I suggest you line up the under butlers & quiz them about their philosophical & political leanings. A nasty surprise might await.
The positive is Fulham will have enuff confidence after that second half performance to take on and beat the sticky toffees next week in their own back yard ..
I'm with Molly. If everyone sits, everyone csn see. When people stand - and even people in the front row do when it's exciting - shortarses like me get a restricted view. When you could stand on the terraces, you could move to one side. When it's all-seater, you can't. Bring on safe standing so we can all do whst we want. Technology will stop people entering a section when it's full
I thought the club had already started offering tickets at away games in a special area for those who want to sit throughout? Pointless moaning if you don't take advantage of that.
You're beginning to sound like Troy. In fact, wait, with all your endless criticism of..., no it can't be, you're not are you? - you are, you're the strike partner of our very own Andre .... welcome to the forum Mr Deeney. Who would've guessed? But don't you think he's a lot better this season? - and don't worry so much Troy, saying he's got no footballing skills is a bit over the top, and remember, he can't take your place while you both keep scoring and we play 442 ...
Grrrr very frustrating. The stats may say it was vaguely even and a draw was a fair result, but...we owned the first half and should have been out of sight, rendering their second half irrelevant. Too intricate and too many poor final balls / crosses from good positions. Gray was great for 60 mins but ran out of steam. Pereyra was poor in seccond half as was hughes. Janmaat was off the pace for most of it. Fulham were there for the taking for 45 mond and their keeper looked piss poor but we never really tested him because we were afraid to shoot. Their number 24 ran the game in the second half and we never put him under any pressure which was a failing of gracia as it was obvious and not addressed. 2 points dropped
Let’s not forget Fosu-Mensah should have been off and at the time I thought Mawson should have had a 2nd yellow. It would have been 3 or 4 then
Bit late to the party, but feel as though a draw was fair. We could have been out of sight before half-time when taking advantage of the hapless Mawson (20 million?!?!?) and then they responded well in the second half. I think Fulham will stay up fairly comfortably, and it’s not long ago that many on here were casting envious glances toward Fulham and commenting on how strong they looked compared to us. They looked dangerous on the counter, even during the first-half when we were on top, and then kept the ball well and continued to probe and push when more in control. I think Bobby P should have been withdrawn before Hughes, and I’d have been tempted to pack the midfield when Fulham were controlling things, but it’s hard to second guess Javi when he’s done such a great job of preparing us and making changes during games so far this season. Had Janmaat not ducked out of a challenge at the end there, we probably get out with a hard-fought 1-0. IF I was looking to give Janmaat the benefit of the doubt, I’d be tempted to claim that he was afraid to go steaming in and mistime it, giving away a pen, but the ball was there to be won and a strong header would likely have seen the danger dealt with. Might be time to give Kiko a chance, and we know he offers plenty in attacking areas with his quality delivery. Special mention to Capoue, who put in a really solid shift, being strong on the ball, breaking up play, and reading the game really well to stifle their attacks. His passing was excellent as well. Credit to Javi for bringing the best out of a guy that for too long failed to deliver anywhere near what he promised early on in his WFC career. Equal credit to Gray, who put in another accomplished display up top. His touch has improve no end, and he’s regularly winning us free kicks when the ball is played in to him. Decent finish as well, and could have had another in the first with an instinctive effort that the keeper was quite lucky to stop. Another early goal and a point on the road, it’s hard to find too much to be upset with. With the way we’ve been playing, there’s no reason we can’t get something out of the Arsenal game next weekend.
Before Fulham, we played a containing game in the first half and hammered our opponents after the interval. Yesterday we tore at them throughout the first half - because of their perceived defensive weakness or because of the criticism of our slow starts? Either way, we ran out of steam after half time and for the first time this season found our opponents first to the ball. Maybe we can't play at that intensity for the whole match, and we're not fitter than the rest after all, just trained and motivated to go full pelt at the appointed time. We should have had the game won in the first half but since we didn't, Javi should have made his subs earlier. But hats off to Joker - nobody makes in-play subs as effectively as him
A very good point against a decent Fulham side who spent over £100m this summer. Although at the end of the game it felt like a defeat in the manner of our second half performance and missed chances in the first half especially. Even after we were pegged back to 1-1 we had a couple of glorious chances to win it but didn't look after the final ball or made the wrong decision. I do think we are a ruthless centre forward away from being the 'best of the rest' outside the top 6, especially with everyone fit. I felt we needed a bit more control in midfield in the second half as the game was being played at 100mph! Chalobah would've been perfect to bring on to just steady the pace down and give us better ball retention. At times we just hoofed it aimlessly and the ball kept coming back at us. I also think Success should've been on 10 minutes before he was as he had their right back on toast. Special mentions to Capoue who was absolutely outstanding, especially in the second half as Fulham outnumbered us in the middle and he was immovable! Kabasele also excellent again and my man of the match was Andre Gray. Took his goal brilliantly but more impressively his hold up play and touch were on point, probably for the first time since he's been here! If he can show that level of quality more often this season he will comfortably bang in 12-15 goals. Yesterday he actually looked like an £18m striker and fair play to him. Was unlucky to be subbed off. All in all, I don't think many sides will go to Fulham and get much as they're difficult to play against BUT it was definitely 2 points dropped rather than 1 gained! We bossed it first half and should've gone in 3 or 4 up as well as having a penalty awarded and Fulham being down to 10 men. Arsenal up next in the League, we can definitely get at them and will have plenty of space to utilise, we just need to make sure our final ball is better than it was yesterday and we need to take our chances because we will get 2 or 3 glorious chances next week to score against that Arsenal side!
