Better than I expected (after the first 10 mins) but was a good example of our fundamental problem We play like one of those teams that isn’t worried about letting a goal in as they will score more , but we don’t score more (we can’t score), we have midfields that get a reasonable of number of goals (Kayamebe / Sissoko) but lack any forward with any real attack threat (Doumbia is alright but he has only played a hand full of games). We were pressing so hard in the first half how did we not score , how do we score so few from set pieces and corners. TC if we are fair has done ok this season, we thought we would be relegated but are safe, but he lacks experience, we should have changed something at half time, we had looked good without looking threatening , why didn’t he bring on Vata and Bayo (I know) at half time , what did he have to loose. For next season Get rid of Chak (for a decent offer), Kayemebe (for a decent offer), Bayo , Ince , TDB, Bachman Keep Louza , Dumbia, Baah, Vata (but does need to keep the ball better), Abankwah (but let him run forward , he seems to be penned back since his mistake that cost a goal) , Selvik , Pollock, try to keep Wiley on loan, Sissoko (if he can do another season , if not look for another leader of similar ilk) Everybody else, if an upgrade is available take it, if not stick with them. Key purchase striker and someone to replace TDB that can play with Louza Play two up front with Vata on one side and Baah on the other other
Just got out of the ground and am on the train - just a few quick points: We didn’t play badly at all. Ince was surprisingly pretty good and I felt the full-backs played very well. I want Abankwah to play a full 90 minutes soon - o rate him. Mamadou Doumbia has a decent press on him but hasn’t got much end product. He’d probably be decent in a front two, or, if we insist one one up front, bring him on as a sub to run at tired defenders. Unfortunately, at this rate, both those scenarios involve playing Vakoun Bayo, so we may as well not bother. Oh well; only four-and-a-half months of hoping we might sign a striker by the end of the next window.
His main goal is to let you know he used to play for Man City - he gives the impression this stuff is below him.
Despite some very poor individual performances, I don't feel like we deserved to lose that. Better team for most of the game, but we didn't wake up until they scored, which has happened far, far too often this season. If TDB starts next week, I will seriously begin to consider Tom's judgement in player performances. He trots around contributing nothing to attacking plays, and is equally ineffective when out of possession, frequently beaten in duels, weak in the tackle and doesn't track his runners. He's a passenger, and if he's allowed to put performances in like that and still start, its says to everyone, that is the level that's acceptable. Ramirez-Espain or Dwomoh from now on please. Another one of those close, but not quite good enough performances, which is an apt summary of our season really. If at the beginning you thought we were in danger of relegation, then you shouldn't be too hung up on not making the playoffs, for we've already exceeded those initial fears and expectations. But once we established that relegation wasn't a concern and we were floating around the top half, it is easy to get frustrated at inconsistent performances, especially when one look at the league table tells you a decent run of results could see you in the playoffs (Coventry are 6th despite 15 defeats!). At least Luton lost.
All well and good but nobody will take Ince or Bachman on their contracts and nobody will offer decent money for Kayembe, Ince and Kayembe will be stinking out the team next season I am certain.
One of our main problems is we don’t test the keeper enough . We probably have as many chances as WBA but theirs were on target .
That's what a World Cup winner brings you. Goals & a winning mentality. Need to secure him on a longer deal with prem clubs sniffing around.
Suggestions were he only signed if he had the option to be sold back in the summer if he wanted. Hopefully he will want to stay.
Much as I love chugging up and down motorways or criss-crossing the country by train to visit some bleak dump that time forgot to watch Watford play like the Keystone Cops I couldn't motivate myself to go today. Well done to those who did. My spies tell me that the percentage of coked-up loutish halfwits among the travelling fans was higher than normal today so all in all I think I made the right choice
Our current trajectory is awful, can see Gino pulling the trigger shortly. Can't say I will be greatly sympathetic, can't keep playing dog **** like TDB and Kayembe when even academy options will be better. Last 20 games:
Probably true but on paper Kayembe looks alright he is a midfielder that scores enough goals and has a decent strike on him (if you watch his highlight reel he probably looks ok ) , I thought a prem side was interested in him as well. Bachman needs to understand he will be the reserve goal keeper and hopefully his agent will find him something else. Ince is probably too old for another championship side so unless he is ok dropping to league 1 would be a hard sale, how long is he contracted for ?
