At half time,sitting in my chair after my match,I was encouraged by the first twenty minutes but cross with Hughes for being so flimsy. I didn't think we'd get a point,let alone deserve three. Heraklean effort by the team. I've defended Gray for a long time but today he had the touch of Harold Shipman. Freddie has to start. The post match interviews were funny; Capoue was exhausted and gave up on the last question and let TC answer it. I agree that he was tip top. I like the idea that The Arse have a player named Pillock. Not as good as Stefan Kuntz,but good all the same. Quique didn't need a jumper,I was roasting on court today in a sleeveless top. He had a t shirt and jumper.
Would have taken a point pre-game, let alone at half time. That being said, feels like 2 points dropped based on how dreadful Arsenal were second half Defence looked much better today, just a shame about the midfielders not playing to the whistle on the first and Dawson not holding the defensive line on the second. Sadly, Holebas looks well and truly past it, we may need to use one of our three rights backs at left back until January, unless Masina can step up Interesting that Sarr was used as a central striker - him and Maxi in for Gray and Hughes certainly improved our flying going forward. Needs a run of games though, as looked a little nervy and unsure of himself at times Cleverly my man of the match, excellent in his own right and also have Doucs and Capoue some room to breathe
What a game......just bloody fantastic. I really enjoyed that today. At half time I had us relegated and contemplating Championship football. By the full time I was thinking we're a bloody good side. We let them off the hook. It's a shame we didn't win, and we deserved it thoroughly. I can't remember giving any side that type of a battering, let alone a top six side. We were amazing in the second half. 31 shots at their goal. Ok, we know we can't hit a barn door, but that's not a recent problem. If you have Gray leading the line, then you can't expect too much really. He was just dreadful today. That's the only real blemish today. We have hope now. That was good.....really good today. Our season has started. This Watford side looked a force after that second half. Now the test is to carry that on. If we do, then we could easily surpass last season's 50 points total.
What a cracking performance that was. Keeping Arsenal to a handful of shots is excellent, and I think that QSF will tighten them up. Disappointed Welbeck didn't play a part! Holebas's booking just seemed completely unwarranted, and their guy Pedro, I think, got away with a little sly kick and he should have got booked instead, Holebas did nothing wrong as far as I could see. And the Shoutbox was hilarious. 60 minutes odd of almost entirely negative comments from the usual suspects. Then a there was a comment something like "**** off, Dele" with half hour to go from Nath. Then for the last half hour not a sausage from him as we dominated the game, scored a couple of times and finished with a creditable draw. Strange way of supporting a football team.
Just the little matter of the Champions away next week now... Can QSF pull it out the bag? I seriously cannot see us getting spanked for six again. Mind you, we need a pure defensive line up and play from the front to the back with defence in mind.
It was a good performance. However we know you are a dedicated flag waver “Gino knows best” character so it’s no surprise the shoutbox isn’t for you. People let off steam so I would not take it to seriously.
I would hope that when the disciplinary panel review this match I'm certain that Cholevas's yellow will be rescinded... Can they retrospectively give a yellow or will Sideshow Bob just get a fine?
It was a great performance. However incompetence from Gino Pozzo over 5 transfer windows on the defence have let us needing 2 goals a game to get a point. Not sure why you think people pointing that out is hilarious. It’s not mutually exclusive to enjoy the performance yet understand the shortcomings.
Great point but hopefully a lesson for Quique where he learns that Gray cannot play up front on his own.
If you have Gray leading the line, then you can't expect too much really. ”Gray”? You mention Gray. Did he play today? I was at game and did not think he played
Well we got a point, which looked extremely unlikely at half time, Cleverley MOTM for me, showed energy which I thought he had lost, hardly had a look in last season so is like a new signing, Del Boy played really well in the last 30 minutes, maybe he had more belief when Sarr joined the fray! Thought Dawson was better, maybe noth having Cathcart with him helped him take the lead in defending! We could have won it at the end on more than one occasion, however nothing comes easy and the team will now work for and appreciate their first win which on today’s performance won’t be far away!
