Lack of games for some players?

The U’23’s rarely use any of the 1st team squad and there’s no reserve team, meaning those not playing regular football in the first team are only playing behind closed door matches, which to my knowledge are quite rare?

Javi talks about players not being ready or stuff like “in their best moment” and how they need games to be ready. But then there are no games apart from 2-6 cup matches spread over a whole season.

Talking about last night he says he wants to see Peñaranda perform like that more consistently - but he’s played about 3 times since joining us.

Training and games are very different as all players and managers say, so I’m a little confused. How can squad players be match ready when not playing matches, or am I missing something?

 

Three this year.

 

Three what?

 

Maybe they are not doing it enough in training itself. If they can't do it then, why think they will in the Prem?

 

Yeah I think it says something when Javi says about players deserving chances, but many of those he points to as being good and deserving chances he then adds but they aren’t ready and need games, then he doesn’t play them because of that, no other games got them to play so it goes around in circles. Some of our squad players must have played less that 6 or 7 matches all season last year, and I’m talking about any kind of match not first team. Just seems a bit odd to me.

 

Can't be good for their development either. Peneranda should be playing 30 games minimum at his age.

 

Yes, players need games, but they also need to show the effort and commitment in training to get a chance. Of course, none of us have any idea what any of the ones not in the side do during training, but it stands to reason that some of them don't have the intenstiy needed. It's not unusual in young players. As far as Penaranda, his lack of appearances seems more down to injuries than anything else. Hopefully he's now healthy and having got a taste, exhibits a high level of effort in training. He's certainly got quality, so he should earn plenty of minutes if he does.

 

Cup matches.

 

Ah! Well yes quite possibly, but even with some kind of run it’s still not regular enough to get the players match sharp.

 

Yes I do agree training and effort has to play a part. Someone like Cleverley for example, probably works hard in training and professional, deserves his chances and then gets the odd start plus sub appearances. Means he’s just about fit enough and should add some energy when required as won’t be tired from too many games.

But others like Quina, Peneranda, Wilmot (when here) etc hardly play for any of our teams. Players can be waiting for a chance for months and then won’t have match fitness so hardly a chance to grab the opportunity.

You’d think the modern day larger squads were in more need of a reserve team than the old days?

 

Bring back the South East Counties League!

 

And the London Midweek League, for the reserves.

 

I think we have a B team. It's the A team that's missing.

 

Wasn't that for the yoofs? Football Combination for the reserves?

 

I think you're right.

 

Bring back the London area Evening Standard 5 -a-side completion.
We even won that in 1993 with 16 teams, some megastars and a cup to put in our trophy room.

 

Correct, South East Counties for the juniors.
Football Combination, and then later, London Midweek league for the reserves.

 

So I have a feeling I maybe referring to this thread quite a bit under Javi.

I’m not sure how the likes of Sarr and Welbeck will be able to get up to speed without games of any kind. I find it very strange.

 

They need to be properly integrated first don’t forget. Yesterday was learning all about where to sit on the plane on the journey to an away game. This week in training it’s the manual handling e-learning course. Then it’s a coursework assignment where Sarr and Welbeck have to do a presentation in front of the group after the international break on the topic of ‘10 facts about Watford FC’. Only then will they be ready to appear in a league game.

 

They were tired after that ding dong war against Coventry in midweek and our players shouldn't be playing twice a week.

Not sure how Janmaat and Pereyra managed it tbh.

 

Pereyra hadn't played for 10 days before coming off after an hour versus Coventry.
Janmaat is obviously a colossus who doesn't belong to this club. Sell him before the window slams shut.

Still no ideas on how the team could set up or who should've been on the bench instead of Welbeck & Sarr? Okay.

 

The stalking is becoming a bit worrying m8.

 

Well, if you want to make indirect remarks about posts you should expect the occasional come back asking for an actual opinion.

I'll increase the distance between us from 10 yards to 20 though if that makes you feel safer?
Or maybe stop answering my posts if you don't want a reply?

Have a happy Sunday.

 

Friday the 6th is the next one.
There was an unofficial game last Thursday against AFC Wimbledon's development side but no idea who played in that.

 

Kieran?

 

Oh baby, you know I am.

Hello @GoingDown - still attaching yourself to me I see x

 

Not sure the best thread to post it but there are signs of discontent in the team, Marriappa liking comments complaining about Dawson:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Watford_FC/comments/cy06b6/adrian_mariappa_liked_this_comment_about_craig/

 

Way too early. You've forgotten, comparative boot colours, changing room seating politics, google maps v Sat nav London Colney location and red or black shorts, that is the question.

 

I’m raising this again following on from yesterday. I just don’t understand how a professional football club can have players not match ready when required.

Play those on the fringe of the 1st team in games, any games, U’23s or old school reserve matches against someone.

They train but don’t play and then the club expect them to be match ready when called upon.

It’s just bizarre.

 

Reserve games, friendlies, U23’s, nothing is the same as a proper match. Look at cup involving U23 teams and teams from the bottom two divisions. Quite a lot of the time the lower league team wins

 

I can't see any real added benefit of keeping them in the U23s and around the first team squad over getting them all out on loan at actual league clubs (unless it's a rules thing?).

Get them all out and playing at other clubs and forget reserves and u23s.