They've won 4 of their last 5 games. Abject at first yes, but under Duff they are playing a lot better.
A lot of recent encounters with Swansea have been really frustrating. So often we’ve dropped points against them (including three defeats from winning positions) when they’ve been there for the taking - the away games in 2015/16 and 2016/17, the home game in 2017/18, the away match in 2021/22 and the home one last season. It’s no coincidence we finished close to them (above or below) in all those seasons. Our record at them doesn’t inspire confidence - only three wins, two of them when they were relegated (it’s funny that GT was a great admirer of what Toshack did at Swansea, yet they started their plummet down the divisions during our debut season in the top flight when we won 3-1 there). This might be a season-changing game as we finally get our first away win for nearly 10 months (how many times have we said that?) or it could be more of this season’s slim pickings or worse…
Nice and solid line-up which I can understand but maybe need Asprilla instead of Ince then for that extra bit of creativity given the midfield is so workman like. Still, maybe he wants to stay in for 60 minutes then roll the dice.
Shame Sema isn’t starting . Not surprised Asprilla isn’t. Louza dropped . TDB the latest to dropped for discipline reasons https://twitter.com/WatfordFC/status/1716873517357281321
Livermore and Kayembe in midfield. The footballing equivalent of a clogged toilet U-bend but away from home it is just what we need to stay in the game for as long as possible.
With yet another player dropped for being late, it does make you wonder what we’d do if the entire squad ever arrived after the allotted time?! We’d end up forfeiting the match or playing the youngsters I guess. And if VI himself was ever late, I guess he wouldn’t attend the match himself lol Doesn’t seem that Val’s laying down the law before the season started has really had much impact. I think that’s the 4th dropping?
Yes and some were only dropped to the bench too . Seen people trying to defend Louza by saying VI was wrong to criticise him in public .
Problem is that unless it's some sort of midfield masterclass by Kayembe tonight then TDB (like Louza previously) will be straight back In the team, making a bit of a mockery of the whole discipline process.
So TDB was late and is dropped from the squad for being late yet when Louza was late twice earlier this season he still made the bench and came on at half time. Another sign of weakness shown by Ismael and another stick that this group of players who clearly don't respect him will use to beat him with.
Porteus injured? A mostly experienced midfield, Kone given more of a free role maybe? Looking forward to shouting at the tv again, might even turn it on this time.
Two questions: firstly, how long has this been going on for, I presume players were turning up late under previous regimes too, and secondly, is being dropped to the bench that much of a deterrent? Louza was dropped against Blackburn, came on at half-time and has continued to stink the place out ever since
It does seem a worrying trend with our players in general. A few seasons back you had Gray and Quina who went to the party under lockdown. Sarr (not that I think this really counts) has arrived for pre season training late at least a few times. Now you have had Hamer, Louza and now TDB taking the pi$$ when it comes to VI's rules on being on time. Maybe the whole squad needs sitting down and spoken to about it? Whether anyone will listen or care is another matter of course.
Louza has been dropped 3 times now, Hamer removed from the bench once, Porteous once and now TDB (though I'm not sure if they were all for disciplinary reasons)
I get we're away and need a bit more 'steel', but there's almost zero creativity in there, we will at some point need to worry them going the other way or else it'll be one way traffic
A typical end of season game. Neither side has anything to play for and both sets of players are clearly already 'on the beach'... In October. FFS
Bayo should have buried that cross from Ngakia, it was right on his head in the 6 yard box!!! Why is he such a lousy finisher???
