Great game, really enjoyable. Filthy Leeds were lucky, I thought they were mostly dogsh*t apart from their PL level players moaning about everything. We ran out of steam in the end due to the horrifically assembled squad that Cleverley has been left with but even then we were well worth the win. Just give Cleverley the job now and give him some players to support what was a promisingly exciting looking style. Of course, they won’t.
If there were something to play for, it might feel like 2 points dropped late on. As it is, I’m quite happy with the entertainment I was provided with this Good Friday evening. The shape looked good early on. Will be interesting to see if Cleverley has ambitions to switch to 3-5-2 more regularly, or if it was a specific counter to Leeds. If we do play it more then I think we’ll need more from the wingbacks. Neither of them created enough for my liking, though Andrews had his hands full with Summerville and Lewis did at least play a part in Bayo’s goal. The latter needs to deliver more consistently when he’s 1-on-1 with a right back for me. Just hits a cross straight into the man almost every time. Dennis and Bayo worked fairly well as a front 2. Not much in the way of link up that I can remember, but they were both willing to work for the team; running channels and pressing high. And when there are 2, they have a bit more freedom to move wide or drop deep, knowing the team will still have a target to aim for through the middle. Asprilla was lively but his passes weren’t quite weighted right tonight. He could be very influential in a more freed up role though. Dele-Bashiru was decent playing out under pressure. Loves a pirouette on the spot to buy space for a pass. Don’t know if he did enough to drive us forward, but I appreciated his willingness to get on the ball in risky areas. The back 3 looked pretty good to me - Porteous in particular was taking no prisoners. Pollock maybe should’ve helped Andrews show Summerville outside for their 1st goal, but he redeemed that with the footwork that started the move for Dennis’ goal. Didn’t see the 2nd Leeds goal very well from where I was sat, but it had felt inevitable as we dropped deeper and deeper. Cleverley will have to sort out the mentality asap. Fixing the fitness issues will be harder to do in what remains of the season.
Good first half, but went to pieces after Dennis went off and we had no focal point. Genuinely not sure Kone even touched the ball. Nice to see us try something different after VI and his relentless insistence on playing the same way every single week, though I wonder how much of our relative success in the first half was down to surprising them with our setup. Fair play to Clev and the assorted collection of P.E. teachers they’ve given him as a staff for springing that one and preparing the players to execute the plan until Dennis was hurt. Ultimately, a meaningless point. Cleverley wont get the job unless we’re properly and completely plotless, but I’ll take some solace if Leeds end up missing out on promotion because we took these points from them.
As I was leaving the stadium the TV screens were showing Farke having a go at the ref, the ref was poor but I think overall they got the more decisions going their way.
Credit to Cleverly and the boys tonight - win, lose or draw that first 60 mins is how I want to see my team play. In addition to also have the strength and organisation to defend as a team as they did for the last 30 mins when required. Yes it’s just one good performance, but it’s the first time in months and months where the players looked comfortable with what they were being asked to do, both on and off the ball. Last night’s performance should give us all hope.
Great to see the team playing in Tom Cleverley’s image last night, but what a waste to not play like that in all those other games this season. Almost everyone played pretty well, but a special mention for TDB and especially Kayembe in midfield. With the pressing game however, I do feel we needed to make more subs in the second half - just for more fresh legs. Lovely to experience a decent atmosphere at home for once.
Has Raj ever “pressed with energy”? He’s too slow to get close to any player before the ball has been released.
The issue is the quality of the bench. Whatever swap we made and could have made would reduce the quality on the pitch. Chak would be shattered after midweek as was Kone.
Think they were hoping for a handball outside the area but ref played on which he seemed to do a lot .
It’s far too early to make any sweeping statements about the future based on only two games, but so far TC has impressed. He set us up well last night, clearly is a deep thinker about the game and its tactics, and I like his honesty in his post-match interviews. He doesn’t do the Ten Haag/Pochetino trick of insulting supporters by saying how well we played when we can clearly see that wasn’t the case. He was refreshingly honest after we scraped by at Birmingham, and again last night was very fair in his comments. Make no mistake, that was a very decent point last night. Leeds hadn’t conceded from open play so far this year, and are probably the best team in the league. That first half last night awakened the joyous feelings of being a Watford supporter again after a fairly miserable run. Yes it was a pity we didn’t hold on. Yes it was a pity Dennis went off as we looked toothless for the rest of the match. Yes it was a pity the officials didn’t spot the two offsides for Leeds (very good) first goal, or give us the penalty (I feel it would have been a harsh one and we’d not have been pleased to see one like that given against us). But there was so much to be happy about last night. Two wonderful goals, Bayo finally back on the scoresheet, Lewis actually occasionally passing the ball forwards, TDB having possibly his best game of the season, Bachman doing nothing to upset his armchair critics (how nice to see us just clearing the ball long last night rather than risking things by trying to pass from the back) and above all a Head Coach setting us up in a different shape to try to combat the dangers of our dangerous opponents. Not Andrews’s best game, but if we all want to see more of our young homegrown players flourish here, then we have to be patient and accept there will be ups and downs. Yes, all in all a good night. 4 points from the two games without our senior defender, with a novice manager in charge and last evening a very unexpected draw against a side whose 2024 record reads 13 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses. Hoedt will be fresh for Monday, I’d imagine Chak would start, maybe Kone too, so I’d hope we can still put out a team with a few fresh legs. Happy Easter to you all.
Was nice to see a first half with intent and obviously a plan to be on the front foot. And trying something different too in terms of tactics and formations . Maybe not quite the right subs but then no one except Georgi could say they ought go have got on first .
