Watford Fc 0-1 Crystal Palace - Play Off Final - 27/5/2013

Probably made that cardboard sign in a desperate attempt to try and get on the big screen. How very sad.

 

Back about an hour ago. Sombre flight and drive home. Tired, emotional, deflated, financially drained, but will be optimistic when August comes around again. We were very close on a number of occasions this season. This will not be lost on the Pozzos who must see that it is entirely possible to gain promotion and a little more quality and focus (particulaly in defence) could see us a champions next sason. (I need the hope)

 

Someone asked why did things turn out so wrong.......9 - 11 players just didn't turn up today; Doyley and Almunia being the notable exceptions but I think the training camp was a poor idea

The team did little to get us motivated and the working "holiday" in Spain was a bloody stupid idea; half the team felt that the season was already over Holloway had a POINT when he ridiculed Zola's decision to go away for the 4-5 day break

I would be the last one to accuse the honourable and humble Zola of being arrogant but the DECISION to have the break was borne of arrogance and I imagine a scenario of Duxberry and the Pozzo's rubber stamping the idea with a nod to "Let's take a few grand out of the Premiership budget to pay for it"

If it was nothing more than a bonding sesion and aimed to motivaye the players and emplpy new tactics and training methods that could all have been achievded at London Colney or The Grove at a fraction of the costs and without the unwarranted disruption and they didn't need HOT WEATHER training as the temperature never got above 19 degrees in NW London yesterday!

 

It hurts to lose like that. To be so clearly second best is hard to take after a season where we've produced some stunning football. From the kick-off, Palace just looked like they wanted it more than us. They won all the loose balls, and everything in the air. It was a definite penalty, absolutely no complaints about it. I genuinely can't think of a single header Deeney won in the entire 120 minutes. He was strangely subdued, a shadow of the man who absolutely terrorized Leicester in the second leg. Vydra was definitely injured, he played the last 10 minutes of the first half visibly impaired. The decision to bring Geijo on was a strange one, though in fairness to him, he produced some lovely moments of skill. I can only assume that Zola went with Geijo because he offers a slightly more physical presence than Fessi, which we seemed to need considering Deeney was being completely bullied by their defenders. It was a typically industrious and busy performance from Fessi, honestly he looked like the only one capable of producing something and he almost saved us with some beautiful skill after a genius pass by Geijo. I really thought his curler in the last minute was going to find the top corner, as undeserved as it would have been. As has been mentioned above, Zola needs to find a way to keep him in the team - not just because of his skill, but also because of his fight and heart. You always feel as though we can get a goal when he is on the field, he makes things happen.

Chalobah had a shocker today, he was so bad I almost felt sorry for him. He also needs to be a lot stronger on the ball, so many times he was pushed off the ball without a fight. He's produced some absolute class this season and looks to be player who can go on and be as good as he wants to be, but he's got to remember that you earn the right to play in games like this. You win the ball, keep it, then let your ability shine through. Palace gave him no time and he was completely ruffled by it. I'd love to have him back next season though. Hogg gave it everything he had, no real complaints about him today. He worked hard and never gave up running. I was disappointed in Abdi today, so often he's been so reliable and capable of dragging us through tough patches with his class, but today he struggled to impose himself on the game. Battochio was decent enough when he came on, he's very dynamic and brings added fluidity to our forward play with his movement and invention. I think next season he'll become a real star for us.

Special mention to Almunia and Doyley, without those two, we'd have been dead and buried by the 60th minute. I can't even count the number of exceptional saves Almunia made. He was absolutely magnificent, we have to make sure he is here next season. Doyley defended like a titan as well, he's as unreliable on the ball as ever, but made up for it today with his defensive display, making a number of vital blocks and looking like the only player capable of stopping Zaha. Ekstrand lost his head towards the end and should have been sent off for a vicious stamp on Wilbraham. Granted the Palace forward caught him with an elbow on a few occasions, but the way he lashed out was very naughty and you don't like to see it. He's another that we absolutely must hold onto, one of the best defenders I've seen pull on the yellow shirt.

