Femenia needs to learn how to cross. Deeney was shocking. Deuolofeu bright spark for first 15 mins of the second half. Amazing save from Fabianski with the last kick of the first half. Javi subs killed the game again - why Mariappa? We're 4-1 down just give Chalobah some minutes. And I just heard Vincent Kompany on Sky Sports say "I really, really want to win the FA Cup. You don't even understand how much of a priority that is" so that's that dream over too.
I don't wonder about their character I worry about their quality at the back and the front. The mid-field build-ups created half a dozen, even more, good goal-scoring opportunities and then West Ham go 1-0 up.
I’m not criticising anybody for slating us today. It was terrible. I’m just annoyed people are writing off a whole season based on a slump in form which may or may not have coincided with us winning the semi final. It’s a sliding doors moment. None of us will ever know how much better we would have performed since then had we lost to Wolves. I suspect better, possibly after needing a week or two to lick our wounds. But nobody can be certain. Yes it’s disappointing to end the season on such a downer, but equally it’s crazy to forget all the good moments we’ve enjoyed this campaign. Had we lost at Wembley but finished 7, 8 or 9th, I bet there would still be some very envious glances next week watching Nino lead his side out for the final. People would then be saying ‘good season but we missed our chance to actually win a trophy’. But we haven’t. And yes we are overwhelming underdogs. And if we lose, we won’t be able to torment ourselves with the overriding thought that we should have won it and we might never get such an opportunity again. That was my earlier point. Try to enjoy the week ahead. The build up, the occasion, the match itself. If you really deep down feel we have no hope, then maybe end your season now and come back in August. But I’m guessing the doom brigade will stick around and if we do win, no doubt tell us all they really suspected we would triumph after all! I’m certain we will see a different Watford performance next weekend. Because that’s when it really really counts.
I'm with you Malteser, we can do this...................................... COME ON U 'ORNNNNNNNNNNSS
At least Gino will see how shaky we are at the back and how poor we are up front. He really can't swerve getting a decent couple of centre backs in for another year.
Let’s get some perspective people. We’re in the FA cup final, that happens once every 30 years or so, as we all know. Forget who we are playing, who at the start of the season would’ve taken 17th and an FA cup final spot? I’d hazard a guess a fair few of us. If we’d not got anywhere near the later stages of the cup I dare say we’d have more than 50 points, as it is 50 points is a decent haul. This season is by far and away our best season yet, what’s to be unhappy about?
The Holebas one is a strange one. Having watched it back a couple of times, I don't think it was a red but I also don't think it will be reversed on appeal. Antonio was definitely looking for it though. Good season, poor finish. I was quite optimistic for the final but can't see anything other than a comfortable City win
I hope that the club wrote out the appeal before the end of the match got the ref to add that he’d made a stupid mistake. Then forced the ref to take it with him straight to FA HQ
We couldn't finish in a brothel. We made a lot of half and good quality chances but we instead only scored from a sloppy West Ham pass whilst wasting so many better chances. We lack a ruthlessness we had earlier and I'm sure it boils down to confidence. We aren't anticipating 2nd balls; twice Foster pulled off world class saves to put it onto the post and crossbar but we stood still whilst West Ham reacted quickly and anticipated something coming from the initial shot. When we broke and we took shots ourselves it was either snuffed out by a last ditch challenge as we took too long deciding what to do, made the wrong decision when presented with an opportunity or we shoot, it's blocked and we don't anticipate following up. Cathcart and co have all dramatically dropped a level these last few months, which has been compounded by toothless displays up front and by consistently poor referee performances. There was contact and any forward would go down under it. But never a red. The referee didn't give it, the linesman did. And understandably he listened to what's meant to be an additional pair of eyes and ears. VAR can't come soon enough. It takes the gloss of what has been a very good season. Record breaking point haul, a reconnection with the fans between manager and players and generally a positive feeling around the club. And an FA Cup final to come. We play good quality football but we're Arsenal lite; lots of intricate one two's that don't go anywhere. We need more directness and a commanding centre back or two and that alone will make a huge difference but we do what some clubs struggle well which is create chances and fight for the cause. We just lack perhaps some street smarts and a ruthlessness other clubs around us possess.
