I was at a work Xmas meal when we played Hull so couldn't tell you exactly how well we really did but I did manage to sneak some glimpses of our game v Hull. Deary me, it was dire wasn't it? Thankfully, Hull's finishing was apparently just as dire so we did a reverse Plymouth and got a very uninspired point against the overall run of play. Watching the highlights, Sierralta really does not look in form despite being in a back 3 which should suit him well. Bring back James Morris at LCB please and move Pollock central. At least we have Kwadwo Baah (Not a sentence I expected to type back in May but these are strange times, indeed) and hopefully Rocco Vata will be given more of a chance now. The Opposition: If there's something to be said about the Baggies this season, it's that they love their draws. 11 of them so far, in fact and are leading the way for the most draws of any team in the division with four of them coming in their last six games. (Though this includes draws against Norwich and Sheffield United so more than respectable) Josh Maja is their obvious goal scoring threat with 10 goals to his name this season while Karlan Grant is a ways behind with 5 goals. Having beaten Coventry 2-0 in their last game with goals from Grant and Mowatt and looking like they've gotten through a hard spell of fixtures in decent shape, I don't think it's unreasonable to say they should be favourites this fixture. It's hard not to talk about West Brom though without mentioning two notable fixtures for us. So I will! The first being Ismailla Sarr's audacious strike from the halfway line in a 1-1 draw a few years ago: And the other being Heurelho Gomes (God I miss his shining bald bonce) two penalty saves against Saido Berahino in the same game to help us squeak a 1-0 win away at the Hawthorns in which Ben Watson scored a rare goal for the 'Orns. Notable players who've played for both sides includes Ben Foster, Jake Livermore, Jonathon Bond, Craig Dawson, Allan Nyom, Paul Robinson and Kevin Phillips. I'm sure I've missed a few but these are the ones that came to mind. The 'Orns: If there's one thing Watford are good at, it's being inconsistent. And boy are we doing just that. Our recent performances can be best described using such words as "Aimless", "Sloppy" and "What the **** was that?" after having enjoyed a strong start to our season. Although Cleverley has rightly taken some criticism for our poor starts to most games (Either conceding, or at least giving away a high quality chance most games within the first 10 minutes) there has been notable efforts to try and combat this which I think has now gone too far the other away and stifling our attacks too often now and does explain his choices well to fans which can make it more palatable. Our home record, while impressive is something that at the moment feels like it's going to come undone any game now unless we find another gear. I won't be too down when it's inevitably lost sooner or later because it's been a nice change of pace given the last few years at home. The biggest questions that came from the game against Hull I think are the same we've asked for the majority of the season. The first and most obvious one is Bayo, and what exactly he brings that neither Doumbia or Jebbison offers. I can accept that for this level, Bayo offers some target man play but his movement has regressed this year compared to previous years and doesn't even get on the end of chances to miss now and that's not acceptable for a striker of any variety. With how Cleverley has talked up Doumbia recently I think it's fair to say he's at least developed to the same level as Jebbision now and being our player, should take priority with game time. The next question is who partners Louza in midfield? Louza has cemented himself currently as the starting central midfielder and looks committed to the cause which couldn't be said last year and even early in the season and that is only a good thing for us. I think we're missing Dele-Bashiru's balance to the side more than fan first appreciated because he's excellent at keeping and turning with the ball under heavy pressure despite his poor final ball. Sissoko sadly does not look like the midfielder perhaps Cleverley and we thought we'd see at this level and Kayembé looks out of sorts despite having a good engine and strong shot on him, he just never seems to make it count. That leaves Dwomoh who looked promising in his game v Sheffield Wednesday and should be featuring more as he looked a good ball winning player who has some technical skill too which no-one else in the team can do naturally. I don't mind Ince in the midfield more than on the wings honestly; I think he's a decent grafter and has the intelligence and experience to make that work. He's lost that yard of pace to be that reliably dangerous wing threat now. The last question has to be aimed at our back line. Jeremey Ngakia is coming back from a long injury lay-off so I will cut him some slack, but Sierralta looks awful with his passing and defending. Do we move to a 4-3-3 and chance only Pollock and Porteous or do we bring back Morris at LCB and move Pollock to the centre of that back 3? 