Pre-season 23/24

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by TomWatfordFC, May 30, 2023.

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  1. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

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    Too much was down to lack of effort. No heart, fight or desire from the majority.
     
    Carpster, Jun 20, 2023
    #106
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  2. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator

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    We played 46 games last season and only played well maybe three times. Luton (H) Norwich (A) and maybe Stoke (A) but even that was lazy until Louza came on. Not lack of effort or heart for 43 games is disgusting from a team of professional athletes who get paid a hell of a lot for what they do. Blame the manager sure, blame the board sure, but individually they were not good enough as a team. What we have left now is still a core of that side, with another new head coach, and some fresh promises of change from Gino, with a bit more "stablilty" on the fianancial front. That's good, but it's all talk at the moment. If we fail to get these so-called targets in we will be left with a very average squad who will of course play to that standard. We will then go through three more coaches in nine months and it will look like nothing has/will ever change.

    On the plus side, we have got rid of a few of them, and I for one am happy with Bayo being back in place of Davis/Assombolonga. Styles, Ince and the Korean would be a great trio of new faces. VI wants to go attacking, and looking at that list right now, attacking the centre circle is about as far as we might get. Change doesn't happen overnight either, and I get we need to be patient with this new regime - but that patience will only go as far as Gino's trigger finger, which going by last season won't even get him past September without a bullet fired.
     
    SkylaRose, Jun 20, 2023
    #107
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  3. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

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    20230621_161758.jpg
    **** sakes
     
    TomWatfordFC, Jun 21, 2023
    #108
  4. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator

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    A face can tell one thousand words. "How many flapp's am I going to make? Do I have enough super glue to keep myself bolted to the goal line all season? Who can I kung-fu kick this season?
     
    SkylaRose, Jun 21, 2023
    #109
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  5. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

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    The undeniable truth, Jun 21, 2023
    #110
  6. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

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    "I'm too good for the Championship"

    In his world, he is. Meanwhile, back on Earth...
     
    Heidar, Jun 21, 2023
    #111
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  7. VR94

    VR94 Academy Graduate

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    Gaspar is a strange one - where is he? Something weird went on under Wilder when he just disappeared.
     
    VR94, Jun 22, 2023
    #112
  8. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

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    Probably had enough of our sh1t club and a third coach of the season.
     
    Robert Peel, Jun 22, 2023
    #113
  9. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

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    It's his wedding
     
    Heidar, Jun 22, 2023
    #114
  10. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

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    Uh oh, they've found us. Everybody hide!

    20230622_143154.jpg
     
    UEA_Hornet, Jun 22, 2023
    #115
  11. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

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    Probably looking at Giaretta’s latest Instagram postings.
     
    hornetboy1, Jun 22, 2023
    #116
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  12. wfcwarehouse

    wfcwarehouse First Team Captain

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    Wonder if the Stevenage friendly will be cancelled now we've drawn them in the cup.
     
    wfcwarehouse, Jun 22, 2023
    #117
  13. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Ismael will be disappointed as he requested playing a team like them in Pre-season...
     
    wfc4ever, Jun 22, 2023
    #118
  14. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

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    TomWatfordFC, Jun 22, 2023
    #119
  15. simpleMASH

    simpleMASH Reservist

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    Presumably Pussetto, Gaspar, Quina, WTE and Fletcher can be considered as good as gone if they’re not in training?
    Maybe Kayembe too.
     
    simpleMASH, Jun 23, 2023
    #120
  16. Knight GT

    Knight GT Predictor extraordinaire 2013/14

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    T
    Thump the ball aimlessly forward. Hmmm thought Hoedt, this sounds like a bit of me
     
    Knight GT, Jun 23, 2023
    #121
  17. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach

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    Mr.Q ?

    [​IMG]​
     
    Smudger, Jun 23, 2023
    #122
  18. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach

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    I'm still here. Must be a glitch in the system.....
     
    Smudger, Jun 23, 2023
    #123
  19. RMT79

    RMT79 First Year Pro

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    So, our one and only pre season game is a week on Wednesday .... cant help but think pre season hasn't been very well organised.
     
