I don't even see any pace really. He doesn't look fast at all, certainly never burns past people. Edit: I've answered that as though I'm Javi Gracia responding to your question. Just to clarify, I'm not him.
A lovely way to progress. How many times have Watford been the plucky underdogs who probably should have won but for some desperate luck and poor finishing? They've all trudged back to their homes, ruefully proud of their team's display and wondering what might have been, if only.
Sema' s names not mentioned on the TV commentary until the 17th minute up to then I am not sure if he even touched the ball! Surprised no one has mentioned John Eustace sitting next to Steve McClaren (his no 2) really apologise for putting John Eustace and Ken Sema in the same post, as they are a bit chalk and cheese!
I didn't think Gray had a good game but his 'curved' move to stay onside and finish for his goal was well executed. Pity it was ruled offside. I found myself shouting the Ian Woosnam quip at the linesman,"in this moment".
One point I forgot to mention was that I thought the subs were baffling at the time, but after that QPR’s threat seemed to reduce and we kept the ball pretty well so think Gracia called that one well.
I think Paul Furlong's son plays in defence for them. Boo or clap? He ended up playing for the scum during his descent down the leagues, after being Chelsea's record signing. I think we all envisaged a crappy new year. It's been our modus operandi every year. It's not unique to us either. Many teams will struggle to maintain form for a whole, long season. That's why the best clubs have massive squads. Players who in August were getting highlight reals on MOTD and being talked about for big moves or international call ups, sink back into anonymity. There are lots of players who've looked like world beaters for a run of 8-10 games, but never again. Injury build up and fatigue also contribute to a natural waning of momentum. We're victims of that. We're playing nowhere near as fluidly or excitingly as we were in September. However, we are 8th and in the last 8 of the cup. We're definitively one of the best 8 football sides in the country this year. That's massive. Javi's biggest trick has been to get us to draw out results when we're at our worst. Get Doucoure fit, pereyra back, Sema firing on all cylinders again and we can look forward to March and April with some potentially pretty games too, but in the meantime I'll take getting the job done.
I was actually pleased because it shows pragmatism and flexibility. It's often the case that we exchange like for like or go with the obvious changes, but Quina and Doucoure really helped us completely control possession in the middle and Mapps was there to make sure we didn't have any last minute hiccups. Their nearly goal from a dead ball situation was an anomaly but they were never really gonna score from open play after the subs. Maybe they can take pride that they forced us to make such subs, but I'm glad that it shows dynamism and tactical nous by JG.
He's part of our "Big 5" Pereyra, Doucoure, Deolefeou, Cathcart and Sema. When they're playing at their best, we are unstoppable.
Because it was utterly dire to watch. I'd rather have watched it on ceefax. No doubt it was different at the match, but watching shyte like that on your phone is just an unenjoyable waste of time.
I'm really impressed with how Javi has managed the changes in all three cup games and we have still won, his head could well have been on the block had they not worked the way they have! Showed the correct respect to QPR by just making the 5 changes last night, although they really didn't weaken the team, only Doucoure for Cleverly and Del Boy for Sema would have made a difference it was a very strong team! Also impressed with the signals coming from the players and Manager that everyone's in it together whether they are starting or part of the squad, harmony we haven't had since the Promotion season!
4321 Hughes and Quinna behind Deeney/Gray, with a 3 man midfield of Capoue, Doucoure, and Clev/Chalobah, and we would have played nicer football and won that.
Was it a wide brimmed hat with things dangling from it? If so, he was there the last time I went to QPR about 20 years ago, gesticulating wildly and generally being a bit odd (him, not me).
Scrappy match, would have been nice to have VAR to get a 0-2 result *BUT* there was a highlight: Spoiler BT's "don't mug off the cup" advert. FWIW: Freeman looked like an ideal player for us - lots of flourishes of skill but contributing naff-all to the overall result.
We've earnt 360k by getting to the last 8. 7 years ago we would be calling that essential for survival. That's how far we've come under the Pozzos.
Yep, many times we’ve been the plucky under dogs that perform well but just haven’t quite got enough to win. We could easily be in that position again in the next round so lets all enjoy our cup run for now.
Turned us down, we tried to buy him a few years ago when at Stevenage, choose Bristol City instead, looked good but really our players are better!
Gomes was at his commanding best in the first half. Catching every cross with such assurance, that it nullified QPR's entire game plan of putting in crosses. He even made a brilliant save low to his right denying Wells' mishit shot from creeping in. Our goal came from a mishit shot also......it was that type of game. Plenty of huff and puff, but zero quality from either side. Britos gets a mention too. He's played really well in his recent games. I think we're seeing the best of him as he must be eager to play and not match weary. He's certainly a good player when he plays in isolated games like this. Everyone else performed at a mediocre level. First half we were really sloppy and I don't think we were really switched on to the task. Second half again we created virtually nothing, but controlled the game much better. QPR were really poor also, and just didn't have anything about them. They almost scored right at the death though, but apart from a couple of mistakes where we let them in, we were rarely troubled. I see Michael Oliver, even in a game as dour and bland as last nights, still found time to disallow a perfectly good Watford goal. You've got to hand it to him, he's a master of his craft. Even though I think our overall performances levels have nosedived over the past few weeks, we're still getting good results. I think that's mainly down to a strong team spirit and work ethic. The FA Cup is all about getting a win, and we got it. We're in the hat for the quarter finals and as long as we avoid City, we'll have a chance against anyone else. Looking at our recent results I think something has changed. Since that Bournemouth game where we were so open, we have become far more resolute. Since letting those 3 goals in, we've shipped in only 3 more goals from the next 8 matches, including 6 clean sheets. I accept we've rode our luck at times, especially at Brighton, but that's still an incredibly good run of defensive displays and deserves praise and recognition.
Nothing wrong with that, it's a forum afterall. Nothing of the sort was reflected in the actual support at the stadium.
First and foremost results are what count. I would rather be in the top 8 of the Prem and the last 8 of the FA cup and scrapping for wins than playing exhibition football at a lower level. We do not have the money to compete with the top six or seven - nor a few other sides either. Therefore we have to do the best we can. Beating QPR has simply made me happy - I can excuse the lack of a good preformance.
I'd be moaning too if I was repeatedly sat watching the likes of League One Ken Sema playing ahead of me.
It seems ages since a post match interview with one of our players or coach hasn't been along the lines of "We were poor/sloppy but we ground out a win/draw" What's going on with us? If we know we're poor and sloppy, why isn't something being done about it?
Agreed. As I said last night, you have to respect the moaners. They've voted with their feet and watch from the comfort of their armchairs every week now. If you hate something that much and you're that ******* sick of it, you won't go and can complain online in the warmth and comfort of your bedroom.
I'm increasingly viewing officials as a rogue element deliberately introduced into an otherwise boringly even contest with the sole aim of making the game more interesting. A bit like Sir Killalot in Robot Wars. If they ever get VAR spot on, this random element will be removed and the game will peter out.
