Not really that bothered that we lost as Liverpool would have embarrassed us anyway, but there are certain things/players that are just so irritating. I didn’t go so can’t say for sure but 3 Counties seemed to be implying that Bachmann didn’t want to play the rest so feigned injury. I doubt this is the case but he certainly should not have just walked off like he did. If you’re hurt then make the medical staff aware (which he seemed to do) and then stay on the pitch until instructed otherwise. It made him look stupid and even though it’s probably a legitimate injury, it certainly doesn’t help his case. Derek Payne also said the challenge from Porteous was horrendous and could have been a leg breaker. Porteous loses his rag far too often and seems to be a liability in the challenge. Hoedt is seemingly the only defender who can tackle properly (maybe I’m being harsh on Andrews there) Finally, we are SO toothless up front it’s painful to watch. Dennis must be wondering what on Earth he’s walked back into as the gulf in quality between him and the rest is a joke (and Dennis wasn’t even involved tonight!). Rajovic is somehow top scorer…… Leicester will tear us to pieces on Saturday. Tonight was nowhere near Southampton’s strongest team yet it was very easy for them. I’ll be amazed if we finish top 10 this season.
Concussion according to Val - although Bachmann said he felt ok at half time. Maybe a black mark against our medical team? This seasons Kamara? Fan favourite for his "passion" and first pumps at first but now seen as a liability.
Just to give it abit of context, Bachmann did take a knock early on in fairness when he collided with Armstrong and clearly felt the effects as 3cr commented on how often he was rubbing his head afterwards. Which does beg the question of why did he carry on playing past half time. Immediately after the second goal went in, Baxhmann signaled to the bench that he couldnt continue and didnt wait for the sub to be properly made. Maybe he was was genuinely struggling but I suspect that IRB is right and unless Hamer is injured we wont be seeing Bachmann again.
Porteous was very lucky to not have received his marching orders by the sounds of it. The way we fell apart in the second half and the way certain players acted was reminiscent of some of the behavior we saw last season which is probably the most disappointing thing about the game tonight as I thought we had turned a corner in that regard. Yet somehow we are, or were before the Cardiff game atleast, the 6th highest scorers in the division. Which isnt a defence of Bayovic, as I completely agree that we toothless up front. First half was pretty even, enough so that I dont think any of us saw that second half collapse coming even if we hadnt gone on to win the game. The way we fwll apart was defiantly a step backwards
Absolutely. Take the ridiculous notion of FA Cup replays out of the equation and Val and the boys had a solid night. Onto the next one!
I don't think he did, really. The narrative was set around him before he even joined as people loved him "being a sh1thouse" and thought it was funny. From very early on he was diving in on the halfway line but was given a pass from most fans. If he could only concentrate on actually defending and not messing about diving, feigning injury, trying to wind people up and getting caught out of position he could play at a higher standard. But it seems like it's ingrained with him, don't think he'll ever change and that's why he'll spend his career no higher than mid table Championship.
More than likely given how well Hamer has been doing. It just felt tonight with the way he left the pitch that his time at Watford is done.
Got to be amongst the strangest and left field decisions this club has made since Gino took over. Totally baffling really. He did have a alright 45mins tonight, but losing his place to a keeper who was warming the bench and being stripped of the captaincy due to hot-headed outbursts on the pitch it's pretty clear to see where VI places him in the squad. He's not a terrible keeper and the fact we wasted x-amount of Okoye who never played a single league game, just mind boggling business decisions.
Maybe wasn't a wise thing to arrange the Sheffield Wednesday so soon after a Sunday match and when they have had 2 days extra rest? Also could say we cost ourselves the win in that first Southampton game. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/24102556.watford-boss-ismael-points-schedule-not-squad-size/ Not going to bode well for future weeks if the schedule is causing a problem.
Val laid the blame for that on the EFL last week. The way he spoke about it, we were told that was when the fixture was being rearranged for, without any input.
There are signs to suggest the wheels are well and truly coming off. Some are oblivious to it so it will be a shock to you. But we will be closer to the bottom 3 than the top 6 come May. But only time will tell how it’s going to pan out, but to me it’s obvious what is going to happen.
Fair enough. Did notice a few other games were quickly re arranged too . I don’t suppose the PL will do that to their teams .
I'm not going to soul search too much over a Soton drubbing when it was clear we weren't up for it physically or mentally. We're a mid-table Championship team which is (generally) hard working and likeable who are wafer thin and have not had time to recharge so squads like Soton and Co will sustain their efforts for longer than us because they have better squad depth. If Bachmann was truly concussed then fair enough, it happens and that's football but that isn't the problem with his conduct last night. It was clear that he had not told the staff that it was a possibility and should have allowed VI to factor that in and Hamer to mentally and physically prepare for it and that is unacceptably selfish and unprofessional to the staff and fans as there was no obvious collision that could have caused it that would have warranted such a hasty change. The rush and confusion was completely preventable and entirely on Bachmann in that respect. VI also deserves some criticism for actually taking too many first XI players I think as the cup run was dead either this game or next and instead we put more minutes into players like Hoedt, Chakvetadze and Koné with the latter especially off the pace in recent weeks and like Dennis needed a break. The conditions were hard so I understand VI not wanting to throw kids into that game but some of the more highly rated ones likes Grieves needs a proper game or Ince who would have been a safe pair of feet in a hard game. We're out and we expected a drubbing. So be it. Against Leicester I expect to see a more competitive edge but still lose. After that though we need to see an up tick in performances and results as by all accounts this was one of the worst performances we've put in this Season alongside Sunderland and Leeds away.
