Wow, Xisco kept that lineup and formation/tactics well didn't he? Some absolutely fantastic performances from debut players We do need one of Chalobah or Hughes to sign as when we went to close out the game we had a little trouble. Gosling particularly didn't look up to pace but all in all a great day, thoroughly enjoyable and to a certain extent surprising.
Just to add . The half time nhs clap and tribute to those who had died was the usual class act by the club and I found it quite moving to be honest .
What a drama queen. I think my only comment was “Jesus” when I saw Cathcart and Kabasele were both starting. For the record if they start consistently I think we will almost certainly go down over 38 games so no “rowing back” on that. But sure you call everyone who is concerned about that W*nkers and demand they leave. I much enjoyed the performance and being back in the stadium today.
I’m on the optimistic spectrum of Watford fans (which doesn’t say a lot) but I thought today would be tough and would have taken a battling point. But we battered them, a different class. This is our level and we will be comfortable this season. All new signings look like great business. And being in a full stadium, it was very emotional. Still trying to process this level of joy this evening. It’s been so long.
My mum was there with my wife, first time my wife has been to the Vic (I got her a ticket to the Tranmere game in the Cup, but she got sick literally along the way!)
Well I wasn't expecting that but we definitely deserved it. 3 points towards safety! Etebo was brilliant and pleasantly surprised by Dennis.
Fans are allowed to put their opinions on this site, it is what it is for. You cannot demand that the fans must put only positive kiss ass comments on here. It is not the WD18 teenage site. We are all fans, good or bad. It seens that you don't like this and wish to vet people to see if they are real fans. A fan of Watford is a fan, no matter if they have been a supporting for one day or fifty years. Longevity doesn't give you more rights. With your acidic, self centred views, l feel that many won't be be supporting your 'own' club.. I had €20 down on Watford losing 4-0. I am pleased to lose my money. One swallow doesn't make a summer. Oops, too negative. Am l banned?
To anyone who went (or actually had a working live stream), how much did Deeney add when he came on towards the end?
Very little, although as I said on the shoutbox, you could see him trying to reinforce the idea to stay further up the pitch as a team and not just be overwhelmed on the edge of our own box. Also played some role in the injury time corner-ball stuff.
Helped keep the ball by the corner flag in added time but that was about it. Nearly on the end of a Cucho pass but I think it would have been offside.
I wouldn't want to see that back 4 much this season (although strangely enough Cathcart always seems to do quite well out of position at right back!), I was worried that Cleverley would be well and truly out of his depth back in the Premier League, although he didn't do badly at all in the end! Not sure why Sema was playing, a few times he was in but didn't have the pace to take advantage (where Cucho definitely would have done something!), I hope it was just a case of getting Cucho up to speed with English football!
Genuinely nothing. Don't even think he won a header. He chased a few pointless balls and did a back heel to no one
in reality nothing , but in fairness he wasn’t on for that long , although in all honesty when he did come on we change the system round for him and looked worse , so in short , nothing he detracted
The perfect role for Deeney this season really, not going to be anywhere near as threatening to fresh defender as Cucho, Sarr and Dennis, but he can come on and try to hold the ball up and stop us from being glued to our goalline
It was encouraging that he wasn't just thrown on to replace Dennis when he got his injury - the fact that King is also there and presumably prime in our thinking gives me some actual genuine hope that the Deeney stranglehold/collective delusion has finally been dispelled.
4 3 3 definitely plays to our strengths and fortress Vicarage Road looked rocking today. A good day to be a Watford fan indeed.
And did one decent defensive header which he has been good at. Not sure how he missed that chance from close range. Maybe not sharp enough?
Great to be back at the Vic! Like most I was worried but the first half was almost like a continuation of the last time we were there v Liverpool! Loved the tribute to GT, the half-time NHS tribute walk had my bottom lip wobbling and the match itself was marvellous apart from soon after Cucho scored a wonderful third. Verdict: If we play like the first half for most of the season and now we've got some quick strikers who aren't afraid to shoot, we'll stay up. 'If' being the operative word, but I'm more optimistic than I was before 3pm. Very promising. CYOH!
