Pre-season 2021/22

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by RS2, Jun 28, 2021.

  1. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    That's the main thing! He's like the ravens at the Tower of London. Once TD9 goes Vicarage Road will crumble. You wait and see
     
    Burnsy likes this.
  2. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Obviously there is some merit to comparing the two sides, but we also have to consider the context and the fact that, although there weren't so many individual big ticket players, that was a team that had a non-immobile Deeney fresh off three consecutive 20+ goal seasons and an Iggy slap bang in the middle of his insane year-long career zenith. Given that Quique's tactics were essentially everyone defend and get it to those two, and that our defence was (I would argue) more talented, and better coached, than it is now, it means that team was potentially quite a lot better than whatever we're going to put out on Saturday.

    You might also make the argument that the league that year was historically weak in relative performance terms - it was, after all, the season that Leicester won the title without any of the big six really laying a glove on them. That's not the only reason they won, of course, but there weren't exactly any current Liverpools or Man Citys or Chelseas about in that period to hand us out our guaranteed bi-seasonly savagings in quite the way that there are now.
     
  3. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Think the difference is the majority of PL clubs have progressed and are spending bigger sums of money to stand still in the table.
     
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  4. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu Keyboard Warrior Staff Member

    And now Im sad again
     
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  5. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    (Not 'liked' for the sadness... :confused:)
     
  6. WatfordTalk

    WatfordTalk First Team

    Gomes > Bachmann
    Nyom < Femenia
    Prodl > WTE
    2015 Cathcart = Sierralta
    Holebas > Rose
    Anya < Sarr
    Capoue > Louza
    Behrami > Etebo
    Jurado < Kucka
    Layun < Cucho
    2015 Deeney > King

    Personal opinion, but I'd say the 15/16 side takes it, and that's without Iggy. Plus our side is likely to feature a lot more of Deeney/Cleverley/Cathcart than I'd like to see.

    This this side has the potential to be more exciting though, if everything clicks
     
  7. Dr. Roland

    Dr. Roland Academy Graduate

    Sorry this might be irrelevant now (if it ever was relevant).

    I went to Palace (undercover) and despite it being pre-season, it really was…and I can’t stress this enough, a complete shambles.

    IMO we have less talent in our squad than anyone else in the league except for maybe Norwich. They finished above us and seem to have had a marginally better transfer window.

    In that respect it would have been heartening to know that at least we are a well drilled outfit who are going to be greater than the sum of all our different parts (all 200 players we still have on the books.)

    In that regard alone, the truth couldn’t have been more different. To me the team looked quite a lot worse than when we were last in the premier league. That might be due to the fact it was only a pre-season friendly or due to the fact that in every single position except for arguably one center back (who didn’t play yesterday), we simply are worse (or it’s the same player) than the team that got relegated.

    It might be easier and fairer to compare to the team of 2015 but this team seriously lacks creativity (except Sarr) and the prem is much stronger this time around.

    Bachmann - Looked a bit dodgy but is the least of our worries.

    Ngakia - Actually looked good at points from where I was sat. Showed some attacking intent. He also made some massive errors, which have been well documented. He/we will be lucky not to be punished time and time again in this league if he plays like that.

    Femenia - An obvious upgrade on the above. Hopefully he manages to play every single minute of the season and the championship has given him a bit more confidence.

    WTF - I’ve been seriously worried about him at this level but he played a relatively ok game today. It felt like he’s worked on at least looking more comfortable on the bal, even if he’s not actually but still managed to give a hospital pass.

    Cathcart - I know others have criticised him but I didn’t think he was terrible. He is just fundamentally a bit too slow at this level though. Would have like to see him with Sierralta rather than WTF.

    Rose - Not convincing. He looked frustrated at one point that he had nobody to pass to and players around him looked sluggish off the ball. It’s probably what happens when you go from playing in a champions league team to one with Sema and Fletcher as options.

    Sema - Honestly no comment. No idea what he was doing or where he was meant to be playing at all.

    Dennis - Great free kick attempt. Looked disinterested and more predictable than I was expecting. Can’t see him really making a dent or catching many defenders out this year. Any team should just pressure us to play up through Rose and Fletcher. Double mark Sarr.

