It didn't in today's Newcastle v Liverpool match when the right half of Sturridge's body was level with the defender....
In short some hopeless defending tying ourselves up in knots sometimes in the second quarter of the pitch and just gifting Derby the ball. Switching off far too often. Not sure why Forestieri didn't chase back for their third goal, Pudil was always in the right place but could not find the final ball (or the net) and Murray will surely start the next game.
Have to say we were really good for 20 second half minutes. Poor at the back though, Bekelem particularly rubbish. I really like Cassetti but he was out of it today. Don't think Ireney an mcgechan work, they are too similar. Battoccio needed
I thought Bekalem was a monster today, he won so many headers and generally put his weight about a lot. Was not impressed with McEachran, still don't understand why we took him on loan.
You can't say anyone was a 'monster' in defence today. He did win a few balls (as you would expect) but also gave the ball away too much. I would drop him for Doyley immediately.
Far too much negativity in my opinion. I think I have supported us long enough now to be a bit more pragmatic than some of the current fans whose expectations I still feel are perhaps a bit too high. I couldn't believe that I heard some booing at half and full time. Not to mention the fact that the ground was about 70% empty by the time the players left the pitch with very few actually clapping them off - not good... I have seen so much dross at the vic over the last 20 years I actually don't even mind losing to an 88th minute goal if we continue to play football the right way. Granted we are still making too many unforced mistakes which more often than not are costing us but I still would not change the way we play. The way we pass the ball out of defence (even today when we weren't our best) is a joy. On some forums Fabbrini (?!) has come for criticism - he was superb today. Cassetti is another who comes in for unbelievable criticism - again, some of his positional play and passing is outrageously good - do some supporters realise how lucky we are to have these players at Watford. Granted we are a long way from the finished article. But we will get better and we were missing 3 key players (Deeney, Abdi and Anya) not to mention Hoban, Nosworthy and Faraoni today. We have only lost 3 games this season - Blackpool where we were very unfortunate, Blackburn where we were poor (prob the only poor 90 mins of the season) and today where we prob deserved at least a point. These are my thoughts on the team today... Almunia - no issues. solid and dependable Pudil - works very hard and does what a wing back should - gets forward a lot and is solid at the back. Not good to get beaten by Ward in the air so easily and should have done better from Cassetti's superb cross first half Cassetti - (as I predicted a couple weeks back was played at wing back today) Still one of my favourite players so a bit biased.... good outlet on right side of pitch throughout game but clearly ran out of steam for last 15 and on occasion gives ball away too easily. Nevertheless at times his distribution is out of this world. Back 3 - Angella superb again, no issues at all. Belkalem - has assets to be v good centreback...strong in tackle and at times in the air too. Gives away too many cheap free kicks (Martin did not help - its no wonder he is 'most fouled player in the championship'!) and at times sloppy with distribution but still a lot of potential. Ekstrand - I like aspects of his game but do not think he is as good as many others seem to. Positional play still not perfect and sometimes sells himself too easily. Midfield - Ireney - unlucky to be booked which upset his rhythm as previously controlling game nicely. At fault for goal before halftime which changed complexion of game. Still feel he is a very good holding midfielder for us. McEachran - good distribution, kept things simple but loses too many 50-50s for my liking. McGugan - what a good signing he is... so forward thinking and creates so many chances for himself and others. Superb goal too though shame he couldn't get one of his freekicks on target. Also should have passed inside to an open Forestieri first half. Forestieri - superbly taken goal and together with Fabbrini caused Derby all manner of problems in the first half with their movement. Got clipped when turning in midfield for Derby winner but should not have stopped. Not sure he would have caught Hughes anyway but didn't look good and was shades of Andros Townsend a couple of yrs back not chasing after losing the ball in midfield. Also.. needed to take over from Fabbrini and drop deep after he went off for Acuna but seemed to run out of steam (a lot of the players seemed to work so hard to get back into the game that they ran out of steam in the end). Murray - excellent after coming on. Good running at pace and involved in most of our attacks in 2nd half. Acuna - struggled to make impact (I worried before the game that we wouldn't have anyone who could make an impact on the bench if we were drawing/losing - unlike Derby with Conor Sammon). I always tend to write more after a defeat as I think many supporters lose any sense of perspective. I am as frustrated and upset as everyone else but I still enjoy (crazy I know) these defeats more than I used to because I appreciate the quality of football we are playing. The season is so long we are not even in November yet! We have one of the strongest squads in the league. Please keep the faith and keep supporting the golden boys! We will be up there by the end of the season mark my words....COYH
Dan, i think you'll find the booing was for the ref and officials, rather than the team. I believe the fans realised how hard the team was working, even if it didn't seem to be working at times! You're right in a lot of what you say, and it's definitely good to hear some positivity.
I wish it were Hornette but I don't think it was just for the ref - you should hear some of the crap emanating from those around me.... "what are you passing backwards for!" "Sort it out" etc etc... As an aside - the ref was pretty awful falling for all of Martins histrionics however he did let some questionable tackles go and cant be totally blamed for the outcome of the game. He was the same ref however that missed 2 stonewall pens at Millwall last season including ****tu punching the ball out the sky akin to Maradona!! so I wont be looking forward to his next visit to a Watford game. I think we will be fine this season but whatever the outcome I will continue to enjoy the ride
i have to admit, around me things seem a little more positive..and although at times there are frustrations, i think everyone appreciates most of the team, most of the time! The ref was definitely getting it in the neck most of the game today though..as was the lino that missed a fair amount and was constantly looking to the ref to make decisions...why are they even there?! Sometimes i wonder! Oooh that ref?? That will explain it! When is the Championship going to get some decent refs! I agree though, we will be fine this season, even if that means we only make the playoffs ...but yep, some of our football is wonderful to watch, and hopefully it will continue to get better!
Mmm...Belaklem not good enough. Can't help but agree he is so slow, and you are almost just waiting for a mistake from him. I think Zola got it right bringing Murray on, he injected some very much needed pace into our passing, when McCrechran moved into Irineys role he started buzzing and broke up Derby's play well and started us moving in the right direction, and this is key, faster than when Iriney was playing the role. BUT Zola got it so so wrong with taking Fabbrini off, should never have put a sub on at that point. We were dominating the game, every time Fabbrini got the ball derby cacked their pants and stood off giving us a vital couple of yards to play our football. We were so on top another goal was imminent, then Fabbrini is taken off Derby breath a sigh of relief and squeeze up those two vital yards and suffocate our play. Never looked like scoring from that point on Bad result, gutted, but we go again...with a settled defensive unit for two or three games, just so we can start to gel a bit. Oh almost forgot the ref today -Pah!!!!
Well, it's all about opinions, and there's a few contrasting ones here. I take the point about Fabbrini, but he didn't look like scoring. So what does Zola do? Lack of options maybe? Booing the team is bonkers and I still believe it was for the ref. you can't blame some people getting frustrated because when we click the football is out of this world. But there were a lot of sloppy passes yesterday and mistakes led to goals. But I think these people are in the minority and it will come good. Keep the faith
