Odion Ighalo

Silky skills yes. But example one screams out - look up and square the ball to one of your three unmarked team-mates either side of the penalty spot. When he's got to the goal line I mean. Why is it that particular skill is so lacking in so many forward players? Take a look at Henrik Larsson in action. Always aware of those around him and invariably made the right choice to go it alone or play a better placed team-mate in.

 

I recall him being compared to Beleck and Kabba after his first few games.

 

Tomay-to tomah-to. I didn't even suggest selling him- in my example it would be Palace making the first move. We don't need to sell Deeney whereas them (Pardew?) might see offloading Guediora as a bit more important in order to free wages for new players to stay up. And as for the Pozzo way bit, I'm not arguing with you there. But with the amount of money we've spent this year on wages with the hope of going up, it would be a shot to the foot to sell your best striker and captain.

 

Never have I seen a Watford player look so out of his depth in his early games. I'm amazed he's changed so much in a relatively short space of time but he has done and he's proving to be a very valuable asset. He's totally proved me, and many others I suspect, wrong.

 

I don't get where this 'out of his depth' suggestion comes from. Ever since the Udinese game he's looked a class act but just needed a few games of getting beaten up by defenders to get used to English football.

 

Several games he looked hopeless, none more so than Blackburn away.

 

Ighalo was very good at Cardiff and deserves a run in the team, but...

Vydra will be back and people should never forget how good he is when his confidence is up.

 

I totally disagree. I didn't see the Blackburn game, but when I have seen him he has always showed that he has quality, but he just wasn't clicking or putting a great match performance together in those early appearances. But that isn't surprising, considering where he came from, his total lack of experience in our league and his knowledge that he would only appear spasmodically.

 

I'd start him ahead of Vydra right now - Vydra doesn't just look low on confidence, but also surprisingly slightly off the pace of late.

 

The more I see of this man the more I like him, so glad he has signed for us permanently great addition to the squad :sign15: In fact could be our best signing of the season so far!!!

 

Quoted for future use

 

I take your general point, but in this situation I think he was within his rights to shoot.

AG is the best option there and its a tricky pass which the CBs will shut down by the time he controls it

 

No trickier pass than the shot but it would then need to be hit first time with a fair chance of a block or a miss ... Igahalo's a striker and the shot was on, who else would've passed it up?

 

OK. But run the pic on to when he actually takes his shot. He has three options inside him then who are better placed and wouldn't have to control it, just swing a boot at goal.

 

Strikers who always make the best possible decision don't play in our league.

He had a split second to decide while moving with a ball and being aware of oncoming defenders. I think Ron's pictures shows his decision was reasonable, even if it wasn't the best decision he could have made.

 

Henrik Larsson!

 

I was at that game, and he didn't have a great game - having said that, he never once hid and kept on trying to make an impact - that is the sign of a good player, many others would accept it and go missing. I think he was the player fouled for the second goal, but am by no means certain. He could be a real gem.

 

OK. My example of Mr HL is of course one of the best players of our age and not likely to be seen in our league. But he's the example I always refer to because he had an almost uncanny knack for making the right decision. Fair enough, when he was playing for Celtic, that's not the most competitive league in the world and he maybe had a bit more time against lesser players. But he did it in Europe and for Sweden too.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with a striker being a bit selfish. But I reckon most of the time when they make the wrong choice it's not them being selfish, it's not a value judgement, it's just that they haven't glanced up to assess all the possibilities. They're entirely focussed on goal so aren't aware of other options.

I also reckon the look up and be aware skill is one that could be taught and coached, not to the extent of detracting from their role as a striker though. But the player who can do that regularly becomes a much better overall player and consequently of greater value to the team.

P.S. I'm not saying that Igloo's particularly selfish or unaware either. Just looking at that one example.

 

Anyone can pick the right option in Scottish football.

 

See above ...

 

By not playing there?

 

I have to admit it is totally and utterly boring compared to our league.

 

:love2:


[video=youtube;7pgsXT_57Ec]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pgsXT_57Ec[/video]

 

What a hero.

 

Certainly catching up with Munari and Tozser on my list of 'Watford players I'd most like to go to the pub with'

 

Amen to that.

 

Wait, he can express gratitude? He didn't even use "gaffer", "110 percent" or "lads" anywhere.

Are we sure he's a footballer?

 

I remember after the Brentford game earlier this season, I said something like "Well done to Ighalo for scoring that penalty (eventually) but he should never be let near the ball again".

 

You just WatfordTalked yourself!

 

i really like iggy as a player, and proving there that he is a nice chap to boot as well. heres hoping you kick on for the rest of the season mate.

 

Ighalo

It confuses me why vydra gets selected over ighalo (or even deeney atm), Ighalo seems to be our only striker currently who seems confident in what he does and doesn't get deflated when things don't go our way. Sure vydra supposedly is the better player, but until he gets back in his stride Ighalo MUST be starting for me.

 

I suppose Vydra has more talent, but looks devoid of confidence. If he gets a goal or two, and I know that doesn't look likely at the moment, his confidence could increase and he could be invaluable for us. Plus, I reckon the Pozzos had to promise him a lot of game time to come back to Watford.

But yes, Ighalo should start, and I reckon Joka will start him in the next game.

 

What confuses me is the fact that whether a player has a good game or a bad game doesn't seem to unduly influence the selection of the team for the next game. Ighalo is a prime example.

 

Excellent goal that caught Smithies cold ... I'm really starting to rate him

 

I like him because of his work rate and composure, but let's not pretend that he scored because of anything other than a howler.

It's great to see players getting into those sorts of positions, but more than nine times out of ten the keeper saves that.