Not sure I agree. Duxbury strikes me as having integrity and nothing hes done so far implies hes someone who goes back on his words.
Only my opinion but I feel he holds the play up too much and doesnt take enough of his chances which is why he has a ratio of about 1 in every 3 or 4.
To opperate in a more attacking way though, doesnt just mean to chuck on as many forward players as you can (Which we couldnt), but to try and maintain possesion higher up the pitch. Maybe Sannino felt a physical presence may lead to us winning the ball more, and therefore allowing us more possession which could lead to us moving up the pitch?
Out of interest, I wonder what % of people passing opinions actually went to the game... I did and I think we played pretty well, just couldn't carve enough openings against a very good side. Unfortunately it's a hammer blow to the play off chances, while are now all but gone. On a sidenote: I found the Wigan's fans pretty bizarre. Few in number, very quiet and seemingly unable to follow the match. Made me think for all the successes they've had on the pitch in recent years, it's kind of been wasted as there's almost no fans to enjoy it.
Well it is mainly a rugby town - not so long ago getting 14k would have been a pipedream but fair to Whelan for supporting and sticking by Wigan.
Because he will never be a 20 to 30 goals a season player, he is just not good enough in front of goal
There will come a time when a Watford team will regularly play a formation that involves Fernando playing behind two strikers. It will be brilliant.
No team could play that formation, they would get over run in midfield unless you play two holding midfielders and by doing that you would have no width, Forestieri is a player that is difficult to find a position for, that's why he has had so many clubs
I agree with some of the others on here. We played pretty well, but we needed a bit of luck to get anything out of it. Plenty of effort, kept the ball well at times, but gave it away easily at others - a bit frustrating , but I think all players were a bit at fault. Anya missed a couple under pressure, but still played pretty well. I'm not sure why he has been criticised as at least his speed made him chances, whereas Deeney only had a couple of poor long range efforts. Was disappointed for their first goal as Belkelems/ faraoni both failed to cut out the pass to Bousejour, for the second time, but the scorer was lucky the Almunia's parry went straight back to his head. Their second was also lucky as a mi**** shot fell to Waghorn. We didn't seem to get any luck in front of goal, they did. Away fans were good again, particularly in 2nd half, non-stop singing, putting the home fans to shame. We can still drop 3 more points and get in the play-offs. :naughty:
What we need is Murray and Fessi playing in the hole behind the front two and Fabbrini playing in hole behind Murray and Fessi!
Still better than Anya's though. I think Anya showed why he's a good support, but not a striker; he gets into space and make an opportunity but it's more luck than skill whether it's finished.
Sounds like some Watford fans beat up some Wigan fans. Has this become a thing again? Are we back to the 80's?
Obviously Vydra's a bit of a push so a striker there and stick Anya on defensive training over the summer. When Pudil and Anya need to push forward Murray/Batto drop back to help Toszer. That's width problem sorted. Can't see what's wrong with that formation to be honest bar Vydra's inclusion and question marks over Abdi's life. Beautiful.
Also need a defender who can cope with the likes of Henderson, Morison, Smith etc. The likes of Angella, Cassetti, Doyley, Ekstrand aren't dominate in the air or physically to deal with these strikers so definitely need to buy a defender in the Hall mould but obviously not injury prone. I think that has been one of our biggest weakness this season.
We already have one, Nosworthy! I can only assume his fitness levels are not what they were, otherwise why is he not getting a look in? Does anyone know?
We had a good turn out numbers wise yesterday, more than I expected to see and they were in good voice throughout. Wigan shaded it in my mind, they'd hit the post early on and had the beating of us down both wings throughout the first half. Faraoni was poor first half but improved in the second, he and Belkelem were done time after time with the ball clipped in behind them, we could all see where their goal was going to come from. Anya had two good opportunities with one-on-ones and fluffed them both badly, he was being pressured for the second but he should have done better. Their winner was more than a tad fortunate. We are being undone by having no physical presence in midfield - again! Good goal from McGugan but he can't tackle, Battochio whilst having lots of endeavour never seems to win a 50/50 and his distribution is woeful, watching him go for a headed challenge is just funny... Toszer doesn't have a decent tackle in his bag of tricks, but he is our playmaker and very good he is at it too - a must have signing for next season. Diakite came on and was booked within a couple of minutes - he was poor, but the shouts of 'send him back to QPR' couldn't have helped his confidence - although that is probably the best thing for him. Great support from our fans - again. Well done all that travelled, I hope your journey back was better than ours - A1 closed both ways for a serious accident, didn't make for a good end to the day. At least now we can concentrate on getting ourselves comfortable with a system for next season and blood some of our youngsters. Didn't see or hear of any trouble, so not sure what went on, didn't seem as if there were enough Wigan fans to make a fuss.
