I was just reading the comments on the Watty Obs board and comparing it to those written here. Makes me wonder if we are the "happy clapper" brigade that they go on about so much. I wish I were still able to get to more games as it is frustrating only being able to rely on others reports to "view" a match. If I believed this board I would think we were not in any trouble as we have so many shots it is just a matter of time before that converts into goals and anyway we will have a super striker soon and if that is not enough then let's face it the referees are really the ones who have stolen points from us so far and knocked us out the cup. I don't believe a word of it. In my experience a side that starts off looking quite good but which gets nothing from it too often goes on to become a poor looking side that deserves and gets nothing. We need to improve and improve fast if we are to stay in this division. It is years since our second half of a season has gained more points than the first so if we are to get points that means now. Do not get me wrong - this is not the first call for Dyche's head - even if I wanted that (which I don't) I would have to suggest a better alternative - and I don't see one. However refreshing honesty about our performance is one thing but what we are doing is not working - I have read all about the shots count which looks good - but how many of those shots "on target" posed any threat to a half decent keeper. If I have understood the reports I have read correctly it seems that we are missing a creative player in midfield as much as a proven goal scorer. As fans all it seems we can do is to avoid getting on the backs of either our manager or players - that would be the quickest way to remove their confidence - and to support them one and all. Yes we may be polite but we are realists - unless SEJ suddenly decides to invest millions again we have what we have and that means making the best of it - unlike some on the Watty Obs board I do not feel we have a particularly weak squad - what we have is an inexperienced manager - he needs to be a fast learner - as was MM Sunday will be an important day - let's hope we can begin to turn the corner then
Morning Leo. You seriously cannot compare the level of discussion between the two sites in my view. (There is also an argument for saying that this site is more informative than the WO as well).
Very good post Leo I would say in general our squad is stronger than it was last year, however without a creative midfielder and striker this doesn't mean much as without goals we will always struggle, it doesn't matter how much possesion and shots we have, there are alot of teams in this division capable of grabbing a goal against the run of play.
Morning Leo, in honour of your thread I have changed my signature. Seems appropriate at the moment!!! I feel like I should disagree with you in some way to avoid being a 'happy clapper'...............but I think most of us are of the same opinion. The team and manager need to turn these results around and they need to do it fast. I can't recall us having such a bad start to a season, where we really should have done better. I'm in the same boat as you in regards to 'Views' of a match, so I find it difficult to discuss what I haven't actually seen myself. Most reports are that we are playing ok but decisions are going against us, if this changes and we are still not scoring what can we blame then???
'Most reports are that we are playing ok but decisions are going against us' Actually if you read the comments left by those who have actually watched the team you should be extreamly concerned. My opinion is that we have bought a number of journeyman pros who at this moment in time are not cutting it. We may be saved by a striker and a couple of loan players but otherwise it will be a long hard slog. At least last night the team was set up with more of a balance yet still we only scored one goal against 2nd division opponents..... and don't tell me the stats because by all accounts from those there last night and the media BR were worth their win.
Do we really need a 'creative' midfielder if we are creating so many goal-scoring opportunites? I'd suggest we need a rethink of our formation as I don't really like our centre midfield pairing of Jenkins and Eustace. Starting Walker was a good start, and with Bauben coming to fitness, maybe we will start seeing a more balanced centre midfield. Coule we start playing 5 across the midfield; Eustace holding while we have two attacking midfielders, supporting Sordell? Untill we find a striker who will put these chances away, something like this may have to be a solution... but then comes the question, can Sordell play up front on his own?
That is exactly what I have been thinking SalisburyKev (hence the article!). I feel we have the players we need and are creating the chances we need. It is just a case of patience and altering the formation.
Some of those on the Watford Observer site wanted Malky out after each defeat last season and the year before often said Graham was rubbish or Sordell no good. The chances are they'd getDyche out and then pick on the next manager if he didn't win his first 4 games! Also they act like little kids who've just had their sweets taken from them if you dare to disagree it seems. At least on here (and others like WFC forums) you get reasoned and fair minded adult like debates! Ofcourse things aren't perfect on or off the pitch but I am not sure realistic people expecting it to be. We do need a striker or two and have more pace in the team but its almost getting boruing saying that! Dyche has said he is trying....and Bassini has said there is more moeny so no real excuses now.
