Premier League 2 watch

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by EB Hornet, Jul 25, 2017.

  1. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Its fair to say that there is somewhat of a gulf between the top 6 and the rest, in fact I'd say Everton are just about going to make it a top 7. So 8th place for any of the rest is like winning the league! Top 10 is like making the Euro places and then below that it's scrapping to be as high as possible and obviously avoid the bottom 3.

    Coming 17th last season means we are playing catch up, but there wasn't much between most the teams in this league within a league. I've taken a look at transfer activity of all teams so far on the official Premier League website. I'd say we've actually done some of the best business so far. Probably slightly behind Bournemouth, Leicester and now West Ham.

    If we could bring in one good striker I'd actually be confident of battling for that top 10 finish. That will be my main bet again this year....otherwise it's all a little dull really.

    Hoping we make a go of it for the cups as well.
     
    KelsoOrn likes this.
  2. KelsoOrn

    KelsoOrn Squad Player

    Last season there were the top six, an eight point gap to Everton, a 15 point gap to the rest in a big gang and, the only surprising thing really, a six point gap between us and Hull. Except for the last, that was very predictable.

    So this season, a reasonable ambition would be to split the difference between Everton and 'the rest' and finish a 'clearish' eighth. That should take 50+ points.

    It of course can also be the ambition for the rest of the rest. But in the Pozzos I trust!
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2017
  3. Cassetti's Beard

    Cassetti's Beard First Team

    Agree with you on the cups, we're not going to qualify for Europe through the League so we may as well give it a go.
     
    Banjo and Bwood_Horn like this.
  4. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    8th equals champions
    9th-10th champions league
    11th-12th Europa
    13th-15th mid table done 'ok'
    16th-17th under performed
    18th-20th boo hoo back to a league we can actually win!
     
  5. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    I would slightly modify by suggesting that last year there were actually three premier leagues: Top 6(7?). bottom 3(4?) and everyone else.
     
  6. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    I see what you're saying, but the difference is that Sunderland had a shocker and it wasn't obvious before the season started they would be there.

    Looking at this season, it would be easy to say Huddersfield are in 'prem 3' maybe even brighton, but it's been proved so many times before that it doesn't work like that. In contrast to that the times a 'prem 2' team make the top 4 spots is very rare.

    Last year the top sides made sure there wasn't another Leicester repeat.
     
  7. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Simeone
     
  8. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    So Watford got off to a great start in Prem 2 picking up the first bonus point of their season against one of the Prem 1 boys as they begin the campaign for that top (8th) spot.

    Burnley made the best start getting 3 bonus points (albeit against 10 then 9 men).

    Huddersfield had a cracking start, but would still be seen as a side more likely scrapping at the bottom.

    Of the more fancied sides in this division Leicester and Stoke lost their first free hit games whereas Bournemouth lost to a league rival. West Ham are 2 down as we speak so look likely to start the campaign with a defeat. WBA look to be the same side as always and got a good opening day win.

    Southampton and Swansea took a point a piece.

    Brighton had a free hit defeat, but this weekends big losers were Palace, 3-0 to a rival and one expected to be near the bottom at that.

    Good start for the Hornets!
     
    PowerJugs, kVA and Optimistichornet like this.
  9. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    Apart from Huddersfield, Burnley, Liverpool, West Ham and Chelsea, the table already has a familiar feel to it. Move those 5 about a bit and it could even be the final table.

    As far as we go, sort our defence out and we'll been comfortably in mid-table. Apart from the first 4 or 5 months under Flores, our defence has been pretty bad. We've conceded a staggering 91 goals from our last 47 league games!! We've mainly had the same mix of players, so I would have to say we do need an upgrade in this area.

    Until this is done, it will always hold us back. We are far too easy to break down and open up defensively. Other areas like midfield and forward areas look far stronger though, which is pleasing and is giving a lot of hope for future games.
     
    kVA likes this.
  10. Nnnn

    Nnnn First Team

    In theory being able to keep the ball further up the pitch should mean the defence will have less work to do. Agreed it still needs improvement though
     
    kVA likes this.
  11. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    I agree. We allowed ourselves to become weak at both ends of the pitch last season, but now it looks as though the forward area is much improved. We should at least cause teams problems now.

    We cannot rely on scoring 3 goals every week in order to pick up a point though. There is this fashionable thinking that zonal marking is wonderful. It's very weird as it just doesn't work (imo) even for the top clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool have proved.

    We will be playing much better organised defences this season than Liverpool, and it's in these games where we could struggle if we continue to gift soft goals.
     
    PowerJugs likes this.
  12. BusheyOrn

    BusheyOrn Reservist

    It's clear from pre season and yesterday that wherever possible we will play a high back line. This will help the whole team and cut down on pressure and goals conceeded.
     
  13. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    There will be no talk of 'mid table' in this thread...this is Prem 2, we should be aiming for a top 3 finish!
     
    CaveManHornet, Banjo and Bwood_Horn like this.
  14. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    How many games in before we can see the two/three leagues or will it be "...all over by Xmas..."?
     
  15. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    I reckon by christmas the top 7 will be there and opening up a gap. Potentially one of them and one of the rest may have switched leagues though.
     
    Bwood_Horn likes this.
  16. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Just 3 wins from all 13 teams shows what a good point that was for us.
     
    Bwood_Horn likes this.
  17. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Week 2 of the race to be the best of the rest. 46 points won this highly competitive league within a league last year. This means if you beat the other 12 teams at home and draw with them away you're in with a strong chance of taking top spot. With that in mind lets take a look at this weeks fixtures.

