I agree with that, however todays win was nothing short of a miracle with that lineup, and it'd be even more of a miracle if Bayo went on an 18 month goal scoring stint. COYH.
I have to say, after 4 years of having doubts I am now 100pct sure now - THE FITNESS AND CONDITIONING TEAM MUST BE SACKED IMMEDIATELY. It's clear to me the players concentrate on weights and weight machines etc, which tone muscle but do not help fitness. Every tackle we make or contested ball leads to some form of injury. Today was utterly ridiculous, and it has to change. Years ago players ran lots to keep fit but there's something very wrong with what our guys do or don't do in training...
Pulled up and could have cost us a goal which is what happened up at Blackpool. Not his fault if his hamstring can't take him sprinting but it is the club's fault for keeping these players who aren't able to stay fit anymore. The worst thing is he'll miss January now and we won't be able to shift him, although I'm sure we wouldn't have considered that anyway.
As I said earlier I have grave doubts about the S&C team however even a simpleton knows there should be a balance of weights, pilates,yoga, stretching etc etc. If players are vulnerable to hamstring or whatever the problem is, don't extend their blasted contracts, especially when over or approaching 30! Thirty plus years ago Mrs P told me footballers spend too much time building up their quads and not the equivalent on their hamstrings. One would hope this has changed but you have to wonder.
Regarding the injuries, it seems like, if ever there were a 'lucky' time for Kalu to get injured, it's when our new Brazilian hotshot is ready to come in. Say what you like about Kabasele, we've probably got enough in the tank at CB to muddle through for a while, although I guess now it probably hinders us a bit tactically if we wanted to go to a back 3. Again, say what you like about Davis, and say what you like about Bayo, but I think it's fair to say he's the biggest blow, any chance he'll be back any time soon? What is it, 2 weeks before our next league game against Blackpool?
Not sure this Norwich fan was convinced we had injuries : “On one occasion a Watford defender appeared to have been shot by someone in the crowd because there wasn't a City player within five yards of him as he spun and collapsed dramatically.” https://forum.pinkun.com/index.php?/topic/150959-ricardos-report-v-watford/
I refuse to say I know better than Ranieri, Hogdson & Bilic but please just start Sierralta whenever he is fit. I’m not sure what Kabasele does better than him. Sure, he’s not fantastic. He like Kabasele has a mistake in him but I am so convinced him he does the basics far, far better and we are nearly always a better team with him in than any of our other awful CB options?
Much much better. Three points, lots of effort on display, decent enough of a performance. Granted, Norwich aren't in very good form, but I'm sure we would have got some points from the previous two matches had we played like this. Good way to start the new year.
we will buy 7 Udinese players this Thursday and sell them back three weeks later when the injury list clears up and we have our proper new recruits ready to sign on the last day of the window.
Just got back and a deserved win . This was not a smash and grab by any stretch. I would like to mention amongst others Gaspar and Morris. Mario may not have the technical attributes for a central midfielder but he was always in the right place at the right time . Morris just did well . Also Ngaakia played extremely well particularly during the 1st half . Oddly enough our worst player, IMO, was the goal hero today. For future reference for anyone who doesn't know the best way into Norwich city centre is to ignore the directions for Carrow road and carry on the A11. Park in any of those car parks and the ground is a 20 minute stroll across the white bridge
His instinct of where to be in and around the box for goal scoring opportunities is quality, it’s the product afterwards that’s crap. If he kept his eye on the ball, focused a little more and didn’t panic he would easily be our top goal scorer. It reminds me of Drogba when he first joined Chelsea, the guy was an absolute donkey. He still scored goals, but missed lots of absolute sitters. It took him a couple of seasons to really gel. Now I am not comparing Bayo to Drogba at all in terms of quality, Drogba far surpasses him, however that natural instinct to be in the right place at the right time is very similar when Drogba first started playing English football. Could Bayo go on to score 15 goals for us next season in the championship, it’s highly possible. He already knows where to be, all he needs now is a bit of calmness and concentration, and maybe, just maybe, £5mil could look like money well spent.
Apart from a dodgy back pass that went for a corner he did very well. In fact we looked fairly solid apart from 1 or 2 moments. Kabasele did ok apart from a brain fart or 2
Two pretty poor teams. The biggest difference, and the most pleasing given the recent apathy, is that we wanted it more than them. Gaspar was like a man possessed in the middle and gave it everything which is all that is required.
Nothing like a late winner and some backs against the wall adversity to galvanize a team and a season. Unfortunately we’ve seen this too many times before, where a big performance and win like this is followed by further atrocities against the sport of football. Remains to be seen whether we’re capable of building on this, but it’s nice to be a Watford fan tonight.
You are absolutely correct. How can a team fight like their lives depend on it in one match and then capitulate meekly in another ?
Maybe it was the early injustices that galvanized the team ? Ngaakia cautioned for tugging a shirt then minutes later the Norwich FB given a finger wagging for the same offence ? Or when Davis was penalised when his shirt deliberately got tangled with a Norwich defenders hand ?
Absolute cracking result full of grit, determination and a will to win which should all be a given i know ,but after Swansea who would of thought it ,special mention for gaspar not his greatest fan but playing out of position in the middle of the park ,blowing after 10 minutes but never gave up put in a great shift also the support from the fans unbelievable makes the 6 hour round trip well worth it COYH
Yes for a second I wasnt sure if it had gone in. One thing on Bayo.... People have made the point he's not a great striker but has snaffled a few in early season, but today showed him completely..... He's not a target man, he has a terrible second touch, however he can get into good positions and will hit the net so a bit of a "tap in" man really. Can't knock him but championship is his limit.
I don’t know, but it feels like a familiar script is unfolding in front of us, where the hugely frustrating and inexplicable lurching from great to atrocious leaves us stuck in a never-ending cycle of being just good enough at times to give us hope, before finding new and diabolical ways of plunging to new depths. The next 2 weeks are absolutely vital as Bilic tries to navigate injuries and integrate the new players. Hopefully we’re able to get more business done early, and if nothing else, perhaps the laughable injury list will see Gino abandon his usual January policy of holding fire until the dying embers of the window, and continue to make decisive moves, hopefully at behest of Manga and Costa.
The nature of the opposition makes a difference: Norwich, it would seem, play in a way which suits Watford. Swansea and Millwall, on the other hand, were not so obliging.
The only thing i want to add to whats already been said on this thread is that maybe we have found Gasper's new position in this team. His legs aren't what they were so perhaps a position has a DCM his where is talents could be best used from now on. This new guy from Benfica is a right back so we have cover in that position now. The real problem for the decline of this team in the last few years has been the recruitment (players & managers!). With the new recruitment team in place, this window is the start of the reversal of this team's fortune. I also believe we have the strongest manager we have had in a while, in my minds eye he seems a good fit. Now we just need a little more luck in terms of the amount of injuries......
All the better when you consider that Bayo would have been clean through if he would have played a simple ball to the right rather than take an unnecessary touch before then finding Sarr. I mean the composure and nous at such a young age, to realise Bayo would fluff a 1 on 1 but might not miss a 1 yard tap in... Next level.