Really really enjoyed that. Celebrated the goals in a way I haven’t done for a long time. Those pangs of nerves were there in the last 10 whereas it’s just been apathy for a number of years you could pick faults with us defensively or how toothless we were post Dennis substitution but I’d rather enjoy that for what it was..a great team performance
Summerville aside we made Leeds look poor. We went into our shell too early but I don’t remember Bachman having much to do, although he had a good game with the 2 saves in each half. Happy to give Cleverly a shot . We have limited expectations and both games have been a vast improvement over Ismael. Players in correct position and playing aggressively. Will be gold if Leicester lose in playoffs after being 15 points clear.
I enjoyed that game. Yes it was a poor goal to concede for the second equaliser, but bearing in mind the gulf between the two squads it was a creditable result. The non existent 6,000 of the 20,000 attendance made the walk home a lot quicker than normal. So all in all a good evening out. My gripes:- Kone instead of Martins seemed odd. Poor old Kone put more effort into applauding the crowd at the end of the game, than any contribution during it. Ince is just so poor as an impact sub. No energy or guile. Poor old Bayo had run himself into the ground by the 70 minute. He needed to be subbed earlier.
Wasn’t a certain forum member saying it would be near impossible for us to play 3 at the back and look good a couple of weeks back?
Didn’t watch the game as I’m away for the weekend, but caught up with the highlights this morning. Looked a good performance and the only reason Leeds got back into it was we tired as the game went on. Dennis’ goal was lovely but fair play Summerville, a hell of a strike. That’ll be on a few end of season showreels.
I'm a Happy Hornet today. In all honesty that's exactly what I want from my team plenty of heart and desire. Kudos to TC for changing the formation and proving we're more than capable of playing a back three. Yes I agree that it all changed when Dennis went off and he was excellent last night. It really showed what Watford means to him. Two games and four points, massive improvement from our last showing against Dirty Leeds and great progress from the Birmingham game. We can't really ask for much more ATM. TC is currently doing himself no harm whatsoever in getting a chance next season. They the team are certainly behind him and it's about time. So let's have some of the same on Monday.
Good point and some cracking goals. Actually playing with a bit of get up and go for a change. Says it all about how far we have dropped though when everyone is now more than happy with a point at home to Leeds and willing the ref to blow the final whistle so we can secure it. We're back to mid 90's levels.
Well I think in fairness most people were happy with a point and willing the ref to blow the final whistle because Leeds started the day top, they’d won 12/13 matches this year and only conceded 3 goals in that time, and had a very strong bench and brought on PL quality players whereas we were clearly tiring and fading badly. But I do get your point. And I hope we wouldn’t have been the same if we’d been playing midtable opponents.
Amazing what can happen if you start the game at the right tempo and look to pass the ball forwards to players who are running in order to pull the opposition out of their shape. We looked like a team created in Cleverley's image – energetic, committed and looking to break the lines and get the ball into the final third with players actually up there to hurt the opponents. And when we lost the momentum, our discipline was excellent. The number of times we had solid lines of midfielders and defenders all in the correct positions, all ready to pressurise opponents and close down the space when we were under the cosh in the last 25 minutes was exactly what we need. Energy, discipline and a commitment to see a plan through the entire 90+ minutes makes up for a lot of technical shortcomings. As others have said, it's early days and the key will be whether Cleverley can impose his ideas when the players get bored of doing the basics well and think they can do things at 70% believing it'll be enough.
If we keep playing this way we'll need to find ourselves another CB for next season, given we only have four!
Bending words yet again. I recently said: "More often than not whenever we've tried 352 in recent years we've been even worse. It just rarely clicks for us" Yesterday it did click for us for once, but if ever there was a game where it made a bit more sense to switch to a back 3 it would be one against a side unbeaten in their previous 13 league games. It's still a formation I dislike and generally find too negative, and wouldn't be happy to see us play against teams we're not worrying about battering us. It does suit Dennis and Asprilla, but they may not be with us too long.
I think that sums up the main problem with Val tbh? There just seem to be too many modern managers that are completely stuck into one way to play, without any variation to account for player ability. I bet Tom basically told the guys to play out from back when it feels right and lump it up to a forward/winger if in doubt, and wowser life gets easier... Liked the 343 formation and didn't the defence look solid for a change... No complaints from me, give Clevs the role....
I don't like 352 as it can mess up the midfield when using FBs who don't know how to play it, but with a 343 there's more structure to keeping 2 DMs deeper, so the WBs have more cover....
Is a back 3/5 really any more defensive than a back 4? Or is it just a different way of defending & attacking? I’d argue Val’s 4-3-3, with a flat back four and Livermore rarely leaving his own half was more “defensive” than what Clevs employed yesterday.
Tom and the bench certainly enjoyed the goals . https://twitter.com/WatfordFC/status/1773998604383891573
I think how we started the game rattled them a fair bit. Leeds were probably expecting us to sit back and put ten men behind the ball, and the very fact we went out and got in their faces from the off unsettled their gameplan. We deservedly led twice in a game we were touted in getting nothing from and that shows the progress TC has made in the short time he's been intern coach. It's going to be interesting how we setup in these final games, but going by last night alone I do not think TC will want us to end the season on a whimper. If we can stay in games and be competitive, there is no reason why we cannot push for a least a top ten finish.
The hierarchy are clearly ‘plotless’ so anything could happen quite randomly. This is exacerbated by the suspicion we are well and truly potless.
