That match was a case of what can go wrong, did go wrong. Look at the stats. We had 68% possession. We had 15 shots and 4 on target. Norwich had 7 shots and just 2 on target. We had 5 corners, they had 1. It was a match where we were cursed. Maybe the Nigerians got their way after all? Mike Dean, who I normally like as a referee, was just dreadful. He let a clear foul go in the lead up to their first goal and no one would have batted an eyelid had the blown for a foul there. The second goal was close to being offside and the third one was a stupid own goal. We had a goal disallowed, hit the bar and Dennis gets a second yellow which was extremely soft and now misses our other vital match against Burnley.......oh and our floodlights failed just to put the cherry on top. So in our last 2 matches, we've faced only 3 on targets shots, yet have conceded 4 goals!!.......it's just a bit crazy the way it's going. I was banging on about Ranieri going before now, as I felt we'd have to live through the pain and our only hope was a new manager bounce. Sadly that feeling turned out to have been true. Ranieri will go of course, but it's probably too late now, the damage is done. I didn't think we were that bad in the first half. Started off a bit nervy, but ended on top. Once Norwich scored their first goal though, we just surrendered. There was no fight in us. It was a stroll in the park for Norwich. Sure, they had all the luck going, but they deserved their luck because they out fought us. Is there any realistic hope we can stay up? Nope, not under Ranieri. That's run it's course now. Do we have a chance under a new coach? Possible bounce usually gives a couple of early wins, but I think we've lost too many points to the bottom half sides. There is a lot wrong with the club. There is real rot set in. A little tinker here and there wont cut it. Our players are just not good enough. Not only do they lack the ability for the league we are in, they lack the fight and desire. Without that, you're well and truly screwed.
IMO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HYSTERIA AND OVERREACTION ON THE FORUM TONIGHT SO LETS SEE HOW WE ALL FEEL IN THE MORNING GOOD NIGHT ALL
I think we have more than enough saleable assets up front to chug by without falling into deep financial ****, but they'll take some replacing, presumably on only a limited budget, and that won't be easy
Dennis and Sarr will bring in plenty of cash. I hope we can keep JP and King but they are also saleable assets. The best thing about relegation is Tufan would go back to Turkey. The 'valueless deadwood' would be fine in the champo and I'd hope Louza would shine and Zinc would return with his Forest form. If we could keep JP and King we'd be in with a good shout for promotion methinks.
For the first time ever - I left early (well that time between them scoring the third goal and 15 mins going up on the board). Strangely enough, I did not even see Dennis get sent off. In regards to the performance - well that was dog shyte really? Only tactical note I have was King not bothering to run back onside. Other than that, just abject really.
Oh did I mention that we are fcked? Like proper fckd. Haven't had the chance to read the comments as I went to the pub but by my word we where so bad.
It's got to the point where I don't even care to even begin to understand why we are so bad, it's just so pathetic. Am I late to the party or earlier?
Your post would hold much more weight if we actually managed to look like scoring, and if we weren't so regularly carved open at the back. I'd also say about Ranieri, sure, I think he'll be gone, but we can't be relying on new manager bounces as they don't last! Ranieri himself could be argued to have one, and look where it's got us!
I don’t think chanting negatively about the team when the players are playing is the right move as I don’t think it achieves anything. Boo, hiss or whatever at half time, full time is fine. I find that the fans group, designed to ‘get behind the boys’ chanting that a little ludicrous. Especially when they fire out a pre match rallying call and last week stated that slating the players was the wrong move. Let’s not kid ourselves that the fans are chanting at the people running the club. If anything, chanting ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ is supporting the never ending coach merry go round. We’ve always had a pretty soft support. For good or for bad.
I basically agree with quite a lot of what you have said, see my post #430 where I say "I thought we were the better team up until they scored" I shall be posting a more in depth opinion in the morning after I have watched all the game.
it was one awful terrible bad game. if we win the next two games and the new players have settled and got some fight we might feel different if….
I get what you mean, and I'd have no problem with anti-Pozzo chants, but those sorts of chants we heard today are not new, and not unique to Watford
I always remember Marcus Gayle talking about the booing he received when he was playing badly (albeit out of position as a central striker when he was most effective as a left-sided attacker) in that Vialli season. He said he heard the boos and reasoned, quite rightly, that he must be doing something wrong, so he set about knuckling down to work harder and to really give his all. Lo and behold he becomes Player of the Season, playing as a centre back in the next season under Lewington, and his transformation to hero is complete. An example when booing does serve a useful purpose. Mind you, it does depend on the person really wanting to make things right.
