Watford FC 3-3 Tranmere Rovers - 04/01/2020 & 1-2 AET 23/01/2020

Of course it's disappointing to lose. However many PL teams play their u21 sides in the Cup competition for League One and Two sides and also lose.

The lesson most of these players will have learnt is that it is a big step up to the professional game. Especially the physicality. Most of these kids will end up in League One or below but it is a bit harsh to be handing down damning verdicts on them when for most it is their very first taste of professional football. What would concern me is that our Academy is not producing at all. Perhaps because we cannot steal from other academies as the biggest PL clubs do but also because the scouting and coaching from an early age is not good enough in the local area. We really need to improve in this area because we are miles behind what we were in the early eighties when several players emerged from the Academy and had very successful careers in the top tier.

I'd be more concerned with the effort of Gray. Abysmal. Bachmann also looked poor and how Dahlberg is behind him beats me. Holebas and Kabasele did well having to babysit the other two in defence. It is a shame we have such an injury list because without the one we currently have we could have fielded a far stronger team.

Nonetheless there is just one aim for the season to stay up. The revenue from the PL dwarfs that from the FA Cup. It enables the growth on and off the pitch and securing our status is what will keep attracting better players to the club. This is the sole and only objective with fourteen games left of which I would say twelve are eminently winnable providing we do the basics correctly and avoid further injuries.

Off topic. Once again this thread has derailed. I will be deleting several posts. People never seem to learn and the vast majority of posters have no interest in petty squabbles and calling people out on mental health issues is unacceptable too. It really is childish. People need to accept sometimes they can be wrong and move on from that. And others should also learn to be less condescending. It is a sign of maturity. Final warning.

 

Reckon if we'd been playing on a better pitch the likes of Hughes, Welbeck and Kiko might have been involved - after all they are in training according to Pearson although with our medical team that could mean anything!

 

Grammar school PE IRB in ones pristine white gym kit.

 

Because they have a big promotion game on Tueaday I think.

Premier league football in their new ground will bring in the millions ofcouse that a half decent cup run won't.

Not done too badly after their slow start but you are right - there is a clear difference.

Brentford's model is a bit like how the Pozzo run their clubs - buy cheap then sell for a profit.

Just due to being a league higher and not buying well in terms of youngsters we haven't done that so much.

 

Well Tranmere are 3-0 down already !

Three good goals..

Maybe we took too much out of them going to extra time..

 

Plus they didn't plan for 2 Man U defenders to score from outside the area and Lingard to find a goal.

Tranmere actually started well forcing a corner or two etc.

 

Basically scored with every shot on target ..

They did lose 7-0 to Spurs I remember.

 

This goalie hasn't helped Tranmre - just given away a penalty now.

 

Least for them its only on BT..

Not BBC across the world !

 

I feel a bit sorry for them. They aren't bad just Utd are on a different level. At leasf we know our back up players can compete with League One clubs.