    Clevs - Made too many errors but worked hard and looked knackered.

    Kucka - Looked hard as nails. Looked a little off the pace. He probably won’t get the time on the ball he’s used to for this team in the premier league.

    Etebo - looked good and far better than I had thought (despite reading other positive reviews). The sort of player I would be excited to bring on as a substitute for a well oiled and seasoned professional already on the pitch rather than at the heart of what has become a rebuild/damage limitations.

    Sarr - Great but not his best game. I think he will get very frustrated this season. We don’t have any other prem level creators or threats that I saw and his service will be weak. His time on the ball will be limited too as teams work out he’s not just our main threat but one of the only ones.

    Cucho - Probably the most dangerous person on the pitch for us. Was particularly impressed with the trouble he was trying to cause off the ball. He was a nuisance for them. He would be my massive preference on the left over Dennis.

    Louza - Small minutes. Not much to say.

    Deeney - Did actually look a lot more trim in real life. Also looked like he predicted the Benteke goal as he was seen ordering defenders around.
    • We lacked height across the pitch.
    • Terrible at transitions from defence to midfield and midfield to the forwards
    • Looked tired
    • Apart from Sarr, corners and set pieces. I don’t see us creating much. We are seriously lacking any X factor players


    There are changes Xisco can make to this team that he (currently) has at his disposal to make a real difference and give us a chance against Villa but every single game this year is going to be tough. Like way tougher than our last season in the prem.

    Think Palace might surprise a few this season. I had them down in the pit with us but honestly they didn’t even have to get out of second gear defensively and think they’ve bought well this window.
     
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  8. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Some steady improvement there...
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  9. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    You've had a couple of pops at Fletcher but from what I've seen he doesn't even make the list of problems we have at the moment.
     
  10. Dr. Roland

    Dr. Roland Academy Graduate

    Sorry RS2. I actually meant Dennis this time here. Fletcher wasn't playing

    Truth be told with the stats that he's put up across his whole career so far I don't see Fletcher being effective on the left either. I will wait until I see him play for us though. For me it needs to be Cucho or Pedro there.
     
  11. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Oh in that case you're bang on because Dennis was ****! Decent first half but picked up a knock and became disinterested and lazy, really disappointed with him.
     
  12. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    I, for one, am shocked by this. Shocked, I tell you. Didn't predict it at all. Enjoy the vaccine.
     
    RS2 likes this.
  13. LaClusazSki

    LaClusazSki Reservist

    Wow! It hasn't taken Dennis very long to plow the same furrow as he has done at all his past clubs.
    No one can say that the club were not warned.
     
  14. LaClusazSki

    LaClusazSki Reservist

    No comment...
     
  15. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Well he might turn out to be rubbish but some seem very good at writing people off after a game or even before they join!
     
  16. Dr. Roland

    Dr. Roland Academy Graduate

    I've not completely written him off but I think we would both have to agree that by looking at all the data we have on the performances of his career to date, to make a substantial difference for us, he would have to have more impact than he's had anywhere else, with more consistency and in a league that is less forgiving.

    These miracles do happen in football though.
     
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  17. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    That is ok - more of a general point.

    I feel it might not be his footballing ability we have to worry about most.

    Particularly if things don’t go well or they aren’t playing.

    As with many of our signings !
     
  18. WatfordTalk

    WatfordTalk First Team

    Turns out pre season really does mean **** all. Someone should make a note of that for next year
     
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  19. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    They won’t.
     
  20. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    As consistent as the phases of the moon and the changes of the season is the yearly forum meltdown in pre season and when our B team gets knocked out in the League cup by some team from lower leagues .
     
    Knight GT likes this.
  21. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    It's almost like someone makes this same post on the forum every single year.
     
    RS2 likes this.
  22. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    To be fair it is one game. Cathcart might be first choice during AFCON and is being ripped up week after week. Bit early to tell. We might throw in a stinker at Brighton. Don’t think we will though.
     
  23. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    It was Duffy rather than Dunk, but near enough.
     

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