Some excellent summaries this week. All I would add is that Mitrovic really beasted us in the second half. He created at least 6 good chances & Foster did well with the curving left foot shot & brilliantly with the towering header. He was just too much for Cart & Kabbs. Could see him at Chelsea.
Interesting listening to Martin Keown on MOTD2 last night saying that the real test for Arsenal is how they get on against Watford. I think we may have arrived.
What I've noted is where Watford are being successful. The key is their high pressing game. They are winning a lot of tackles when teams are trying to play it out of defence and they hunt in packs. This allows us to win the ball back quickly and retain it even if the ball bounces away from the player making the challenge. A supporting player usually wins the second ball. Foster is very important in getting the ball forward also. During the Fulham match this occurred all over the pitch. It means players have to be willing runners and totally committed for it to work. Here's a breakdown of our match with Fulham. I've taken this from the extended highlights on the official site. 1 min. Holebas throws the ball long where it's contested by the hopeless Mawson (who had another terrible game against Watford). The ball bounces to Hughes and we're in with a 3 v 2 situation on the edge of the Fulham penalty area. Hughes squares the ball to an unmarked Gray who calmly passes the ball into the net. Very poor goal from a Fulham point-of-view to be so overloaded in the 1st minute of the match, but all credit to Watford's battling qualities. 7 min. From a Watford corner we elect to play a low pass to Janmaat who is unmarked and not under any pressure. He tries to cross the ball from a different angle, but somehow scuffs his cross and hits it low straight to a Fulham player. This was an early warning, as it allowed Fulham to break quickly and just 3 passes and they were in our penalty area. Luckily the ball ran loose to Foster who gathered comfortably. 11 min. A Watford attack broke down and Fulham managed to break clear leaving Vietto with a straight race with Janmaat. Vietto outpaced him and got a shot off which Foster parried. The ball fell back to Vietto who chipped a curled shot over Janmaat and Foster, but fortunately beyond the post. This was a lucky let off. 12 min. A beautiful cross-field ball from Capoue finds Hughes on the right. He plays in Gray who fires in a shot. Chambers manages to block but the ball gets stuck between his feet and Deeney nips in to take the ball off him and fires in a first time shot which Bettinelli does well to save with his feet. From the resultant corner Watford so nearly scored again. Kabasele did everything right and connects with a close range header, easily beating Mawson to the ball. Luckily for Fulham the ball hits Sessegnon who knew nothing about it, and the ball was scrambled clear. 16 min. A basic floated ball into the Fulham penalty area is totally misjudged by Mawson. He misreads the flight of the ball and Gray brilliantly anticipates this by peeling off behind him. Controls the ball superbly and when it bounces up fires in an instinctive shot which the keeper was quick to smother. It was a great chance, but no fault on Gray for not scoring. He did all he could and Fulham got lucky again as the ball looped up and over their bar for a corner. 31 min. This is the debated red card challenge. Fosu-Mensah went studs high into Deeney's shin. A red card all day long, but, as predicted, it's not been talked about as it wasn't a foul on Zaha. Most referee's would have produced a red card for this challenge and Fulham got lucky yet again to keep 11 on the pitch. 34 min. A nice move started by Pereyra who lofts a ball to Gray who chest passes to Hughes. Hughes carries the ball into the penalty area where Mawson lunges and misses the ball. This blocks Hughes' movement who goes over the leg of Mawson. This type of incident is often given, but somehow referee Atkinson (who is a good official) did not see it that way and awarded a goal kick. Mawson was absolutely dreadful for Fulham in the first half and was lucky to get away with that lunge in the box. 44 min. A long ball by Foster is contested by Deeney and Mawson. Both players miss the ball and it bounces allowing Pereyra to run on to the ball inside the Fulham penalty area. Route one at its best. He continues his run and tries one of his "special" right foot curlers. Unfortunately this time is does not come off and drifts wide of the far post. The first half comes to an end. One goal to the good with Fulham getting lucky on four separate occasions where things could and probably should have gone against them. 48 min. Fulham start the second half strongly. They cross the ball from their right where Mitrovic out-jumps Cathcart who was also being held down by Mitrovic's arm, but heads the ball over the bar. 58 min. Simple but effective move by Watford, with Holebas sending the ball long, Deeny chest passes to Gray who runs onto the ball taking it wide on the right of