If you’d never seen football before and then saw that game you’d never want to watch the sport ever again.
If we draw every game we have left we'll have 45 points. Then we just need to be awarded 30 points by the EFL for the bantz and we're home and dry.
2nd half better Thought Bayo was trying hard and got a goal from nowhere , Martins and Aspira didn’t do much , Porteous is good in the air but **** with his feet. 1 point is t enough , we need to be winning these kind of games
For the sake of our season, our player's confidence, and Ismael's credibility, that was very much a Must Not Lose. Only caught the last 30 mins but we looked the better side, Livermore surprisingly mobile, and Bayo had some uncharacteristically good link up. We look terrified and devoid of ideas when we reach the oppo box, which is a big concern. Decent point, as long as it's followed up with a win against Sheff Wed
We’re basically a bog standard Championship side. Duxbury said we should be proud of being a Championship side, aren’t you all proud??
I know there are differing opinions on this forum, but I'm sure everyone will agree, it was good to see the fans applauding our brave hornets lads at the end. These players with their gutsy performances are developing a real rapport with the fan base.
Decent away point. Another goal for free scoring Bayo. Have to admit, the Clappers have it this evening.
Should have won that. Much improved and good to see Livermore steadying the ship. Rajovic is still useless
I know Bayo missed some sitters and isnt the greatest, but I do think he deserves credit for the way he chases down and applies pressure. That goal was just reward and as m7ch down to him as goalie error.
Yeah, I mean I only caught the last 25 mins or so but that was the standout thing. Everything we do is like we're in slow motion. And it's sloppy too. And when we do somehow stumble away from the melee and look like we might actually get up the pitch, every pass we make is so obvious in advance anyone can spot it and cut it out. There's nothing inventive or improvised about what to do. Even then Ince had a pretty good chance to win it but for some reason went for absolutely hammering the ball rather than just finessing it past the keeper into the far corner.
Think the Martins for Rajovic subs killed any hopes of nicking a win. Has that kind of switch paid off for VI yet?
Well we didn't lose at least. Sounds like we played ok but sloppy moment cost us again. Least Bayo redeemed himself after a shocking miss. We move on and all that as our lot like to say!
I would of taken a point as the bare minimum today after the midweek crap show that was Sunderland. Played a bit more balanced and there was certainly effort there today that was absent all over the pitch last time out. Bayo has to be one of the most frustrating players' I've ever seen. How can he miss that chance right on half time then almost manage to miss the one he did score? Still. it's hard to slate him because he does try hard and always finds space and attempts to male something happen. Ince, hear me - lean back any further taking that shot and you would of fallen over. That was a bad miss and could of won us the game but we had quite a few chances (sorry, misses from you know who). Cardiff were pretty dissapointing overall although they did score from more brainless defending on our part. Result aside, it was an improvement which is what I think most of us wanted. Going forward now, we have a two week break (again) before our relegation six pointer with Sheff Wed at the Vic. That, I feel still is a make or break game for us. Lose that and VI could be in trouble. We did just enough to escape Cardiff with a point today considering Porteous doing his level best to lose the game. At this point. that's all we can do - is just enough to stay in games at the moment. It's a step in the right direction at least but it was by know means a great performance and our winless away streak continues. QPR lost heavily at home today, so it does seem like teams such as them, Rotherham and Wednesday are keeping our heads above water for now. VI still tries to play a system that the side are struggling with, but when he tried something new we got torn a new one. This season is all about survival right now as we go into autumn. It would take a huge upturn in goal scoring for us to acheive anything above midtable come May. I still think we could go down, and today's point doesn't change that mindset much. but if we continue to improve game by game it might not be as bad as we fear. But, then again this is Watford, and we love to play (sorry, help) struggling sides.
I swear this is how we’ve been for the past few years, I think the last game we were actually clinical and made the right choices was the Everton game back in the PL?
It's definitely been getting worse, though as long as Pedro was on the pitch there was often (admittedly not always) a bit of unpredictability about us. Even as recently as January (Norwich away) we were scoring goals on the counter. At the moment it seems every time we get the ball between the opposition lines we cut back and drop behind the midfield again. Slows everything down and obviously puts more bodies between us and the goal.
It seems churlish to say as it ends our three match losing run, but we really should have won that today. Really awful finishing. A more confident (and competent) side gets three points there. But we all know our shortcomings. However, it was a reaction of sorts. Not ideal but a point on the road against a side much higher in the table. Big question is was today a positive and meaningful reaction and the start of something better, or just a draw at a ground we usually do well at and nothing much to get excited about? I will leave the predictions to others. The truth is only time will tell and we have now two weeks off until we will know more. Enjoy your evening everybody, and that rare feeling of not actually losing a match on the road.
