Thought there were a few players who put in a bit of extra effort today - credit to Suarez and Capoue who looked good, Nyom improved and Ighalo was working harder at times than he has for many months. Clearly our tactics don't work. They haven't since Christmas but still they're not changed. We can all see Jurado's a talented player but he lacks any strength and speed to play out wide and Abdi obviously can't either. I hope we see more than just a few rotations for the last games of the season and change the bloody formation. At the start of the season most of us expected we'd be playing a 4-2-3-1 - a formation I think would suit the likes of Jurado and Amrabat down to the ground. Please QSF give it a shot.
If it was Watson's corner we'd be praising it. All Abdi's 'shift' involved today was hugging Palace players and giving away soft free kicks.
Well at least we got to celebrate a goal. Shame our euphoria lasted all of 6 minutes. Not a great day. Called the line up then also called the manner of the goals we'd concede. Never been so pissed off to be a smart arse know all in my life. Did say that Capoue would have a worldy so the injury put paid to that. The problem we've had is that we never move the ball with pace and purpose. You don't need to go slow, slow, quick pass, unlikely low %age flick, intercepted, counter attack. Just move the ball quicker with good passing and create space. Palace really were there for the taking. Cannot understand why, when Capoue got injured, QSF didn't move Abdi into centre mid and bring on Guediuora. Don't know why, recently, Anya hasn't had a run at right back. At least there is a threat of pace with him and his delivery, whilst poor, is no worse than Nyom's and Paredes. We are so easy to defend against its a bit embarrassing. There were one or two glimpses of good quick passing and we threatened to rip through palace but it was only too quickly replaced by plodding keep ball and unfortunately you have to believe this is very much how the coach wants the team to play. I have defended QSF to the hilt this season but I am starting to question the stagnant manner with which we are currently playing.
Well, that was a day to forget, and yet another semi final we've lost. A very poor showing from the Hornets, and they let the fans down today. As I said on another thread, I think Flores will choose to move on, and go back to Spain. However, a lot of questions have to be asked about the recruitment this year. Players signed and not used, no other forward options aside from Deeney / Ighalo, and when we do sign players they are mainly defensive midfielders, plus letting 2 of our most exciting attacking players leave the club. The recruitment has got to be better next season.
My highlight of the day: Watching a kid at The Green Man 'head' a plastic pint of beer that had been lobbed in the air. It all went downhill from there.
I did praise it calling it a decent corner, which is was. That's all it was. At least abdi made an attempt to track back. What's with you're constant defending of jurado? Even when it's clear he's been poor and inaffective all season? Close relation or did you make an early prediction he'd be amazing and you're desperately trying to cling onto it, hoping you'll be proved right?? If so, it's not looking good for you.
Such a shame that we went out with such a whimper. Palace really were there for the taking today. What we did really well at Selhurst back in Feb was having our centre midfielders doubling up on their two wingers - Behrami in particular was superb at this. I for one thought the game was absolutely crying out for him snapping away at their wingers. This could have quite easily worked well with Guedioura/Capoue doing the same the other side. This then allows the likes of Jurado and Ighalo to focus solely on going forwards and not especially having to worry about tracking back. Having been at West Ham in midweek also, I thought Berghuis came on and did exactly what we needed last 20 today - find little pockets of space, turn quickly and run at their defence. As for QSF, I think he has been absolutely brilliant for us this year, and has done more for us than I could have hoped before the season. But now it has got to the stage where I feel the Pozzos will be looking to move the club to the next level - and unfortunately I don't see QSF as part of their plans.
Flores will choose to move on? Yes I expect so. Just like the Titanic chose to sink to the bottom of the Atlantic because it realised it couldn't float any more.
Jurado would be better off under another coach. Quique showed today that even the Arsenal game was a flook, because as soon as we got a game that mattered to him in The Cup, he reverted to the tried and tested formula that has seen us play so poorly since Christmas. He has no idea how to mix things up, and the most success we have had from the team in the second half of the season has been in The Cup, when he has pretty much had done the minimum of tinkering, but still ended up with results. Except today. And we all know how that went. I have not called for Quique to go, though I have repeatedly and strongly suggested that I think Gino may not be as happy with his performance. Right now though I would plead with Gino, if he has been looking, to bring someone else in as soon as possible to start work on next season. Quique has enough merit to be considered for a second season, but I also feel he has done far more now to suggest he is not equipped to take us forward, or prevail when times get harder. I have suspected it, as I made clear over the last month, but this was too much today. No imagination. No insight. And little faith in so many players.
