I do think it's too easy to talk ourselves into a 'no-one loves us' mentality. We were first on MOTD2 (and to a neutral it would have been a fairly tedious game, with an exciting end). We had a measure of praise and there was a fair bit of talk about Spurs' inability to win a game they started off dominating - and Watford received praise for their part in that. Even before the game some of us on here were discussing Spurs' role as a nearly-team, so it is news-worthy. MOTD is a national programme and has to cater for little old ladies in Ilford and 12-year-olds in Cornwell as well as us. I don't get Sky football so I don't see Merson. Everybody seems agreed he's a thick tw*t. But I'm sure the multi-billion pound Sky have worked that out for themselves. He's on their panel because of it, not despite it. A good proportion of their audience will be thick tw*ts themselves and lap it up. Never underestimate how stupid a lot of people are.
Yes. Bjt there are stark similarites between style and system between Javi and Quique, even the idea of a defensive philosophy. The things you mention sre the differences. That does not mean there are not similarities in their basic outlook. But thank God for the differences.
Exactly. If someone says someone you don’t agree with at the time, then by all means debate it. But it’s silly to hold on to a point and then bring it up months down the line, when football is a game that is played weekly so obviously things change. I’ve been very guilty of this in the past too. Maybe this forum would be better for people remembering everything they say and then being contrite when evidently wrong (or not smug when correct) but that just is unlikely to happen. Best to just let everyone get on with it and discuss things in the here and now. Sorry if that’s too patronising BRLR...
Hold up... I defended HB1 earlier. There was no agenda in my post. Bit weird to pick on his (perfectly reasonable) response to me to make your point rather than all the nonsense earlier today.
Very late to this party, needless to say that I've enjoyed it immensely. Not much to add to everything that's already been said, only that I found it interesting Palace created more clear cut chances than Spurs managed. Gracia has mentioned having a different kind of plan to face different types of opposition (unlike one size fits all ssssilva), so I can only assume the tactics against Spurs were more focused around not giving them a sniff, as you'd have expected their more clinical players to have taken them. And once again, our fitness levels late in the game made the difference. Doesn't matter how good a player you are - if you're tiring late on and your opponent is still full of running, then you're in trouble. Perhaps this will be more difficult to maintain as the season progresses, so having strength in depth may prove to be vital? Of all the great pics from the game, these two are my favourites. The players have mentioned the togetherness in the squad, and these sum that up perfectly:
There are plenty of very astute and knowledgeable football commentators though - some of the writers in the national papers are excellent. The main presenters of MOTD know their onions pretty well on the whole, although certain of them are suffering from severe smugness. There are plenty of amateurs doing their own blogs and podcasts that are vastly superior to the facile sick-as-a-parrot/over-the-moon guff and hot air puffed out by the likes of Merson, Andy Gray, Redknapp and especially Alan Brazil. The latter as thick as a punnet of moss. So why do they get and keep these (I'd suppose) highly paid and prestigious jobs right at the top of the footballing analysis pile? I try to imagine the type of person who think they're great and hangs on their every word. It's hard to picture, but then I remember other teams pre-match forum threads which contain post after post of marginally varying proposed team line ups. I suppose it must be them...
In which case, again I apologise. I haven’t been meticulously reading threads due to other commitments - so I may have got the wrong vibe on this one. Seems I’m a bit rusty after a few weeks off! Sorry again.
That's the trouble you see. You dip your toe into the ever-shifting treacherous sands of these forum squabbles and that's it. You're in. New blood. Another potential short term ally or enemy. Like Europe before the 1st World War, you have to keep track of who's signed a treaty with who and who's massing troops on who's border. Fail to keep bang up to date with the current delicate state of affairs and you'll end up siding with the Ottomans when you ought to have been with the Austro-Hungarians. And then you'll find yourself cowering in a digital trench whilst all sides launch shells and poison gas at you....
I liked these images of Elton and sons celebrating. continuing Elton’s interest in the mighty Hornets
Jeff Goldblum playing his older self? Bravo to him for doing it gracefully. Huw Edwards looked ancient on the news just now (not that I’ve watched it for 10 years).
**** the Cornish pre teens in their knock off Man U replica shirts. **** the old ladies in Ilford with their macrame.
Direct Partridge quote (from the early stage of the Sidekick Simon relationship) although I suspect he says it four times.
Unfair. Boothroyd was lauded by Simpson and the Board at the time, while Jackett had zero support or investment from Petchey. Jackett has subsequently gone to prove himself a very good manager at several clubs, unlike Boothroyd.
Can we all remember that feeling? Actually, the football, & the Watford, may well be the closest you get in adult life.
Can we all remember that feeling? Actually, the football, & the Watford, may well be the closest you get in adult life.
Maybe longer. Actually, not since The Great Crisis of 2008. When journalists, politicians & indeed PMs are suddenly younger than you, you realise what a thin pretence, what a Potemkin village, it all is. The Economist & Cricinfo offer all you need to venture out, thrustingly, every morning.
Much as I hate to say it about the Daily Snail, Matt Barlow has written a great article in today's paper about WFC under GT and Elton's class of '82. Great for those guys lucky to live through it but also provides the right comparison for what we are experiencing now under Javi and Gino.
It is indeed a great article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...g-just-like-time-Taylor-got-tune-Watford.html
Jimmy Saville wasn't all good. No one understands the end of Lost. There has been a follow up but still no one understands the end of Twin Peaks. There have been plenty more "years of hurt".
