Well GP/Duxbury did come out and say they have learned lessons, although we'll never know if those lessons match ours, nor do we really know what GPS masterplan is for this year or next.? My biggest issue is his deemed expectation that the dregs of a year ago plus a few youngsters will get us back up.. Its never going to happen.! It took us 3 years to pull a squad together last time, and we're in a worse position now than we were 6 years ago.. Mainly because we play some nice footy but the "basics" just aren't there to build from. Even big Sam has just said he is just looking to strengthen the spine of his team, which is usually the way to build. GP never starts there he just picks up supposed little gems or failures that are bound to come good at WFC. Somehow 3 years ago certain players felt we were Barcelona waiting to happen, and somehow the remnants can't shake off the feeling of superiority. Our footballing basics is screwed but the won't admit it. Many of our players just won't put a full knackering shift it, the passion from several teams we have played has shown us up big time. Basics first, then workrate and passion, the turn on the style... We do it all asre about face. Our coaches are not allowed to manage the players and so it rolls on... Were not going up with this mess of a squad and we need to accept it and see where we are in 18 months time....
This wholesale clearout is being judged rather generously if you ask me, and Cleverley is absolutely nowhere near getting a goal every 3 or 4 games; he's scored 3 in 18 as of yesterday! Chalobah is good at winning the ball but nothing else, including holding on to it once won, and his idiotic decision-making frequently costs us/loses us possession. He was lucky not to end up sent off for foul/yellow accumulation yesterday too. He's a tragedy and a disaster; get rid. Centre back wise too, if we're in the Championship we're just about alright at a non-ideal stretch, and that's looking increasingly likely at this moment, but even then we could do with at least one further upgrade or competition for a starting spot, unless Sierralta suddenly proves himself to be a senior leader for the rest of the season out of relative nowhere. I'm also not sure we can really be that kind about Quina; he's flattered to deceive, or even just flattered without the deception, far more than he's done what he's needed to. Yes, he's absolutely had a few good games, but that's maybe three at best, I think I'd say? And aside from that, he's managed to lose his place on more than one occasion. If he is going to become a reliably good player, he's nowhere near there at the present time.
I know he gets a pass from a lot of fans because he does the funny social media stuff, but Foster was crap yesterday, and is making mistakes on a much more regular basis. His kicking has always been rubbish, and it’s appears the rest of his game is beginning to follow suit. Very poor on both goals yesterday, and starting to be exposed at an alarming rate.
Because we don't work for the club as scouts so your little thread, whilst interesting, has no bearing whatsoever on our transfer policy. I know it might burst your bubble but, just like the rest of us, you aren't a scout for the club and never will be.
I followed it on the BBC website, also in Sydney. You should have told me about the supporters club beforehand.
I think it's because in the 18/19 season he played at a high level, and occasionally won us a draw or held on to a win by making great saves; the kind we weren't used to seeing from a Watford keeper. Now, when he attempts a mazy run up the wing, embarrasses himself and concedes a goal, pundits still fall over themselves to say 'he's saved us more points than he's cost so we must remember that' when in reality, a memory is all it is. Just because that was once true, it doesn't mean it is in perpetuity; quite the opposite, in fact. But because he was in the England squad and used to 'play for' Man Utd, there's still that slight feeling amongst many supporters that he's somehow too good for us and doing us a favour by being here. It's that constant inherent small-team mentality many are so bewitched by to this day. As a result, his now quite clear flaws and shakey performances are overlooked or, indeed, covered-up. It's like most of the rest of the team and all its other issues, where we appear to be sort of playing at being a professional football club, rather than actually being one. We're far from the only team afflicted by that appearance, but the others are generally referred to as basket-cases.
The salient question is what lessons they think they have learned. At the moment it looks like they’ve done a lot of revision on the pre-Raphaelite movement just before an astrophysics exam.
His decline is like watching Pepe Reina's at Napoli. Moments of brilliance marred by regular basic blunders.
