Gilmour now the WhoScored MOM. What I think we are beginning to see are the fruits of S&S coaching, not primarily of Gilmour himself, but those playing with him. Incidentally, earlier in the season I pointed out that WhoScored listed Norwich as having only one strength -- "Holding onto leads" -- which was comical given that, at that point, we had never actually led in any EPL game! That's still listed as our only strength, but now it actually has a real basis
Their investment in English footballers is negligible too during the Pozzo era. Everything is about the present rather than building anything. Looking at the academy: For players born 1990 or later (32 seems a reasonable cutoff, they took the club over in 2012 so that's including players from long before they joined) Watford's academy has produced 40 Premier League appearances since 1990, of which 17 are Jadon Sancho (at the club until he was 15) and 17 are Marvin Sordell. Watford are the only Premier League club without a single academy product in their squad, Despite our much more meagre financial position and fewer seasons in the Premier League, we've produced 358 Premier League appearances in the same period.
We won! Both teams looked a bit rusty, but we looked like we could defend and the midfield functioned. Would have been difficult for Placheta coming in at the last second and I didn't think he was very effective, but with the 0-0 in the league between Burnley and Watford, it has been a good weekend. The draw for the next round is later today.
Has there been anything said in regards to Ozan Kabak not making the bench yesterday? Would seem an odd move to chose not to have a CB on the bench.
I hope I'm not jinxing him, but I want to say how huge Hanley has been in this little run of games. I say that because lots of people criticise him, but I think he's a big reason why we seem to be a lot stronger at the back lately.
Yes, and it's the most obvious change recently. The pragmatism of Smith and Shakespeare has been a big part in this, but it's also the new players integrating and developing an understanding with each other. That's a credit to the recruitment by Webber and Farke which is now bearing fruit. Our defending against set pieces has noticeably improved and players show a clear understanding of their roles in the tactical system which is shrewdly balanced between defence and attack. While other teams desperately recruit new players, Smith has managed an orderly transition from Farkeball to his progressive pragmatism. Gilmour and Williams have matured hugely during the season as was shown yesterday. Rashica and Sargent are much more convincing in their role on both sides of the ball and our midfield looks solid again as confidence grows from winning games.
I absolutely love how professional Mcgovern is , apparently he trains hard like he's going to play waiting until called into the first team . He never looks nervous or rusty and accepts he's the back up keeper for the last 6 years .
I wouldn’t mind going out to Liverpool in the fifth round, no shame in that, but it does depend upon us performing well in the league…
We got dumped out of the Carabu cup by Liverpool we play them in a few weeks , the novelty has worn off for me. They are our bogeyest of bogey teams
Liverpool 19th February then Saints Liverpool 2nd March We are overdue a win against them , can't remember conceding less than 3 goals for decades. Edit 2020
