I know people are saying Sheff Utd are gone, but this is their run after Rotherham. Sheff Utd’s games from 11th Feb - 1st April Swansea (H) Boro (H) Millwall (A) Watford (H) Blackburn (A) Reading (A) Luton (H) Sunderland (A) West Brom (H) Norwich (A) The only opposition not in the top half is Reading. Obviously we’re playing catch up, but that run is awful for them. Hopefully they drop points, pick up injuries and lose momentum. It will all depend on whether or not we capitalize on that run. Auto’s are still possible. It’s all on Gino making the right signings and that starts with a striker which hopefully comes in this week.
Because he wants players who aren't kids and who are recruited for our team, rather than as fancy collectibles for Gino
Fair play Bilic, learned the lessons from the away disaster this team. Kept it solid first half, didn't let Blackpool threaten on the break. Then change it up and go for it second half. Perfection. If you can't enjoy a 17 year old youth product scoring on GT's day, in the 72nd minute, then football isn't for you. Joyous. Fair play to Morris, he might be the slowest full back since Cassetti, but he gets stuck in and did a decent job against Bowler. Bayo was a horror show, and really pissed me off when he walked off when subbed. Moody git. Adeyemo looked a better version of him. Cathcart brilliant. Ferreira okay but scared to compete for a header. Martins looks promising, and sparked some life into the game. Kone is just what we need, confident on the ball and not scared to receive it. As said above, every point we earn with this injury list is well earned, and should be savoured.
No complaints from me today, what a fantastic result given the circumstances. There's something very special about an academy player scoring their first goal, congratulations Tobi. Morris had his best game for us. Excellent crossing in the first half and his passes down the side for Sarr were spot on more often than not. Still not sure he's a long term option but well done to him. Kone is going to be excellent. If we can somehow get a midfield group of Louza, Choudhury, Asprilla and Kone fit at the same time then we'll be in business. Ferreira started a bit shaky but he grew into it, he's surprisingly quick and looks very good technically. Martins doesn't look that quick but you can tell he's got that skill that'll make him exciting to watch. Sarr was good but I still think he can go up a level. I don't know if it's lack of belief but he doesn't seem to realise that teams are terrified of him. Knock it past your man and run at them! I said no complaints so I'm not going to mention Bayo's performance. A goal in the 72nd minute from an academy kid was just perfection.
Even though they're all good players at this level - you have to say there'd be a severe lack of goalscoring potential from them as a three. We've been struggling for goals this season and not having any CMs capable of chipping in occasionally hasn't helped. If Asprilla was capable of finishing yet he might have had some.
I don't really know what you mean by "Levels" here, but good point in mentioning that Hungbo wasn't even on the bench - it's warranted given he was abysmal vs Reading and overshadowed by some of the academy players vs Reading. The club will be making the right call in phasing him out.
Who was the last academy player to score for the club? Doyley? When did he score his second goal? My dad and I are fitting some bathroom tiles and having a hell of a debate about it. Doyley scored his last goal for Watford in 2012. Maybe it’s Mariappa actually? Did he score in his second spell? Edit - both are surely wrong as Murray scored in 2013 right?
Don’t disagree and it’s highly unlikely, but 4 games is nothing in the championship. Everyone wrote us off when we were trailing behind Brentford by a bigger margin (I believe it was 12-14 points, but could be wrong) and we caught them. It doesn’t take long for momentum to swing in the championship. For us it’s coming through our tough run, which also starts after Rotherham, unscathed as much as possible. Do that, beat them and close the gap to 8 points (hopefully) and the pressure will be on them. Sheff Utd’s automatic hopes will be determined in that run in.
I think Louza could have got 8-12 goals in The Championship in a full season. If our front 3 becomes Sarr, Davis & Pedro there’s 45-50 goals there you’d hope. 10-15 from midfield is okay then.
Important win. First half was pretty dire but the subs changed the game. New guys all looked promising. Morris surprised me by looking totally at home at full back - assuming he can keep that level then he'll be a useful squad option. Cathcart had a good game I thought. Great to see the youngster scoring. Only negative was Bayo. Poor performance and then the nonsense slow walk off when we needed to win. Dreadful. If we can beat Rotherham then we may have a 6 point cushion to 7th ahead of a difficult run of fixtures, starting with Boro away who seem to win every game at the moment.
Yes - Sierralta and Cathcart were very solid and Gaspar/Hamza did well in midfield. New guys looked good.
