Yep scored the most goals outside of the top 5, and equal with Chelsea and Everton in the top 5. Not something I would've contemplated happening in my wildest dreams in the latter half of last season. Also the goals are regularly being spread around the whole team.
Not to mention Depay quite possibly one of the worst players ever bought by a team in the Premier League. When you look at the old lady of corruption Pogba had plenty of help from Pirlo, Marchisio. He has none in this team and I do think he is overrated as a player. He certainly wasn't the most talented player at Juventus either. La Joya aka Paulo Dybala makes me get off my seat. Mourinho like Rooney is over the hill and another season of strife and trouble at Old Trafford awaits. But I couldn't care less especially for a fan base that is so plastic it barely recognizes great former players when they pass away like Bill Foulkes for instance. We have a settled squad now and every player played well as they have competition for places. Amrabat came in and did his job well. Success is a great impact player but I did think he should have come on earlier. The sole negative is Ighalo in the box. Hangs onto the ball too long. Perhaps it's a lack of confidence that all strikers do experience and he will come good again and be that sharp shooter once again. Holebas was superb back to the form he showed for Roma and that cheeky spin and back heel shows a player high on confidence. Perhaps Troy did enough to nudge into Allardyce's confidence as well. Behrami seems rejuvenated as well marshalling the midfield patrolling it like a bloodhound. What is noticeable is the improvement in fitness and pressing which for example brought the first goal, the quality of passing when not under pressure and crossing. Precious little to tinker with on the basis of the last two performances but one is good only as the last showing. I hope this is a stepping stone to better things. Better things should be taken into context. One only has to look at the stadium, the personnel on the pitch and off it, the training facilities to be just amazed at the way the club has been transformed. This team still has plenty of potential. We should be scared of no one and look to achieve the target set by Gino Pozzo of getting to Europe. Beating teams like Manchester United and the so called elite should be looked forward to as a challenge that can be achieved with regularity. And to be fair we are not that far off. Threw the game against Chelsea and gifted the first half to the mob from the Emirates. And although I have criticized Oliver in the past he actually had a decent game today for once. The things that happen in a blue moon.....
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/watford/395/blog/post/2953813/watford-team-superb-vs-man-united-in-deserved-win I'd pretty much go with ESPN's marks except for one glaring exception but as I refuse to join Facebook I can't comment. If I could it would surely be this ... Unfair on Cholovas. Wingback is not fullback, it's basically why there's three defenders to cover behind (I suspect the author suffers from Doyley syndrome). He gets an 8.5 from me and MOTM although Behrami, Prodl and Troy certainly run him close for the accolade. Igs an extra .5 just for the problems he caused United in what was a remarkable all round team performance. Take note Mr Parkin or whoever your troll is on here.
As a BT subscriber ('net) I could watch the first half of the game on my phone (kids' hockey doesn't end until 13h00). I listened to about 25 min of the 5live commentary on the way home and got the last 15 min on the TV at home - my daughter refused to watch it as she's certain she's a jinx. I got lunch together and she asked whether we could watch the entire match whilst eating. Thus I watched approximately twice. A number of things really stuck in my mind: 1. Why haven't the commentators still got beyond the opposition "...having a bad day..." 2. For the first and final 20 minutes we looked fantastic dominating Utd in a way that was reminiscent of those glory days of our first season in div. 1 under GT. 3. The strike force of Deeney, Iggy, Success, Capoue (note commentators not Capoué) and Zuniga really look like they're capable of equalling the exploits of MoJo, Reilly, Luther and Digger (and I suppose Cally). 4. I wonder if we're seeing the first nails in the coffin of two "giants" of the English game: Rooney and Mourinho*. I wonder if "the right people" realise that the despicable scouse pikey's "elite career" is finally over (with his "performances" in a England shirt, his current "dip" in performance and BSA revelations that he's got to play him) and that Mourinho's "act" is just that: a smoke and mirrors act "Give me a number of blank cheques and I will build the world's greatest team..." *Something that caused great hilarity at Chez B'wood-horn's lunch table was the sight of Mourinho in some ad for a football manager type mobile game during the BT coverage where he asks "DO you think you're a better manager than me?"...If any forumeer can guess what my sons', daughter's and my reply was they win a prize.** ** (moog or cash equivalent).
All this and Ealing Comedy programme on Gold! Can't remember a better day,maybe Villa Park Cup Semi v Plymouth?
What's the matter are they muscling in on your business and in no-way would (or could) anyone ever describe Garston in that way.
A quick read through and its all Rooney needs to go, come back LVG, square pegs in round holes with the tiniest snippet that we deserved win. They really have been spoilt over the years.
Excellent post Smudger, and I agree with it all apart from Paul Dybala, who I wouldn't know if he was playing football in my back garden. That competition for places is so important and overall it will really benefit the performances. Walter needs to keep rotating and using his subs. It is the only way with such a large squad of good players. The last few results, though, say nothing other than we are good enough to beat anyone in the league if we play near our potential. We do not need to fear anyone and the main difference between now and last season (the last few months) is that we now offer something our opponents need to worry about. That stops our opponents from just walking al over us. It hasn't really come from Deeney and Iggy yet, but we are only 13% into the season. They will come good providing they know that, if they dont, they'll be hooked or dropped. On another matter, it is fanatstic to see Mourinho blaming the ref again, whilst ignoring our superiority in chances, shots, defensive stability, their lucky goal and just about everything. What a ****** he is.
