Match Thread: Watford v Southampton

He most definitely is.....he's been great for us, considering all he's had to contend with, we're very proud of him

As has been previously stated, if you're basing your assumption of a win on our performance on 1 October, you do so at your peril...

 

japan have a match on friday so dont know if Lee will be playing on saturday

 

had me baffled there for a min..Lee Hodson plays for Ireland lol

 

No European-based players were selected for the friendly.

 

I think what sets Dyche apart is how hard he has had to work to earn that popularity.

Malky was considered the better player, and Aidy Boothroyd and Brendan Rodgers, two of the most different managers you'll ever come across, both saw him as the obvious successor. Combine that with the impact BR's parting gift (Danny Graham) made, and Malky was onto a winner from the start. His popularity waned, particularly in the second season, as people realised that he didn't know how to build a team that could last the entire 50 games.

When Dyche came in he didn't inherit a marquee signing, he lost what were undeniably our three best attacking players, and the early results were poor. But all the specific things he was being criticised for (leaving youngsters out, persisting with combinations of players for a few games longer than we felt was warranted) have all proven to be shrewd medium term decisions. All of his permanent signings have added something different to the squad, even if many of them are average players.

 

Well I should hold my hand up & say I'm still not completely won over. It is true that he is delivering what the club asked him to do which is stability and survival. Early on many people were knocking him both for the results & the style along with a number of poor transfers in and failure to utilise our own youth players enough. Factualy though the team has had 2 good spells where it has produced the results and are clear of any relagation threat and he has to be comended for that.

What I haven't liked is that he sets the team up to dissrupt & stop the opposition playing first & foremost and that has led to watching some dire matches this year. For me, most annoyingly, he threw off the shackles against Spurs in the cup and the team responded magnificently; in doing so he played a young star of the future in Murray who at 18 is streets ahead of any of the squad players that have been playing instead of him all season and since then Dyche has been slightly more positive although I bet we play on the break at home this saturday. Murray has picked up an injury and may not play any part in this match which may have a bearing on where the points go. Good transfers in have been Hogg & Noseworthy whilst big Chris & Yates have not been consistant and the best that can be said of them is that they are of lower championship standard or Div 1 players except on their best days. Forsyth & Garner both have potential but again require to bulk up and become consistant performers. Now they will be match winners tomorrow!

Dyche has definitly built a squad that has the depth to see through a long season and believe me there have been times where is has seemed an eternity
That said, I wouldn't change him - he has delivered what was asked of him so far and GT says you have to give a manager 3 years - well I don't know about that but as long as we are entertained I will be happy. Winning for me is not everything but I do accept that in our financial circumstances survival in the Championship is imperative.

 

Hi guys, thanks for your insightful comments. I have just seen so many managers appointed from within at Watford and rarely have any of them done poorly, which is a massive achievement if you look at how many internal appointments go badly.

If you play defensively against us tomorrow, I think you will lose; we struggle more so when teams attack us and press our midfield high up the pitch; if you try to hold out resolutely I think you may be in for a long afternoon. Good luck anyway .

 

if i remember correctly though we did that at your place earlier on in the season and you got your first goal (and unfortunately from there the win) by stopping our attack mid-flow when we were high up the pitch (correct me if i'm wrong because i was only listening on the radio)

 

Without a doubt at SMS you started a lot better than us, however Once the first goal was scored you offered very little resistance. If you'd got the first goal it may have been very different.

 

I think it will be the same tomorrow - if we score the first I think Saints will dominate the match but if Watford score first it will be a very awkward match for Saints.

 

I think the new loan signings will make a big impact in tomorrow's game. I'm off to the countryside for the weekend, so probably won't see the result until late Sunday.

I'm going for 3.2 Watford ! Enjoy the game Saints and sinners alike !

COYHHHHHH !!!

 

Oh dear. Lee Hodson joins the list of possible doubtfuls for tomorrow's game. Hodson, Deeney and Murray..not good!

i guess that would put Doyley back on the right, and see a return for Dicko...

 

Four or five months ago people were talking about Dicko as a left field candidate for player of the season (Mapps was and remains the front runner), and a majority were glad that Hodson wasn't getting a sniff. Not to mention how fans felt about Dyche's start.

I'm not suggesting that he is suddenly fans' favourite, but I'd say the majority today are worried that Hodson looks set to miss a big game. And Dychey has grown on most people. Just goes to show how quickly these things change.

 

The whole team are in Europe, our players are all over the area from Greece to Ísland and to Sweden and the Premier League.

 

Random q but does anybody know what are we wearing tomorrow? Home kit = black shorts clash, away kit = yellow shirt clash.

Red shirts with blue shorts is it?

 

Red shirts, white shorts possibly?

 

Think you'll just have to forfeit the game

 

Ak, has Heiðar retired from international football?

The stats box on his Wikipedia page seems to be saying so.

 

I was one of those that really didn't rate Hodson, and over the last couple of seasons, i saw no reason to. But though he's not completely the whole package yet, he's come a long way this season, and the back 4 has seemed to be working much better with Doyley on the left. (You're right about Mapps btw).

 

After reading most of this thread it seems that Saints fans are about as far up there own arse these days as Leeds supporters! I really hope your team comes out with the same attitude most of you have, they won't know what hit them.

To those who think this game will be a walk in the park, I have a funny feeling you are going to be very disappointed.