Thought the ref did very well to be honest. Only decision I would really disagree with was the Okaka foul leading to their goal, but end of the day it was a long ball into the box so should have been defended.
Thought Capoue played well, never a foul from Okaka however we should have cleared that ball. Such a Watford result.
What makes you think the alternative to playing poorly/without desire is to play well and lose? I don't for a minute believe that all that matters in football is how many points are accrued. If that's truly the case, get them to play behind closed doors and post the score online.
Positives: Hughes was outstanding. What a player. Femenia is a quality player too and Pereyra capped his best game for ages with a (trickle) goal Negatives: crossing was abysmal. If we'd made the most of our crossing opportunities we'd have been out of sight before that free kick. Mariappa, Doucoure, Holebas were all very poor today. At least we didn't lose.
I can’t help but see similarities between the set ups of Bournemouth and Australian cricket team. Both serial, systemic cheats , who (up until now ) repeatedly evade institutional judgement. Howe = Smith - Talented, baby faced, but emotionally weak. Tindall = Warner - Annoying, pr1ck faced , sidekick. Smith = Bancroft - Naive, cocky, habitual cheat. Perhaps the FA could follow the lead of the CA and ban them all for 12 months.
That was predictable - harsh foul called by Okaka then poacher Defoe nibs in. Generally an open game and lots of positive performances - Hughes, Kiko, Mariappa etc. Sadly Holebas was silly with that handball.
Haven't had the luxury of a replay but I thought the handball was accidental from Holebas, he wasn't even looking at the ball as it came over his head. Ref was constantly badgered by Bournemouth players, completely lost control. Wilson was allowed to show dissent three times in five minutes to the linesman who called him offside without even a talking to. Lewis Cook was next to the ref at every opportunity. If the linesman didn't give the pen, Cook did as the ref definitely didn't see it. King(?) clearly dived in the box, ref didn't book him. When even the Family Stand can be heard all the way from the Rookery singing about cheating, it's pretty bad.
Thought we played well and although conceded late not in usual capitulation form, ref wasn't great, our form dipped after 80th but on whole good performance Wouldn't of brought on Richy Got free creme egg with programme Got one point Deserved three But better than none
So which of you are correct? Happy with a point given we had Fraser at full back and 2 key defenders injured, we are already short of those.
I think you'll revise that opinion when you see the replay. Looked completely deliberate to me, with echoes of Maradona.
Two points dropped, but I'm not really disappointed. I'm used to seeing Watford let a lead slip in injury time. They've consistently done this for the past 10 years at the Vic. I'm more delighted when it doesn't happen. We always give up a good chance in injury time against every opponent. Once again, the defence let us down. So many basic defence errors. Holding on to the ball for too long, inviting pressure, then scuffing the ball straight to the opponent or getting caught on the ball. It's so basic and avoidable, yet we seem helpless in avoiding it. I thought the substitution Okaka was a poor one, and it gave Bournemouth the advantage. Okaka was just a clumsy oaf, giving away stupid free kicks as soon as it went near him. For their goal, the free kick was a basic one, and I thought Cathcart should have gone for a straight header, but he held back, this allowed Bournemouth to flick the ball to Defoe for an easy tap in. I felt we were the better side, and should have won, but we are handicapped with this lousy defence and nothing can be achieved until we have a big clear out in the summer. Hughes was outstanding, Holebas ****, Mapps poor, Janmaat zero a ability to cross a ball. Pereyra was good but frustrating at times. Kiko great technique for the goal. Capoue one of his better games, Karnezis did nothing wrong, Prodl looked poor, Cathcart a bit hesitant, Doucoure tidy and energetic, Deeney strong and committed.
I wouldn't mind if all of our summer business was just buying good defenders. We haven't had a defender that I've been 100% confident in since that **** Mike Williamson.
If I am completely honest I thought you were one of the quieter bunch of fans we have had at the Vic all season, I am right up at the other end though so it maybe just the way that noise travels. I think a point is a good result all round.
Liked because I agree that improving our defence could be worth 10 points or more, but I can't agree about Williamson. Keith Millen maybe.
Well I thought it was an entertaining game, annoying as **** ending but there you go Two positives I got a free bet (bet on watford and as the goal was conceded so late get stake back) I have another reason to hate holebas Hughes is superb , thought most of the team put in a good shift, we need to be ready for quickly taken free kicks and I though deeney did all right (his part in the 2nd goal with the double header was class)
There is another positive you missed. Holebas was on the floor after the final whistle, nursing an injury. It must have been a real injury as Bournemouth were not on the attack at the time. With a bit of luck it might be a serious one.
OK - if you want to engage without hurling insults I am happy too. I agree with you that it does matter how you play and that our performance against Liverpool was awful compared to Palace's. However we were away and they were at home which makes quite a difference. We played a lot better at home too - and got a point. Statistics are important but do not tell the whole story but in this case are on your side - they confirm how bad we were compared to Palace. My only point was that at the end of the day neither of us got a point - and that is the purpose of playing a game - to get something. I am sure you would agree that a team that played well week after week but got beaten might be entertaining but ultimately will go down whereas a side that scrapes points here and there may not be so good to watch but are there to fight another day. At the stage of development Watford are in - and after the debacle that was Silva -I see this season as one of damage limitation. I honestly believe we would have been relegated if Silva had stayed. Gracias job is to get us to safety. When he has achieved that then I will hope for better performances.
Very frustrating. Spoke with a couple of Bournemouth fans while walking back after the game (apologies to the Muff haters). They were a bit sheepish about getting a point and were surprised that we didn't really go for them after we got the second goal. Think some of the comments about some of the players are a bit harsh, but agree that Okaka is clumsy and fouls and complains too much. As others have also said, Dacoure has also lacked a lot of concentration since all the hype about him going to Spurs or Liverpool or wherever ...
Have just seen highlights - that's one of the most stupid handballs I've ever seen from Holebas - the ball was going off, the angle was so tight - didn't see it at all at the time ...
Ginos Summer To Do List... - Sell Doucoure to Liverpool for £40 mill. Replace with Lemina . - New LB - New striker . Sell Deeney and Gray . - New back up Striker. Keep Okaka. - New CB to partner Kabasele. Sell 2 or 3 of existing CBs. Take your pick from equally half decent / half rubbish existing. - Keep Karnezis. Gomes as back up/ GK coach.