    RMT79, Jun 26, 2023
    #124
  20. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

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    It's extraordinary to think only one pre-season match is sufficient preparation for the forthcoming campaign. But........the Watford hierarchy always know best.
     
    hornetboy1, Jun 26, 2023
    #125
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  21. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

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    It's not as though we have a new manager, working with a new squad, playing a completely different style....what could possibly go wrong ???
     
    The undeniable truth, Jun 26, 2023
    #126
  22. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

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    Didn't they say there were going to be training ground games?
     
    UEA_Hornet, Jun 26, 2023
    #127
  23. RMT79

    RMT79 First Year Pro

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    I have felt we have been under prepared for the season ahead for the last 4 ... we never look fit enough or sharp enough - not having a decent number of pre-season games certainly contributes to that.... maybe we have some lined up, but training ground matches are less intense than friendlies - we have to hit the ground running this season
     
    RMT79, Jun 26, 2023
    #128
  24. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu Keyboard Warrior

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    I agree I think we do need a sports psychologist or maybe a ward full of them
     
    Cthulhu, Jun 26, 2023
    #129
  25. Watford Town

    Watford Town Academy Graduate

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    Why? Maybe they'll be treated exactly the same as the types of friendlies we usually play at the training camps we go on when abroad?

    Maybe the club just want to keep our training matches behind closed doors in order to surprise our early opponents next season with whatever tactical approach Ismael has gone for?
     
    Watford Town, Jun 26, 2023
    #130
  26. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

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    Doesn't he always play the same style?
     
    Robert Peel, Jun 26, 2023
    #131
  27. Watford Town

    Watford Town Academy Graduate

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    He mostly played 343 at Barnsley and West Brom, but used 433 a lot at Besiktas. He also occasionally in the Champ switched to a 3412.

    His West Brom team was also a bit less direct than his Barnsley one.
     
    Watford Town, Jun 26, 2023
    #132
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  28. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

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    Louza and Porteous back in training today.
     
    hornetboy1, Jun 26, 2023
    #133
  29. WatfordTalk

    WatfordTalk First Team

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    Just like that our squad goes from Hopeless to Not Good
     
    WatfordTalk, Jun 26, 2023
    #134
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  30. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

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    Seen:
    Daniel Bachmann
    Jeremy Ngakia
    João Ferreira
    Imran Louza
    Ismael Kone
    Vakoun Bayo
    Ryan Porteous
    Tom Dele-Bashiru
    Ben Hamer
    Christian Kabasele
    Samuel Kalu
    Francisco Sierralta
    Mattie Pollock
    Matheus Martins
    Kwadwo Baah
    Joseph Hungbo
    James Morris
    Wesley Hoedt
    Ryan Andrews
    Tobi Adeyemo
    Alfie Marriott
    Myles Roberts
    Michael Adu-Poku
    Rhys Healey
    Maduka Okoye
    Edo Kayembe
    Shaq Forde
    Jonathon Macauley
    Gabriel Ortelli

    Missing:
    Mario Gaspar
    Ashley Fletcher
    Domingos Quina
    Ignacio Pussetto

    Yet to return from internationals:
    William Troost-Ekong
    Ken Sema
    Yaser Asprilla
    Ismaila Sarr

    Anyone got any more youth names to add to the list?

    Edit: updated
     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2023
    TomWatfordFC, Jun 26, 2023
    #135
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  31. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

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    TBF I suspect that Gino, Dux, Giaretta and Manga would have wanted more games, but Rob Edwards has probably stopped it from happening.
     
    wfcmoog, Jun 26, 2023
    #136
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  32. LF24

    LF24 Academy Graduate

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    Okoye, Kayembe, and Forde are in training (seen on the official sites daily pre-season galleries). Matheus Martins is also training with us at the moment (where or not he's staying I don't know)

    Under 18 keepers Jonathan Macauley and Gabriel Ortelli have also been training with the first team.
     
    LF24, Jun 26, 2023
    #137
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  33. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

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    Thanks!
     
    TomWatfordFC, Jun 26, 2023
    #138
  34. VR94

    VR94 Academy Graduate

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    VR94, Jun 26, 2023
    #139
  35. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Presume you don’t have to be too fast to win this but have good stamina?

    Not sure that tweet meant we we going to sign someone does it but then guess that is Twitter for you .
     
    wfc4ever, Jun 26, 2023
    #140
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