They only spent a fortune last summer. Hope they go down. It's a shame GT resurrected them when they were heading for the depths.
I still maintain that our ability is mid table(ish), but as I and others have said, that means nothing unless they use it. Villa deserved to escape, as they made the most of their ability over the run in, and we didn't. Yesterday was the first time we showed any real sustained quality since February. Our mindset has been appalling. They have been set up like losers, played like losers, the coaching decisions during the games have been like we wanted to lose, and surprise, surprise we ended up as losers. Which is even more annoying that despite such appalling performances since then, relegation was not certain until the very end. One goal less for Arsenal or Villa matched by one goal more from us, or two more goals from us, would have seen survival. And considering we had 19 shots yesterday in open play with several easy chances, squandered, whereas Arsenal had only had 6, it showed where our biggest problem lay. So, I was wrong, we are down. I still believed we would survive right up until until Masina, Deeney and Masina missed their later chances. It was only then that I thought we were likely to go down. I was absolutely gutted, but I'm over it already, and looking forward to getting promoted next season. So a word for the Moog, Jumbo, SLB, Nath and the rest. I dislike the instant negativity every game on the shoutbox, with the laughing and cheers every time we concede or lose. It is as annoying as standing in the crowd at the game and watching Watford "fans" cheering on the opposition goals. The constant droning on with gloom and doom and giving up so early, is not a a pleasant sight whether it comes from players or fans. But it least (with the exception of one poster) I think it was heartfelt, based on what we were watching and usually showed some justification, and ultimately (right at the death) you were proved right when you said we would be relegated. Sadly. And I was wrong. We, errrr, go again!
Positives from yesterday - we played good football, we played out from the back, we worked openings, and we created enough to win the game 3-4 or 3-5. Now lets build a squad that can do and win games in the championship.
Agreed. It was the best we played since Liverpool. I don’t know why we couldn’t have played like that in other games as we’d have stayed up, probably fitness was lacking. talking of ifs and buts based on Pedros energy and speed I think swapping him for Deeney at half time might have made the difference as Arsenal were there for the taking. All a bit disappointing, it glad it’s over so I can start to get through the grieving process,
A little quiz question for the morning after the evening before.. During our five year stay in the Premier League, amazingly we managed to win at least once against every opponent we played...with only two exceptions.. Who were the two teams we failed to win against?
Didn't bother coming on here yesterday - everything felt a little strange. Dodgy decisions aside (throughout the season), we didn't deserve to stay up. I actually thought Deeney player well yesterday for once. Welbeck wasn't bad either. Sarr the standout and it was nice to see he actually cared. Dawson and Kabasele were shocking. Neither had the right mentality (Kabasele has been poor since the return). Hopefully neither at the club next season. Knew it was over when Cleverley and Chalobah came on, I'd be surprised if either make much of an impact in the Championship. Looking forward to seeing Doucoure leave. Been crap all season and clearly hasn't wanted to be here. Yesterday was just further evidence of that. Need a big rebuild over the summer but optimistic for next season.
Yes Man City and Sheffield Utd. Quite a good testimony to what a good fist we made of our first four seasons in the division that we managed to beat every team we played bar Man City at least once, and often more than once.
This is what c*** Arteta said after the game:- "I feel very sorry for them. "They were unlucky today. "They're neighbours with us, around the training ground, they're very local. "It must be really hard. They tried to the last minute. "You could see how much they wanted it. "Hopefully they'll be back next season in the Premier League because I know how touched the players and the club should be with that result." Yes of course he felt sorry. He made SIX changes from his best team against Villa and lost, then played his best team against us. He doesn't feel sorry, he got exactly what he wanted, so stop being such a hypocrite.....pr1ck. I hope Chelsea smash them in the final. I really hate two-faced people. Pep and Bruce can do one too for what they did also.
This is why I like Dean so much. No other referee would have given us that. He always bends towards the smaller team.....so refreshing.
Now the Premier League have got what they wanted.....I wonder if we will be missed? They will have no team to vilify and send their disdain towards. People need that.....people need Watford in their lives.
That's the article too, the writer was quoting another guardian Article for the first half. Although obviously I am extremely insightful and intelligent as well for my copying and pasting!
Both were penalties. It doesn't matter where the ball is a foul is a foul . Both pens were brain dead defending IMO.
I don't think he "bends" I just think he is impartial and doesn't get star struck but I agree that he is a top ref.
It may have not affected the shot, but was definitely a late tackle and it chopped down Welbeck. So that's a foul, isn't it?
