Bit harsh on Clevs who I though pressed very well and was his usual snappy self. Can he be better? Yes. And yes, he gave away the ball a few times. But so did Doucoure. The point is that together they did their jobs well. I’m sure there will be a few that will make counter-arguments about this next point but credit really must go to Silva for today’s result. As I said pre-game on this thread, he made brave calls with the team but he was pro-active and took underperformers out of the side (whilst making a point to Gino about what he needs too...). I remember the heavy praise that Slav got at the Amex when he made a sub after 30 mins because it wasn’t working. Similar praise should go to Silva for withdrawing Pereyra for Okaka, when he easily could have sat on it for 60 secs and done it at half-time. Also won an accumulator today for £800 which I’m going to blow 90% of in the boozer. Christmas is looking up...
Really? I didn't notice him do much after he came on other than get caught offside... He's still probably a teensy bit better than what we have at the moment, but I'm not convinced given his age and how much he'd cost that he'd be enough of an upgrade to be worthwhile. It was good to see us finally go back to 4 at the back, no surprise that it also helped us look more solid. Wague looked surprisingly good. Prodl in the last couple of games he's featured has looked an absolute crock. Cleverley continues to be very poor of late.
Like the win over Hull last season we have won a game with more goals than we have had shots on target. Though it looked to me like Doucoure's shot was on target it hasnt been credited as being.
To be fair, we've only had a handful of seasons in the top flight that haven't resulted in relegation
That was a brilliant result against a good Leicester City team. Leicester dominated the first 20 minutes but we grew into the game and from then on I thought we were the better team. Carrillo seemed to stay out wide more today than in recent games and he had a class game, hopefully he can keep it up. Richarlison needs a goal but he was full of running and I loved watching him closing the Leicester players down in the 91st minute even though he looked absolutely exhausted.
Fair play to Silva for changing it around, he's been needing to do something different for weeks Cleverley is much more effective further forward than in a dm role, he's so busy around the pitch it naturally makes us press higher We didn't look as hopeless at the back although its far from perfect Didn't think much of Slimani, hope we're not wasting a ton of cash on him
Yes that’s right, although I’m saying 5th best as I consider 25 points in the top flight to be better than (say) 30 points in the second division. But you are right - it was a comment that could be misinterpreted, I’ll have to accelerate my work on the league positions graph!
Watson improved after a terrible start, Doucoure poor (as against Huddersfield) but Clev much improved. Not so much the performances of our midfield 3 but the balance was greatly improved. Having Watson in gave Clev the chance to move forward to the position he played early on, and he and Doucoure provided energy even if Doucs gave the ball away far too often. I've never been a Carrillo fan, but he was outstanding in the first half even if he faded later on. Best I've seen him
A win that actually makes me doubt Silva a little bit more, rather than less. How we’ve not played Wague over these last few dark games, is daft. One looping miss kick aside, he looked very solid and reliable. Kabasele instantly looks so much better when next to him. Zeegelaar, another player shunned by Silva for months behind atrocious Holebas, also looked solid. I feel like he and Wague were unfairly shunned because they were not who Silva wanted on deadline day, and that has cost us a number of points. Okaka changed the game. I think it’s obvious to every Watford fan and their dogs/ cats/ girlfriends etc. that he should have been first choice over the last couple of months. Negatives over now. Overall, that was much better. Vardy should have scored and put the game to bed early, but to me he looked about two metres offside and the lino was miles behind play. After that miss, we were largely dominant. Our shape was much better today. Watson started slow but always looks forward and is a leader, which we’re definitely lacking, and football wise grew into the game.
This actually shocks me! So much of your post was good, but Cleverly was my MOTM! OK, he shaded it, there were several top performances out there, so plenty of people wouldn't go that far. But he sees so much of the ball and the midfield was so often congested he is always going to make some mistakes in a very keenly contested match played at breakneck pace. He showed lots of little touches to get the ball out of trouble and has wonderful quick feet.
Didn't see today's game so have no idea. Watching Liverpool v Swansea right now though and they are a championship team. A lower half championship team. And they are still beating Swansea. We should batter Swansea on Saturday. That being said, we are Watford!!!
