Not enough people on the SB agree with me I won't speak on the SB and give my opinion Do you think the two are somehow connected?
I see this article has missed out Rob Styles v them in 2008 when Eustace got sent off. https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/spo...-davies-4670591.amp?__twitter_impression=true Wonder why ?!
Thought the last two games have shown improvement. I know people will disagree with me, but we've created plenty of chances, which was our issue before. Clear that defending set-pieces and long balls into the box are an issue, which we'll have to resolve to be successful in this league, but other than those weaknesses not sure why people are saying we're poor defensively. We're 3rd in the league for least goals conceded and two of those in the last two games were pretty good goals from outside the box.
I now have to admit I have no clue how this season is going to turn out. Pre season I predicted bottom half and possibly relegation, but after seeing the horrific quality of opposition so far, (and we've certainly matched them in some games), then there's no way we'll be bottom half. If we continue to have the outrageous luck we had last night then it's top 2 all the way. I'd now change my prediction to a 5th to 8th place finish.
Cleverly also missed from about a yard out, and Wilmot missed two headers you'd expect him to score at least one of.
I only saw the first half yesterday and whilst it was disappointing that we conceded so early and were weak in midfield with Cleverley and Chalobah still looking poor, but we did get forward a lot more and expose the space down the wings. Yes we got a lot of luck, but we wouldn't have had that luck if, like vs Barnsley and mostly against Wycombe, we didn't get the ball into dangerous areas to get penalties/dodgy goals etc. At this level, teams make errors and as we saw, refs make errors. You need to play the percentages at least, if you're not going to play brilliantly.
Yeah, I think the midfield is still an issue, doesn't quite have the right balance. Hopefully Hughes will add some balance. I think he can do what Chalobah does, but is also more creative and a better passer, which in theory should help.
I wouldn’t trust him in a two, he is only 21 lacks a bit of maturity in his general play, gives me the impression of trying to be a bit too clever sometimes. Certainly has the making of being good enough in this league, but needs to concentrate more and learn from his at times sloppy play!
I thought that we looked a lot better yesterday but there still quite a bit if negativity on here, therefore I took a littke butchers on the Stoke forum and here are a few quotes from an oppositions perspective. '' in many aspects of Watford's play, they were lightyears ahead of us. It did look like a prem team vs a middling champo team at times'' ''The Watford side in comparison was fast and incisive throughout and consistently looked as though it could penetrate the Stoke defence. The mistake made by Bhatt reminded me of last year's defensive form. We looked far more solid with a back three and tonight Watford consistently played balls through our channels and left our full backs in trouble. ''Shocking refereeing aside, Watford were by far the best team for most of the game and on that performance would be my favourite for finishing in top spot''
I can't work Vlad's thinking on the defence. He says he wants to play 433 but can't because we don't have a LB. That's trash... Kiko can easily fit in temporarily at LB in this division, tell him to concentrate on defensive side etc. I think Vlad is just making a big point to Duxbury, "you made me play 352 as you didn't give me the promised LB, not my doing".
Whilst I didn't think we were good against Barnsley we did create chances, there was a lovely through ball by Cleverley to Sarr who mis-controlled the ball one on one with the goalkeeper, Cleveley hit a shot miles wide from six yards out, Wilmots chance could not have been closer on another surface it finds the back of the net, that is 3 chances that should have been put away, we only created the same amount of chances last night but we were more clinical.
Pedro definitely gained some muscle. If it had been Deeney the keeper would have been out through the back of the net with the ball. No pretending it didn't cross the line then.
I think Kiko is one of our best attributes going forward though and for me has been our stand out player this season alongside his opposite number King Ken. I would prefer us to play 4 -3-3 or even 4-2-3-1 but I do think we lose something having to sacrifice one of our best performers this season. For the first time I actually thought the 3-5-2 worked last night we were able to exploit Stoke on both flanks and Sema and Kiko caused Stoke problems.
Well at least in a two, the fact that he's right-footed won't be so important, and he'd have more of an understanding with Troost-Ekong than any of the other three CBs Would I be getting a bit annoyed if I were Sierralta at this moment in time? Perhaps...
I have often compared the negative rants on the shoutbox with the almost simultaneous summaries from the relevant "pundit" on the Sky Sports Saturday thingy. Considering most of those pundits are hardly "pro Watford", it was amazing how positive they normally were about how we were playing compared to the vitriol found in the shoutbox.
I've stayed away from this forum for a few days due to the constant negativity which just does not make sense to me. We've had a few bad games but this season is still one of the most fun ones I can remember, especially as the promise is that we can only get better and there's a lot more wins ahead. Last night I was out and only following the match on my LiveScore app. But refreshing it at the end expecting to see 2-2 FT and actually seeing 3-2 FT I jumped with joy in a way only football can give you. Things are obviously pretty terrible right now, but those rare moments are what it is all about. Bring on Coventry.
I'm not participating on the shoutbox, so I don't actually know what you are on about when you say "here you are".
I agree with you about the negativity, but how you can say "this season is still one of the most fun ones I can remember" when we can't go to the games baffles me.
Think it takes time for players to adjust to a new formation. We were a largely unchanged 4-2-3-1 under Pearson last season. Inevitable that there would be some bumps in the road along the way. I'd like some flexibility, sure, but its up to the manager to implement his thinking to the players and get the necessary results. By scoring 3 goals last night it showed 3-5-2 can produce more than a 'too defensive' 1 goal a game scenario, which was a concern by many pre match.
I think we'll b rotating Sarr JP Gray Perica and Deeney if we keep a front 2. The key is finding the right combinations. I think Perica is probably better with Sarr, Gray is good with either and Deeney would be better off with JP cos he cant keep up with Sarr whereas Pedro can find him in space in and around the box. Whatever happens King Ken must play! Classy goal from Sarr but what a fookin assist!!
Totally agree about Shoutbox but at least it keeps the cancer contained in one small containable area.
Where has this opinion come from that 3-5-2 is a defensive formation? We played it for the most part under Slav in the promotion run-in, and I don't remember a lack of attacking flair in that set-up. A new manager, new tactics and a lot of squad upheaval needs time for things to bed in. Considering we're a win from 2nd place after 8 games and things haven't yet clicked I don't see what all the fuss is about.
