October 2020 Transfer Window

I think the point is that Masina was a dead cert to have been sold back to Italy in the summer, before he got injured, but now we're having to ship him out in Jan. He was not intended to be part of the squad and isn't in the club's long-term plans.

 

Yeah, this is fair. I haven't seen Ivic say what formation he wants to play, but I agree he'd want to be as flexible as possible.

I think Masina could 'do a job' as a wing-back but agree he'd limit our attacking threat. Would it be ridiculous to have Sema as a marauding LB in a flat back 4? Think he could get caught out a few times but may work in the short-term...

 

Christ. He's still injured? Pearson must have really done a number on the poor guy.

 

Are we sure this hasn't changed now though? If he does return in November, he could be available for 10+ games. If Ivic decides to switch to a back 4 I could see him making that position his own and staying.

 

Irrespective of views on his current ability Deeney’s wage makes him staying very bad news. It’s a large amount to be paying in the Championship for someone who won’t necessarily be first choice. And it restricts our ability to bring in other players.

There is no doubt the owners wanted to offload him purely on cost grounds.

 

I'm sure the club would rather sign someone who'd be able to play for the whole season and could also be good in the season after, as opposed to Masina who won't be available for another 8 games still, then might be available for another 10, before being rid of for the second half of the season.

 

No, no, no. That’s not right. Poor Ivic has been shafted by Gino and Duxbury giving him one of the best squads in the Championship, it’s unreasonable to expect him to do his bloody job and I won’t hear a word to the contrary.

 

Who knows what he's really on. Sure I suspect it's a decent wedge, but does anyone know if he's really on £100k per week? I very much doubt that and he may even be on a reduced salary after relegation.

But, even if he's still on a big wage, we've seen how lost we look up front without him. It's been a dramatic downturn. He's not the striker he once was, and I accept that, but he's got so much to offer the side. We're very young especially up front, and his experience and knowhow will be a vital part of a promotion battle.

 

Playing Devils advocate, and I still think it’s a disgrace if we don’t sign a left back. Femenías best performances at Watford for whatever reason have been at this position when inverted. Remember him doing some job on Adama Traore there. Nonetheless Ivic has made it supremely clear he wants and needs a left back - if we can afford to retain the likes of Sarr then we can get in a left back.

 

Exactly. Our whole squad was **** back then. Not sure how we scored so many goals or got promoted tbh.

Our squad depth is so far more advanced than that squad that really, we'd beat that team 4-0/5-0 easily.

 

I meant end up staying for the rest of the season after securing his place in the team.

 

You'd think.

 

I don't think being inverted impacts a defenders ability to defend at all.

The issue is that inverted full backs are incredibly predictable to defend against, because they will always check back in before putting in their cross.

 

Fixed.

 

He's got to sort his fitness and conditioning out though. That's the biggest question mark about him for me, as I think now he's not facing PL defenders he'll get more goals.

 

Think we've had an OK window tbh, especially given the circumstances. Kept Sarr, Capoue, Hughes, Foster who are all PL level easily and should be the spine of a successful team at this level. Signed Ngakia, and some other decent players on a free. Farmed out some high earners and made money on Doucs.

We all would have liked to have kept Suarez and Estupinan, but don't think we could afford to keep two players with value who didn't want to be here in this climate. Would have liked to move on Deeney/Gray and freshen up that area, but again in this climate that was always going to difficult. I think Gray should be more than good enough in this league, but we'll see.

Our squad is one of the strongest in this division IMO.

 

It is just an issue of round pegs in square holes again - an issue the Pozzos have had every window since I can remember, and it comes about because of their policy towards coaches.

Deeney and Gray have shown historically they are absolutely rancid lone centre forwards, but then we have the most expensive player in the division who suits playing with a lone centre forward. Someone is going to have to budge, and sadly I suspect it will be Sarr. In addition - how do you keep 17 strikers happy while playing with one centre forward?

The likes of Kiko can do a job at left back or left wing back, but we have seen in the games to date, that it makes us very predictable.

People keep saying we are going to drop 3-5-2 but all the evidence in the recruitment in terms of having 18 **** strikers, bringing in 2 more centre backs and not bringing in a left back, would suggest otherwise.

 

I think not being on exceptionally high wages has probably saved Sarr, more than a statement of intent from the board. I've no doubt if we're well out of contention by the back half of January he'll be moved on though.

 

I mean more that if we were in that dire a financial situation that we can't be playing a young PL left backs wages or a nominal fee, we wouldn't be turning down £40 million for anyone!

 

Could be 3-4-3?

 

Manning going to Swansea and Joe Bennett move unlikely according to the latest from Leventhal.

 

All we need now is for everyone to get fit, then and only then, we will have one of the best squads in the Champo. Right now we are nearly down to the bare bones, but when all the squad is fully fit it should be plain sailing back to the PL IMO!

 

I agree with you, however when our un-fit players get back others will Unfortunately take their place, it’s a never ending circle

 

Yes we could be challenging, doubly so if no one thinks to attack us down the right.

 

I think you're onto something. Masina can do the Pudil (slow, walking yellow card) role and Kiko can do the Anya (small, speedy, no end product) role.

Fire up the engines on HMS Piss This Rubbish League!

 

Hopefully Glenn Murray does the Vujadin Savic role.

 

If we’re not going to sign a LB because we’re happy to have Sema there, then can we at least bring in a winger. Sema can’t play in two positions at once.

This does feel a lot like the time under Silva when our squad was so nearly spot on, and we were just a decent LB and CB away from being ideal and we brought in Zeegalar and Wague on deadline day. As someone that thinks the Pozzos are generally great this seems like a consistent error/blind spot.

 

The classic Duxbury line. I fully expect that statement.

 

Perhaps we signed a LB but when he was being shown around the training ground and introduced to Floppo, he promptly ate him as the canteen had run out of pork pies.

 

How can you have watched him last season and justify that?

 

Just looking at SSN transfer feed and whilst there’s not many names moving that I’m envious of, it’s obvious that a lot of clubs will be stronger by the end of today.

Blackburn have also made a move for Harvey Elliott on loan - and it’ll happen if the player wants it. Certainly wouldn’t say no to him.

 

https://twitter.com/watfordfc/status/1317095701344649216?s=21

But some one here said that the U23 players wouldn’t be involved unless there was an emergency this season? HB1 was roundly talked down when he suggested Stevenson might be called upon for the 1st team. From what Ivic is saying, some of these players will be used. And given how short we are at LB/LWB, it’s not inconceivable that Stevenson among others will get game time.

 

Are you telling porkies ?

 

Being talked down on here is par for the course and when you converse with so many "experts" it's always going to happen. I've always thought Stevenson would be part of things. I've seen lots of training videos and he's always in the background, so regularly trains with the first team. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't play a few first team games this season.

If we get an injury to Sema or Kiko, he'll be on the bench for sure.

 

Has any of our useless shower of ****s ****ed off yet?

 

Sorry, what are you actually saying, and did you actually bother to watch the interview you posted? Ivic says u23 players may be used, if needed. We've already seen this with Phillips. This is something everyone on here already knows, and also happens to be the case at pretty much every club in the Championship. I, and others, have said Stevenson will play if Kiko/Sema/Masina all happen to be injured at the same time. Not totally inconceivable but would also constitute a bit of a squad emergency.

Hungbo also trains with the first team. Doesn't mean he's competing with Sarr for a first team spot. It means he's a more senior u23 player, useful for boosting numbers for training drills. Just like Stevenson.