Suit yourself. It was nauseous. Never changes. Usual suspects. In what way do they think they might know better than our head coach? He may not be the most experienced ever but he's sure more experienced than them. That would be hardly be difficult. It's why he's in the job and they're not. But apparently they know better than him and wanted him gone on the strength of one team selection, which ultimately came up trumps, and knowing nothing whatsoever about what's going on on the training pitch or in the treatment room. Same thing happens on the shoutbox all the time. Tiny little low-lifes who get their jollies vicariously from always criticising others for their own inadequacies. And with a grossly inflated sense of entitlement. I can't DEMAND they leave. But I can be as critical as I damn well like and can wish that they'd simply disappear to somewhere as cold and bleak as their personas. I wasn't particularly inclined to include you in that analysis but I certainly won't be 'rowing back' either.
I'd like to think so, mind you, I thought his stranglehold on the club had come to an end when Sarr took the penalty late on in the home game against Coventry last season! You know what, if we keep this up, King will have a task and a half getting into the team!
This. A hundred times this. I took my seat among people I've not seen for almost 18 months, whose names I don't know, and we didn't chat any more today than we usually would – just a nodded 'hello' and the odd comment about the game. The one absentee was my Dad, who is not well at the moment (not Covid-related, but not well enough to sit in a crowd). I had a few emotional moments thinking about the significance of the empty seat beside me and had a moment's thought for others who have not been able to take their seats today and those who will have felt their absence so sharply. The montage of supporters who have passed away over the past 18 months was a lovely touch. Win, lose or draw, just being able to be back at the ground and watch a game felt more overwhelming than I had anticipated it would. A reminder for so many of us that, of all the things that don't really matter, football is the most important.
I’m glad I couldn’t get signal in the ground to comment on the lineup at 2pm or I’d have shared some thoughts that could very well be thrown back in my face about now! Such a strange selection - the back four especially - but they did well on the whole. Cathcart didn’t get close enough to Bailey for their first (incidentally, Ngakia may as well quit football now) and Masina was very clumsy to give away that penalty, but those two incident aside I think we limited Villa well. Hopefully the defence deserves credit and it wasn’t just that Villa were s***. I liked Etebo, won the ball a lot by reading play and anticipating passes. Maybe holds on to it too long sometimes but didn’t cost us today. Kucka was excellent - just what we needed and we suffered without him. I hope he’s up to playing a full season cos he looks a fantastic asset. Sarr was unplayable first half and Dennis was my MOTM. Worked so hard for the team, made clever runs, showed off some neat flicks and came away with a goal and an assist. Great introduction! The moment of the game was undoubtedly Cucho’s goal though. Unreal finish. We’ve waited a b***** long time to see him but boy does he look talented. At 3-0 I was getting rather carried away (I may have shouted “we’re going to win the league” in the celebrations) so in a way I’m pleased I got a bit of a reality check so quickly. Overall thought that Villa were not as good as expected, but we looked a cohesive team with some standout players, which is infinitely more than I was anticipating seeing today. COYH.
Oh I say! I didn't expect the Spanish err that. Great tempo,energy and Raid on Entebbe and the Cooker were tremendous,ably assisted by TC. Why Villa only had poor Matt Thingy on Freddie we can only guess but at one point MT ( very apt) had four yards on Freddie and he was past him in two. No wonder he was hooked. All played their part and if that's what Cucho does with his first two touches I can't wait to see more. Sunshine,no trouble getting in,a very moving half time tribute to the Hornets who had died and the NHS staff. We do such matters very well. Class. Enjoyable Young Ashley Young baiting. Has Ings shrunk? Mike Dean continues to be Mike Dean but he can't spoil that display. Happy weekend everyone oh and "boing boing"!
Masina should face a club fine for the penalty. Lazy, naive, petulant defending at best. I've better defending on Sunday morning Parks pitch. Still, a good win. 9 more points and an away win and l will lose my €100 bet. The kit looked good.
