Pre-Season 2018/19

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by DrewH, May 18, 2018.

  1. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    He's not terrible, just a very flawed person. If he starts against Brighton it won't simply be that Masina is rubbish or Javi a bit mad.
     
  2. wingco

    wingco Reservist

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    Why give an update on Okaka? They surely know nobody gives a ****. What about Kaboul?
     
  3. oxhey67

    oxhey67 Squad Player

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    This video has just appeared on the clubs website with regards to Younes Kaboul.



    Thankfully Charlie Fairhead and Nurse Duffy were on hand and after various manipulation of his chakras (I don't know either) he was brought round and is now thought to be comfortable.
     
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  4. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

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    The fact he’s a ‘very flawed’ person makes him a liability. The mistakes and lack of effort aren’t passable given the poor defensive unit as a whole. I kinda see the angle you’re coming from but to label him a ‘very good player’ is way off IMO.
     
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  5. NathWFC

    NathWFC First Team

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    On merit, or by default due to lack of any other options, as has been the case the past two seasons. If a 34 year old Holebas, who has been a glaring weakness in our side, is seriously (potentially) considered a better choice than Masina, then it will be yet another case of hideous recruitment in regards to that signing.
     
  6. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    I don't like him and I won't mourn his loss when he leaves, but he's a successful international who has made the grade, a FIFA rated 78 even now. Masina should take the shirt, but if Jose works hard to keep it the competition is good for the team. That's all I'm saying.
     
  7. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    No, it could also mean that Masina needs time to adapt to what the coach expects from him. Not everything is simply great or ****. Successful teams need a lot of work.
     
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  8. wingco

    wingco Reservist

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    Blimey.

    He's not a great option, but he's experienced and is clearly motivated.

    There are far more important positions to be worrying about than left back. Holebas had some stinkers last year, but the majority of the time he was 6/10.

    Really not worth worrying about
     
  9. NathWFC

    NathWFC First Team

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    Completely disagree. He is a glaring weakness in the side, well past his prime, poor defensively, makes awful, brainless decisions, and if Masina either isn't good enough or not ready to go into the side ahead of him after a full pre-season, then I think that's a real concern. Masina isn't a young kid suddenly taking a huge step up, he's just come from playing week in, week out in Serie A.

    Again, this could all be pointless and Masina could start next weak, but if not then I think it's worrying.
     
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  10. Knight GT

    Knight GT Predictor extraordinaire 2013/14

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    No
     
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  11. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

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    Can I ask where he’s shown he’s clearly motivated? I’m happy to give him a clean slate even if I do rather we hadn’t given him a new deal. But don’t mistake his petulance and anger for motivation.
     
  12. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

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    What a weird update that is. Note the use of 'full training' when talking about Deulofeu and Okaka but Chalabah is simply 'training with the 1st team'.
     
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  13. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

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    I don’t really go by ratings on computer games since the day we were told Ibarbo and Diamanti were top signing due to being seasoned internationals and having high FIFA ratings. I go by what I see on the pitch. But I respect we just have differing opinions on him.
     
  14. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

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    I have a horrible feeling we have had no takers for Okaka and that means no new striker.
     
  15. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    I offer the rating somewhat tongue in cheek.
     
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  16. lancyclaret

    lancyclaret Academy Graduate

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    Wrong....Burnley were not lucky with injuries last season - it was Dyche's worst season for injuries in his six-season reign.

    Heaton out for 34 games, Brady 23, Defour 14, Marney 14, Lowton 12, Wood 11, Ward 10, Mee 9, Arfield 9, Tarkowski 5, Gudmundsson 2, Barnes 2.

    Jack Cork was the only first-team regular to avoid injury.
     
  17. Malteser

    Malteser Squad Player

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    I haven’t got my usual pre-season optimism yet because of three factors.

    We haven’t yet improved on last season’s fairly unimpressive strike force, although I accept that Gray could well push on this season while Troy could be fitter and free of injury worries. Alcacer would be a terrific addition, but suspect he won’t join.