They'll at least know about Ruskin's odd house then I suppose,which might come in handy when looking for a striker that isn't Mr Creosote and doesn't kick the ball like a three year old girl!
This kind of sums up the current state of the squad. We lose - with yet another mistake from him costing us the game - and all he does is tweet this with no comment on the performance. It’s almost admirable how much the majority of them really don’t give a ****. https://twitter.com/benfoster/status/1345732047525076992?s=21
And this is the difference between us and the others. It's just a job to most of them. It was never their dream to play for Watford or at this level but they are really well paid and so they get on with it whilst focusing on their other real passions. Younger players who are desperate to play and do well at this level in order to get promoted and fulfil their dreams are thrown aside to accommodate the 'good old pros' and described as unprofessional as they can't be arsed at their tenth different loan club. Such a shame.
What an idiot. I like Foster and he’s been great for us, but age catches up with us all. He’s old even for a keeper and clearly doesn’t really take football seriously anymore. I would imagine if a young keeper made a similar mistake he’d apologise and talk about making up for it and improving, Foster is at the end of his career so does not care.
The lesson they should have learned is that we need to build a squad. I was hoping that Nige would stay and do that - he's capable of it - but no, we're back to rotation of dispensable head coaches, and player power is what that brings. But even if we do continue to get through two or more head coaches a season, we should appoint coaches with a similar playing philosophy rather than going for the polar opposite next time. We can and do that with England, but at club level it's madness to splurge a record fee on a winger for a coach that doesn't play wingers, or to fail to get somebody who can play on his own up top for a coach that wants to play that way. Maybe at the next fans' forum somebody could ask what are these lessons that have been learnt.
Like Capoue football is a secondary consideration which is odd given he is getting a decent wage and it is his profession. If he wants to focus more on his YT channel do so by all means. Just leave. I would rather have Dahlberg in now. We have far too many players in the squad with no hunger, desire or who have their eyes somewhere else when they should be focused on promotion. After all it was their efforts last season that are responsible for where we are now. As IBB mentioned there is no way GT would have tolerated this. He knew what it meant to be a fan and he wanted his players to feel it as well. Some of this lot on the surface do not give the proverbial flying fack.
I've just watched it and he's either really stupid or clearly doesn't care. I remember questioning his professionalism after the City debacle last season when he laughed it off. Not acceptable. If you feel this way Ben at least have the decency not to broadcast it or if you do, clear off and be a video star.
It is sheer waffle. In their own minds they can do no wrong. Gino has a mentality that he alone is right. What he says goes. Experts that know better than him are removed. Those that cuddle and cosy up to him are retained. That is no way to run anything. You do not get any perspective or truth when all the people around you are yes men or women. He's like an evil dictator. Most of us on here know what is wrong and what needs to be changed but him and Scott Two-Face fly in the face of it. Mistake after mistake. His dad is the real brains behind the success of Udinese. His son has been a failure.
I did notice in the last video he seemed to have quite a few around for Xmas dinner - not just the family . Now if that had been Gray or Troy posting that !