A foul off the ball is a foul and takes place where the foul was committed. Unless the rules have changed !
Unless you're Rob Holding who assaulted Bobby P with a late challenge just before our penalty was given. Not sure how that wasn't a booking.
So it was a very late tackle then? Anywhere else on the pitch it's a foul without any arguments. Nothing soft about it.
I was certain we would lose and sadly proved right but we played a lot better than I thought we would. Decent attacking football with spirit. But what a start, yes VAR was as farcical as ever but what was Dawson thinking. It was so important to keep it tight early on and it could have been so different. To me the most disappointing thing about relegation was it was so avoidable. We all knew we needed to strengthen defence and attack last summer so we brought in Dawson and Welbeck. Both with their best days behind them and Welbeck not able to play much due to his injuries. Even in January we had the chance to plug our shortcomings but again nothing doing. When we went down under GT and Aidy we were out of our depth - this seasons Norwich. Surprisingly promoted, not enough funds to strengthen and easily relegated but tried hard. This season we were established in the PL. On paper one of the best midfields outside the big 6. On our day we could beat anyone (bar Man City). We weren’t a team that should have been down there. We got complacent especially the owners. Some of the players thought they were better than Watford. There wasn’t as much effort or care. If we played like we could we would have stayed up. We played well yesterday - defence aside. We were okay against Leicester and okay after equalising against Norwich and Newcastle. The rest of the time after restart we were abject. If we’d put as much effort in against Burnley, Southampton, West Ham etc we would have stayed up. I’m not happy Man City, Arsenal etc played weakened teams against Bournemouth and Villa and full strength against us - it was wrong and unfair. But, we went down because of our own failings - we had enough chances to have got enough points on the board if we’d made more effort and not been so lax. The owners need to realise their large part in our relegation. They should make a Statement apologising, acknowledging mistakes were made and stating their commitment to a quick return (and announcing the reappointment of Joka). They won’t do this, it will be the normal silence. I’m hoping the Championship will be like the last few years we spent in it - exciting with lots of goals and wins but a lot will depend on how the owners approach it and whether we have a fire sale or not. Looking forward to beating Sheffield Wednesday with a last minute winner in the last game to snatch the title off Bournemouth!
If we came out and played every game this season as if we were 3 nil down we might have been ok. Waaaay too often we've just existed in a game hoping to get a break in the 2 occaisions we ping a hopeful ball in toward Deeney. And waaay too often in those games we concede and come up with the must do better next time catchphrase. It bugs me that we had plenty of chances just drift us by. Get that malaise out the club by whatever means required.
It's not about being right as we were bound to be relegated at some point. I am just sad it didn't need to be this year as there were so many avoidable mistakes by owners, coaches and players. However, like you I am optimistic of the future and hope we can freshen up and play some exciting football in the Championship.
Always find this such a strange viewpoint. In the penalty area, people are focussed on where the ball goes, but if a full back clears the ball down the line and gets clattered it's an obvious free kick. Luiz went in quite hard on Welbeck's ankle after the ball had gone, as clear cut a foul as you could see. Just because the ball went into the keeper's arms, doesn't change that.
What are you on about? I've never cheered an opposition goal, or us losing, and have barely even been on the Shoutbox post restart as I've watched most of the games via the NowTV app meaning I was about a minute behind so didn't want to know what was coming.
I was thinking about this last night and all who seem to think there is some great conspiracy to see us relegated. Maybe.the managers of city and Arsenal just didnt like thecway We treated our managers and decided to show no mercy
You reckon? I feel like teams above us have better players than us is so many key positions. Marginal but key. Let’s take a look at players who play for teams up to 13th where Newcastle finished. Most of these are equal to or better than the options we have in our team IMO. Centre backs: Ake, Mings, Ogbonna, Dunk, Balbuena, Diop, Sakho, Lascelles & Schar. Full backs: Van Aanholt, Cresswell, Lamptey, Burn & Rose. Midfield: Noble, Shelvey, Grealish, Mooy, Rice, McGinn, Soucek, Buendia, Fraser, Yarmolenko, Milivojievic, ASM. Forwards: Maupay, Antonio, Haller, Zaha, Benteke, Ayew Our first 11 just had too many rubbish players in it, simple as. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have a feeling good old Burnley will be next on the vilification radar should Dyche leave. If Brentford come up I suspect they will take the title of 'plucky' off Bournemouth.
Who exactly are you referring to about cheering an opposition goal? Most people you have listed are raging about it. Our centre back made a bone headed challenge after 34 seconds on a must win game and the defending for the 3rd was utterly disgraceful.
