Been out so not followed the game so far, always thought we would need to step up quite a bit against these based on our performances so far against worse opposition. Only 1-0 so still in it at the moment, dashing home now to catch the second half turnaround...
I'm not too concerned because we are still creating chances. We need to take at least one of them in the second half by upping the tempo and keeping the ball better than we have in the first half.
I must have watched a different game as I was speaking to my mate at half time thinking they had turned us and had our wings many times.
Not at all apart from natural instances which happen every week. This week is poor, last week was not.
Yeah that would be my change once he’s fit, hoping RLB won’t take any prisoners and leave Neil out there because he’s the captain. With Rigg showing how he good he can be in the 8 role I’m starting to think Neil may not be part of our best Xl.
well Watford have been able to see what went wrong for boro and have put a bit of pace into it and attacked the width which we voluntarily concede could argue were off it today but I understand the want to keep shape and press as a unit but we need more bite and intensity from top to bottom and maybe a slightly more proactive press to achieve it. it’s one thing letting them play in front of you but seemed quite happy to let them almost play around us.
We aren't pressing and it's really frustrating me. Insanely passive. If we are going to cede possession to the opponent you have to make it hard for them to get forward, it's so simple for Watford to move the ball wide and suddenly be running at our back 4. Will keep saying it, Mayenda is a huge miss.
Would still like to see Hume improve defensively at times. Got to stop the cross for the goal imo (maybe harsh) and still dives in at times, thought he’d give away a penalty when they broke down his side. Cirkin has struggled too. Thought Isidor showed some positive signs. One where he got ahead of the defender near post is something not many of our forwards have done for a while. And the self made shot across the goal was a bit of quality. Looks comfortable through the middle
maybe he is a miss but I don’t think it’s enough of a miss to use it as an excuse for this A lot of them stems from the gaffer and passive nature of our press and shape, he wants control even without the ball and this can be achieved but we certainly don’t have control for the 30 mins before they scored
Games have phases, I'm not too concerned just yet. We've had more chances than Boro created last week.