Also have to say the referee was very good today, hardly noticed him and he was always willing to let the game flow wherever he could - all bookings were justified, no complaints about him but one of his linesmen was hilarious, he ran the line from a least a yard away from the touchline, maybe he didn't want to get his boots dirty... very strange!
Belkalem and Faraoni were both poor. All of Wigan's play was down that side. Mystified by Bulk's inclusion when Ekstrand, Doyley and Hoban are on the bench. We need Fessi back ASAP, he should be the first name on the team sheet. Anya should have dived as well. Is he too nice a bloke to really make it at the highest level?
Ive always thought Wigan are a lot like us really. A small town (90 odd thousand) on the edge of a large city, they have traditionally been a lower/non league club but have seen better fortunes in the modern era. Wigan have slowly built their fanbase to the point where they achieved a 18K-20K average at the top level (as we would) and are averaging 15K odd at the second level. Again very similar to us. They are thought of as a quiet reserved lot who dont generally create much of an atmosphere.. Ring any bells?
Two observations. The stewards were ace, yesterday. Loved the way they dealt with the wazz who upchucked his Tennant Super breakfast into the stand. 'Next time, mate, chuck up in your hat'. They didn't even get riled when the feckwit gave the elderly female steward a Hitler salute. My second observation?..... 'Watferd eff ceeeeeee (claplapclapclap) Watferd eff ceeeeeee (clapclapclapclap) Watferd eff ceeeeeee Watferd eff ceeeeeeee Watferd eff ceeeeeee (clapclapclapclap) Over And over And over And over And over again For at least 20 minutes It was as painful as chinese water torture If that's the most inventive the 118 118 club can come up with, then I despair
I watch Juve (I know, completely different world, but it's relative) nigh-on every week, & the painful realisation as to why we never 'click' playing this system hits. The balance in our defence is wrong, & the balance in our midfield is wrong. Being brutal, if we want to play 3-5-2, in the summer, I'd let go Belkalem: Ekstrand (wants to play higher, doesn't suit LCB in a three & Hoban is better imo - if he wants to stay & we move him into the middle then it's a different story; Nosworthy; Battocchio (loan) - appreciate this may be unpopular but atm he's off form, simple as that. He needs a full season somewhere so he can come back a polished player. The system doesn't help him but he struggles because he's not a powerful player & then when he starts giving the ball away regularly he doesn't deserve his place, put simply; Hall - I'm his biggest fan but the latest unexplained long spell out spells the end sadly; Park; Diakite; Jenkins; Fabbrini - again, I like him, but too similar to FF & doesn't suit the system; Iriney - doesn't suit the system, & we must make Tozser's loan permanent; Acuna - won't get in ahead of FF & isn't the pacey, run-in-behind ST we need, but again, I liked him. That's 12 players off the books, 11 permanently, 1 on loan, & that's not including Almunia & Cassetti, who may well decide to move on, & any other potential sales. I'm a firm believer that it's not simply the volume of player turnaround in the summer that's the problem, it's getting the balance right. Last season is a perfect example. With another year of financial stability & with lessons surely learned from this season, the summer should be uplifting. I hope.
Keep in mind in evaluations about the future team that in the past 3-5-2 was certainly NOT the trademark module of Sannino. From what I read he was mostly keen on 4-4-2 but was open to variations. The fact he mantained 3-5-2 was most likely due to the fact that he didn't want to change abruptly the habits of a team which played this way for a season and a half. With a full pre-season to train the players to what he wants them to do, next year WFC might play with a different module.
