Watford 1-2 Manchester City - 04/12/2018

Don't worry about it - most of them don't actually attend games. I notice there's even one rant from a poster who listened to the match on the radio! Pathetic

 

Which begs the question why did we leave it until the last 5 minutes to "have a go"? Surprise surprise they wobbled.

 

Funny thing to say. I suppose during the second half when we couldn't touch the ball, let City treat it like a training game and every time we did get on the ball we gave it away or tickled another powderpuff shot into Ederson's arms, the crowd were all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows?

 

You think our buffoon of a manager can get 40 plus points out of this shower of shyt? You must still be pissed from last night.

 

Nous portons tous des gilets jaunes!

 

Here we go - the annual stream of December halfwits come out in all their glory. Had he played it a different way tonight it would have been 5 and 6 again. To beat this City side (the best in world football currently) you're going to need them to miss all their chances and scuff one in like the one we scored. Yes, some individual errors tonight, but in the main we defended well and could very well have bagged an unlikely equaliser at the end.

The annual meltdown and hyperbole is deeply tiresome. Thankfully the board have recognised that the standard of football is better, we're creating chances every game and they've given Gracia a chance for the long term.

I saw the font of knowledge Squibba say on Saturday that Elton John was right about Foster. Well once again he was man of the match tonight, and has been one of our best players this season.

Personal preference, but I'd go with Deeney and Gray again vs Everton, and play Deulofeu and Pereyra wide. Hughes may need a rest.

Onwards and upwards.

 

No win in 5, and you come on here happy clapping? When do you suggest we start to criticise the hapless manager and the spineless players? After we get smashed at everton? when we dont beat cardiff?

Or will you still be tugging your forelock at the bigger clubs as we drop out of the league?

 

Doucouré and Chalobah looked worse in the first half because they were put under so much pressure, there was rarely an easy pass on, and they were always being pressed by a couple of City players. On the odd occasion we hoofed it to relieve the pressure, Deeney was either standing offside or did his usual thing of standing next to a centre back, letting them head it and appealing for a free kick. He only attacks about one of every three aerial balls.

What was really unforgivable was the few occasions where we had the ball and weren't under pressure and just gave it away, Chalobah being the worst culprit.

To get something out of a game like that, you need your keeper to be on top form, your defence to stay focused all game, and your strikers to snaffle up any opportunity that comes their way. We were defending well and playing ok until Deeney missed a very presentable chance, Kiko fell asleep and played Sane on, and then the belief just drained away.

 

We went in to this game trying to not lose by much. To be honest we did that.

The last 20 mins showed what we can do when we go all out. If we had a couple of strikers on form, a bit of luck and played like that from the start of half time we could have got something out of that game. Of course it could have also back fired.

It was the safe option, to paraphrase the pundits, little Watford did OK. No one was seriously expecting any better so I don't understand the whines now.

 

Doucoure has been **** against crap teams too though. Looks like a player who has lost interest in playing for us.

Chalobah looks finished to me. Rank display.

 

Ha ha! Priceless!! You don't think you might be over-reacting a bit do you?

 

For me, the major difference between the two sides is movement.

When their goalkeeper had the ball, every one of Their players was constantly on the move, finding space to receive a pass from him. That went throughout the team. They constantly check Their line to the ball player and if it's been closed off, then they adjust and move and look to present options.

With ours, they all make their standard run forwards and, perhaps, at one point, for a second, a pass is on, then it's gone and they are out of the game. Our player holding the ball then has to look elsewhere for a flashing glimpse of an option, or boot it long for a 50/50 (or actually more like 20/80) ball to Deeney. See us both trying to get the ball out from the back and bringing the ball I to attack and the situation is the same. Often no passes on.

When they have possession, there was some half hearted pressing, but mostly just looking to get behind the ball. Pereyra and Deulofeu present a body but rarely much more in defence, leaving the full backs as the only real line of defence from their world class wide players. Because were reactively trying to just block the route to goal, all we can do is fling a leg at it or head it clear, with little control over where it ends up.

City just look to win the ball back immediately in all positions and cut out any possibilities for us to play.

I'm sure that with a static ball and a sitting target, our players' passing accuracy is not that much worse than theirs, but when they are closing off every angle and we aren't countering that with our own movement, we are passing under huge pressure with low odds of success.

 

In summary, are you saying that Man City are a better side than Watford? Interesting

 

Thank that made me laugh. You do realise, other than the sycophantic commentary, you can actually get a greater appreciation of the game. Sitting in the top left of the Rookery you only see one angle...all game...with no replays.

