It was Grays run behind the defence that gave Sema the space to cross and Sarr to ghost in. Those runs were crucial in that first hour or so otherwise the ball would've kept coming back and Norwich would've gained confidence.
Excellent. Attacked with more purpose and defended well considering it was a bit makeshift against a top side .
Get in You Orns! I am pissed but I think that was put best performance of the season, We looked far more dangerous than they were and defended well. Players looked like they were working for eachother as well my old boy said to me after the game when was the last time you seen Watford players look so jubilant after a win.
That was more of a positive and energetic performance than we've been used to this season, but I won't get too carried away yet while we still have no strikers capable of hitting a barn door with a banjo! It held us back significantly under Ivic, and it'll remain a problem until we bring in anyone else. Sarr's crossing is still completely wasted with Tweedledeen and Tweedledre in the middle. We can't convert most of the chances we create (we should have had 3 or 4) which will mean our defence will always be under pressure to hang on to narrow goal margins. Full credit to the defence though for being solid and restricting them to hardly anything. Masina deserves a special mention for an excellent cameo with a couple of great challenges. We also have to see if we play any different away from home - don't forget we were very good at home under Ivic as well. Swansea away next will probably be even more difficult than this was.
Gray runs great channels. However he can't ever seem to to shoot straight. It's always a scuff, a shank or an air shot. It amazes me how he's scored so many goals yet seemingly completely has no idea how to shoot
Christ - Sky on a budget? That commentator is not going to be strolling down the catwalk anytime soon
I do understand why some fans felt the need to write off Xisco before he’d even been in charge for a match, but I always felt that in much the same way Biden won the USA election by being anybody but Trump, our new Head Coach would get off to a winning start tonight by not being Ivic. The players responded to him, the shackles seem to have come off, and I think we can look forward to the rest of the season now with some excitement. I think generally tonight we played well, with the exception of our three strikers who looked as if they’d come to a general agreement before the game that none of them would score tonight. How much better a side we would be with even one decent goal scorer up top. The heroes tonight were from elsewhere on the pitch. Our most inexperienced central defensive pairing of the season managed a clean sheet. Femenia buzzing everywhere. Capoue slowly starting to look the part again after a few early scares. Foster clearing the ball quickly after last week’s gaffe, tonight making Norwich look the foolhardy ones for the kamikaze way they played from the back. One of our wingers crossing for the other to score..poetic really for our first match under a distinguished former winger himself. And Masina coming on as sub and making THAT tackle. Wow! I thought we pressed Norwich well second half, and restricted them to half chances. Ironically at the end it was kind of Ivic-like in a way, desperately defending a 1-0 lead. But I think what went before that was a lot better than some of the fare served up under our former coach, and I loved Xisco’s manner and positivity on the touchline. I suggest the players did too. Yes it may just be new coach bounce..only time will tell..but he’s off to a winning start, we’ve beaten the league leaders and Pozzo may just have found us somebody whose going to stick around for a while and get us all buzzing again.
1: Thank God Vlad's gone. 2: If we had an in-form/decent striker we would have won that 3 or 4 nil. 3: Solid defensively while still getting men forward to attack- who would have thought it were possible. 4: Sarr still looks a little tentative going forward at times, but overall a better performance. 5: 100x better watch than recent dross. Actually an enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes. Top marks for our man Xisco. Players looked a lot happier too. Onto the next
His runs were good but not much else and was good too see us play this way. Earlier I ran to the shed to as the aim was to cut the grass, I dropped the cat the shoulder and pulled out a shovel instead of the mower. Same out come as Gray unfortunately, garden is now a right mess
Enjoyed that. Much better performance against a strong opposition. Wasteful in front of goal so was pretty certain it was going to end 1-1 but good stuff. Seemed a really good vibe among everyone at final whistle as well. Right back in the hunt.
Firstly, as it stands I don't see a reason to drop either of the centre backs after that, and secondly, imagine if we continue to play like that and bring in a striker who can score goals as well as exist on the pitch/make runs/whatever. As others have said, also great to see Masina back and I'd like to see him starting as soon as possible.