Well at least you didn't have a go at Flores as so many seem to be enjoying doing right now! But isn't it a bit of an over-reaction to call for a "major clear out" after one disappointing game when regardless of recent form, just about all of the starting XI and subs are more than capable of doing a job for us next season when they will have had the batteries recharged after a long break? (And before anyone points it out, yes of course it's been more than one poor game since the New Year began, but I don't recall you in any of your previous posts calling for a clear out.) At least five players who started at Wembley have been frequently touted as contenders for POTS, and two of them (Watson and Ake, who probably got stage fright as youngsters often do on big occasions for the first time) being well below their usual standards (even if personally I think Watson is a bit overrated) shouldn't change that, let alone be cause for a massive clear out. So just of interest, who would you get rid of? Out of the supposed underperformers, I would agree with others that Jurado played quite well (second half anyway), Nyom was good and Capoue was off too early to make an impact. Even Anya who I've had my doubts about has done quite well recently as late sub, so that probably leaves Abdi who I'm sad to say may not be Premier League standard and isn't getting any younger and Ighalo, but then who else do we have apart from Troy to provide any kind of threat? Unless you want us to be in Villa's position next season?
We're either dealing with an inflexible manager, a manager who doesn't trust his squad, or both. When we got promoted the club did a good job of putting together a team that what avoid us getting relegated. We tried to stegnthen our defence and midfield and hoped that our attacking threat would carry over from the previous year. Deeney, Ighalo and Vydra were options we were all happy with at the beginning of the season. We then bring in a manager who has his own way of doing things. He asses the squad he has got, one of which is mainly comprised of players he hasn't chosen, and works out the best way to utilise them. In a team who strength is now solidity you'd be silly not to focus on that. Ideally we all want that balance between attack and defence, but with being newly promoted it's difficult to have a competitive balance without sacrificing one of the areas somewhat. However, Flores has been very cautious in a lot of our games. Yes we've earned points by being hard to break down and hanging on to a lead. It's not the most entertaining style of football, but if it works who are we to argue at this stage. But then we get to games where we go a goal down. We can't get a foothold in the game and it feels like we're defending a one goal deficit. It's a time where you have to trust some players in your squad to make a positive impact, especially as the game draws to a close. Yesterday when we're losing why wait until the last 10 minutes to make a sub. Perhaps he doesn't believe in his squad beyond 14 or so players, perhaps he's stubborn. Personally I think Flores has more to offer us. And I hope the Pozzo's and the transfer committee back him in the summer to add to what we've got and add a bit more balance to the side we've started to build.
I've slept on it. QSF either needs a plan to improve and change of approach over the next four games or he's lost me. The chances of him changing his approach seem slim so I fully expect the Pozzo's to wield their axe. Seems like they have already decided. It may sound unfair, and it is. Palace are just as one dimensional as Watford were yesterday, get it to the wide player, get it in the box, dive if you can't (or draw a foul dependant on view). Watford's one dimensional plan is to play with no width, the usual 4 central midfielder's, expect or hope the full backs contain Zaha/Bolasie and that Deeney/Ighalo to win us the game off scraps. There was never a midfield player running into the box, no movement and no dynamic, I can't blame Nyom or Ake, they had to defend Palace's only threat and provide the entirety of our width in the game, when Ake got forward, what support was there? he passed to Jurado who flicks it back to him, Ake back to Jurado and then back to Cathcart, I think Ake got to the byline once. What's worse is that we seemed to think that was ok, was going to get us into the game and we were happy with how it went. Capoue looked up for it, but I'm afraid headless chicken increasingly applies to him, Suarez looked decent but too deep to cause any problems, Jurado a mess, very very neat but far too weak and never really a danger. Suited to foreign football, not English bustle, I'd prefer Layun to have stayed. Subs - Abdi was ineffective (still think it's down to position and instruction not abilty), Suarez enforced, Anya came on when they removed Bolasie and their threat down that wing. I get the Anya sub, but I'd still have preferred a more attacking option at that point though. My son enjoyed himself, and so did I as a result. At least we managed a goal to celebrate. The quality of our football? utter dirge.
Desperately needed width yesterday and out battled by a better Palace side. Was just so bitterly disappointing.
He was clearly at fault for not making sure his defenders don't leave men free at the back post (1st goal) or challenge for headers (2nd). Gomes would probably have scored a hat trick too.
Obviously I'm very, very disappointed about yesterday and blowing such a wonderful opportunity to reach the cup final, but I woke up this morning feeling very excited about the future and what our club can achieve if we get things right. Despite yesterday, the future has the potential to be very bright.
