Let's look at the positives. This was our best result of the season. It's stopped the run of thrashings. Welbeck managed to get on the pitch. We're in the top 20 clubs in England.
Foster has no pressure on his spot at all because Gracia idiotically puts geriatric Gomes on the bench. What a great contract renewal that was. If I were Bachmann or Dalhlberg I would leave.
Just got in and have only seen the result but if it was a better performance that at least is something to cling on to!
It was a much better performance today . There was no lack of effort or heart . Capoue looked back to his old self Delefeou was lively but also wasteful . We really looked lacking in confidence, although we did improve as the match went in. We also did have chances and with more composure we should have scored . Didn’t realise the Deeney chance was offside thought at the time it was a really good chance . Our defence is fragile and I think is not looking as well protected from the midfield . Doucoure is still not firing , though working hard , but I’m certain he will improve. I do agree with what people are saying about the fullbacks . Kiko was at fault for the goal and bis crossing is awful . I would rather see Janmaat come back in . Deeney has been massive did us but also agree we may need to try something different . Last season we just seemed to almost always come up with a goal when we needed one and I almost think that looks like the biggest difference . Is it a self belief thing? So I don’t think this is all down to Javi sticking to the same tactics as they worked most of last season but also agree it is time to change it up . I’ve always thought that we would struggle to play with one up front ( and question who would play as the solo striker) but I’d like to see us try something like that as it would potentially play to more of our players strengths , particularly if Sarr is going to be coming in next weekend Really do need to get something against West Ham though otherwise this is starting to be a worrying run
Wow - first time I have ever “watched” the game via Shoutbox. And the last. No idea what was going except that all our players, manager and tactics were utterly ****. There’s a few who need therapy on there. Poor result and not a great performance but too many anger management issues
How do you know it wasn't a great performance if you didn't watch? Or was your post just designed to have a bash at some other supporters?
If this had been the opening game, we’d have probably been sat here thinking we were fairly unlucky to come away with nothing. Given that it came on the back of an absolutely rancid performance last week, it feels a lot worse than it probably was. In terms of effort and fight, today was far better. I thought Dawson was much improved as an individual, but our back line still looks all over the place at times. A lot of work needed, but I do think our central defenders are left in awkward positions due to poor fullback play, particularly Kiko in his positioning. I think some adjustments are needed to try and stop us getting overrun in midfield, and we find it really hard to press effectively and win the ball back against opposition who have 3 across the middle. Deeney has been a good servant, but he’s just not a threat, nor is he particularly effective at holding the ball up. Next week is an absolute must win, even at this point.
Next week we need something. Even if it's a scrappy point it will be enough to serve as a platform to get going.
If anyone claims they didn’t see that outcome coming, they’re lying. Predictable from start to finish. An absolute ‘gimme’ from Gracia to Everton.
Much better than last week firstly, just didnt have the composure once we got around the area. Welbeck is two weeks away from full fitness and sharpness by the look of it. Front three of Welbeck, Sarr and Del boy should be the way to go now, if Gracia doesnt go this route he needs sacking. Overall today I think we deserved a point to be honest.
What we're seeing is the effect of the lack of a major defensive investment since 2016. Dawson is a solid signing but he isn't any better than Cathcart overall who is a mid table to lower mid table defender and one of them should be our 3rd choice CB. Mariappa is your good 4th choice defender. Kabasele and Prodl do not count as effective options at this point leaving us with a weak core of dependable centre backs. Our full backs exasperate the issue as their defensive positioning is all but nought, putting extra pressure on the wingers to help cover them which when a long diagonal ball is played causes us grief and was the reason they got their goal. Midfield has options to give us depth and ability to change the dynamic as needed but we're being over run currently. Until we can either bring a better balance from the back to help alleviate the pressure on our midfield we will be susceptible to being out numbered and exposed by teams exploiting our soft defensive spine. How Gracia works around having a fundamentally poor defence is yet to be seen but 4-2-2-2 has begun to be sussed by managers around us. We aren't suited to 3 centre backs as we do not have the quality personnel to fill all 3 spots.
Just saw this on twitter. Don’t know how true this is and can’t be bothered to go back and confirm it, as it’s too gut wrenching. Watford in the last 20 games in the league: 22 points (2nd worst) 25 goals (4th worst) 35 goals conceded (Worst)
Today was a better performance and he hit the post with a header. He causes problems in their defensive box which others struggle with, including our strikers. He's the most potent aerial threat we currently possess which to some degree makes up for his poor passing. The full backs also expose the repositioning of him and Cathcart a lot more.
Pererya played pretty well over all, but his pathetic dive was an embarrassment. Does he not know there's VAR? Lucky not to get a retrospective ban.
Yep. 3 years of chronic neglect in the defence by the owner and Giraldi. What do they expect? Top scouting network my backside.
Wasn't a terrible performance at all. We played quite well at times and had more than a few decent spells (although it's only fair to point out we also had a few wobbly patches). The glaring issue at the moment is the lack of movement into the box, and that's on Deeney (plus the midfielder on the opposite side to where the cross/attack is coming from - someone has to be attacking the box). Their goal was more than a bit fortunate; without the unlucky (or lucky, depending on how you look at it) deflection, Foster saves it. On most other days that would have spun out for a corner. I think the challenge on GD that led to a corner was likely a penalty. I don't understand how it was given as a corner - that's the one thing it definitely wasn't. Capoue perhaps a touch lucky not to get a second yellow, but he should have scored today. Pereyra's dive was embarassing; I really don't care to see Watford players diving and that was disappointing to see. Hopefully someone will have a word with him. I think a draw would have been a fair result overall. The team is clearly lacking in confidence and belief at the moment. Get a goal and spark that and I think we'll be fine. We had some decent opportunities to score today and consistently fluffed them. I'm optimistic that Sarr will inject some pace and wing play into the equation next week. We paid 30 million for the kid; at a club like ours, he needs to be playing if we're going to be spending that much on a single player. I think it's unarguable that we need to add some defensive heads in December and I hope that's being actively looked at.
How many can you remember - fa cup semi? Nets with a lot of disastrous ones like the Wolves home game. Bournemouth at home? I’d say a Gracia sub is generally a negative.
There were noises we were looking at defensive signings last year, and we bought Dawson. He's not bad but not enough either; hopefully Gino is watching and is instructing the right people who to target for January.
Christ. Pozzo isn’t buying a defender in the winter window. He has shown time and again he isn’t interested.
Pozzo has been watching the defensive calamities over 4 transfer windows and done nothing. Why do you think he will do anything in January?
Is there some kind of unwritten rule that all Watford attacks have to start from the centre-backs? A loose ball is picked up in midfield; first thought: pass back to Cathcart. A throw-in in the opposition half: shall I throw it up to a forward? No, I’ll go back to the full-back in our half so he can pass it across the defence. Very frustrating. When was the last time Watford scored a fast breakaway goal? In my head it was in the 4-1 against Chelsea 18 months ago.
Off the top of my head: Okaka changing the game in back to back home games first season that got us the six points to stay up Cleverley netting the winner at Selhurst Gray scoring/assisting as supersub a few times last season Janmaat and Gray on for Deulofeu and Pereyra, plus a switch to a back 3 turning a 1-1 into a 4-1 vs Fulham Doucoure coming on for Quina to get a point vs Newcastle and Deulofeu in the semi There may be more but that's not a bad start!