Just goes to show that anyone, ANYONE is an improvement on Ivic. Even nobody in charge would have improved us. THE KID picked a side any one of us could've picked and then made subs. Actually the subs weakened us, but basically, by not instructing the players to utterly stifle any attacking intent, we beat the top side in the league. Any random **** could get this side promoted and one might just get to do it.
Sierrelta, Wilmot and Masina were fantastic tonight. Ngakia played very well considering he’s played less than 20(?) professional games, and at an unfamiliar position.
Well firstly I think Norwich are a scary side , not surprised they are top. They dominated the 1st half, but we still had plenty of good chances , our goal was against the run of play bit a great workman like goal. 2nd half for 30 mins thought we looked good and showing them how to play football, but after their triple change was sure they were going to score. much more energetic performance , lots of running , most players pretty good , thought Gray looked alright but a better striker would have scored at least one of his chances. capoue made some great tackles but needs to sharpen up was convinced he was going to get a card , Glad Sarr scored but again was convinced he was going to get a red card. couple of times I thought we had given a penalty away , it would have been harsh but seen them given. masiva made some important clearances when he came on , great to see Hughes back (although he didn’t do much) massive win for us, shame our midweek game has been postponed
Its going to be down to the players at the end of the day. Whether they continue to put the effort in. If they start not believing in him we've had it.
They were outstanding tonight I thought? One swallow doesn’t make a summer but they’ve earned the right to try and form a partnership if you ask me.
That was so much better . We were actually getting men forward looking to attack and weren’t afraid to be a bit more direct when appropriate. So much less frustrating to watch than recent matches On top of that we defended really well and limited Norwich to barely a sniff . Serielta and Wilmot both excellent. I’m not gonna get carried away after one performance but it’s all very encouraging . The main negative was the missed chances. However let’s face it it’s been rare we’ve had as many good chances as that in a match this season so if it keeps happening and we don’t score I’ll start worrying. Still think Gray and or Perica will come good with their goal scoring if they keep playing and getting chances .
I didn't realise Moog et al were so influential in the dressing room/Troy's tactical briefing! So credit to this victory must go to Moog too, no?
It’s just so frustratingly sad that all we need is a semi competent striker and we’d get promoted, and that would’ve been with or without Ivic.
Masina doesn't make runs in the attacking 3rd like Femenia and Ngakia can do. So he will restrict us on that score. Unless Xisco teaches him how to in training.
Don’t want to say too much as I’m desperately keeping one eye out the window to make sure my house doesn’t flood again! But we were superb and the difference in attitude from the players was stark. Thought every player did very well, even those with the known limitations. The scenes on the bench at FT are all we have been asking for! Players looking like they are enjoying playing for the club and the manager. And playing to our strengths. Watching Xisco’s post-game interview now and he’s smiling, happy, backing the players etc. Just what the doctor ordered. A small step forward. But no complaints at all from me!
Nothing to do with the dressing room - he was written off as being **** almost immediately after he signed. He may be ****. He may be amazing. He may be somewhere in between. Time will tell. This forum will carry on knee jerking
You beat me to this one, I was about to say virtually the same thing! Gray does have good movement and gets into good positions, but he does not have a clue what to do with the ball at his feet, which lets face it is not a good thing for someone who makes his living as a footballer. We missed FOUR sitters tonight, two by the afore mentioned Gray, but our other so called strikers Deeney & Perica also managed to miss one each. However as the commentators on Sky said, Vlad has left us a good legacy in our defence as they still looked good tonight. The main difference was that we did not pussyfoot around by persistently passing it around at the back far to much, we got the ball upfield much quicker. Plus Sarr seemed to have a bit of a free roving role, which brought him into the game a lot more. All in all we would not have been flattered had we had scored FIVE tonight, but there in is our age old problem yet again, we need a decent finisher!!! If we could pick up a 15 goal a season striker in January and continue to create chances like we did tonight and couple that with Vlads legacy of giving us a decent defensive structure, I see no reason why we should not get automatic promotion back to the Premier League!!! THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT THE FUTURE IS YELLOW
