I am away so watched the game on a stream and got a clear view of it, It was great tracking back by Doucoure I was certain Swansea would score.
In that case Walter's a genius, because we've survived a lot more comfortably than our performances over the season have deserved. I'd say we're actually quite good really. You don't survive by accident in this league. We've underperformed, but we do have some quality, which has seen us through despite the half-arsed performances that have characterised this season.
Hb1 has said some sensible stuff this evening but also been overly negative. So, if you're looking hb1, my principal criticism of you would be that you seem to expect that we should be loads better than most of the rest. Whereas, being just a little bit better than most of the rest is probably a more realistic expectation currently.
Not quite. We're not very good because of the coach. I think he's been extremely lucky at vital moments, which has papered over a lot of cracks. We've dodged a bullet this season, there's no doubt about that in my mind. ......but, he's now had a year, and if he's got anything him, then that should be of benefit to us next season.
If giving a fair account of the match would be, let's say, 50/50. How would you rate HB1's view? Also open question: Would people be happy with a pairing of Mapps and Prodl on the opening weekend 17/18?
I agree. Walter's had a mare, and I've got serious misgivings about the training and his general handling of things, but he isn't going anywhere, and I think his experience this season will make him a better manager for next year. I'm far from happy with him, but we've got to support him now. The optimist in me thinks he might make myself and others look like right mugs for wanting him gone in his first season. I hope to look a mug this time next year!
Thank you, but the "negative tone", is not really that. It's an honesty, which is posted to balance out the overly positive stuff. I take a lot of stick because of being honest and people do not want to hear it. I know we can play to the level shown against West Brom. We've got nowhere near that in most games. If we play to our abilities and lose, then fair enough, but all too often we play within ourselves. I believe we have gained more points than our performances have merited over the entire season. Of course that's good for us, but we have to improve as it cannot be relied upon next season. Whilst I'm delighted we have survived another season in the Premier League, and well done for achieving this, I'm not fooled by the way we've been playing. I think most on here, if they are truly honest, will agree we've played poorly for most of the season.
Before the game, I mentioned that I was worried about about Llorente's aerial ability, particularly because I thought Prodl was out. Then I saw the team sheet and felt relieved but also that Llorente would spend the whole game trying to get up against Mariappa instead of Prodl. Well, the stats make interesting reading... Llorente won 0 attacking headers whilst he was on the pitch, Prodl won 0 defensive headers during the game and Mariappa won 7. Given that Mariappa was giving away about 4 inches to one of the best headers of the ball in the league, that is quite some performance.
There are issues with WM - there are definitly murmerings of discontent with the players and indeed we saw issues with his coaches the other week. I realise that player power is wrong but the players have to play how he says or they won't get picked. The squad has so much talent now and could be far more entertaining - the sum of all parts etc. Fact is that WM sets his team up with an Italian mentality and we fans don't appear to like it when he shuts up shop like today from just past the hour - he would argue Swansea were in the assendancy and he responded to their tactical change. The thing is we need a coach that can react and change to counteract the opposition. It's a real catch 22. Will he stay, will he go? Clearly he wants to stay - he has been more positive recently, also tried English and today waved to the crowd. Even if we want him out, if he adds another 7 to 10 points and we finish top half then he will get a stay of execution. I think it may well be the end for Deeney if WM stays but he has influenced other players to sign. Hope I'm wrong about Deeney but it would happen sooner rather than later, bext season or the one after. Doucoure, Success (when fit), Cathcart and others have suffered from WM ignoring them, indeed if it wasn't for poor paperwork Doucoure would not be here. In addition Marriapa has shown leadership and skill since getting in due to injuries - he was 6th cab off the rank. Has the team got where it is despite WM or because of him? I'm rambling I think so I'm off
That's because Marriappa is a very underrated player. Not underrated by me, as I've known him for years, but clearly underrated by Mazzarri. He sees him in training everyday yet is "very surprised" at how good he is. It's baffling how he ignores certain players and only plays them in an injury crisis, only to find out they are actually quite good after all. All managers have their favourites, but a good one doesn't let it dictate his thinking. If you do that, then you coach with hands tied behind your back.
My 3 year-old's first ever game today. He loved the flag waving, the goal celebration and his endless supply of snacks and drinks to keep him entertained. He couldn't understand why we switched to 3 at the back though. ..
You dont get stck for being honest, you get stick for your overly negative views that are heavily biased by your obvious dislike of WM - and the fact you somehow manage to turn nearly every matchday thread into the same arguement even when the person your arguing with agrees with you. If you were more balanced in your posting instead of using anything you can to bash the team or manager you might get a proper debate going. We've won our last three home games without conceading a goal. We've just reached the magical 40pts mark and your first reaction is to pick fault. We didnt play particualry well today, but we got there in the end. Lets enjoy knowing we will have another season in the prem. Its comments like this that really dont help your cause.
Personally I would be surprised if they are deemed our two best central defenders and the preferred partnership for the first game of 2017/18, however tonight I am a lot more confident that Marrappa is fine for the bench and a great back-up to come on when needed and give as he always did for WFC 100%
Yes I do.......but let's no dwell on that. I try to reflect on reality, not the happy-clappy stuff. That's easy to do. I could easily be overly positive, get loads of likes etc, but I want to promote good, honest debate. Unfortunately many take it as a personal attack in their own beliefs and cannot take it. They come out fighting with all the usual insults, but it's not necessary. I mean no harm to anyone.
