I agree. And play along. But you don’t score the amount of goals he has, as high up as the Championship without ability. He may not be good enough for what we need, I accept that. But I feel if we sold him tomorrow, we never gave him a go in a system that he’s thrived in previously. If that happens, it’s on him for not adapting. But also on us for falling short or not properly scouting him. He deserves more for me. And I have realise that’s probably unpopular in the eyes of most fans.
Angry at being subbed, or frustrated at having picked up an injury having just put in 3 or 4 of his most effective performances since being out for a year?
At the end of the day he deserves a chance to play purely for the fact that Deeney is absolutely abject and has no business starting games at this point. Maybe Deeney and Gracia have a "special" bond? I'm struggling to understand why else a player that offers so little in his role continues to be picked week in, week out whilst Gray is almost completely frozen out.
Once again, fair enough. But I have already explained what I said? It may be frustration at an injury - but it’s a pretty quick press leak on his injury if it is. I maintain that his reaction on TV screens (I’m watching overseas) is one of ‘I shouldn’t be coming off’.
I reckon he's just booked his summer holiday flights and realised in that moment he's going to be clobbered with a £19.99 admin fee for bringing the booking forward now his season is over.
To see a grown man. Possibly in his fifties go off on one at the ref in such a way that when I told him to stop using the C Word in front of kids he almost self destructed reminded me of the Petchey era where it was civil war at games. Yes Drummer Chris you need to grow up. No you are not funny with your inane shouting, swearing at the top of your voice over and over again is what you do when you are a teenager trying to be brash. Not when you own a season ticket and sit next to and near kids. These people have just humoured you for years as you sit near good people. Today however was the final straw. Be a man and get the crowd singing, not wincing every time you open your mouth.
Holebas getting pelters from the Lower Rous for a poor pass then getting involved in *** for tat back to them and then losing Townsend as a result. It's tough to think of a more unpleasant Watford player in recent memory.
And compare that to Holebas who had twice the time to clear it not once but twice after it hit the crossbar, and both times just let the ball ricochet off him. I'm not sure what the opposite of a nose for danger is, but Holebas has got it.
I'd be delighted and astounded if Richie ever hits the heights of Ighalo's first Premier League season for us.
Hernandez scored two more for Huesca today. It does seem somewhat annoying to have someone scoring goals elsewhere. Can’t see why his work-permit appeal would be any less than Richarlison’s to be honest.