Dunno, Capoue, Doucoure, Deulefou and err. Ok that's it. They are all top 10, or better players this season. In contrast, Deeney, Gray, Hughes, Pereyra (on actual performances rather than potential) Mariappa, Catchart, Kabasele are all bottom 3 or worse.
https://understat.com/match/9567 xG: 2.07 Watford xG: 3.20 West Ham (0.76 is the penalty, so minus that is 2.74) Subtract that penalty and it tells us we just lack a clinical edge.
So: our traditional harsh-sending-off-means-our-left-back-misses-the-Cup Final, no doubt to be followed by our traditional Cup Final defeat. Unless of course we win our appeal and then win the Cup. And can we please NEVER, EVER hear "I'm still standing" at the Vic again?
I don't think anyone would have believed at the beginning of April that we would finish below West Ham. I certainly thought we were set for 7th or 8th at worst. Maybe I was delusional, but IIRC I was far from alone in my expectations. That being the case, its it's hard not to look at 1 win out of 6 and 4 points out of 18 since the semi as being a let down.
Well, to speculate about what might have been is useless. What I'll reiterate is that if we somehow do something which seems utterly impossible, then it will all have been worthwhile. But a battering and a day out at Wembley and it's not.
What a disappointing end to the league season after promising so much . It was quite similar to most of our recent matches in the tour approach play has been very good abc we’ve had the better of the match but lack of clinical finishing and composure in front goal , together with amateur defending at the back have cost us . In the 2minutes or whatever it was between our goal and the Sending off I really thought we were going to get something out of the match . Having said that I’m trying to not to let it out a dampener on the season as a whole season as it was largely excellent . We know where the weaknesses are in the squad , so our recent performances have just emphasised that more , but don’t think we should be too downhearted as there’s a lot to be positive about. We’ve outplayed many teams in midfield but really do lack that clinical striker and someone who can more consistently deliver the final ball . At the back we need a couple of real premier league quality defenders and a bit more pace . Don’t forget how much heart and fight this team had also , as they never give up . Today wasnt their finest hour but they did keep going . If I was a neutral I would be thinking we need a miracle to beat city next week , but as a Watford supporter I’ve got to believe it’s possible !
Gracia was right. Wed have been better off going intothe final on the back of good results. I dont think we have played pathetically though and the fact we're creating chamces to flunk is good.
I do think some on here need to realise the impact of having a cup final coming up has on the players. No-one will want to over exert themselves in case of injury and no big tackles would be going in to prevent the chance of a red card. Even mentally, the players will be focusing on next week, no doubt the biggest match of the majority of the team's (excluding probably Pereyra) careers.
The first half was played like a typical end of season game. Noble walks through for their first and the second a terrible sloppy defending of a long ball. Second half we suddenly want to win the game. An old pro shows that even when the legs are gone you never lose the ability to make a f@@k up. And then Holebas returns the compliment. I feel for him to be honest. But it makes you wonder why the loss of a 35 year old left back is such a critical for the head coach. It's not just losing your first choice full back. You lose the only one able to deliver a corner. Looks like we will have to go mariappa, Kabasele and Cathcart at the back with masina and janmat wide of a central five, falling back to defend as a five and then have to bomb forward to support the central three midfielders. It is all just circumstances, but it makes you realise that most of the time it's all about the downs. That's what makes the ups so precious. But with a cup final day out to come we feel down? Imagine being a Cardiff fan tonight. Win away at Man Utd on the last day of the season, but still relegated for the lack of one more home win. Imagine the raging tonight of those Man Utd fans across north west London demanding Ole out! Next season as ever it's getting to 40 points again as soon as possible. Then to see if we can beat 50 points, which is our Premier League benchmark to beat.
It's seems the simpleton in charge played Deulofeu even though he was carrying a knock. 'He thinks' he will be fit for next week. Great stuff.
Totally disagree. Winning the semi final, having those memories to treasure and then the happiness of walking around the next 5 weeks knowing we are taking part in the cup final has already made it worthwhile. Being congratulated by friends who support other teams. Watching the trailer on the BBC promoting their coverage. Receiving the cup final ticket in the post. All fabulous things and feelings that have made reaching the final worthwhile, even if next Saturday turns out badly. Way better than the satisfaction of finishing 8th and then having to go out next Saturday to avoid seeing Wolves in the final, as I’m sure many of us did four years ago when Palace were in it. Reckon any West Ham fans would have taken winning today and finishing a place above us in the league over being in the cup final?
