Well the last pre-season friendly is out of the way which showed both good and bad points if pre-season games can be judged to much in that light. Udinese did split open the defence at times but a much improved second half display by Watford before and after the numerous changes made during the second half something Beppe said after Coventry he was not planning to do as he wanted most players to play a full 90 minutes. Based purely on yesterday's performance we did not get it right up top with Deeney and Vydra and looked ineffective when in the last third due to final balls, lack of quality service and in some cases their positions taken up. By their standards they were both quiet. We were more potent in attack after they had gone off. Also first half we played to many side ways balls from Gomes to a defender across our own box which allows the opposition to set up defensively all to easily and follow their game plan. Well we almost all agree that this for Watford looks an exceptionally strong squad. It has Championship experience, strength in depth, flair and some outstanding players for this level. It has been assembled early, had five weeks plus of pre-season preparation come Saturday so.... can Beppe blend these players together and take the club forwards?. He is probably under as much pressure as any manager ever has been in Watford's history to produce this season. He is going to have his work cut out for sure. Yesterday there was a little disunion in some of the players. Abdi's body language showed he did not appreciate Gomes walking with his arm over his shoulder pointing out an error Abdi had done in allowing Udinese a chance on goal, It has been mentioned on another post that Vydra was not totally at the races yesterday and looked sulky. On a couple of occasions defenders berated each other over mistakes and were blanked by the offender not a good sign of team spirit, at times they looked individuals. Well it is still pre-season but yesterday Watford first half were very predictable in their play, second half they mixed it up more and may be the players who came on had a point to prove. For the first time in along time many of us truly expect something to happen this season, last season I felt we would suffer from the previous season and other teams would have learnt how to play against us. But Beppe has come in, we should have different tactics, we have some excellent signings, we should have an excellent chance. So Mr Beppe Sannino its over to you, take all the ingredients you have at your finger tips and produce for us a feast all of us Watford fans will savour for many, many years. In bocca al lupo Beppe!!!
I was able to watch the game and really enjoyed the second half, something I have not said too often about friendly games. I was surprised at the number of subs, but maybe Beppe Sannino felt that he had to do something as the team was not getting it right as set up in the first half. Far too often the killer pass that Vydra used to run onto was off target, though I did notice that the speed is still there. Udi showed for me that they know how to play Italian football, a method that we may not see too much of from Championship sides. If there was one player for me that I would like to see in a Watford shirt it would be Muriel, who created all sorts of problems for our defence. I hope for our sake as much as his own Beppe can weld this amazing amount of talented individuals into a team. We will still be there no matter what, but I doubt that he will be unless results come very quickly.
I want Beppe to succeed as he seems a genuinely "nice" bloke. But I am always reminded of the saying "nice blokes finish last" GT seemed nice on the surface but behind the scenes he was ruthless with an overwhelming desire to win. Does Beppe have that? I hope so and that he can instil it into his players
Well, well, well, we've got a good squad. Now the Championship is a very tough battle. Let it commence!!
I seem to remember people saying that we had a good squad last year. I certainly got carried away and came crashing down to earth with a pretty big bump. This year I am much more cautious and I hope that we can do something. But the team has to show the right attitude and the right temprement. Re-signing the players we wanted was a big step (Tozser, Vydra), Ighalo looks more than decent but Gomes makes me nervous. I still want to see Anya running at the opposition and I want to see the same from Dyer. Yesterday, Dyer seemed to play far too deep to be an attacking threat when he came on and Anya didn't really have a run at the opposition either. These are players that can cause teams a problem with their pace, so unleash them. The weak link for me is still Beppe (although at the open day today he proved that he is a very, very nice guy). I want him to succeed, but...time will tell. COYH
This squad is exceptional in many areas..it's hugely exciting. But! There are players who seem to be continually on the teamsheet that in truth don't deserve their places as others are proving better in those positions. For starters, i'd play Ighalo over Deeney, and i'd play Dyer over Anya. I wouldn't play McGugan and I'd also make sure that our dear Doyley was on the bench, not in the starting line up. Vydra didn't have a great game yesterday but he didn't get any service, often finding himself in bags of space and nobody watching to see where he was! Frustrating. I'm looking forward to seeing Peredes, but i doubt he'll be match fit for a while. So, a friend of mine and i tried to name our starting 11 and our bench, and it's a very difficult thing to do! Try it, it's a challenge, and that's where Sannino's problem lies, as well as being at risk of losing the players if he doesn't make it clear to them exactly what he wants...which at the moment they seem to be struggling with!
Interesting comments H about different players. I was going to say a few things about just how difficult it will be to put the right team out and keep those not selected happy, but think you have beaten me to it. Not sure that I would put Ighalo ahead of Deeney on the little we have seen of him, but maybe that choice will not be a problem if Troy does go elsewhere.
i've not seen much of Ighalo but he's quick, and seems to have a much quicker understanding of the game than Deeney. Deeney, under pressure makes some very strange decisions at times...
Could have written that myself...are you actually me? It's uncanny...we must meet up for tea or maybe coffee. It's ok I'm safe as houses...ask my parole officer...
oops! You're right, a little forward of me since we've only just met! Glad you agree with me though about Sannino (proudly getting the thread back on track )
Sorry about the emocion...damned kebab come back to haunt me. Should of ate it slower but after years of bread and water I got a tad excited
He's busy shining his red nose and waiting to clean out the lion tamers changing room. But he is soooo dinky and I love the fact he wears footy boots with his Italian cut suit. Don't you just love him?
he seemed very sweet when i met him...but nice guys don't usually win! He is diddy though, and footy boots with his suit was cool!
It's usually not a good sign when the manager is being questioned before the seasons even starts. I hope people don't get on his back if a couple of results go against us early on, the league isn't won and lost in August. If I remember correctly we had a stronger start to the season last year than the previous one and look where we ended up.
