Cover indeed - but we are crying out for a first choice. Although do agree a proper midfielder is key.
JP starts regardless. Then 2 out of the other 3 depending on form, fitness and opposition. Choudhury would be more necessary against Burnley than Wigan.
It’s not about the importance of the game, it’s about the profile of midfielder and how well suited they’d be for the match in question. But yes. Choudhury is a superior ball winner so in matches where that skillset is critical, I’d play him ahead of one of them (Hughes, if both he and Louza are fully fit).
Yeah I suppose we could do a front 3 of JP and Sarr flanking either Davis or Araujo. But then it would make it seem odd that Bilic is also seemingly so keen on another winger. It would also mean we'd be playing a back 4 away at tougher opposition - which might still be the ongoing plan, but as shown with the Boro game can back-fire early doors if the team aren't at the races.
In certain games, Choudhury could play in a back three. Or Pedro would play off one side or upfront. I like the look of something like this: Bachmann; Choudhury, Cathcart, Hoedt; Ferreira, Louza, X, Sema; Pedro; Davis, Araujo. Even if we don't sign a midfielder, I can see us in that shape in a few weeks' time.
Yes though would be a stronger team and mindset with Choudhury, Hughes, Pedro, Louza, and Araujo all in the starting 11. You'd feel that would be a strong midfield and goal threat. No Kone, no Gaspar.
Pisses me off that the best LB in the division last season is transfer listed and we're not even looking into it.
Nothing is going to happen outside of Hoedt coming in. Once that deal is official, that’s our business concluded. That’s my opinion anyway. Gino is done. As much a Bilic wants a CM and Winger, Gino sees; CM: Louza, Choudhury, Kone, Kayembe, TDB, Bacuna and maybe Clevs as enough. Wingers: Sarr, Martins, Sema and Kalu as enough. Frenchy has changed his position from “expect 1-2 more signings”, to “maybe 1-2 more signings”, to “maybe 1 more signing but could be zilch.” Nothing will happen today that we don’t already know about and tomorrow will be outgoings.
I think he said “I’m saying one - it could be two. But it could be zilch too.” So I think what you’ve quoted is quite misleading. It had seemed that a midfielder was closer and was the one that we had ready to go but I think the argument that our midfield is or will soon be pretty crowded is a stronger one than re wingers. That said, we could change shape which would make midfield more of a priority than winger. I do think it’ll be one of those two positions though. I wonder what we’ll do though if someone comes in at the last minute for Sarr. I would like to see us sign some sort of replacement and I hope we’ve thought it through.
We will make at least one more signing (outside of Hoedt). There is one deal we can do very quickly - but haven’t pulled the trigger because I think we are genuinely seeing what happens elsewhere which could free up other targets. Regardless of what Bilic says, the club were always planning for other incomings to go down to Deadline Day.
I didn't think Choudhury looked comfortable while briefly in a back 3 vs Boro. I don't think he has the discipline, or even the passing range, to be decent enough there. He's best when charging around putting out fires. Surely that's also the spot where we'd put Porteous? Also, you'd drop Sarr?
Don't disagree re Choudhury, but could be an option for us against certain teams when he can step out. Clearly didn't work v Boro. Yes, I'd drop Sarr on current form with everyone available.
Manaj looks like joining Bayo out the door. Adam Leventhal @AdamLeventhal 3m Rey Manaj may join Vakoun Bayo in exiting #WatfordFC after summer arrival. Representatives looking at loan options in Italy, Spain (deadline Tues) & Turkey (deadline Feb 8). Has played 7 games & scored 1 goal. Had 2 spells injured.
So I think with Bayo, Manaj, Hause and Gosling out were at 23. Hoedt makes that 24 leaving one over 21 spot. Maybe Okoye leaves too which would create another (if replaced by an academy player).
If Adem Zorgane is midfielder Y I wouldn’t be annoyed. He’s actually good (similar kind of player to Louza). But I’d rather avoid Bayat altogether.
The summer transfer business (and the January before that) being shown up for the disgrace it was. Players being tinned after 6 months, Kayembe and Kalu completely unproductive, Gaspar a liability, Davis a disappointment. Kamara useless. And.............the Bayo disgrace.
Manaj - more injuries than goals, gone this window (hopefully). Bayo - disgrace surrounding his move and just a terrible footballer, gone this window. Okoye - no league games, looks terrible when he's played. Gaspar - isn't capable of playing in the position he was signed for, made a couple of tackles against Norwich in midfield which has been the highlight of his season. Choudhury - decent Davis - decent Asprilla - very talented, not ready to start in English football Hamer - probably better than Okoye Hause - out all summer with a knee injury, trained for a couple of days before being snapped up by the Hornets and then got injured again. It's not like we had all summer to get a left sided CB though. Of the players we added in the summer only three would be worth keeping past this season, and even then Davis is a maybe due to his injury record (shock). Pozzo is a f*cking clown. Will he think he's messed up? Not a chance! Even if he did he wouldn't admit it anyway.
Have the new players got silly long term contracts or reasonable ones? I know Britt is just here till the end of the season - probably with a view to a longer term option.