5-2-2-1: 4-3-3: Final Thoughts: It's been frustrating watching us recently because we haven't seen this side put together a full 90 minutes yet, but we know we have the players to do it. Play-offs are beyond us, just with this squad as evidenced by our recent stilted performances. That said, Cleverley has done a lot of good off the pitch by all accounts and has also managed to prevent an injury crisis from forming due to his rotation of the squad and adaption of his press style from his early games. Chakvetadze needs to up his end product as one goal and 4 assists for a player of his quality is doing himself a disservice while we absolutely need a striker in January to replace Jebbison and put Bayo on the bench. We need Cleverley to give Vata and Dwomoh chances now at the very least going forward while letting Doumbia have regular sub minutes. My heart says a 2-1 win. My head says a 2-1 loss. COYH
WBA have a pretty decent record at the Vic. They were the side to end our unbeaten start to the season under Aidy in 08/09 by thrashing us 0-3, we also had that fantastic 3-3 draw against them in 2000 (might of been the game before Fulham humilated us on boxing day) and we've had an entertaining 3-2 win over them fairly recently. So it's safe to say there should be goals on Sunday at the very least. I think WBA draw so many because they, a bit like Burnley, are better defensive than offensive. They don't lose many, but until last round of matches they don't win many either. If we win we go above them - but I echo @PowerJugs thoughts here. I think this is going to be the game we lose our home record. Against QPR we were toothless and got away with a point, likewise against Hull last Wednesday. We seem to have lost our socring streak and Sissoko without TDB alongside him just doesn't seem to function. Baah is quality and one of our best performers but can he last ninety minutes consistently? Vata needs to start - he's miles better than Kayemebe and has a good run and shot on him. Chak needs players' he can find in pockets of space and Bayo is not that. Doumbia needs to be given a chance now surely, and Morris needs to stake his claim in the backline (he's a bit marmite in the fanbase but he cares and shows effort). It won't be easy, WBA will bring a lot to the party in an attacking sense and our snail like starts will be punished if we don't come out the blocks quickly. I would love a point here, but I think on the day, and the form we've slipped into they will have too much for us. Watford 0 WBA 2
Can't see anything else than an Albion win. I can't take another masterclass from FS and Bayo. If we stick with a three at the back Morris has to start and that's extremely difficult for me to say. Plus Bayo nowhere near the stadium.
I agree on Morris and I like to see Vata starting. One of our biggest problems is a lack of basic energy in midfield.
Apparently us and West Brom agreed to move the game back as both played Wednesday.. Well in our case some might question that . Vata and Baah will probably start but then get taken off as a naturally very good WBA defence hardly gives them a sniff .
Feck, seriously thought this was on TV and even swerved a pre-Xmas family roast because of it. Now what do I do.
Buy the rights to broadcast it, set up a television production company, send your new employees to the Vic to record the game and then sit back at home to watch? Admittedly that leaves you with a bit to do.
I'd say unless he has the nads to drop Bayo and change the system, this is where the home run ends. I get that we sit on 0-0 with the aim to score with our substitutes, but it is wearing thin. Chaks is getting taken out of the game and then to be hooked at 70 mins makes zero sense.
Get your laptop/tablet. Get a VPN. Tell your laptop it's in France/Morocco/Japan wherever. Go to ifollow on the Watford FC website and get a monthly video pass for €30 cancellable any time, but with 5 away games in January, pretty good value. Hook it up to your TV.
Very random isn’t it that we’ve agreed to move this game to Sunday because we played Wednesday. The number of games played midweek by teams and this decision never happens. Maybe the 2 managers have agreed to go Christmas shopping with their wives today. If so, good luck to them! Mrs Cleverley is going to be very puzzled when TC walks out of a shop with a huge toy crow under his arm.
Either that or a giant Mr Jettson to replace Jebbison. He will probably be training the crow the basics of scoring a goal ahead of tomorrow.
They are quite defensive and safety first themselves so something will have to give otherwise could be a dull boring game - which they probably win. So might be the time to try something different and play Baah/Vata and hope we can get a performance out of them from the start?