I don't know. I know of someone who became the US president for doing exactly that. Whilst I agree Giampaolo is the brains behind the Pozzo empire, Gino has done very well at Watford, however the last couple of years have been disasterous. I would like to know what the cause of this is. Has Giampaolo left Gino alone to run things without interference or is there another reason why unprecedented success been follow by abject failure. There's no doubt that Gino, the Pozzo's and everyone else associated with the running of the club want it to be successful. It's very easy for us fans to be critical, and occasionally we are right to be. I have foreseen obvious mistakes, which most of us could see, play out right before our eyes, but we can never forget what we could have become without their input. We are still better off with them than without them. That's not to say they are making a pigs eye of things right now. Relegation was so avoidable last season, and failure to get promoted with the squad they have now would be an even bigger failure in my book. We are now at a very real crossroads with the ownership. Appointing a novice coach could be the final straw for some if Munoz doesn't work out. We know finances are tight and they've been unlucky with Covid, but it's the same for everyone else. I feel the financial situation has been largely self-inflicted. Whereas their brilliance elevated Watford to a level well beyond their natural status and money was rolling in, complacency, arrogance and incompetence set in, which has had a direct negative impact on Watford. This is probably the biggest transfer window in the reign of the Pozzo's. They have to get it right. It's clear what our problems are and these issues need to be correctly remedied in the transfer market. We have to give up on the likes of Gray, Deeney, Chalobah etc as they are never going to come good. There comes a time when enough is enough. We will see how desperate the board are to go up by their actions in this window. If they do nothing, we'll probably miss out on the play offs, so the ball is very firmly in their court. We have to trust the judgement of the owner to get it right. If they fail to do anything significant or sign another poor striker, it's game over and I can see Watford only going in one direction. This season is their best opportunity of promotion. If they get it wrong, it will take years before we go up again. Already I can see a big watering down of the squad. No Doucoure, Capoue, Deulofeu, Pereyra. Deeney's best years are behind him. We'd need massive investment to replace these players if we are going to survive in the top league. The midfield and central strikers are not good enough for a Championship promotion push, so have no chance of making the grade in the Premier League.
Based on your logic there, you'll never own the club like the Pozzos so how about you quit your constant unproductive moaning about their decisions?!
Them sacking Giraldi and appointing Giaretta indicates that they learned something. This is Giaretta's first window, so let's see if it signals an improvement.
Wasn’t there a mention in an Athletic article about Giaretta approaching Ivic during the Huddersfield game and trying to influence him to make subs and change the shape? They have no intention of changing the way that the club is run unfortunately.
Tbf supposedly he was asking Ivic whether he was planning in bringing on another striker and if not then why not. That seems a very reasonable point to have been making!
You are not going to go up by only scoring 5 times in your first 12 away matches. And bear in mind in the second half of the season, we will have to travel to Norwich, Bournemouth, Brentford, Middlesbrough, Stoke etc. The away fixtures get tougher than we’ve had. You are not going to go up when your main three out-and-out strikers manage only one non-penalty goal each by early January. Unless of course you have midfielders or wingers weighing in with goals very regularly. We don’t. You will find it harder to go up if everybody isn’t pulling in the same direction. My perception might be wrong but I sense we aren’t. A generalisation but it’s been shown to be harder to get out of the Championship with a manager new to the country and/or the league. Yes we were Joka’s first English job but he had played here before. Boothroyd was new to management but an experienced coach in the division. It took Bielsa a while to get Leeds up in his first job here. Have we made it harder for ourselves getting two Head Coaches new to England?
I thought Cleverley had scored more frequently than that. Still, 1 in 6 isn't terrible, but can and needs to do better. I agree he holds the ball too long and that his passing is poor. But without Capoue he is our only capable "destroyer" now. He's not the biggest problem we have currently where I think it's a must get rid currently but he should be phased out at the end of next year if there is no significant improvement. Nah, this is very harsh on the centre back options we have and fully disagree. We have a Championship winning choice of centre back options which will be the envy of a lot of teams. You're telling me WTE, Wilmot and Kabasele aren't one of the strongest options for CB in this division, and that Cathcart and Sierralta aren't more than capable too? I don't buy that. Quina is being developed from a No.10 to a left winger as that is a luxury position in the modern game nowadays for most clubs. Inevitably he will struggle so I will give him slack given his clear ability and potential. Ultimately I feel our biggest failing is up front with our current striking options. If they take even smidge more of the chances that have been made it makes everyone else's life easier on the pitch and puts unnecessary pressure on us to be 8/10 everywhere else to carry them.