Ah that explains why it has been so disappointing watching Watford for the last four months, in fact pretty much since Baah got injured.
I think the good will element and TCs qualities at developing youth players will maybe keep him in a job over summer but a continuation of 1 ppg next season will see him sacked by autumn
That's standard form for the second half of a Pozzo season, such is the culture they have cultivated at the club.
We're below Plymouth Argyle? Clevs out! Email this table straight away to Gino at "@yourvoice@watfordfc.com" immediately!
I've got some good or bad news (depends on how you look at it) Edo Kayembe's contract with Watford FC is set to expire on June 30, 2026, as he joined the club on a four-and-a-half-year contract from KAS Eupen on January 7, 2022.
Saw the lowlights.... Two key issues in my mind. 1) we are always total dross when we lose the ball on the halfway line and have to get back to (try to) defend. 2) it makes a huge pointer when (an aged) Sissoko becomes our only goalscorer 2 games running.
Think he'd get eaten alive personally. Great technique but think you could only really play him in a dominant team that have a lot of the ball or with a couple of bodyguards alongside him. He looks too slight and slow for the Championship to me (at least in our current set up). Having said that, other than Louza our central midfield options are utterly rancid so would give him a couple of games to see if he sinks or swims. Would love him to prove me very, very wrong!
Are we not going to celebrate ensuring survival today? Clevs has done a great job getting this dreadful squad well over the line because we looked nailed on for relegation before a ball was kicked.
I'm not sure if this is meant in jest or not... If it is, well done, you got me! If it isn't, I agree with you. All things considered I think Tom has had a very decent first full season. Apart from getting rid of Raj I can't think of much that I'd have liked to have seen him publicly flogged for. Yes, things could have gone better but he is learning on the job and what mistakes he has made will become fewer with experience.
It’s hard to feel much optimism really. We seem to be stuck in limbo, a disinterested owner, people in charge tired and past their best, a not especially exciting squad and a young coach whose sole remit seems to be to do his best before the inevitable annual summer fire-sale of anybody half decent. We stagger on from the occasional pleasing victory to enjoy to the inevitable defeats to better sides where our lack of sensible and thoughtful squad building gets exposed time after time. I’m sure I’m not the only one who won’t be at all bothered when this season ends. Those of a slightly more positive outlook will no doubt enjoy the summer debating and YouTubing about our transfer window, looking forward to the release of the fixtures and having fun picking their starting line-ups for August, but the more realistic of us are tired of endless false dawns and the hope that one day our recruitment team might get a window right. Oh and good luck @UEA_Hornet for the marathon this morning! Fantastic effort.
JEBBISON? I guess linked, but if we’d had Raj’s goals instead of Jebbison’s sulks and timid play, we may have still been in with a chance of the POs.
I mostly agree with these sentiments, except when you reference “the inevitable defeats to better sides”. I honestly don’t think there are many significantly better sides in the division, given the general mediocre standard this year. Where we have been lacking is the obvious gaping hole in the squad at centre-forward and the collective lack of positivity in willingness to attack teams.
Apart from the first 10 minutes or so we were so much better than WBA during the 1st half However we fizzled out a bit after that , 2 decent finishes from them TBF . Nice selection of burger vans outside the ground !
Yep. We are just at the beginning of another wilderness era. It's going to get worse before it gets better too, l'm afraid.
Basically they toon their chances whilst we relied on shots from range but how many clear cut ones did we create ? Even the goal was a well taken finish - not easy for Sissoko .
Thats it, until hes given a chance, we wont know. And the way the clubs going, he could leave for peanuts and end up shining elsewhere.
Although I don’t disagree with your observations I feel quite positive for next season . Mainly because of the crop of young players coming through and the ones likely to feature next season ie Ramirez Espain, Nabizada , Massiah Edwards. I think if we sell Chak, Bach and Kayembe we may have some money to invest and hopefully sign Kyprianou on a free and a new striker to share work load with Doumbia . Could be wrong but I don’t really see much point going to the football if you’re not excited about the possibility of doing well . Would rather spend my time doing something else if that was the case .