    Bournemouth V Watford.

    2 defeats in a row to fellow Prem 2 sides would be a somewhat disastrous start to a season, so the pressure is firmly on the hosts in this one. Watford got a cracking 'bonus' point last week so can go into this with both confidence and lack of pressure. A win would be huge even just 2 weeks in.

    Burnley V WBA

    A great start for both last week, 3 points a piece, this should be a tight affair and might seem to have draw written all over it. However if one side can sneak the win it would put them joint top of not just this league but also the big boys version!

    Leicester V Brighton

    First Prem 2 game for both on the back end of expected defeats. The home side must be strong favourites as these 2 are expected to end the season at opposite ends of this mini-league

    Southampton V West Ham

    2 of the traditional 'big teams' in this league, but neither with a win under their belts from week 1. Neither look ready to take this division by storm and will be interesting to see which way this one swings.

    Huddersfield V Newcastle

    A 'smaller' side with 3 points and the supposed 'bigger' side on zero as they go into this fixture which took place in the 'third tier' of English football last year. This looks to be an 'early doors 6 pointer', based on moral and vibes coming out of the camp the home side are probably going into this as favourites.

    Swansea, Palace and Stoke have free hit weekends .

    Big weekend, come on you Hornets!
     
  18. Sort of OK

    Sort of OK Reservist

    I can see the balloon going up in Geordieland is they lose to 'Uddersfield and I think it will be a home win. The peasants will be revolting and they'll probably spend £38m on Luke Shaw and £15m on Stephen Fletcher to help restore peace then be stuck with them on £175k pw when they go down because they made no difference.

    You're right, this is quite a big game for the Muff, if we beat them, they have City next week and could be going into the Internationals on a big fat zero points. Come on boys, make it happen.

    Prem 2 is exciting, it's where the real people dwell.
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  19. I would just like to say what a dreadful abomination of a thread this is.

    Please continue. I don't want to stop your fun.

    Just saying it so that if a fan of any other team, or a well adjusted Watford fan visited the site, they would know that the thread is not representative of the forum as a whole.

    Enjoy....
     
    Leighton Buzzer likes this.
  20. CaveManHornet

    CaveManHornet Reservist

    Piss awff ye condescending bastardd. Awff corse this represents all off ahhh views mayte
     
  21. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    We have a few posters on here that fit this description.

    But as you say, don't want to stop 'their' fun.

    Just saying it so that if a fan of any other team, or a well adjusted Watford fan visited the site, they would know that 'those people' are not representative of the posters on this site as a whole.
     
  22. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    I'd say Prem 2 is the realism if this league, but it's actually a very close fought affair as last season proved. I've put my bet on a top ten finish to make it somewhat more interesting, so that's a somewhat interesting / fun end goal. Obviously I'd like us to make the jump up to Prem 1 and a half next. Everton are in a one team league of their own and need some company!

    Of course Silva could make things more exciting by going for the cups this year, here's hoping.
     
  23. Sort of OK

    Sort of OK Reservist

    Completely agree, not much to split a whole host of teams, there will always be one who does surprisingly well (Leicester anyone, probably be WBA last season), hopefully us, and one who does surprisingly badly (probably Palace last year), hopefully not us. Have to say though I think we have a way to go to be up with Everton in Prem 1.5, think it will be while until we can challenge them based upon their spending this season.

    Our path to glory ends at Wembley over the coming seasons, just hope we put out a proper team in the ridiculously named cup next week, OK maybe a change or two but not full reserve side like the past couple of years. Silva's chance to become a legend and win us our first grown up trophy.
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  24. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Absolutely, the longer you support the club the more the seasons just blur into one and you're left with a few happy and some not so happy memories. A cup win would be the top of the lot for me. Not to say I'm not looking forward to the individual games this season, because I am, very much so. But in the long run some kind of success is what I'd like to have.
     
  25. kVA

    kVA Reservist

    What an abomination that statement is! If a member of the real world or god forbid the fan of another team read that.......

    I want at least one cup run even if it is in the Caribbean cup
     
    Luther Bassett and EB Hornet like this.
  26. Aberystwyth_Hornet

    Aberystwyth_Hornet Squad Player

    Feels like a big win even though it's so early in the season
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  27. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    When will we see the first table?
     
  28. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    Well I like this thread. There again, I'm not at all well-adjusted.
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  29. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    End of the weekend once the sunday games are over seems like a worthy time....should look good (even if just 2 games in)
     
    Bwood_Horn likes this.
  30. PhilippineOrn

    PhilippineOrn First Team

    We are third. Close thread.
     
  31. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    8th?. Surely Leicester are better than us with Mahrez and Vardy in the side.

    They look like they are playing like they were 2 years ago albeit, like ours, with an ageing defence.
     
  32. Nnnn

    Nnnn First Team

    Agreed but Vardy's injured & could be out for a while & Mahrez could be off to Italy
     
  33. kVA

    kVA Reservist

    Brighton looks very poor though.
     
  34. Meh!

    Meh! Pre-Dictator

    I put money on watford +42 in the handicap on 365.

    Can I cash out now please???

    Edit: saying that, if hudds beat newcastle today (and that is highly possible) then they will be nailing it.
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  35. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    [Q
    I got that bet (but on betway), looks like a real chance this season.

    Also went top ten finish and to win the league minus the top 7.

    Glad the bookies create bets like this for those of us challenging outside the top lot.
     

Share This Page