I think it’s definitely possible the pot is just empty. If so it’s just a symptom of excessive punts on young attacking players (who cost up to 12 million) and complete reluctance to replace just one of those players with a couple of 6/7 million solid defensive building blocks. However we cut it the recruitment strategy has been abysmal and incompetent.
Not many teams will throw away a 2-0 lead, against an ordinary opponent. It happens of course, but this type of thing happens far too regularly. We are a soft touch. Occasionally we can raise our game, but over time, we fall back to type and today is the real Watford. Soft at the back, players not doing their jobs well enough, unusually clinical at the other end though, but so na*ve and once the second goal went it, it was inevitable what would happen. Yet another last minute goal conceded. It must be well into double figures, probably 40 times over the past 10 years where we've conceded a last minute winner/equaliser especially at home. I don't know why this keeps on happening to Watford, but it's habitual. Whether we're in the Premier League or Championship, the problem is the same. Today was like the Burnley game where we were under no pressure, to a team who looked like they were there for the beating, yet we've ended up conceding three incredibly soft goals. Today is the real Watford. The one that battled so well against Wolves and Villa at home, is not what this team is about. Today, was a typical Watford performance. Abject, full of mistakes and a lack of urgency, fluency but plenty of naivety a lack of game management. We did the exact same thing at Goodison a couple of years ago. Winning 2-0 and cruising, yet conspired to lose 3-2, and miss a last minute penalty. How about the game last season at Goodison where we were winning 2-1, yet conceded in the last minute again to draw 2-2. Watford have good fans, but they bloody well do not deserve them this season that's for sure.
Really? We must draw their alot then. Well spotted. We haven't beaten them away in the EPL yet, have we? Either way, a difficult away trip these days.
They beat us 2 1-0 seasons ago and Foster saved us last year in a 0-0. We've won 3 times since 2005 at Brighton - in the Zola season and when we have been promoted in 2006 and ofcouse 2015!
Well it's a very physical league as we know and the Championship players , fans etc won't take too kindly to him falling over so often.
This thread is hilarious . Thankfully most of the knicker wetters on here don’t go to the actual games , so I won’t have to encompass them in real life .
Identity of the bloke who power clapped the Sheff Utd 0-0 revealed. I salute your devotion! I go to the games. If you think the rest of us think like you then you are deluded.
Everyone on the thread so far has made points and argued them with reference to actual events or facts of the game or club. Here we have a simple trolling post of very low quality which is based on spite. Ignore him. There are a hundreds like him on Enjooy the Game and The Hornets Nest on Facebook. People who don't so much have yellow tinted specs, more deep seated delusions of positivity in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary and no sense of perspective outside of their little Watford fan bubble.
That you fail to recognise it says a lot. Pages 9-11 contain typical over-reactions (eg. 'we're finished') together with the usual 'anyone who disagrees with me is a happy clapper' sub-text. Not shocking at all, just so, so predictable. Yes, we made mistakes and were punished for them but it wasn't a 'disgusting performance'. We're not finished, we're not below Norwich, we're three points from 15th and we've given ourselves a chance to stay up. It's almost as if you want us to go down just to say 'I told you so'.
I didn’t see the game I was at a wedding. But I did manage to peek about 2 minutes of stream on my phone at 2-2. I saw 2 minutes of the ball being booted long and going from end to end. It was dreadful. Have we lost the ability to put a foot on the ball, have a bit of possession, and think about what we are doing?
I think you're spot on HB1, talking last night, "Typical Watford" was the general feeling. For me, the last game of the season in our promotion year against Sheffield Wednesday comes to mind, it should have been our biggest trophy win but we blew it. Then more recently, the Cup Final should have been a day to be proud of but it ended as a complete embarrassment. As you say, the list is endless, away to Palace 2/3 seasons back, crikey now I'm remembering the Boxing Day defeat home to L***n, last minute winner from Kirk Stephens, ouch!
Must have been at a different match. No they didn't deserve to win and I didn't hear a squeak out of their lot until they scored and not much afterwards.
I am finding yesterday's defeat particuarly hard to take. Looking at the bigger picture what is so gutting is that we have some wonderful players and if we are relegated they will be gone. It takes years to get to where we are and it will be a long, hard road back if we go down.
I could see that Masina wanted to, but he was already on a booking so fair enough decided against it. Cathcart was pathetic though, didn't even make a challenge.
Even Ancelotti sounded faintly embarrassed by it. All for welcoming erudite oppo fans on here, but no need to go completely supine.
I think the squad needs a whole reset anyway, whether we stay up or not. We've got one of the oldest squads around, getting as much money as we can for the players who don't want to he here and not giving extensions to Holebas, Janmaat and Mariappa would be a start. If we go down then it won't be a disaster, there's plenty of talent in the lower leagues that we might actually start picking up and who knows, some of the U23s may get more of a look in if they are up to it.
I agree with this but what will be hard to take is the fact that this league is full of very mediocre teams. Everyone bar Liverpool and for us Man City,are beatable. My faith has been eroded over the last three games by the fact that we have frittered away six points in not beating a very prosaic Spurs,at least getting a point at Villa and losing from a secure position against a very poor Everton. Who's to say we won't do this again? Pearson's problem is of course he simply has no leeway and every loss is so damaging,not just to the points tally but to confidence. Such a wasted opportunity.
Do you have any objective evidence that we concede more last minute goals than other club? Or is it just the usual hot air? Any fan of any club could pick out a number of specific examples. And what's with this 'real Watford' tosh? Win, lose or draw it's all the 'real Watford'. Maybe you should simply 'b.gger off' and 'support' some other club. But I doubt very much that your 'abject negativity' would fare any better wherever you went.
We have actually fielded the two oldest starting XIs in the PL this season. The entire top 30 oldest starting XIs fielded in the league this season is teams put out by either ourselves or Crystal Palace: https://www.transfermarkt.com/premier-league/durchschnittsalter/wettbewerb/GB1 Last season we also fielded the 6 oldest starting XIs in the PL (and 8 of the top 10). I've been pointing out this issue for a while now. It's just not sustainable.
Yes - not looking at the long term - particularly in defence! So Watford v Palace in a few weeks could be the oldest combined teams ever ?!
Him.. Honest admission from Cathcart!. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/18204655.craig-cathcart-thinks-watford-blame-everton-loss/