Never saw McClelland, but the revisionism point is spot on. Before Javi's time, he was inconsistent and lazy/profligate/lackadaisical more often that he wasn't. Not that that changes the fact that he is/was fundamentally a better player and performer at top level than Abdi ever was for us, but Abdi was always leagues more 'Watford' than Capoue ever actually was.
Pure nonsense - you don't top PL interceptions, and place 3rd for interceptions + tackles, across an entire season if you're only using your ability "infrequently".
Agreed. I think his style just made him look like he wasn't putting in 100%. The stats show otherwise.
Capoue got better as his time went on with us. Did okay (but no better than that) under QSF but the vast majority of fans wanted him gone pretty soon after that - was poor and disinterested. Was then filled with confidence initially by Silva and then even more so by Gracia and was just a class operator and the most dependable player we had. He was better than Abdi - that’s obvious. But he was in less likeable teams than Abdi and didn’t have the benefit of scoring memorable FK’s either. Abdi also brought the best out of those he played alongside...Vydra, Deeney...not sure the same can be quite said of Capoue. Abdi was a cult hero of sorts.
Capoue was fine when we were decent. When the chips were down he was diabolical. Abdi won games on his own. Therefore he wins.
I don't remember fans turning on capoue under QSF? But I agree about Abdi, he was far more likeable and enjoyable to watch. It is still baffling to me how poorly he took to the Premier league. Such a shame.
No, I said he was okay under QSF but was nowhere near as good as he became. And there was a long period under Mazzarri where he was awful when he was picked and lot of fans on here wanted him gone because he was so lazy and poor.
Yeh Abdi was absolutely brilliant for us in the championship , a cut above the rest and no doubt one of my favourite ever Watford players. But he never really did it in the premier league. Whether that was because he was played out of position and stifled by Quique, or just not good enough I’m not sure. Capoue however , different class in the premier league ,
The Plantar Fasciitis was what kept him out of the majority of the disastrous/milquetoast 13-14 season, but he finally recovered from it fully enough to return and play a leading role in the victorious/legendary 14-15 season, so that wasn't so much the problem. He was also 28/29 in the 15/16 season and never a player who relied on speed or explosive pace, so I'm not sure how much age was the defining factor. I think that general lack of pace might have been part of it, though, as well as Quique's style and distinct lack of creative leanings/favouring of Jurado.
Liked for 'milquetoast'. Jurado - the master of the 5 yard backwards or sideways pass. Just so so boring.
I am probably more forgiving than 99% of our fellow fans when it comes to Jurado and his legacy that season, but even I have to admit that he was uninspiring to watch and departed from the imagination no more than a second after he had done so in a bodily manner.
In the Premier League, yes, I think so, but I'm pretty sure he took the corner which Deeney nodded home at Wembley against Palace (you'd blanked that game out of your memory, hadn't you?)
When Capoue was giving it his all and he was on form he was a top class midfielder, and I’m glad I was there for both of the games that happened.
Was gutted to see him start I think that put and end to my optimistic hopes about signing Walace. Gerry went off injured in a recent game.
I have no idea what the Celta players do around Christmas time ( despite having spent one Christmas near there,my brother Paul married a lady from nearby). They always plummet around about now and the first goal I think was a Foster esque error.
Big opportunity missed to keep Capoue in the end. Xisco's fighting like animals strategy came too late for the new bull of Villarreal... "Capoue has only played two matches for Villarreal since his Watford exit, but has already managed to impress. El Periodico Mediterraneo, a newspaper close to the La Liga club, say the player ‘arrived like a bull’, referring to him being in peak physical condition."
Nice to see Etienne gaining full fitness with Villareal and busting a gut. Such professionalism should be admired.
