Pre-season 2019

Watford are a solid side but do lack quality in two vital areas. Strikers and defence. This is where points are gained. You're only as good as your strikers, especially in the Premier League.

But, we have to remember, we did ok last season, and so far the squad is the same with a couple of additions who should give us better options.

We should be ok again next season, but we're a long way off from being a top half of the table side (IMO of course). I think the 4 clubs who were around us last season, have surpassed us in this window.

Two quality signings could change all that though. I'm optimistic we'll get them as well. If we do not sign anymore players, then I don't think this season will be as good as last season, but if we do, I see no reason why we can't have a similar campaign as last year.

 

If we add nobody I’d say we are an outside bet for relegation. An ageing squad. Holebas, Foster, Deeney, Cathcart, Mariappa all a year older and slower. Deadwood like Sema, Success and even Okaka involved due to lack of options. We’d need Geri, Doucs and Capoue to repeat their strong showings last season and avoid injury to keep us safe.

 

Thoughts:

Foster - Sweepered very well, flapped at an early cross. One excellent save in the first half.

Masina - Average. Didn't do much right or wrong.

Prodl - Poor overall, too slow and not agile enough

Dawson - Mixed. Defensively was not great or poor. Dove tailed well with Femenia on a number of occasions.

Kabasele - Was ok. Nothing to write home about one way or other, so that's an improvement.

Femenia - One of our best players today. Balanced his duties well going forward and backwards.

Capoue - Looked sharp in the tackle, ready to play.

Quina - A promising performance, helped keep the ball with effective trickery and awareness.

Hughes - Strong first half, weak second half.

Success - Best game since Wolves away. Did some ok hold up play but drove forward with the ball much better than previously shown. Still goes down too easily at times and sulks.

Deeney - Excellent link up play, didn't shoot much bar a header off the line.

Subs:

Cathcart - Did what you expected of him.

Mariappa - See above.

Janmaat - Looked ok. One excellent cross for Okaka which was well saved.

Cleverley - Energetic and won a header from a corner which went over the bar. Shame on QPR; no-one should lose a header to him.

Folquier - Ball wasn't given to him enough to evaluate an opinion.

Sema - Regularly beat his man to draw corners and loo

 

Who scored today?

 

Time to sell everybody except Mapps, hit the reset button and completely revamp the club before we find ourselves playing turds like QPR every week.

 

So with just 13 days to go before we kick off against Brighton, are we ready?

Still quite a few things to do and there are quite a few questions I'd like to know the answer to.

Cucho. Still no work permit and no extended contract. For me this is the biggest disappointment. I really wanted to see him in a Watford shirt this season. It would have been a perfect time to integrate him. But of course, we cannot play someone who is not allowed to work in England. But will we ever get some to the club?

Contract situation for Pereyra, Janmaat, Bachmann, Cucho. All need to be extended or players sold. Foster is in his last year as well, but we do have an option to add another year.

Penaranda. What's going on with this guy?

Will Chalobah be fit enough to push for a first team place?

If Sarr does sign, what will the team be? Who will be the player dropped? My money is on Hughes, but if we do not have room for Hughes, that means no room for the likes of Qunia and Cleverley also. Will we be playing Pereyra, Deeney, Deulofeu and Sarr across the front line? Leaving only Capoue and Doucoure as deep lying midfielders?

What's going to happen with Pedro? All the Liverpool talks have died down now. Looks like he'll be our player, but when will we see him? Probably not this season is my guess.

Foulquier all of a sudden is part of the pre-season squad. Is he going to be part of things this season?

Are we really going to give Okaka a squad place?

How many more players are we going to sign? Will we be signing a striker? (probably not), will we be getting a central defender? (possibly).

Who else will be sold/loaned out before the window shuts?

Is Ryan Cassidy off or will he finally sign a contract with Watford?

Lots of questions, and the vast majority will be answered in less than a couple of weeks. Watch this space!!

 

Our preseason is clearly based on playing teams our home kit won't clash with as we only have one kit.

Tinpot!

 

Best thing that happened yesterday: Scum 1 Naarch 5. Of course we'll get some more new blood in before the window closes. And probably from left-field and not previously considered. Haven't you all been watching the way Gino operates?

 

How about that heatwave?

Wasn't it a bit chilly this weekend?

What's your favourite type of cheese?

Why's my imaginary flight delayed again?

How much is that in pasetas?

Can you please direct me to the nearest toilet por favor?

Lots of questions. Watch this space!!!!!!

 

That isn’t really what happened last summer. Pozzo seems to do most of his business early.

 

最近的厕所就在公交车站旁，但要确保你有纸，因为从来没有。

 

Wages?

 

All these questions and more answered in the next episode of Soap!

 

No need to wait, answers below.

Yes
No
He's ****
No
No
Never
No
Yes
No striker, maybe a defender
Dunno
Never ******* heard of him

 

Mariappa should be the first to go. He is out of his depth in the Premiership

 

You're out of your depth

 

Highlights of the match with QPR.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=429524671237811

It's quite a surprise that we kept a clean sheet after watching that.

 

However, even had they taken their chances we had a considerable number of good chances too, so we would probably still have won something like 4-3

 

I've not really studied the first group of fixtures in any great detail until now, but this season could represent a tough start for us.

I think we HAVE to beat Brighton or else after the first 7 games we could be right down there. You know once you're in the bottom 3 or 4 after the first 7 or 8 matches the entire season tends to be a struggle.

Here's are first 7 games:-

Brighton (h )
Everton ( a)
West Ham (h )
Newcastle (a )
Arsenal (h )
Man City (a )
Wolves (a )

That's a tough start, especially if we don't beat Brighton. This is why our opening day fixture has to be a victory. It will build confidence and set us up for a hard following 6 fixtures.....IMO of course.

 

I agree, we did have some good chances, but it's a bit worrying how easily QPR got in behind us. We still do not look particularly dangerous going forward, but you have to consider Pererya and Deulofeu were not playing, neither was Doucoure. Defensively we were probably at full strength though, but still looked weak. Our goal certainly led a charmed life.

I think we are a solid hard working side, with a little bit of quality, but I've seen nothing to suggest we'll be anywhere near the top 10 this season. (I will caveat that by saying we could come 11th, which of course would be very near the top 10, but I think the points gap between 10th and 11th will be big this season)

 

Bit of info from the Official Site: https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/gracia-couple-days-hopefully-they-will-be-ready

Doucs, Holebas, Gerard and Chalobah all have minor injuries that should only keep them out for a couple of days.

Penaranda on his own fitness plan after the injury in his international game.

New guy Tom Dele-Bashiru is "being put through his paces by the strength and conditioning team before he joins the main group" - sounds like he's going to be around the fist team squad this season. We'll not be short of centre mids.

 

Gracia experimented with 3-5-2 using Masina and Femenia as wing backs. We were generally poor, but the 2nd half we reverted to 4-2-2-2 and looked a lot more comfortable and in control after the substitutes came on. Most of our worrying moments were using 3-5-2.

 

We were so bad against QPR without a whole list of first team match winners that I don't think we will be anywhere near finishing in the top 12 of the EPL this year and we will finish 13th on goals scored behind Bornmuff.

Nowhere near the top 12.

 

Depressing how few threads are debating potential new signings. Sarr looks to be the only one with any substance.

 

You should support Aston Villa. Much more exciting.

 

No way, given the difficulty they're experiencing in signing anyone at all.

 

Gon2 palais m8

 

Sarr it seems.

 

Would be interesting to know if any players who have had extended breaks are due back in training today...

I would have though Lukebakio would be due back by now. Cucho too if he is allowed to as well...