Watford Fc - 2-1 Middlesbrough - 30/08/2022

Mario Gasp-air clearly benefited from the ventilator machines hidden in the firework boxes left by the pitch on the right side tonight.

 

The team tonight was desperately missing a hold-up centre forward to provide a focal point up front. I hope Davis is that player.

 

Bayo has received stick because up to the 93rd minute he had done nothing all season except run around like a chicken without a head, plus the fact that it was reported we paid 5 million for him doesn't help one little bit. Thankful he won us 2 extra points tonight but come on he needs to show a lot more than he has for people to be excited that he is representing our team!

 

Oh he has a head - The technique on THAT header 6 yards out was something else.

 

Sarr gets absolutely no credit on here. Well he was everywhere and took his goal masterfully.

Kamara and Hause on the left looked promising. For the love of god stop playing him RWB.

 

It's not his natural position, but he will pop up with goals if we play him in a front 2. Kamara and Hause do indeed look really good on the left, although simply putting Kamara over to his preferred side doesn't do anything to solve the issue on the right...

 

He doesn't seem to be very technical, a particularly good finisher, or even a particularly physical presence for his size, but he does get into good positions to get chances, a brilliant striker's goal tonight! Credit where credit is due, he's got himself into plenty of scoring positions, the goal was coming!

 

Maybe he has other things on, but it doesn't look good with the run-in he had with the club the other day...

 

Bayo may not have done much right tonight but he actually took that goal very well. So come on praise where praise is due IRB and lets hope that might just be the start of better things from him.

 

Kayembe was superb today, he battled hard, immediately pressed the opposition when we lost possession, and even created a few chances - that pirouette was sensational, albeit hilarious at the same time (Ken Sema must have been showing him a few of his “tricks” in training).

Can’t remember the last time i’ve seen a midfielder wearing a Watford shirt put in a shift like that, but it seems like an eternity. For what its worth, Kayembe today reminded me a bit of Capoue… I hope he continues to play that way and that it wasn’t just a one game wonder.

 

First time I've seen that from a former player.

 

Lucky to win that, but we’ll take it.

Nice finish for the goal, after Gaspar scuffed it through.

Joao Pedro was on a different level tonight, and just looked far too quick and strong for them to deal with.

If we can get Davis fit, and playing as the focal point of our attack, I think we’ll look a lot better. He’s the sort of player who can win the ball up high, and use it. If he’s paired with Sarr, and JP replaces Asprilla in the deeper role, I can see us creating a lot more and doing a better job of making the ball stick when we do have to go long. Asprilla will be a great option coming from the bench, and gives us a nice balance between his ability to thread a pass, and the direct running of JP.


Credit to Sema, put in a good shift and looked a threat going forward. Kamara had a hard time on the right, but looked a lot more comfortable once in his natural position. A RWB should be priority the next 2 days.

I don’t know what happened to Kayembe, but he had a spell in the first half where he suddenly turned into prime Moussa Dembele, shrugging tackles off and driving with the ball at his feet. Completely insane.

I’ve been a supporter of Sierralta for a long time, but he was shyte tonight. Needs to get back to doing what he does best, namely shithousing, dominating in the air, and steaming into tackles.

Hopefully Hause is capable of being the defender who can pass or carry the ball forward and help us build possession further down the field. If he can do that, and Davis comes in to help hold the ball up down the pitch, I think we’ll start to see a lot more of what Edwards wants us to do. Right now, we don’t really have a defender capable of consistently feeding the ball into midfield or the forwards, and so we end up going wide, then back, and eventually going long, which doesn’t suit Sarr or JP.

If we could add a RWB capable of really getting forward, and Davis gets fit soon, I think we’ll look a lot more balanced and capable of moving the ball effectively. Big if, though.

 

God knows what Sierralta was doing out there, but on the flip side, maybe we should be asking questions of Kabasele and Kamara (less so him considering his role) too? Sierralta was dodgy against QPR, but I thought he was largely OK tonight. Hause certainly doesn't have a reputation for passing (carrying the ball maybe? I dunno), but he looked assured enough in the 10 mins or so he got on the pitch, a lot more so than Kabasele whose attempts to build from the back were painful! As for RWB, we do need one, because for all Kamara's good work at LWB, it was only possible because the injury to Sema which also meant Gaspar went to RWB, but I do feel at this stage unless something spectacular happens (JP and/or Sarr going forcing us into some action perhaps) that Ngakia is going to be our most suitable RWB option until January at least...

