Benitez pretty brutal about Ashley's summer transfer policy and a warning about expectations in January if he hasn't gone by then: Also, he is saying he knows that players we signed are limited but that's all he was allowed to sign and that those players still need support. I harken back to the likes of Best, O'Brien, Dummett or many many others that fans have laid into over the years and say again it's not a player's fault if they have limited ability. If they try hard you can't ask a lot more of them. I'm assuming Rafa is aiming this comment mostly over Joselu who he must know is getting a lot of stick and who he also knows is limited but was all he was allowed to sign. No booing lads, just support.
Just re-watched the highlights and 451 needs to return. It's bad enough when Shelvey's running around doing **** all, but seeing him paired with Diame you get the feeling there was a private contest to see who can use the most energy to virtually no effect. The pressure that leaves on the defence is just ridiculous. Plus Ritchie man, can we not just try him at AM or something? Left Yedlin defending two ****ing men for most of the match and isn't showing enough attacking intent to warrant being let off
I think Ritchie was to blame for Watford's first as he was nowhere near his man but was shouting at Yedlin to cover him. Hadn't been the first time in this match that he had done that. It was, for me, why Watford had so much joy against Yedlin as Ritchie was not there helping and leaving Yedlin to look after 2 men.
I feel like seeing the fans exodus when we were 12th and losing 3-0 has got to him. This team clearly needs unwavering support, not the weight of expectation born from winning a few games on the bounce. The crowd have every right to do what they like, but it's pretty obvious chanting for Mitro and bemoaning everything Joselu does isn't going to make him any better. Even through my hate-filled eyes the poor ****er looked shot to pieces. Like Benitez said you pay 15-20m for a standard striker, we paid 5m. Murphy, Lejuene and Gayle have been his priciest buys whilst here, tells you everything really.
Yeh I read someone else say this was a tactic from Silva, but I have honestly never see Ritchie shirk defensive responsibility as bad as in that match. He played like Diame/Shelvey and sadly both the ****ers were already on the pitch. Christ I feel for our defence if it's the same tonight, they will get the **** but don't necessarily deserve it
Not sure I can take anymore of Shelvey, can anyone honestly explain to me what specifically he has done better than mo ****ing Diame since coming back? Meant to be our best player, way he swans around pitch pointing at **** as if magic comes out of his fingers he's clearly let it go to his head.
If - and it's quite a big one - we can win tonight, it will go some way to getting rid of the understandable negativity surrounding the club at the moment.
Poor at the weekend vs Watford but hopefully West Brom will be a slightly easier game. I'd go with: Darlow Mbemba-Lejuene-Clark-Gamez Hayden-Merino Yedlin-Ritchie-Gayle Mitrovic Elliott, Haidara, Lacs/Dummy, Shelvey, Aarons, Murphy, Perez I'd drop Elliott, just don't think he is on form atm, nowt more. That line up could also just work in a 3-4-1-2 formation - just saying... *Please also note that this squad allows us to move forwards without ever mentioning the LB or CF who have been playing recently again.
I'd go 3 at the back. We're getting killed in there most of the time and have a perfectly able CB sat on his arse. 3-5-2 (or 3-4-1-2, whatever). Elliot; no better option. Mbemba - Lejeune - Clark; seems like a sensible mix to me. Yedlin - Shelvey - Hayden - Murphy; with pace on the flanks and options ahead, Shelvey may turn it round. Yedders and Murphy fit enough to get up and down. Merino; doesn't need to be a true no.10 as we have two strikers on the pitch - can drop deep or dictate from attacking third. Mitrovic - Perez; Joselu needs to be put down, Gayle also gives me no confidence from the start of a match (impact sub for Perez).
