Personally think Gray looks good in everything he does until he needs to pull the trigger. Prefer him to be out of form and work on that in training whilst goals are coming in from all other positions
More of a system player for us than an individual talent As others have said, pace and movement stretches defences and leaves room for the likes of Rich, Doucoure, Hughes etc. That being said, even as someone who has defended him in the past, his two 1v1 attempts today were embarrassing
The first of his two 1 on 1s was on his weaker foot with a defender bearing down on him, he should have done better but the second was really bad, particularly as he'd already scored by then so confidence shouldn't have come into it. I agree with some of the other posters that his off the ball running is crucial to our style, something that neither Deeney nor Okaka have in their armoury.
I seem to remember that when we signed him it was on a large wage and a long contract, something that won't be "undone" easily, therefore it may be a case of the club working out what his strengths are and using him in a different position! Right winger? anyone!
So he reads these forums then it seems. What do we think his username is? Could be that merendisi (sp?) chap I think.
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co....ball-news/little-mix-star-pays-tribute-879162 Interesting. This reads to me as Sean Dyche was sick of Gray spending so much time with his new celebrity girlfriend, told him to sort it out. Gray got annoyed and decided to move closer to London... for his girlfriend?
I am sure the money smoothed over any difficulties in their relationship. TBH I could see Silvs getting upset if for whatever reason his love life we getting in the way of the football.
Some of you are missing an important point. Strikers need a run of games to get a goal and then to kick on to gain confidence and be supported by their manager. Silva has done the opposite. Okaka terrorised Liverpool then was dropped for whatever reason. Gray scored in the 3-0 win then guess what? Was dropped for Deeney. Strikers that arent world class and play for the elite clubs can't just come on as a sub and turn it on and off like a switch they need a run of games , particularly after they have scored, to give them confidence and know that the manager is behind them. It may be that Gray is nothing special but how do we know for sure when he got dropped after Newcastle and has to start all over again. Some of you are slagging him off at every opportunity and opening new posts to mock him some more. It really isn't necessary if you read and take on board the points I have made above.
Gray needs 10 games on the spin. Would get 5 goals imo if we did that and be the player we bought. I remember people were slating him as early as the Brighton game in the stands.
Some of you are defending him at every opportunity and opening new posts to make out he's actually achieved something this season. It really isn't necessary if you rewatch the season and take on board the all the things he has done so far. I wish him well. I just don't think he's got it in him, based on both what I have seen, and after taking on board the comments you made above.
He’s a Watford player, he does his best even if it’s not the best team set up for him. Not his fault he has a big price tag on his back. While he has a yellow shirt on his back I’ll support him. He seems like a ‘confidence’ player to me although he says not. He scored 12 for Burnley last season in our league - he can do it again. He plays for Watford so there’s no point in booing/moaning when he doesn’t score - doesn’t help him or the team. He needs support and maybe we’ll see what he is capable of. I trust Silva to play him or not. If he’s on the pitch get behind him.
I agree we should get behind him when he's playing, and he's still a better choice than Deeney as it stands. But it was 9 goals last season, not 12, 3 of which came in one match, against Sunderland...
Was It Graham Taylor who said that if he fielded a goat in Watford colours he would expect fans to support?
Okaka came on against Leicester, and made a difference, but didn't get anywhere close to goal. The point we're all missing is whoever plays up top, for what ever reason, the team has supplied goals from more different players than any other team. Harry Kane has scored nearly half of Spurs goals. What would happen if he had a long term injury ? Someone might step up, but then again maybe not. Who knows ?
3 Sunderland goals scored on 31st Dec at the end of last year. You sound like the missus - she also said it’s 9 not 12 and 3 of those come at the end. Didn’t think I could be wrong twice
And Oscar deserves Dave Bassett, for being such a miserable, lonely, bell-end and proving it by posting on Christmas Day.