Not seen us for a bit so was looking forward to tonight but that performance was abject. Without Kightly there is a real lack of class, threat and pace. Seem to rely on lumping the ball up and hoping for scraps, so many passes were misplaced even with no pressure being applied. Have to wonder about our bench as well, even with Forsyth playing very badly and being on a yellow and a final warning there was no-one to replace him, surely one young flair player on the bench to play wide is worthwhile particularly as Yeates and Forsyth have been brought off in a large number of the matches so far. Impressed with Bauben when he showed for the ball, Deeney for his energy if not his composure, Hodson and Mapps looked very good. Dickinson and Forsyth lack any pace or quality and aside from he odd dead ball Yeates offers very little. If we do get some funds this month I hope it is spent a little better than it was in the summer.
I saw most of the game and it was similar to the last couple of performances...just lacking something! I don't understand why Iwelumo was brought on before Garner, and Sordell didn't look like more than a £2m player...maybe that will put some people off. For me, more than Kightly, we missed Hogg today. Kightly was too predictable, but Hogg, our little ferret, is all over the place and actually trying to win and then keep the ball! Forsyth had one of his lss good games today, and Hodson too...Doyley should have come on, if not starting. Deeney was working as hard as ever, and he, Mapps and Buaben had good games, but Buaben is inconsistant...so against Birmingham he may not have such a good game...hard to tell! All in all, that good old cliché, a bad day at the office, and a shame our run was broken. Bring on Brum.
Hodson was at fault for their first goal, what was he doing in midfield As I said yesterday he offers us going forward but defensively he is a liability Forsyth should have been taken off after that first tackle he made, shocking tackle. I know Kanu for Reading should have been sent off in the first half for his studded tackle on Yeates The inconsistency of the Refs game wide with regards to the dangerous tackles needs to be addressed not only for clarity of the players aan managers but us fans as well! Hopefully Hogg (our midfield terrier/dynamo) is not out long term, my god did we miss him yesterday JE is more like an old cart horse at the moment, late and bad tackles. Again we lacked creativity in midfield but where do we get that from, there is no one in the current squad that has that spark. Saying that The Prince unlocked the Reading defence with that pass that created our goal, but other than that! Why did we not use our speed round their centre halfs, rather than lump it in the mix? Not overly impressed and as for using CI one question WHY? Still keeping the faith though
It doesn't matter if Whichelow and Bryan aren't good enough for Exeter and Bradford. If they still have two legs and a pulse then they deserve a go off the back of that showing. Aside from the performances of the two ineffective clowns out wide (even Yeates, who I'm normally quite complementary about), Hodson had one of his three worst games in a Watford shirt. Dicko didn't look much better than Forsyth, which is as scathing as I'm prepared to be about someone whose place in the team is absolutely certain. Eustace isn't Hogg, Marvin did what he normally does after three or four strong performances, and even Nosworthy was disappointing.
Agree with Al and NNW. I tweeted that Hodson question yesterday when it happened. Where on earth was he and why the hell wasn't he defending?! Very disappointing all round really, but onward and upward (hopefully!). I think Birmingham might be on a bit of a high after their performance yesterday, will be good to at least give them a game! Anyone else going?
I'm going. To be slightly more optimistic, Birmingham got their first against the run of play, then the other 5 were against 9 men.....
However, having given Iwelumo the benefit of the doubt up til now, if Dyche even has him on the bench I will be seriously hacked off. Surely, surely, we must have better options. Praying for some activity in the loan market. Is Weimann getting a look in for Villa?
Hodson was a long way forward but we were in a good position until Dicko hit another misplaced cross and then was way too slow to get back and mark his man. I thought Lee did well against Kanu but Dicko was beaten time and again by Kebe and even the sub who came on.
I have to admit that Kebe did have the beating of us, but he looks like Bambi all he needed was a very strong tackle / kick and he wouldn't have dared go near anyone IMO And I have to ask what the hell was JE playing at in the first half with that corner were we really trying to be clever, christ we have not got anyone that fast who can cope with quick thinking like that or was it a mistake?
PSH - It looked like JE just knocked the ball as he ran away to leave it, he did not intend to play the ball.
Not many positives to take from that performance. A shame it didn't start at a sensible hour...at least I'd have got home in time for dinner! We were desperately poor out wide...no pace and poor delivery even then there was time to play a decent ball in. Both full backs are easily dragged infield, so that they're out of position when crosses from the opposite wing come in. The Prince had some good moments in the first half. Marvin did at least make some runs and look a bit interested. AM was as usual sound. Since, as others have said, we have little creativity in midfield, it's even more important not to give the ball away when we have it. Reading gave us a lesson in that department and, much as I hate to say it, deserved to win.
I have to say even Nosworthy was not his usual self Hopefully just a bad day at the office but we cannot keep playing like that! We seemed to invite them to have possesion, not how a home team is supposed to play!
Back from Watford now so will give my appraisal. 1st half- Reading started the stronger and we could not get out of our half for the first 10-15mins. The were very close a couple of times, Hunt heading wide especially. Although Yeates free-kick was not too bad, needed to be more in the corner though!! His deliveries were poor most of the game which sets us on bad stead if we cant put our crosses in. Our goal was well worked, a quick break again and great through ball for Deeney to run onto. The ball was inviting and it only took one touch to be burried, it could have been from Marv or the defenders, one touch would have been enough from anyone. We fell asleep for their equaliser which was a shame. The biggest problem i have with the goal was that Robson-Kanu should not have been on the pitch!! He deserved a red card for racking his studs down the calf of Yeates! The ref saw the challenge but lost his balls and only showed a yellow!! Also the lino was wrong to flag Deeney offside as he was level when the ball was passed through to him. 2nd half- this was a very tight affair and either team could have won it, again Yeates could have done better from a free-kick, but failed to do so. The goal was well worked though. All in all, we were very unlucky but also did not play like we had been of late. The ref was dreadful as were the officials and they ruined the game as well as slowing it down several times. 3 times Graham Salisbury took a few seconds to make a decision which didnt need making. He could have let play continue instead, if the foul was even committed at all.
good summary Dan, i agree with all of that, though we were lucky not to get Forsyth sent off. The penalty shouts were even too. Bad ref.
Forsyth made a good challenge! He got the ball first and played it against the player who then tripped over it! The studs were not high, it was a great tackle. He deserved a pat on the back, not the yellow!! The 2nd one yes was a booking, but not the first. Hunt fell from the air like he was shot, Dicko never moved!!
i know, they were diving all over the place, but Forsyth's first was definitely a yellow, sorry Dan. You know i like Forsyth...just saying what i saw
