How many games are we going to be fortunate to be hanging on in, only to never really look like taking advantage? Newcastle we got away with a point, Leeds we were arguably unlucky with the disallowed goal, but basically every other defeat we've offered nothing and easily could have been hammered
Strange game. I don't think we were as bad as some other posters, but I do agree there's work to be done. Southampton timewasted at every opportunity from the moment they scored and the referee couldn't have been any more generous to them with some of the decisions. I don't really feel like he let the game flow which stopped us from building any real momentum, even if we did have periods of putting pressure on (moreso in the second half). Troost-Ekong is rubbish, and today just underlined that for me. Caught completely flat footed for the goal and no defender in any league should allow a square ball to be played across the box. Thought Ngakia struggled against Walker-Peters (who I thought was excellent, to be fair) and Sarr didn't seem at all interested in helping him out. Tough run of games now so totally understand why the mood was and is flat.
Abject. Demoralising. Toothless. Devoid of passion. words that describe how I have felt after the majority of games over the last 7 years. Every defeat for me is on the Pozzo’s. Its not working. But..but..but we were in division 3 30 years ago!!! Times have changed, a new bar has been set, move on. It’s not good enough anymore.
We’ve had some - after QSF’s sacking we only lost one of our next eight matches played in front of a crowd (Everton at home), not counting the much reduced crowds in just the three we had in the Championship, winning 5, scoring 16 and conceding 6. Maybe you mean not enough? There was a great atmosphere at those games but the trouble is it’s easy to make a noise when your team is winning - we need the fans to lift the players when they’re struggling, something we’re still not good at at home games. The second half against Newcastle when we almost got a win was the closest us fans have come to that in recent times IIRC.
Weirdly those around me seemed to have a massive hard on for Ngakia all match, even when he wasn't doing anything they were shouting his name in support, very very odd and a bit disturbing at times. The same lot seemed to get on Sarr's back even if he wasn't doing anything wrong or if the ball was on the other side of the pitch. Strange HT subs, we were crying out for a formation change and maybe someone to play nearer to King. Southampton were ***** and had we got it right at HT we'd of won. Usual nonsense getting in, massive queue and the quick glance of the phone before the stewards scanned us in. Maybe a few of those 12 stewards who stand between the Upper GT and Lower GT stairs would be more useful outside doing crowd control rather than chasing down people who were trying to take their beer down to the lower concourse.
I’ve never understood why they (the club rather than the poor unfortunates tasked with the role) do that.
The atmosphere in the ground isn't helped by the fact that people are pi55ed off by the time they get to their seat because they've just spent an age being treated like cattle in the insane queues outside. Yesterday I approached the stadium from the Whippendell Road side. The area around the turnstiles on the apex of the Vicarage Road end and the GT stand was an utter shambles which made getting along Vicarage Road itself almost impossible. There is no system or crowd management strategy in place at all. Instead of spending time writing long-winded, patronising and, frankly, insulting letters to fans perhaps the club should attempt to sort out this ridiculous 5h1t show
I shouted for it at the time.......and here I feel vindicated. Watch the official lowlights and it's clear Adams moves his arm to the ball for Cucho's freekick. I cannot believe no one has picked this up. We should have had a penalty. It's as clear as day. Adams sticks out his elbow to block the ball and deflects it towards the keeper taking off all the pace. Why didn't any of our players appeal? Why has no one, apart from me, spotted this? Highlights | Watford 0-1 Southampton | Premier League 2021/22 - Watford FC
Because they didn’t see it or thought nothing nothing of it ? Hardly deliberate tbh - brushes his elbow at best. There hasn't been anything like the amount of penalties for handball we saw last season so guess the refs have been told to tone down on that so it has to be pretty clear cut and blatant.
I disagree. He moves his arm deliberately to the ball and it deflects taking all the pace off it. It had a major impact on the freekick. A clear penalty in my eyes. Southampton certainly have got away with one there.
It's true that Sarr should have helped out more, but even aside from that there were times when Walker-Peters was 1-vs-1 against only Ngakia, so Ngakia only needed to do the work of one person, and was repeatedly incapable of doing it.
Looking at the rest of the game, as it's always much better to see the game in repeat mode on the lowlights, we were unlucky with the Sarr shot. It was close to where I sit, so I got a good view of it, but I didn't think it was as close to a goal as it was. I didn't even celebrate as I thought the defender had cleared it before the line. Ngakia had a stinker, as Walker-Peters had him on toast. He was pulled apart. Skipped around when he got close, and was easily played around. This is why Southampton had so much joy on the flanks. Ngakia isn't quite up to it just yet. He's been quite poor in most of the games I've seen him play in. We need a stronger player in this position. Cathcart and WTE, even though they weren't completely rubbish, they both make so many fundamental mistakes. Cathcart is often out of position and both panic when closed down. Troost is decent at blocking shots though, however, he stood off Adams for the goal, although it was a brilliant strike, so he was unlucky to be punished on that occasion with a goal being scored. With the big Adams headed miss, WTE played on Armstrong which allowed the cross to come in and that should have been game over at that point. I thought there were a couple of decent performances though. Sissoko is improving every match. He was good yesterday, and even though Kucka looks like he's blowing out of his backside most of the time, he's a real scrapper. Always getting stuck in, brings the ball forward and is prepared to shoot. I like both these players, but we do need something more in midfield. Surprised Tufan didn't play a part yesterday. Pedro unfortunately was a failed experiment. He is an impact sub for now. We did miss Dennis, as I thought he'd have given Southampton plenty of problems. Fletcher does a lot of things poorly, like contesting for a high ball he's useless at it. He can hardly jump, but that turn and shot producing the save of the match was excellent. So he does have some quality in certainly situations. I liked King's battling performance too. Sarr is going through a difficult spell and probably needs dropping right now, just to get his form back and work on a few things. Masina hasn't done too badly in the last couple of games. I think he's one of the few who is playing to keep his place, although I'd be far happier with Rose in there. Overall, we should have had a penalty, we had one cleared off the line and their keeper has made a great save, so we could have nicked a point. Having said that, Southampton should have been out of sight by half time. It seems to be a repetitive pattern. Watford battered in the first half but improve slightly in the second half to give people futile hope to cling to, rinse and repeat.
