October 2020 Transfer Window

Boo!

 

Window closing not with a bang, but a whimper.

 

Not signing an LB is a ******* travesty. I understand not getting a left footed CB but not getting a natural LB is indefensible and will hurt us immensely. Yes, Masina will be back mid November (Allegedly) and Sema and Femnia can cover but square pegs in round holes is not how you get promoted.

 

Failed the Ivic and Giraldi test. Not a lot we can do if he's not good enough for us.

 

Not signing a left back in utterly inexcusable. If I was Vlad I would be livid

Pozzos making the same mistakes again. They’ve learned absolutely nothing

Just need a loss tonight to round off this debacle

 

They have consistently made the same mistakes over and over and over, despite the overwhelming evidence they were making the mistakes.

Why would you expect them to learn when the history suggests they don't?

"Best negotiator in the world" apparently but beaten to Barry Douglas by Blackburn.

 

I’ve no problem with not signing Douglas if it’s because we don’t deem him good enough. But at the very least bring someone in on loan until January when Masina is back. Not doing that is simply a dereliction of duty in my eyes. I’d be furious if I was Ivic - having one hand tied behind his back by the board already if that’s the result at 5pm.

 

We signed Toby Stevenson. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. We have this covered.

 

Yeah fully agree. How can we afford Glenn Murray, but not a back up left back - it is criminal.

Even when Masina comes back from injury - I just cannot see that he fits the current formation at all, or even Ivic's style more generally where the wingbacks/fullbacks are key to creating chances.

Its just classic Pozzos building a squad with absolutely no consideration for the manager because they assume he will be gone in a few months. Which evidence has shown is a ******* useless approach.

 

I thought Masina was due back in November? https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/18703000.watfords-adam-masina-injured-november/

Could potentially be back in 2-3 weeks and we currently have 2 players capable of playing LWB to a decent standard in Sema and Kiko. Personally don't think it's all that urgent unless Masina has a setback.

Kiko/Ngakia/Sema as wing-back options now, with Masina hopefully added in November, sounds good to me.

 

If the Pozzo’s don’t sign a left back they can go **** themselves to be honest. Clearly will have learned nothing and never will. Why give a 37 year old 7k a week as fourth choice striker and not sign a left back?

 

I don’t think anyone would disagree that we have a strong squad for this league.

The issue is that we have glaring gaps in the balance of the squad, preventing the coach from playing the way he wants to. This is a position we have been in many times under the Pozzos and something they consistently seem unwilling to address. Their arrogance and stubbornness is going to cost us again I feel

 

I was told February.

 

Watford Observer clearly have no idea as the headline says November and the article says February

 

Maybe we've tried to sign one but haven't been able to

 

It’s not enough. It’s a hypothetical that Masina is back in 2-3 weeks and with our medical history I’d suggest it’s likely a bit longer. We have 7 games in 3 weeks coming up - that’s a lot of games to get through. And they will come thick and fast after that too. Personally I think it’s clear that the squad is set up for a certain formation - and it’s the one Ivic has preferred in recent seasons. But the lack of a LB is forcing him to play this formation.

By not recruiting one, the board are pretty much telling the manager he can’t play in certain ways. As I say, it remains that way at 5pm, he should be rightly furious.

 

Exactly. Ivic said during his conference that he may be forced to use U23 players so there's no problem.

 

True but the actual quote says November, so hopefully that's the real date.

 

By?

 

We had this problem with Chalobah after his first loan spell. Chelsea decided to hike up the loan fee and wage percentage which Gino was never going to pay but some other mug did and it wrecked Nate's development.

Not a lot you can do when PL clubs have kids on 30k per week and also want a fee. Baba Rahman was bought for what... £20m? Imagine they'd be looking for a fair whack of cash even to loan out.

Hopefully there is another iron in the fire. Only needs to be a left-footed stopgap until Masina returns.

 

I don't think he was the answer at all.

However, the club clearly did, and the fact they failed to bring in any of him, Baba Rahman or even Atsu is just extremely concerning.

It just reeks of more arrogance by the Pozzos and is further evidence they don't learn from their numerous mistakes.

 

Think failing to shift Deeney may have cocked up our plans somewhat...

 

Slams shut, subject to Pozzo loopholes.

 

This stinks of a return of the one and only Marvelous Marvin Zeegelaar

 

Pretty sure that is what Giraldi said when he was talking to the Italian Press.

 

Whats the chance that they cancel the "at our place" event now after this shambles of a window, or are they just going to vet all the questions to make sure there is nothing negative?

 

• • Domestic transfer deadline closes at 5pm
• • Troy Deeney set to stay at Watford
• • Kiko Femenia also unlikely to leave
• • Hornets still in the market for a left-back but are unlikely to do business if someone does not leave the club first
• • Andre Gray another who is expected to stay despite reports suggesting otherwise

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/18799539.live-updates-watford-deadline-day-business/

Deeney staying is very good news, and I don't care what the muppets on this forum say about that to the contrary.

Kiko staying is also good news, although I get that him staying will close the door on a new full back signing. Gray, who I don't rate in the top league, will be decent enough in the Championship.

Incoming Ngakia, Percia and Troost-Ekong all look like good signings. Sierralta may prove to be decent as well.

We still have Deulofeu on our books, and we've kept hold of Capoue, Hughes, Deeney & Sarr. Who would have predicted that before the window?

Yes, we have weakened, but not do the degree where we will not be a major force in the Championship. If we keep Sarr, then I think we've just about got the balance right. I would have loved to have kept Welbeck, and I think it was a big disappointment losing Suarez and Estupinan. Doucoure was sold far too cheaply as well.

That said. all in all, if Sarr stays, then it's been a very good window for us and fans should stop acting like spoilt brats.

 

Adam Masina

 

It isn't about having good players, it is about the make up of the squad which has catastrophically limited what Ivic can do.

Sarr is an very good player, but we haven't got a squad capable of playing a formation that suits him.

We have 17 mediocre strikers, but only one left back.

 

I think the problem is that we don't really know what formation Vlad is intending to play going forward. If we are to stick to 3-5-2 then Sema, Ngakia and Kiko are our options in the short term with Masina coming back. But I would say that Masina would not be suited to this role, he's far too slow and a big part of our attacking so far has been to switch play quickly to the opposite wing back in space.

If we go to a flat back four, we only have three full backs in the squad but Masina is more capable in that position. But in a long season that feels very light and we'd surely end up putting centre backs out of position sooner rather than later.

Of course, he might want to use both formations depending upon opponent and who is fit for us.

Oh, I forgot we have Navarro. Everything is fine!

 

Last time we went up, our LB options were Pudil (mediocre), Anya (converted into a LB, but really an average wing-back) and converted centre-backs in Hoban and Connolly.

It's not an ideal scenario, but we haven't managed to move on big earners. The squad Ivic has been given is absolutely good enough to win promotion, and should be expected to challenge at a minimum.

 

With the balance of the squad, I think it may reduce Ivic's flexibility in terms of formations, however, if you have Sarr, then you have to play a formation which sees him on the wing.

You have to play a system with wingers, like a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. I think the 3-5-2 will be dropped.

We have three target men strikers and Gray on the books. That makes me think he's thinking in terms of having Pedro, Deeney(Gray or Perica) and Sarr in the front line.

If we play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 then the need for wing backs is reduced. Masina is much better suited to being a full back than a wing back. Ok Kiko and Sema's natural instinct will be to push forward, but I'm sure they can be trusted to be more defensive than offensive.