I haven't to say I wasn't too bothered about yesterday as it doesn't over shadow a good season. We haven't got the quality Palace have in the last third, but hopefully will with some new signings. Think Flores has been cautious with team selection -but when you have such limited attacking choice - that was the right choice. If we had played open attacking football this season - we would be playing next in the championship. Had Deeney or Iggy got a bad injury we would have been in big trouble. Think the owners will address that in the pre season.
3 wins in 15 league games raises question as that form, continued into next season, will take us down Is it QSF? His tactics have been rigid with no plan b and it truly doesn't look like the players are playing for him. His team selection has to be regularly questioned Is it the players? Seriously, which of the recent incoming 5-10 players have really been consistent performers. I want Jurado to succeed but his lack of assists and goals is worrying. Same for Capoue. Nyom is great one day and a liability the next. As is Holebas..and Ake. Armrabat is not a strong enough sub for Iggy So I will repeat what I said yesterday...A far better squad is required and I truly hope we use our riches to bring in the right players rather than this "bring in 20 players and hope 25% work" and, with those players identified, we get a head coach who knows how to bring the best out of that squad
How can you not be bothered by the fact we blew the best opportunity we've had in a lot of fans lifetime to win the first cup in our entire history? Staggering stuff.
Can we put this myth to bed that you can't possibly attack and stay in the Premier League? It's nonsense, Bournemouth have done it. Quique made a decision to play turgid football and he's been vindicated. Doesn't mean we couldn't have stayed up another way.
Couldn't agree more. I was thinking about what Leicester and Palace have done this season in league and cup and was reflecting on the fact they they are one and two years ahead of us in having been promoted to the premier league. If they can continue to develop and improve what's stopping us? Lets hope we can improve the squad over the summer, try out some new tactics and hopefully have an even more impressive season next year.
Ibarbo, Oulare, Berghuis, Diamanti, Jakubiak, Vydra. These are all 'attacking choice' players that have either been moved on or not been deemed good enough to play in the first team, even though two of those players have had a whole season with the first team. The attacking options are there but are unused. Each player has a designated excuse as to their lack of progression. Oulare - still growing up, Ibarbo - only good in FIFA, Jakubiak - only plays with the youth players, Diamanti - not a footballer, Berghuis - hair too floppy, Vydra - looked at QSF's girlfriend in a deemed inappropriate way. We didn't have a striker on the bench, our supposed reserve striker Amrabat, who is a winger, was suspended and I suppose Oulare was injured. Why Jakubiak isn't included when we have no other options is beyond me. Who cares if he isn't ready? Chasing a goal yesterday we could have stuck him on instead of pointlessly bringing on a right back. Our current 'lack' of attacking options is not only down to the owners and their signings, it's also the fault of the head coach for both not bringing players on in terms of their technical ability and also having zero trust in these players to play above themselves.
No. That would have the the match against Wednesday and it was the fans themselves that blew that opportunity.
no one in their right mind gives a **** about lower league titles. And it was the players who failed that day, not putting the game to bed in the first half.
Still a little gutted this morning but nothing like the play off defeat. QSF has done what was asked but I think he should really use the last 4 games to change his plans and show Gino he is the right man to take us forward. On a brighter note, I'm currently having breakfast in The ****e House hotel in Watford and they've got the best of Sugar Hill Gang playing in the background.
I think you have got this spot on except I disagree about Berghuis as I'm sure he had his hair cut before the West Ham game!
Why single out Jurado when several other players were just as if not more guilty of slowing the play down? And apart from the assist today, he also played an important part in the winning goal at WBA, however much you like to devalue his contribution (even Whippendell Woods seemed to agree with me there) and has been unlucky not to get a few goals/assists in the surrounding league games. His shooting, crossing and set piece delivery has improved significantly of late, and he even seems capable of winning the ball. His lack of physical presence when pressured on the ball remains a major weakness admittedly, but other than that and apart from score, just what does he have to do in your books to win you over?
If you were one of the 2 guys behind me, Cassettis Beard and Harrow Orn who were contradicting themselves, calling Jurado a lightweight **** whilst screaming BRING ON ANYA FOR HIM FOR **** SAKE (cos yeah, Anyas so much beefier) then go hang yourself. By contradicting themselves I mean shouting "**** THIS SIDEWAYS FOOTBALL ****, GET IT FORWARD", the ball is then passed back to Pants who hits it long which is then followed by "WHO THE **** WAS THAT TO". Christ. Imbeciles. Annoyed me more than the loss.
Two things about Jurado. He's not a winger and his best games for us have been in the middle, much like Abdi. Secondly, he can only pass it forward if we have players making decent runs. 4-2-3-1 would suit him and us. I didn't think anybody played badly but nobody played well either. If anybody had a poor day I would say it was QSF.
