A win is a win, but that was an awful game. 2 well taken goals by Gray (did i really just type that) but they could have had 2 penalties (foul on Ikpeazu and punch by Bachman) plus I'm not sure if their ruled out goal was offside. If cleverley is out we are in deep stew. It was always neglectful to come out of Jan with so few midfielders and we finished the game all over the shop, with a winger and centre back at the heart of midfield. A win is massive, but it is worrying to look ahead and wonder what sort of side we can field in the next game and thereafter.
Comfortable. Could have had more with more accurate passing and crossing in the final third. Kiko outstanding. Zinckernagel two exquisite touches and did well in an unfamiliar role. Kudos to Gray for taking his chances. Hopefully that gets the block removed. Nice little cameo from Hungbo, shame Perica did not throw himself at it. Jonno in the Academy is only a good thing. Great role model. Need to improve at set pieces. Imagine Moore instead of Ukpeazu. Only problem is hoping Cleverley is not badly injured. We are paper thin in midfield which makes the decision to let Quina and Garner leave mind boggling. Wilmot could come into DM and allow Hughes and Zinckernagel to roam or hope Gosling has recovered for Saturday. Just keep on going. Zinckernagel provides a Messiesque crafty disguised final ball for Gray to slot home his second:
Anyone defending Munoz’s subs on Saturday surely can’t after tonight’s game? I swear the guy uses a bingo machine to choose them.
Gray. 2 goals. What. Enjoyable game, wasteful finishing at times. Wycombe were as we expected and we were fortunate with the offside goal and that Ikpeazu possible foul in the box. Hopefully Cleverley isn't out for long but it doesn't look like an ACL at least. Leaves us very light there. Sema, Zinckernagel and Wilmot appear to be most likely stand ins for the midfield injury crisis. Sarr, Gray(!), Hughes and Zinckernagel are my standout players tonight. Credit Hungbo with a promising cameo.
Happy with the result, a bit of a banana skin without Chalobah or Joao Pedro, fair play Gray for picking up the slack. **** knows who's gonna play against Forest, Gray's given Xisco a decision to make, and who knows what our midfield will look like...
Challenge on Ikpeazu was as much of a foul as the one on Sarr, and Bachmann's punch was after an offside call.
That pass to Sarr in the first half was exquisite. Sarr just had to run on to it without breaking stride. For someone whose natural position has not been central midfield he did excellently and will only learn and improve. Not to mention his fitness. Sometimes still a little off the pace but you cannot fault his determination to win the ball back which he also did a couple of times.
What type of cheese did you eat? As I had a bizarre dream too, involved gray scoring twice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Credit where it's due, excellent movement by Gray for both goals and assured finishes. Think it helped that the first was an instinct finish. Would be nice to finally have another option for goals from open play than Pedro. Zinckernagel a bit up and down, some undoubted quality, most notably for the second goal where he played the kind of clever pass we've been missing all season. Was far more aggressive off the ball which was nice to see - penny seems to have dropped that he needs to put a foot in or pull a shirt. Rest was a bit of mixed bag. Bachmann keeps clean sheets whilst looking terrified of any high ball. Masina is playing really badly at the moment, shame we have no other option there. We are running Sarr into the ground, Sema looks spent and how costly will that injury to Cleverley be? Captain, leader, most energetic midfielder. Midfield on Saturday is going to be interesting/depressing. Imagine having a senior squad with only four central midfielders and then playing 4-3-3.
Job done . Not long till the next game so need to be fresh. Well done Andre - got the goals. Hopefully Clev is ok.
Do you think that in any way changed my opinion on Xisco? You are labouring under an odd delusion if so.
Zinckernagel is a good option as a #10, not sure about him in the middle of the park, got to hope one of our regulars is available. Sema would be an interesting option in the middle of the park, I fancy him as a poor man's Doucoure, although surely in need of a rest
For absolute starters it could’ve easily cost us allowing extra, unnecessary mental and physical fatigue on Sarr.
No, I think most people's opinions on Xisco will never change, despite the evidence in front of them.
Wow Andre' Gray does the business for once. Not one for the purest but it's a vital win considering Brentford lost earlier. Wycombe have some bruiser's in their team and bossed Zinc a bit. It was always going to be a slog but we hard chances to really add to our GD shame we never took them. Thought Sarr was quite poor tonight overall, maybe still feeling the effects of Sarutday. Great connection from Gray especially for the first goal. He did alright tonight, had his comedy gold moments but I would be happy with him ahead of Perica if this could turn into some sort of form. It was a banana skin game and we came through it. Pedro should be back for Forest, but again plaudits to Gray tonight. Bachmann needs to get his head on in games as well, a couple of odd situations he found himself in. Overall, take the three points, hope Stoke can do us a favour.
Comfortable. Zinckernagel is one of those players who always looks like he's in control of the situation. Even when he isn't. I think we're not totally on his wavelength rather than he's not up been to speed. Sarr is our best player by miles, yet so incredibly poor at times. Could do with Stoke holding on.
Not sure what Emma is saying talking about squad depth. Pedro coming back in makes an interesting selection dilemma upfront. But Pedro for me. However Sema looks flat whether or not is a consequence of COVID. But midfield is so thin. Chalobah will be back in the game after next, fingers crossed Gosling is just a minor knock but Cleverley has led from the front and is vital to winning the ball back, transitions and holding onto the ball. Does a lot of dirty work which goes unnoticed. Also Sierralta was great again and Kiko was magnificent. It is a shame that while our right hand side is electric the left hand side looks like a dead dynamo. If Lazaar was match fit he would provide the balance in attack down that side. Masina rarely ventures into the final third.
If Cleverley and Gosling aren't there at the weekend, Wilmot sitting midfielder I would go for. Sema looks cream crackered, I wouldn't put him central midfield myself. Hopefully one or both are ok though.
Some woeful refereeing again. Some decisions he made were weird. Think wycombe goal was onside so got away with one. Gino being a cheap **** could now be very costly very bare in the middle. Hopefully gosling be ok Saturday and cleverly not serious or we could be watching garner thinking what if. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well worked second goal by zinc. I’m sure he will come good. Well taken by Gray for once. Sema and Sarr just look shagged, is Munoz ever going to rotate them? It was foolish not to bring TC off after his injury when we are 2-0 up. What exactly is the point of Perica?
Highest win rate of any Watford manager ever, and has turned us from a side unwilling to attack, and potentially heading to midtable, to joint 2nd. He's made plenty of tactical and selection decisions I disagree with, and I think he'd get found out in the PL, but if anyone says he's not done a good job, then they're just too proud to admit they were wrong.
