Thought I would get this out there now so we can begin the forget the horror show of last night. Besides, the next few games have quick turn arounds. Anyway.... After having more luck than six four leaf clovers, we somehow escaped the Hawthorns with a well earned point. Sorry, couldn't bring myself to type it... we we're awful. Sarr is officially off penalties now until he gets some practice in. Pedro/Dennis please instead. With that nightmare performance behind us and out of the player's minds (we hope), we welcome an old friend to Vic in the form of "Vincent Kompany's" Burnley. Like us, they started with a routine win away at a stuttering Huddersfield Town still reeling from PO Final heartache and losing two of their best players. They got a point against the scum of Bedfordshire next, and sit just above us in the table on the same amount of points. However, the battered us last season at the Vic. They were 3-0 up in the space of half an hour or something close to it. Never really getting out of second gear the entire night, our bunch of then-losers just took it on the chin as we sleepwalked to relegation. Whereas Burnley, under the leadership of Jackson almost pulled off a final day escape all be it for dirty Leeds to win and end their hopes. But - that is the past. We look at this season with a new prospect with a new refreshing coach and a team full of talent with a mentality to go the whole season unbeaten as we punish teams and HMS PTL turns into a jet boat as we roar back onto MotD. (Puts the Sherry down). This is going to be our toughest game of these opening three. I cannot see us strolling it, and if we start with Captain Cleverley and Kayembe in the middle again - I think most of us won't even bother. We have to start Gaspar, Gosling and can we please play Kamara on the proper side of the pitch? Dennis was utterly useless last night - didn't do anything if note apart from play hot potato with the ball with Sarr over who takes then missed penalty. I suppose we have to put up with Cathcart again but I would love to know where Pollock is. Manaj could be a shout - he needs a full 90 but I cannot see that happening yet. I really hope Serralltra was just a knock - if he's out then we may as well put Okoye in defence. I'm almost certain most pundits have this down for a score draw or an away win. Despite having four points on the board, we haven't exactly started with the mentality we would of liked, and that isn't all down to Edwards (well some of it - his subs need better timing and he needs to ditch three at the back) - he can only work with what he has. I think we are going to lose, and I say that because I cannot see us changing the shape or personal in the space of three days. Burnley have a much better midfield than us - and we lost every battle with WBA last night. Same will happen on Friday night, unless we see even a remote change to how we set up. Watford 1 Burnley 3
I need some help regarding the Burnley game and it’s timely this thread has just been posted (the last time I asked for advice about an upcoming match it turned into a match thread to my slight annoyance). This is the first game I will be attending post-COVID, and I have a problem getting my ticket - nothing happens when I tap on the Download NFC Mobile Ticket option in the account details page, the whole row containing that is a pale pink (I have just refreshed it and this is still going on). I googled this problem and I found a Liverpool fan was having the same kind of issue at the start of last season but if I read rightly it sorted itself out nearer the day of the match. Does that mean I will be able to download the ticket later in time for the match and there’s no need to panic? I have the Wallet app on my iPhone (never used it before) so I can’t think what else I need to do.
Must win game. Real 10 pointer after the 2 dropped points on Monday. Going to be played in about 30 degree heat. 0-0 after a gentle quiet 90 min stroll around the green baize.
Watford 4-0 Barnsley Hope we destroy this lot, Dyche and his ugly hoofball is everything that's wrong with football. Sarr x2 Dennis x2 Tough evening for the bedwetters etc.
West Ham wannabes with their purple and blue kit. Hope Sierralta is fit, we'll need someone to deal with the long ball barrage.
Burnley win currently 21/10 on Paddy Power. I’m not a big advocate of gambling and I’m not particularly good at it, but I’d like to think I’m right here in saying there is decent value in that!
If we come out with the same 'purpose' we did last night we will get absolutely schooled by a side capable of slicing us apart!! Need to see a lot more pash'un and quality on the ball. Burnley will press even more than WBA did. Can only see a 0-2 defeat.
I hate it when ex managers or players come back to the Vic , giving it the big one to the synchopantic home fans who clap them even though they were awful as a player and even worse as a manager .
Still got my tin hat under the stairs from the 2021 Anti Vax marches , will see if the club want to borrow it for our centre backs when they face the endless barrage of Somme style attrition raining down on our heads from the Claret and Blue.
They can't play that badly again! But I said that at HT Monday and they did. We need composure on the ball. Gasper and Kamara at WB is a must. I'd even contemplate bringing Gosling in and lose one of Sarr or Dennis.
I'm worried that they will turn over our midfield with just two in there. I'd prefer a more solid look about us and give the wingbacks more freedom to join the attacks. But I respect your opinion especially as they could win the game on individual brilliance. But they both need to show more strength than they did Monday night.
Logical. I just think teams are going to be **** scared of Sarr and Dennis, this should always open up more space for whichever one doesn't have the ball (and Pedro)
From the comments section of The Athletic. Nail hit on head. I couldn't have written it better myself.
I thought Albion proved that they are manageable apart from a wonder goal and the luckiest of through balks from one of their defenders.
They are. I agree. Especially Sarr. Just their presence makes a big difference, even if the reality isn't all that.
Not sure how this one will pan out. I have my doubts that RE will fix the issues from Monday. Burnley's midfield is probably stronger than West Brom's. They will almost certainly boss the game with control over the middle of the park. Could we hang on and get another flukey result? Possible but it's unlikely. This could be a messy day for Watford if they don't change the formation and put an extra body in midfield.
I mean, without a competent midfield able to move the ball, or at least one defender capable of passing out of defence, in all likelihood it’ll be all 3 of our forward options who don’t have the ball. They’ll be reduced to watching it float over their heads out of play, or being cut off in middle of our half by the opposition midfield.