Just seen the tackle on Hughes before the 1st goal, how on earth has VAR decided that is a fair challenge. Cabellos may have got a feather touch on the ball but bundles Hughes over. The refs and VAR are taking the rules of the game so literally without using common sense. It’s ruining the game. He got way more player than ball so should be a free kick. You don’t have to be a trained ref to watch a replay and see if a handball is deliberate instead of using microscope to check if it brushed the fabric fibres of the sleeve of a player. They are missing the clear fouls etc because they are too caught up on the finer details.
Your being unfair on Gray. He scored some important goals for us last season, some of them winning goals. he just cant play up front on his own as effectively as having a partner up front that's all. As it happens, no one in our team has yet proved that they is the best lone striker as Welbeck is injured and Sarr isn't one. As for Deeney, not sure what he will add to the team when he comes back. It wont be speed.
Cleverley was majestic. Hopefully his inclusion will see an upturn in Doucoures form to his imperial best. 4-2-3-1 is the way to go. Most important of all was the fight the team showed. Coming back from 2-0 down will boost their confidence and has given the supporters a lift. I think the aim will be to be out of the bottom three with a bit of a gap by Christmas. If we can do that and have a solid back 19 the season may yet be half decent.
I don't think posting "**** off Dele" is pointing out anything constructive, do you? Dele was brilliant today. Maybe I have a strange sense of humour, then. But personally I find any "supporter" than can only post negatively, as pretty funny, once you can get past the boredom. And I'm not sure that anybody that couldn't bring themselves to post anything positive during that 2nd half performance, is actually enjoying the performance.
Gray is terrible. I had a period of trying to see the good in him but it's futile. His ball control and general technical ability at this level is quite honestly embarrassing. He's good for a goal now and again because he has a bit of pace, his movement is decent and 1 in 10 times he doesn't scuff the ball, but nothing can make up for his massive lack of Premier League level talent. He should not be starting games.
Surely natural for people to be negative after that first half? Flatter to deceive for 20/30 minutes then let in a couple of really soft goals. Then surely it’s also natural to be happy after that second half. I don’t see why people can’t do both, it’s called being a football fan.
Just watching MOTD; On the first goal why is Femenia jogging back when Kolasinac is breaking through. If he sprints he could’ve been something else to think about for Kolasinac. Poor and lazy or am I overreacting? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You are missing the point of my initial mention in #321. But no worries, I'm not in the mood to argue about it.
I have to agree, I’ve generally defended him because I think he unfairly gets stick for his price tag. I think he’s actually an £18m pound striker, that isn’t a lot for a striker, it’s just a lot for us and we’d generally expect to get a player that looks like they’re worth a lot more for that money. But today he was very obviously the weak link, embarrassingly so.
I’m no expert but just struggle to see what else Janmaat must do. Whenever he plays I’m satisfied, sure he has shockers against lace but Femenia is having defensive shockers every week. It’s just not natural to him and he’s not contributing assists right now so what is he in the team for? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've watched the game back now and was surprised at how well Sarr played. When I watched it live I got the impression he was a little bit weak, but not a bit of it. He scuffed a shot wide from a good position, but I was impressed with the first touch and turn in order to get the shot off. That was a very good ball played to Doucoure in the final minute for "that chance". He had a powerful shot deflected wide as well. Ok, he did make a couple of poor errors, but the signs were far more promising than my first impression of him was. I thought Cleverley and Deulofeu were immense today, especially GD. He was everywhere and was in the thick of everything we tried to achieve. I'd say that may have been the best match I've ever seen him play.....not only for Watford but Barcelona too. It was such a shame he couldn't cap it with a goal, but he went close on so many occasions. Our finishing is a worry, because that many chances.....31 shots on goal, which apparently is the most Arsenal have ever had against them in their Premier League history!!…...that's outstanding by Watford, but they need more to go in. We can't always be unlucky. But, I'm hoping Sarr and especially Welbeck will give us a much more clinical edge. Now the challenge is there. We had to play in top gear, with players falling on the floor at the end, in order to get a point. It's a huge ask to get Watford to those energy levels in future games. We can do it, but we need to be at that second half level in every game. If we are, then we'll probably finish in the top 10. If we lapse back into first half mode, we'll probably get relegated. We're on a mini run now though. 3 games unbeaten.......although I doubt that will be extended any further, next weeks game at City could be a fun one. No one expects anything but a thrashing. On the back of that today, and the confidence it should bring, we may just give them a bit of a match.
