More from 3CR. Actually commenting on the “performance “ “We simply aren't good enough to defend our box when we've only got two centre-halves playing. "I don't think I can accuse everyone of not demanding the ball and not playing with as much confidence than they usually do, but [there were] too many off performances tonight. "I'm just as disappointed with the first half as I am the second. "We played within ourselves, we played like a mid-table team. "It's my challenge and all the players' challenge - it's not what we are working towards. If we are going to have 4-3-3 as a back-up option, we need to defend our box better."
I can’t quite agree that Louza was one of the better players, but he wasn’t as bad as some are saying, and I actually thought he grew into the game. And I do think he put some effort in. But it’s been so long since he had a proper run in the team that I have actually forgotten how he’s best deployed. I do remember thinking that he was a very good player for a while though.
sure. I don’t think I was saying that you were questioning Cleverlys position. Similarly, I don’t think I’m saying he’s beyond criticism and i agree he has responsibility to take for tonight’s result and other losses. As well as he has some degree of credit for the wins against millwall, derby, stoke, MK, Plymouth, Sunderland. I was trying to respond to your comment about how we can beat the top team and then get spanked by a lower team. whats fwiw stand for?
There will be moments during the season when it's obvious that Cleverley has been out thought, set us up wrong, tried something that doesn't work but hardly surprising is it? He was supposed to have a nice soft landing into coaching a few kids for a couple of years but we're so dysfunctional he ended up taking charge of the first team about eight months after injury had forced him to retire. Yes, it's partially his fault but he's got to learn sometime, just so happens it's in the Championship. And he's got a pretty weird, imbalanced squad. No defensive midfielders, no striker worthy of the name. Rookie manager with a pretty poor squad gets soundly beaten from time to time - what did people expect? As long as we aren't sucked into a relegation battle, might as well see if he is capable of learning. Otherwise, we'll just sack him and promote that random Spanish assistant coach who was brought in after the season started. Pretty clear that with Riza and Kavaja gone (who were both promoted from within alongside Cleverley) that when Clevz gets binned, we'll give the role to some bloke whose name I can't even be bothered to remember.
We really didn’t “start brightly”. The Baah chance was the only thing Watford did in the first 40 minutes. The play was slow and disjointed and there seemed little attempt to even intercept Preston’s passes. It wasn’t until they scored that Watford played with any tempo and effort, but then it was largely headless chicken time.
Just come back from that utterly insipid, spineless effort given I live only 35 miles from Preston these days. I feel very sorry for fellow Orns having to head home so far having witnessed our bizarre attempt to win a football match. Preston came out for the first 15 -20 mins with zero confidence and were clearly there for the taking. They gifted us Baah's early chance and, as we passed the ball, they resorted to tamely bashing it back to us. Defensively sound with Ogbonna marshalling it all, tick, tick, tick; good sound start although the lack of urgency from us midway through that 1st half as it turned out until FT (Louza in particular leading on that) did for us. As Preston started to bully us it seems the entire team took a step backwards. I was certain that a Cleverley rocket at HT would restore some order. Our passing became a joke and their breakthrough duly followed and we had no answer. Couldn't understand the Ebosele and Ogbonna subs straight after the first goal, no suggestion of injuries, both subs weakened us. We forgot how to pass and the subs we made afterwards simply worsened the performance. From that point with Bayo pointlessly doing his half-chasing, mis-controlling passes routine we frittered away any attacking structure and from the back Preston were able to launch long passes over us, win corners and set pieces and benefit from those with near zero efforts from Bond and fellow defenders to clear or to mark with any intent with the last 2 goals thumped in at the far post with no real challenges. Us Orns were left fairly silently grumbling because there was no real encouragement from the pitch at any stage that we could come back into the game from 1-0. OK we weren't optimistic about the season when it kicked off but off the back of the battling win last Saturday, tonight was especially hard to fathom. There needs to be some harsh words said and some egos to bruise before this coming Saturday. We've all seen some poor performances in our time, tonight's is up there as one of the worst given the circumstances. And I hope it's as difficult to accept for the players, the manager as well as us lot.
Let's go Hornets! We go again on Saturday, let's keep the faith guys. Hope the fans get behind Bayo, he needs a cuddle rather than mean comments. In Tom we trust!
Osmajic would back you there! Fair play to PNE, taking chances wins games. Bahhyo humbug! And Loser can **** right off!
I have critiqued TC today, but I have not called for him to go, but he really must sort out his use of subs!!! Taking Obgona off was madness IMO, unless he was injured or knackered, which I can only assume he was??? Then compouding that move by changing two more of the back five. Our defence just fell to pieces after that. Then bringing on Boyo, WTF!!! I'm not a happy bunny tonight, let's hope and pray we bounce back with a decent win on Saturday!!!
The Cleverley honeymoon period is over. Even though we won against Sunderland, the tactics, the subs it all stinks. Same again tonight. He just doesn’t seem to ‘read the room’. I get taking Ebosele off as he had little to no impact tonight. But Kayembe and Louza also had poor performances. Preston were there for the taking and we should have seen the introduction of a more attacking output in Vata or Ince. The changing wingback is a joke and shows absolutely zero tactical awareness.
i think you’re right. The really frustrating thing is that with a half decent striker I think we would have had a chance for the playoffs.
I agree with this. He did the same thing saying he wants to turn the Vic into a fortress, now we can't perform away.
If we finish top 10 it would be a great accomplishment in my view given Pozzo’s complete disregard for the club and the abysmal options up front. My concern is both our subs and approach are consistently erratic so I think at some point the wheels may completely fall off for our rookie coach. I wouldn’t sack him unless we end up bottom 5 at some point on a bad run but I don’t think Cleverley is showing much promise.
The one good thing about last night is I am now renewed in my hope for Jebbison on Saturday in the law of missing players rule!
Certainly away from home there is an issue and I think we have look tired in games so not managed to put a complete performance together. Doesn’t help when there is no focal point up front - we still probably could have scored 2/3 goals despite being rubbish . Whereas they took their very convincingly.
Cleverley (much like Edwards) hasn’t really helped himself by pinning his colours to dud in waiting Jebbison, and putting his name to the decision to get rid of Raj. We are crying out for even a semi competent striker, at this point Andre Gray would be like signing Halland in comparison to what we’ve got, but unfortunately he can have no complaints about what we’ve ended up with because his approval is all over it. Will these managers ever learn.
People criticise Cleverley’s subs, but I think we’re seeing the results of bringing players in late in the transfer window. Several have not had a proper pre-season and do not seem able to last 90 minutes yet. This is bound to affect the cohesion and performance of the team within a game. The most tragic thing is that the promise of the team is being fatally undermined for the lack of a striker worthy of the name. Even during a terrible showing last night, several good chances were created against a mediocre opposition but none were taken.