Obviously that was completely useless but I think it was a different shade of useless to the Liverpool game at least. I actually thought Masina and Ngakia both played ok. Whilst I always feel Ngakia has a massive rook in him defensively I feel he’s getting better. Linked up better with Sarr and he’s growing in confidence. Masina was also trying some more creative balls but is clearly not really a prem level defender. We’ve all known that for years. Troost and Cathcart were shocking. Again. I’m getting tired of typing this out. Both lovely guys off the pitch I’m sure but at this stage it must be embarrassing for them to turn up to work every week knowing they are so sub par. It’s almost cruel to have them out there and the next months fixture list makes it almost sadistic of the club to let it get to this point. There can’t be any apologists for them left now. Troost might be able to head the ball in certain scenarios and be an average tackler but his distribution of consistent hospital balls is so far beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed. Worse than that is he actually carries Cathcart at times. Cathcart just looks terrified to do anything. He’s so slow. Even with the most basic of research the opposition must just be like, let’s just make them have the ball because they literally can’t do anything productive with it and once in every 3 possessions they will make a calamitous error. Even their long balls are ****. It impacts the way we play enormously too because it’s clear as day. We never get to build anything and so often just give the ball away. Kucka had an alright game I thought. He didn’t get as exposed as normal for having a lack of puff. Showed a bit of spirit as did Sissoko and clevs. The problem is they just don’t seem organised. There is no flow between them whatsoever. This might be down to the defenders they have behind them to some extent but I expect more from them at this stage of the season. Very few crafted opportunities created from them and much more reliance on capitalising on opposition mistakes. Pedro bit of dud in midfield. Stupid taking Cucho off so early in my books. This isn’t a kids game where everyone gets a try and Sema isn’t championship level. Sarr - dreadful performance. Poor attitude to go with it. He was still getting chances but his crossing is hit and miss plus doesn’t seem to link up with King the way it should. He also needs to do his shift defensively. Last season it looked like he’d been working on that a bit but now he clearly can’t be bothered. King - Ok performance. It must frustrating for him there having to create his own chances. Fletcher - Should have scored. Should never have made an appearance in the prem. YouTuber GK - Our most creative threat. Some sublime through balls to Cucho, King and Sarr. Southampton came with a clear and classic gameplan for an away game. They might not have the players to smash us like Liverpool but they won’t get an easier 3 points away all season (except maybe when they play Norwich.) Must have been a pretty textbook day at the office for them after they scored. Their first victory in 17 away games I heard. That says it all. They all showed more spirit and desire than against Liverpool. That was good to see but they are just not good enough. We need an A* January transfer window and to break several records to stand a chance imo. Look at how well Palace are doing.
It's very rare that I largely agree with your lengthy posts, but this is one of those occasions. Only thing I'm not sure about is if benching Sarr would actually help his confidence - it could also make it worse.
Average strike which Troost deflected in. Without the touch off of him I think Foster has a big chance of saving it.
It was actually one win and 7 points in 17 away games before yesterday, they won 2-1 at Brighton on December 7 last year before only winning at Sheffield United 2-0 on March 6 (also through an Adams worldie, funnily enough). But fair play to them for getting 43% of their away points accumulated over the best part of a year in one game.
The sole reason he was jumping for the free kick was to block the ball. So that is deliberate. The fact that his elbow stuck out and increased his surface area while he was jumping means it should have been a penalty. Of course the officials have to see it in the first place.
The ability and effectiveness of any player is contingent upon the ability and effectiveness of the players he comes up against. Walker-Peters is a talented player who was playing well. You are free to name any player in our squad who could have done a better job.
This was meant to have been resolved by The 1881. To be loud even when the chips were down. Like the Palace mob. They’ve given up and appear to have done so since they didn’t get their way and a move to the middle of the stand. Hardly made a noise all day other than to berate the referee. They, and Watford fans in general, prefer the devil they know so respond in apathy rather than passion about on the pitch matters. Ask them to arrive 15 minutes earlier though, then phew, hell hath no fury.
Sums up much of what I took from yesterday's game too and good to see it spelt out in depth with the reasons. Totally agree with your WTE summary. He's one who should be smart enough to realise how far from acceptable his performances have been. Don't think we'll get that analysis on his King Ekong (ye gods!) videos though. Great bloke WTE, was obvious captaincy material and I genuinely thought he was playing so far within himself last season that he was going to step up to the Premier. He suffers a rather crucial pair of deficiencies; basic footballing ability and the reading of a game. We all know he can't pass accurately or at the right time to the right player (whether pressured or not). He got away with that last season given the level of opponent. He is way beyond coaching that out of him IMHO. I hate the footballing cliche that some defenders can or can't 'smell' danger. However with him, the smell is there but it ain't a pleasant whiff. When does he ever anticipate danger and react or show any semblance of urgency to get back, block, cover others or just do something? He forever appears surprised that by standing back and admiring his opponent, the ball seems to fly into the net. His footballing brain is just lacking. He shows the arrogance of an experienced and skilful player based on the fact that he is always starting but not on what he then does. He cannot stay in the team or frankly even in the squad after it gets it's long overdue overhaul. GAAARRR, rant over!
