With the first game of the new season away to Burnley only 9 days away how do people feel about Watford's readiness for the season taking everything from the summer into consideration. Happy?, content?, worried?
Quite concerned as I don't believe the team has settled yet. Clearly there are definite starters : Loach - I still have doubts over Gilmartin Taylor and Mariappa are definites, with Hodson / Thompson at right back. LB - Doyley isn't good enough IMO. Midfield - Obviously Yeates and Eustace are definites. When I look back at what Jordan Mutch offered us - the physique, pace and power, but in his place do I go for the square Jenkins or the lightweight Buaben? Wide left, I guess it has to be Forsyth - not because he is brilliant, but because he gives some balance. Up front - clearly I want a 100% fit Iwelumo and Sordell. For Iwelumo to face his former club so quickly, when he isn't 100% fit would not be good when he is clearly eager to impress. Sordell, when he is "up for it" is one of the best forward players in this division, but he doesn't give it his all in every game IMO. Subs : Gilmartin, Thompson, Jenkins / Buaben, Whichelow and the unfortunate Deeney, who I still think fails to live up to his billing at this level. I am off on holiday at the weekend, so will not be able to follow all events as well, but I hope Sean Dyche is able to strengthen the squad in time for Burnley.
Im also in the quite concerned camp. However, I think we may plump for a defensive line-up with only one up front. Iwelumo was injured a few times during his spell at Burnley and I hope at 33 (his b'day is next week isn't it?) that he can be reliable so I expect him to play if fit. In Midfield I think Walker might get a shout with a deep Eustace, Jenkins (because he is a known entity) with Yeates & Forsyth Wide (the Prince & Forsyth are doubtful I believe due to their lack of fitness & knowledge of the Championship and may be brought into things a bit at a time from the subs bench initially). The back 4 is the most difficult to decide. Mirfin may have done enough by then to dislodge the ever present Mapps from the centre and move him to the left. A radical option (that won't happen I'm sure) would be to play with 3 centre backs and 2 wing backs - bringing Forsyth to cover the left and probably Doyley to cover the right. Still plenty of time for the squad to enlarge and the team to take shape though.
Will always be in the concerned camp until we get our left back problem fixed , still believe we are a striker short as well !
Err I'm trying to put your suggestion on paper. Loach Hodson Taylor Mirfin Maps Yeates Walker Eustace Jenkins Forsyth Iwelumo Is that correct? Where is the pace? Oh, there isn't any ....... where are the goals going to come from? I wouldn't want to into a game to defend for a point, you tend to conceed early and then run out of ideas, and get a hammering. I don't think Burnley are that good, so I would set up to attack them. We need to score goals, as I never trust a defence who crowds their own keeper to try and defend a set piece. And Mariappa played once at left back, and hated it.
Well I think we're both agreed that is the problem area (LB). Norwayhornet may remember GT picked an England team away in Oslo I think where the media paned (?) him for picking 3 CB's but that is a possibility if we still have no dedicated LB before then - if we did then we would be able to pick Wing backs with pace. At the moment I don't have confidence that we will score much over 50 goals this coming season and picking a team with one up isn't always negative - it just depends on the midfielders breaking quick and I have a sneaking feeling that between Yeates & Walker we will have the creativity needed to score from more positions than last season. The radical approach: .......................Loach........................ .........Mirfin......Taylor.....Marriappa Doyley/Hodson..............................Forsyth .......................Eustace....................... ...........Yeates.................Jenkins .......................Walker........................ .......................Iwelumo...................... or the more standard: ........................Loach.......................... Hodson......Taylor.......Marriappa.......Doyley Yeates.....Eustace......Jenkins......Walker......Forsyth .......................Iwelumo.............................. with the option of Walker out & Sordell in up front. I might add that last season when they wanted to be cautious but have both formations available to the team on the pitch, they played Deaney on the RM position so that he could be moved forward if they wished. It's all subjective and each persons take on it anyway isn't it?