It's going to be a long summer after the disappointment of today. I'm still certain we have a bright future, this has been one of the most exciting and entertaining seasons for a long time. I love this team though, I love the club. The players have given their all for the shirt this season, completely dispelling any fears about the loan players won't care etc. They've missed a chance to write themselves into the history of the club today, but I'm confident they won't make the same mistakes next season.

Right now though, the disappointment is too great to be able to sit here and look forward to the bright future - we should have grabbed the future by the balls.

 

The worst thing about the game yesterday is not that we lost, but the manner in which we lost.

Everything, all our hard work this season and especially the game against Leicester in the playoffs, has gone to waste, and that is the most bitter pill of all to swallow.

Having slept on it, I believe that Zola has some serious questions to answer as to why we were so **** poor yesterday. My brother went along to the game yesterday and I am just so disappointed that the team completely bottled it and played so effing badly.

 

Supporter's sections need to be sorted out to develop support culture or else it will always be forced to be Libraryesque, and those who want to cheer and sing will be singled out to the stewards.

Next time I'm there, I'll lend my voice. I'm really excited about next season already and though I may be a little disappointed with today's outcome, I am really not discouraged at all! I expected a relegation fight, not a playoff final. It's ALL gravy!

 

Clearly we were second best, Doyley was our best player by miles and I can't understand why he wasn't marking zaha more.

Second to every 50 50 and second to every second ball, unforgivable in such a big game.

 

Yesterday was not the end, just the beginning.

 

Maybe this team could begin to not freeze at the big games...

 

Palace went up, having won just 6 of their last 25 league games.

 

True but in fairness we didn't freeze away at Hull or home to Leicester in the 2nd leg. You could argue the Leeds match was a case of unfortunate circumstances, rather than a case of freezing.

The main lesson I want us to learn is how to dispatch the sort of sides we should be beating. Now the season is finally over, we can genuinely say that one better performance against Bristol City, Peterborough, Barnsley, Millwall etc, or one match of not conceeding equalisers in injury time, Wolves, Burnley etc and we'd have got the 2 extra points needed to finish 2nd.

We should never have been in the play offs..sloppy play determined we were, we were given a second chance, like Brentford were, but couldn't take it.

Easier said than done, but if we can improve our home form, stop giving away so many penalties (13 this past season) and play to the final whistle, we'll fly next season.

 

We were rubbish.

Anya looked decent enough, nobody really stood out for me.

Our fans were an absolute disgrace yesterday, far too many people having a day out. I tried to stand up and sing and actually had someone yanking on my sleeve to try and get me to sit down. No atmosphere, no noise, nothing. Absolutely embarrassing.

 

Well, that didn't go to plan did it? Flat end to the season but in most people's eyes, we shouldn't have even been there. We have to take pride in knowing that what we have managed this season is everything we never thought we would do and that in itself is an acheivement. Zola knows what this club is capable of, we as fans may feel like our world has fallen apart but have we ever been in a position where we are able to build like we are now? The Pozzo family know how to run a football club, they will know that we will need our core players and will do whatever it takes to keep them here.

We can look back and dwell on the result but come on, look at the future too, our club is in safe hands of people that care. This is just the start of something very special. Even if it is the tiniest thing to take from yesterday it is that Bassini is no longer involved with this club. It doesn't take away the hurt of losing at Wembley but it means we still have a club to cheer (i'll use that word loosely) on at maybe another Wembley appearance, but definitely Doncaster away.

I believe we can do this, sooner rather than later but nothing worth having comes easy. It's going to take time. It'll be a bumpy off season with "rumours" of rule changes, signings/embargoes and comings and goings but the future looks a lot better than it did 12 months ago.

Come on you 'orns.

