I love Deeney for what he's previously contributed to our club. We've been as good to him as he was to us but over the last two or three seasons the drop off is there for everyone to see. We were only promoted and went on a fantastic run because he wasn't involved. We picked players in the correct positions and played a system that suited those players. Anyone who thinks he should be anywhere near the starting lineup needs to wake up. It's time club and player parted ways asap.
The issue with Deeney is the same as its been for years - he only fits a style of play with 2 strikers. I reached my patience on yet another coach compromising the formation to fit Deeney several seasons ago. If we persist we will be relegated and deservedly so. Xisco is on thin ice if he starts this nonsense. Thanks for the memories, always welcome back, future hall of famer, wish him well, but if now isn't the time to move on we seriously need our heads examining.
Blimey! If football is only your "4th biggest passion" I'd hate to see the volume of your vehement postings on travel, music and <gulp> sex.
In fairness, Troy does live in Birmingham, so three out of four of those interests do actually overlap perfectly.
Even in his preferred two striker systems Deeney has looked absolutely ******* awful. This isn't just the case of his injury - it is has been largely true since the Mazzari season, but has now escalated to laughable levels. If selection was anything to do with merit, he would be the last choice striker in our squad. I genuinely think Isaac Success offers as much in that at least he can play in a system that suits the other 10 players on the pitch.
Probably right there - Success is meant to be better but he’s rather have a few nights out and play football once in a while. Got the talent but not the attitude or desire . Deeney isn’t the answer but be funny to to see the reaction if he came back with another club and knocked one in ! Whilst we still hope Issac and Andre eventually come good. With any of our current strikers not sure we’d get to 10 goals .
I don't hate him. I just think he is utterly *****. Him scoring a goal wouldn't change that view - just like it didn't when he tapped in his one open play goal this season. I'd love it if Deeney could turn back the clock and look like the striker he was around 2015. We just have to be realistic - that isn't going to happen. I dont have faith any of Success, Gray, Perica and Deeney could suddenly come good for us. I thought Gray might have proved useful this season, but alas he was not even up to that.
You may want to leave off the sex. It’d allow blood to feed your brain. I admire your utter certainty about everything. It makes life so much easier, not having to consider that other people have another point of view. I’m a huge music and travel fan too, but I suspect that we wouldn’t agree on those either, because I’m open to new experiences in each.
According to these Brentford fans they think we are getting a whole new team .. https://griffinpark.org/index.php?threads/what’s-next-ambitions.135410/page-3#post-3788476 Not sure about that one !
I still have faith in Perica, and Gray I don't mind as a back up. The other two need to be off loaded as priority along with Penaranda.
Seen nothing from Perica to suggest he is good enough. Manager clearly doesnt rate him either. Think it is best for both us and him if he finds somewhere he can actually play. I'd be fine with Gray as 3rd/4th choice in isolation but you can't have a 3rd/4th choice on circa 70k p/w. He only has another year left on his deal, but that is still the best part of £4m that could be reinvested in more useful players (plus any sale proceeds we steal).
Unfortunately you can have a 3rd/4th striker on those wages if no-one wants to buy them or they don't want to leave and take a pay cut.
Two of Xisco's backroom staff have now left this summer with Roberto Cuesta announcing his departure this afternoon. Not sure if we should be concerned but Xisco definitely needs a strong backroom team to help him.
Not sure, both seem to be their personal decisions. You'd imagine the club would keep them on but maybe they want to be closer to family in Spain.
Squad is beginning to take shape now. Bachmann Kiko Ekong Sierralta Rose Hughes Chalobah Louza Sarr Dennis New LW Back up 11 Foster Ngakia Kaba Cathcart/Wilmot Masina Gosling Cleverley TDB Zinckernagel Pedro Baah/Sema Sell Navarro, Quina, Pussetto, Gray, Penaranda, Perica, Success, Cucho Loan: Baah, Hungbo, TDB, Wilmot, Pollock and Dahlberg Definitely easy to see what we have to do next. If we are in for another ST, great. However we must sign a LW like Danjuma, and we definitely need another CM. After that, I wouldn’t mind another CM and CB For me a LW and a one of a CDM/CM/CAM is key. Get those two positions sorted and dare I say we would be looking very strong for a newly promoted side. Dream is one of Danjuma, Hauge, Cornet or Cabral for the LW position. Pace and a goal scoring threat.
We look strong if we base it on number of players. Not convinced we have the quality throughout the squad though.
Were you the one that spoke about Ryan Christie? I was speaking to a Celtic fan Friday night and he was absolutely raving about this fella. He reckons anyone who gets him will be on for the bargain of the Summer.
Nope, not me. Doesn't look very promising on paper mind you, had a poor season and was very poor v Czech Republic in Scotland's first game (subbed at HT) and didn't get on against England.
I think Dennis is the LW option, can't see us signing another wide player especially with Pedro and Cucho in the squad.
