Ivic In

Kabasele is rapid tbf, which he needs sometimes as he's liable to the odd brainfart or three

 

Watching Englands game against Belgium. As they are playing with three central defenders, I have been trying to figure out, what is the main difference (tactic wise) compared to us at the moment. Obviously there is a gap in quality, but the area were we lack most, is actually just those three at the back.

England have players in that possession, who can pass the ball with ease (and quality) and who are not scared to hold on to the ball. It means that other players don`t need to come down to help those to create the play; instead they can try to find space between opposing players and therefore help moving ball forward. And allow other players to play in even further possitions. It also seems to mean, that it allows them a chance to play in rather wide areas to spread the game. Again more space created to otherwise crowded midfield.

Our back three play quite near to each other, just to cover for a possible mistake. They need one of the midfielders to come and help with the opening. It doesn`t seem to be very effective. So there won`t be so many to help furter up the field and so on. That area needs to be sorted out by chancing players.

Obviously we lack some quality and wisdom in other parts also, but if we could fix this, I believe that at least some of the problems, could be solved by managing better. Other existing players might be good enough, if this part of our game would be better.

 

he's atit. The amount of games is the only good thing about this godforsaken league.

 

We still in the play off places. On a par with my expectations. But need to play better to give the fans a lift, and Ivic to stop going to a wonky formation too quickly would be helpful.

 

Yep. Low, low, low quality, but massive quantity. Like a Harvester salad bar.

 

Another draw away from home. Tonight's game was tougher than some of the other away draws. Ivic will know he will need to turn the away form around.

 

The excellent home form continues. Good stuff.

 

I remember we went a year unbeaten in the 70s (pre GT) and I think there was even a slightly longer one in the 60s, possibly under Bill McGarry. Home advantage was generally more emphatic back then, as has been discussed on here recently.

 

It's a funny old game isn't it? At 2pm most of us on here were very pessimistic about Deeney and Gray, and yet it's ended up with our best performance of the season (yeah I know Gray went off, but he did a job before that, and Deeney and JP linked up well). Naturally I hope this is a regular occurrence and not a one-off because Preston were lacking a few players

 

Frustrating we could’ve won every home game and also been top.

We just need to improve the away form by about 25 -50% and we’ll be home and hosed though

 

My worry is the home form can’t keep up.....

 

Ivic in! (Until we next lose of course)

 

Ivic is far to good for us. He is the new special one. The way he handled Deeney and co and got them back integrated to the team should not be forgotten. Yes there have been some not so great performances but look at the results. I put that down to Ivic. He says we’re bad when we are and vice versa. As things develop we will get better and better. In these times of Covid he is just the type of coach we need. Also he must have signed off on Ben GoPro videos so he he obviously cares about the fans to.

 

Another point away but not the win. Up to 3rd though and 2 home games to come.

 

Nice tactics from Ivic yesterday.
Lose at home and play poorly.
This makes the away results more palatable and makes the 3 points we will easily get midweek mean so much more.
His cunning plan is all coming together.

 

Back on track with a win and into the playoff places. Niice.

 

When did they shake it all about?

 

If only they would...

 

Nominated for manager of the month Watford's Vladimir Ivic nominated for Championship manager of the month | Watford Observer

 

It is for November Rose

 

Has he been nominated by a medical charity currently researching the prevention of insomnia?

 

Let's look at the cold hard facts.

Ignoring wins that were flukes (so every win apart from Preston) Ivic has only picked up 9 points this season. Nine. Let that sink in.

Ivic's true points tally would place us BOTTOM of the league, only level with Sheffield Wednesday due to their points deduction. And yet there are seriously some foolish morons in our fanbase who think he shouldn't have been sacked after the Middlesbrough game!

Correcting the 8 fluke wins to defeats we have lost 11 games already this season. ELEVEN. That's the same as we lost in the ENTIRE 14/15 season when we got promoted.

Ivic must go.

 

What has happened to you? Always used to be so positive.

 

Presumably he's like most of the rest of us, including (I presume) you and I, in that he doesn't live in a vacuum.

 

A lot of my positivity was reduced when we wasted another summer recruiting poorly and not always in areas where it was most needed. It shrank further after countless away matches in which we failed to score. It also took a backward step when, despite a good start in some home matches, we then resorted to safety-first negative tactics. It’s not disappeared completely though as I appreciate we are third, with only three defeats, and very much in the mix (despite my inner reservations that we are actually in a false position). I just wish we could play with a bit of swagger, and look good on the road too.

 

Or now the day out to games factor is limited to non-existent, the reality of the football club has become apparent.

 

I can't argue that watching many of our games has been like watching paint dry at times, but you can't argue with the results so far!!!

We are in 3rd spot and have 30 points!!! If we are in such a high spot playing boring turgid football, just imagine what will happen when we finally click and start to hit the net more prolifically, we should run away with the league.

Some people have suggested that maybe our current style of play could be down to energy conservation, in the good old Mohamed Ali style letting his opponents come at him and punch themselves out. If that is what we are doing maybe our rivals might burn themselves out and we will hopefully be able to take advantage of that by being stronger and fitter in the 2nd half of the season.

Whether that is the case or not, I still think we are well placed and even if we continue to play a fair amount of boring football, as long as it gets the result we want, which is promotion back to the PL then so be it.

 

All good points, well made.

 

This is the Ivic In thread, not the Ivic Out thread. Positivity is advised.

 

I hope if he does win it, we've already experienced the post-MotM slump! Either that, or someone else wins the award and we are spared it!

 

MotM awards are like the primary school
“ Time to Shine “ nominations .

Every kid gets one throughout the year just to keep it fair .