I enjoyed it today and it certainly felt a bit different going to a Premier League match with all the ground changes etc - it felt like more of an occasion. The match was obviously by no means perfect and frustrating in parts - draws aren't going to keep us up, BUT, this is the Premier League with world-class players everywhere and we're holding our own, let's keep patient. Southampton looked nothing special to me and, sorry Saints' fans, but that's the quietest set of fans I can remember at the Vic (bar Blackpool last year who brought about 400). Either the ball just wasn't running for Troy or this is the level of defenders we have to get used to - everything he tried was blocked. I enjoyed watching Jurado even if the final ball wasn't quite there. I think we needed Vydra on the bench and would have brought him on for Ighalo with 20 mins to go. Let's just keep going and see what happens at Man City next week! COYH!
Largely ineffectual against a side with a robust defence... could have won it on several occasions... the oppo barely troubled the goal. and That was Southampton.... Now how about the Orns... My journey started at 10.00 this morning and after a lift to the station and a train to Manchester,, ,then a wait then a train to MK and then a train to Watford which included chatting with a Man City fan on on the train and then a Watford fan for the last part... met up with Hackney Hornet and co in the High Street. Got into the SEJ stand although a paper ticket would not work in the turnstiles.... and then the halcyon field of the stadium opened up before me.... I must say it was VERY impressive and the SEJ stand is great with perfect sightlines as long as you were wearing a peaked hat against the burning sun... thank you Mrs weatherlady strictly dancer for telling me it was going to rain all afternoon. ...and the Bombay veg pie was great.... and then the great team appeared to the welcome of the massed fans..... the 1881 did us proud..... as did the flags and banners... and then......the nerve jangling commenced. For spells of the game we looked promising...... but failed miserably to convert anything in front of goal. Defensively apart from a handful of mad moments when players tried to dribble out from the box and on two occasions were dispossessed ( we wont get off so lightly next weekend I am sure) we looed reasonably sound. Capoue was very good in bringing balls forward as was Nyom too on a couple of occasions. As the game progressed it opened out and we were stretched in midfield. Southampton had a number scoring chances most of which were recklessly taken.... and Gomes did great work in goal and made a couple of good saves. We seemed to be playing more of a 4 4 2 formation which looked promising in the first half. However Ighalo seemed to be smothered out and Deeney ran and ranbut only had a couple of chances. Anya played brilliantly and made some great runs into the corner and some great crosses. Diamanti? A rough diamond? He huffed and he puffed... he sought his own personal glory..... we thought he tried too hard. As mentioned above.. Fessi or Abdi could really have added something.... and really Ighalo should have come off.. Matej... well he was in the stands.. so he has not lost the plot..... I hope he gets a game on Tuesday. Overall we were really not good enough. One has to ask of our head coach whether he has got his tactics right. Joka used to mix it mid-game with great results last season. Many balls up field to Deeney and Ighalo were wasted... put Vydra on he can thrive in such situations. I am looking forward to City next week and if the game against Everton was anything to go by.... we might snatch a goal or two. We did look for superorns in the stand having seen a photo he posted here... he would stand out if we had have seen him I am sure. Anyway the return trip was via Euston Kings Cross ( a couple of nice Italian Pinot Grigios and a salad at Prezzos) and then sleeping on the train back to Leeds... then, a walk up to the top of town, a last bus eventually ......and home at 11.30. Creeping up to slumber in a mo. taking care not to disturb Mme who doesn't understand any of this business " all that way, time and money... and your team cant even score... and you haven't even lived there for 40 years" etc... etc.... Of course that is not the point..... is it..... City next week .. and then there is Newcastle away.... .just up the road from me...... COYH!!!
So as West brom fans moaned about Pulis playing for a draw away to Watford, has he set a trend now? Koeman goes 3 at the back to keep a clean sheet, while I'm sure the fans moaning about Pulis, enjoyed watching them run Chelsea close! Football is a fickle game! But again, all three promoted teams holding their own. I'm sure you're hoping Deenay can start scoring soon to allay any fears about him settling, especially as WIlson banged in a hat trick.
Nice to see a rival supporter having something constructive to say about us rather than the usual stuff we see in the media etc! Have to say Capoue looks pretty decent - though most Spurs fans said that if he gets game time then he may well do a job for us. Yes he missed an easy looking header but these things happen. It was the first time I have seen us live this season and have to agree with A1 that it was quite an enjoyable experience all be it that the game won't live long in the memory. It seemed to me that Flores is more concerned about not losing than winning (and Koeman was similarly guilty ) which is fine to a degree but more will be needed at this level. At times it felt like there were 3 separate teams on the pitch with big disconnects between an increasingly solid looking defence (Prodl and Cathcart have hit the ground running as a partnership so will be interesting to see them cope with far sterner tests) the midfield and poor old Troy and Ighalo. I am a bit concerned about Troy's demeanour as he doesn't seem happy in his football right now and at one point early on remonstrated with a spectator in the LGT. Fully justified and no massive deal in my opinion but it's unlike him. His application was, as always, excellent though. The good news is that we do look solid and hopefully Flores will start to grow into the role - still very early days and we have 2 clean sheets and are unbeaten. Saturday will be interesting on any number of levels. Personally I just think they need to be a bit more ambitious on the attack and go for it a bit more - and maybe develop a bit more self belief as I felt that was a bit lacking in the final third yesterday.
Another frustrating afternoon for our strikers and we will need to change things around if we are going to score goals at this level. I thought Ighalo faded badly in the second half and should have been swopped, but with no Vydra on the bench, what other options do we have. Whilst I like watching FF play, I don't believe he would have changed the game. As has been said above, we looked fairly solid in defence and our midfield looks good at breaking down the opposition attack, but not so quick in turning that back into attack. But early days and we need some patience. Personally I had hoped for a draw at Everton, thought we could beat WBA and expected a draw against Soton - so we are 2 points from my thinking! But it will be a challenge at the Etihad...
Morning guys, Sorry, didn't know where to post this... I'm looking at getting a Watford defender in my FPL team. Who would you suggest is the best option? Who is the safest pick, as in, who is guaranteed the most minutes? At the moment I'm thinking either Nyom or Prodl... Thanks in advance for your help!
They are both new... and both look good..... difficult one... I am sure they both will be in team or thereabouts every week...
http://www.wdsport.co.uk/2015/08/pl...ers-fared-against-southampton/?fb_ref=Default Interesting ratings from Kevin Affleck's page... Not sure I agree!
Thanks for all the reports from those at the game. The snatch I saw on MOTD suggested a game of few chances but that there are enough average teams in the Prem to suggest we can survive at the very least. We'll maybe need to create more clear cut chances though.
not missed much then, Capoue chance was a bit of a sitter, fine margins but early on in the season. WE ARE UNBEATEN!! Not sure if this was a repeat of WBA, it read a bit like it and the high?lights weren´t really inspiring. Does 4-2-3-1 work at home? Not sure for one to be honest. Early days, need to score next game soon, oh wait, City away.....
Putting the result into some sort of context, of the 30 PL matches played this season, there have only been 6 home wins.