I agree with this. Our work rate and heart is one of our most defining characteristics this Season. If that goes then we are in trouble
I don't think the players' gave much of a toss last night to be fair. We don't usually do well in rough conditions and knowing a spanking at Anfield was the prize they are probably thankful to go out before hand. Not an excuse though as the performance was poor against what was essentially a B-side, but they were technically and mentally switched on and we looked half-baked. It was a needless fixture but had to be played obviously, just a shame as @PowerJugs said, we took so many first teamers along. Greives or Collins could of played, and when Bachmann walked off, why was Hamer there and not Roberts? Is he out the door soon? Not fussed as we would of got hammered in the 5th round, but just a bit disappointed we sort of gave up as an attacking force after the first goal. Ince coming on for one minute was laughable. I think he ran about five yards then the ref blew for FT.
I’m willing to give Val the benefit of the doubt on this one, progression would’ve meant between £500k to £700k in prize money and gate receipts, so I’ve no doubt he was told to to field a full strength team. Unfortunately the players probably don’t give a toss about that and wouldn’t see any direct benefit other and an extra game and a probable humiliation, so they didn’t really get the memo.
What a waste of time and still not sure why I went. First half was ok and certainly looked dangerous when breaking with Giorgi and Kone but when you have a static centre forward the options are very few. Not to say I don't think we should have made more of our attacks but Raj was absolutely awful and seems to have gone backwards. On the Bachmann incident, he got a bit of a bang on the head in the first half but maybe should have come off at half time. He actually had a very good first half. Hoedt was about the only defender to come out of that with any credit. The tackle from Porteous looked like he had lost his rag and just wanted to go through somebody. Probably a sending off in the Premier League. Never ever play TDB at right back again. I don't rate him in midfield but at right back he is completely lost. Morris was poor and when he does get forward he always stops and plays it back and we lose any momentum. Lewis was dreadful when he came on as well but at least with Sema back they seem to have a decent understanding Midfield. Giorgi and Kone were ok first half but as mentioned the front players offered nothing. Giorgi needs to work on his final ball as when he was booked for diving there was a really good option to his left but he just went head down towards the box. Sema was very quiet and Martins was atrocious going forward but actually did work back quite well. Sierralta is not a good footballer and should never be in midfield. I think he's too slow for this league Raj - Absolutely woeful and there was some ironic cheers when he went off. Doesn't run, doesn't press, doesn't win balls in the air, doesn't bust a gut to get in the box, can't control a ball and basically offered absolutely nothing. He looks like the exact player I saw on his YouTube highlight video before he signed so god knows what VI saw in him. The bonus is he has scored 9 gals which might make some idiot buy him in the summer. Will never be good enough at this level Why we didn't see more fringe players is very odd. Play Ince, play Grieves, try Asprilla in the middle. Nobody cared about the result considering who we would play in the 5th round. We have a small squad and last night was a chance rest some players or try others in different positions Left after the third goal, got absolutely soaked through but at least I was at home by 11pm. At half time I was dreading the thought it might go to extra time. Hopefully we see a reaction against Leicester on Saturday and Dennis and Sema can start. When is Kayemebe back?
Sadly for us, Leicester have really found their groove now. I'm good mates with a Leicester fan and he was actually quite down on them earlier in the season, and we always have a chat leading up to when we play each other. This time he's actually really enthusiastic over the team, which worries me. He said they've improved a lot recently and have worked out the Championship. Before, they were winning games, but only by the odd goal and relying heavily on a bit of quality from a player who was on it, on the day. Now they are playing as a team, full of confidence and are in complete control of matches.
I noticed their manager went on a bit of a rant saying if fans aren’t happy with their performances and style of play he will leave. Guess even when top of the league some fans still aren’t satisfied!
They've been spoilt to be fare, plus Leicester fans have always been ****s. When you've won the league and FA Cup in recent years, dropping down to the Champ takes some getting used to. They expected to win every game and win in style. They were winning, but not in style. But now they seem to have both and the fanbase is happy.
He's back in training. Whether or not he's ready for Leicester is not known, but I would expect him to start at Norwich at least. With him and Sema back in the side and Dennis having had time to build up his fitness you would expect us to look a little less toothless going forward.
We've definitely missed him which is not something I thought I would ever say! I think our first team with everybody fit is pretty decent except the centre forward position which is dreadful
