Such a shame we will be without Ake at Chelsea....it will be a massive loss. He has brought the balance and composure to that side of the pitch that Anya doesn't even get near.....I wonder if Flores will ring Prodl in to the middle and use Britos at LB?
After the euphoria of yesterday, I woke up this morning feeling a little disappointed...the reason for my disappointment was that such a fantastic display and result means we only consolidated 7th place! Yesterday deserved more in terms of climbing up a position or two...so am I acting like a spoiled brat? Of course I am, getting to safety is the main target but a man's goal should exceed his reach...the only restrictions in life are the ones we place on ourselves...bla bla bla...etc I look at the news feed on E-Soccer and words like thrash, trounce and sting are commonplace and that warm feeling returns...
is prodl fully fit? he wasnt even on the bench on sunday was he? You're right though, anya would be a huge weak link if he played. Hopefully your idea comes to fruition. I will be devastated if capoue gets booked and misses the spurs match
When I lived up there, around 95% of the people who called into the post-match phone-ins on the local radio stations would start their pearls of wisdom with:
Great performance, hammering a former European super power of football, clean sheet, full house, 28 points, financial stability, 4 wins on the trot, four sided stadium, Pozzos' expertise/money and scouting system, challenging for a European spot (albeit perhaps temporarily), good manager and I am travelling over to see the Spurs game on the 28th. Lots to be upbeat about. A negative free post.
Agreed. Ighalo was getting battered all game, to the point that Deeney felt the need to go and speak to the ref at one stage. He does get roughed up pretty much every game and looks despondent about it sometimes, but if I was him I'd take it as a compliment that no-one can handle him so they all resort to bullying! Only saw the Nyom incident in front of the dugout from the GT stand so not sure how severe that was, but from where I was it looked like a leg breaker, but not even a booking. perhaps not as bad as I thought it was from my viewpoint 50 metres away.
Klopp's keen on gegenpressing, but it wasn't Watford that got gegengepresst. The pressure we put on Liverpool's players throughout the match reminded me of Watford's 2nd Division promotion campaign and the first two seasons in Division 1 (old money) under GT. And we know what happened then... Somebody, possibly Gaggsy, said that with the spine of our team unchanged, we underperformed last season. But last season we had full-backs who couldn't stop crosses coming in, and a central defender whose elegance disguised his lack of awareness. Now we've got the best back four in the league, and would still have even if one of the first choice centre-backs is out and Prodl comes in. And a keeper at the top of his game.
I'd be a little surprised if he didn't start in front of Anya. As much as Anya's pace can be an outlet I think he'll get torn a new one defensively. Obviously not too sure about Holebas but he was a bloody left back for Roma last season. Time he showed some of that form.
To be fair if the first goal was against us we would be complaining, personally I think it was a foul as he did recover to get the ball under control. Also agree that Klopp seems a bit of a ****
Same for me. When it went in, everyone except me and the guy to the left of me celebrated instantly. That guy didn't celebrate because I'm sure he was a plastic southern scouser who just was shocked at the fact that we scored against them in the 3rd minute (he left at half time never to be seen again). I didn't celebrate instantly because I said that was a foul and still believed it until the ref just walked back to the centre circle, which is when I duly went mental
Brilliant atmosphere yesterday - a fantastic performance by every player, but I thought Troy was phenomenal. He led by example as always. Brilliant. Interesting to hear some of the Souness comments when I got home; I particularly liked the "3-0 didn't flatter Watford". Also, I thought he was very honest about Deeney - about how this was the first time he'd seen him play live, and up until now he'd thought (expected) he was just a big lump but now recognises that he has a lot more to his game. I heard Klopp being interviewed on 5live - I thought he said that whilst the first goal (maybe) shouldn't have been allowed and that the referee made a mistake, he felt that Bogdan made the bigger mistake first by dropping the ball, and the Liverpool team didn't play or respond well enough to going behind. He also gave us credit for our performance.
All those years, well decades, of depreciation and sneering when you say you're a Watford fan. "Watford?" They say in a sort of high-pitched, amazed sort of way. "What division are they in, these days?". All those high-handed, patronising, supercilious, conceited glory hunters who call themselves 'fans' of the big boys. Have you heard of us now then ya winkers! Favourite press quote from today's report in the Grauniad:- "There is a scene in the forthcoming film The Revenant in which Leonardo DiCaprio has an encounter with a wild bear that may for some viewers bring to mind Deeney’s treatment of Liverpool’s back line here, such was the savagery with which he tore into them."
6 wins from the last 8 games. People go on about how good our strikers are, quite right, but it's worth remembering... 5 of those 6 wins.....clean sheets. What a defence :sign15: (and our midfield ain't too shabby either)
Finally calmed down after yesterday. sad I know but I couldnt sleep last night just thinking about the game. Seriously what do people do who arent into football? 30 years i have been going, 26 of them a struggle from hand to mouth for the club with the odd cup run or promotion which ended well badly..this season is amazing and is at the moment exceeding even the most drunk Watford fans prediction. back to the game... it reminded me of what I have heard the GT teams played like when they first came up. pressing high up the pitch, everyone knowing their job, a team spirit which any team in this league would love and the crowd buying into the 'project' and getting behind the boys. We even have a striker a little in the Luther mould, one that misses as many as he scores and is a little greedy (not having a pop at Iggy, I love the guy, but 1-on-1's arent his strength). In Deeney we have a player who plays like we would all love to play for our team. he shows passion, leadership and a will to succeed. His face when they came out for the second half said we arent going to throw this away. One thing I pointed out to my Liverpool friends is how many of their team would get into ours and how many of our players would get into their team. To many of the so called big clubs are relying on their reputation rather than good players and they are being found out. lets keep enjoying this even if we lose the next couple. We have a team and club to be proud off.
Liverpool never looked like scoring. Yes Ighalo and Deeney rightfully take the bulk of the plaudits but your solid defensive is really impressive. Gomes has been class too excluding our game but every keeper has an off day
Capoue contributes so much. You can see other players looking for him for a pass all the time. I wonder if Quique has told them - give it to Capoue. A really class player. I expect he and Gomes will have something special planned for the Spuds.
Cheers buddy, good of you to take the time to comment. Personally I used to think that he Prem was a bit poo, the top 4-6 places you could predict at the start of the season, and the newly promoted teams would be whipping boys all season long, but not this year, Leicester City have been a breath of fresh air and I'm genuinely happy for you, while my boys continue to take my breath away on a seemingly weekly basis. As you said Gomes had a bad day at the office at your place, but that is all it was, in general he swings between outstanding to bloody awesome, so unlike Spurs fans instead of crucifying the bloke we sang his name and applauded him off. If Hodgeson wants to shake up the England squad, Deeney and Vardy up front with Ben Watson in midfield would not be a bad call...It will never happen though because we are both just little teams!!!
He means that game is really the only blot on the Gomes copybook and I'll include last season when he was far busier.
At the other end of the scale, I think people would have to go a long way to find a MORE classy manager in the PL than QSF. What a credit he is in his behaviour and words.
Our performance was so good that my 72 year old Dad offered me a high five after the 3rd goal. Enough said.
And I stand by it, he has been a bloody revelation as holding midfielder, considering a lot of people (myself included) though he would be nothing but a bit part player this season, he has been a stand out player amidst a stand out team. Out of interest, if it were possible which English holding mid would you replace him with?
Nah it looked like bouncing but it was just people in outrage as the stocks of prawn sandwiches in the stand had run out
I have also said this in the Watson thread. England could use a combative midfielder like him for sure! Looked much more the International player than Henderson and Lallana did...
