I am feeling better already but the very lovely Mrs Godders is still in a grumpy mood following the match. I told her she should stay at home and look after me but she said she would be disappointed if the Saints scored a hatful and she wasn't there to see it.
The formation, the manager, etc aren't primarily to blame, but it is bizarre that we keep playing the same collection of players together without any substantive changes. Even something as simple as swapping Tadic and Redmond to their natural sides seems to be beyond us. Make no mistake, though: if we keep playing the same players together in the same positions, we'll keep getting the same results.
That's certainly the logical conclusion to draw. Alas for some reason, some people still have their head in the sand. I mean, look at last season, when we were missing all those early season chances, that magically turned around over time and the goals were flying in come in the end of the season...
Evening Saints. Not here to stir the pot in anyway, more a case of pointing out what I saw and heard this afternoon. As I live in France my chances of getting to games are not good, although I suppose your ground is as near to me as any. Yes I did go to the Dell with that wonderful strange shaped stand. Due to the wonders of the internet I do however have the chance to watch games and also listen to the Watford Player. Today I was obviously pleased by the result, but more by the manner of it. As you are a clearly well informed bunch you will know that my club has been taken to task quite often about the number of changes to personal that have taken place. Last season we started with a head coach who never could speak more than a few words in English which didn't go down too well with some, but the type of football played was pretty dire. The change to the current one has been dramatic so far. The board have backed him to try and get the type of player he wants, spending quite a lot for a club of our size. Not all the deals came off, but some of the signings have been excellent. Today I watched a team taking the game to the home team, by making sure we always had an extra player in mid-field. When we lost the ball the Hornets swarmed in numbers until we regained the ball. Yes we like you played a lone striker, but as he pulled the defence about others quickly joined up to fill the empty spaces. To my mind and also the commentators I was listening to, it was more about speed, and not giving your players time on the ball. There will always be a debate about how badly a team played, or how well they were allowed to play. Today my team seemed organized with some talented players. I suspect you also have talented players, but are they in a system that suits them? That is for you to discuss, not me. Anyway I hope all goes well with you all.
Worried now. Am usually looking for positives and excuses, but am running out now. Pissed off. Can lose to anyone, but too much of a pattern to ignore.
It was understandable up to a point. We did generate opportunities, though it might be a stretch to call a lot of them good chances. At some point, though, the sample size becomes large enough to draw conclusions, and we're well past that point IMO. Individually, the likes of Tadic, Redmond, Davis and JWP have positive qualities (who knows about Boufal); together, they are hopelessly flawed. Neither strong nor fast nor skilled nor composed enough.
Will Lemina help some of that? I sort of hope he will, he should have played today, unless he was actually broke. Bailly played against him in the week and the full game today. And I don't think we were working on a new tactic. Not saying that he would be enough by himself. Maybe I am hoping too much. Agree that Gabbiadini is not at fault here, it's bad tactics. I can live with the defence for now, what is happening in front of Romeu is all wrong. Crystal Palace are in a horrible place, seems like a nice opportunity to try something a bit different...please.
Have to say that being worried is fully justified at the moment. It's been a poor start to the season in terms of how we've played and to lose at home with only 1 shot on target is disappointing. It's also not surprising which is even more concerning. Still it's only 4 games into the season, hopefully Pellegrino can turn things around starting at Palace next weekend.
I hope Lemina was left out because of his travelling. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of that, at least it wouldn't be as buffling as being left out for tactical reasons. I do though struggle to believe it was tiredness. He was the only CM on the bench - what if Romeu or Davis had broken down after 5 mins? If he's on the bench, then he's surely fit. Why not include PEH on the bench too? (There is no need for McQueen to be on the bench. He's wasting a space). I absolutely think that Lemina playing would have helped us cope better with Watford, given that is where the game was won. But I'm not sure it would have helped us score a goal. Davis inevitably would still have been in the team, this time in an advanced role (what dreams are made of). Together with one, maybe two, out of form "attackers". And no doubt with the same bizarre strategy of just smashing the ball forward (if we have to play that way, then at least ensure that Long starts).
He'll likely help us avoid getting overrun, as we were today, but that still leaves us with the problem of what we are to do when we actually have the ball. Regarding PEH: if healthy, I'd be willing to throw a start his way in the quasi-10 role, strange as it sounds. When in more advanced positions last year, he showed some desire to pass and move, and that alone sets him apart from the other contenders for the job.
I am still confident we have the players, we haven't got a team. I think the major positive unfortunately is we are out of the efl cup and we have no European football. For the rest of 2017 we just have the premier league to concentrate on. The club need to use this time wisely. MP 2 needs to know his team, work on tactics, sort out the vvd situation, get the best 11 on the park, play to our strengths and bring back the good times. COYR
I said it before in this thread but you really reminded me of how we used to play a couple of seasons ago. coming at teams with energy and desire. not the best individual players but a team who worked hard for each other. And if a team doesn't match that desire, no matter how good they are they will get punished like we did today. If you keep that up you will do well.
just a guess here but I think he is referring to how Sunderland played last year and what happened to them at the end of the season.
