I added a bit more to my post but you replied sooner than I could edit! I just think in certain instances we need to let players grow and acclimatise. Chakvetadze is a really good example of that I think. Deserves far more time to show what he can do. I do think he probably needs that tap on the shoulder and told he’s the main man in midfield blah blah. Hopefully Cleverley does that.
No, all opinions are valid. If everyone thought the same this place would be boring. People can challenge a view and put their argument forward of course, but as long as it's done respectfully. There is no wrong opinion especially in the case of Watford.
Some people on Twitter saying that Duxbury made some quip about backing Cleverly 'from hell to high.....oh I better not!' in his programme notes?! Total moron.
You kidding? Mural already past the drafting stage. Elton's already stepped aside for this absolute baller of a bloke!
Yes I heard a rumour about this. To be honest I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was true. Sort of snide comment I expect our DOF to make. Even if it's done as a joke, a bit of respect for his first real test wouldn't be hard to express surely.
He should have naming rights for Vicarage Road. It makes sense to pay him a minimum £1m to £2m a season for the privilege.
‘Good riddance’ gives a certain feeling to an opinion so yeah, I think it is wild in the circumstances. You can question my opinion on that, problem.
Jesus Malts, I’m all for us sticking up for ourselves and one another. But getting upset because someone fundamentally disagrees with something you’ve said and gives a respectful reposte, is not a reason to kick off. I didn’t do anything personal or say anything about you - I said what you said was wild.
Good riddance if we do sell him. We might get somebody in his place who actually changed matches for us, with more than 1 goal all season.
The lack of goals from Chak is a valid observation however it is difficult to gain an assist if our goals are being scored from MFs or Defenders wanging them in from 25 yards .
I think this is a bit OTT to be honest, if anything from reading the segment in the programme notes it’s more of a self deprecating statement from dux about himself and the board. He says the right thing about giving Tom his full backing. I’m all for giving the board and chairman some grief but nothing to see here.
I remember when Gerry Armstrong was struggling to get in the watford side and went to the world cup in Spain, the rest is history. Went for £200k I think to Mallorca which was a decent fee at the time. He just needs a couple of lucky games !
Whether you (in the royal sense) choose to believe it or not, I remember reading an Athletic article just before the last World Cup that went into some detail about how the whole 'scouting off the back of performances at a major tournament' thing just doesn't really exist at this point. *Found it: https://theathletic.com/3616674/2022/12/05/scouting-world-cup-qatar/
That's fair. Maybe I did over react a little in my response. I guess all the years of Dux selling us lies and hot air does that to a persons thinking about how he comes across sometimes.
At the time I thought it was a red but to be honest I don't know the law precisely. Having seen the highlights now I would think yellow as it was on the halfway line, there were at least 2 other Sunderland defenders further back and it wasn't stopping a clear goal opportunity. Particularly as it was Watford and also Martins!
Quite a boring game really, moments of end to end, but with more huff and puff than any quality. The only real moment was Andrews finish. All being well that's the last we ever see of Martins. Probably the most over hyped waste of a shirt we have ever seen.
Yes good riddance to Martins if he leaves us. There’s no place here next season for that kind of will’o’the’wisp player.
Martins has been a real disappointment since he joined us 18 months ago and I'll be happy to see him leave. Not the biggest over hype to performance ratio we've had (Kienan Davis, Henrique Araújo, Ozan Tufan are all immediate examples that were far more egregious) but he looks so disinterested at times.
Describing players to Children's TV programs and characters of the 70's and early 80's might become my favorite thing to do next year.
A home win was a nice way to end a fairly boring season. Who won player of the season? Bachmann - Another decent game, we know he has his faults but he's a keeper at a mid table Championship side and I've seen far worse keepers than him. I would think he will be our first choice keeper next season Porteous - Has certainly looked a lot better since Clevs came in but that's partly down to him not racing forward to win the ball half way in the oppositions half which clearly he was instructed to do. Good luck to him in the Euro's Hoedt - Been a rock all season at the back and will be very important next season although I thought I saw somebody say they thought he was leaving Grieves - Nice to see him given a chance and a bit of a shame to take him off at half time in a meaningless game Kone - Hope he's here next season as clearly has talent but needs to be involved more. Good pass for the goal but not much else Kayembe - Probably his poorest performance of the season but in general has been our best midfielder this year King Ken - Effort and taking on their full back is what is missing form Lewis' game. Still think a left back would be one of the priorities in the summer though Asprilla - Shame if he goes as he's improved this year and seems happy to be at the club but as he's probably the only player we have that's worth a decent amount I guess he's going Bayo - Lots of effort but just simply isn't a goal threat which is his main job Dennis - Pass the ******* ball. So frustrating because he is decent but if that's what he will give us I don't him back Lewis - Cheerio Andrews - More suited to RWB than just a full back and a good goal. Needs to step up next year and improve Martins - Absolute bobbins, cheerio Raj - I left on 80 mins as had to get home quickly so idea if he did much but I can probably make an educated guess! And that's it for another season. I imagine a fair few changes in the summer with Asprilla, Ince, Livermore, Martins and maybe one or two others leaving. Forde just got young player of the season at Orient so look forward to seeing him but would think a striker, a left back, a holding midfielder and anybody with some pace would be needed next year
