I'm not going to trawl through the four pages on this bloke so if this has been answered I apologise, what sort of player is he? Who's place is in danger? Is this the time for Murray to go out on loan?
It's a strange one unless he's of Abdi quality. That's Munari, Abdi, Tozser, Battocchio, McGugan, Andrews and Even Fabbrini and Forestieri who could be considered (attacking, in Fabbrini and Forestieri's cases) central midfielders. Surely has to mean a couple of Battocchio, Abdi (please god no), McGugan and Murray are off.
Not sure what the 'wolverine' comment signifies https://twitter.com/EmaGiulianelli/status/496308839676125185/photo/1
I'm fairly sure he's a defensive midfielder. If so that implies Tozser will be played in an Abdi-Tozser-[Andrews or Munari] trio, and in turn I'd expect to see either Battochio or Murray leave (likely on loan). My guess is Battochio because he's not homegrown.
Totally disagree. We have a squad of just 23 outfield players plus 8 development. It's not too big at all for a club that's clearly trying to achieve promotion. We have a good mix of experience, homegrown and youth. The main difference is that all 23 outfield players are first team players, rather than a mix consisting of a few backup ones. The Pozzo's give us this wonderful squad....without a penny spent in transfer fees.....yet some still find a reason to see faults. That really baffles me.
Point taken. However, I think what bothers people is not the size per se but a lack of comfort with rotation for its own sake.
How do we keep these 23 'first team' players happy and develop the other 8 when there are only 11 starting spots every week? Beppe will either have to rotate like crazy to try and keep everyone happy or risk unhappy players skulking around the training ground. If he can manage that then fair play, it's no fuss to me. I suspect the reality will be somewhat different though.
Must say, I think keeping 23 first teamers happy will be a major issue this season - that isn't being critical, or just finding fault, every game there will be an entire team thinking they should be playing. I think we can do with two long cup runs. Hope I'm wrong. And still only 2 keepers with no capacity to bring in a loan is there (not sure about that)?
Give them a month and half a dozen will be injured. One or two will probably be off the boil this season too. It's not too much of a problem. Every recent season we have a big squad and we end up taking in loans as soon as we can.
I understand the point you and UEA are making, but I don't see it as a big problem. Just over this pre-season we've seen injuries to Tozser, Murray, Forestieri & Cathcart. There are always going to be injuries throughout a season and you need to be robust enough to accommodate that. I believe everyone will get more than enough game time. Gone are the days when anyone is a guaranteed starter every week. It's a squad effort and everyone knows and appreciates this. We have the luxury to be able to compete, rotate and rest players, throughout a very long, physical and tough Championship campaign.
''Official #watfordfc @watfordfcsays 4m More OFFICIAL: #watfordfc have signed midfielder Gianni Munari on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance ''
Italian journalist says @Guardalinee: Veteran, dynamic midfielder, able to cut through the defense without the ball, smart player @Guardalinee: Different and a little better than Abdi, he's more box-to-box mid, should be good enough to have an impact in championship Much like ighalo I think you should all wait and see him play before you criticise him, the midfielders we have available to us right now havn't got us promoted. If this guy is "better than abdi" according to a serie A expert we should have some midfield, sounds very much like the player we need and played quite a few games during a very impressive season from Parma.
In fairness the club did make it clear some time ago, via the WO, that they wanted two more CMs so I don't think there is an unexpected departure in the offing and I think we would have all expected that to be one home-grown player and one not, as has happened. Maybe the plan is to send Murray out on loan. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/11333724.Watford_target_three_more_signings/
I think this is a point well worth bearing in mind. Our squads under previous owners were often very small and a relatively small list of injuries caused enough of a crisis to require the kids to be drafted in. I don't think being able to replace an injured first teamer with a senior pro is necessarily a bad thing. We should be playing the kids when we WANT to play them, not because we're forced to. Anything else is potentially harmful to their development.
Interesting info...that implies we're looking at something like Abdi-Munari-(Tozser or Andrews) then.
So this guy is described as a little better than Abdi, and no one gets excited anymore. Watford have come a long way in 3 years haven't they?!
No I think we've just become a bit immune to the descriptions and comparisons given to us about players who've never set foot on an English football pitch before let alone played an integral part in a Championship football team seeking promotion. I'll certainly wait to see him a few times before getting excited.
I've been speaking to @Guardalinee on twitter and they've said Munari did a lot more in Italy than Abdi ever did but admits he hasn't followed Abdi since his move to us.
https://twitter.com/watfordfcsays/status/496321217205633024 Looking at the picture tweeted by Watford he's been brought in to fill the Cassetti role - Good looking ******* with a beard
How many times do we hear of players playing with a knock or being rushed back from injury in this league? what might we have done last season if we had another Abdi waiting in the wings? I know Burnley got promoted with a tiny squad but they were very lucky with injuries in key positions. The Pozzos have lot's of players on there books patiently awaiting their chance to shine and it's something we have to take advantage of.
If the description of Munari is accurate - he must be the signing of the season (including Vydra). Happy days.
Agreed. Using this Saturday as an example we have had recent injury concerns with Toszer, Murray, Forestieri and Cathcart. Andrews can't play as against "parent" club and Paredes can't be considered due to work permit issues. Sannino has to name a squad of 18 so there won't be many sat in the stands moaning that they are not involved. I know there is difference between being on the bench and actually starting but I think players realise its a long season and that if they're good enough they'll get a chance at some point. If you take Johnson, Doherty, Byers, O'Nien, Smith, Ikpeazu, Mensah and Jakubiak out of the equation (all of which will hopefully get a good amount of time out oN loan this season at a decent level in order to get experience) then we are left with 24/5 pros. That's only 6-7 not even on the bench which when injuries and suspensions etc mount up isn't a bad amount. I think the only difference to previous seasons is that almost all of the 24/25 pros have a good case to be at least on the bench whereas previously the first 18 pretty much picked itself. Sannino made reference at the end of last season that Burnley did what they did by using a small amount of players and saw the benefit in that so (hopefully) won't be rotating for the sake of it. My immediate reaction when we were linked to this bloke was why bother but the transfer window system as it now means clubs who are looking for promotion (its nice to be in that group) will try and cover most eventualities before the window is up. If e.g. Abdi had a set back and one other of Toszer, Andrews or McGugan picked up a serious knock we would suddenly be looking a bit thin on the ground for senior Midfielders. "Slightly better than Abdi" = bloody brilliant... COYGB
Sounds exciting. It says on WIKI he only played twice for Parma last season, but am assuming that is wrong if this Guardalinee chap says hes played more often