Do we really, though? Genuinely? You've said yourself you'd move on Cathcart although it's not a priority, but I'd suggest it is; he's not very good and getting worse all the time, as well as being very slow. Kabasele turns 30 next month and he's still positionally suspect and has a brain explosion at least once every single game; he's lucky not to have been given a couple of red cards this season already and definitely would have been had the Championship had VAR. Wilmot has looked alright, and it's possible that he could keep on improving, but it's just as possible that he won't, and he's been nowhere near first choice as part of a two when the other seniors are fit. Troost-Ekong is the only one who looks like he might be capable of being a centre back in the Prem if we got back up, and even he hasn't exactly set the world on fire - he's made his share of mistakes too when played, although nothing on the level of Kabasele. Sierralta; we have almost no idea, other than that he couldn't buy a game for love nor money until Munoz rocked up. If we did somehow miraculously go up, we'd need an almost total clear out of that department.
Cathcart is slow but his actual defending is still solid. That was more if we went to get a left footed centre back so Wilmot or WTE can be put on their stronger foot. Otherwise, whilst I wouldn't have him as first choice anymore he is certainly a great option to have as injuries strike. Kabasele has had a large number of strong performances this Season and whilst he has had a few brainfarts, they aren't of the same quantity as previous Seasons being more in 5 or so games than 2 or 3. That is acceptable enough especially as when he's been on it he has been our best centre back. A Championship winning centre back is his level. WTE is one I'll agree with pretty much all you've said. Wilmot is 20 years old. He's only going to get better and is having to work harder to create chances from the back than the other centre backs we have. His early performances were dissapointing but he has got better as the Season has progressed and against Swansea couldn't have done much more if he tried to get us in the game. Sierralta was potential MotM v Norwich, and was average v Swansea. He's shown enough to be at least a good backup option and Chilean fans rate him highly for the national team. Overall this is a set of centre backs who are all good enough for our current needs which is try to win the Championship, with WTE, Kabasele and Wilmot viable options for the Prem albeit needing supplementation based on Sierralta being too much of an unknown and Cathcart's legs going.
Fairplay, obviously we just have a slightly differing opinion of some of them that affects each of our overall perceptions of the defence. For me, All those players other than WTE needed some pretty clear upgrading in terms of at least one improved centre back when we were in the Prem. WTE is decent but certainly not that No.1 first choice step-up to drag the rest along with him, so Prem-wise we'd be in the same position, with some players a a little older and a little worse. For me, we'd be begging for trouble from the very offset if we kept them as they are.
Just doesn’t care does he? It’s just a job to you Ben - we get it. But at least let us simpleton fans pretend the players care and have hunger about the club doing as well as it can.
Most he probably worries about is keeping a clean sheet and how Spurs have got on. I doubt losing really affects them that much tbh. Same with Troy and others. Whereas Willmott probably takes it more to heart as he is young and trying to make a name in the game - and more local so probably got mates who are fans.
No,not a jot. Zero impact on him it seems. It's really simple. Either you care enough to be professional and play/work or you don't do it. I have no faith in the GB seniors selection policy,so I don't play. I disagree with how Hertfordshire tennis govern the county,so I will not represent them in future. It's black and white Ben and the other half hearted wastrels who are quite happy to take their weekly wage. It's 100% or clear off and play with your camera,radio station,spa or whatever fills the remains of the day you're not pretending to be an elite athlete. Laughable interpretations of what is required. The great man will be spinning in the heavens at this unpalatable element of so called leadership.
Out of all the 'exciting young prospects' we've signed how many have gone on to fulfil their potential? They either disappear on loan or if they do make the first team become worse players with every game. Ngakia, Pedro, Quinna and Sarr are the latest examples of youngsters who looked superb when they first arrived but have gone steadily downhill since
I'm not commentating pretending to be the owner of the club, I talk about decisions they make and don't make. In your own little world, you think you're a scout and you talk like you think one sounds. Lol. You're like LouOrns without the credibility. You've got nothing on The Recluse either. He presents his information without the undeserved arrogance or laughable competitiveness that you do.
And I talk about players they could sign but probably don't. Not much difference is it. Wind your neck in. Omg, you're trying to criticise someone for posting with "undeserved arrogance"? Pot, kettle.
