I think the biggest threat to us staying in the top two from now on is tiredness, and the number of games we have to play. Zola said we "looked tired" in this game; we do play at a high intensity , and (despite the big squad) have a couple of players we rely on, like Chalobah , who gets a terrible battering every game. Not many of our imports will have played so many high intensity games over such a long period as they will have in their first Championship season. Zola pointed out how demanding the Championship is compared to other Leagues. O.K--"the same for everyone"---but it must make a difference that this is the first time our manager and most of our players have done this, while other promotion rivals have more experience of the "end of season war of attrition".Three more games between March 1st-9th. On paper winnable, but how would you manage the squad for them?
The best thing to think about is, promotion is now in our own hands. We do not need to hope for odd results to go our way to enable us to get automatic promotion. I appreciate it would be nigh on impossible to win every single game, but on the other hand why not? Come on you 'orns
Because while class is permanent, form can be temporary? Out of the remaining twelve games, I think there are at least three potential banana skins - all at home too.
He almost certainly wasn't last man, there was a covering defender who was already in the box, so that decision was ok. But the decision not to book the player for the foul on Anya was appalling. He was incredibly inconsistent and failed to spot some very basic things, whilst pulling players up for things that made no sense. I cannot understand how he allowed the two phases of play before bringing the play back, yet as you say Vydra was through but he blows up for the foul. I have said before that an inconsistent ref can be more dangerous than one who makes a mistake.
I havr just emailed Soccer AM with details of Anya's showboating in the corner by the vic road stand, and asked them to show it. I wonder if they will.....
Bit of a ground out win again this one. We looked for all the world at one point we were going to boss it utterly but, uncharacteristically this season, we missed a few sitters (even Vydra was guilty but he is soooooo, like, forgiven!) but we do appear to have a little bit extra this season to keep hold of the points for the most part. Once again we have found ourselves facing some, at best, curious and at worst downright shameful decisions by the officials. Where to start with this particular referee? An absurd inability to read the game. A clear lack of understanding on what sanction should be used for any particular type of foul or be able to differentiate between "careless", "reckless" or "excessive force" / "endangering an opponent". The penalty is anyones guess because nobody seems to know (the BBC might call it a clear penalty but then they reckon Eckstrand scored from 10 yards on teletext). As a grass roots referee I would love to read the assessors report on his performance. So where to start with this fella? A Thai spread betting ring, perhaps? Or 'Big Club' syndrome? Who knows? Sunday Cloggers Under 12's 9th Division would be a good place for him to start methinks. Shocking. I liked the look of young Jonathan in goal... much more James Bond than Basildon Bond (younger readers, ask your folks! or Google it, you know you want to)... he did well up at the Etihad and looked composed when he came on on Saturday. We are short on goalkeeping cover but hopefully Almunia will be fit in a week or two. I'm not sure where we stand if a Wolves player clatters into Bond on Friday night!?!
i have to admit, this wasn't the usual enjoyable game we've been getting used to this season...not just because we had to work so hard and were very sloppy at times, but also because the blinkin' kids (i presume scouts) in front of me had no interest in the game, probably weren't even Watford supporters, and kept looking at me as if i was bonkers every time i chanted! i was ready to swipe one over the head, especially the little tike in the full Man U kit! Thank goodness in the second half their focus moved onto Dan...but with people in and out all afternoon for drinks, snacks and loo stops, i'll be glad to have less people in the Rookery for our next home game!
Is that not typical? Spend the best part of a season complaining about poor attendances, and then when the numbers start to pick up - whinge about it!
Nah, she is right. There is an etiquette at football and that includes not standing on the seats and blocking the view for others, not jumping about and wacking the person behinds legs. And the filthy looks I got from the minute I got over to the rookery.
Honestly, believe me these people were not your normal "let's go to Watford and watch a game of football" kind of people. These were people who couldn't have cared less and might as well have been at Tescos watching the cashiers! Awful! However, the people behind us were very sweet, their first game of football it seemed, and although they had very interesting discussions about how much it was costing to sit in the stand they were in (obviously not realising the significance of the Rookery) they seemed to want to be a part of the afternoon. I wouldn't mind if the people in front never set foot in Vicarage Road again!
Nah, don't be silly. There was more than one of them and they were doing something wrong. You don't expect the stewards at watford to do something about that do you. HA!!
The problem is, I would say many of those are probably our 'target market'. Young people, who maybe support another team, but try to get them to start coming to their local team - get them hooked young so they are Watford fans for life! Maybe they weren't very interested this game - but the hope is a few more games and they will be!
i just hope they find alternative seating next time! As far as i could tell, they were there for 'Scouts day'...wish i'd been prepared for that!
