Watford vs top 6: Good first 15-20 minutes. Lots of possession in final third but don’t test ‘keeper enough. Fail to score. Concede a very easily avoidable goal. Lose heads and concede another immediately. Full time result 4-0. Rinse and repeat.
From set plays as well . Mind you Mariappa does struggle in the air and with movement . Alright throwing him at the ball or making last ditch tackles but we need taller stronger defenders . Deeney probably our best defender from set plays which says it all !
If we consistently play this well against the top 6 then we can’t need much to turn performances into results against them. Obvious what we need, at least one commanding CB and another one as back-up or to compete with Cathcart. A better option than success and someone creative to challenge for a wide attacking spot.
Pretty typical story as against the "top teams" - play well, don't take our chances, then concede as soon as we make one or two mistakes. Mariappa and Cathcart poor defensively - lack of pace and alertness. Cathcart looks spent for the season really. Yeah the team maybe looks a bit more cohesive when Deeney plays, but without Gray we again lack someone to actually stick the ball in the onion bag. Deulofeu and Pereyra's faffing about at the edge of the opposition box and passing up good shooting opportunities can be infuriating, and Deeney rarely gets in to dangerous positions. Reassuring 60 minutes from Chalobah (other than getting out-muscled by Loftus-Cheek for the first goal). I'd been concerned that he'll never look the same player again, but he was much sharper today both in and out of possession. Why was Femenia so reluctant to cross in the first half? Hughes peripheral, as always. Doucoure very good. Foster solid other than an early iffy moment. Holebas finding his feet again, though didn't appear back to 100% yet. Other than Chalobah, the big plus point from today was Success' 'Sonic the Hedgehog' hair.
Genuinely wouldn't be bothered if Doucoure, Deulofeu, Pereyra and Gracia left in the summer. Two more embarrassments left this season.
I had the radio on the first half and BBC said we were well in it and should really have been ahead. By the time I switched on a stream just before the hour we were obviously already 2-0 down, but looked alright. Just a bit too neat and tidy.
Dk if serious or not? Although would be quite happy to lose half of this squad tbh. As long as we keep Gracia and don't lose both Doucoure and Delia and get some younger players in, with potential, I will be happy. If we lose to the Spammers I think questions need to be asked about the mentality of the players.
If we’re to progress as a team next season, we have to make it top priority we get an upgrade on our defensive unit. We really are pi55 poor at defending. It’s no coincidence we don’t get anything against the better teams in this league, the better players simply punish our inferior defenders. It’s obviously an achievement reaching the cup final but let’s be realistic, we don’t stand a ******* chance against City with the likes of Mapps, Kiko & Cathcart. I don’t think there is a worst team in this league at defending crosses
Scoreline was harsh. We didn't deserve to lose 3 nil but its encouraging how we played. Shane Success's goal did not count as we deserved one back for our endevor. Holebas unlucky also hiting tbe bar and Deeney would of put us ahead first half bar that super save Chelsea are ahead of us in quality finishes but I think we gave a good account today despite the scoreline. Nobody can say we were out playedas 11 shots at Stamford Bridge aint bad. Its a game we expected nothing from, but the overall performance was good and shows maybe if we beat Wet Spam their will be some confidence going into the Cup Final. EDIT I am being as positive as I can be today because with a good defense that could of been a draw.
You only have to review the stats of the game to see that the scoreline wasn't harsh. We made a ****, player vs coach in-fighting Chelsea side look like world beaters. The second half was especially embarrassing.
Chelsea have beaten Man City so some perspective is required. However if you don't score when playing well a good team will punish you. Gravy has done well to get most of his squad to play above their level this season. None of us know how much each individual is thinking of May 18.they wouldn't be human if they weren't. We all know the arrears that need correcting. Let's hope Gino acts.
That is my biggest concern. There is a chance Gino won't losen the strings and give Gracia funds I know we are generally careful with spending as a club recently but if nothing changes especially defensivly and we still have Mapps as first choice next season we wilk struggle.
We getting hammered by city Defence has had flaws for 3 seasons and still not fixed With Deeney in the team he links play better + we have an out ball, but he can't continue to be the answer
The post match keyboarders are here displaying their concerns as usual. Always expecting something more. It's not complicated. We are a mid table PL team, with a mid table squad.
We deserved to lose but the scoreline was harsh, you only have to review the stats of the game to see that.
It isn’t going to happen. It’s been obvious we needed CBs for 3 or 4 windows. Pozzo isn’t interested in doing anything other than getting by in that position.
Four times this season against the top 6, we've conceded the second goal within four minutes of the first. Another three times, we've conceded it within ten minutes. Most of these are in the second half of games. Javi sets the team up well and we can frustrate top opposition but sooner or later an individual error lets us down and then we just collapse.
Very loyal of you, Skyla. But, if you are a back-line player and you allow the player to run past and goal-side of you so he scores then no, the scoreline was not harsh. It happened 3 times for three goals - the top 6 sides generally have forwards who punish that sort of thing. The first two goals were not worldies - just a cross and a header.
I was pleased with Chalobah. Weak for their goal. But generally so much better in the game than before this season. Hopefully he can build on that over the summer and be refreshed and ready to go next season. Especially important if we sell Doucore.
Yep. Fourth season in the Premier League and I think we've only paid fees for two central defenders, Kabasele and Kaboul.
Exactly. No major value in the CB position. Look at Van Dijk. One of the best defenders in the world, 'only' £75m. And we aren't signing anyone with the potential of Van Dijk anytime soon.
Gracia having a case of the Marcos. 'We dominated possession'. (41%) 'We didn't deserve to lose'. 'We knew what they would do at the first corner and they did it'.
I'd have agrees with you about Cathcart until recently. I suppose that means I do still really, but right now I'd yeet him out the ******* club with the rest of them.