    We haven’t yet improved on last aeason’s very shaky central defence. The new fullbacks should both bring good things to the team, and it’s great to get Deulofeu and Doucoure signed up but of course both were here last season so it’s only keeping hold of what we are already have. So far we seem half way towards a good summer but still doubts remain in key areas of our squad. 5 days and counting..

    Thirdly Gracia will lead us into the new season, and I suspect that whatever tools are put at his disposal he will sadly fail to get the very best out of them and we will be perceived to have underachieved. Hope I’m wrong.
     
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  18. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Going by the team that played West Ham Under 23s they might be just back up players for now...
     
  19. wingco

    wingco Reservist

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    Those are amateur numbers. We achieved 1871 days injured, at a cost of £11m in wages
     
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  20. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    That’s a reasonable analysis.

    I remain optimistic though. I find it unlikely that we will not sign anyone and interested to see what having the same coach finishing one season and starting the next will bring.

    I think our strikers will do better and with a fair wind we have a classy first eleven already. Javi has a reputation for making the most of his resources and so I’m keen to see who shines, maybe Sema for example and whether he can get the best out of our most skilful players, Pereyra, Deulofeu and Hughes.

    And finally the fact that everyone is so hysterical about everything from signings, to the medical team, to cancelling friendlies reassures me, because generally that sort of catastrophising is nearly always wrong.
     
  21. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

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  22. simpleMASH

    simpleMASH Reservist

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    Foster (GK); Janmaat, Kabasele, Cathcart, Holebas; Hughes, Capoue, Pereyra, Sema; Deeney (C), Gray

    That’s taken from the club’s twitter. I hope it’s Pereyra out wide and Hughes in the middle. I feel like I keep banging on about it, but Hughes out wide never fails to annoy me.
     
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  23. NathWFC

    NathWFC First Team

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    Today's team on paper looks horribly weak. Desperate need of signings and injured players back.
     
  24. La_tempesta_cielo_68

    La_tempesta_cielo_68 First Team

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    442 just so we can fit in the 2 worst strikers in the whole division, Jezus this team is going backwards quickly

    What a horrible team, wtf is Hughes doing out wide?

    May as well have kept QSF, I already hate this manager and this team and the season hasn't started yet
     
  25. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

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    Holebas starts vs sampdoria

    Man the lifeboats
     
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  26. wingco

    wingco Reservist

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    Not sure what he's supposed to do. Look at the bench
     
  27. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

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    Resign. He's being completely humiliated by the owners and recruitment team. They obviously don't give enough of a **** to give him the tools to have a fair chance. He'll be judged on the results, but he's been stitched up.
     
  28. La_tempesta_cielo_68

    La_tempesta_cielo_68 First Team

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    Well.. considering the players who played 90 mins yesterday how about as a starter for 10

    Foster
    Navarro Kabasele Cathcart Masina
    Capoue Hughes (if Doucs not available)
    Femenia Pereyra (or Hughes) Sema
    Gray
     
  29. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

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    Look, if Gino says 442, then it's 442.
     
  30. La_tempesta_cielo_68

    La_tempesta_cielo_68 First Team

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    It's relegation is what it is
     
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  31. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

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    The Pozzo's know what they are doing.
     
  32. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

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    Not a very good starting line-up.
    Our subs bench is dreadful as well - 2 Goalkeepers!!, a novice youth players as the only midfield option, and Success as the only extra attacking option. :oops:
     
  33. Bahrain Hornet

    Bahrain Hornet Academy Graduate

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    I'd rather give our injured players more time to recover than risk them, Doucoure has had appendicitis! At least give him a chance to get fully fit!
     
  34. simpleMASH

    simpleMASH Reservist

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    Any rivers today?
     
  35. Annoying noises

    Annoying noises Academy Graduate

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    It's interesting that largely the same posters who believed we underachieved last season, claiming that the squad was good enough to challenge for a European place, are now saying we are going to be relegated with almost exactly the same squad.
     

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