Loved it Loved the change to 4231 Loved seeing the end of hoof ball Loved QFS realising in 60 minutes what Gracia never realised in 1.5 years, Will Hughes is never ever ever ever ever a winger, and never ever ever ever ever on his right foot Loved QSF realising Gray is a fraud of a striker and putting Sarr there Cracking 2nd half, lady luck has got to turn for us soon We've got our Watford back
And breath. What a second half effort. Arsenal gifting us the first certainly helped, but they showed a hell of a lot of heart out there this afternoon and gave 110%. Doucoure has to bury that, and we certainly need a striker on the pitch.
The first half spell when we were good was very like QSF at the start last time, controlled and turgid. The second half was exceptional fast paced attacking, I don’t ever remember us being like that under him before. It’s only one game and we were 2-0 down so very hard to judge, but if we attack like that going forward it’s going to be very different under him to last time.
Gutted I couldn’t make today. On holiday but watched the game. Thought we looked really good second half,and should have won. Something to work on. I thought the tactics in the first half, of sitting back, and soaking up the pressure, just didn’t work. We are much better when we just go for it, and get on the front foot. Our strength is our attacking players. A point today is basically a win, as it will help the confidence massively.
Arsenal were the worst side I saw us play last year, and the worst we've played this year. We were full of energy and heart and played well. But take it with a pinch of salt because they were dog turd and we only got a point.
Turned it on from Cleverley’s goal as had been out all day. We absolutely battered them, travesty Doucoure didn’t grab the winner at the end. Free hit against City next weekend, but if we play anything like we did in the second half we are certainly still in with a shout of having a solid season. It ain’t over yet.
Love this, even though it's a bit damning as we didn't win. From Twitter: Duncan Alexander ✔@oilysailor · 35m 2% of all shots in the PL this season came from Watford in the second half.
As an aside, we’ve seen it today and seen it in the cup semi against Wolves, if you take your most creative midfielders off you invite pressure. I understand going tight to protect a result but there are other ways to do it. It just never makes sense to me to take all your creative players off.
How the hell did we not win that 5-2 ? I’m slightly concerned about our finishing but that attacking football in the second half was brilliant and completely unexpected ! Defensively I thought there were some encouraging signs as dint think we looked as vulnerable as we have been , except for that spell in the first hang when arsenal scored their goals . Let’s face it it’s gonna take more than a week to coach that out of them so an encouraging start. I also thought the passing was a lot more purposeful than of late , lots of quick one touch stuff and we looked a bit more willing to have a go ( though as I said we need to be more clinical ) . All in all a very encouraging start under Quique . For all the backlash of Javi not playing Sarr he looks a long way off acclimatising to the premier league but then he clearly needs minutes in order to do that. So the only way for him to get that is to play him . Not sure about playing him as a central striker though? And would Gray have buried one of those second half chances if he’d have stayed on?
Reminded me of the Gracia vs Chelsea game. Crazy game that we could and probably should have won. We need to work out what our system is because we played defensively and conceded twice... went all out attack, scored twice and didn't concede. I prefer the latter.
I will never understand football. First half we looked like nailed on relegation fodder, I thought it was done. Second half was just brilliant. Deoulofeu was fantastic, on another day two of them curled shots go in. Unlucky. Doccoure should've scored that all day long and we win. Not Gray's best day. Kabasele tidy and Dawson improved. Some early subs were refreshing. SSN just said 31 shots.. unbelievable. Some awful mishits tbh, about three went for throw-ins! Great spectacle, must have been great on tv. Wolves will be a good game. #COYH
That’s what happens when you bring on the right subs on the 60th minute mark. Great start for Quique, you can already see some form of improvement, regardless of the crappy choice of line-up
Pereyra didn't look much like a right winger either tbh. Sure he won the penalty, but it was a bit fortunate as he was never going to do anything useful with the ball after cutting inside on to his left foot.
Went to this with the girls. They normally moan a bit, watch about 5 minutes and then sit and play with their iPads or something. Today, they were as riveted as I was. First half, we started brightly, but it looked like Gracia had never left. Spurned chances and then 2 stupid lapses in collective concentration to leave us looking like we had lost by 35 minutes. Second half was a revelation. Quique made substitutions (is that how you spell it? I had to look them up in the laws of the game as I wasn't familiar with the practice). The Good - Deolefeu and Cleverley were exceptional. Both should have scored more goals, but they both worked their arses off and looked like they had found a new lease of life. The bad - Hughes and Femenia looked as poor as we remember. No new spark from either of those. The Ugly - Dawson and Kabasele both had bright moments. At times in the second half, Dawson actually looked like a footballer, but ultimately, from where I was sitting, they were both guilty to some extent for the two goals. Capoue and Doucoure both had wonderful moments as well as poor. Pereyra struggled to get into the game, I felt, when he came on, but one piece of sublime skill completely ruined their defender and drew a penalty, which was calmly tucked away. Gray cannot start up front in this system. He was weak as piss in the middle on his own. How many times we got the ball wide and to the byeline, only for it to come in and him to be nowhere. This isn't a pop at him, as such, as that's never been his game, but we need someone more robust and a target in that role. Sarr - nice cameo in the main. Lost the ball a bit stupidly a couple of times, but the turn and shot which went just wide was more than Gray had done all day, and the cross for Doucoure's miss was perfect. Janmaat - Surely has to start matches. At 2-0 down, my instinct was to jet out of there and get home nice and early, but I had a nagging feeling that if we could get on, Arsenal were there for the taking. On the one hand, that is a great point, as any must be when you come back from 2-0 down, however, really, apart from in our box, Arsenal were poor across the pitch. It's hard to see how they are a top 6 side as they were the worst side I think we've faced so far this season, based on their performance. We should have won that and by a couple of goals. The problems of old remain - missing chances and conceding silly goals, but Quique has only had a week. If he can organise that defence and get Welbeck (WTF has happened to him already?) fit to start, then we might have a go at stuff.
Agree Pereyra not a winger either, but at least he has a right foot Deli Welbeck Sarr is so obviously our best front 3
Legs still shaking. Deserved a win. Awesome second half performance. Torreira is a ****. Wine chilled nicely
That was the 2 Watfords. Second half there was so much commitment and energy. What was said at half time? Sarr still trying to work out his place in the team, needs time to get his bearings - remember when Salah was first at Liverpool people (including us) were chanting 'what a waste of money'. Taking Holebas off seemed to work really well. Is he getting a bit predictable. Kiko's positioning so much better in the second half. Can't help but feel that Hughes plays far too much looking for a foul. Dawson looked like a changed player in the second half. It was hot out there - real credit to the team. So, good to not have an exodus towards the end.
Problem with him is defensively, watch the Xzaka chance (however you spell it) where he only had to control it and he was in and we lose 3-2. Janmaat got sucked in with the central defenders. Wont be the last time either. Then again our defenders are cack all round for the most part.
Yes it’s a big worry. We are far superior without Deeney but I fear he will be picked as soon as available.
Deeney holding the ball up for our gluttony of attacking midfielders to run onto could be a joy to watch.
Remember lads, this has nothing to do with our domination, it was all down to Arsenal capitulating...at least that's what the papers are focusing on.
The players looked unsure every time they got in a decent attacking position in the first half. Whether this was down to confidence, or a tactical message not to overcommit, I don't know.
