I think Davis will be given a chance first - and I'm still not convinced that either Sarr or Pedro will be going anyway.
¿? How did Manaj and Bayo perform today ¿? Couldn't listen or see much or the game due to Mrs commitments unfortunately. Tis her bday after all! ahhahahahaha
Both missed chances I understand. Bayo better than Manaj today it seems whereas it was the opposite on Tuesday .
Just seen highlights. Bachmann did very well a couple of times . Poor finishing from us . Weak shooting .
Bachmann was excellent. I’m sort of hoping the forwards are just trying to get used to each other, their feeds, the EFL, etc. There’s over forty games left, we’re unbeaten, the midfield looked good, we have exciting new talent in Asprilla, and some old hands’ confidence reviving.
I don't know if the highlights included what I think was Bachmann's only mistake - he took a couple of steps beyond the right upright and jumped to gather a cross, but misjudged it and stepped too far. The ball dropped down between him and the upright but was fortunately put out for a corner by a defender - Kabasele I think. Apart from that, his performance was the only reason we came away with a point. When Louza and Cleverley are both fit again, where to fit them in is going to be a bit of a headache for RE - yesterday's performance from Asprilla, Kayembe and Chowdhury was the best I've seen in a long while.
I went. Very enjoyable for a 0-0. Our midfield took a while to get a grip. PNE's Browne is a real handful. Bachmann rescued us twice. He really is excellent. From about 35 minutes on we looked to be the better team. The 2 youngsters , Bayo & Asprilla took a while to get into the game, but particularly second half had excellent games. Bayo's touch past the PNE defenders as the game wore on was a delifggth ,several times. Asprilla's vision for a youngster, very impressive. The midfield of Kayembe, Asprilla & Choudury - who linked up everything, read danger well, and made some stunning tackles - is sound. Defence was ok , even the dreaded 3 at the back. Manaj appears to be learning the English game. His fist miss was shocking though. PNE ran out of ideas and in the end panicked frequently. We should probably have won. Considering that we could (bizarrely) have beaten WBA - but for Sarr's pen, should have beaten Brum , but for JP's miss, and could have beaten PNE but for 2 bad misses and 1 difficult chance- accepting that PNE had some chances - we are in a decent place. Perhaps most significant, this was without our two 'best' players. I think we have very strong backup in midfield (Louza , Cleverley at least) , so we are in a good place.
The splendid report on not only the game, but what the Pozzos are doing. https://bhappy.wordpress.com/2022/08/21/preston-north-end-0-watford-0-20-08-2022/
I generally take Matt, whom I have met on several occasions, and IG, with whom I've been more acquainted in the dim and distant, at face value. Nothing in that report that suggests of a hint of a possibility of thinking about a change in that opinion.
Spoke to my close friend and PNE season ticket holder who went. They felt we were too 'EPL' trying to be too clever , intricate. I pointed out that with our shooting, the only way to score is to walk the ball into the net. He thought that PNE faded when Browne & Johnson went off as they close down well. Also, PNE had 2 /3 players who have just joined. So, perhaps my optimism should be muted a little. We didn't mention the ref who I thought had a weird game. But then I seem to think that a lot. Their ground is well planned now - looks good. He agreed that services at the outlets has always been poor !
He has a point about us being "too EPL" - I even thought that last season. Had we played more "EFL" I think we may have stayed up. Shades of Corporal Jones - they don't like it up them sir...