Well. The fact it feels like 2 points dropped than a point gained after going a goal down is a positive step on the road to recovery. Slow, painful, infuriating recovery. I think Kayembé and Livermore provided a lot more grit and bite against a lacklustre Cardiff midfield. After Cardiff's 3 big chances earlier in the first half and their goal, they didn't massively trouble us thereafter. Bachmann made a good early save, albeit a tad fortunate it didn't fall to either striker after the parry. Not a lot to say as he was shielded well for the first time in weeks. Hoedt had an excellent game and Sierralta, aside from the nutmeg as part of the first big Cardiff chance when Kayembé lost the ball, looked comfortable with a very difficult cross put behind him expertly headed high so Bachmann could claim it. Hopefully Sierralta's injury is minor as he didn't look distressed when he came off and would prefer this pairing than Porteous and Hoedt for now. I don't know how I feel about Lewis. I think we have to be patient with him because he has not played a lot of football in recent years and at least he's willing to go forward unlike Morris. The fact he's getting games in will only help. Ngakia I thought had a good game overall, winning a good number of his duels and tried being more positive going forward to mixed effect. We can do better than him, but we could do worse when he's on it, mentally. Porteous, after an early scare where a ball was nearly left between Hoedt and Porteous I thought had a decent cameo and will do him a world of good after some shocking performances. Took some surprisingly high positions at times. Koné could feel a little hard done by not to get ahead of Dele-Bashiru but it's much of a muchness between them. Livermore brought a lot of assuredness and calmness we've lacked since our downward trend while Kayembe operated fairly well in his most natural No.8 position with a good mix of strength and technicality. Louza had an alright sub cameo after his rightful dropping but I'm not clamouring for him to be back either after the break as he didn't exactly take the game by the scruff of the neck and show VI was wrong. He needs to be taught the lesson that talent is no substitute for grafting as a unit as that's what has hurt us so much. Martins had a poor game but given he had a family bereavement earlier in the week I'm giving him a pass for today as nothing came off. Asprilla needs to develop some consistency but he's only going to get that with regular, lengthy gametime. Ince was very positive with his work rate and should have scored his chance. Speaking of. Bayo. Bayo, oh Bayo. Forced two open goals, took one of them. How did he miss that chance? That said, he worked very hard, linked the attack well and has a turn of pace to hurt teams. Rajovic did nothing when he came on to nobody's surprise and I sincerely hope Healey is given a chance for a decent sub spell after the break as there can be no excuse for fitness now, On the face of it, it's a positive step in isolation before the break. Came from a goal down, dominated the 2nd half and the changes made in the XI were positive. By no means was it a brilliant performance but the grit and fight was back for the first time in weeks. The concern is the lack of points and place in the table. We need wins now. Plymouth, Coventry, Middlesbrough and today are points dropped. We can't keep saying next game we'll get it. Next game after that we'll get it. This is a solid midtable side that's making silly mistakes too frequently. VI needs to look at the performances where it's gone wrong and identify where it's happened. Today has shown that he's got some ideas to handle it.
Should have won that with Bayo's open net that he refused to shoot into and Ince blazing over the bar at the end. Don't think we would have deserved it though. Depressing that the only chances we are creating are from pressing. We look so poor on the ball despite having players on paper who should be good at it.
Every time I read these criticisms I remember that when Louza was out injured, so many people were saying he was the missing piece in our jigsaw who would have led us on to glory if he'd been on the pitch.
Today was probably the best Watford can play. They are a mess. There was an upturn in attitude and at least they competed today.....but it's taken many internal team meetings and looking in the mirror moments to get the team motivated enough just to compete in this one game. The quality is utter sh1te. We need so many players to come in January, but Pozzo just won't invest. We are a relegation struggler and this will not change all season. The hierarchy signed off on this squad.....they all thought it was strong enough. They are clueless. Sack the board and the Gino needs to go.
Given our recent form, to come from behind away from home and get a point - I cant really grumble too much. Having said that we should have won that game given the two chances that Bayo and Ince missed. Ince's miss was bad, but Bayo's was worse when he was past the keeper. Unfortunately he cant kick with his left foot. We had quite a few decent openings but as others have pointed out we are so sloppy with that final ball. Much improved performances from a number of players, especially Ngakia who had been stand out poor the last couple of games.
