Deulofeu is our best player of modern times, he doesn't even have to play at his best to keep us up - look at how much our season and with it our hopes of staying up collapsed when he got injured. Part of why we're struggling is we still don't have a player close to his caliber to provide that additional threat on the left and thus stop teams doubling up on Sarr (time will tell with Dennis and/or Cucho, but we don't have the luxury of much of that right now).
I've watched Udi a few times lately (for my sins) and it's pleasing to see Del Boy still looks very pacey & mobile. He also doesn't shy away from getting stuck into challenges, so the injury doesn't appear to have affected his confidence. They've been playing him in a more central roll though, which I don't honestly think suits his game.
They're really missing a striker since selling Okaka - as talented as Deulofeu is (and to a lesser extent Pussetto), they're not strikers and it's showing (only 2 teams have scored less goals)
He is a defender, unfortunately injury prone, he' s 33 now, unlikely to be any better than Cathcart .... but he is Free = Watford 5 year deal !!!
Sam Johnstone At WBA contract expires next summer and from Jan he can talk to clubs… if got on a free next year or in Jan for a small fee?
Would be a good signing for us, but unlikely to happen in January as there would be too many unknowns. The only chance we'd have is if West Brom miss out on promotion and we stay up. Two big if's. I would expect there would be a few clubs a little further up the food chain than us who would be interested in him also. So the chance of getting on a free (or lowball fee) would be extremely slim I'd say.
**** that stupid bald **** of a ref and Mike Riley too. ******* joke, billions and billions spent on this **** competition and constantly getting obvious things so wrong. Sorry for the bad language it’s just so infuriating, it took MOTD 30 seconds to show how it’s not a foul. Thank you Ian Wright.
Oops was meant to be in the match thread. Just watched Vydra get punched in the head and that’s not a pen?!
Why would anyone tweet this seriously? Trevor Chalobah, playing regularly for Chelsea...why would he come to us? https://twitter.com/WD18Fans/status/1452998302975283207
That was my first thought, but I don’t suppose it’s too wild to think Chelsea might sign an established central defender in January. It’s possible Rudiger is leaving next summer, so it’s not inconceivable they’ll sign a long term replacement for him in January given they’ll be challenging on several fronts. If that’s the case, I could see them loaning Chalobah out to get regular minutes between now and Rudiger leaving. If he was out on loan, probably not many better options than us, given our crap selection of defenders. He’d basically be certain to start every single game. Unlikely to happen I agree, but I can see there being circumstances under which it might happen.
Definitely not Chalobah, but they will probably have one too many CBs when they are all fit. Said it many a time...Malang Sarr.
There is no chance of Trevoh Chalobah joining us. Tuchel was raving about him less than 72hrs ago and he’s getting a new contract. Seems firmly to be part of the 1st team picture now. Not to mention the initial link in the OP is a Turkish journalist who spouts nonsense looking at his Twitter feed.
You're forgetting the #Ginofactor He can get any player to join us. Except Diego Perotti, Juan Iturbe, Paco Alcacer and Maxwel Cornet.
Apparently we're not thinking about January: http://sportwitness.co.uk/chief-quizzed-watfords-plans-january-window-asked-specific-player/
Good to know. Let's be honest, all our players will improve immeasurably. Cathcart will be like van Dijk before too long. We all know it will happen. Just have to be patient.
To be fair, November has only just started and we are out of the bottom 3. I’d find it more weird if Giaretta came out and said ‘yeah, our defence is terrible and we are already impatient for January’ - if we are in the bottom 3 and getting cut adrift come mid-Dec, I suspect the tone would change. I bet they are already thinking of January - but doesn’t do our negotiating stance - or morale of the current players - much good to say as much 2 months ahead of that.
Exactly, he literally says 'today, we aren't thinking about January' - could even incredibly plausibly be read as implying that they're focusing on the games happening right now and that 'challenge', rather than the composition of the squad. Giaretta seems to be someone who likes to dance around in his interviews like that, anyway, and it's understandable why. It's not the same thing as Gino disappearing into his ivory tower and never saying anything, ever. What I do find slightly odd is the link to Beto - I liked him the one Udinese match I watched with him (mostly because he scored) but A) I would imagine they need him themselves, and B) whilst I'd never turn it down, I'd imagine that of all positions in our squad, centre forward could conceivably be the least desperate for a upgrade as it stands, despite the fact that we're hardly fielding Lewandowski.
Let’s take Ake back on loan, paying only a token amount for his wages. He is not good enough for City and a half season playing for us will make him more of an asset when they sell him in the summer
Newcastle have shipped more goals than us, if he goes anywhere it will be to Newcastle under his old boss. Don’t forget in our relegation season Pep fielded his second string against Bournemouth and then went full strength against us, so he must like Saint Eddie/hate us.
Ted Mengi on loan with a option to buy? With ex-Chelsea youth defenders doing well this season maybe we need to take some youth from the other teams? https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....eader-impressed-southgate/blta0a0b5ae5870b2e8
That "logic" makes no sense - the reason why ex-Chelsea youth defenders have been doing well is because Chelsea have easily the best youth team around. Man Utd loanees have been way more hit-and-miss lately. Tuanzebe seemed an odd signing for Villa and I'm not surprised he's struggled to get in the team and make a good impression. Ethan Laird has been doing fairly well for Swansea, though he's not what we need really as long as we have Kiko fit. Utd might also recall him to be backup to Wan-Bissaka. Brandon Williams has gone backwards massively and it's also no surprise he's been poor at Norwich. As for Mengi, no way is he ready to play for us in the PL yet. Also, I doubt Utd would include an option to buy in any loan deal. He would currently be better served trying to prove himself on loan in the Championship.
