One of those wonderful days that make supporting a club like ours so utterly unexpectedly fantastic at times. I’m not ashamed or hopefully not lacking in any sort of self-awareness to say that Val has exceeded my expectations so so much. I thought he would be a poor choice of Head Coach and our playing style would be ugly. I’m so pleased to be proved wrong (again!). He’s getting the most out of players many of us had feared would join the long list of poor signings under Pozzo. Kayembe has been a revelation of late, Kone oozes class, Hamer looks re-born and even our much maligned strikers have all found the net this month. It’s wonderful to see. Continuity and good sense really does have a part to play at our crazy club. So up to 9th, our only defeats in the last 12 have been against the runaway top two, and we score 5 away for the first time since Goodison. That’s 3 away wins and 2 draws in our last 6 on the road now. A day to savour and treasure, but hopefully not the limit of our expectations or ambitions either. Oh and obviously thoughts with Tom Lockyer tonight as well.
I don't think either have named their squad yet, but Kayembe was in their last squad for November. Bayo wasn't, he hasn't been called up for a good while and he has some big name players potentially in his way
That's another good result this season against the kind of physical Championship side we've massively struggled against in recent previous ones. There was a lot to be pleased with there. That game showed the benefit of being able to have a fresh Bayo to come in to the team, and that was exactly the type of game which was suited to him, away against a team with slow Centre-Backs who left a fair bit of space in behind for us to exploit. He did his common thing of failing to score from a good chance before managing to score from one which appeared a bit more difficult. Hoedt and Bayo also contrived to somehow miss an open goal at the back post, with what appeared to be Bayo actually tackling Hoedt and helping to put him off, but they combined excellently for our equaliser. It was a fairly even game initially with plenty of chances for both sides. Remarkably considering the scoreline that was probably the busiest game Hamer has had for us since coming back in to the team, but boy did he stand up to it well with an excellent performance. A draw was probably a fair reflection on things at half time but we made their defensive frailties pay in the second half, while continuing to demonstrate that our fitness levels are much improved this season as Preston faded. We also saw the benefits of us having a squad this season made up of a vast majority of players with a good attitude, being kept in the loop and able to step in and produce when needed. There were a lot of questions before the game about TDB at right-back, and he did struggle defensively against who was probably Preston's most dangerous player in Millar - albeit he didn't get much help at times from Martins. However, he did at least provide a good attacking outlet from that position and helped us to get the ball in to dangerous areas. He won't be a long-term solution for that position but at least we rode out the game it had to happen in. Kayembe had another super game in central midfield. I thought Kone looked a bit dead on his feet at times compared to his usual self, but he still ground out a good performance as well. As an aside, I also thought Pollock seemed a bit quicker and sharper in his cameo than I've seen him before. The team spirit gets brought up a lot now this season and it was clear again in that game, firstly to come back again from a goal down, but then with the general demeanour of the team as the game went on - there were smiling faces all round.
Was following on Twitter until we were 3-1 up (mandatory Christmas shopping with the misses) and got to see the final 30 minutes. Have seen all the goals since. What a performance. By all accounts we were under pressure in the first half and weathered it well with Hamer in form. Sport is a strange thing. In the very recent past, some of our outstanding players looked lost and technically deficient. Slowly the confidence is building and Lewis, Keyembe, Kone, Hoedt (last week’s mishap was an aberration!), Livermore all look undroppable. This has got to be partly down to their hard work and the manager’s influence. I also like Martins and would like to see him start more often. Bayo looked a class act in the 2nd half. For his 2nd goal he was spectacular (and what a pass from Keyembe). Our bench looks strong and we now appear to have a solid and confident group who look like they are enjoying working for the cause. A happy time to be a hornet. Not the strongest squad we have ever had, but one of the most likable. We will lose plenty more games, but it will hopefully not be abject defeats, as in recent years. Louza seems to be well down the pecking order, at this stage, which is probably helping the atmosphere around the squad.
That was a joy to watch at the end . We rode our luck a bit early on and Hamer kept us in it , but showed a real ruthless streak at the end . Man of the match performance from Bayo including two very composed finishes. He looked like a very good very centre forward today and leagues ahead of Ryovic with his all round play. My main Concern at the start of the season was where the goals are gonna come from , but we are sharing them around nicely and appear to have midfielders that can score now. Roll on Blackburn !
Recurring post but... this season is fun! Ismael has done fantastically well to mould this team, if anyone had told you we'd be leaving a fully fit Louza out of the squad at the start of the season and the fans would back that decision, you'd have laughed at them. A team that's more than the sum of its parts... nice to have again for the first time in years!