After 33 minutes last week, it was very much the writing on the wall for Mazzarri, but scroll forward another 2 and a half hours of football and he's a genius. This is the crazy world of football. Clearly we are a work in progress, and we are nowhere near the finished article......and that leads to the question.....how good can Watford be? We could put in a limp performance at Burnley next week, and the last two games fade from focus quickly, but I think we do have some really tough mentality in the side right now. If you read the back story of some of our players, you can see how hard they've had it and how they've had to fight against the odds to get where they are now. I love this type of player. They have a hunger and appreciate the good things. They've not come through academies with a silver spoon from the age of 9. They've played football on broken glass in their bare feet. What we lack in ability or talent, we make up in ballsy attitude. Troy, Holebas, Success, Pereyra & Behrami have had a tough time in their early career paths.....and I'm sure there are others that have similar backgrounds. It's what gives you character and this takes you a long way in football and life in general. I was a little worried about this season, but I've seen enough now to know we'll be ok......and maybe even more than ok. We are beatable, of course we are, but if you take Watford lightly, they can really hurt you.
... todays game also showed that 3-5-2 is not necessarily a disaster. It isn't my own little favourite, but it was good today until it was relaxed a little through injury and their lucky goal.
Just rewatching the highlights, Pereya's cut back was class. He doesn't even look up and plays an inch perfect pass to Zuniga. He's made a huge difference already.
I was very concerned about a 'reverse Leicester' moment when Deeney was lining up the pen. Same referee. "De gea saves, de gea saves again, now here come United......." Proper glad when Deeney **** ing smashed it down the middle. Back to his best our lad Troy. Still buzzing. What a result.
Really quite excited by the potential of this squad after the last two results. There seems to be a real togetherness in the team too, typified by a moment in the second half after the equaliser, when they were well on top. Pogba shoved Behrami and Troy was straight in his face - to me this showed that the team have got each other's back but also that we aren't going to be intimidated by big name, big price tag players. Add to that the goal celebrations, including subs and the bench, and it looks like a happy camp at the moment. As for the game, Prodl would be my first choice defender against big, physical forwards, it suits his game perfectly. Holebas was outstanding, very disciplined and although he seemed to tire in the last 20 mins, can't really complain about that after the shift he put in. Behrami is pretty much our vice captain on the pitch, organises, breaks up attacks, lets others play. Pereyra was quite quiet but isn't it nice to have a player with that much quality that even in a game where they're not at their best, they can create a goal (great pass by Amrabat to play him in too). Thought all three subs played very well when they came on too, and Deeney and Ighalo never stopped working. As for Mazzarri, he seems to have got us to a stage where we can switch formations multiple times during a game. Granted, sometimes it won't work (when Amrabat came on I think we went to 4-5-1 and handed them the initiative) but at least he's willing to try different ideas out and react to the ebb and flow of the game. The Zuniga and Success substitutions worked brilliantly today, bravo Walter!
There is a "highlights" reel of Rooney knocking around from the game today. I knew he had a bad game but it's only when you watch it back to back that you realise how utterly dreadful he was. Anyway I must say Success looks a real handful whenever he comes on so I think he's earned a start instead of Ighalo next time out. Don't think Iggy did that bad apart from that miss but Success is banging on the selection door for me and deserves a chance.
We have a better squad than last year, having "men" as Deeney puts it in all positions. I suspect Deeney means Berghuis and Oulare. We will forever be under the radar in this league, Leicester were dismissed continually last year until the last 4 games. I'm not saying we'll win the league, but I can see us damaging more sides like West Ham and Man U, who I suspect were sat in the dressing rooms after the games asking how they lost to Watford. We took advantage of that in the 80's and can do so again. You come to Watford and try rabonnas or think it'll be easy and you'll come very very unstuck. We also will go away from home and score goals. I wonder if Capoue keeps scoring how long it'll be until the media realise that last year he played pretty much a DM role alongside Watson> My guess is they will just ask "how's he scored so many" and not have a reply. One more word about Ighalo and Deeney, I thought Ighalo was very good again. Yes he missed a sitter but he kept going and linked up with Troy nicely in the first half, thought he played on the left second half but still got involved. I'm not sure any criticism is warranted in his direction. Troy was back, he had a back two that were not up for it and then managed to beat Fellaini in the aerial battle and for strength. All over the pitch he was worth his salt today and deserved that penalty goal. He does not fear anyone anymore and it shows. In the grand scheme, I thought we might get a couple of draws or a win from the first 5 games and never really expected 0 from 5 games, I am however delighted with 7 points. West Brom have the same number of points but have not met any big teams yet, we've faced three. Time to kick on and see how far we can go.
I think Success is suited to coming on from the bench for now. If you've played 70 minutes against Troy/Ighalo you won't be too happy seeing Isaac coming on when you've got tired legs. Feels very nice to have a genuine option on the bench this year.
You missed this one on page 5 "The best team won today. We should have bought a few more stars to have a chance against this lot!"
Fantastic. I'm going to credit Walter with that. Before West Ham, he said something along the lines of "Judge me from now"..... Fair play.....
This particular post is pure comedy gold, the irony of the first post from of people, a Utd fan! [Blatzo said: ↑ We were ****e. Deserved to lose. Referee was also ****e. The ball was in play for a whole 50 seconds in that 4 minutes of injury time. The laws of the game with regard to the clock need some serious reform. So, you wanted more time added on? If Watford had had another 3 minutes, they'd have got 4. I am thankful the game ended when it did.
Good post. I'm really curious to see how this team does against a 'weaker' side now. If we can beat Burnley away 2-0 in a professional manner then smash Bournemouth for 4 at home, then I will dare to dream of a top half finish.
We went to 4 at the back after Janmaat went off. Cathcart was playing RB and Amrabat was on the wing. With Iggy on the left it was more of a 4-5-1 merging into 4-3-3 when we went forwards.
Yes but don't think anyone would have any complaints about first half with 3-5-2. At any rate it's good to have a manager who seems to have tactical flexibility according to game conditions.
Apart from Ighalo who was poor . And I'm not including the open goal he missed. All round game terrible.
