Got nil-nil written all over it. Those that are going should skip the game, get some Cromer crab and come straight back.
Anyone thinking Bachmann will get a clean sheet this season is off their rocker. Let alone 2 in a row like the chap above suggests!
I think the most effective thing Munoz could do is to get Sarr to run at the opposition’s defence every time he gets the ball, not just occasionally. This would create more chances and shots at goal as well as inevitably more cards for the opponents. It’s what Zaha does when he’s on form but Sarr is quicker.
Argua King’s return is 6 goals in his last 38 EPL games, which is not that much better than Gray’s return of 2 goals in his last 27 EPL games. Gray is now a Championship striker so what does that make King? Admittedly Fletcher stats are even worse but he’s played one game against a pretty strong Palace side and did manage got on the end of Cucho’s cross. In contrast King was subbed at HT against Palace and missed a sitter on Saturday. Whilst XG stats may suggest we’re more likely to score when King’s on the pitch the fact remains we’ve only scored when he hasn’t so his movement has thus far created nothing of substance. His recent goal scoring record is woeful. His last goal was in Jan21 against Crawley Town. His last league goal, a penalty, was back in Jul20. In addition to being out of form he’s also unfit so giving Fletcher a run out at least eliminates King’s inevitable substitution cause he’s gassed.
Massive massive game. Whomever wins is going to be ****-a-hoop about their chances of finishing 19th and not rock bottom this season. So much riding on the two games v Norwich to determine the one place. We're gash and they're gash.
Like to see Cucho start opposite Sarr. Not sure what to do in midfield. These players are just learning each other so swapping new ones in and out may make matters worse, but we need Ngakia's improvement, I do thing Femenia could make a big difference.
There fans' are just as downbeat as us - although they do like taking the pizza. https://forum.pinkun.com/index.php?/topic/143853-hornet-fans-view/
In fairness you could say the same about us at Brentford, one of the away defeats you allude to, in that the players weren’t that bothered having wrapped promotion up with virtually no chance of the title and just 90+ points and a defensive record to go for, and Xisco was trying out a different side with fringe players (at least we redeemed ourselves by comfortably beating Swansea the next and last game with also an experimental lineup, thereby achieving the above objectives). And Norwich played a full strength side against us, presumably wanted to get 100 points and the title wrapped up, and put us under a lot of pressure in the closing minutes, so we certainly earned that win. Can’t excuse Luton, but it’s a derby where anything can happen and I imagine we lost derbies in worse ways even under the Great Man. Brighton have always been tough at their place, we played our weakest starting lineup and Munoz made the mistake of trying to play on the counter against a team who generally play it safe themselves (hopefully he’s learned his lesson). And against Spurs we were a Seaman vs Brazil error from getting a point. And our away form in the Championship was decent under Munoz, far better than under Ivic and although there were some poor displays like Coventry and Luton, we generally attacked a lot more. Naturally we are going to look less effective when playing against better opponents, but if we replicate the performance at Spurs at the midtable to lower teams on a regular basis, we stand a chance of picking up plenty of points. This team has miles more quality than the 1999/00 one, where the only player of any flair was Gravelaine (and he only stayed for a bit), whether it’s enough to keep us up we can only wait and see.
I’m not sure we’re sleepwalking towards relegation. Our recruitment and retaining Xisco would seem to suggest that we’ve actually set our GPS for relegation city, and we’re heading there as fast as we possibly can.
Law of averages says we will lose this. Norwich are due a win against us and we are so beatable, this is their best chance.
I've said it for a long, long time. For all his pace and ability he far too often slows it down and refuses to go at this man. He should be attempting to beat his man almost every time he gets the ball. He has to become more positive.
Haven't banged the drum to the same extent you have but I'm pretty sure I remember conversing on this with you in one of the Shoutboxes towards the tail end of last season - as well as in the match thread after, mentioning that it has to be at least in part an issue of coaching. The fact that he is still exhibiting the exact same problem at this point is a further indictment - similarly to WTE, it's either the case that they're not coaching him to be more positive and direct, or that he's ignoring them doing it - either one is pretty unacceptable.
Perfect fixture for King to open his premier league account for us with a brace get his confidence up. Have a look at this fat little Turk that just arrived and inevitably write him off after 45-60 mins of a poor performance against some championshit clogger. Then after it all I’ll still try and defend Xisco as he’s a great guy who needs more time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The difference is, Gray has NEVER been a Premier League striker whereas King has. He's probably suffering from a loss of confidence after his spell at Everton and just needs a goal to crack on (hopefully anyway).
I fear the Villa game was a false dawn and our last 3 League games pretty much sum up what we are about. Brighton we were out-classed and Xisco was outwitted by Potter. Tottenham we huffed and puffed but gave away a soft goal and didn't take our chances. Wolves we didn't take our chances and defended pathetically in the second half. I can't see there being 3 worst teams than us this season. Our recruitment was average at best but failure to bring in a couple of Premier League level defenders at right-back and centre-back will be our undoing. Not too worried about the midfield or attack as I think we will click going forwards and score some goals but we won't be able to keep them out at the other end. Norwich 1 Watford 0
Come to think of it EVERY goal, with exception of McGinn's, has been soft! Teams aren't having to work to score against us, it's been all too easy.
Those two Wolves goals were so preventable it's unthinkable how we managed to lose the last game. I can just about forgive the second goal as it was a scrappy poke in, but the first one made me fume. A deep cross into the box - is Bachmann coming to claim? Is Bachmann coming to C L A I M? No? Serrialta, facing the goal with no instruction from anyone on where stand nods into an empty net. Had we kept that out, we probably wouldn't of conceded the second one. We should ideally be sat nicely on 5pts, but because of schoolboy errors - we sit on three with the vultures circling Xisco.
Even the McGinn goal was soft enough, a good finish, but Kucka would have stopped it I imagine had he not been replaced by Dan Gosling!
Even that one was preventable. McGinn was Gosling’s man to track but he didn’t bother. He had only been in the pitch for a minute, so no excuses for fatigue. This type of thing is occurring all over the pitch. These little switch off moments are really costing us.
Bachmann Ngakia WTE Sierralta Rose Etebo Louza Sissoko Sarr King Dennis Subs: Elliot, Kiko, Cathcart, Kabasele, Masina, Tufan, Kucka, Fletch, Cucho. Norwich 1 - 3 Watford 'Orns.
Yep, same team as Wolves but Louza or Tufan in for Kucka. That side should be capable of beating f**king Norwich. RUN AT THEM FFS SARR.