From the two games I've seen so far the concern I have is that last year we were creating far more guilt edged chances, for want of a better word, and you always felt that it was just a matter of time before we scored. So far this season, and I will emphasise SO FAR, we've had some pretty poor pot shots and have often been relying on defensive mistakes and uncertainty for a large amount of chances. Put it this way, we will score a significantly larger number of goal mouth scrambles this year if we do not improve as we do not currently have the craft to unlock most defences. I really hope this will come good but early signs of our tactics do not bode well. Edit: Sorry, noticed I slightly sidetracked the thread's theme. For what it's worth I think we've got a great bunch of individuals on here who are patient, knowledgable but also not blind to the problems we face as a club. All this without the need to generally get abusive.
Good post Si - you have expressed what I think I was getting the feeling of - that our "chances" are not gilt edged - stats can fool us. I am torn between wanting us to play a settled side or changing to find the right combination. I strongly believe that tsettled sides do better - so I guess what I want is for Dyche to decide on what he believes to be the best combination and then stay with it - lots of sides take a while to gel but if they do not panic and then get it together results follow.
Having seen and heard all the action, I agree with this viewpoint. We are a pretty mediocre side who lack a cutting or killer finish. The opening fixtures have been fair, but clearly 3rd bottom is a failure to take our chances. Everyone is calling for big money to be spent - if the owner sanctions that, he needs to have confidence in his manager .......
Great post Leo. I sometimes look at the WO comments, but they are way out of proportion. However, I seem to be in a bit of a minority here as well. I've seen our last three league games and, until the Cov game, was very optimistic. However I seem to be one of the few that don't think that we necessarily deserved to win on Saturday. In fact I'm pretty sure that Cov fans will be saying that they deserved to win, especially based on their second half performance. The stats say 11 shots on target. I don't recall 11 shots on target which is why I questioned on an earlier post 'what constitutes a shot on target'. In the games that I have seen so far I would agree that we outplayed Derby and that West Ham were much better than us. However my anaylsis of the Cov game would be two poor performances from two poor sides (on the day). Were we poor? Yes, I believe we were. What chances we had we didn't put away, but there was a definate lack of creativity. As a defensive midfielder Jenkins did not do his job, Forsyth was well off the pace and we looked a little one dimensional. Blimey, Lloyd Doyley has been one of our most attacking players so far!! Add to this the aforementioned lack of creativity and I think the reason we looked as good as we did was because Cov were so poor. However Cov came out and, IMO, won the second half. Yes we could have had two pens, but Cov could have had a pen. Its could've, should've, would've. One area that I am pleased with is the defence. We seemed to have tighened up at the back and don't seem so likely to concede (this despite shipping 4 against WH). A proper LB certainly brings balance to the team. However, I am not down hearted...not yet. I think there is more to come from this squad and it is good enough to stay in the division. But Dyche is going to have to up his game along with some of the players, but I personally think we played better against Derby that we did against Cov, and for me it is this performance we need to build on.
Always enteraining to keep an eye on the WO board but the two camps seem to be ridiculously divided at the moment with most threads descending into abuse within a couple of posts. Its a bit more balanaced here, with a positive but realistic general viewpoint. Although I don't share the view of some on there that SD should be sacked I do wonder how I would feel if I woke up to find he had resigned. Would I be very disappointed? I suspect not.
Oh, you can keep you mouth shut n8ive horn. What the hell do you know about anything. Spouting out rubbish AS USUAL.
Bit harsh BBW, or have I missed something within n8ive's post? I had a look at the WO forum for the first time today. My god there are some angry people on that site compared to here (bit like being in First Class and then having to use the toilets in Coach!!!!!!). Think I'll stay here where the conversation is much more acceptable.
I was treating it as maybe a joking comment, in that we are usually calm and balanced. So he decided to do the opposite.
Yes, I assumed BBW's comments were all rather tongue-in-cheek with regards to the constructive comments here but just abuse on the Wobby!
Personally im very positive about all things Watford. Obviously there are things that annoy me, wind me up, get on my nerves, but my general outlook is one of optimism. I have no problem with fans critisising the management, the players, the bloke who cleans the bogs etc, theyre entitled to their opinion, and if everyone had the same opinion then we wouldnt be here. But the comments you see on the Wobby are different - they are made by people who, judging by the way they convey their opinions, seem to want the club to fail, just so they can be proven right. There is a massive distinction between this and the constructive critisism you see on here.
