Think we all agree on that. Difficult to know who to play next to him on reflection. Troost played in the 6-0 win next to Sierralta and was ok, but made the error tonight. Cathcart tonight was by and large ok but don't know if he will be a regular. Wilmot has only played 35 mins in 9 games so probably isn't in the manager's thinking as a regular starter for a promotion push. I will leave it to Xisco.
Promotion runs don’t only consist of 6-0 thrashings. As the climax to the season gets ever closer, scratchy nervy close fought wins become more and more the name of the game. All that matters is points on the board. The slightly longer term picture as a result of tonight’s strange change in central defence is our best defender will now be rested and ready to go for a tough fixture on Tuesday. I felt Chalobah was unlucky to be taken off but the bigger picture is he avoided a tenth yellow card and therefore can play the next match. We got away with dropping Sierralta tonight and taking off Chalobah and Hughes, and we may yet feel more benefits from these decisions come next week. Btw my feeling, and I was watching a feed with French commentary so I might not be the best judge, was Derby’s disallowed goal should have stood but equally the one they did get shouldn’t, as there was an offside.
Better on the ball than I expect him to be under the pressure you get in the middle of the park. Think he's an option to close a game out rather than as a starter though. Also loves a header in the middle of the pitch, although it was his misjudged header that led to Cathcart's comedy slice if I remember correctly.
Decent performance . Plenty of energy pressing and some decent quality in that first half. So pleased that Hughes is exactly what a lot of us thought he would be. Absolutely vital in that midfield three , keeps the ball moving quickly and makes Cleverly and Chalobah better . derby offered nothing except for their set pieces so I sort of understand why Xisco decided to give a few players some rest . Did result in a nervy finish though. Pedro is clearly surpassing Deeney now . He looks more and more competent as a lone striker. He is probably going to be some player once he gets a couple of seasons under his belt Need to keep this going now as it’s not gonna be easy to get back in.the top 2 . The formation is working for us but I worry that there are certain positions where players would be difficult to replace . So a few injuries could end our hopes of autos.
It was. Typical Watford really. Play well, control the game, sit back, **** pants, cling on. 9 points in 6 days though. Top stuff.
Please, not Cathcart. He is way too nervous on the ball and fall asleep during the game. Just wait for the banging of his fists on his own head after he had made another error. It will come...
I thought that the first half n hour was the best I have seen us play this season, we played with intensity and pace and looked a level above Derby. The first goal was Premier league standard even if Joao Pedro got a little bit luck with the finish not many teams play with that pace and precision in this league. After the 2nd goal I thought that we did not know whether to stick or twist. We had no control of the game once Hughesy and Chalobah got substituted off and it looked like a few of the players were starting to fatigue a little. We did not look anywhere near as solid as we have done without big Franciso in the defensive and William Troost Ekong and Cathcart both looked like a liability at times tonight. Feels like a big win though and 9 points in 6 days 9 goals for and 1 against, we can't complain although I bet some still will. Derby's corner routine was very simple but effective I think we should be working on that in training.
We looked very calm and measured until Challobah and Hughes went off then we looked much more dodgy, if I am honest think Xisco should have left at least one of them on for another 10-15 mins, guess he looked at the game and thought we were cruising. Challobah has taken a lot of stick but does seem to be getting better and better and Hughes really just makes us look immense. I think if everybody had been fresh and if we had the luck we had last Saturday we could easily have scored a lot more , Kiko and Sarr as a double act must scare the **** out of defence , Masina and Sema on the other side not so much , but still capable of getting the ball up there.
Good win. Thought defence looks more panicked without Serrialta. Chalobah did well I thought so not sure why he was hooked. Well done to Munoz for keeping JP in and not rotating which must have been tempting. Big game next week at Blackburn.
Deserved the win. We were the much better team in the first half. Second half we dropped off and allowed them back into it. Even then, Derby never looked like scoring. It was only when Ekong decided to yet again be stupid and gift them a goal. Last 15 minutes we were under the cosh, but defended brilliantly considering. Frustrating thing was that could have easily been a 3/4-0 win. We had opportunities for the third goal before the OG gave them hope. Had we taken our chances, and gone 3-0 up, Derby would have crumbled. Was an ugly win, but still deserved in the end. Time for Ekong to be dropped. We’ve all been saying it for weeks. He just isn’t good enough at the moment. Sierralta and Wilmot need to be our starting CB’s. Thats who needs to start against Blackburn on Wednesday. Cathcart and Ekong are good backups, but shouldn’t be starting. Kiko and Sarr are so dangerous. All the teams around us would have watch us tonight and they will feel the pressure. 3 wins in a row. We’re back in it. Need results to go our way now.
I agree, although I can understand why he changed things considering Hughes was on a yellow and had made one or two fouls afterwards and Nate is one away form suspension.
I thought the same! He makes even simple passes look difficult. Then when the confidence goes he just launches it down the pitch completely ruining everything we're trying to do.
Wilmot has only played 35 mins in 9 games though. Risky move during a promotion push. Might just be that Sierralta needs to be playing and next to either Troost or Cathcart to help them, like in the Bristol City and Preston games.
The highlight of the game for me was Kazim-Richards trying to fist bump the referee at half time. Yeah.. that didn't work out.
It was marginally offside, you wouldn't expect it to be given without VAR, and to be honest, nobody noticed or complained until they showed the replay so it would have been exceptionally harsh to disallow it
Maybe, but Ekong has been a liability for a few games now. Not good enough on the ball and ruins how we try to play. Ekong has been putting us under pressure. Just don’t trust him and haven’t for a while. Sierralta has papered over the cracks, but even next to him Ekong hasn’t looked solid. When the ball comes near him, I don’t think anyone is thinking, “oh good, it’s gone to Ekong, he will pass us out of trouble.” Instead we’re all thinking, “oh **** it’s gone to Ekong, here comes the aimless hoof or pass that goes out of play.” Wilmot is much more comfortable on the ball. If we’re planning on playing how we have been, then Wilmot needs to come in. Him and Sierralta will be a solid partnership in my opinion.
According to BBC stats, we've only conceded 1 shot on target in past 3 games, and only conceded 1 goal which was an own goal. Like I said before , a lot will be owed to Ivic if we get promoted this season.
Long may this run of good luck last. The better side by far but lucky breaks with the first goal, the disallowed goal, offside decision, woodwork.
The change in Pedro from last season is very noticeable, he is much more mature, does a lot of the donkey work chasing back, chasing down, a lot of players his age are in the under 23’s and yet to play any type of first team game! Also Sarr has matured and does at least twice the work he was doing last season! The longer we can keep both the luckier we will be!
