He had a good game yesterday. But it is the PL so let's see how consistently he performs over the season.
I flicked through the Villa forum, and there was relatively little praise for us as a team. It was about Targett v Sarr/Young, and how bad they were - Smith, Cash, Buenda, Ings, etc, their poor pre season, tactics, covid, MOTD concentrated 100% on Sarr and didn't mention anything else at all. Cucho may be a bit upset about that! That's fine, the longer our squad stays under the radar, the better.
Were these comments on MOTD? The 5 Live match report, in contrast, was spot on - said that, although Villa were improved in the second half, we were the better side and that the scoreline flattered Villa.
The recruitment hasn't always been the best under Gino, with what seems like a scattergun approach at times. But I can't remember a game where the debutants were so impressive before. Dennis, Etebo, Cucho and Kucka all seemed to fit perfectly into the roles they were asked to play in. I think the pregame pessimism on here was natural. So many times we've had players that have not lived up to their YouTube highlights. But now we've seen these players in action I, for one, am feeling a lot more hopeful for this season!
I saw a lot of "well done Watford" and "they won't be relegated". Amongst the more level headed forums. Relegation scrap coming. We looked utterly terrible in every department. 3-1 flatters us, well played Watford. But credit to Watford too. They looked like a pretty solid team who knew exactly what they were doing. Made it very difficult for us. Diabolical. 3-2 is a travesty to be honest. We were absolutely **** today. Lots of work to do Not hitting the panic button just yet but Watford won't be in the bottom 3 and we won't be in the top 7-8 on this showing. Well played Watford and if ZZTop is reading this get back to your own forum.
Someone on Twitter with about 3 followers claimed he has been suffering with a hamstring problem. That could put him in the category of on the bench, but would prefer not to play him. It’s not been reported elsewhere, but then you don’t shout about your weaknesses. Which immediately makes me wonder if we aren’t a little bit light at the back. Unless Pollock is ready to step up, we could run out of CBs quickly.
Though Kucka was class, if he plays like that for the rest of season he'll be a great signing. TC played very well too, I think having a midfield of Kucka and Etobo helped him play his game So glad it's starting to look like we're finally beyond the days of Deeney and Gray starting. Was absolutely sweltering in the far right corner of the Rookery, can't imagine how hot it gets up there on a real hot day.
Calm down GOBE. A few posts praising Watford out of 400-500 posts, is why I said "relatively little". So GOBE (if you are reading this) why don't you curb your obsessive anti-ZZ behavior and just enjoy the football thread. Here is a novel suggestion in a match thread, maybe even try posting your reaction to a brilliant result in a very important game. You may just enjoy it!
To be fair, Villa were expected to win by their fans and most of ours. When Watford lose a match - and especially when we lose against a team we consider “below” us in terms of ability - the comments on here don’t tend to focus on the good things the opposition did but rather the poor things our team did.
Does Chalobah improve that team? I guess we'll need better cover than Gosling and Chalobah is certainly that.
I thought the same thing. I was pissed but it was an emotional day all round. Our entire season hinged on the new players we'd never heard of, and Cucho, turning out to be ace. Thankfully they are. Villa are shyt mind, especially young.
HappyHornet, you just need to embrace all aspects of a win, a bit like this fella. Vic's Wobble, you couldn't make it up!!
Best chant from us yesterday: "He left cause' your ****, he left cause' your ****... That boy Grealish, he left cause' your ****!!"
That is because they didn't know I was there, the last sentence was written by GOBE, all part of his obsession.
I thought the best chant was to the Villa player with the alice-band hairstyle: "You're just a **** Jack Grealish...."
After a loss to Wimbledon and a loss and then a draw at Goodison, yesterday was actually the first time we’ve won our first match after promotion to the PL. (For older posters like me, the second time we’ve won our first match in the top flight as GT’s team beat Everton in our first game in the league First Division!). Yesterday was our 10th consecutive home win. We conceded our first home goal yesterday in 8 matches, following 7 consecutive clean sheets. Because the last goal we conceded at home before yesterday was an own goal (Troost v Derby), McGinn became the first opposition player to score against us in a league match at the Vic since Adomah of QPR way back in early February. Cucho yesterday became the 4th Nigerian to score on his PL debut. The last before that? Ighalo at Everton. Symmetry!
Is Emma Saunders trying to hypothesise us. Her eyes don't move or blink. Expressionless or too much botox. She must have gone to the Gary Lineker Woodentop School of Presentation.
Don't care what nationality he is, I've watched his goal about 3,000 times since he scored it. **** me, what a goal.
Wasn't Gracia's first league match the 4-1 over Chelsea? I know his first actual match was the FA cup 4th round defeat at Southampton.