 

We just really need a RWB. I think Gaspar could probably do a job on the right of 3 central defenders if needed, with Hause and Sierralta being complemented by whichever of Cathcart, Kabasele and Gaspar aren’t injured or in shocking form.

 

I feel Gaspar at RCB is the new Masina at LCB...how often has he played there before? Does seem a good defender, but playing right-back or wing-back is different even if there is some overlap

 

Apologies for repetition, but it took me a while to drive back to Norfolk at the final whistle - the first 20 minutes were a nightmare (particularly the first 4, obviously), then the interplay between Asprilla, JP, Sarr and (shockingly) Kayembe was sublime at times, and as everyone I've seen so far has already noted, watching JP tonight was mesmerising - he looked a different player even from his usual self.

It's a shame that we then came out in the second half and offered pretty much the square root of **** all for almost the entirety of it, or it would have been if we hadn't stolen it at the death. Bayo's well-taken goal even more amusing and ironic given it had come minutes after another terrible header represented an extremely presentable opportunity utterly wasted by him. Very enjoyable to see the effect it had on the Boro fans facing 3-days' coach ride back up-country from relatively close to them in the SEJ after all their chat throughout the evening.

The difference was so incredibly noticeable as soon as Kamara finally shifted back to his actual position on the right, and he was clearly uncomfortable with his directions and angles on the wrong side up to that point. Credit to Choudhury, again - he seemed to spend a lot of time playing a very strangely advanced position high on the left of the pitch, but regardless, he was all over, always chasing a lost ball and/or snapping into an opponent. Not sure his yellow was particularly clever or required, though - let's hope we don't see too many of those.

Again, as others I've seen have said, the remaining hours of the transfer window are vital, and it seems like almost anything could happen - more potentially disappointing than hopeful, but then that's literally what hope is for.

 

First 20 minutes was utterly diabolical, took a few boos from the Rookery to get us into gear to get, not something I encourage but if that’s what it takes let’s boo them as they come out start of each half. Boro looked a decent side I thought, their number 9 tormented Sierralta for the first 20 but severely lacked support or else we’d have been in a lot of trouble I reckon. Think we just about shaded it though and deserved the win; nice to finally win a game on a big day for the club in general, first time it’s happened since the last time we wore black and white stripes?

Bachmann did well, incredibly fortuitous that Clarke’s header was straight at him but good save nonetheless and did well to parry it away. Defence overall did well but it seemed to me that Sierralta’s bout of covid has taken some of his strength away and he should have launched the bloke into row Z for their goal, no idea why he hesitated for the initial ball.

Kayembe was a morph of Capoue and Doucoure at times, always thought he was unfairly slated at times on here but if he puts in more performances like that throughout the season it’ll be a difficult choice to pick our midfield 3. Choudhury was solid, Asprilla as ever showed glimpses of his talent, once he bulks up and improves his decision making, my word what a player we have on our hands. Kamara so much better on the left, but did a decent job on the right, Ken I thought had a really good game.

Sarr good first half and well taken goal but should’ve acted much quicker for an earlier chance he had, bit quiet second I thought but kept going. Nothing more to be added about Pedro, if we wake up Friday morning and he’s still a Watford player he’s got player of the season wrapped up already, absolutely magical at times tonight.

Bayo absolute toilet apart from the goal, so give him credit there, although has to be said, his attempt at the back post header bought back memories of Oulare (however brief they were). Gaspar seemed to spend more time in their half than ours, again think he’s been unfairly slated adjusting to a new country and league and still reckon he’s going to be good for us this season. Hause is an absolute unit and should’ve been bought on earlier.

If we wake up Friday morning and see Sarr and Pedro still with us then no reason whatsoever we shouldn’t be up there come end of season. With injured players still to return no reason we shouldn’t turn over a lot of teams. But truth be told, I wouldn’t mind finishing 3rd and missing out on promotion, sod the premiership as tonight showed why the championship is streets ahead for a team like us until this European super league is created.

 

Very pleased that Bayo got the winner, he timed his run (albeit a short one to perfection) and calm finish. Hopefully that will see him push on with confidence.

JP brilliant and I want to know what Kayembe had for his dinner tonight? Acme spinach?

Asprilla will have better games than that, when he was brought down by Boro defender, he looked a bit like a rag doll. Needs to fill out a bit.

