Trouble is fans are now expecting that team to be picked all the time but we all know that with the games coming up there will be rotation. There is a good chance one of Deeney or Gray will play tomorrow... Won’t go down well but don’t be surprised. Also will Sarr get the same space and time as he did on Saturday against a very poor side?
I'm not sure about the rotation bit - Muñoz has, after all, stuck with the defensive pairing of WTE & Sierralta (and Masina since coming back to fitness) because it has been successful. He'd surely be a fool to change the attacking line up after such a successful first outing? Tomorrow will tell I suppose...
You’d think so but can see Gray or Deeney maybe starting one of the 2 games this week for Pedro. Sema and Sarr will keep playing I am sure .
I guess Deeney will be down to fitness, I personally feel that Munoz will (should) go unchanged to keep the momentum the team built up, and then change it if things need a bit of mixing.
I wrote in an earlier post that I could not understand the rationale behind the appointment of Xisco Muñoz (apart from that it may have been the cheapest option). I have thought more about this question and I wonder whether Gino Pozzo is hoping to replicate the impact of Slaviša Jokanović during the promotion season of 2014-15. Jokanović was relatively unknown and coaching at Hercules in the Spanish third tier (Segunda B). The difference is that he had much more experience, enjoying success both in Serbia (two league and cup doubles) and Thailand (league title). Watford put on a great display against Bristol City last Saturday. The question is whether that result will be the turning point in the season or whether it will just be an isolated good performance. Vladimir Ivić’s preferred system was 4-3-3, but he was never able to introduce it because of the lack of a recognized left back and the absence of Hughes. It is difficult to know the reasons behind the change in formation by Muñoz. Was it in desperation because his job was under threat or was it always his intention? Would Deeney have played if he had not had a knee injury? Did the fact that Bristol City played on the previous Wednesday in the F.A. Cup affect their performance because Watford had longer to prepare for the game? City were also missing a large number of injured players including Alfie Mawson (who received a red card in the F.A. Cup tie against Sheffield Utd. but was also injured). An 18 year old midfielder was playing in only his second game at left-wing back during the first half, which may have helped to facilitate Sarr’s outstanding performance. How important a factor was the quality of the pitch, which is superior to many of the surfaces on which away fixtures are played? Will Muñoz keep the same 4-3-3 formation or return to 4-4-2? Will he choose the same line-up of players? The next few games should provide some answers and we shall find out whether the appointment of Muñoz was an inspired move or a serious error. .
My thoughts but, in reality they are just guesses. Was it in desperation because his job was under threat or was it always his intention? Player power and those above him amde him do it. Would Deeney have played if he had not had a knee injury? Yes Did the fact that Bristol City played on the previous Wednesday in the F.A. Cup affect their performance because Watford had longer to prepare for the game? Yes, BC were also terrible on Sat. How important a factor was the quality of the pitch, which is superior to many of the surfaces on which away fixtures are played? I think it deffo helped. Will Muñoz keep the same 4-3-3 formation or return to 4-4-2? Will he choose the same line-up of players? He did and nearly did! Testing times for the Hornets and we are heading for 2 wins in a row (atm after Pedro´s pen)
If you think about the start of any season, with new players coming in, sometimes a new manager, it takes time to mold a side into a formation that the manager thinks will be successful. Didn't GT take 10 games before he had his first win with Watford. I suspect that there was unrest in the camp before Munoz arrived and certain players did have the ear of the owner. The change has come about I believe because we now have three players together in midfield who can both see a good pass, but also can scrap when it is needed.
Whatever formation we play it is crucial to have the right mentality and that has eventually appeared. The 2 documented team meetings organised by the senior players seem to have done the trick, at least for now. The 433 formation does currently appear the best option but that really should vary based on the opposition. So as long as we go on the pitch with that same mentality, grit, determination and skill then we have a very good chance
We need adopt the overall team mentality that our opposition needs to change tactics when playing us, GT didn't change tactics or formations when we were winning promotions as champions or runners up
Watford won 8 of their first 10 league games in Division 4 under Graham Taylor. You may be thinking of his record at Lincoln, but that can be explained by the fact that he had been one of the players in that team and he was just starting out in management.
We certainly seem much more mobile with this formation and can move about with speed and flexibility....
You are right, I was thinking about Lincoln. My feeling is that anyone new to management of a team, and they all have to start somewhere, will need some time to settle. It is very difficult when fans have the expectation that by some divine right they should be playing at a higher level. You only have to look at the comments in the WO to see that some do believe the team have the right, and they know far better than the owners and coaching staff.
And they are fickle. Now talking about automatic promotion when last week it was “we won’t reach the play offs “!
Some of these people may be relatively new supporters and have not experienced all the setbacks when Watford were in the lower divisions. We would probably still be there if it were not for Elton John and Graham Taylor. Many other clubs of a similar size have not enjoyed the success which our club has. For example, I think that it is amazing that a club of our size has reached the semi-final of the F.A. Cup on seven occasions and on two of those occasions progressed to the final.
Today Adam Leventhal wrote in the Athletic: "Whether this upturn in performances has emerged more from player action than a switch in coaching approach is unclear."
