Fan Forum: https://www.scfc2.co.uk/forums/discussion/5793/championship-watch-2022-2023/p9 So the Bilic era got off to the perfect start on Sunday with a Louza-inspired thrashing of the Potters. As nice as the scoreline was - we were far from perfect. Sloppy passing and conceding space was still an issue, but to be fair Bilic has hardly had any time with the squad, so one can only hope these mistakes are rectified over the coming weeks. On Wednesday evening we welcome the Swans from Wales to our humble Hertfordshire home. Playing in all white they always remind me of Leeds United (but much more tolerable) and quite a vocal bunch. Last time we played them at the Vic we won 2-0 in an end-of-season kick about that mattered little to either side. We had been promoted to the PL and Swansea season was wrapped up. We did lose the reverse fixture, 2-1 in a typical 'Watfordy' second half performance despite taking an early lead. Swansea have had a mixed start to their campaign, sitting just two points behind us in the table. However they have won their previous two matches and will be confident they can upset our joyful mood. I have fond memories of games against Swansea. I remember them being our first victory when we returned to the PL in the 14/15 season, losing 2-1 to them at the Vic in the final seconds of the match (a game that turned out to be one of Silva's final games) but the one that always sticks out for me is the 3-2 home loss. I cannot remember the season, but I remember it due to us being three nil down and clawing it back, almost getting a late equaliser too. In addition, GT was on Co-Commentary that game and I spent most of the night trying to get him to notice me waving at him (sad, yeah I know...). He never did, but the game was exciting despite the loss. So, what about this game? It's going to be a tough night for us. As I said earlier, Swansea are on a winning run of 6pts from a possible 6, and will be eager to at least snatch a point. How we will line up? Well, I am not sure if Louza is quite fit enough to start a full game yet. For now, I can see him being an impact sub to change the game if things are going wrong or we look off the pace (a lot like yesterday before he came on). Kabasele had a surprisingly good game for a change, 'the guy from Chilie' was back to his best and both of our strikers looked good. Sarr continues to have moments of excellence followed by long periods of going through the motions, but he will no doubt start the game. Davis continues to impress us and I see Sema as Championship beast at this level. I'm still far from convinced on Bachmann's kicking - but that earful from Bilic may still be ringing in his ears. One of our major problems over recent seasons is the absolute failure to follow up a good win with another one. We need to start doing this now, and ideally that needs to start on Wednesday. Swansea are no mugs and will be a much more challenging side than Stoke were, which is why we need to be switched on from minute one. Bilic spoke about being in control mentally even if you are losing, and we have come back from a few set backs this season to grab a point out of games. Three points on Wednesday could see us back into the top six, and if we even want to think about promotion we need to get on a good run. Watford 2 Swansea 0
To counter balance, coming along to this. Expecting a failure to win at best and get closer to a whole half season without a win.
Advertised as being on Sky's red button for info (think this might depend on having the sports subscription)
Apparently there's a decent film out about Swansea's success in the late 70s early 80s when they rose through the leagues at the same time as us (although they went one better by making it from the 4th Division to the 1st - that's League 2 to the Premier League for the teenagers - in just 3 years). If its ever shown outside South Wales I'll try to see it. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/may/16/tosh-review-john-toshack-swansea-city-70s Looking forward to the 'protest' and a home win on Wednesday evening.
Think we will win this and the Bilic bounce continues. Right players in a system that suits, Imran back and maybe JP too. optimistic.
Yes, they rose from the 4th to 1st division one year more quickly than us, getting there in 1981, but it’s worth noting they were back in division 4 by 1986.
I think if you have NOW TV you can see it too . Watched the Blackburn game like that. Well some of it !
Looking forward to the protest more than the match tbh. "What do we want?!" "Pozzo out!" "Why do we want it?!" "Because he sacked a manager who won 3 games in 11 averaging a goal a game against complete dross and employed a manager who just won our first away game of the season 4-0!" "..."
After a confidence boosting win, there’s absolutely no way we win this one. 0-1 Swans. Late winner after a horrible, scrappy affair.
There's a lot of excitement about the return of Louza, and rightly so, but I do hope they don't ask him to get 'stuck in' (let Choudray do this). Louza is so slight he will always come off second best. When he first came to Watford the big worry was he didn't get 'stuck in'. It looked like he was coached to put this right and he started making tackles. I don't know but I wonder if his injury may have come from trying to be something he isn't and going in hard on a challenge. He is the playmaker so just get him to do his stuff on the ball. That's more than enough for us at the moment, especially at this level. Fingers crossed for a fully fit Louza from now on!
Yes that's more or less what I meant when he should possibly be an impact sub for the next few games. Easing him in after such a lengthy lay off is the sensible thing to do. Problem is half of our squad are made of glass but that could be a fitness level problem. Nobody knows for sure apart from those in the know, but it does seem that working of individual levels of fitness would be a programme I hope Bilic can possibly address.
I quite like Swansea as other teams go (unlike, say, Stoke) so it's a shame for them we're going to smash them 2-1.
This will be an absolute massacre. I’m not sure if ownership of swans passed onto Charles, but if they did he will be arresting Bilic and his boys for destruction of property. By half time the hapless visitors will be begging for mercy from Imran Louza. “We just want to go back to our families on the Gower, Mr Louza! Your graceful poise and slide rule passing is beyond our contemplation!” Louza will give an evil smile and merely shake his head without saying a word. Prediction Watford 4-5 Swans Sarr (13, 38), Louza (22, 25, sent off 48); Piroe 52, 56, 70, 75), Gaspar (og 90+5)
Liked but I don't get the reference. We're playing Wednesday so nothing to do with Tuesday Weld. Or should this be in the Ukraine thread?
I’ve got a win double on us for the next two games, hoping we are going to buck the trend and have not two but three good wins on the trot!
Not quite. They had all sorts of financial problems, on the back of building a new stand I believe, and suffered three consecutive relegations from 1st to 4th division in the mid 80s but didn’t finally return to the PL until 2003. Remember they had a long period of under-achievement in the second tier when they always seemed to finish 7th (including in our promotion year of 1999)?
All depends how we start I believe. No doubt we will be nervous playing at home even after Sundays performance. Swansea have some decent forwards who are going to cause our defence problems. But fingers crossed.
Bilic to the Observer "why play wing backs when we don't have wing backs?" Yup. I'm sure he didn't mean it as a criticism of Edwards but it highlights the difference between clear and muddled thinking
