Sunderland 0-1 Watford FC - 12/12/2015

People having a go at Ighalo need to ask themselves this question -

Would any sane Watford fan based on this season swap Ighalo for either Diego Costa or Wayne Rooney?

 

Diego Costa? Yes I'd consider it.

Rooney? Never liked the little runt so no.

 

His skills are amazing, his scoops are amazing, his goal scoring is amazing....his awareness and passing could be better.

I said it last season, I said it earlier this season - and again reiterated after yesterday.

This isn't being hysterical, or being ungrateful for what we've achieved this season, but an objective observation based on fact.

Unquestionably we could have had 4 or 4 more +ve goal difference with better passing - however, without him, we may be propping up the bottom.

 

He's excellent, brilliant, fantastic etc etc etc but... there are times when others are better placed to go for a goal and he either doesn't look up and spot them or he chooses not to pass. It is a flaw in his game.

 

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but Nyom did a cracking job on their starlet Watmore. So much so that their forums are full of predictions that he'll be a Championship player in 18 months (like the rest of the team, i guess).

 

You eaten your hat yet?

 

Iggy unlikeable? Wtf? The guys down to earth, rejected big money from china and seems to be very modest and unassuming. Greedy? Possibly on occasion, but no more than many many players, defoe for example.

Anyway. Great result again. Bring on Liverpool, Chelsea, spurs and Man City.

 

Two games in a row now I think Ighalo probably should have got a hat trick.

That said, I don't care as long as he keeps scoring winners.

 

I dont think comparing him to defoe is going to endear him to anyone...

 

Yesterday's was an odd game I thought. Whilst the conditions were terrible, that 2nd half was probably the worst half of football I think we've played this season, yet due to the heroics of Gomes and the woeful ineptitude of Sunderland's players, we kept a clean sheet.

'Big Sam' got it badly wrong with his tactics, and we should have scored 2 or 3 in those opening 20 minutes. Also thought that Jurado had his best ever game for us yesterday, well done that man! We looked a worse team when he came off.

Absolutely delighted that we've won our last 3! COYH :sign15:

 

Well, that's settled then. Opinions are over, close the forum down. We're 7th.

 

The game should of been over by half time, Sunderland rallied in the second half and Gomes won us the points. Cracking atmosphere in the away end, out sung the Mackems throughout and only paused to give a big sshhhh and to ask if we were in a library. Cheers to the guy off here who got me a ticket, there are some top people around this place.

 

I thought the second half was pretty even. Sunderland could have scored 3 in the second half. But then again, so could we. Both keepers made some great saves.

 

Big Sam's a bit more humble post-match than he was before it.

http://www.footytube.com/video/we-need-watfords-resilience-allardyce-390890?ref=lchan_vidgrid

 

Loving reading their forums, they seem like a really good bunch. This caught my eye in particular:

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/sick-to-****ing-death-of-being-beaten-by-****e-teams.1171788/

"They looked quite good when they were trying".

 

We're getting ahead of ourselves here; his all round play and selfishness (the latter probably curable, of course) mean he's nowhere near good enough to play for a really 'big' club. Even his chance conversion has been moderate lately. He definitely has something rather unique, but he will need skilful handling and much greater self awareness to make a Sanchez style step up.

 

How can you not love Ighalo!? His skill, his song, his work rate, his personality, his goals...

If he wasn't selfish we'd never score. We need a selfish striker up top.

https://vine.co/v/eKr7w9Zl7jD

 

Quite. There's no good reason for not liking the fella. If some people just don't like him, fair enough, but they should stop trying to justify it because they're making themselves look like d*cks

 

Astonishing statement.

I can think of a stack of players over the years who've been deeply unlikeable but Ighalo doesn't come close. This is the bloke who arrived on these shores from Granada where he was a fans' favourite even though his scoring record wasn't amazing? The same bloke who got his head down and learned to adapt to the physical game in England and started scoring goals, eventually ousting the talented (stroppy, unlikeable? - not my opinion, just saying) Czech international from the side? The same bloke who, when he's interviewed, will consistently deflect the attention away from his own achievements and praise the team and give thanks to a higher power? (that last bit may offend you but it shows humility regardless of your religious beliefs). The same bloke who, as we all know, says money isn't everything and turned down a lucrative move to fight for his place at Watford? The same bloke from a humble background who is determined to never forget where he's come from, and continues to help his family out with significant money he is gratefully earning? The same guy who, like every other attacking player at Watford, will get an earful from Troy when he makes a bad pass or no pass at all, yet continues to earn the captain's respect? The guy who doesn't talk of a move to a bigger club but just gets on with winning games for Watford? The kind of dressing room presence that helps to make this team so unified?

Odion isn't perfect either as a player or a person, and maybe he is itching to one day play for Chelsea, who knows. But in the meantime I find his skill and his goals deeply likeable, his attitude inoffensive and commendable, and if/when he moves on to a big club I won't resent him one bit, unless he turns round and disses Watford ,which would be deeply unlikeable and highly unlikely.

He's got the power to know...

 

I just love the irony that we sit 7th in the league, having our best season for years and there even has to be a debate about the player whose 10 goals and 5 assists have got us there!

Priceless!

Just like Ighalo's becoming, hopefully!

 

Yeah, that guy. I don't like him. Nor do quite a few other people.

 

No keep going, your opinions are amusing, I'm sure we'd be top if Gueds was starting every game.

 

Is that in third person?

 

Ironic that you get served a SCOOP of ice cream. Or sometimes two.

 

My fav has to be this:

 

I think it's just you m8

 

Then there's quite a few idiots. If he was the perfect player he'd play for Barca. Yes sometimes he's overly selfish, but his selfishness has taken us to 7th. Was Troy selfish when he didn't pass to Forestieri against Fulham last year.

 

Igahlo may not be Mr Personality, but he IS IN NO WAY DEEPLY UNLIKEABLE!!!

He is just a reserved type of character, who although he may not show it outwardly is probably as passionate about WFC and his football as TD is, Odion is just a lot quieter person!

 

Are you sure your a Watford fan?

 

Do you have to blindly love every player to qualify as a fan?

 

No. You can be a fan. But with prejudice and a lack of generosity you can be a deeply unlikeable one.

 

What the feck is all this about!!! We won for christs sake and got 3 points and sit SEVENTH. Lets rejoice and be thankful to Pozzo's, the players, the fans and especially Mr Odion Ighalo

 

I think its at least healthy to have conversations about how we can improve both as a team and players. I'm sure the team are having a similar conversation with Igahlo about his decision making on occasions but likely to be more, "you could be up there with the best in the world" as opposed to "I don't like you, you're too greedy". Brushing off this view just because he's firing in the goals and we're 7th is a little short sighted. Strikers are by their nature are a little greedy but you should aim to get the team involved as you may need them when you go off the boil. It always helps to get the confidence of others up and they may stop making these runs if they know they are simply not going to get the ball.

I personally think Igahlo is one of the best players ever to wear the shirt but it wouldn't take too much more for him to be THE best ever to wear the shirt.