Zola tactics v Forest

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Manatleisure, Aug 25, 2013.

  1. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    I'm in favour of going for the win but not at all costs. I couldnt understand the substitutions to be honest, we were already being matched or outplayed in midfield for large parts of the game and then Zola takes off Mcgugan and Iriney which only left Abdi and the young Murray in midfield. Forestieri isnt a midfielder. Forest shouldve won that game second half, we were opened up by having too many attacking players on the pitch, and were an unselfish pass away from losing.
     
  2. põder

    põder First Year Pro

    Yes - or a whisker away from winning. Surely you've got to gamble in the hope of getting 3 points at home? By all means err on the side of caution away and look for the counter.
     
  3. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    We looked a lot more comfortable after the formation switch, and beat Forest to most of the second balls. They were set up to play against the 3-5-2 and looked significantly less comfortable in the last 20 minutes.

    I don't blame Zola for looking for the 3 points in a home game.
     
  4. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I thought it was an excellent sub choice and am glad to see it. Yes we could have lost when Miller went through but every time we had the ball going forwards Forest were cacking themselves. That's the Championship.
     
  5. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    I thought the switches were good. Watford were the stronger team in the second half and with the scores level looked the most likely to go on and win the match.

    McGugan for Murray was a like for like substitution, Faraoni for Pudil was ok too as he goes right and Anya switches to the left, and Fessi for Iriney gave us more attacking options. We were trying to win by being prepared to lose.......I remember GT saying that once and I think that was true about today.
     
  6. Vicarage Road

    Vicarage Road Reservist

    Last fifteen minutes was just like the Leeds game on the final day. We were going all out for the win but were getting found out when they countered. Forest could of and should of won it.
     
  7. J.B

    J.B First Team

    Forest were there for the taking and you could see they were scared of us and couldn't cope when we came forward.

    In that situation you've got to gamble for the three points, especially at home. On another day we would have won.
     
  8. Travis Bickle

    Travis Bickle Reservist

    Very refreshing to see Zola going for it. I remember the dreadful days of Boothroyd, Dyche and Mackay where we made a defensive sub and sat back for the last 20 minutes. Horrible to watch.
     
  9. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    by all means switch players in the final third to get back into games but don't leave yourself wide open at the back. changes should be made in a more controlled manner in my opinion rather than taking a gung-ho approach.
    lost count of the number of times they hit the woodwork. definitely a point gained.
     
  10. TheDon

    TheDon First Team

    I think you'll find under Aidy we did go for it, but we just put ****tu or Demerit up front instead.
     
  11. Lux

    Lux Reservist

    Second half we had all of the ball. Matched/outplayed in the midfield? I don't think that was the case at any time of the match. In the second half they couldn't handle us.. but did have some good chances on the break.

    We pushed up high.. so the likes of Angella were constantly pushing forward in the midfield too. I liked the substitutions.... and it's not like Forestieri/Fabbrini are all out strikers anyway. They can sit in front of Abdi/Murray if they need to.
     
  12. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    It was twice. If that caused you to lose count then...wow.
     
  13. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    Zola post match comments, at least he is aware.

    "I think it was too open. It gives me a lot of points to coach and a lot of indications on how we can improve the team."

    "We know we have to defend better than we are at the moment. I also know if we want to be an offensive team we can't be perfect at defending as well."
     
  14. RussWatford

    RussWatford Reservist

    Would've made those changes earlier and gone for the win. Forest weren't that great.
     
  15. J.B

    J.B First Team

    Why does that not surprise me?
     
  16. Rugbyballs

    Rugbyballs Reservist

    I also lost count the amount of times Doyley was caught out. The last chance where he went to double team their attacker leaving 2 free in the box... luckily he didn't pass.
    Im pretty sure I only saw Deeney move twice as well. He looked lost today.
     
  17. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    Think a lot of them weren't at the races today. Deeney seemed to know he'd get nothing against their big back two and faded out of the game.

    Defence as usual seems all over the place at times. Angella may have helped our movement away but anything away from him is awkwardly dealt with by Cassetti and Doyley. We're basically playing two full backs at centre back and at times it shows.

    Fabbrini was excellent today in my opinion but is suffering the same thing that Fernando did last season at the start. Not being sure when to release it.

    Still stand by my comments the other week, we have to find a way to accommodate both of them.

    Abdi is playing differently to last season from what I can see. A lot wider at times and not always involved. Almost an Iniesta type role. Not sure about it.

    Anya was excellent as well, I expected the net to burst when he lined that shot up.

    Again, opportunity lost but a point gained and another tough game out of the way.
     
