We had no way of reliably progressing the ball from the back to Chak, and no striker capable of holding the ball up once Burnley pressed us into going long. Recipe for disaster from the start. Plenty of application, but we just didn’t have a midfield capable of playing the way we were setup to play.
I didn't see the match but I have seen the goals: Their first was decent but nothing extraordinary by Championship standards. Their second was at least one of the best Championship goals I have seen this season. Ours was a good piece of opportunism. Burnley have conceded the grand total of 4 goals at home this season and are unbeaten there. I never want to see Watford do anything other than win, but, notwithstanding Burnley had the lion's share of the ball and apparently looked better with it, I can live with this result. They pipped us with one outstanding goal.
Where have I said at any point I don't want him to build on what he's started or I'm not giving him a chance to? But he's not immune to criticism. Especially when he is trotting out the same words every time we play away from home. I find it a bit baffling that fans want to give him excuses when he clearly isn't affording them for himself, given last nights interview. He's being critical of the fact that he hasn't sorted out our away issues - so why can't we?
Glad I misunderstood you - but it seems you want people to tell him what he's already saying himself.
That is what I want - I want his bosses and those around him to let him know he’s doing a good job but also let him know the away form needs rectifying. And I want to see actions that come out of his words, as it’s been months now and no improvement - and it concerns me that he is no nearer even uncovering the issue. That’s hardly a groundbreaking desire or one that’s beyond realistic. I find it a bit perplexing that some seem to be wilfully misinterpreting that as me saying we should get rid of him!
I think that loosely, Sissoko’s raw athleticism, strength and power carried him. He’s shown decent levels of intelligence and technical ability of course, you have to play in the games he has. I think Livermore whilst not possessing the same level of physical gifts (albeit he’s no skinny kid) showed higher technical skill and intelligence throughout his career to get as far as he did. Someone could make a more nuanced point but that’s the general jist.
I was genuinely surprised that TC didn’t make an effort to keep Livermore around for one more season. I think he’d have got minutes this season and would have undoubtedly been a good help in the changing room for him too.
Yeah, I wasn’t surprised in the end given he benched him straight away and kept him benched but the initial benching was surprising for me. Up until January he was probably POTS for me. Agreed, a good guy to have around, I love Sissoko and respect what he’s achieved but I don’t think he was a good captain when we got relegated and I don’t think he is now either. He’s a leader but I don’t believe he is the most intense or serious of people.
Yep, I don’t mind Sissoko. I do find 2 years contractually a problem though. I’ve never liked that in recent years, ever since Deeney left, that the captaincy has been a hot potato around ageing players with no longevity in the role. I’d give the armband to Pollock in the summer personally.
I feel Sissoko has regressed as the season has gone on. At the start he was playing really well, especially using his physicality getting in to break up opposition attacks. Now it seems he doesn’t quite get to where he needs to be so quickly and often makes a foul as a result. It happened several times yesterday and in the first half v West Brom. On another occasion he could easily get two yellow cards and be sent off. In other news, we made our way home from Lancashire today using the usual M6/M1 route and there were absolutely no problems or hold-ups, the same as on the way up on Friday. The warnings about the roads being clogged with people charging about for Christmas that early were well wide of the mark.
I was surprised, but maybe it came down to personality or a lack of connection between Cleverley and Livermore. They were not teammates at Watford and the club were always keen to bring Moussa back. And having not one but two ageing midfielders was not a good look, so Jake was dispensed with. Maybe Sissoko needs a rest. If Louza has recovered for the next game then I definitely wouldn’t have Sissoko in the squad. But if he can come back and pop up for a couple of goals and a win at QPR, then the Livermore comparisons can take a new turn and we’ll all love Moussa.
Fairplay. I can but dream. But let’s face it, no one expected a goal from Livermore last year, let alone 2 in the same match.
Totally agree. Since Capoue and Douc left (and that was a sublime period in our recent history) we just haven't had a strong enough midfield. Our owners only have appetite for midfielders that might make good money later on, with zero thought for us being in need of certain types of midfielder, hence we get old dogs like livermore and Sissoko or fancy Dan's like Louza. They just refuse to pay the going rate for young robust energetic midfielders? I can't see things changing so hopefully we'll get new owners soon.....
Suspect had TDB been fit or Kayembe in better form he might have been relied on less but as captain guess Tom sees Sissoko as a leader .
IMO, and this is going over old ground , the midfield is not the issue here . When we are away , particularly at places like Burnley or against low table scrappers like Luton, where we come under much pressure , we need our outball player to earn his money by occupying defenders , gaining good possession when the ball pops out and holding it up long enough for the support to arrive . This is the area that needs addressing first and foremost if we are to make any attempt at the play offs . If we don't then I think that we shall fizzle out like we did last season after a bunch of worldies carried the team around the Christmas period .
You're right there - we don't really have an out ball player unless Chak drops deep for it, and then he has to start his mazy runs from deeper. We've basically got a) knock it to Chak and hope he ca create something, and b) Early long ball down the right to Baah where he's dangerous.
I think everyone would have been happy if you had been told before the season started we would be sitting just outside the playoffs at Christmas. Hopefully we can be in the same position come the end of March when the run in begins and earn a spot.
No, but your tone suggests an anger that I don't think is warranted just yet. I'm not happy with the away form but i'm prepared to give it more time. He is still a novice IMO. TC doesn't come across brilliantly in interviews so I can understand why you are bored, but I do get the impression he cares, which has not always been the case with previous managers IMO.
I am not angry whatsoever - I don’t get angry about Watford. I think it’s a slippery slope to infer how people feel on the internet really…not once have I said I’m ‘angry’, ‘furious’ or anything like that. I’ve said words like ‘bored’, ‘tired’, ‘frustrated’…so I think you have based your opinion and framed it on things I’ve not actually shown. For transparency, it’s frustration. But again, as I’ve said to others, I’ve at no point ever said I’m not willing to give him time etc. He has all the time in the world right now for me - but I don’t think that means he gets carte blanche to not have his current obvious shortcoming(s) spoken about/pointed out either. I don’t understand this need to jump to his defence or for my (and others) viewpoint to be wilfully misrepresented as a desire to not give him time, or we want him sacked. Constructive criticism will be very important to make him the best possible coach he can be. Again, TC has been critical of himself - so it’s absolutely fair game for fans to do so as well.
The higher the standards Tom sets, naturally the more scope there is for some criticism. I’m with @Burnsy in seeing it as a positive thing. If we were hopeless, we’d have mostly given up moaning by now as we’d be a sinking ship that couldn’t be helped. The fact is we are still chasing a top six finish, and any mistakes or shortcomings really matter as they could ruin that aim.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wad6...ey=2l4qzaixmh59ajp7ih0tke1zm&st=igyxwn9e&dl=0 @BigRossLittleRoss @Sahorn @Vic
Do you think Cleverley was talking about away games generally and our poor form or actually thought Saturday was the worse of the lot? He was particularly critical afterwards whereas after the Hull game as an example he seemed pretty relaxed and actually made a load of excuses for the poor display which again is unlike Ton.
I reckon he'd just got a bit flustered of sounding the same after all away games and had a little rant. Which is understandable given he sounded like a broken record after most away games.