the Fulham penalty area before firing in a powerful shot which the keeper saves well. 59 min. Probably Watford's best move of the match and should have led to the second goal. Hughes wins the ball in midfield and gives it to Doucoure, who quickly passes to Gray. He then back heals it to Deeney, who instantly feeds in Doucoure. This was all one touch and Watford had overloaded Fulham's defence 3 v 2 again. All Doucoure had to do was pick a good pass beyond the final defender and Gray was clean through 1 v 1. Unfortunately Doucoure mishit the pass and it was cut out. That little bit of care with the final pass and the game would have probably been won. 64 min. More tenacious play from Watford leads to Deeney driving forward into the penalty area. It looked as if he was caught in two minds whether to pass or shoot. Finally Fosu-Mensah gives him a little tap on the heels which was enough for Deeney to lose his balance and the attack came to nothing. This could also have been a penalty but it would have been one of those soft ones. 78 min. A probing Fulham attack on the edge of our box, should not have been dangerous, but a forward pass is blocked by Cathcart and Kiko which sends the ball looping up towards Janmaat and Vietto. Janmaat had to be strong in this instance but ducked out of an areal challenge allowing Vietto a free run in our box to square it for Mitrovic who had the simple job of side-footing the ball into the net. That was totally avoidable and Janmaat has to take the blame for a really lame attempt to win the ball, which was totally out of character for the rest of the team's performance. 83 min. A long clearance from Foster sees Chambers dwell on the ball when trying to control it which allows Deeney to close in on him and rob him of possession. This really should have led to the winning goal. Deeney was through 1 v 1 with the keeper deciding to stay on his line. He could have taken the ball closer before blasting home, but for some reason decided to square the ball too early to Success, but the pass was weak and was easily intercepted by the covering defender. This was an unusual choice by Deeney who is usually very assured in this type of situation. 84 min. From the next phase of play Watford work the ball well to Success who gets in a decent shot from the left hand angle, but the keeper does well to block with his feet. 88 min. Fulham have a break away move which see Mitrovic fire in a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area which Foster is equal to and parries away for a corner. 89 min. From the resultant corner, Mitrovic climbs above Kabasele, pinning him down with his arms as he does so, and heads powerfully on to the bar, which Foster is beaten by. Again, this could be seen as a foul as Mitrovic is using the defender as leverage to gain height. I've seen this type of thing given as a foul in the past many times, but had it gone in, a goal would have been awarded. 93 min. Frustratingly the referee blows the full time whistle just as we had started a promising attack, with Doucoure in possession and space just outside the Fulham penalty area. Overall there were a couple of nervy moments, but Watford were the superior side. We created so many good situations. On a couple of occasions we made a poor final ball choice and Janmaat was unacceptably weak in his challenge for their goal, but other than that it was a great performance that should have seen us pick up 3 points with at least a 2 goal margin.
Neither Kiko nor Janmaat are good defenders. We've always known that. Their attacking play needs to more than make up for their defensive weakness to justify their place in the team. That and the fact we have no real alternatives to playing one of them !
Cathcart was ball side but he seemed to stop and watch it go past him. I don't blame anyone, but I thought he had the best chance to do something about it.
Would have taken a point before the game but we should have won that. Well done plucky Fulham for digging in and snatching a point.
To be honest if its obvious everyone is sitting around me at an away game I simply move closer to the top where everyone is standing. Far easier and there is always a gap somewhere. The only time I get annoyed when someone asks me to sit down is when there are about 20 rows in front of me where everyone is standing. Like **** am I gonna sit down and not be able to see the game myself. And trust me, this scenario happens quite often. Some of our fans are thick and think the standing originates from the 1 row in front of them, not the 20 before.
It’s not this forum you need to convince, they have no idea, most of them sit very comfortably in stained y-fronts watching a blocky stream on their desktops!
Good game. Good atmosphere. A fair result - we owned the first half, they bossed the second half. We could have (should have ?? won the match, but Fulham could have taken all 3 points. Overall, a fair result I think. Being impartial I'd say this - if I was a Fulham fan, I would have felt robbed if "we" hadn't got at least 1 point.
