Good hard fought win, but a very nervy game. On the way home we did not feel the adulation normally reserved for an away win. I just do not see why Flores persists with playing Abdi as a "semi wing-back". He does not have the pace going forward and his defensive skills are not up to it. I would prefer to see him more in the centre. Spoke with a Villa fan on the train home and he was convinced that they are relegated - he was 95% sure before yesterdays game, but is now 100% sure. Not happy with the owner and is blaming him for selling the best players. He said that the player they brought on the second half (name escapes me) on loan from Barca - they have not been playing him because it will trigger a clause in his contract to up his wages from £30K to £70k a week!. Yet he was absolute quality when he came on. Still a win is a win and had a great day out in Brum - had a few beers at the Xmas market and very impressed with New Street now.
It was a nervy game to watch over here as well, and I thought we maybe only just about deserved to win against a side that clearly has many problems. They have been flirting with relegation for several seasons and maybe this will be the one to see them finally down. I did think that once he got into the pace of the game Guédioura played an important part in helping us to hang on throughout that long extra time period and would like to see him get more game time.
I was not impressed with New Street back in August. Travelling back from Sunderland I had to change at New Street, there were supposed to be 14 minutes between trains but we arrived 10 minutes late, I then had to make my way from platform 1 to platform 12 avoiding lots of work taking place on the bridge over the line. I had heavy luggage and a walking stick and only just made it in time!
They have completed the work now though Dave and the vast majority of people approve of the new layout. Sadly the operating side of the station has not improved - case of shoe-horning trains in to a layout inherited from Victorian railway competition, so it's perhaps not fair to blame a 10 minute delay on the actual station itself. Overall the problems that Network Rail have stem largely from the chronic lack of investment of successive governments from the 60s onwards. We get the infrastructure that we (the voters) deserve IMO.
I do accept that I was unreasonable at blaming all on the station, however, at the time I would have taken my walking stick to anyone who got in my way! I'm calm (ish) now though!
The station might look improved - but to me it's just a glorified and unnecessary retail outlet - the passengers are ignored. I thought a railway station was for the efficient transfer of passengers. The new New St is anything but. In fact it's a nightmare.
Why do you say that the passengers are ignored? I'm assuming that you used the "old" New Street station (not the one that was swept away in the 60s though).
Mmm..... the station.... just a shopping mall which trains stop at..... very confusing.. .you dont realise there are two main exits and access barriers... until after waiting for your mates for 10 minutes the penny drops for all of you. Coming back i was so concerned about getting my leeds train..... travel by designated train only ( to save £30) that for the first time ever i left a match early..... great listening on Witton platform to the last few minutes though. The rail app had suggested a 10 minute platform change time was enough.... but of course all trains from Witton were chock a block and getting on the platform itself was fun. Next time: pay the extra dosh!
Great comments on Ake here.... who i rate and not simply because he has great hair and reminds me of Nordin How Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake set a Premier League best NOV 30, 2015BY KEVIN AFFLECK0 Watford fans rightly outraged at the inflated ticket prices for the Boxing Day clash at Stamford Bridge should be careful they don’t protest too much and damage relations with Chelsea. Imagine if the Blues threw their expensive toys out of their expensive pram and recalled Nathan Ake. Now that would really be a kick in the teeth. We don’t think there is a break clause in the season long loan deal and Chelsea are not that petty anyway but the point is just how important Ake is to the balance and make up of this Watford side. Quique Sanchez Flores is not a big one for statistics; he prefers to use his trained eye and use his senses. But should he need any confirmation of what he saw at Villa Park on Saturday, the stat below would back it up. please log in to view this image Think, for a moment, of all the players in the Premier League, of all the rich talent there is on show. Yet from that vast pool of players in the self-styled greatest league in the world nobody has made more interceptions in the 140 games so far this season. That’s pretty impressive. please log in to view this image “Normally at 20 years [of age] players need time but he is very safe and has a lot of confidence in himself,” said the Watford head coach. “He’s playing well and is ready to learn. When he doesn’t understand something he says, ‘Coach, I need to know’. The character of the person is amazing.” please log in to view this image All pictures by Paul Dawson. Follow him @poleydeepics Nothing will endear a player more to Sanchez Flores than a desire to work hard