3 points in the bag!

 

Agreed. He was taking quick throw ins and chasing the ball down. Even tried to win some headers. He was up for it in a more mobile role this time

 

Not seen it again, but definitely looked like their centre half should have been sent off for bringing down Sarr

 

He didn’t scuff the goal but he definitely scuffed the celebration lol

Agree with your sentiment tho.

 

Kayembe ball through to Asprilla that hit Asprilla on the back.

1 - Would have been 2 on 1 if it got through

2 - Kayembe played it right footed.

 

Another match, another team comprehensively outplaying us. A last minute winner is always ace, but this season is shaping up to be a repeat of the last chumpo one. Underserved wins all season with a completely clueless, out of his depth manager in charge.

But yes, this is definitely better than the premier league years. Much better. Honest.

 

I’d go further and say please, please, please keep Pedro and please, please, please sell Sarr so we can plug the obvious gaps; starting with a RWB

 

Bayo is world class. Can't believe it took me until last night to see that

 

The problem with a performance like Pedro's last night is that it happened before the transfer window has closed.

 

Let’s face it...winning changes everything, and what a great feeling to do so deep into injury time. You can count on one hand the number of times we’ve won from behind over the last two years..Goodison and Cardiff spring to mind but I can’t remember the last time at the Vic can you?

Maybe, just maybe, it was written in the stars last night. Fate etc. The anniversary match etc.

Or maybe it was a result in itself, rather than a special occasion where we were destined to win. Maybe our recent iffy form will change again. We shall see.

Good things I would like to mention today...not only is he is an amazing player, but what an attitude from Pedro too. It can’t have been an easy time for him thinking he was off to the North East and back in the top flight. But no sulking from him since it fell through. Instead a goal and an assist since. Wonderful. I’m not sure other players we’ve had this past year or two would have reacted so well to a move falling through.

I think most of us can agree that we still have three key players to come into the side who will improve us. Hause showed what he can do in his cameo last night. Davis should prove to be the focal point of our attack, and Louza should really improve our midfield.

Once the starting line-up starts to settle down and pick itself, cameos off the bench will be so important. Last night we got that. One sub (getting well forward for a man unfairly written off as a pensioner) set up another sub for a very composed finish. Bayo and Manaj probably won’t hit double figures this season but both are now off the mark and could have roles to play off the bench, as could the likes of Cleverley and Gosling if we are trying to see out a match.

And team spirit. The celebrations when Bayo scored were amazing. They showed a squad seemingly happy and united and pulling together, something we’ve not always been able to say since Munoz left. And unlike Hodgson, Rob is picking younger players too. Asprilla has come into the club and might have been expected to be a fringe player for the first few months (some even wondered if he’d be loaned out) but already he’s a regular starter. Maybe I’m seeing it through rose-tinted glasses because we won last night, but there does seem a good spirit around the place.

Not getting carried away. We were a minute away from dropping more points last night and extending our winless run. Bayo was a minute away from being the target of more scorn (missing that header). Silly old me would probably have posted another message questioning Edwards (his substitutions were made late again and through necessity too rather than tactics).

But goals change matches.

And results can change seasons.

Happily the deckchairs finished last night arranged in a good way.

If last night’s winner has got us back on track, then maybe some of that alleged £5 million wasn’t so badly spent after all.

Get in!

 

On the stream I was watching they said a broadcaster was having technical issues and thats why they were showing the scoreboard at the ground a lot.

 

We're already halfway to our total wins from the entirety of last season.

 

To answer my own question about winning from behind at home, the last time we did so was against Stoke under Ivic in November 2020, when we fell behind after only two minutes but went on to win 3-2

 

Which one of our centre backs played that long pass that led to our winner? That was some ball

Having watched it back a few times today, I really can’t see that even Bayo’s biggest critics can fault his technique for the goal? His first touch was excellent, and I really don’t think he scuffed the shot. And even if he did, it fooled the keeper!

I’ve not been a fan of his either, but the one thing I kept trying to tell myself was at least he's getting into scoring positions and sooner or later by the laws of probability one has to go in. And it did. And hopefully that builds his confidence because with more finishing accuracy, he could be an asset as he has a knack of getting several chances per game.

 

Zinedine Kayembe played the ball for Pedro

 

Boro almost scored trying to catch Bachman off his line, within 15 seconds it's in the Boro net. Not quite Deeney v Leicester, but...