Wague is BBC man of the match - thought he was goodish (and delighted by the goal) but would have gone with Carrillo or maybe Zeegelar Think that Pereyra might not be what we all hoped for and suspect that when we have a fully fit squad may struggle to get into the starting 11 what happened to Hughes - thought he was expected back last week
Any win is a good win, especially when you are out of form, have a long injury and suspension list and have to come from behind. Not the greatest performance, but effective and workman like. The same level of work rate and commitment on Saturday should bring 3 more points.
Brilliant result hopefully can get another three points against an on the ropes Swansea Throw everything into that rather than focus on the city away fixture
That was only Leicesters 3rd loss in 16 games since September. That result today was a real cracker considering our circumstances. I said at the weekend that I thought that the players were looking like they lacked in confidence rather than in ability or determination. I think the way the players celebrated those goals today and the way they determinedly hung on, showed that they certainly care. And just a quick word about Richarlison, not the his best performance yet again, and I think he goes down too easy. - and jeeeez, does he look miserable. But, blimey does he put some effort in. Non-stop determination. He is a player that we should be cherishing, even when he is not playing well. It hasn't been mentioned on here but when the ball came across for our equaliser, it was him (with a couple of defenders on his back) that managed to hook it goal-wards leading to Ndidi slicing it to Molly, to knock in. Richy was up off his back like a shot chasing the scorer to congratulate him. I love little things like that as I cant understand how any professionals head back to the half way line after an important goal without a hint of excitement.
How anyone can think Cleverley had a bad game is completely beyond me. He worked tirelessly in that attacking midfield role, and pressed the Leicester back line all game. He also had a direct hand in both goals by putting the ball into the box, so really not understanding the criticism. Kabasele and Wague were a good partnership, and Kabasele looked a lot more settled today. Doucoure worked hard as usual and at least gave us some forward drive despite making some mistakes. Watson did exactly what he had to in the middle of the pitch, a good game from him. Charly is lacking in confidence, but not in passion.
He wasn't expected back, it was just rumoured/said that he might be available to feature on the bench, and then it turned out at the last minute that he actually wasn't/his recovery hadn't completely finished, and that he would be unlikely to be available for this as a result either. I think they said he'll be there for Swansea as a result.
I don't really see the Richarlison lacking in confidence angle. He's getting into good positions and when he acts on instinct he's great. The one on one miss was just a poor decision on his part whereas the shot that hit off the post couldn't have been much better. Also, as zz says, he motors up and down the wing relentlessly and adds a lot to our overall play. At one point in the last five minutes he sprinted at full pelt to provide an option for the move that ended with Okaka winning a corner. And then closed down Maguire and Schmeichel three times in a row when most strikers would have given up after one. And yet again he was the most fouled player on the pitch.
I think regarding Prodl and Pereyra we know what they are capable of. The reason they are playing below par is a lack of match fitness, match sharpness and indeed a mental block particularly with Pereyra of having a recurrence of his injuries.
Football's a beautiful game ey. For me Cleverley misplaced numerous passes, broke down a lot of moves. He got better second half and two key set pieces so credit where credits due but he can and often does play so much better.
I’m not socially confident enough to interject their conversation. So instead I bad mouth them online.
But is that not just virtue of where he is playing on the pitch? As an attacking midfielder when things you try don’t come off then inevitably the attack ends? It’s the same assessing why Doucoure gave the ball away more than Watson today. Doucoure drove forwards with the ball and tried to make things happen, whereas Watson sat. It was one of Cleverley better games recently, and his energy was phenomenal and allowed us to close the opposition down much more easily.
Well chuffed at that result today. I expected Leicester to slaughter us but the players looked like they had a plan, they showed a togetherness and determination to win which had been missing. The passing and attacking play improved along with their confidence as the game went on. We had a solid midfield trio of Doucoure, Cleverly an Watson witha skillful and fast attack and they all performed today which reduces pressure on our defence. The defence had the pace to deal with Steptoe and co and Gomes was reliable as ever.
