Beating Man City - How’s it done?

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Moose, May 6, 2019.

  1. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    We can only hope that all the City players have gone on massive benders after winning the league, and still feel hungover by the time the final comes around.

    As for how we should approach the game, if we try and go toe to toe with them we'll end up getting comfortably beat, same as our other recent games against the top 6. Having to play Masina in a back four, should Holebas' red not get rescinded, also won't help. We also struggle for goals without Gray in the side when Deulofeu is in one of his ineffectual moods and Deeney looks off the pace again (as he did at the weekend).

    Considering that, as well as how poor Pereyra and Hughes have been lately, I wonder if some kind of a 5-4-1/5-2-3 might be worth a pop:
    -- Gomes
    Mapps, Cathcart Kabs
    Janmaat -- Masina
    -- Doucoure Capoue
    Deulofeu Deeney
    --- Gray

    Have the defence and central midfielders sitting very deep and narrow, leaving no space in between or in behind, then using the other three for long balls on the counter to nick a goal or two.

    In reality, were Javi to go with 5 at the back I suspect it would be the same team as above but with Hughes in place of Gray as a third midfielder to start off with, leaving Deeney and Deulofeu up top again and Gray as a sub for when we're undoubtedly behind and chasing the game.
     
  2. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Given what we have I like this team and thinking behind it. Unfortunately when I read the team sheet it just feels that it is simply a question of which of the 3 centre backs will either doze off or make an elementary blunder first. Kabasele would be my bet. But what can we do? These are the poor CB options we have.
     
  3. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    His appeal was successful yesterday.
     
  4. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Very true, though hopefully by having three of them on the pitch at the same time in close proximity, there might be more of a chance of another one being able to cover for any mistakes.

    If we play four at the back, based on recent form I'd probably go for Mapps ahead of Kabs, even though both have been poor lately.
     
  5. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Ah okay.

    Tbh he's looked off the pace in his couple of games back since injury - I'd still be worried about him on current form being one of the defenders in a back four.
     
  6. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    He saved himself 42 minutes work on Sunday. Should be fresh as a daisy.
     
  7. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Or as rusty as a... um... rusty object?
     
  8. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    I've never spent so much on attending an event I'm not looking forward to at all. But you have to be there, don't you? Just in case.....
     
  9. Took kids and their friends to the Lion King. Dreaded that. Quite enjoyed it in the end...
     
  10. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Exactly. Even if just to be able to say that we have been to the only 2 cup finals in the clubs history.
    We may also be able to say we were at the cup final with the highest winning margin. The more I think about it, the more I think a 7 goal margin of defeat is more likely than the likelihood of us actually winning. The thought of the MC attacking unit running at a back 5 or 6 of Femenia, Marriappa / Kabasale, Cathcart on recent form, Holebas and Gomes scares the **** out of me and is giving me nightmares !
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2019
  11. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    I'd start with Foster, Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasale, Marriappa, Holebas, Doucs, Capoue, Hughes, Deeney & Geri. 5-4-1 when they have the ball (80% of the time !), 3-5-2 when we have the ball. Try to keep it really tight for the first hour. Bring Gray and Pereyra on at 60 mins if we are losing or 80 mins if we are still drawing.
    Our best chance is to win it 1-0 or 2-1 close to the end of 90 mins. If we go into ET we will lose, if we go to penalties, we will lose.
     
  12. The uninformed

    The uninformed Academy Graduate

    This is exactly how I feel. I'm almost certain I'll regret going. Its a heck of a lot of money to attend someone else's party (not to mention the transport options thanks to Mr Cash) . But if we do the (almost literally) impossible and I wasn't there to witness it, I'd never forgive myself.

    Right, I'm off to the supermarket to pick up a roll of tin foil and a large piece of cardboard....
     
  13. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Hopefully the same feelings this saturday.
     
  14. Filbert

    Filbert Leicester supporting bloke

    Manchester City are like nettles. Harmless if you attack them firmly and full of pricks.
     
    Nightbreaker likes this.
  15. Filbert

    Filbert Leicester supporting bloke

  16. Roger Irrelevant

    Roger Irrelevant Reservist

    Possiblity that Man City to be banned from Champions League.
    Won't make any difference to the final but quite funny.
     
  17. Luther Bassett

    Luther Bassett Reservist

    Each to their own; more of a Throbbing Gristle man, myself.
     
  18. Luther Bassett

    Luther Bassett Reservist

    Hello frying pan, meet fire...
     
  19. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    I do not hate them, but it's good to see that if they have broken the rules they will be severely punished, and not just with fines. Banishment from European competitions and prevention of signing players will really hurt a football club at the level of City. The only other big deterrent would be a points deduction.

    This type of sanction has to be applied just to stop the super powers from abusing other clubs, such as they did over the Sancho deal. He'd have been worth a fortune to Watford by now.
     
    Happy bunny likes this.
  20. miked2006

    miked2006 Premiership Prediction League Proprietor

    Wind them up. Wind their manager up. Start quickly. Get in their faces before they find their rhythm. Hit them quick on the break. Timewaste from the 10th minute. Hope for a City injury. Play for a City red card. Pray that every single Watford player plays out of their skins. Pray City, especially their fast wingers and Aguero, have no composure at key moments. Pray we do.

    Football is great because any team can beat any other team over 90 minutes. We have a chance. It's just very, very slight.
     
  21. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    50:50 & I guessed wrong.

    As previously mentioned, Wire were Watford based.

    On the Cleo/Throbbing axis, closer to your end.
     
    Luther Bassett likes this.
  22. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Walker, Silva D & Sterling are v windupsble.

    Could Agent Holebas be put to work on them with some niggling tackles? Hughes for verbal abuse?

    Also, Aguero is due for an injury. I once picked him for FF & he didn’t reach halftime.
     
  23. BusheyOrn

    BusheyOrn Reservist

    Look back at how we set up at City earlier this year. Pretty sure he will use that template.
    Although I suspect he might throw a surprise with the midfield selection. Also he may use Perayra as he did in the semi as a marker to try and shut down supply at point.
     
  24. Luther Bassett

    Luther Bassett Reservist

    Andy Powell, he of the Flying V in Wishbone Ash, came from Hemel; his brother Lenny used to cut the grass for the Council.
     

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