I agree with you over Dennis. He has mainly played as a central striker in his career to date, but I see him as good balance on the left with Sarr on the right. Having Pedro and Baar as alternatives, maybe even Cucho, as you say. With that in mind, I think that would mean no room for Sema. He didn't really make it last time in the Premier League, and I don't think anything has changed. Maybe another loan back to Udinese is on the cards for him? If we do bring in another striker, depending of whether it's a kid with potential or a more established player, it will make us overloaded with central strikers. Maybe we're getting them all in before we shift out the players we don't need anymore? For me, on the hit list would be Perica, Success and Gray. That would clear the way for Deeney, Fletcher, Cucho and whoever the new central striker is. With Dennis as an alternative if needed. Midfield is still light and needs a physical presence. Dele-Bashiru is a player of great promise, but after his ACL I can't see him being part of things next season at Watford. A loan to a decent Championship side will do him a lot of good. Play regular minutes and test out that knee. I don't think Gosling will be part of things either. It would be tough on him, seeing as he recently signed a 3 year deal, but I think he was only signed to help us get promoted. So that would leave Chalobah, Hughes, Louza and Cleverley as the main midfielder options. Clearly not enough numbers. I'd like to see two more signed if we let Gosling go of course. Central defence still needs a new recruit. Now Wilmot has gone, and Pollock surely being loaned out for next season, we're only left with four players. Again, numbers are light. Sierralta, WTE, Kabs and Cathcart. We need one more of Premier League ability and we'd be good to go. So that's another striker, 2 midfielders (if Gosling goes) and a central defender to come in. Out the door on loans or sold would be Quina, Dahlberg (loan), Wilmot, Gosling, Sema (loan), Penaranda, Success (loan), Perica, Gray, TDB (loan), Pollock (loan), Navarro & Pussetto. That would leave our squad as being:- GK Bachmann, Foster, Elliot LB Rose, Masina RB Kiko, Ngakia CB Sierralta, WTE, Cathcart, Kabasele, new CB MF Hughes, Louza, Chalobah, Cleverley, 2 x new MF's LW Dennis, Pedro, Baar RW Sarr, Zinckernagel FW Deeney, Cucho, Fletcher, new FW Not sure if the EPL squad rules have changed, but if not, then the breakdown would be:- Home Grown x 10 Non-Home Grown x 10 Under 21 x 3 Of course, I've not included the players yet to come, but there would be space for four new players.
I doubt Sema is going anywhere. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19196695.ken-sema-claims-signed-new-deal-watford/
Maybe not, and there would be room for him in the squad even if we signed those four extra players, but I still think there's a good chance they'll loan him back to Udinese.
Sorry I don't mean to spam these (already posted in another thread but this one feels more relevant) and won't post again until there are significant ins and outs. I've added in senior players whose loans have expired and it's clear which areas of the squad need trimming:
Hopefully Parkes goes out on loan but I think he may be kept in case of injuries. Agree with the defence. Gosling & Sema will be staying put. I think Cucho will be sold if say a deal for someone like Nketiah can be made.
It does depend on who we bring in. If we sign two further midfielders, then I cannot see a place for Gosling. However, if we only sign one, then he will probably be part of things next year. As with Sema, I think it will be the player himself who will push for a move. He's someone who wants to play regularly and wasn't happy with the lack of playing time the last time we were in the Premier League. I cannot see him getting regular minutes. He's not good enough to be the first choice starter in the Prem, and if Dennis is played on the left, with Pedro and even Baar as possible alternatives, it's a very congested area to be fighting for. This is why I believe Sema will go back to Udinese on loan. Cucho, may be sold of course, however, I'd say it's almost certain Success, Penaranda and Perica will not be part of the set-up. The big question will be can we shift Gray. If we move him on, then that would leave only Deeney, Fletcher, Cucho and the new striker we're supposed to be getting. I'd say Cucho will only go if we cannot shift Gray.
Jordi Garcia joins as Head Performance and Fitness Coach. He's worked at Barca, Real and Atletico previously. We're so big time now that even our fitness coach has his own website. https://www.jordigarciaperformance.com/about-jordi
Bachmann Kiko Ekong Sierralta Rose Hughes Chalobah Louza Sarr King Dennis Vs Foster Ngakia Cathcart Kaba Masina Cleverley Gosling Etebo PZ7 Pedro Cucho Leaves Elliott, Sema, Deeney, Fletcher Honestly think at this point, it’s all about outgoings and maybe signing a CB. Dahlberg - gone on loan Penaranda - gone on loan Juergen - gone on loan (no idea who he was either, but he’s joined Deportivo) Wilmot - sold Just need to sell Navarro, Quina, Success, Gray and Penaranda Loan Pollock, Baah, TDB, and Hungbo Players that I wouldn’t be surprised to see loaned/sold Hughes, Chalobah, Cucho, Sema, PZ7, Masina
As it stands, my predictions would be - Almost certainly in squad: Bachmann, Cathcart, Cleverley, Deeney, Elliot, Fletcher, Foster, King, Rose, Troost-Ekong, Dennis, Etebo, Femenía, Kabasele, Louza, Masina, Sarr, Sema, Sierralta Probably in squad: Chalobah, Gosling, Gray, Cucho, Zinckernagel That would be 24 senior players in the squad, with probably one more CM arriving to replace Hughes. Likely to leave: Dele-Bashiru, Hughes, Parkes, Dahlberg, Navarro, Peñaranda, Perica, Quina, Success Of course we’ll go and sign four more players next week and I’ll have to completely re-evaluate this list.
