What did Paul Walsh mean by us being cocky and arrogant the other day? Were we trying to be too flashy at Southampton?
What worried me was the number of hopeful punts up field that just came straight back at us. Our passing out of defence was very poor, maybe because they did to us what we have been doing to others. When we did manage to put pressure on their central defenders they looked shaky, but it only happened in very short bursts. Something is missing at the moment and it it is hard to say exactly what, but things do need sorting before next weekend.
That's the thing OFH - it is really hard to identify the problem right now. Will be interesting to see how he shakes it up - and as fans we have to really get behind them at the Vic as negativity could make it even worse.
Our captain is a striker and his deputy is the keeper and tonight highlighted it as there seemed to be no-one in the defence and midfield trying to be a leader to inspire the others to raise their game. It's not an issue when we're playing well, but we need to grind out points and we're not going to be able to do that if we keep playing like we did tonight.
A poor game overall, it's a pity that it was shown in front of the SKY cameras. I thought Watford were poor in the first half and with the Swans gaining the initiative with a Williams header, hoped we would push on in the second. As it was, Watford more or less dominated the second half and came within a whisker of gaining the equaliser on a couple of occasions. Two teams playing poorly and overall I would have said a draw would have been a fair result, but in our position (and after the debacle against Sunderland last week) I am more than happy to take the three points. You chaps will be fine, you've got enough points in the bank so enjoy the rest of the season.
We starved your foward line, and you didn't seem to have an answer all game? though you did press us second half which gave you more possession and a platform, but still no real threat, not that we have any great striker threat, but your lads seemed edgy and nervous particularly 1st half which did surprise me given some of the games I've watched you boys play this season. I was expecting your manager to show some tactical savvy second half with a plan B, but it didn't happen, I've always enjoyed our games with affection in the Championship, you always have a fluid lively team, but I thought today you were somewhat static, maybe a confidence thing, but whatever I hope you kick on to have a good season, and the 3 points was desperately needed by us, so all the best for the rest of the season, and I hope you stuff Newcastle next game.........
If we lose to Newcastle on Saturday , then I shall be getting nervous .Some tough games coming up .. To freshen things up we need a couple of quality players capable of improving the first team..not just back up / squad players .. an experienced forward and attacking midfielder would be nice
I think you may have something there, wether Jurado doesn't look higher than the waist or he had a bad evening but I saw him at least twice pass the ball to the referee who was also wearing black shorts.
the ex roofer said you both need to up your game Toby, you don't seem to be angry at him for saying the same thing as I did only a month ago. Why are you angry at me and not him? My words after the Chelsea match were that form needs to be found, same message different words. You wouldn't be angry because I was right are you?
Well that was poor and Flores needs to think about either how he sets his team up or getting them to play to how he sets them up. Playing Deeney that deep and Ighalo all alone with 3 defenders around him is not going to work, well not very often. All it's doing is make us ping the ball to Ighalo and hoping he can hold it until the cavalry arrives. I think Jurado had a better second half and his shooting got better, but because he always turns inside and isolates Ake, we have no width down the LHS (nothing on the RHS either). Playing this way is just pushing us down the middle and with 2 big centre backs and a another in front of them, we get nothing. I even thought Watson had a poor game, with passes going astray. We will really need to lift ourselves on Saturday as Newcastle will come flying at us.
you guys will be fine. All thats happened is that teams have worked out that the way to stip Watford is to starve the front two of the ball. Once your manager finds a solution you'll be flying again.
Flores still won't use substitutes properly. He is tiring the few players out; even over Christmas he used very few players when there were options on the bench. Every game is the same in this respect right from the start of the season till now. Last night the midfield was crying out for change. At least 2 left on the bench that would have made a difference. Then we put a striker on in the last minute, that is ridiculous. If he is going to bring him on give him some time. I hope he was saving players for Saturday but that would be a complete change from him. Jurado has the power and strength of a schoolboy, still being brushed off the ball and his shots were weak and poor. I did sense that he was given extra time on the pitch as his place is now under threat. I know I'm biased but Abdi would have used the ball better in most of those situations. I really struggled to watch at times, so frustrating.
This quote from a match report sums it up for me: '(Watford) lacked the verve and tenacity that had come to epitomise their season'. I think we're just all trying to figure out where that verve and tenacity has gone. Is it tiredness? Is it being found out tactically? Maybe both (and more), but something has changed. But even when we were winning, Jurado was hardly worth his place.