I really enjoyed watching that today. Wasn't sure what to expect, but it just goes to show what a change of attitude brings you. Playing kids and using players out of position could be a recipe for disaster, but it can also give you a big lift. The kids are full of energy and enthusiasm. The players playing in unfamiliar positions try that little bit harder because they are not used to it. The players making their debuts tend to play on adrenalin. But it means nothing if the coach is a dud. Bilic is coaching this rabble into something worth watching. An effective unit who are playing for each other. 6 points from the last two games is amazing when you consider the players we're having to use. I'm delighted for Adeyemo. Only 17, and scoring the vital first goal after just 4 minutes after coming on, is what dreams are made of. I'm sure it being the 72nd minute on GT day, maybe there was a divine intervention somewhere in the mix. I'm not having the Bayo slow walk off though. He can do one. He's not good enough to have an attitude like that. And while I'm having a little moan, how bad was the referee? Booking our players, but just giving the Blackpool players a warning. Ignoring a stonewall penalty claim too. Probably the worst official I've seen............since last week. Great performance from Cathcart once more. This has to be his best ever season for Watford. He's been immaculate. Sarr was on it today and it was good to see. Martins had an impact when coming on. Ferreira was a little lost to be fair, but I saw some good forward play from him. Kone was very good again. I saw his debut last week at Reading and I was impressed, but I feel he was even better today. He could be a very good signing for us. Morris is gaining confidence too. His crossing was far better today. Gaspar looks decent in midfield. I'm pleased he's getting better for us now. Overall I'm delighted we're coming through this crazy spell of injuries with a strong desire and commitment within the team and that's going to hold us in good stead in the coming months. Well done to Bilic for using these youngsters in such a positive way.
Woah. The top scorers in the league normally get around 20. No way is a midfielder who doesn’t have a goal scoring record get 12. I’d be amazed if he got to 8. Box-to-box midfielders get that many…and that’s not Louza!
Another good 3 points with half the team injured. Academy lad getting his first goal, Morris having another solid game... Maybe tells you we have more than we think and we should utilise the youth/fringe players more. We've played far worse with 'better' and more 'proven' players in the lineup. Also a note for Gaspar who actually looks good in midfield, far better than at right back and comfortable on the ball.
I actually cannot remember when the playoff race at this point was so tight points wise. I cannot see us catching Sheff Utd, but they haven't had a bad run as of yet. We would to lose no more than two matches and win 75% of the rest. It's a massive order and for us with our injury crisis, finishing in the top six would be a successful season no matter what happens in the playoff lottery. Next season, with limited injuries and a few more good signings to add to what we have, I think we will have a much better one and could be serious contenders. Keeping Bilic is going to be vital because he seems to be able to get us playing some decent football again.
Lovely to see some young lads coming through. The first time I've seen Morris - he looks terrific and Adeymo - is he really just 17??!! - scoring in the 72nd minute on Graham Taylor remembrance day - was wonderful. On the downside Bayo was dreadful again. He reminds of so many of the willing, sort of likeable but ultimately crap forwards that we've had to put up with down the years - Andy Kennedy, Steve Butler, Dave Bamber, ken Charlery, Devon White, the list is endless.
I'm pretty confident about getting top 6 now, our squad is more than good enough for that getting battered with ridiculously makeshift teams over Xmas doesn't change that, but we're really in the lap of the gods if we don't go up this season, even with the supposed genius Ben Manga in charge
Adeyemo only 17 ? Wow !! Gonna be a big boy when he fills out !! GT was shining on him today when he scored after coming on , that's for sure !.
Who'd have thought Gosling would prove to be our best RB, and Gaspar would prove a decent midfielder!
Total myth really, you'd be amazed if he got to 8 but he got 7 league goals in 33 games for Nantes in the 20/21 season. He has played two 90 minutes for us this season, he scored in both lol. He could quite easily get to 8, "amazed" is hyperbole. Also, last few seasons in The Championship the Golden Boot winner going back to 2010/11: 43, 33, 26, 29, 21, 27, 25, 25, 28, 30, 25, 24.
It suits Gaspar. Can use his vast experience without his lack of pace being an issue. Ultimately the skills required to be a full back and a holding midfielder aren't too different
It was the Otter who got the Golden Boot with only 21 wasn't it? Agreed with your point, no reason Louza couldn't get double figures with a full season under his belt in the Champo, I'm sure he'll be hoping one way or another he won't have to play in this league for that length of time though!
Considering our injury list biilic has got the team playing well and picking up points another great result mom for me was kone new midfielder that can pass ,shoot recieve the ball on the half turn and play FORWARD if I'm being picky we need to move the ball quicker when we did that Blackpool couldn't cope COYH
Decent shout, I would also put Cathcart up for my MotM. Solid, did his job well and played some nice balls as well. He get's a lot of stick (and rightly so) when he has poor games, but he is probably one of our best senior pro's especially at this level. Miles ahead of Kabasele.