If anyone fancies a blast from the past, the Preston forum is a must: "Couldn’t watch today (thank god) but that’s an instant sacking if ever I saw one" "Lowe has lost the dressing room." "When will the board seriously start to question Riddlers ability to select a credible manager ?" "Neither do I, **** isnt it! I don’t really have a personal choice of manager, anyone but Lowe right now. I’d like a premier league number 2, someone ready for a real challenge. I think it’s time for a foreign manager." Big credit to everyone connected with the club today methinks
In all my many years of supporting Watford, I think the times I’ve most enjoyed are when we’ve exceeded expectations, when as @Steve Leo Beleck just said we are bigger than the sum of our parts, when you watch both individual players and therefore the whole team grow week by week in front of your eyes. GT did it in his both his spells, AB surprised us all by doing so in his first full season, Malky and Dyche both started to do it and actually probably even QSF in our first season back in the PL when we were expected to go straight down again. We are a club who I believe historically do better when expectations are low, and as fans it often makes any unexpected success more rewarding. I hope the last twelve matches, since the poor showing and dressing room lockdown at Sunderland, have hopefully been signs of this too. Continuity with the team selections, good coaching, good fitness levels and heaven help us but even some stability off the pitch too (for now!) and hey presto results improve, players look more confident in their roles and there’s a much nicer buzz around the place. Even the supporters stop temporarily taking sides and squabbling, and everybody just gets on with enjoying their football lives again. Supporting Watford is starting to feel like fun again. I love that. And I just hope and pray our owner does nothing to rock the boat again over the coming weeks. In fact I hope he does nothing full-stop. We seem to do better like that!
Typical crap fans reaction to a good start to the season that's tailing off. PNE are 8th FFS. What do their fans expect ?
First 35 mins the game was very end to end, the game had all the hallmarks of having lots goals - but was hard to know which direction they'd come. TDB was a weakness, lost count how many times he was beaten by Millar in the first half, did play some nice passes when in possession though. Whilst his workrate was undoubtedly a weakness - I thought we didn't have a player to match Louzas creativity and thought we could be lacking in that area without, but boy has Kayembe proven me wrong - some utterly sensational passes made. Bayo had 3 massive chances and probably should've had a hat-trick. He hesitated slightly after rounding the keeper rather than shooting straight away, pretty sure that's what he did last time he was in the situation as well, 2 very good goals though. Hamer made some very important saves. Few more chances from set-pieces, Vio effect starting to kick in. Blackburn will be tough but that fixture list is looking pretty good.
They are historically a big club with a large catchment area. Clearly should be much higher up the league than us.
Only audio for me today, boo hoo... Anyway, what a performance, game was far too open first half for both teams but we took full advantage in the second half with what sounded like some great goals, as other have said Hamer motm but three or four others could have been my motm also. A five out of five bananas performance.
Oh, and Healey looks like he's finding a bit of confidence now. Couple of shots with a lovely flick over his head to set up one of them
I am a genius! Who on this Forum ever doubted me? Strike up the band, "Walking in a Summer Wonderland", to the tune of "Super Ben Hamer in goal" perhaps.
Mrs Lloyd had a major sense of humour failure a couple of weeks ago when I announced I'd be spending the two Saturdays before Xmas in Preston and Blackburn. She eventually gave me a one-day pass and I chose Blackburn. FFS
Excellent goals today and Bayo unlucky not to get a hatrick. Have a shot of the playoffs if we can keep this form going, and maybe add one or two in the window
Impressed with that, we're nowhere near the finished article but it just feels there's a buzz around the squad and confidence is clearly growing. We break out of defence really well and Kayembe is starting to look like Doucoure at times with speedy support all around. Big shout for Bayo who seems to be gaining confidence and very sharp. Val clearly fits us!
Agree with all of the sentiments re “ sum of the parts “ unlike in previous years we have no “ big star name “ players who don’t want to be here (except one currently out of the squad), but again unlike previous years we have a team working their socks off for each other. It doesn’t seem to matter which actual 11 are actually on the pitch at the time, all players play to their strengths and as a team, passing and immediately making space for the return pass. Goals are celebrated together, they are all in it together, no rushing down the tunnel at the end of the games. 3 wins and 2 draws in our last 6 away games is not bad for a team that were so bad on the road until Ken’s shot out of the blue at Swansea. Things are looking good COYH! Not a word I’ve seen mentioned but dare I say it we are starting to play with a bit of FLAIR!
Pollock, quick? No, that very old lady he passed had a limp . The boy is super s l o w. Great team performance though.
You can see why PNE are up towards the top, very direct a lot of chances and physical in attack, a bit of a shambles in defence but doesn’t matter of you score a lot, I thought they were quite unlucky if they had got a 2nd could have been a different story. However, what a performance starts with Hammer excellent in goal Bayo seemed to have one of his best performances , Martins did what martins does scored a great goal (and didn’t lose it too much today) , Kayembe and Kone get better and better. Defence was solid stood up to a lot of pressure and performed well. Nice to see Vi play Bayo and Raj together not sure if I would criticise anybody today , only negative really worth mentioning is the need to let a goal in before we really kick into gear
Bayo could have had a hat trick. When he rounds the keeper he does not have the balance to finish. He appears to uncomfortable with the ball in a tight situation. Three times this season it has happened. Ismael needs to get someone to work with Bayo on this issue. He tries hard and you cannot fault him for that. Great team performance. 5 goals away from home under Ismael as coach, unbelievable. It really is Christmas..
Two defeats in twelve. Five off the playoffs. From that terrible performance at Sunderland, we have come very far and it's telling the only two sides to beat us are the top two is no disgrace.
Considering how insanely powder puff and unbothered we were last season, it’s quite amazing how much we are now capable of responding to setbacks. This is probably slight hyperbole, but I feel like we didn’t come back from going a goal down to win a single game last season, whereas I believe it’s happened several times this year. I’m not necessarily a slavish adherent to the idea that just sticking with a manager through hell or high water is the magic footballing panacea, but it’s funny enough that the very first time this basket case of a club decides to do so, mostly out of bloody-minded weight of external pressure, it seems to be producing classic, dare I say clichéd, even, results.