However, if you think you're being clever with the Vietnam jibe...."YOU DON'T KNOW, MAN....YOU WEREN'T THERE!" ....then fill your boots.

 

I have seen a lot of complimentary reports on Watford this morning. I read Kevin Affleck's and couldn't believe he was talking about the same match.

It's a classic case of result influencing opinion. Had we played the same way, and Foster didn't make those saves, ensuring we lost 5 or 6-0, then those compliments would be totally different. It was a deserved 6-0 defeat performance.

We were abject, timid and panicked every time we received the ball. We put zero pressure on City (for 85 minutes) and it was probably the most comfortable match they've played all season. There were times when all their players were just walking with the ball and still progressing. Where was the urgency from us, or the pressing as we have been doing?

Sure City are always likely to punish you at some point, but I think we were so flat and they found it so easy, that strangely it worked against them. They were lulled into playing in 2nd gear. Not breaking a sweat in order to win an away match.

In their minds the game was won, however, they never got that killer third goal. This allowed a possible, although unlikely, grandstand finish. The unlikely did happen though, right out of the blue. Watford pulled a goal back out of nowhere and it set up a brilliant end to the match.

I think we got extremely lucky last night. To get away with only an odd goal defeat is mindboggling.

Performances have certainly taken a downward turn over the last few games. Ok, the opposition have been tough and I see that block of 4 matches as being the hardest of the season. However, there is a right way to lose. You have to give the opposition a competitive match and make them sweat for the win. We did that in that last 10 minutes, but it was a football miracle that we were still in with a sniff at that stage.

Massive improvements are needed for the next few games. We will probably lose at Everton, but we must beat Cardiff. Win that then we're back on track again, but the tracks are now to steer clear of the battle at the bottom. I was convinced at the beginning of the season we could be the best of the rest, because performances were so good. Only crap strikers and poor refereeing decisions were holding us back. Now, after the last couple of matches, I think we're heading in a familiar downward direction, hoping to just sneak over the 40 point mark come May.

 

nope, I cant recall the last time I was wrong about a call like this.

He's done. He needs his old haircut back.

 

Well, yes, but I'm saying it was a lot more down to how they function as a unit, rather than the individual superiority in skill.

We may not have players called Jesus or what have you, but even our cloggers could make themselves useful if they showed for the ball and gave their team mates an option.

Noticeably to me, was that when we were playing well and winning, we were moving into space and pressing when out of possession a lot more.

It looks like there is a confidence issue right now.

 

Zzzzzz...

 

I agree re the haircut

 

Still at the game?

 

This is a fine post. I've just read the newspaper reports. It's mindboggling that people suggest we were "resilient" and "hard to break down". 8-0 wouldnt have flattered them

The performance last year was much better. Yet we lost 6-0. Funny old game.

 

I think any confidence issue is only affecting the more feeble-minded elements of our fan base!

 

You must feel so superior.

 

the only time a player has got better after a dramatic haircut is when jason lee ditched the pineapple.

 

Or possibly professional football correspondents understand the game better than some of the numpties who post their opinions on here - in some cases, having listened to the match on the radio!

 

What about Gavin Mahon after he got rid of his dodgy dreadlocks?

 

I doubt that. Fans are by far the best judges of how their team are playing.

I was at the game. I'm a ST holder, have been for over 35 years, and go to every home match. Not sure where you got your radio comment from.

 

The strangest thing with Chalobah is that his issues didn't seem physical - I thought he looked quick and mobile enough across the ground, and he also didn't seem to tire as obviously as in his earlier appearances this season. Mentally he just wasn't at the races.

 

Yes, and the majority of those at the match last night applauded the team off the pitch at the end in appreciation of their resilient and dogged display against clearly superior opposition

 

Thought Quina looked promising. Just saying.

 

Unexpected result but an expected performance - another day City could've won that by 5 or 6.

 

Most noise the crowd made all night then.

Come on Lloyd, we've all been to backs to the wall type games where the crowd knows the team is in with a chance and backs them all the way with noise and support. Last night wasn't that. The morgue-like atmosphere for 85 minutes showed everyone knew we weren't in it.

 

People were applauding because of the last 10 minutes, which is fair enough. Like I said, had Foster not made those unbelievable saves, it would have been a different reaction. I'm looking at the overall performance only, not just the final events which are fresh in the mind and suddenly change opinions. Fans naturally want to cling to positive things and want to support the side during the match, and that's absolutely the right thing to do.

The game was mind-numbingly boring though. Everyone was subdued before the goal awoke them. There were moans aplenty before that.

If you were actually at the game, not listening to the radio, then you would know we got away from getting a right hiding.