and a sponge-like approach in training. It helps that Ake, despite being brought through the gilded system at Chelsea and with the security of a bumper five-year contract under his belt, is a humble young man. He’s very mild-mannered and softly spoken. The word from the training ground is that there is not a single trace of any big-time attitude about him. They say the same about him at Reading, where he spent a short loan spell last season. He has also caught the eye of the pundits. “There is a lot of talk about Deeney and Ighalo, but a young boy came on last week [against Manchester United] who changed the game a fair bit, called Nathan Ake, on loan from Chelsea,” said Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling. “Could he return to Chelsea and play as a Chelsea player, looking at how he is playing?” please log in to view this image Matt Le Tissier took up the thread. “I have said it about lot of Chelsea players over time, but Chelsea don’t seem to want to give those guys a chance,” said the former Southampton forward. “It is a shame as he did do very well, and he has kept his place in the team today [against Villa], which is great, he has given himself a chance. He only had 45 minutes last week [against United], he has gone and grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and now he has kept his place.” please log in to view this image Ake feels his best position is as a holding midfielder and many good judges at Chelsea feel he is a centre back. “He he started off as a centre back, but I don’t think he is tough enough, which may come down to age at the moment,” said Charlie Nicholas. “He has played centre mid, more holding. He is athletic enough. I have seen him four times for Watford and he does a steady job.” The Chelsea loan players, of which there are more than 30, have apparently set up a WhatsApp so they can stay in touch from different European outposts and share their progress. You can bet the others will have to drag it out of the Holland Under-21 international how well he is doing at Vicarage Road.
http://www.wdsport.co.uk/2015/11/player-ratings-who-had-quique-punching-the-air-in-delight/ Views on the players? Heurelho Gomes 7.5 Was having a good game until his afternoon was ended early by injury. The highlight of his performance was the way he impressively tipped a Scott Sinclair effort over the bar, while he also made a smart double save to deny Jordan Ayew and Sinclair. He could not be to blame for the goal Villa scored past him but did elected punch a couple of balls when it seemed easier to catch them. Should be fit for Norwich. please log in to view this image Allan Nyom 7.5 Improved tenfold on his disappointing performance against Manchester United last week and may have just arrested his dip in form. Nyom was back to his best, rampaging forward to support Juan Carlos Paredes and the forwards when necessary, but also dealing with the attacking threat posed by Carles Gil, who the head coach identified as a dangerman. Bizarrely ended up in the left-back position with Nathan Ake on a few occasions, which left the right side exposed. please log in to view this image Craig Cathcart 7.5 After breaking up an exchange of words between Etienne Capoue and referee Lee Mason, Quique Sanchez Flores went straight over to embrace Craig Cathcart at the final whistle. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why. Cathcart lost Micah Richards for Villa’s first goal but apart from that blip, was outstanding. His stand-out moment came when a deep cross looked set to fall to either of two Villa players at the back post. Unable to get a clean connection, others would have left it to reach the waiting attackers but he got the slightest of touches which deflected the ball for a corner. He did the same against United last week, so it’s more than a coincidence. please log in to view this image Miguel Britos 7 Admitted in the week he would have preferred to play against Rudy Gestede but did not get his wish as Villa played with more mobile, fleet-footed attackers. Looked just as home against them, though, covering for Ake on a couple of occasions on and reading the game well. Barely put a foot wrong. please log in to view this image Nathan Ake 6.5 His inexperience and poor positioning was evident yesterday, though it was not helped by the Hornets playing a very high defensive line. Improved as the game went on and linked up well with Almen Abdi and Etienne Capoue down the left. He’s a real prospect and has to be the first choice left-back. please log in to view this image Ben Watson 7 With the exception of the game against West Ham, Watson tends to play better away from home. He broke up play and did the dirty work well at Villa Park. Villa got a bit too much space around the edge of the Watford box for his liking and he also gave away the foul which led to Richards’ goal. Yet he was in a good position on the edge of the box to pick up a cleared ball and fire in a shot, which was deflected and landed at Odion Ighalo’s feet for the opener. please log in to view this image Etienne Capoue 6.5 Capoue showed his experience to thwart a Villa counterattack in the second half with a cynical foul. Like Ashley Young last week he was booked, taking one for the team. Together with Watson he could have done a bit more to reduce the space Villa were afforded around the area. He did