(I am sunburnt to ****)

 

We didn't freeze against Hull or Leicester because we were underdogs. The team were going out to play against the odds. How many times this season did we have a chance to go second and fluffed it? Leeds was a fluff too so yesterday just carried on a trend that when things are in our hands we don't grasp them. I think one big task for Zola and Nani this summer is to find a couple of senior players with experience at the right end of the Championship. It'll be a competitive market, what with teams coming down and the perennial 'big clubs' in this division no doubt fishing in the same pond, but I feel it'd be a wise investment. Too often this season the players (and Zola to be fair) have expressed surprise at the relentless competitive play and last minute goals conceded.

 

Had quite a bit of that in 113 as well, morons. Sit down, while all ten rows in front are standing - I paid £64 to watch a game of football not some bloke's (or woman's) hairy arse! ...the look on their face when you tell them to 'do one', you did think they thought they were at the ballet!

Great to see so many Watford fans turn out, but like the team they didn't really turn up by way of getting behind the team vocally...

Palace deserved to win. Good luck to them, I hope they enjoy the trip. Decent fans too.

 

I hear Mourinho was there taking notes, any ideas why?

 

Couldn't agree more. That our captain was our keeper said it all really..some great players but not much nous in the way a game is managed as it goes on, though to be honest I'd have expected more of the likes of Cassetti in that regard.

We missed a 3 years younger Eustace-type I believe.

 

Chalabah I would imagine, he wouldn't have been too impressed! Anyway, afraid to say he won't be back next season, will go on loan to a Prem club, may even be Palace.

 

As I mentioned on another thread but will add it here as food for thought.

All the talk about loanees yet on the day it was mainly our permanent signings who played with conviction and didn't freeze so credit to Almunia, Doyley, Hogg and Forestieri for earning their pay.

 

Deeney in my view was the biggest disappointment yesterday.

 

^^^

Agreed he was really subdued but the other permies did their bit.

A Chelsea supporting mate of mine text edge afterwards saying if players aren't finding their rythm it's down to the manager to motivate or manipulate to get it back on track.

He loves GFZ but is right, GFZ had opportunity with substitutions, tactics and motivation numerous times and, in my honest opinion, didn't get it right on any occasion yesterday.

 

Agree with this - GFZ is great but yesterday didn't get much right in my opinion.

One thing that really stood out for me was at the end of 90 mins all of the Palace team were on their feet having a rousing team talk getting ready for extra time, whereas at least 3/4 of our lot were sitting or lying down on the grass looking dead on their feet not up for extra time at all. If I'm a Palace player and I see that, then it gives me an extra boost of confidence.

 

That was the worst feeling I've had at football since we lost Leicester to get relegated in about 96. I thought our players looked shattered. Not sure Fessi didn't come on at half time. Gutted, totally gutted

 

Yes it brings back memories of the Graham Taylor quote ' No one gets cramp at this club'

 

It's still just so annoying quite how terrible we were, the likes of Abdi and Deeney literally may as well have stayed at home, and seeing all the articles and clips on the BBC and Sky Sports websites is doing my f**king head in, it genuinely hurts.

It's going to be an exciting but frustrating summer I think, the wait to just get going again is going to be excruciating.

 

Once (if) we hear Abdi has signed on a perm it will soften the blow, then Battochio, Pudil, Anya, Ekstrand(play off final what?) new contract to Almunia, ooh Vydra to. Ooh we got Koseick, oooooooh Badu on loan, etc etc you get my drift..

So, I think sign one of them on perm's in the next week just to soften the blow and indicated the intention for next season because let's be honest we all have a LITTLE doubt they may not stay.

 

I've personally stayed well off of the websites due to having to see them. I switched my TV on yesterday and it was already on SSN, and the first image that came up? Jedinak lifting the trophy.

Ah well.

Whatever will be, will be....

 

I was really hoping we'd win this one.

 

I still feel this way.

 

but at the end of this season coming when wfc are champions with 103 points 97 goals and 20 wins by more than 3 goals - you will be feeling far better...

the yellows are going up... indeedy!

 

That's not optimistic enough Pads :dismay:

 

wise paddy said be prudent with the post..

 

Wise Paddy is boring Paddy.