I'm not sure that's entirely fair in this case. Mariappa was clearly signed as injury crisis cover for the squad and had hardly played any football for the previous two seasons - 11 league starts in two full seasons for Palace. He arrived as the 6th choice centre back, and it would be tough under any manager to work your way into the team in those circumstances. It's not only Mazzarri that didn't trust him but also Warnock and Pardew at Palace. He's got a lot of credit in the bank with Watford fans as we remember his good performances for us, but it was at a much lower level in ability and expectation. This season, Prodl has been good and the rest of our centre backs have been ok, a bit inconsistent but hard to justify dropping them all to promote the 6th choice. Since the change to four at the back, it became even less likely. Having said that, he has taken his chance and not put a foot wrong, so the acid test is what happens next week. For my money, Mariappa should stay in ahead of Britos who has blown hot and cold all season. If he doesn't then your criticisms will be justified. It's one thing not to pick your 6th choice centre back when others are fit, it's another to drop him when he's come in and played as well, if not better, than his competition.
Anybody see what the scrap in the Rookery was about midway through the second half? I'd say around 22 rows back and seat 35ish. A discussion for around 5 mins or so and then a big, stroppy bloke got shown the door. He wasn't for going quietly and tried to stick the head on one of the four or so stewards restraining him at one point ...
Best bit of today's match was the whole crowd chanting '**** off hornetboy1 the horns are staying up!' at the end. Made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Not a fan of Walter as he's too inconsistent...just when he starts winning me over he makes decisions which make me react like "Seriously dude?", however he's kept us up (effectively) so kudos to him on that. Today was 'meh' it felt like a meaningless end of season game, but we got the job done. I'll be happy if we get to 45 points, then on to next season.
I'm honoured I enter your daydreams. Are you sure it's just your hairs that stand on end when you think of me?
Agree with all of this. We arnt good enough to just shut up shop and sit on a slender lead. Having said that, Amrabat needed to come off. Offered little going forward and was all over the place defensively. The change when it came though just seemed to unsettle the team further and not for the first time this season. Has there actually been a falling out between those two? There seemed to be a lot about it on the radio on the way home, but is there any truth to it or is it just media talk? For what its worth I actually thought Deeney was one of our poorer players today. He looked off the pace and seemed to tire in the second half. Based on this performance then it was the right decision to rest him last weekend.Okaka looked so much sharper, stronger and faster when he came on. Have they though? Doucoure was hardly pulling up any trees when he played earlier in the season and if any thing seems to have benefited from being given time to adjust to the prem. Hes had to wait for his chance recently but has really grabbed it. Success shows alot of promise and will be a gfreat player but in truth he hasnt done an awful lot when he has played (bar the muff home game). Cathcarts problem is that he plays in the most overpopulated part of the team.
I dunno really. In my opinion, Prodl is hands down our best defender and was being talked about as potentially our POTS earlier on in the season. Is Marriappa any better than Britos or Cathcart? Based on two and abit appearances its abit hard to judge.
Sorry to bring it up again, I won't mention it again... Only bring it up here because you said some very forthright things, and when I pointed out your contradictions you chose not to reply in the Spuds thread. Don't expect one now either.
Dynamo - Re Deeney, it's not just him I am told but there is some dissafection. Whether as pros they will find a way to work together we will see but there appears a lack of respect. I would never usually say this sort of thing but it reminds me of Sanninio situation where you have a disciplinary coach whose way is his way or no way. Except now we have a much stronger team and in the EPL. I can't say more but this is not third hand.
Something to do with one of the flags the 1881 put out if its the incident im thinking of. From what I saw The guy who was ejected was ****ing around with it, trying to drape it over the head of someone a few rows in front of him or something. I dont know if there had been anything before this but another fan seemd to take issue with it and it got a bit heated
Congrats to Walt and the players for getting us to safety with 6 games to go Congrats to the recruitment team for getting us the right players to get is to safety Congrats to the Pozzos for another job well done Congrats to the 1881 for their continued hard work to make match days more exciting Congrats to all of us for putting up with the dross that's been served up to get to safety My sympathy to Sunderland, Boro, Hull, Swansea, Muff, Palace, Burnley, West Ham et al fans whose season has been even worse
Just another effort to discredit. I admire your energy though as I must really get under your skin to bother with all that cut and pasting totally out of context talking about different things when the conversation moves on. You've stewed on this since Spurs and you even sent me a PM for me to answer you. It's a little bit desperate if you ask me.
The problem HB is that your honesty is so predictable. I can predict what you will post after every match. The only time you have surprised me is after the West Brom match. I admire your high standards but you don't seem to agree that we are a mid table team. In my opinion we are; in yours we are not. Therefore when we play Hull, I'll be happy with a draw, while I know you'll be unhappy unless we play like Tottenham did against us. In the rest of our fixtures, I'll take anything and I'll be happy in the knowledge that we are still a premiership team for another year. You, on the other hand, will complain that our team lack grit and give up when we are losing. Then you will use a team like Burnley to show what we should be like which really makes no sense as they play football like you (rightly) complained about for a lot of the season. But keep posting. Without you the forum would be dull.
You say I'm predictable, and that you know what I'm going to say. But that's not true. If we play below the standards I believe we should be playing that, I will say it. Equally I will praise when we play well, which surprised you. The problem is you have labelled me as one dimensional, so this is why my West Brom report surprised you. Amazingly I didn't get many replies after that.....hmmm...I wonder why....oh yes, it was because it was mainly "positive". This "positive/negative" thing is a forum problem, not mine. You have no idea of what I will write in the remaining games. Now the season is done with, the edge is off so the critique will not be so severe. From now on I don't expect us to gain many points. What we pick up from here on in, will be a bonus.
You're right, I have no idea what you will post. I will, however, give it a good go in the Hull thread.