  18. Mighty Mo

    Mighty Mo Reservist

    Deeney wasn't in the game today and personally I would have subbed him for Acuna in the 2nd half just to give the Forrest defence something different to think about.
     
  19. hornmeister

    hornmeister Tired

    The midfield were getting lumps kicked out of them. Any chance of a break and our men were fouled. It's the only way "basic" teams can get points from us and our carlos kickballs tippy tappy footballers. The substitutions were a good idea, trying route one to secure a winner. You could see they were scared towards the end.

    Deeney was marked by two men and hence did not get the ball. Not his fault am surprised he didn't get more frustrated.
     
  20. Jellyman

    Jellyman Squad Player

    I'm thrilled. This is the hardest part of the season, with players getting used to the game and two fullbacks playing centre back. To take 8 points from 12 with tough away trips to Birmingham and Reading and an impressively organised Forest team.

    That's actually very impressive.

    Once everything is settled and we have Angella/Belks/Ekstrand at the back, things will be more than impressive.
     
  21. Jellyman

    Jellyman Squad Player

    But do want to see more of Acuna, maybe not at full fitness yet. I seem to remember he joined in Italy later than the others?
     
  22. roowfc

    roowfc First Year Pro

    Zola got it right we were all over them second half- qt least 3 goal bound efforts were blocked on the line. Unfortunately when we broke in the second half we pished the ball wide rather than playing deeney in on goal. I see it as two points dropped due to the first half defensive calamity.
     
  23. Hornet23

    Hornet23 First Team

    Get Maldini and Nesta in as defensive coaches. Its the only way we'll save ourselves from relegation.
     
  24. HELGO

    HELGO Reservist

    Well get someone in to sort all that ******* about at the back
     
  25. dynamo380

    dynamo380 Reservist

    Why did forest deserve to win it? what a load of rubbish. We where much the better side in the second half and I think Zola was right to change formation/his tactics. Forest set themselves up to be hard to break down and we needed to try something different. Pudil wasnt influencing the game or giving us any real width, McGugan had a fairly ineffective game bar a 5 minute spell when he scored & then almost had a second and Iriney was sacrificed for a more attacking player when we changed to 3-4-3. All sound substitions imo.

    Infairness, Forest's only real chances in the second half came about from mistakes by Watford players rather than them opening us up
     
  26. J.B

    J.B First Team

    Do you mean passing?
     
  27. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    Yeah, think we need that woman from last years fan forum to sort it out.

    'Knocking it back and forward, back and forward'.

    She'd quickly put them right.
     
  28. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Im very encouraged by GFZ risking defence for a win.

    He knows that the best way to get stuck down in that mid table championship bog is to get too many draws
     
  29. HELGO

    HELGO Reservist

    No I meant ******* about passing it to the opponents as we did last week and today. If you going to pass it then do it, don't be in two minds who you're going to pass it too.
     
  30. soarin

    soarin Academy Graduate

    Spot on in my opinion , poor subs by Zola , remember we missed out on promotion last season by 2 points , against good teams a point is better than nothing , going so cavalier so nearly cost us big time , has zola learned anything from last season ! just as mcgugan was getting into game he takes him off and irinney is only one who tackles in the team and holds his position , they went off and Forest had massive space to run right through our midfield and but for the excellent alumunia we would have lost .
     
  31. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    So we miss out on promotion by 2 points, but you're complaining that we actually tried to gain an extra 2 points yesterday?
     
  32. PhilippineOrn

    PhilippineOrn First Team

    soarin is right. We should try to draw every game.
     
  33. King Dev

    King Dev Squad Player

    I watched some of Napolis games last year and what stood out was their link up up front. They looked exceptional in my eyes when they played with a 1-2 up front ie.:

    Hamsik
    Pandev--Cavani

    Hamsik would be our Fabbrini and Pandev our Forestieri in a way as he is definitely a CF rather than a striker, with an out and out striker in Cavani.

    Obviously none of the 3 we have come anywhere near to those 3, however if Zola stuck with playing all of Fores, Fabbrini and Deeney it could just work like Napoli made it work...
     
  34. hornetgags

    hornetgags McMuff's lovechild

    What a complete load of tosh.

    Deeney should have scored in the first half and 2 great saves by their keeper (although Murray should have scored) then we would have won comfortably.

    Forest are a one trick pony...get in front then pack the defence. Our defensive lapses let them and as far as I'm concerned I love the fact Zola went for it.
     
  35. Aberystwyth_Hornet

    Aberystwyth_Hornet Squad Player

    Much better to go for it and try and get a winner than hang on for a draw (especially with our fragile defence). We moaned when we sat deep under Malky and Dyche and now we moan when we 'go for it' under Zola...football fans. Fickle.
     

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