He's a headless chicken who hasn't got a clue where to be on the pitch, even more so when the opposition have the ball. His cameo role was appalling.
Ironically for a club currently managed by somebody I think we’d all agree was one of our best ever loanees from the PL, our record of such moves since 2020 has been fairly underwhelming. 20-21 Murray (0 goals in 5 matches) and Garner (loan terminated half way through) 22-23 Hause (disaster) Choudhury (ok I think) and Davis (7 goals in 34) 23-24 Dennis (4 goals in 17) and Lewis (certainly divided opinion) 24-25 Jebbison A somewhat disappointing track record recently, although we have had better loanees from overseas. Who do you consider our best PL loanee of recent years?
Murray was a total disaster. Fell over his own feet against Norwich without the ball anywhere near him. Retired soon after, Hause had a lot of good rep and anticipation before he joined but tuned out to be a dud, and was crocked for a while I remember. Choudhury was good (loved his hair). Davis started promising before he developed a statue-esq persona. Awfully slow in pace and about as effective as a wet paper towel. Dennis was a massive let down despite odd good goal on a rare occasion. Lewis was pony. Choudhury was the best of a bad bunch.
We are Watford FC we are in the Championship and we are reasonably skint. Finding a striker in January who scores most weeks whilst displaying other facets to his game that helps the team won't be easy.
I hear we will buy Bayo back for £10m this summer. Looks good value based on his current goals rate this season.
Baah was hacked to pieces with no protection from the ref. They took it in turn to foul him. He did well to last as long as he did!
Just before they scored Baah was fouled twice under the nose of the lino who gave nothing; however I said in shoutbox that our second should have been chalked off because of a foul on a defender, I didn't stand to cheer immediately because I expected the ref to blow for it.
He looked tired rather than injured to me. But you're spot on they were taking turns fouling him, particularly in the first half before they realised Georgi was the bigger threat.
I thought the ref and the linesman on our side were poor. The ref let too much go and the WBA approach included targeted fouling. Incidentally, yet more evidence, if any was needed, that an orange card/sin bin is needed; methodically hauling Chakvetadze back was a tactical decision, and being down to, say, 10 men for 10 minutes might successfully act as a deterrence.
I'm going to say it, we are in with a chance this season, most teams are of a similar standard and we have points on the board, not saying we will make the play offs but do think we have an excellent opportunity Enjoyed yesterdays game, especially the first 15 mins of the 2nd half when I thought we were excellent. What I didn't understand was why TC was going to change it when we were on top? His subs yesterday screamed, "we're going to try and hold on to what we've got" when I felt we looked the more likely to score. The subs were too defensive but I guess we still won so all good. The first goal summed up football for me. The group I sit with were all discussing how poor Bayo is and when the ball went out to Vata and he came back in on his right foot we were all shouting why not cross with your left foot you muppet. The rest is history!! Best home performance for a while and when you look at our home form under TC I was amazed to see how many thought before the game we would lose this. I'm not sure why, West Brom were one place above us in the league and although unbeaten in 12, 10 of those were draws and our home form is incredible Great to see Vata get a start and thought he was excellent, in fact I thought everybody was at least decent yesterday, apart from that competition winner that came on for Bayo. I guess he must have done something to impress scouts in the past to have got a contract at Bournemouth and a loan deal with us. We've not really seen much of him but in the minutes he has played he has done nothing to say he is worth sticking with 7th place, just outside the play offs and 12 points clear of the scum. Happy days
I think that's a bit harsh on Chak. I agree he doesn't get much on target but he's become a one track pony in that he seems to think he has to find an opening for a beautiful curler into the top corner. His open play is fantastic and I'm guessing he's been coached to get some shots in from distance but he tends to run past at least two of his team mates who just have to get out of his way. I guess he's missing a typical nbr 9 to play one-two's off, but I think he should try getting into the box more (and he'll prob get some penalties as he's so tricky)?
After the Hull game I said Bayo was pointless when he constantly drifted out wide to chase the ball as it left no one attacking in the middle, yesterday Vata and Baah did the wide work and this left Bayo where any centre forward should be for the majority of the game, in the centre! He is not the main striker we need, he is an acceptable option however needs to be in a formation that doesn’t need him to be chasing after the ball or coming in from wide! Competent competition for his spot in January would be nice to have and leave him more central in the meantime to score the odd goal as looked much more productive
Trouble with Bayo is that he seems to be on fire in some games and then nothing in others. I don't think it's all down to him tbh. We've all moaned on here about our inability to boss games and we tend to pass the ball in defence triangles far too much, so how does a striker show much when supply is awful? (made worse because he'll never be a 9 target man). When the team plays well and we get on the front foot - Bayo gets in the goals....
On a very similar note, I loved TC's post-match comment on Chak: "Georgi was a joy to watch when he's in full flow like that...I thought West Brom rotated the person who fouled him pretty well". Nice p***take Tom, talking like a diehard Rookery ender!!
Even if you rate Bayo he is gone in the summer, so needs to be sorted this window or next. Can't just excuse the owners complete lack of investment with "things aren't easy".
Udinese could always hypothetically loan him back to us for next season. It will be, though considering it's usually quite difficult to make major signings in the Jan window I suspect we'll prob be looking for loans in Jan and a permanent in the summer. But we won't play next season with zero first team strikers. If that does end up happening then moan about it then.
I still think we'll flatline at some point form wise, and end up 12th, which will still be a good achievement given the lack of investment. Whether we progress after that depends on if Pozzo will allow a portion of the latest round of sales next summer to be reinvested in the first team squad, or will he just pay down his debt. Whatever happens Cleverly has done an excellent job and some players have improved brilliantly.
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I don't think anybody will go in January unless a completely ridiculous bid comes in. Giorgi can and probably will go in the summer but to sell hin January when we have a chance of the play offs would be ludicrous
If we keep it up I think we could land anywhere between 6th and 8th, which would be great. I think it all rests upon what we do in January; hopefully we keep Chak for the remainder of the season at least, and potentially return Jebbison to Bournemouth and get someone else in. Also, I don't know if possible within FIFA/UEFA rules but seeing as Brondby are on winter break from 30th November to 16th February, bring back Raj in January, and at the end of January either keep him for the rest of the season or send him back to Brondby.
Maybe but we played better on Saturday with him and Vata starting. Defenders always have to be aware of what he might do, which gives space for others. I'd agree that Jebbo is better as a sub, ideally from the 98th minute.
Yes, Vata and Georgi did get in each other's way early on, as they were both playing their usual game. Then Georgi adapted, and with his runs from deep we gained in defence while losing nothing in attack.