And was it a foul - and the offside check was over pretty quickly so must have been clear cut? Maybe Dennis was unlucky - didn't exactly complain like a man hard done by. There was a lot of free kicks and players going down but we certainly cannot blame the officials for our defending and lack of effectiveness in attack till a few fleeting moments near the end.
Dennis will only be worth a significant amount if he doesn’t nosedive the rest of the season but possibly yes could be 15-20. Sarr, yes, but less than when we went down last time due to contract. King isn’t really a saleable asset. 30 years old, joined us on a free on decent whack with 2 year contract. We might get a couple of million if we were lucky. JP yes but really hope we could keep him. Apart from that Pozzo has journeymen and old players past their sell by date many on contracts no other club would give them. We are going to be in a financial pickle. Only free transfers even after selling the assets.
It’s weird. We were there but myself and my son had no idea Dennis got a red card until reading the match report!
Kamara is already worse than his debut as was Samir. Don’t you worry, Watford will soon coach any fight and desire out of them before long.
Stopped watching way before the end and don’t need to read any match reports. I already know you can’t polish a turd
I think Newcastle would pay up to £80m for Sarr this month. Partly cos they are desperate, partly cos we are a rival and partly cos he's very fookin good'
Not whilst he is injured though... We won't get anywhere near that much for him unless Newcastle are desperate as you say.
I suppose the owner needs to fess up to this strategy as I agree they've clearly got some serious cash issues. Maybe a little honesty here would start to win back the now majority of fans that want change.
Imagine starting next season in the Championship with Fletcher our only recognised striker. That's what is coming....
Watford FC checklist fully ticked off last night. Emotive pre match rally cry from player. No show for first 20 minutes completely killing the atmosphere they called for. Play it around the back loads like AC Milan forgetting we have Kabasele there ready to brain fart. Best player decides not to pass to anyone. Second best player decides to copy best player. Second best player caught telling another player to feck off after not passing. Sissoko shooting wide with a great chance that goes for a throw in. Cleverley running out of gas quickly. Strange substitution chasing the game at 1-0. Delay in play due to something happening off the pitch. Best player getting sent off. Kiko getting brushed off in a tackle. Kiko then deciding to sub off. Kucka. Suddenly start playing a bit. Kucka. Ken Sema. Cameras pan to Gino. Gloriously awful.
A spineless performance. I’ve seen previously people taking the p!ss out of others calling them “Pashun merchants” and mocking them for calling out a lack of desire and guts, but without any of that you get performances like the embarrassment they served up. You can have all the skill in the world but without any passion, will to fight or desire to win then it’s pointless. I find a lot of the modern day rallying calls so hollow and most people know that the players have nothing to do with it. I’m sure Sissoko has zero knowledge of that email going out. Yet regardless the fans delivered and everything was there for them to go and put on a show. And they failed everyone - worse still they didn’t look too bothered. There have been some good performances from this team this season. United at home and Chelsea at home spring to mind so it’s nothing to do with ability - this is all down to attitude. I’ve been confident this season we would stay up with some new signings but after seeing us celebrate a point at Newcastle like we’d won the FA cup and then that crap last night…we are going down.
Not the forum, I think everybody is absolutely in their rights to be furious about last night. I include players, managers and hierarchy in that. It was a dark day
In the cold light of a new day ,I'm still angry at last nights national humiliation. Nothing last forever,I'm of the opinion as a club we need to start again ,Pozzo duxbury etc most of the players need to go. I used to enjoy football back when everything and everyone wasn't about money. I strongly feel we are jut a player trading organisation of the Pozzo family.. The club has lost its soul its heart and its community. The way back relegation less about the corporate more about the fans. Improve and increase importance of academy and less import of foreign mercenaries that don't care about the club. Rant over.
Thank goodness for Classic FM and the AO! I am reminded of Basil to Polly " POLLY what have you done to my hotel?!" "It wasn't me,he forgot to wake me". "MANUEL!" Gino and *****bury are Basil and Manuel at present, albeit they have built us a nice hotel!
