I'm with you and Knight too. Playing 4 across the middle doesn't really allow the movement of when 3 play so McGugan was playing a complete different game to what we are used to seeing. Maybe some thought he was being lazy but he had to play a more holding role. As for Iriney, I understand the issues against him. He hasn't looked all that good but he has done a job at certain points and just needs to be more consistent.
Me too. But then we must be stupid as apparently he is a lazy c*** who should f*** off bak to forst innit.
Surely when we have all our CB's back to full fitness, one of them could be utilised to play the Holding MF role?
It's funny how some players on here get a lot more slack than others. For me McGugan and Fessi have been as inconsistent as Fabbrini, and do not have the excuse of getting used to English football. Yes all three show magic at some points, but all three often go missing in games. The reason I have been more critical of McGugan is that you can get away with it more as a wide player or a flair forward, but far less so when you are in the middle of the park, and defensively players just seem to slip past McGoo with ease. Yes he played better in the second half of Saturday, and hopefully Zola will be working on his consistency, but he needs to be a lot better if he wants to be in a promotion winning midfield. He is meant to be the man getting into the right attacking positions and linking the midfield with the attack. And from the previous few games, it is clear that there is not enough consistent movement or penetration from him, for that to be the case. In terms of their roles, Iriney was very reliable and consistent for the whole 90mins, and played better than the rest of the midfield, with very little recognition. Maybe the fact that he doesn't score the odd screamer means that he will forever be condemned as a boo-boy, but I was very optimistic after his performance on Saturday. I also thought that Belkalem had a solid Championship debut, and a lot of his work was getting across quickly to cover the gap behind the wing back, which he did very well. Yes he made a glaring mistake and a few dodgy passes, but I'd rather him than Doyley in the long run: Bulk has that extra yard of pace to cover which our defence desperately needs, he offers more of an attacking threat (and we seem to be needing goals at the moment). And whilst Doyley has had a very solid season, he has been exploited a number of times (with very little criticism) by not dealing with loose balls just in front of the defence, often backpedalling when in any doubt rather than just attacking a very winnable ball. For all the over-the-top criticism of Zola, wow. If he went through and read every post on here, the majority have been asking for Belkalem to play, for Fessi and Fabbrini to play together, to experiment with something other than the 352 and for us to start better than we did last season. All of which he has done. You cannot have it both ways. We have a young manager who is willing to experiment and will hold his hands up when things don’t work. Maybe he has discovered that the formation would have worked if Abdi was supporting Fessi and Fabb, and finding them quickly in intelligent positions. Or maybe he learnt that a fully fit Anya would have given us much better width, an inside/outside option to give space to Fabbrini. But either way remember, we were playing without our two most influential players. It was always going to be a tough game. There is a reason why many of the clubs in the Championship do not play flowing football: it is cheaper and easier in the short term to build a solid team with a good defence, a good physicality and loads of team spirit. But to reach our owners ambitions, we will need to play our way out of this division. It will be hard and might take a few seasons (look at Swansea/ Wigan ect), but it will stand us in much better stead when we finally reach the promised land. So keep the faith guys - Zola will find a way.
Wow that was a longer response than I realised. For those that can't be bothered to read my nonsense, they're all sh!t... It's time to stock up on the lozenges for Tuesday, it going to be quite the massacre. BOOO!
I must be the only one who thinks every single player that's played so far, has done well. Belkalem, Iriney, McGugan, Deeney, Fabbrini, Forestieri, Acuna and Faraoni have all impressed me and I'd be absolutely fine with any of these in the starting line up.
Spot on, I've heard a fair bit of criticism of him which I really don't understand. His constant whining at the ref annoys me though.
I think refs should book players for constant moaning. Deeney is very similar. The more you moan at a ref the less likely you are of getting decisions. Human nature
Although Almunia is the captain, Deeney is the player allocated to talk to referees in the captain's absence which, given our captain is a goalkeeper, is fairly regularly. This is probably the reason he's seen talking to the referee so much. You have this really weird thing about wanting to play players out of position. It's quite strange.
And some people are saying we don't miss vydra.If we had vydra this season we would of been in first or second place by now.
That was last year.This year should have beat Blackpool if we had vydra we would have been 4-0 up buy half time.vydra would of scored all three decent chance's we had against Chalton on sat,would have beat forest at home and maybe reading away.
You must have missed all those games where we effectively played with 10 men because Vydra wasn't up for it.
Did not miss a game last year home or away.Vydra's head got turned by his agent.But still scored 23 goals.It's such a shame that happen because we would of gone up last year if that had not happen.Not only that he did get voted championship player of the season who was the last Watford player to win that.
So you remember the matches where he couldn't give a ****? We're better off without him, move on FFS. I remember plenty of occasions where he had a mare in front of goal so to suggest we would have been 4-0 at Blackpool with him is daft.
Yes I do remember.But I also remember all the great away game's when Watford played some of the best football I have ever seen and vydra's goals were apart of that.Did you go to leeds Brighton forest Middlesbrough Birmingham Chalton etc?.I no it's time to move on now but I will never forget last season.deeney+ vydra =40 odd goals No partnership will get that this year.
I'm guessing Vydra may end up learning an unfortunate lesson this season about stepping up before you've proven yourself. I don't blame him for wanting to further his career; supposedly his international manager told him to play in the top divisions to develop his international career, and Vydra clearly loves playing for his country. Unfortunately, I can't see him getting ahead of the other strikers WBA now have in their team, and I feel he's going to end up doing a Mujangi-Bia. A real shame. I think those accusing him of not caring are off the mark, though. He wouldn't be back at the Vic watching if he didn't care. He's got friends in the team and the fact they were all taking it in turns to call his mobile on an away day shows there is no ill feeling there.
Mcgugan was impresive but at the same time failing utterly- we dont need a player who will. Score a wonder goal we need passing midfielders who will keep up presure
I really think that McCugan coudl play with Deeney up front, he can shoot and finish very well. he wouldnt need to be so hard in the tackle or tracking back and him and Deeney seem to get on, Deeney likes to hunt with a partner. I think they would be a great partnership, this would allow the midfield to be utilised with higher energy players like Battochio or Murray
What this thread proves is that, whilst Zola may have the answer, not one of you clowns has got the first ****ing clue