Yes......the level is so low these days.....that not losing an away game is about as good as it's going to get. Don't forget Cardiff are one of the best teams in the league, along with Sunderland and Leeds.
Surely not losing an away game is a good thing though? Especially an away game you predicted us to be nailed on to loose heavily - and as you keep reminding us you are usually 100% spot on with your predictions....
Well that was an improvement at least, though from a very low bar . We looked more solid and pressed better . Probably should have won it given the two sitters that we missed., but we created little other than that . Cardiff, just like much of thus division were pretty awful, which I’m not sure if I’m encouraged by ( as it Makes me think we won’t go down ) or depressed by ( as we’re now one of the awful sides ). I do quite like Bayo now . He lacks composure and misses a lot ( which is obviously the opposite you look for in a striker ) but he does press and works hard and that’s what created his goal . His link up play has improved . Livermore is ok . Doesn’t give it away and we looked more solid . Those are about the most positive things I can say . How many points do we need to stay up ?( 50?)
A bit of a porky from you, to push your agenda maybe? This is what I actually said before the game "If we show commitment and massively reduce the stupid unforced mistakes, we might actually get something from this game, but I have little faith that the players have the appetite for the fight....so I'm predicting another lame defeat."
I don’t think that’s the best they ‘can’ play as they’ve played better than that this season . But it might be the best they ‘ will’ play.
Did we play badly? Not particularly. Did we play well? Not particularly. That being said we had enough chances to win the game which is a bit gutting. - I wanted Kone, Asprilla to be bought in. Kone didn't get a minute and I thought that was harsh as TDB was poor, especially in the final third where his passing was atrocious. Asprilla was also poor I thought, I got that wrong as he made little impact. - Kayembe had a good game. - Hard to see anyone ousting Bayo from the starting 11 now, for all his faults (and there's plenty of them) he never stops running and created 2 massive chances off the back of it - his intelligence in anticipating backpasses and his pressing is pretty underrated and suits VI down to a tee. - Lewis is so close to being a very good player for us - his movements and what he attempts are all the right ideas - just the execution is lacking. If he can get that to click soon he'll be a very decent asset. - Hoedt made some great passes.
At least we seemed to have reverted a bit more to the kind of team we were for many of our earlier games, where we slightly edged the game but didn't really get what we deserved in only managing a draw. Having said that, we still started the game with the lack of confidence and urgency we'd displayed in the more recent few games. We showed after we went a goal down and were actually playing with some intent to score that we're still a slightly better side than we've too often shown lately. Early on the performances just seemed below what many of these players were capable of. There was often panicking under little pressure resulting in fairly simple passes being completely misplaced. Asprilla was probably the most guilty of this and tbh he had a bit of a shocker. It also seemed typical of the way things had been going for us that when we did concede in the first half it was from a corner which didn't seem as if it should have been given. When the incorrect call was made it seemed sod's law they'd score from it. The same linesman also seemed to twice fail to award us corners in the second half. But eventually we did get to grips with the game more and probably should have won it. Having Livermore and Kayembe in midfield, plus Sierralta at CB, did seem to help improve our strength and solidity. Louza was rightfully dropped based on recent performances and showed again why he'd been dropped when he came on for his cameo, losing the ball basically every time he got it, either through being out-muscled, taking way too long to make a pass, or just being sloppy. Bayo had another game where he missed one very good chance and scored from his other one. While criticism can again be made for the chance he missed, he's still showing that if given playing time then with his pace and movement he'll get chances and goals one way or another, which is nothing to be sniffed at. Even though the quality isn't always there he puts in lots of effort and makes opposition defenders panic. It was also good that he seemed to quickly learn to not be afraid of tapping the ball in with his left foot after his first chance, to do so for his second chance. Ngakia wasn't so horrendous today for whatever reason. Nor was Lewis. With Ince's ability you'd expect him to finish that, but hey ho. At least we've stopped the run of consecutive defeats and can go in to the international break with a tad less gloom I think.
Going by logic, it's taken us 11 games to get 10 points. So by that it would take us 41 games to get 30pts, leaving us pretty much shafted. I know we are struggling to win games but if we keep trying to win and not give up (like Wednesday night), I think we will scrape survial or lower midtable. But it's going to be a very nervy especially if we get a slew of injuries (as @hornetboy1 continues rightly suggest).
I think your maths is a bit out with the 30 pts Skyla but yeh agree at the current rate we would struggle to stay up . And we’ve yet to play the current top 3!