I have no doubt we will be moving in and out some during the window but whoever we get in needs to be up and running and would considerably improve the team. Yokuslu who was been mentioned all summer has played less than 30 minutes all season. Really annoying he wasn't bought in. Thorsby at Sampadoria would remarkably improve our team. Berg at Bodo wants out and would be excellent as the holding midfielder. Molina or Larsen would improve us defensively down our right. Down our left we will be missing Masina which leaves us watching Rose get skipped past every week. Again I'm irked that Doig wasn't bought in during the Summer. Maybe we will generate enough money to give Ranieri a fighting chance if Sarr and Bachmann are shipped out. Don't get me wrong I enjoy Sarr when he's on it but we can't afford a player who's on it 1 out of every 4 or 5 games. I watched Lampty play against Newcastle and just wished Sarr was doing what he did first half. Get the ball, use his pace and deliver. Why Sarr is not using his God given speed is just baffling to me. But if he wants out I'm now siding with the out crowd. We could of done so much with the Louza and Okoye money to improve the squad right now and before. It's totally insane.
Just a suggestion, I'm doing a scouting course at the moment and choose this guy to evaluate last night as my first assignment General Information Name SAM ADEKUGBE Age 26 (Jan 16th 1995) Height 1.76m (5.9ft) Position LWB/LB/LM Club Hatayspor (Turkish Super Lig) 24 caps Canada Contract Expiry Jun 30th 2024 Fixture Canada v Mexico WCQ Weather -15c Clear Scout Nathan Fox Date Nov 6th 2021 Edmonton Alberta Canada KO 1905 Ball Control Excellent tight ball control either on the ground or out the air, Predominately with left foot, Looks up and looks forward Running with the ball Strong athletic runs overlapping A Davies on the left wing with success on more than one occasion Attacking Ability His crossing was ineffective over hitting or going deep to nobody but getting into the position to cross was impressive. Did have some freedom with Mexico more concerned doubling up on A Davies Defending Ability Read the game well intercepting balls and breaking up play won most 50/50 balls interchanged positions with the lcb Miller and lw Davies with good understanding on his position Heading Gave possession up with some weak headers not under to much pressure Tackling Can’t remember him losing a tackle all game committed challenges winning the ball or deflecting out of play Long Passing On the few occasions he went long he was trying to release Davies on an attack but Mexico covered these chances Short Passing Very impressive fast 1,2 touch short passing down the left side for Canada Right Foot He will use it but only when he has to Left Foot Predominately Left footed does open his body up to use his left most the time controlling the ball in this favoured way most if not all one touch play was with this foot TACTICAL ABILITY His awareness on and off the ball is very good, His link up switching positions on the left side with Davies is one of Canada’s biggest strengths when he gets the ball he looks to attack if anywhere on the pitch in zones 2,3,and 4 Plays it safe in Zone 1 ATHLETIC ABILITY Fast strong athletic wanted the ball more and showed with committed interceptions and tackles. Switching positions extremely well showing good pace attacking space or running with the ball. Defending was good to dropping to the lwb when off the ball. CHARACTER Wanted the ball more than the opposition a very committed player shows some skills to getting past players in attack great short control fast 1 2 touch play. Showed a funny side to his character in the goal celebrations after Canada’s second by diving into the snow bank on the side of the pitch ASSESSMENT In this game he had a solid performance. Playing alongside A Davies helps as Mexico doubled up on him when he received the ball allowing Sam Adekugbe more time and space which he utilized well not taking any chances and aware defensively of any Mexican counter attacks. His interlink play on the left was really good switching positions up and down the left with good effect for the Canadians. His commitment in tackles winning possession and looking forward in trying to launch attacks was very good. Canada played 343 541 and he switched from lwb to lm lw intelligently for 90 mins Injuries Ankle out 80 Days 14/15 Hamstring out 40 days 17/18 Groin out 9 days 21/22 Recommendation Definitely one to watch Will he be as effective without playing alongside A Davies or in front of a home coming crowd (first game for Canada in Alberta Where his family live) ? Would like to watch him at club level
"The boys love him" - Watford director on Ranieri, and club's plans for January transfer window - Sport Witness Some words from Giaretta. He says the boys love Ranieri and that it's too early to comment on the transfer window in January, although he does talk about Okoye, so this is a recent interview. As we know, AFCON is going to hit us hard. Can we cope with it? Losing Sarr, Dennis (potentially), Louza (now he's just broken into the team), Masina and WTE is a lot of regular first team players. So what is the plan to cover this? Personally, I can see us bringing in another LB. To only have Rose, who's misfiring right now, would be irresponsible. We do need better cover for this position. I feel we do need another CB, but probably only on loan. Phil Jones would tick that box. I think Gosling will go in January, so that would free up a couple of positions in the squad. I think we have cover in the midfield, up front we're going to feel it the most, but Pedro and Cucho will have a chance to shine.
Given that the one midfielder who has seemingly finally come to life as a squad member is also the one guaranteed to disappear to AFCON, do we really have that much cover? Unless Etebo somehow makes it back in that time, we're back with a potentially quite unbalanced Cleverley, Sissoko, Kucka axis with only Tufan as backup - that looks pretty concerning for a month-long stretch, for me - not to mention the age, and disciplinary and injury record, of that little group.