Yes, that’s fine and thanks for taking the time explaining your points. To me, you can always look back over a season and think you’ve been cheated, had good or bad luck in certain games. Overall, bar a couple of suspicious seasons since I’ve supported the club, when officials have been out to get us, I think you end up where you roughly deserve to be. Basically if you get relegated you certainly don’t deserve to win the league that season (as an extreme example). Most recently our first EPL relegation season was full of bad luck and dodgy refereeing. The opposite was true of the following season, full of good luck and favourable refereeing when we got promoted.
From memory you live in Barca so genuine question....did you watch the first two games? Only ask as it's been like a breath of fresh air compared to almost any match post the FA Cup Final. Win, lose or draw we seem to have a game plan back. Agree that we need a no 9 and Bachmann needs to learn his role and very quickly but I'm quietly impressed......but my aspirations are obv lower than yours for this season
I don't live in Barcelona. I used to commute for business and have my roots there, but I've been living in the UK for a number of years now. I don't get to see Barca as often as I did, but still have a ST in my name but I loan it to someone else these days. I go to all Watford's home matches and usually 3 or 4 away per season. I've enjoyed the way we've played, but I can see the limitations and mentally have expanded that across the season. With a non-sweeper keeper and a striker lacking composure then have some fundamental flaws which will to lead to many Plymouth type frustrations this season. A bit like West Brom when Ismael was in charge for them. They played some really effective football, creating lots of chances, but they didn't have a striker. So, results were a lot poorer than they should have been and he got the sack. Watford are following the exact same path. Gino looks at results in blocks of 10. If we are significantly below the points line he expects, the head coach is dismissed. That will continue to happen, don't fool yourself it won't. So, unless we get the players we desperately need, it's all going to go south pretty quickly, regardless of how well we're playing. IMO of course.
Stoke’s ground is usually very cold and often windy and it’s a pain to park near as I recall. Probably good that you’re going at this time of year. I was there when Helguson scored to keep us up, then for a horrible Pulis/Boothroyd 0-0 a few years later and lastly for Deeney’s first PL goal in a 2-0 win. I’m not bothering this time.
Yes, of course you can. I just don't think we were unlucky not to beat Plymouth, I thought it was a fair result. We could have won, but could have lost in equal measures. Missing a 1 v 1 is not bad luck, it's bad technique and composure from a player who has shown that trait almost every time he's been in that position. It's not bad luck your non-sweeper gives the ball away. It's bad recruitment that Ismael doesn't have the correct type of player for his style, or you could ever say it's bad Ismael cannot readjust his ideals to suit the keeper we have. Either way it's not bad luck.
Trouble with all these 'shots on target' stats is brilliant blocks by defenders preventing the shot reaching the keeper seem not to be classified as a 'shot on target' whilst a scuffed 30-yard effort that just about bobbles through that far is.
Really looking forward to this game, it’s going to be my third visit to the Britannia Stadium. The first time was my very first away game when I was about 9 or 10 & we won 1-0 back in 05, I remember it very fondly! My second away game was Stoke again the following season when we won 3-0. My third away game was the Play Off final & we know what the score was there. Hoping my luck continues at the Britannia. Stoke 1 - 2 Watford (Louza, Healy) - hopefully someone will find their shooting boots & Healy is actually given a chance (not just a run out at Stevenage).
Team news Ince part of squad (finally) Sierralta needs a late check Ngakia not guaranteed to be back No Lewis - maybe next week, maybe week after Being careful with Healeys involvement still
I’m predicting 1-0. Bayo will miss at least three sitters before we concede when Bachmann is dispossessed fannying around in injury time
God help us if we're expecting 90 mins from Livermore. Prefer Kayembe if we have to replace Sierralta. Hoping Lewis isn't another Hause.
When will Ismael get the sack after Pozzo sends him into the first half of the season with Bayo and Healey as his options up front? Bayo can't score if he's required to think and Healey is taking ages to get over his latest knee injury (shock!).
With the injury news I'll have to rein in my prediction a bit. Stoke 1-4 Watford. Uncle Ron ***** the bed.
Going to this for some reason, first away game in a few years. I am mindblown that a train from Watford to Stoke takes only 1 hour 40 minutes. Say what you like about the Victorians but they knew how to build trains.
That is the problem we knew would happen with VI's more intense gameplan. Hopefully Sierralta is alright to play, and regardless I would probably start Healy over Bayo tomorrow. Give us something different and he may even surprise us and do well. Lewis still not being ready is sad news, I was hoping we would of seen him by now. I know @hornetboy1 has been pretty negative in his posts about this season overall but I have to admit he has a fair point in our squad depth. Game three and are without two or three players. I just hope Ince puts in a good show.
Inch will score as he's playing against a former team. He will then become confused after too much industrial floor cleaner in his Gatorade at half time,run to the away fans and attack them with his boots and shin pads. Last seen heading to an institution near Burton on Trent.
Never got train to Stoke away before . What’s best way getting to ground from town , is there a happy hopper type job or normal bus?