not break up play as much as his midfield partner and should have done better when put through on goal by Troy Deeney. Someone of his talent should have registered his first goal of the season by now. please log in to view this image Juan Carlos Paredes 5.5 Paredes said he may look for a new club in January if he did not get more minutes under his belt. Not sure how many minutes he will get after this. A start yesterday gave him the chance to shine but he did not take it. He started the game reasonably well, offering some support both offensively and defensively, and beautifully controlling a long pass before cutting inside Kieran Richardson in the first half. But the Ecuadorian’s performance deteriorated as the match progressed, often looking clumsy or chasing shadows. It was no surprise when he was dragged off. Deeney appeared to have a go at him at one point for pulling out of a challenge. please log in to view this image Almen Abdi 6 Reacted well to pounce on Ighalo’s deflected shot and although his cross back in was deflected away, it caused danger and led to the opening goal. Abdi defended well from his new wide position, blocking a corner at the near post and often tracking back to cover Ake when required. Did not create as much as he usually does and he’s probably the one player this system does not suit as much of his best work is done going the other way. please log in to view this image Troy Deeney 8.5 Joked post-match that he wanted to be given the assist to the second Watford goal, and in fairness, he deserved it. The precision of the pass was near-perfect. He played a similar ball through to Capoue shortly after the opening goal, which is further proof of how the forward has improved his creative output. What he loves though, is scoring goals and they way he reacted to Ighalo’s deflected shot looping up tells you all you need to know about the confidence and alertness he is playing with. Has four goals in his past five games, meaning he’s a fifth of the way to making it four consecutive 20 goal seasons. please log in to view this image Odion Ighalo 7.5 When a Watford goal is scored, Ighalo always seems to be involved. He scored the first, was the reason Alan Hutton had to get a foot on the ball for the second, and it was his deflected shot into the air which Deeney headed past Guzan for the third. Ighalo teed up Deeney from inside the area for the first chance of the game early on and his hold-up play was miles better than it was against United. Watford will be glad he does not have to travel to Africa and back for a while as, not suffering from jet lag, he is a menace to any defence. please log in to view this image Substitutes Ikechi Anya 5.5 Named on the bench for only the second time this season, Anya replaced Paredes when the make-shift winger started to tire. Anya’s pace helped to deal with the home side’s raiding wingers in the latter stages but he continues to frustrate with his decision making going forward. He does not make enough use of his explosive pace and rarely takes on his man. On the one occasion he did attempt a run inside Richardson, he was too hesitant and was out-muscled. please log in to view this image Giedrius Arlauskis 5 The life of a reserve goalkeeper is not easy. Sat unused on the bench for the last 11 games, Arlauskis was parachuted into the thick of the action when Gomes went down injured. He did not inspire much confidence. He came out of his area twice; once he cleared the ball into the stands, not trusting himself to try to clear upfield, and the other he scrambled back to his box to pick up the ball, but only just managed to dive on it before a Villa attacker. He also dropped the ball on two occasions when it looked easy to catch it. His frenzied celebration at the third goal showed just why Deeney called him “mental” when he arrived. please log in to view this image Adlene Guedioura 7.5 His name was sung as loud as anyone’s this season when he entered the field to effectively double his tally of minutes this season. Guedioura looked incredibly sharp for someone who had only eight Premier League minutes to his name and showed great skill to take a touch inside Hutton and burst into the box before his shot was saved well by Guzan. Another shot, a dipping volley, was also tipped just wide by the Villa keeper. Also made a fantastic hooked tackle to prevent a Villa counterattack. Must be pushing hard for a start. please log in to view this image
Yes Brian... and the last 8 minutes or so were very tense as i walked out of the ground .... Ticket bought for Sunderland!
You cannot, it seems get to ALL platforms from ALL others without entering the public mall space - and so having to put ticket through machine to exit and enter. Ok possibly some of the time but not when one hand has child and other hand has his teddy, wallet with ticket is in inside pocket zipped up and people behind are in a hurry. It's not obvious where all the platforms are (compared to the previous simple path across them all). Finally, to get a beer (not continental p@ss) you have to leave the station completely. The toilets, mercifully free of charge, are too small. I could go on!
- They just haven't got any confidence and to lose to Watford you're thinking maybe this is the year we go down. - Peter Withe. Another person who does not understand Watford are better than they thought.
