My view is the 2nd goal was a catalogue of errors but I understand what Foster was trying to do. Did he execute it well enough, no. But at least he was trying to take responsibility and made a decision. Happy?
I looked at the results of the actual worst team in PL history, which you posted some stats of earlier. One thing you didn't include was the absolutely shocking -69 goal difference which I saw the other day - I thought that was practically impossible to achieve, unless you're throwing some games. But no, they were just that bad. Here are some of the causes of that figure: - They went nearly 13 hours without scoring from September to December 2007 (not even Palace have had a run that bad) - They were hammered seven times (a hammering I consider to be a defeat by at least four goals), more than half of them at home - I think only Stoke have had more heavy defeats in a top flight season (8 in 1984-85). Those thrashings included a 0-5 to West Ham, 0-6 to Villa and a 0-4 to a Reading who went down with them. Incidentally that comedy club Newcastle were the only side to fail to beat them as they managed one win all season.
Cathcart has one glaring weakness in his game and that's that he has no idea who is behind him. The goals against Bournemouth last year, Norwich and Everton this have all been the same. He needs people around him that read the game and can spot when someone is running off him to bail him out. That should've been Kucka on Saturday as he could see Richarlison peeling off. I give him a pass for the Mane goal because as soon as Salah turned Rose, none of our defenders would've been able to get to that ball ahead of Mane. He's pretty good at defending the near post and for the most part isn't terrible on the ball. But yes, back up role is the maximum we want to rely on him for.
They actually took 4 of their 11 points off Newcastle, something Geordies are reminded of to this day - the only team they were unbeaten against, I believe! In reality there was a good article about that Derby team a year or two ago - basically they had no expectations of promotion whatsoever at the start of the season they were, suddenly realised it would be a possibility very late and then somehow went up through the playoffs when it all magically clicked, so they were woefully unprepared even compared to, say, us, squad and tactics-wise, for their sojourn into the Prem the following season - their desperate attempts to bring in the requisite quality in the January window only saw Robbie Savage pitching up, and shockingly that didn't help them very much.
I'd say Cathcart is our best centre back on the ball. If that doesn't scream Gino out then I don't know what will.
Actually, I think they were in the automatic places (may have even been top) for a while mid-season. But it was clear at any point that they weren't at all equipped to survive in the top flight - they just won a lot of games 1-0, like Gary Megson's West Brom, but without the saving grace of the latter's excellent defence (which didn't help them either, as they narrowly beat our points tally of 1999/00).
Our first 2 goals at Goodison were from set pieces. It was only when Everton lost their shape when chasing a winner/equaliser/ consolation that we were able to use our pace to punish them. It bodes well for games where teams play a high line or are chasing the game but it's harder against well organised defences, especially if they are playing deep. It's hard to imagine Southampton making the same mistakes Everton did. The point some people haven't picked up on about the Everton game is that we won because we equalised (from a corner) and that changed the whole game. At 2-2 Everton handed us the match on a plate and our fab4 attackers destroyed them. Everton engineered their own own downfall but as I said yesterday if you want to stay up you have to win the games where the opposition fook up. We did that yesterday in the most amazing way possible.
They really hate giving us praise on MOTD, don't they! You could see the pain in Lineker's face when he had to say how good we were after they scored their second.
amidst the praise and plaudits, I've failed to see what happened to Rose, what he injured or completely dropped from the squad? I know he got obliterated by Salah, but hardly the only person to have that fate, and had been doing well prior (relatively).
Lots of talk that the 3rd goals was "only 88 secs after the second". However there was some delay before the restart. In terms of playing time, the 3rd goal was actually scored less than 20 seconds after the restart. Amazing.
Great to see the youngsters celebrating at the end. The future of the club. Sarr and King seem to be best buddies.
Am I missing something? King and Sarr aren’t together at the end? That’s Ngakia and King. What I like most about the celebrations is that Sarr is there at all. Given he was hauled off, I would have half expected him to sulk off down the tunnel. The fact he didn’t shows a decent attitude and probably a better one than I’d have given him credit for.
BTW, can anyone remember the last time we won 5-2 away from home? We’ve been involved in a fair few unexpected high scoring matches - 4-3 at Blackburn from 2-0 down, 7-4 at Burnley, a couple of 6-1s, a 5-0 at Fulham and 5-1 at Cardiff, and there were the 5-1s at Chelsea and Spurs during the glory years - but I don’t remember a 5-2 away win. It’s actually a pretty unusual scoreline.
We had won away by that exact score twice before Saturday, once in 1951 and once in the Southern League in 1915. https://watford.fcdb.info/?&s=120986&p=1
That was quick, thanks! I thought we would have done that at least once during the first GT era, one of those crazy 1990s games during a time when we were often shambolic but occasionally pulled off a result against the odds (like 4-3 against Bolton from 3-0 down, and 6-3 against Grimsby) or both.
Blimey we muse have done well to get some praise from Keys : “Well done Watford. After my harsh words last week I was pleased to see them rally at Everton. Now - more of the same please. As for Norwich - well. What else is there to say?”
Has any team inflicted a 3 goal defeat on previously unbeaten league leaders and then been relegated?
Praise, where praise is due. I think we all need to reflect on Keys' motivational words last week and properly acknowledge his vitally important contribution to our majestic victory. We're not worthy...you puce-faced, fat pile of dog****. That should cover it I'd think.
But still better than Kean. £30 million wasted, Poor all game and as for Kings 3rd goal he was so slow to come out and just waggled a leg in a token gesture. If Burnley screwed us for Andre they absolutely mugged Moshiri for him.
Only just got round to watching the highlights of this. I’m annoyed that you let Richarlison score because I ******* hate the ****. Amazing result though, Everton were in meltdown and it was lovely to watch you stick the knife in at the end.
Agree and he's quicker than he appears. I also think Cathcart should get credit for turning out game after game, season after season, both for us and NI. The guy never gets a break, he sometimes must be playing when he isn't fully fit, never shirks, no fuss, gets on with it. Sure, not enough on its own and we need improvements but a real stalwart when so many of our CB's in the last few seasons are seemingly always injured or not available.
Perhaps our Danny needs one of these clauses? 9 - Neil Ruddock - Weight Gain Clause Crystal Palace chairman at the time, Simon Jordan, was a bit skeptical of signing Neil 'Razor' Ruddock from West Ham in 2000. He wanted to be sure Ruddock wouldn't blow up in weight as he had done in the past. So they inserted a weight gain clause, where he would be fined for 10 percent of his wages if he went over 99,8kg. Apparently he paid the fine multiple times. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....e-maddest-contract-clauses-in-football-487783
