Evening all, I had a first look of the Hornets this season in the away friendly at Wealdstone, he's what I thought of it: All in all, a pretty encouraging performance, though we obviously need to recognise the quality of the opposition. The first 15 minutes were quite scrappy with no team grasping control, and we weren't helped by our wingers Forsyth and Yeates constantly cutting in to make it a bit of a scramble in the middle of the park. However, it seemed we slowly grabbed control of the game with Iwelumo being the focal point with numerous flick ons and touches to get the likes of Deeney and Yeates into the game as he made a good start to his Watford career. Then after that, it was about trying to beat the immovable object that was former Watford keeper Jonothan North in goal, pulling off fine saves in the first half from Jenkins and particularly Iwelumo. As the half wore on, Hodson and Yeates were really linking up well down the right flank and causing problems for the Wealdstone defence. Eventually the pressure told, with Yeates drifting infield and scoring with a good finish, and Iwelumo converting a right-wing cross from Yeates. In defence in the first half, Martin Taylor looked assured, and Mariappa made a couple of crucial interceptions, but once again Loach at times looked less than assuring at the back. Once he was caught of his line, and Weladstone's Richard Jolly almost chipped him. Generally though we look assured. Early in the second half, once again North was in the way, denying Iwelumo in a one-on-one, and then somehow we didn't score with Yeates hitting the crossbar, before he saved the follow-ups from Deeney and Sordell from close range. However, the starting Watford XI quickly tired, with Weladstone pulling a deserved goal back from Jolly. With numerous changes, the side seemed to be invigorated, with Massey and Assombalonga adding a bit of cutting edge down the flanks. Sordell got the third, a great finish which seems to happen quite a lot with him, a lovely turn and finish from the edge of the penalty area. We looked a little bit light-weight in midfield with Mingoia and Issac, but it was marshalled well by Walker and the match quickly petered out. Overall, quite positive, we still lack a left-back and a striker in my opinion, but if we did get those, then we will have a very competitive squad. On a final note, the PR announcer was superb tonight, especially when Watford made all their substitutes, simply announcing he had no idea who had gone off or gone on!
