Though Zola denies it (what else could he do?) some of the key team members look physically and mentally tired. Chalobah is only 19 and Vydra only 21--neither have played a full season of competitive football before.Though Abdi has taken up the slack in midfield and Deeney up-front, we need everyone fit and firing to reach the levels of mid-season. Vydra does look frustrated--he looked really down after the Leeds game. I think we will go out on penalties after a 2-1 win on Sunday--after all, they have the best goalie in this league. A pity because we were so close. Next season will be harder work in the Championship--Chalobah back at Chelsea, Cassetti back to his family, Vydra sold or back to Udinese. Any more loans in the Pozzo cupboard? Will be allowed to take them?
Someone earlier (think it may have been leonardo) said that the season was probably a month too long for us. Given that so many of the players have had their first taste of the very physical, high octane and ridiculously competitive nature of the Championship this is undoubtedly true. The massive encouragement is that Deeney's back on Sunday - we really missed him last night. I know we can't read much into a few comments on the TV but through his body language and general demeanour after the match he didn't seem unduly bothered about the result. I just have a feeling he will have an absolute stormer to make up for last week's disapointment.
Couple of points.... 1. After all the bookings last night, how did Schlupp avoid a second and a red card when he deliberately held back Geijo as he looked to get away down the right in the second half. In addition I could not believe it when he gave a free kick against Ekstrand that led to the goal - as soon as he gave it I had a bad feeling that we would get punished from the resultant set piece. Once again the referee was average at best (admittedly poor for both teams missing 2 clear corners for Leicester) and I am beginning to lose faith that we will ever get a decent ref that does not ruin the game. I am sure I will get some disagreement but how I wish we could have an experienced Premier league quality ref like Phil Dowd, Mike Dean or Howard Webb ..... as I was writing this I just thought I would check who we have on Sunday.... Phil Dowd - looks like my prayers are answered. 2. I sense (like many others) the disappointment that perhaps one of the best Watford sides for a long long time have not quite met the new expectations the mid to latter part of the season have provided. However, something tells me (and I am sure a lot of you also feel this), that this could and should still be our year. A 1-0 defeat was not the end of the world as in the first half they looked like they could get a lot more than that. In the 2nd we controlled the game very well. I thought that apart from the finishing, Geijo (for his first game in 3 months) and Vydra both worked extremely hard as did the rest of the team and Leicester were looking like they were running out of ideas. We also have the benefit of 100% fit raring to go Deeney and Forestieri on sunday whereas who have they got in reserve?? Danny Drinkwater??! Come on everyone - keep the faith - we are 1 win from our first trip to the new wembley - lets do this! COYH! p.s. Hogg to score on sunday and Watford to be given a penalty
Got to face up to the fact that neither team looked like it could hold its own in the Prem. Not lost faith but disappointed with the tired look of the team, they are young fit men are they not, don't buy into the lame excuses of a long season etc.
I watched the game on a stream...this was not the Watford side we played at Cardiff...still the other side do not seem better. There is no doubt one decent team effort by you and that should do it...a 1-0 lead is hardly game over. If you can put in a really good win that will set you up for the final. best wishes, jck
1) I thought the freekick that lead to the goal was harsh, but the referee in all was very ****e. Not saying he was 'biased' but he missed so many freekicks around your box as well as corners. Thought the linesmen didn't have a clue and that was summed up when one gve a Watford throw in so Nuge screamed in his face and he changed his decision Referees have been ****e for us at Leicester for years. The difference between the Premier League and the Championship is unreal in terms of officials. 2) That late goal, for me, has made a ****ing huge difference. I keep hearing people saying "oh, its only one goal. We could struggle at Watford". We were 8 minutes away from a 0-0 draw which I think you'd have been chuffed with. Personally thought you controlled the last 10 minutes of the first half and the first 20 minutes of the second. Apart from Vydra's appalling miss I couldn't see you scoring. Nuge and Keano should have put us up 2-0 at half time with two equally good chances. I can see a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Go Chalobah on Sunday like this !! [video=youtube;lBu4dMsq_Bg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBu4dMsq_Bg[/video]
Oh, another thing. What did you all think of Zola's post match interview? When I got back I watched the interviews on SSN and I was amazed when he said "I didn't expect them to score". Does he bother scouting?
I think he has a particular view re our defence.... we leak a lot of goals often by our mistakes.... you could have scored three I think due to our errors... I guess he ( may have) meant without our defensive errors he didn't think you would score....
Did not see the interview - perhaps he meant that by the 82nd minute he thought you would not go on to score - dunno - stupid if he actually thought you would not score in 90
Having seen this, you have to wonder if there is a God on the side of Morgan... please log in to view this image If the officials saw it, its a red card all day long.
Saw the interview and to me it seemed like he meant that he thought we'd closed it out by then. I most certainly don't think he meant he expected us to go there and get a clean sheet from the start!
They way he said it sounded like he underestimated us, the second top goalscorers at home in the league. http://www1.skysports.com/watch/vid...championship/8702412/zola-takes-the-positives Morgan is God. The photo doesn't do it justice. Morgan had just cleared the ball and Vydra ran into his knee more that Wes planting his foot on it. Oh, and he went down like a sack of ****e, was surprised by the amount of time wasting you did. Thought you'd see this as more of an opportunity than your home game given your away record. Schlupp should have earned a second yellow, but his first was a ****ing joke. So he didn't deserve to be sent off so justice in the end I suppose.
Judging by the photo, he hasnt cleared the ball. He has a bent leg which would not be the case if he had kicked the ball away. His leg would be stretched out if he had. Knockhart could have been sent off too. He got the booking, but should have been booked for dissent after running from the center circle 30yrds to the linesman and screaming at him and stamping and throwing a temper tantrum.
Yet again poor officiating. Both sides were victims of some laughable decisions almost straight from the off... Foxes not getting the corner off Cassetti's head set the benchmark. Schlupp should have gone for two yellows, complete bottle job from the ref. Morgan should have gone... deliberate or otherwise he has endangered his opponent and that, these days, is serious foul play. Red card all day long. Leicester penalty off Hogg's arm? Seen them given for much, much, less. The referee seemed to think he was in a debating society... he is not. Make the decision and (though tolerance levels vary) if there is dissent then get the cards out. People watching that will think it's alright to harangue us grass roots referees - it is not. Those who've seen me officiate know that! AKCJ: Referee's may well have been sh*te at Leicester for years, but the standards we've had to put up with - including the Prem - take the entire biscuit barrel. Credit to the players for making it a pretty exciting, if lacking quality, game despite the assertions of the officials. I didn't enjoy the game at all, too nervous truth be told, and will doubtless feel the same on Sunday. It is hard to take that such a fantastic season (make no mistake, the football for the most part has been majestic) is in danger of petering out like a Formula 1 car running out of fuel on the last bend. Nigel Mansell anyone?
Yes does feel like it is running out of steam... same for me as the end for the promotion play off season with Aidy where we lost to Hull...... Mind you I hade a very good feeling for last Saturday... so maybe my bad feeling for this Sunday is a good omen!
