Is that the first time we've played our 'best' XI? An argument to be had over a few positions, but it's certainly the closest we've been. Delighted with that result, the first time I've bothered to fork out the £10, hope to see that system going forward!
Nonsense, they were fit and were here, we just decided not to play them because of our goal in trying to sell them. Sierralta wasn’t even given a chance after joining us on the 9th September. Told everyone on here, he will become our best CB. Was watching him play for Chile and dominated players like Luis Suarez etc. Yet we wouldn’t even give him a chance. Masina was crippled and Hughes was out injured. Outside of that, they were all here. Kiko, Wilmot, Ekong joined 29th September, Cleverley, Chalobah, Sarr, Pedro, Sema Could have easily started the season with this lineup 3 games into the season; Foster Ngakia Ekong Sierralta Kiko Cleverley, Chalobah, Quina Sarr Pedro Sema Not completely ideal, but would have been a lot better than the **** we served up playing 352/442. That team and formation would have beaten the likes of Wycombe, Barnsley, Sheff Weds, QPR, Bristol City, Notts Forest, Cardiff and Huddersfield.
Not getting carried away though, thought we'd have had enough to beat Bristol City with our usual team and system given all their players out, as it was, a big win was always kind of on the cards. Got lucky with a few of the goals too, I'm not for one second suggesting we'll see anything like that even if we do carry on playing that system!
If Deeney had managed to get that ball under control he would have wellied it straight into a defender or down the keeper's throat lol
The laughs on me.! I made other plans and as promised did not watch it. Heard it was 3-0 but thought "shall I watch second half, no if I do it will end up a dour 3-3". So they stuffed it up me but I don't mind, happy we won. Biggest issue now is do I watch Hive on Tuesday and risk it being a return to dross, or do I NOT watch again just to gtee another good win..?????? Antway, sounds like we've turned a corner at last.....
Thought JP was just fine today, could and perhaps should have got a goal or two and played well in general, only one who can hold a candle to him in terms of ability is Perica who is made of glass
To be fair our home form has been good enough all season, but our away form has been a car crash. If we can start to play well and win away, then there are grounds to think we could get auto
Oh I'm waiting until 6:45 (or whenever our teamsheet is released!) before I decide if I'm forking out again!
Funnily enough we started this season with Pedro up top and Sema alongside him and most of us, me included, thought we lacked a ‘proper’ number 9. Fast forward to today and no we didn’t! Cleverley and Chalobah were our midfield axis on that Friday night v Boro too. The defence and keeper has entirely changed though bar Femenía, who was playing on the left. It strikes me that all our Head Coaches have managed Pedro very carefully, whether by choice or instructions from higher up. Pearson wouldn’t throw him in. Ivic and Xisco have both failed to start him three times in a row when we’ve had a midweek match. I fear (though hope I’m wrong) that he will start from the bench on Tuesday. If so, I hope Perica replaces him. But hopefully Pedro will start.
It's weird they protect Pedro but play Sarr every game plus they flogged Richarlison until he ran out of juice too
Brilliant performance. Win or lose please can we go forward with this plan going forwards and put Deeney out to pasture. Great stuff! If Deeney is back Tuesday I will cry.
Really wonder where the difference in mentality came from today. Was it a squad of players invigorated by the change of formation? Was it a squad of players invigorated by the omission of Deeney/Gray? Was it a squad of players fighting to save the coach? Team selection and subsequent performance levels in the next game will probably answer these questions. I’d like to think it’s a mixture of all three. Lovely to see us attacking with pace, purpose and variation. Hughes looked good playing the deeper role under Pearson, and at this level he’s certainly capable of dictating the tempo from the base of the midfield. No shock that the addition of an extra midfielder allowed us to keep possession and control of the game much better. No shock that playing Sarr higher and wider up the pitch made him much more of a threat. No shock that with a striker capable of asking questions of defenders and moving them into uncomfortable areas of the pitch opened up space for Sema and Sarr to thrive in. As mentioned above, football is a simple game when you play to strengths.
I’ve forgotten what it’s like but I think think that was actually quite like watching a promotion chasing side against a mid table side . City were ***** but then we have proved very capable of playing poorly vs ***** sides all season The formation worked very well . Hughes was excellent actually playing in the centre and Sarr was like the Sarr we were hoping we would see. There was some fluency to our play and we looked like a team . This is what a lot of us were expecting of this team The big question he is can we replicate that away at Preston ? Xisco must keep that formation but what happens with Deeney ? He should at least try it again and see if we can finally get a decent away performance. Anyway was good to finally enjoy a Watford match for the first time in quite a while .
Our home form hasn't been good, we've just won a lot of home matches. "Good enough" covers it from the results point of view, but not if you see football as entertainment. Until today ...
If Deeney had a knock why’s he even on the bench? For me Troy still has plenty to offer from where he was today. He can motivate as club captain provide that voice in the dressing room. If need be come on for 30 mins to see the game out or if desperate something to aim at. Technically he’s still better than perica also has a better football brain IMO. Pedro still learning and adapting to the English game but he needs to be trusted and used more going forward Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
From the limited opportunities perica has had and what I’ve seen of him ( yes ok limited and is very rusty) And with Troy you’ve been watching long enough. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A goal he deserved and would of capped off a really good performance Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's the first time in a while that the players actually seemed to be happy on the pitch. I think Massina made a darting run into the box and Sarr/Sema held the ball up and didn't make a pass. No arm flinging, no dropped heads, just an appreciative smile and a thumbs up. It's absolutely no coincidence that we scored so many when Gray and Deeney where on the bench. Whilst Bristol where absolutely terrible, I think had the gruesome twosome started it would have been a turgid 1-0 Deeney penalty win again.
Worrying that Xisco has said after the game that formations, system and players will depend on who we are playing. Shouldn’t teams be adapting to us rather than the other way around!? Just let this team play!
Still have to show respect to whoever the opposition is. But yes we should be giving them more to think about. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Personally, I think you have to take into account awareness and movement in their role, say, when you're talking technically, and even on the small sample size Perica hugely outperforms the tugboat in that regard.
