Watford FC 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion - 11/08/2018

Called it

 

Decent performance today and a very comfortable win against a very poor Brighton side . Full of effort and endeavour with a couple of moments of class from Bobby P.

I did feel reminiscent of the end of last season with us very much on top but not finishing Brighton off in the first half . However we looked really solid in the second hand as well .

I’m still worrying where the goals are gonna come from though .Was good to see success back and thrown in as a striker and he looked lively so maybe he good be an option . His first touch was vastly superior to gray and he’s very hard to knock off the ball .

Will be interesting to see how we get on st Burnley as that’s always a tough game !

 

Last Thursday wasn’t the greatest ever day for our owners and those in charge of recruitment, to put it mildly.

But if they are even tempted to listen to offers from Italy for Pereyra, we might as well all pack up and head for the beach nine months early.

As I mentioned in my stats, he’s now scored 5 and assisted the other one of our last 6 goals.

Keep him fit (a big if I know) and he will probably be the biggest difference between survival and relegation.

Surely they can’t be even thinking of letting him go, can they? Can they?!

 

Just out of interest, how does Mariappa compare - I thought he had more than that?

 

Foster's distribution makes a huge difference. He repeatedly picked out Pereyra on the touchline during the first half, rather than having to rely on Deeney winning a header.

Janmaat and Holebas didn't put a foot wrong today. Cathcart and Kabasele probably won't have an easier afternoon all season than Glenn Murray on his own upfront.

Doucouré looked understandably rusty when we were attacking but put in a huge shift defensively.

Nice to see a training ground routine pay off for the first goal, the way the others moved to create the space for Pereyra was well worked.

 

No Brighton shots on target, Pereyra masterclass, Capoue playing like a French Busquets, every player putting in a shift, Javi getting the starting XI and subs spot on, great day out and a fine start!

For the sake of balanace, the only negative for me was how off the pace Doucoure looked at times. He definitely looked like a guy who's missed the entire pre-season, but hopefully we can get him back up to speed for the tougher tests ahead.

Shoutout to Holebas for a solid 90, two assists and the obligatory yellow card for continuity.

 

Good solid enjoyable win, fully deserved. Can't fault anyone today. All put in a shift.

 

Congrats to Gracia today, got his tactics right and the desire was very evident to see.

The idea that Holebas proved anyone 'wrong' today though, in one appearance against a team who haven't won in (I think) 14 away games, and offered almost no threat, particularly from the wings, is misguided at the least. And he still managed to collect a yellow card for kicking the ball away in petulance after committing a foul. Judge Holebas on his long history, not one single match where he managed alright under little pressure.

 

Not in the PL though I don’t think?

His last appearance for us first spell was Championship?

 

Pereyra didn't play like a guy who wants to leave, there's no way the club would want to sell him on the back of his last few performances - especially with no way to bring in a replacement - so I'd be very surprised to see him go at any price this month.

 

Richarlison. Had to happen didn’t it. Uff.

 

Thank you. It was quite lovely with some nachos I found in cubicle 2 of the gents on level 1.

 

Who?

 

True - just checked.

 

Just need a Vydra goal tomorrow to complete our Bitter Rose-Tinted-Glasses Nostalgia WFC Bingo card.

 

It's not an exaggeration to say Deeney or Gray would have scored it. Yes. The chance was that easy.

 

Who gives a sh!t....we won, that's what's important.

 

Fails to score with his last 53 shots for us, then scores with his first ever for Everton.

So far it’s not been a good day for the newly promoted clubs.

 

Thanks Malts - great to have you back on the stats!

 

A performance of premier knowhow. We bossed the game, especially in CM with Doucoure and Capoue.

My only concern looking at the wider picture is if we had to chase the game the lack of pace (Roberto, Hughes, Deeney) means we’d struggle to break teams down. Hughes is class but he’s not a RM.

 

All credit to Gracia - the best prepared we have been for an opening game in years. Aggressive, organised, terrific. I think Brighton are much better than we made them look, so a very good performance.

And I loved the jacket with the 70's teacher arm patches. Just couldn't remember who he reminded me of in it.

 

Greatly enjoyable game. We thouroughly deserved that.

Doucouré looked rusty and gave the ball away far too much, but he’ll get going soon and Capoue was magnificent in the meantime.

Hughes grew in to the game and some of his first touch passes and close control got me rather aroused.

Holebas and Janmaat did well to give them their dues. Kabasele, Cathcart and Foster must have been bored today.

Pereyra deserves all the credit that will be heaped on him this evening. Even his goals aside he really was terrific. Looks much stronger than previously and won plenty of physical battles.

The team were well drilled and worked hard - well done Gracia.

I don’t want to get too carried away after that, because as good as we looked, Brighton look in deep trouble in todays evidence. Tougher tests to come, I hope we pass them all with such flying colours!

 

We want him to do well (exept against us) when you think about it because that means we get the add ons quicker - more cash in the bank.

 

Everton down to 10 - Jagielka off straight red

 

I went into the game thinking that whilst I like Gracia, if we let Richarlison and Pereyra leave, didn't sign anyone on transfer deadline day and played Holebas this season then we'd be in a lot of trouble.

I'll admit that Holebas getting two assists and a clean sheet has bemused me and if he keeps us playing like a Championship - let alone an EPL - player for the first time in years, then I'll be the first to admit I misjudged him.

P.S. Wolves have equalised against 10 men Everton

 

Don’t forget Assombolonga