I dont decry what we achieved in the 80's. I take the view football is on a continuous path of evolution in strategy, tactics, training, technology, techniques..... long ball had its time and place, but that was then and this is now. The entire structure of football from school boy upwards is stuck in a time warp and it urgently needs to change. Part of the problem imo are the home grown rules which locks the dross in, not only the poor players but the poor coaches and managers who have a form of job protection. There is no driver for change.
First of all... Acuna has lovely legs and I think he'll suit the new kit. But yep, you are right about this match. But for the seven minutes or so between their second goal and Lampard's 'not a goal', we started running (I hadn't seen any of our players run seriously up til then), we scored a goal, and for the only time during that whole competition we looked like we meant it, and in other circumstances, like we had a different bunch of players, we could have gone on to get something out of that game. But, instead of using the disallowed goal to spur us on, we just dropped our heads. That's what I am getting on about, it was/is the attitude, and when we wanted to play, for ten minutes in that whole misbegotten competition, we did look like we could do something. Bit different when we went out to Brasil in 2002, they weren't better than us, we just didn't believe we could do it, even though we had beaten Argentina to play them. As for the rest of the Germany game, totally agree with you, but still think it's down to attitude rather than ability.
I see nothing wrong with that comment, and believe that Javier Acuna would agree whole heartedly. Change is important and everything does have its season, but the season change often comes before you know it. I agree we need skillful technical players for the direction we are going, but I dislike the idea that the other ways have no worth. For next season, I think a more direct plan B might do a lot to avoid last seasons pitfalls against the bottom half teams. I would have no problem at all if we made sure we signed some players that would make it a viable option.
A more direct plan B plays more into their plans than ours. Our problems at Bristol aside from them taking a fortunate lead, was mostly because we were trying to play delicate balls through them when their was absolutely no room. In reality we should have been smashing shots in from outside the box hoping for a ricochet or for the ball to drop invitingly.... in the end it our efforts were pretty pathetic but trying to stretch the game when you are behind to a back ten is never going to work either.
I don't think that is likely. Way, way back at time of his appt GFZ made it clear that his desire that we play a certain kind of football was not negotiable.
There is nothing wrong with a long pass, how many times last season did Pudil or Cassetti play a diagonal across the pitch to the opposite flank to unbalance the opposition? The difference is passing to a man rather than a hoof down the channel, the two things are chalk and cheese. I'd put my house on Zola never accepting hoof (or for that matter the Pozzo's ever allowing one of their teams to play it) Isn't going to happen, and neither should it.
Frank Smith @FrankSmith Just spoke to a friend/contact who said Javier Acuna is excellent + will do v well for #WatfordFC. Says he's like Vydra with more work rate
tim vickery on the world footbll phone in said he was a wunderkind at the age of 17 and lost his way with an early move to europe. but hopefully this move should set him right. gets me all tingly inside, like a special egg
I can't remember where I saw it, but there was a comment on Twitter the other day to the effect that the Pozzos rate him as a possible Aguero. No idea if there is any truth in this or not, but perhaps we'll get an "ACCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNAAAAA!!!!!" moment next season.
Rather excited to see this guy play. Seems to be a bit of a legend at Girona, despite only playing there for a couple of seasons. Always a good sign. Seems like he's pretty pacy, strong, decent in the air, brave, and not a bad finisher. Looks more suited to the English game than Geijo, for example.
Acuna has started following Battochio and Forestieri on twitter so possible he's arrived in Italy at the training camp? plus the picture he's posted would seem to suggest he's there!
Una muy buena mañana para otro nuevo y lindo entreno! Que sea lindo el día para todos!! Paz y amor gente!!! ✌ http://t.co/GRu7BSJmjD A very good morning to train a new and cute! Make it nice day to everyone! Peace and love people! ✌ http://t.co/GRu7BSJmjD
Who is he training that's new and cute? Did we sign up a group of cheerleading Hornettes, Palace style?
Who else? Cassetti of course, remember he's new to him, so he can join the queue with the rest of you
I already love him more than vydra. we need to play 4 3 3 so him, ff and deeney can all play at once. With Fabreeze and Abdi in midfield that just should be enough to scrape the odd one nil here and there.
