Nigel Pearson - Manager

2. Both play/played left back.

 

3. Both love a yellow card.

 

This is exciting, isn't it? Two more...

 

4. Both have four letter first names.

 

Robbo played with Lloyd.

Jose’s middle name is Lloyd.

 

Bingo!

 

Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it.

 

Whistling tunes, we hide in the dunes by the seaside

 

So...who went? Opinions?

Was Giraldi shadowing him? Wouldn’t be surprised.

 

Came across really well. Emphasised just how much it means to players we would and wouldn’t expect it from. Wants us to enjoy coming to watch our team again and be proud of the lads.

Feel like we’re on the right track now.

 

It's clear he doesn't like being ostracised.

 

Went to the ‘meet Nigel’ session last night and have to say I came away feeling not only have we got a good man in Nigel Pearson but that we should have done this ages ago.

unlike a lot of the managers we’ve had in the past 7-8 years he actually comes across like he cares and he’s telling it how it is rather than repeating some pre-programmed rhetoric. Said it’s not going to be easy, said that everyone needs to stand up and be counted and said that he’s pleased to be here.

nothing revolutionary but all sensible, direct statements. I think the players will know who is boss from the off and I really think we are going to see a lot more effort from some of the drifters or they won’t play. I wish him well

 

So he called Deeney a useless, past it, lump, then?

 

Kevin Phillips is throwing his hat in the ring.

https://talksport.com/football/6423...ets-return-22-years-after-vicarage-road-exit/

 

A far better bet to coach our misfiring strikers than Luther, however sacrilegious that might sound to some.

 

Why you say that? How do know how good SK is compared to Luther? I think either of them would be a huge asset to the club in a coaching capacity...…...maybe even could still do a job on the pitch!!

 

Because I think the art of defending against an attacker has moved on significantly from LB's days. Phillips would be better suited to teaching movement etc I think.

 

But that's not what the majority of our forward players need. They need to be shown how to kick a ball. It's not so much tactical information they need, it's technical coaching they require. Gray mishits the ball naturally. Even when he scores, the vast majority of his goals are mishits. He rarely hits the ball cleanly. That's a huge technical problem. It's down to composure in the moment. This is a frame of mind and can easily be coached.

Deeney (and this may be controversial) tends to hide. He rarely puts himself into a scoring position. He needs to increase his chances of scoring and that means putting himself in the right place at the right time.

Deulofeu and Pereyra are forwards who like to side foot their shots. They need to be shown they can hit the ball with their laces and go for power over placement on occasion.

Doucoure leans back just before he shoots with power. This is a fairly recent development, and is a technical problem. It can be easily rectified with correct coaching.

Plus, don't be fooled into thinking it's changed so much from Luther's days. The goals are the same size, there are still defenders wanting to stop you from scoring. There are only so many movements that can be made. As someone once said "football is a simple game" and this still holds true.

 

Agreed . Other things I remember were

- prefers short high intensity training sessions that replicate what happens in a match
- they are looking at players for January but remember the price is high and many are players other clubs don’t want
- whilst he did undertake an escape with Leicester he was the manager for the whole season and they lost games narrowly on their way to the bottom -never by more than one goal I think.
- U 23’s have good players and no matter what their age if they are good enough they can feature but remember the challenge is coming into a side low on confidence
- he and Shaky intend to remove some of the pressure on players allowing them the time and confidence on the pitch to play better

When we were shown round the dressing rooms after by Jon Marks he said one nameless player had a snood and a head warmer on at training so only his eyes were visible. Pearson walked over and stood in front of him saying nothing but looking at him. 30 seconds later the player moved both so his full face could be seen and Pearson walked back to retake the session

 

In Gray's case I don't think he can "easily be coached" to be a better footballer. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It's not like he's a teenager.

 

I really hope this is true.

 

That is 100% Pereyra.

 

Big Nige has just been interviewed on Talk Sport. Came across very well once again, just reiterated what he's been saying all week really.

Sounds like the event at the ground went well last night. Why am I feeling so positive?

 

Enjoy it while you can. It’ll be gone by this time tomorrow when we’ve been battered 7-0.

 

Optimist.

 

Is it just me or does it appear as if he's mellowed a fair bit since he was manager of Leicester?

If so, not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

 

Totally agree.
He is a headless chicken when it comes to defending. Never close enough to stop the cross. Gives up once he is beaten. Out of position most of the time, ball over the top is so easy against him.
He only moans to cover up the fact that he is washed up as a full back.
Get rid of him.
When will Chalobah announce his retirement from the game? He is also finished as a player.
Mariappa, nice guy, but simply not good enough for the Premier league or Championship.

 

Boris now using "in this moment" outside No.10. Ffs.

 

As said I went last night too. Second session after tour of press facilities and changing rooms etc. Strictly one question each. Wrapped up at 20.00.

Others have commented earlier. Obviously some questions were duplicated between the two sessions and I agree with all that's been said so far.

He came across as a really intelligent and focussed individual. An 'alpha male' who it wouldn't be advisable to cross (in a good way). Answered everything as fully as he could or explained why if he couldn't/wouldn't. Absolutely focussed on the welfare of his players so they could go out and 'perform' as long as they fully bought into the 'project' facing us with enthusiasm and discipline. So the same messages as in his video interview from the training ground really then but delivered with more 'animation'.

I asked about the Shakey thing. He didn't like the term 'dream team'. They didn't come as a package. He was interviewed and accepted the job prior to Shakey coming onboard (although obviously he probably put in a word for him). They'd worked well together at Lestah, liked each other and Shakey was an excellent coach who was able to keep him 'grounded'. So he was pleased to be renewing the partnership. As said previously by We hate 48, their joint project would be to take as much pressure off the players as possible.

lowerrous will be glad to know that someone else asked a 'Deeney question'. Well he, very wisely, didn't get drawn on his qualities as a player. What would you expect after a week on a steep learning curve? Or indeed ever? What he did say was that Deeney was an entirely enthusiastic and positive individual and consequently an excellent bloke and influence to have around the club.

No other players were asked about individually and there was no b.llocks discussion around formations at this early stage.

So it went as well as it could do really. I was mightily impressed and if that 'short notice' event was at his instigation that's very positive and commendable too.

I'd bloody love it if we get something at Anfield tomorrow.

 

Sounds like it me too. If so, that'll be a third time. Thin ice.

 

I think the forwards need coaching on movement more than anything. There is no point being shown how to shoot is they are so slow and ponderous and rarely get the chance to shoot.

They need to make diagonal runs, crossing each other. They need to be varied, drop back, dart forward, Take gambles into space, etc. etc. Not only does it make the defenders think, make mistakes and leave uncertainty, it also offers others options to pass. Too often our poor final ball is due to the lack of options. We need to provide options all the time.

An additional benefit is that adding extra activity is that the pressure and tension is spread more thinly, and that reduces the pressure on a player who finally gets the opportunity to shoot.

 

This; our strikers offer basically no movement ever, it's pathetic/ridiculous/hard to believe until you see it, and it's a large part of why, when we get to the final third, we look like we have no idea what we're doing, or indeed trying to do, because the answer is mostly 'no ******* idea, mate'.

It's lovely and comfortable for opposition defences, they barely have to break a sweat to keep track of our players.

 

I prey this appointment is the start of something beautiful.

Even if we do GD, the vision is now there to have him build a winning Championship team at the first time of asking & then further build us into the next phase Watford2.0 coming back stronger, faster & more goals than ever seen before in a team built around 20 goal a season Sarr.