Match Day Thread Watford v Norwich Tues 7th July ko 1800hrs

Another go at trying to secure a win and maybe a goal

Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Andy Woolmer. Replacement official: Geoffrey Russell. VAR: Martin Atkinson. Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.

Match available on Sky

 

RS suggesting no smoke without fire re the Cantwell injury, above.

 

The frustrating thing about the games since restart is that the teams above us have not actually performed better than us . In fact in the current form table we are 18th. Two wins would have had us back in contention.

 

Lots of people saying who should and shouldn't play and how unfair it is that some haven't been given the game time they deserve or have been dropped for no reason. None of these moaners know what the situation is re player fitness, injuries etc. So fed up about people moaning about Vrancic not getting a chance. Well he's come on late in several games to compete against some some very tired opposition and hardly covered himself in glory. I really can't see how Vrancic's cameo performances justify him being picked over Mclean.

 

Account suspended

 

I don't believe many have pushed for Vrancic over Mclean.
More in place of Duda,Rupp,or Trybull

 

If from your original post Cantwell & Tettey are unavailable why not try Trybull for Tettey & Josh Martin for Cantwell? Whatever you do don't start with Duda, just read his name backwards and it shows you how he has performed recently - a dud!

 

As Bure says, I don't think it's McLean who's position is being questioned. Since the break, we've had striker(s) supported by 2 of Cantwell, Buendia and Hernandez, a CDM pairing of Tettey/Trybull and McLean, and then a 5th midfielder. Duda and Rupp have filled that last spot more often that not. I think when Rupp has played we've looked more solid, whilst Duda isn't bringing a whole lot going forwards and isn't ours for much longer. It's that 5th spot where I think Vrancic should be given an opportunity.

Since the restart, Vrancic has averaged less than 20 mins per game, and a lot of that has come as part of Farke throwing on a bunch of attacking options. His longest spell on the pitch since January (28 minutes) came alongside McLean with no other central midfielder on the pitch. In those circumstances, it's hard to see whether he can be part of a balanced midfield at this level - that pairing was only used in the Championship as a last resort when we didn't have Tettey or Trybull fit, and we never kept a clean sheet when they were our midfield duo.

So I think it's a bit unfair to write him off based on his cameo appearances. All season, Vrancic only has 3 starts, and one of those (vs Spurs) is one of only two performances I can think of this season where a CM has had an effective influence on our attacking play (Leitner vs Newcastle the other). We can't score, and he has as many goals and assists as McLean, Leitner, Rupp, Duda, and Trybull combined. In 700 minutes vs 6600 minutes.

Completely fair point that Vrancic might not be impressing in training, and there should be a reward for doing so. Having barely played all season, he might well be lacking match fitness and not got to grips with the pace of the Premier League. But arguably we're at the point where even if he's training as badly as Holt or Mbokani reportedly did, he's worth a shot out of sheer desperation that we might find a functional team. Farke has confirmed Vrancic is fully fit and in his plans, whatever that means.

 

The worst part of the BLM post Coronavirus games is they have all been live on telly .

 

Clearly Farke reads this forum, he's gone back to the future.

Tettey, Vrancic Stiepermann, Emi, Onel midfield. Pukki up top.

Come on boys, vindicate the internet managers (like me)...

 

Norwich

• 1Krul
• 2Aarons
• 4Godfrey
• 15Klose
• 12Lewis
• 8Vrancic
• 27Tettey
• 17Buendía
• 18Stiepermann
• 11Hernández
• 22Pukki

Substitutes

• 7Rupp
• 19Trybull
• 20Drmic
• 23McLean
• 25Duda
• 33McGovern
• 35Idah
• 41Thomas
• 56Martin

 

Does rather say something about our summer spending when we have an entirely 18/19 starting XI, and £500k of new signings on the bench.

 

Live on 'Pick' ?

 

Yes it is.

Here's a stream if anyone needs it: http://live.harleyquinnwidget.live/freelivematch/8013523091450430.html

 

Emi!!! Is that his first this season?

 

Fortune favours the brave! (Referring to my score guess)

 

Bendy you beauty.
We scored a goal

 

Lewis booked danger